Eldon Dumps His Bordeaux

Wine Cellar Club, Irvine, CA
Tasted Monday, March 22, 2010 by WetRock with 734 views

Introduction

Eldon Gath has come to realize he does not like French or Old world styled wines("frog wines") and has come to prefer wines with more forward and obvious fruit characters. So be it but he has purchased wines over the years on recommendation or from specials that don't fit his new focus. He generously opened many of his Bordeaux for us in order to free his cellar of these beasts. I was thankful to be included in the pour off of these 'frog wines' as I enjoyed many of them and really enjoyed the tasting for the variety it showed. There was one or two I would have suggested Eldon keep though such as the Pavie Macquin.

Thanks again to Eldon. My favs would be the 98 Simard, 96 LaGrange and the 00 Pavillon Rouge

Flight 1 (1 Note)

Flight 2 (4 Notes)

  • 1998 Château Simard

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion

    Showing some age the nose gives some smoke with a touch of brett. Nicely balanced with strong clean acidity and fully mature fruit. Not for fans of modern wines but would make a great dinner companion.

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  • 2000 Château Pavie Macquin

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Woody nose with some notes of char and red cherry. Rich and broad palate with very woody tannin. This was put into a decanter which only seem to bring out some excessive ripeness and weaken the palate. Wines by IKEA.

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  • 2000 Château Fombrauge

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Bretty nose. Rich and very thick. Thick strong tannins and a bit tight. Showing a lot of extraction but not oak or ripeness. But then again it didn't show much of anything. This may have needed more air and more time.

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  • 2003 Château La Couspaude

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    The nose shows notes of caramel with some wood and heat. Bright and juicy but it seems to fall off before the tannins arrive. Casualty of the vintage?

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Flight 3 (8 Notes)

  • 1988 Château Gruaud Larose

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Nose of cedar and pencil lead with a bit of heat. Big and surprisingly juicy with very strong tannins. Bit round and showing more cedary redwood notes. This evened out some later on and became very nice classic aged Cabernet.

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  • 1996 Château Lanessan Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

    Musty nose. Dead palate. Corked.

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  • 1996 Château Lagrange (St. Julien)

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Expressive dense nose of lava rocks of red wood. Very stand up acids behind a juicy balanced palate that makes your brain stop and say 'nice' This was terrific

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  • 1997 Château Clerc Milon

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    The nose is vegetal with notes of pencil lead and a bit of heat. The palate is also vegetal in flavor but has good balance showing plenty of acid and tannin. More heat though. The fruit doesn't match the structure here.

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  • 1999 Clos du Marquis

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Big soft nose showing a note of peach pit. Juicy and soft with late tannin with a freshly cut fruit quality. Clearly a more forward in styled.

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  • 2000 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Young somewhat tight nose showing violets, beef blood and chocolate. Tight with young fruit and feeling a bit disjointed. Thick tannins. Really in need of time and air. Hard to read today.

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  • 2000 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Classic Cab nose showing pencil lead, cedar and fresh wood. Big fruited and thickly tannic this baby needs time. I like where it could go.

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  • 2000 Château La Louvière

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Nose of roasted meats and wood. This showed great balanced with an expressive interplay of fruit and acids. The fruit shows very young so this can go a while but probably not a real long term wine.

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Flight 4 (1 Note)

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