December 6, 2023 - 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, aged in oak barrels (40% new) during 18 months, 13% vol. Cellared since release.
PnP and planned to drink half of the bottle at dinner and store the second half for the next day, but at the end of the evening the bottle was empty. On the nose leather, underwood and in the back still a hint of black current, on the palate dry with good freshness and mouthfeel, medium+ bodied and very long finish, superb.
Mature and classic Médoc, best bottle yet but unfortunately the last one, drink now or within the next 10+ years, needs food (for me as always with a selection of best French cheese) else it might be still a bit austere.
September 19, 2023 - 13% alcohol. The cork is of medium length but of pretty good quality, and it shows no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. Deep colour with moderate thinning at the rim.
The nose is correct Médoc without much charm; nothing wrong, but pretty straight-laced. Similarly strict in the mouth, with plenty of integrity but short on flexibility.
Enjoyed it less than Gloria 2005 that I had recently.
Frankly not terribly successful on this outing.
September 9, 2023 - Nice classic old school profile. Plenty of life in this bottle
August 11, 2023 - Decanted for half an hour. Very dark ruby/red. Nose is full of blackcurrant fruit. Drank initially without food. Tannins noticeable, and a little acidic. Quite dry, but enough fruit to make it pleasant drinking. With food it is delicious, the acidity and tannins (almost) disappear, leaving soft mainly blackcurrant fruit, but without a great deal of length. Very good with strong cheese.
November 1, 2022 - Corked.
May 31, 2020 - 13% alcohol. CS 75%, M 25%. Cork of average length showing no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. Deep colour with little sign of ageing.
The nose has good intensity, with prominent blackcurrant. The mouth follows suit in a lively sprightly style; largely resolved tannins, but plenty of grip nevertheless thanks in no small part to its refreshing acidity. The oak is properly confined to a supporting rôle.
Maybe more austere than most people's idea of Margaux, but very enjoyable nevertheless. I see that the Merlot content is now much increased (since 2014), and I cannot help wondering if this was due to the relentless contempt in which the property was held by influential reviewers (remember these dinosaurs?) over the years. I would be interested in tasting the new brew, but my experience with Merlot in southern Médoc is not that positive.
May 10, 2019 - Decanted an hour before dinner. Needs time to open, still very tart and requires food, On the nose intense and quite complex with a lot of tertiary notes (leather, forest floor and smoke), the fruit is more in the background but it's there and tends to black currant. On the palate high acidity, medium+ bodied and long finish.
Was very good with cheese and I am still impressed on this wine, when it was young it was airy and easy drinking, not very complex but good, now it gets very complex and quite dense, there is no hurry to drink, it is still improving and will easily stay for 10 or more years, 91-92.
March 5, 2019 - Traditional lean claret, in a good way, with nice lift and freshness and recognisable Margaux signature. A bit more rustic than its Rauzan-Segla flight mate, but very satisfying glass of claret.
March 5, 2019 - 2002 Bordeaux at Piccolino (Piccolino, Exchange Square, London): Darker fruit, touch of meatiness, smoke. Medium/full bodied, tannins still quite firm on the finish.
October 24, 2018 - 13% alcohol. Long cork of mediocre quality (the end bit nearly becomes detached upon careful pulling out). Decanted a short hour ahead. Medium to high colour density.
The nose has good energy, with just-about-ripe wild berries and some muted confectionery. The mouth is similarly lean, but not in a bad way.
This screams Médoc rather than Margaux to me, which is not a major complaint. No protruding oak; tannins are civilised.
Not smooth or silky, but very enjoyable nevertheless in a slightly rustic way.