June 13, 2022 - Popped and left to stand for about an hour before consumption. Mostly tertiary for this puppy. Leather, farmyard, horse shit and wet hay, a little aniseed and bramble are sitting the background. Juicy acidity savoury textured chalky grip tugs at the tongue and, flavourwise, it's all tertiary with a smidge of bramble. Long. Nice, for me
January 26, 2022 - This 40-year-old St. Julien has rested in my cellar the last 37 years and had a high fill level and intact cork. Initially, it was quite austere, but over the next two hours it opened, revealing earth, chocolate, cedar, and cherry notes and flavors. The tannins were soft. The finish long. It was a classic, mature St. Julien, and I am happy to have another bottle.
October 22, 2021 - The cork seemed glued to the bottle and my ah-so merely cored the cork, leaving a thin layer behind - even to the point that thru the neck of the bottle I could still read the vintage printed on the cork.
Fortunately the wine behind it was still sound. I decanted and drank over the next 2+ hours. It improved a bit for the first hour or more and went very well with dinner later. Medium full bodied, dark fruited with good acidity to back it up, and a lengthy finish.
Quite nice really, and certainly not over the hill. It had real a St. Julien feel to it.
January 27, 2020 - Definitely way past its prime. This was an auction purchase and the bottle wasn't in very good condition (mid-shoulder fill, stained label), so I won't publish a score for this one, but if I had I would probably give it around 87-88 pts.
December 21, 2017 - Definitely thought this was past its peak, but after 60 mins in glass it was still a beautiful drink. Tannins completely resolved, fruit still showing, too subtle to pair with food IMO.
July 17, 2017 - Always a pleasure to taste traditional Medoc wines from a great vintage as this is now a wine threatened by extinction!
This particular bottle may have suffered from a very slight cork taint or perhaps it has reached the end of the road. Based on the color of the wines and its softened tannins, I would certainly drink it in the near future.
Claasic Medoc nose, which undoubtedly is the best part of this wine with the cedar, cigar box aromas and remnant of fruit. While not one of the St Julien stars, it is still a very enjoyable wine.
March 5, 2017 - I'm sure I waited too long to drink this one. It wasn't quite oxidized, but lacked any fruit whatsoever. 3 out of 4 in my party declined to drink any more after the first taste.
January 18, 2015 - Still had life, although it was approaching 'over the hill' status. Wonderful mature brdx nose of leather, dried cherry, wood smoke, and dried herbs. Color was still deep ruby - a little bricking, but still darker than a typical wine this old. In the mouth - medium-full body, dusty tannin, cherries, pencil-lead, and little heat (not much alcohol in this one). Paired well with rack of lamb, maple walnut brussel sprouts and cinnamon sweet potatoes. 92
September 14, 2013 - nose - earthy, tobacco per Jeff
mouth - sweet fruit, well balanced, hint of tobacco, nice & mature
September 15, 2012 - Remarkably dark, hint of brick at edge. Intriguing mineral and vegetal nose. Smooth in the mouth, light and intriguing. Leather, spice and tobacco with a blackcurrant finish. Lingers well Extraordinary, and quite unexpected.