May 4, 2024 - This is better than it's ever been. If you've ever doubted the old chestnut of a wine "putting on weight" with age this will disabuse you of any skepticism. The fruit here is as black and dense as road tar, still youthful, succulent, and sweet - except when this was *actually* in its youth it was nowhere nearly so rich and dense. But the accompanying flavors are the stuff that only comes out with bottle age, loads of smoldering tobacco and a scorched, singed character that's almost Pessac-like. This is still climbing up its slope, possibly with even more room for improvement, but at the very least a long ways to go before it tastes like something you'd call mature. Perhaps a successor to the underrated 1985?
April 1, 2024 - Nicely aged powerful Pauillac! A blend of 45 % CS, 35 % Merlot, 12 % CF and 8 % PV: tobacco, bell pepper, black fruit, leather, smoke, cigar box, medium plus body, nice long dry finish.
March 20, 2024 - Big and oaky, with a strong slightly unpleasant finish of tar. Quite a heavy extraction here, with a robust structure. Long finish. Some complexity. Drinking now, may improve.
March 2, 2024 - 달콤한 꽃향기 & 깔끔함
February 24, 2024 - It took quite a while for this wine to come out of its shell (2+ hours), but once it did, it was a pleasant experience. Had a level of acidity that was a bit surprising and fairly thin for Pauillac. Some fruit, but mostly tertiary notes. Tobacco, cedar.
January 26, 2024 - A 3hr slow-ox in Reidel BDXs & btl prior to dinner did the trick. Drinking so much better than my first un-impressive btl back in 2014 & there's still some upside, I think. With just one btl though, no regrets where we found it. Classic Pauillac with cigar ash, berries & forest floor on the nose. Lead pencil, more cigar and red fruit on an elegant mostly resolved palate. Very enjoyable with Nita's cast iron flank steak. Purchased a few years down the road from release but spent most its time in my wine cabinet. Served in the high 50s/low 60s.
December 27, 2023 - Stunning and full of tertiary notes with some primary fruit still going strong and a well balanced mouthfeel. Classic Pauillac that still has 5-10 years ahead.
October 16, 2023 - Flawed
October 14, 2023 - This was singing tonight. Decanted one hour. Intense aromas of cassis, mushroom, green pepper, and cedar planks. Just lovely in the mouth with dark red berries carrying the load along with tobacco and mint. Deep and powerful but with plenty of acidity providing raciness and tension. Long, edgy, resinous, finish. What a great ride! Drink now or hold for another 5 years, at least. Great stuff.
August 24, 2023 - Tasted blind: tobacco, red fruit nose. Good concentration of fruit, medium body and straight forward compared to '82 Grand Puy Lacoste. A little horsey and a mineral snap on the finish suggests a low level of Brett. A classic Bordeaux.