Trip to Bordeaux
Tasted Sunday, August 9, 2009 - Friday, August 14, 2009 by kostaslonis with 12 views
Introduction
a trip to Bordeaux with Alex, our first holidays together
Flight 1 (21 Notes)
Tasting various wines in each chateau
Closing
a memorable experience
2006 Château Pape Clément Blanc 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
(8/9/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This wine comes under the name "Clementine", it has spent 12 months in new oak and its 67% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Semillon. 8% Muscatelle. Nice bright yellow color. Beautiful aromas of nuts and butter but also a heavy oaky finish. The acidity is good, even though the aftertaste doesn't last much. It will get better with time.
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2006 Château Pape Clément Les Cles de Clement V 85 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
(8/9/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This blend is 50%-50% of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, that spends 18-20 months in 50% new oak. It has a lovely ruby color. Loads of fruits in the nose and the Merlot effect continues in the mouth too. It has a medium aftertaste. I think its good for a second label, not heavy at all, but with 36€, it doesn't fall under the category "everyday wine".
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2004 Château Pape Clément 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
(8/9/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This is the Grand Vin and spends 18-20 months in 100% new oak. It has a beautiful deep red color and wonderful aromas of small berry fruits with smoaky notes. It is very delicate in the mouth, much more fruity than the nose (if that's possible), very refined and well made with a spicy finish of pepper and cinnamon. This is a very good wine, it is already perfectly good to drink and it seems it can stay like this for at least another decade. This tastes like a Grand Vin and certainly has the price of one (89€).
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2007 Château Canon 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
(8/10/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This is 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. It has a deep ruby color with pink hues, just by the look of it you can tell how young it is. It has a massive fruity nose and almost no pressence of oak. It is very delicate in the mouth, very well made, still loads of fruits with a slight hint of spices. It's unbelievable how easy it was to drink such a young wine. I think it's going to be a delightful wine for another 10-12 years. Can't wait to try after a few more years. (80€)
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1999 Château Figeac 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
(8/10/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This is a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, the wine spends 18 months in 100% new oak. Very deep red color, quite fruity in the nose with just a hint of oak. The tannins are still there but they have become quite round. I think it has reached its maturity period now and will be a delight to drink for another decade. For such a wonderful wine and a Grand Vin too, I think the price was fairly good at 100€ and what a pity it was, we were the first to try it from the bottle, it must have been great after a couple of hours.
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2004 Château Rauzan-Ségla 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
(8/11/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) Beautiful deep red color with pink hues. You can smell the oak, with a bit of smoke and a whole basket of ripe fruits. It is very delicate, almost sweet (!), loads of berries and plums. This is really well made, maybe half a minute but wonderful aftertaste. I think it is ready to drink now. This is a fine sample of what Grand Vin in the Margaux appellation means and it will be great at least for another decade.
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2004 Ségla 85 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
(8/11/2009)
(tasted at the chateau) This is the second label of the chateau. It has a fine red color but not so bright. It's quite heavy in the nose with oak. Fortunately, it tastes a lot better, while the tannins are not so evident. You can feel the vanilla, cherry and small berries at the end of a short to medium lenght aftertaste. I think the wine is a little too young, but with a few more years in the bottle it could turn out a rather pleasant wine.
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2008 Château Cantenac Brown BriO 84 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
(8/11/2009)
(tasted at the chateau) This is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot,12% Caberent Franc, it spendt 12 months in 20% new oak with no malolactic fermentation. It is very fruity in the nose with the most being cherries, plums and berries, while I couldn't find a single note of oak. It is has an equally fruity but very short aftertaste. This is the second label of the chateau and it tastes like it. It will be enjoyable for the next 2-3 years.
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2008 Château Cantenac Brown 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
(8/11/2009)
(tasted at the chateau) This is the Grand Vin, it is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, with 15 months spent in 50% new oak. Very deep purple color and lots of cassis,plums and berries in the nose, but not so apparent oak. You can feel the tannins all over the place but they are rather velvety. I think this is a fine wine that will need at least 3-5 more years in the bottle and will be great for another decade.
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2004 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
(8/12/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc with a little bit Petit Verdot, it has spent 18 months in 80% new oak. It has an almost black color but it is still quite closed in the nose (the bottle had no time to breathe at all). Despite that, after a while blackberries, currants and liquorice come out. The tannins are quite evident but they have become round enough. This is a very well made wine, a Grand Vin that can offer a lot of pleasure as it is but one that will also age beautifully for another 10-15 years at least.
