Double blind from magnum alongside the "Reserve" 2nd wine. Black and meaty, this was firm but very accessible and certainly well balanced. The Reserve was similar but just less substance or concentration.
Double blind from magnum alongside the main Léoville Barton cuvee. This was also lack and meaty, very accessible, just not quite as well balanced as the 1st wine. Similar profile, with just less substance or concentration. No further upside here.
From magnum. Group had already tasted this blind, so I was catching up. I like the bold black fruit, but found the tannins a bit too assertive, especially for the wine's medium weight.
Double blind from magnum. Clearly mature New World wine with ripe/ fat black fruit that was still nicely fresh with enough structure un the near background, just lacking particular finesse.
This had been opened an hour+ earlier, so I was catching up. At this point it seemed slightly madeirized and nearly sweet, making me think it actually a 1970s tired Napa Cab! I was told this was much better when first poured and fresher.
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Double blind from magnum, I thought this was 2003 Bordeaux. Rich and ripe while firmly structured with a substantial core and good+ length and finessed finish, even though there was faint bitter hint.
Double blind from magnum. Correctly identified as Old World, non-French, then Italian, but I thought there was more Merlot and lots of Cabernet Franc here. Very good fruit, faint barnyard, but the structure is just too much in charge here. Disappointing given the vintage.
Double blind from magnum. Dense cassis and plum with unfolding layers, ending with a sweet hint on the finish that made me think this was New World wine made in an Old World style. Good+ length, I liked this quite a bit.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Double blind from magnum. Cassis, current and blackberry with lots of power. I thought this 2005 left bank Bordeaux. Firm and backward for now, but lots here, better in another 5 years, probably even better in 10. 91 points today, but I think more harmony will emerge with more time, so 92 point potential.
Double blind from magnum. Seemed almost a decade younger to me, this is dense, fresh and vibrant with great textures and power. Not as complex as some of the greatest of the 1989s these days, but still lots here, with further upside.
Magnum. All black fruit with savory spice and very good balance coming across in a Bordeaux-like fashion. Good enough weight, very good length, with some sneaky power on its expanding finish. A wine I recall enjoying less when younger, circa 2005
Tasted double blind. Elegant with very good balance and sneaky good length, but I was surprised to see this was from 2000 given its lighter style and medium+ density. Best through 2025.
Tasted double blind. Metay and dense with power from start-to-finish. Black cherry and plum with both sweet and savory spice. Very good now, clearly from a good but less opulent vintage. I have not tasted this wine since an en Primeur visit to the Château in 2004, and it has nicely lived up my expectations from that visit.
2000 Château Léoville Barton 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Double blind from magnum alongside the "Reserve" 2nd wine. Black and meaty, this was firm but very accessible and certainly well balanced. The Reserve was similar but just less substance or concentration.
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2000 Château Léoville Barton La Réserve de Léoville Barton 87 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Double blind from magnum alongside the main Léoville Barton cuvee. This was also lack and meaty, very accessible, just not quite as well balanced as the 1st wine. Similar profile, with just less substance or concentration. No further upside here.
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1995 Château Clerc Milon 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
From magnum. Group had already tasted this blind, so I was catching up. I like the bold black fruit, but found the tannins a bit too assertive, especially for the wine's medium weight.
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1996 Robert Craig Affinity 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Double blind from magnum. Clearly mature New World wine with ripe/ fat black fruit that was still nicely fresh with enough structure un the near background, just lacking particular finesse.
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1978 Château Talbot
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
This had been opened an hour+ earlier, so I was catching up. At this point it seemed slightly madeirized and nearly sweet, making me think it actually a 1970s tired Napa Cab! I was told this was much better when first poured and fresher.
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2003 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Double blind from magnum, I thought this was 2003 Bordeaux. Rich and ripe while firmly structured with a substantial core and good+ length and finessed finish, even though there was faint bitter hint.
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2001 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia
Double blind from magnum. Correctly identified as Old World, non-French, then Italian, but I thought there was more Merlot and lots of Cabernet Franc here. Very good fruit, faint barnyard, but the structure is just too much in charge here. Disappointing given the vintage.
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1986 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Double blind from magnum. Dense cassis and plum with unfolding layers, ending with a sweet hint on the finish that made me think this was New World wine made in an Old World style. Good+ length, I liked this quite a bit.
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2000 Château Figeac 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Double blind from magnum. Cassis, current and blackberry with lots of power. I thought this 2005 left bank Bordeaux. Firm and backward for now, but lots here, better in another 5 years, probably even better in 10. 91 points today, but I think more harmony will emerge with more time, so 92 point potential.
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1989 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Double blind from magnum. Seemed almost a decade younger to me, this is dense, fresh and vibrant with great textures and power. Not as complex as some of the greatest of the 1989s these days, but still lots here, with further upside.
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1998 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Magnum. All black fruit with savory spice and very good balance coming across in a Bordeaux-like fashion. Good enough weight, very good length, with some sneaky power on its expanding finish. A wine I recall enjoying less when younger, circa 2005
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2000 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux Flawed
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
First bottle corked.
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2000 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Tasted double blind. Elegant with very good balance and sneaky good length, but I was surprised to see this was from 2000 given its lighter style and medium+ density. Best through 2025.
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2001 Château Cos d'Estournel
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Tasted double blind. Metay and dense with power from start-to-finish. Black cherry and plum with both sweet and savory spice. Very good now, clearly from a good but less opulent vintage. I have not tasted this wine since an en Primeur visit to the Château in 2004, and it has nicely lived up my expectations from that visit.
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