Grassy, cat urine; palate is medium bodied, decent balance, less fruit and more grass, interesting; short finish. Interesting wine, but lacking complexity and fruit to make it pleasurable. 85
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Umami, soy, young, blackberry; palate is full bodied, plush young tannin, not quite enough fruit to carry it through the palate; short finish. The nose was actually very promising, but the palate falls short. Decent value. 87
Intensity on the nose with dustiness, smokiness, cherry, black fruit; palate is full bodied, excellent density of black fruit, balanced, great acidity; medium finish. Excellent, even a value, and enjoyable now. 90
Dense, wonderful nose with deep black fruit, classic St. Julien slate and minerality; palate is full bodied, ripe and plush, fruit isn't quite lasting through the palate, young tannins; finish is short-medium. The nose was excellent, but it lacks a bit of persistence on the palate. 90+
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Ruby-purple; ripe, overextracted fruit, purple fruit, chemical; palate is alcoholic, thin, very modern over-ripe fruit. This would be disappointing for a $10 wine. 75
Wonderful nose with superb complexity, red and black fruits, Asian spices, youthful; palate is full bodied, plush blackberry and black currant fruit that fades just a tad towards the end, slight spice, approachable now with plush tannins and showing really well, though it will obviously age well; long finish. Superbly made, especially in this vintage, though also very expensive, and the fruit maybe tapers just a tad towards the end. Needs time to develop its character. 95+
One of the only wines at this tasting not decanted because it was already showing well. Nose has intense nose with strong soy and umami, blackberry fruit, complex and balanced; palate is full bodied, balanced acidity, tannins integrated and maybe just slightly drying, balanced blackberry fruit; medium length. Very nice, maturity on the nose, ready to drink now but will have a decade ahead. 94-95.
Light golden color; floral, light, elegant, botrytis spice, very complex nose; palate has salinity, great acidity with vibrancy, now some tropical fruit, pineapple, picks up some body, great sweetness; finish is long. Nose is effortlessly light but very complex, while the palate has the density and richness as well as a superb vibrancy. A superb Sauternes and an excellent yquem, and I'm curious about how this new style of yquem (closer to barsac on the nose) will mature. The last time I had this it improved for at least a week, and this time was better than even the best from last time. 96-98++.
2013 AltO de Cantenac Brown Blanc 85 Points
France, Bordeaux
Grassy, cat urine; palate is medium bodied, decent balance, less fruit and more grass, interesting; short finish. Interesting wine, but lacking complexity and fruit to make it pleasurable. 85
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2012 Château Tour Saint-Christophe 87 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Umami, soy, young, blackberry; palate is full bodied, plush young tannin, not quite enough fruit to carry it through the palate; short finish. The nose was actually very promising, but the palate falls short. Decent value. 87
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2012 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Flinty, mineral nose, blackberry, complex; palate is full bodied, youthful firm tannins, young; medium finish. 88
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2012 Alter Ego 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Intensity on the nose with dustiness, smokiness, cherry, black fruit; palate is full bodied, excellent density of black fruit, balanced, great acidity; medium finish. Excellent, even a value, and enjoyable now. 90
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2012 Château Léoville Poyferré 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Dense, wonderful nose with deep black fruit, classic St. Julien slate and minerality; palate is full bodied, ripe and plush, fruit isn't quite lasting through the palate, young tannins; finish is short-medium. The nose was excellent, but it lacks a bit of persistence on the palate. 90+
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2012 Château Larcis Ducasse 75 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Ruby-purple; ripe, overextracted fruit, purple fruit, chemical; palate is alcoholic, thin, very modern over-ripe fruit. This would be disappointing for a $10 wine. 75
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2012 Château Margaux 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Wonderful nose with superb complexity, red and black fruits, Asian spices, youthful; palate is full bodied, plush blackberry and black currant fruit that fades just a tad towards the end, slight spice, approachable now with plush tannins and showing really well, though it will obviously age well; long finish. Superbly made, especially in this vintage, though also very expensive, and the fruit maybe tapers just a tad towards the end. Needs time to develop its character. 95+
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2000 Château Pontet-Canet 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
One of the only wines at this tasting not decanted because it was already showing well. Nose has intense nose with strong soy and umami, blackberry fruit, complex and balanced; palate is full bodied, balanced acidity, tannins integrated and maybe just slightly drying, balanced blackberry fruit; medium length. Very nice, maturity on the nose, ready to drink now but will have a decade ahead. 94-95.
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2011 Château d'Yquem 97 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Light golden color; floral, light, elegant, botrytis spice, very complex nose; palate has salinity, great acidity with vibrancy, now some tropical fruit, pineapple, picks up some body, great sweetness; finish is long. Nose is effortlessly light but very complex, while the palate has the density and richness as well as a superb vibrancy. A superb Sauternes and an excellent yquem, and I'm curious about how this new style of yquem (closer to barsac on the nose) will mature. The last time I had this it improved for at least a week, and this time was better than even the best from last time. 96-98++.
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