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2004 Les Tourelles de Longueville 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
(8/12/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This is the second label, it is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and it was aged in 50% new oak. Dark ruby color, intense fruity nose with a note of oak in the back. The fruity character of the wine appears again in the mouth with a lot of currants and berries, with just a hint of spices. This is a nice wine for a second label, it could use a couple of years in the bottle but I think it'll be better enjoyed as it is now.
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2004 Château Pibran 87 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
(8/12/2009)
(tasted in the Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron). It is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon 45% Merlot, 15 months in 50% new oak. This has a lovely purple color and a nice complex nose with a lot of fruit in it, a little bit of oak and a hint of alcohol (13.5%).The tannins are still a little aggressive with a 20-25 seconds aftertaste. It could use a couple of years more in the bottle but you can still enjoy it now.
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2008 Château d'Armailhac 86 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
(8/13/2009)
(tasted in chateau Mouton Rothschild) This is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon.29% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc.2% Petit Verdot. Beautiful purple color, dense nose with a lot of oak and toast. Quite fruity with a lot of tannins though. This will require at least 5 years before it will be ready. But still, it seems it will evolve into a fine wine.
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2008 Château Clerc Milon 81 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
(8/13/2009)
(tasted in chateau Mouton Rothschild) This is a blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Beautiful deep red color, very good and complex nose with cherries and berries, also a hint of flowers and then oak comes at the end. It has strong tannins and quite fruity aftertaste that fades quickly. It will need at least 3-4 years to round up, but then again I don't think it has much to offer. There are much better 5eme chateaux than this one.
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2008 Château Mouton Rothschild 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
(8/13/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This is the Grand Vin and it is a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% merlot and it is 100% new oak. This wine was half way through its time in the barrels when I tasted so I guess it will have changed dramatically by now but still...The color is almost black. It has a magnificent nose, with huge amounts of fruit, oak (of course) and black peppers. Surprisingly its not that aggressive when you taste it. You can tell that it will need at least 10 years in the bottle to be really and truly appreciated. This is a Grand Vin to have and to keep for decades!!!
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2004 Château Pontet-Canet 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
(8/13/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot and it was used 60% new oak. It has a beautiful dark ruby color. A thick and complex nose, a little bit alcoholic, blackberries, cassis, liquorice and some peppers. It is very smooth and velvety in the mouth, the tannins are evident, strong but really well made too. It has a good acidity and a medium aftertaste. This Grand Vin its gorgeous now but in 2-3 years will be an absolut delight.
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2003 Château Smith Haut Lafitte 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
(8/14/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) Its purple color is not as bright as I would have thought it would be, quite earthy notes in the nose and not as much fruits. The oak is still dominant, the tannins have softened up and a medium aftertaste. I was not impressed, but I think I must give it another try sometime.
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2003 Château Cantelys Blanc 83 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
(8/14/2009)
(tasted in chateau Smith Haut Lafitte) This blend of 50% Semillon and 50% Sauvignon Blanc has spent 11 months in 50% new oak. It has a bright yellow color. It has a very flowery but not that complex nose. You can feel the oak in the wine and I think it covers all the fruit. It wil require a little bit of time in the bottle but I hardly think it will change much.
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2006 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
(8/14/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris, 5% Semillon and it has spent 11 months in 50% new oak. It has a pure golden color. The nose is wonderful with white flowers and fruits. The oak is evident but in perfect balance with the fruit. It is so fatty and full and a with a long aftertaste. This Grand Vin will require time. Give it 3-4 years and it wll become trully gorgeous.
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2003 Château Haut-Bailly La Parde de Haut Bailly 84 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
(8/14/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This is a blend of 49% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, it has spent 12 months in 30% new oak. Lovely deep red color, complex nose, fruits but also earthy. The oak is not that apparent (but then I guess that was the point), the tannins are soft and round with a good acidity. It has a short to medium fruity aftertaste. It is a good second label that can be enjoyed now and for the next 3-4 years.
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2003 Château Haut-Bailly 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
(8/14/2009)
(tasted in the chateau) This is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, it has spent 18 months in 60% new oak. It has a nice red color but not as bright as I hoped. The nose is much more earthy, you can smell the oak and there are some spices too after a while. The tannins are fairly round, very pleasant fruity background, oak is nowhere to be found and the acidity is really good. This Grand Vin serves its purpose, it will not blow your mind away, but give it 3-5 more years in the bottle and it will be very enjoyable for at least another 8-10 years.
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