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Bordeaux blends Paulée with Lay & Wheeler
The George
Tasted September 15, 2023 by NickA with 117 views
Introduction
Everyone - bring something made with Bordeaux grapes!
Flight 1 (1 note)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Tarlant Champagne Extra Brut
91 points
2015 base. 51% Pinot Noir, 34% Pinot Meunier, and 15% Chardonnay from vineyards around Oeuilly. 3g/l RS, disgorged in September 2020. This is such a fab entry-level Champagne, and further evidence that Tarlant make delicious and fairly priced wine. Excellent balance and good weight of ripe fruit, with a dry, sophisticated feel. Several bottles served, each showing consistently. I've just bought some...
Flight 2 (2 notes)
White
2020 Y de Yquem
94 points
75% Sauvignon, 25% Semillon. This was a seriously nice surprise; I had unfairly assumed Y (which I'd never tried before) was 'all mouth and no trousers', but this delicious, charismatic wine impressed everyone who tried it. About as opulent as one can make a white Bordeaux blend and keep it dry, the effect being like a (slightly) less aromatic top-quality Condrieu. Impressively focused given the weight of fruit. It's expensive, but I'm still tempted to pick some up...
1 person found this helpful
Comment
White
2019 La Clarté de Haut-Brion Blanc
89 points
Pleasant, but completely outclassed (overwhelmed?!) by the Ygrec. Crisp and flinty, plenty of citrus, but more nerve than pleasure at least at this stage. I prefer a bit more body and (dare I say it) wood-influence than this when I open a Bordeaux blanc. Almost 50% Semillon so I expect it will come good eventually.
Flight 3 (2 notes)
White
2020 Château Cos d'Estournel Blanc
91 points
Fresh and stylish, with the Sauvignon element to the fore. Clean, precise and moreish, with attractive piquant fruit and some white flowers, although not truly exciting. Love the label and like the wine, but this is in no way worth £180!
White
2015 Tyrrell's Sémillon Vat 1
88 points
I'm sure this was served too young, as it was seriously anaemic, like dilute lime cordial. I'm going to quote Tim Jackson MW, as he has nailed the wine: "Crisp, with a classic lemon-lime tang, underpinned by a subtle hint of salinity. The acidity has a lot of length and there’s enough of a sense of extract here that suggests flavour will fill out there too over time, though this is unlikely to be a great Vat 1."
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Comment
Flight 4 (3 notes)
Red
1970 Château Léoville Las Cases
91 points
Gorgeous, enticing, red-fruited nose. Softly textured on the palate, which felt as though it was thinning out, but retained plenty of freshness as well as having some pleasing forest floor notes. A pretty wine, but I'd drink up.
3 people found this helpful
Comment
Red
1996 Château Léoville Barton
94 points
If the theme is 'Bordeaux blends', it doesn't get any more classic than this. Complex, à point nose, with notes of ash, truffle, camphor, earth and smoked meat... just great. High acidity and fresh red fruit on the palate, some more smoke, and excellent length. My previous bottle seemed past peak, but this one certainly wasn't.
1 person found this helpful
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Red
2012 Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Art Series
91 points
Leanish and very Cabernet on the nose, with a strong pencil-shavings character. Plenty of bright red fruit on the palate, which was surprisingly soft and drinkable. Nice wine, but on this showing not as special as the Art Series Chardonnay.
Flight 5 (3 notes)
Red
2000 Château Lynch-Bages
95 points
Magnum. Surprisingly developed given the format, with a soft, truffley, gamey nose. Drinking beautifully though: excellent balance, ever-changing flavours, refreshing acidity, powdery tannins with just the right amount of grip, and a long finish. This is now an expensive wine, but deservedly so.
3 people found this helpful
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Red
2000 Château Gruaud Larose
93 points
Tender, mature nose, with something (attractively) medicinal to it. Bright red fruit and lovely mature silky tannins, and then a gorgeously juicy finish. Felt clean rather than as Bretty as some wines (not this vintage) tried at the Chateau earlier this year. In a great spot - at peak?
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Red
2009 Château Malescot St. Exupéry
flawed
Was really looking forward to this, but alas mildly corked :-(
Flight 6 (3 notes)
Red
2007 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
94 points
Ripe yet balanced on the nose, with a stony, earthy quality; obviously 'in the zone'. Just delicious on the palate, with deep cassis fruit, tons of personality and a floral finish. All in all, pretty sublime - although priced at almost First Growth levels, so it should be!
Red
2000 Bodegas Caro (Barons de Rothschild / Catena) Caro
93 points
Surprisingly dark given its age. Deep, soulful nose. Plenty of interest on the palate, which was green and earthy, bright and spicy, had some residual grip and an enduring, deliciously tangy finish. Super wine.
Flight 7 (2 notes)
Red
2013 Tewhau The Point
92 points
Very classical in style. Clean and soft, easy to like, with a notably long juicy, fruit-forward finish. Very good wine, but didn't particularly speak to me.
Red
2018 Stonyridge Vineyard Larose
91 points
Smoky, grassy nose. Sweeter and cleaner than the TeWhau - in good balance, with a juicy, sweetish finish. Nice wine but not exciting.
Flight 8 (2 notes)
Red
2017 Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon
92 points
Definitely warmer and oakier than I usually like my Bordeaux blends, but that was balanced by some green varietal character (this is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petite Sirah, 8% Merlot). Sleek and sensual - a well-made wine of straightforward pleasure.
Red
2018 Anwilka
90 points
63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Syrah and 5% Petit Verdot, made by Matt Day of Klein Constantia. Pretty marked by the 50% new oak at this stage, although that didn't completely overwhelm the florality of the underlying material. Deep and juicy with a lingering savoury finish. This is reasonable value but I can't see when I'd ever want to drink it - somewhat fell between stools stylistically.
Closing
In brief summary:
Tarlant - so reliable
Ygrec - a new expensive habit
Vat 1 - don't open them young!
Red Bordeaux - obvs
Expensive Napa - maybe as a special treat
Chilean Cab Sauv - these are always better than I expect
Cheaper NW Bordeaux blends - probably not
This much wine - ouch