2002 Bordeaux - 10 Year Retrospective

Met up with a couple friends to check in on the 2002 Bordeaux vintage. As a whole, the wines seemed to be in a strange spot in their development. With the thinner than usual vintage, the oak dominated a lot of the wines - pushing the fruit around like a school bully. A lot of us talked about what a similar tasting would yield in another 10 years - would the oak yield revealing elegant fruit? or would the oak reveal thin, acidic and unpleasant fruit. Some wines suggested the former and some the latter.

I had a great time tasting through the wines and the folks at Maude's did another great job taking care of us. Their food pairs incredible well with wines like this - for groups of 6 or under, it's hard to imagine a better venue.

• 2002 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons 94 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  One of the finer champagnes I've had lately and a great example of the combination of power and finesse. Lots of citrus and orchard fruit characterized the nose with undertones of bread, minerals and white florals. Its palate was silky but blended in great energy on the finish. Great depth of flavors with layers of apple, pear, and tropical fruits too.

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• 2002 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  A really nice buy under $20. At such a young age, some of the complexities that usually develop in LdH blanco's hadn't materialized yet, but this was still pretty nice. Almond, fig, and apple butter tones on nose were slightly oxidative (as expected) in nature. The palate was waxy with banana peel, sweet lemon, herb and pear tones baked together. Will probably go pickup more of this - has a nice future ahead of it.

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• 2002 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  In a tasting of 2002 Bordeaux, this stood head and shoulders above the rest. Wasn't even close actually. One whiff of the nose and its smokey minerals you're whisked immediately away to Graves. Definitely one of the most distinct terroirs in the world. Loved its masculine and dark nose which combined dark fruits, dried floral notes, crushed stone and earth. The palate had a richness to it that was quite appealing. While the tannins were still firm, the material here is top rate. Dark berries, scorched earth and violets all married nicely on the palate. Awesome stuff.

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• 2002 Château Smith Haut Lafitte 82 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Drank alongside the 2002 LMHB. The oak was very noticeable here - with mocha, cherry, vanilla, and earth wrapped in. The palate really showed its oak influences...as it seemed more like drinking a mocha latte from Starbucks than wine from Graves.

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• 2002 Château Pavie 84 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Seemed to be in a weird spot with the oak really showing through. The fruit was a bit dim, thin and acidic and wasn't a great match at the moment for the smokey, toasty oak. Will time reveal elegant fruit? Or will this just fade away?

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• 2004 Château Pavie 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Another example of a great 2004 Bordeaux. Compared to the 2002 that was drank alongside this, the fruit and oak seemed like a nice match for one another. The cherry, cassis, tobacco, graphite and floral notes were integrated seamlessly with the oak. A very nice package at the moment that should develop nicely for a while to come.

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• 2002 Château Calon-Ségur 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  I've always been a big fan of the house style at Calon-Ségur which I regard as more feminine and elegant. This hit the mark too. Seemed to have much less oak in play which played nicely with the fruit. Instead of getting chocolate, coffee and smoke notes from the oak's influence, I was left tasting fine tobacco, tilled soil, sweet cherry fruit and elegant floral notes. Really enjoyed this.

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• 2002 Château Léoville Las Cases 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Decanted for 6 hours beforehand. Another example of the 2002 vintage being in a strange spot for my palate. The oak's influence really seemed to show through with the fruit playing second fiddle. Underneath the fruit seemed elegant and interesting with subtle tobacco, red fruit and earth notes peaking through. Have to wonder what will show up when the oak dissipates more.

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• 2002 Château Pontet-Canet 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  The fruit's intensity here was pretty nice and blended well with the toasty oak notes. Enjoyed the dark berries, pipe tobacco, tilled soil and floral notes that were woven together on the palate. Compared to many other 2002 Bordeaux this evening, this seemed to have a nice combination of fruit intensity and oak presence.

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• 2002 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Had noticeable oak influences on the nose and palate, but it worked nicely with the rich cassis, earth and graphite notes. The richer texture of the wine - potentially from the oak - was noticeable compared to its cohorts. This also had noticeable textural differences - a bit silkier - giving it an air of elegance.

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• 2002 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 91 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  This had nice intensity of fruit with peach, apple, pear and tangerine notes on the nose. Its palate featured dense tropical notes that mixed incredibly well with undercurrents of mineral. Still had really nice energy and acidity on the palate. Thought it showed very well.

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