Pnp. Beautiful. Right out of the gate. Light and flavorful. Fruit driven. Complex. Reminded me of a cdp. I don't think it improved with air and I don't see it improving. Bordeaux drinkers loved it, the new world wine drinkers did not, however.
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This is a nice claret. Some white pepper on the nose and palate integrated with cedar, sweet earth, tobacco and red fruits, good acidity and medium tannins.
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such good value and drinking really nice right now. plenty of fruit and complexity, but a little more simple, straightforward then some of the pricier bordeauxs. nice, firm, solid structure.
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slightly past its prime but the maturity yields amazing aromas of eucalyptus and sweet basil. Fruit was fading away but still showed the shadows of cassias and tart cherries.
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Tasty and perfectly integrated St. Julien. Initially, the nose showed some tobacco, coffee and cassis, but after several hours in the decanter this turned into seaweed and earthy. On the palate this was well integrated mild mixture of cedar, fruits and earthy elements with again some tobacco. Very nice pairing with a baked ny strip steak. This was quite mild but enjoyable bordeaux. I would score it higher if there was little more intensity on the finish... would be very happy to re-purchase is I could find it....
Decanted for 30 minutes. Very intense and classic old world nose. Unfortunately, the wine quickly fell apart after 20 minutes or so. No finish at all. Possible bottle variation? Would drink up..
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1997 Cru Bourgeois for $20? That can end up being only 1 of 2 things. A great deal or a stinker. This one is a great deal. Needs only 30 minutes in the decanter to open up and then shows a great mix of cigar tobacco and subtle red fruits. Very nicely integrated with good balance. I don't think I've had a better $20 aged Bordeaux. Immediately repurchased a case.
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I have had 13 bottles of this wine since October 2011. I like it. This bottle was ok, not great. This is another wine that needs roughly 45 minutes in a decanter to open up. Still has nice sweet Saint Julien fruit coming through.
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Saturday Smorgasbord of Tastings (San Francisco): Medium center, watery edge. Secondary high perfume along with disturbing stalkiness. Light style, yes elegant, but borderline adequate ripeness. Faded fruit. This is beyond complete resolution and on its way downhill.
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1997 California Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot Pairs (Tom's house in Palo Alto, California): Very weird nose (not funk, just weird). Very thin palate. Tasted blind. My 8th and group's 8th (88 pts). I've had this wine a few other times this year and it performed better. This was included as a Bdx ringer in our California Cabernet-Merlot tasting tonight and most people were able to identify this as the ringer.
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Another great showing for this wine. Awesome nose of new saddle leather, black-cherries, smoke, olives, and herbs (the most attractive part of this wine right now) and a less impressive, but still excellent palate.
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Drank with friends so no formal notes but this one was mature, subtle and layered. Nice stuff and more than fairly priced at $20. That said this one, IMHO (which is weak as I am not versed in the vintage or the Chateau), isn’t going to get any better so if you have it I’d be looking to drink now…
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Our own Jugement de Paris with 10+ years old affordable wines (Our House, San Jose, CA): Very nice and fairly generous earty, vegetal nose. The palate is a little light, but provides a nice earthy and rustic experience with a fairly long finish. An incredible QPR for $20 these days... especially for a 15 yo Bordeaux! One more wine to add to my growing list of nice '97 Bordeaux discoveries! Tasted blind.
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Drank at a tapas restaurant out of a drinking glass, so hard to know the potential. A little on the light side, but elegant with nice hints of fruit mixed in with spicy, dusty flavors. Great bargain at $20.
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For the money ($18 at K&L) this wine is a knock-out. I have had two bottles and both were exceptional. It is not a pop and pour though. This wine needs to be decanted for about 30 minutes so that it can stretch its legs. I am constantly surprised how good these wines from the 1997 vintage have held up. Breaking Down Restaurant Wine Lists - Right Bottle at the Right Price - www.vinoservant.com.
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I remember drinking this two weeks ago, but did not write detailed tasting notes. It was a very smooth cedary bordeaux but I was surprised how much structure this has left. Improves with decanting and can go for several more years.
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4/3/2016 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
Amazing Nose (B++/A-). Excellent Palate (B+/B++).
Quite a PQR purchase at $20 a few years ago!
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3/7/2015 - 82Latour Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent notes. Fantastic.
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8/24/2014 - 82Latour Likes this wine: 91 Points
PNP, floral, bret, big open nose. Flat on the palate, scorched earth, cedar. Mid finish.
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12/29/2013 - gjv115 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pnp. Beautiful. Right out of the gate. Light and flavorful. Fruit driven. Complex. Reminded me of a cdp. I don't think it improved with air and I don't see it improving. Bordeaux drinkers loved it, the new world wine drinkers did not, however.
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10/4/2013 - dke Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is a nice claret. Some white pepper on the nose and palate integrated with cedar, sweet earth, tobacco and red fruits, good acidity and medium tannins.
