Community Tasting Note

Friday, May 13, 2022 - Decanted and enjoyed over a long evening.

Very young! At this stage, seemingly equal parts red and purple fruited. Exquisite bouquet, prototypical of varieties in place. Bright red fruits and berries, deep purple and black berries, herbs (mint), tobacco, spent espresso grounds, dark chocolate powder, and more concentrated clay and gravel terroir elements than this purist knew what to do with! Hot Damn!

High quality Merlot, with plum, pomegranate, and crunchy red berry notes, serves as a velvet glove, draping an iron fist, Cabernet Sauvignon-driven core, of blackcurrant, pepper garden, graphite, and that piercing, powdered steel-like suspension that differentiates Saint-Estèphe from other Left Bank communes.

Acid, medium plus to high. Tannin, medium to medium plus (powdery and gritty). Air enhanced the experience. The last sips were best.

Purists with low tannin tolerance, who enjoy great Left Bank offerings fully resolved should avoid this for no less than another decade. More rough and tumble, high-tannin tolerate palates should decant for several hours, strap in, and enjoy the kick-ass ride. Once the wine hits its square drinking window, perhaps roundabout 2035, but more likely, 2040, it should hold for several more years.

Only the Léoville Las Cases has made an equal impression in this vintage. That wine delivers strapping substance. This wine delivers striking balance of range and depth. Improvement likely. 98-99.

A powerful tasting experience on which to write my 1,000th Bordeaux note.

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12 comments have been posted

Comment posted by zimmy07:

5/13/2022 5:23:00 PM - yea, this wine is insanely good!!!
Comment posted by Motz:

5/13/2022 6:07:00 PM - Damn straight!
Comment posted by Force5:

5/13/2022 7:40:00 PM - Just bought both this and LLC for one of my kids, and hope I am still around in 2040 to enjoy one with them. Thanks for the 1000th note!
Comment posted by William Kelley:

5/13/2022 8:49:00 PM - Finally someone who posts a CT review of this wine understands it!
Comment posted by zimmy07:

5/13/2022 8:54:00 PM - William, I rated it 98 points with a tasting note 18 months ago, we get it...
Comment posted by zimmy07:

5/13/2022 8:56:00 PM - Motz, have you had the 2003 recently? I had the 2003 and 2005 (a few times each over the past 2 years) and they are both remarkable, I rated them both 98 points and the 2003 is screaming too
Comment posted by William Kelley:

5/13/2022 9:10:00 PM - You nailed it, too, @zimmy07!
Comment posted by zimmy07:

5/13/2022 9:16:00 PM - William, 1921 Montrose! whoa!!! You have the 2005 way up there with other legends, I agree! That bad boy can easily hang with some first growths
Comment posted by boillatm:

5/14/2022 2:46:00 AM - Congratulations on your 1,000th Bordeaux note. Quite a milestone!
I have two bottles of this and upon reading your comment, I think I may open one soon and keep the second for 2035 or so ("si Dieu nous prête vie", as my dad would say).
Comment posted by Motz:

5/14/2022 7:27:00 AM - Thanks to all for the kind words. This wine is special...and I would consider tasting a bottle sooner that later...with the caveat of high tannin tolerance. Cheers!
Comment posted by Teaky:

5/15/2022 9:29:00 AM - Congrats on your 1,000th note sounds like you picked a great bottle for it!
Comment posted by Motz:

5/21/2022 2:28:00 PM - Thank you, Teaky.