1995 Bordeaux Tasting - Uncorked
Uncorked, London
Tasted June 8, 2006 by Russell Faulkner with 999 views
Introduction
A chance to track how the 1995s are doing now they are over ten years old. On the whole the high acid and tannin levels surprised me a little, I was expecting them to have softened a little, with very few being very pleasurable to drink yet. All wines were double decanted around 3 hours before tasting, and were served just a little too warm, which made several show a little alcohol on the finish.
Served with superb pork pies.
Flight 1 (14 notes)
Red
1995 Château Pavie Macquin
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Lightening rim, wood notes, some black cherry. Solid tannin, restrained but ripe, fine but not great, about ready to drink. 13%
Red
1995 Château L'Evangile
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
More oak, bigger tannic structure, very high acid, fresh, the oak slightly intrusive on the finish, quite lush though, not too far from being ready (though not mature by any means). 13%.
Red
1995 Domaine de Chevalier
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Gravelly herbal notes, dried herbs, a little meaty, think oak. Light body, tannins a bit rough, enjoyable. 12%.
Red
1995 Château La Mission Haut-Brion
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
A light nose of rust and herbal leaves. Again a lighter style, and a light LMHB, though tannins are quite prominent, very enjoyable soft fruit finish, not too sure where this is going. 13%.
Red
1995 Château Poujeaux
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc
Oaky nose, closed? Substantial oak and tannin, either closed or just too brutal. 12.5%.
Red
1995 Château d'Angludet
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
More refined silky nose, but closed tight on palate, in the mouth intense, severe tannins are too prominent, astringent extracted finish. Might soften. 12.5%.
Red
1995 Château Palmer
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Gobs of oak, some rich blackcurrent beneath. Very fresh fruit, lively acidity, solid tannin, this is sleeping tight, nowhere near ready. 12.5%.
Red
1995 Château Talbot
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
A simple nose of light fruit, simple but fun, cedar and soft fruit, seems ready but coarseness to tannins on finish. 12%.
Red
1995 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Very tight, closed, a hint of sweet almost kirschy fruit, very solid acid and tannin structure, long balanced finish, quite big, too young by far. 13%.
Red
1995 Château Lynch-Bages
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Classy nose, sweet red fruit and pencil, medium weight, big acidity, well balanced smooth tannin that turn just a little astringent on the finish, getting there, and will be a very good wine. 13%.
Red
1995 Les Forts de Latour
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
A little odd on the nose, expressive, almost like a liqueur. Massive tannin, like hitting a brick wall, some fresh dark fruit. Tannins knock it out of balance though, not sure if this will soften before the fruit has gone. 13%.
Red
1995 Château Mouton Rothschild
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Light and simple nose, young, more wood than fruit, rough tannin and even a little hot on the finish. Not bad but nothing special even in this company. 12.5%.
Red
1995 Château Calon-Ségur
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
A bit of rasberry on the nose, medium weight some wood tannin but plenty of summer fruit, enjoyable.
Red
1995 Château Montrose
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Dense plummy fruit nose, massivly structured, very big grippy tannin but well balanced, I wonder how long before the tannin softens? Not close to being ready, will be special though. 12.5%
Closing
Looking over my notes I am surprised how close to Parker I rate many of the wines (I didn't peek honest), the most obvious exception being Mouton, which, to my mind is not a spot on Palmer and more than double the price. The L'Evangile looks the best buy to me at £600 a case, Coates only scored this a 14!
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