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5/19/2013 - richshoes Likes this wine: 92 Points
such good value and drinking really nice right now. plenty of fruit and complexity, but a little more simple, straightforward then some of the pricier bordeauxs. nice, firm, solid structure.
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5/6/2013 - MrMitosis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs, and drank with BBQ ribs--excellent wine.
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4/30/2013 - stevedecosta wrote: 89 Points
slightly past its prime but the maturity yields amazing aromas of eucalyptus and sweet basil. Fruit was fading away but still showed the shadows of cassias and tart cherries.
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3/24/2013 - dke Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasty and perfectly integrated St. Julien. Initially, the nose showed some tobacco, coffee and cassis, but after several hours in the decanter this turned into seaweed and earthy. On the palate this was well integrated mild mixture of cedar, fruits and earthy elements with again some tobacco. Very nice pairing with a baked ny strip steak. This was quite mild but enjoyable bordeaux. I would score it higher if there was little more intensity on the finish... would be very happy to re-purchase is I could find it....
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2/2/2013 - jdp2109 wrote: 85 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Very intense and classic old world nose. Unfortunately, the wine quickly fell apart after 20 minutes or so. No finish at all. Possible bottle variation? Would drink up..
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1/30/2013 - Rob MacKay wrote: 90 Points
1997 Cru Bourgeois for $20? That can end up being only 1 of 2 things. A great deal or a stinker. This one is a great deal. Needs only 30 minutes in the decanter to open up and then shows a great mix of cigar tobacco and subtle red fruits. Very nicely integrated with good balance. I don't think I've had a better $20 aged Bordeaux. Immediately repurchased a case.
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1/25/2013 - VinoServant wrote: 88 Points
I have had 13 bottles of this wine since October 2011. I like it. This bottle was ok, not great. This is another wine that needs roughly 45 minutes in a decanter to open up. Still has nice sweet Saint Julien fruit coming through.
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1/22/2013 - MH Amateur wrote: 89 Points
Quite good. Nose was cigar box, grass (perhaps herbs) and tomatoes. First time I have gotten a tomato smell. It was faint.
Color was brownish-red.
Not a long finish but very smooth. Enjoyable and very good.
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11/10/2012 - europat55 wrote: 87 Points
Sadly, this is slightly corked tonight, but you can still see the surprisingly good value underneath.
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7/21/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Saturday Smorgasbord of Tastings (San Francisco): Medium center, watery edge. Secondary high perfume along with disturbing stalkiness. Light style, yes elegant, but borderline adequate ripeness. Faded fruit. This is beyond complete resolution and on its way downhill.
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5/31/2012 - europat55 wrote: 85 Points
1997 California Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot Pairs (Tom's house in Palo Alto, California): Very weird nose (not funk, just weird). Very thin palate. Tasted blind. My 8th and group's 8th (88 pts).
I've had this wine a few other times this year and it performed better. This was included as a Bdx ringer in our California Cabernet-Merlot tasting tonight and most people were able to identify this as the ringer.
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5/18/2012 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
Another great showing for this wine. Awesome nose of new saddle leather, black-cherries, smoke, olives, and herbs (the most attractive part of this wine right now) and a less impressive, but still excellent palate.
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4/22/2012 - Jason Rzutkiewicz wrote:
Drank with friends so no formal notes but this one was mature, subtle and layered. Nice stuff and more than fairly priced at $20. That said this one, IMHO (which is weak as I am not versed in the vintage or the Chateau), isn’t going to get any better so if you have it I’d be looking to drink now…
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3/24/2012 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
Our own Jugement de Paris with 10+ years old affordable wines (Our House, San Jose, CA): Very nice and fairly generous earty, vegetal nose. The palate is a little light, but provides a nice earthy and rustic experience with a fairly long finish. An incredible QPR for $20 these days... especially for a 15 yo Bordeaux! One more wine to add to my growing list of nice '97 Bordeaux discoveries! Tasted blind.
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3/5/2012 - danibus Likes this wine: 88 Points
Juicy and ready to drink. Round. A bit simple but good. Would prefer more of a traditional profile.
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12/18/2011 - christyler wrote: 88 Points
Drank at a tapas restaurant out of a drinking glass, so hard to know the potential. A little on the light side, but elegant with nice hints of fruit mixed in with spicy, dusty flavors. Great bargain at $20.
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10/15/2011 - VinoServant wrote: 89 Points
For the money ($18 at K&L) this wine is a knock-out. I have had two bottles and both were exceptional. It is not a pop and pour though. This wine needs to be decanted for about 30 minutes so that it can stretch its legs. I am constantly surprised how good these wines from the 1997 vintage have held up. Breaking Down Restaurant Wine Lists - Right Bottle at the Right Price - www.vinoservant.com.
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10/15/2011 - dke wrote:
I remember drinking this two weeks ago, but did not write detailed tasting notes. It was a very smooth cedary bordeaux but I was surprised how much structure this has left. Improves with decanting and can go for several more years.
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8/20/2011 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
Lovely nose with dusty, earth, hint vegetal; palate has great red fruit, balance, notable acid. Lovely now. 91-92
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