March 13, 2024 - Prieuré Lichine 2000 At its top !
March 3, 2024 - Tried side by side with a Belgrave 2000, which is constructed much simplier and is in a different price-range. Just wanted to see, if the vintage is ready. And: yes, it is! 4 hours of air. Beautiful fresh aromas of flowers and herbs, tobacco, wet forest floor and blackcurrant on the nose. The palate shows some cherries and black fruits, silky tannins. The acidity keeps the wine fresh and balances the fruit, but I think I will like it even more when it will be more integrated in the future. All in all expressive, complex, fresh, medium-length. Nice try but will certainly get even better in a few years. Drink with 4 hours of air or keep in cellar....92-93++ pts.
January 21, 2024 - Decanted for two hours in a small decanter, and the wine would have benefited from longer aeration. Dark garnet colour. Red and dark fruit, black currant, blackberry, plum, vegetal notes, earth, mushroom, light tobacco, some ground coffee, and spices, with medium-level acidity, sturdy tannin, and very good length. Leafier and more ethereal on day. I was surprised by how young this wine was. Decanting for three hours the day before might had done the trick. Alternatively, I suggest holding for another five years. 90(?)
January 18, 2024 - Elegant, complex, balanced. Really good at the moment. Deink now.
November 9, 2023 - Decanted for a couple of hours after being upright for a month. Served at 12°. Nose is really lovely; earth, some sliced mushrooms and a hint of beef carpaccio (complete with the citrus). Palate is cool fruited, long and balanced. Tannins have melted away, some tertiary earth tones persist with a little spice and some Margaux berries. Really lovely.
October 8, 2023 - This is a smoking good Margaux specimen. Really beautiful notes of mushroom, violets, brewing coffee in its seductive bouquet. The fruit is totally in balance with the sum of all things terroir-istic (not to be confused with terroristic) and resresentaive of what aficionados have experienced from this appellation that keeps bringing them back. This wine delivers. Ready! Drink
September 23, 2023 - Promisingly open earthy nose. The palate is 100 % open delivering all its goods, fruit is ripe but by no means cooked, perfumes, moist dark earth, raspberries and spices. Fully resolved tannins and fresh medium acidity. The aftertaste is long and mouthwatering. This is in a perfect place right now, hard to see a Left Banker at this price point being better.
June 11, 2023 - This has to be a burgundy lovers dream Bordeaux at this stage. The nose is a soaring 95, full of classic beautiful tones of earth, mushrooms, and coffee tinged night flowers. Really pretty and so,so French. The palate shows allot more age than the bouquet, with its mild manner and soft allure of more of that earthy beauty and dried fruit. The Medium finish is really what keeps this from getting the score of the bouquet, but man this sure is beautiful to sniff. Fully mature in bottles and easy to hold in magnums yet….DRINK
May 1, 2023 - Another bonus bottle, it wasn't in my inventory but it was physically in my cellar (probably bought 6, not 3 like I put in cellartracker).
This was gorgeous! I think it was my best one yet. Distinct mature bordeaux cedar quality, which I think extends from that graphite/bell pepper side of things. Something floral too and a great core of mature fruit. It had a certain sweet quality to it as well though it is definitely a dry wine. Long finish. Soft tannins. This was elegant, a real refined wine. Very enjoyable. I wonder if I have another that's not logged!
March 2, 2023 - Mature and beautifully developed bouquet with dark berries and sweet spices, some smoke, forest and stable smells. On the palate beautiful and a bit rustic with pleasant oak, juicy acidity and round tannin with still a soft bite. Beautiful and mature wine. No real hurry.