We opened this tonight & were immediately brought back to our time in Bordeaux. Still has quite a bit of life left to it- what a pleasant surprise! Decanted ~1 hour. Golden hues. Bright & flavorful. I would think this still has a few years of life left to it!
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Showing great at 25+ years old. Just barely starting to brick at the edges. Heady nose of black fruit, crushed stones, hint of bell pepper.. Very "French" (in a good way :))
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13% ABV. Medium garnet appearance. Poured in a decanter and served after 30 min.
Got punched in the face with Brett at first whiff. Blackberry, cassis, cigar box, saddle leather, and gameiness on the nose. Elegant moutfeel. Acidity still vibrant. Tannins are resolved. Medium+ length finish.
Really hard to shake off the Brett influence on this as it tended to overpower most of the aromas throughout the night. I'm sure there's better bottles out there, but overall, this shows a classic St. Estephe profile in aromas while not being very profound ('97 was a tough vintage). This is a drink now with urgency as I don't see this evolving further and probably on its decline.
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Pinkish/brick red rim, dark ruby center. Decanted for an hour. Masculine bouquet of blackcurrant and earthiness. Youthful despite 26 years of age. Drank like a junior Pichon-Lalande. In prime and very pleasant.
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Still has bite and the bouquet is powerful and fruity. Finish is long and has bit of dry wood and cloves in it. Last one in the case and this was a great buy 20 or so years ago.
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Records not handy. Bought 6b, probably under 25/b from Binny's about 18 years ago along with some other '97s; this is #1. Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Medium purple; fragrant blackcurrant nose that follows on the palate, good but overall simple flavors. Has held up well, no sign of decline but won't improve. Others have found more to like in recent years so I'll try again. Tasty now and for some time to come, glad to have a few more. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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Although past prime it has a lot of mature Bordeaux character. Medium body, not big on the nose but great balance and long display of layers of fruit. Really enjoyable in a mote subtle style.
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Attractive bouquet of ink and cassis, the palate follows the nose offering ripe fruit, deep inky flavours, mouldy earth and forest floor, cassis and tones of a mature Bdx, still holding surprisingly well and drinking nicely, a harmonious wine, clearly one of the better -97s if the bottle is well kept.
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I expected very little with this bottle that I had basically forgotten I had. Dreading the inevitable Brett, assuming well past it’s prime, thin and non-aromatic on a bottle that had less then stellar reviews to begin with. But I was wrong.....
Right out of the gate I was hit with wonderful aromas of fruit, and subtle oxidation. No signs of Brett whatsoever. This bottle was admittedly of medium body, but in a great place with age - the balance was perfect between acidity and alcohol, as well as with integrated oak, and a lot of red fruit. A complex Bordeaux to be sure, not my usual style preference, but this bottle was a very pleasant surprise!
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Still a little life left in this well-made St. Estephe. Hints of tobacco and leather underpin the scant notes of anise and blackberry. I bet this was in full bloom about 5 years ago, but it was still a very enjoyable bottle with baby back rib dinner.
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This was a great surprise. Outperformed a bunch of other grand crus during a dinner (duck breast) and showed lots of nice flavors of cedar, tabacco and spice. Very long on the finish. Now I wish there were more bottles left in the case.
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With a classically austere graphite/cedar nose and palate of restrained (rather than subdued) fruit, this is what Claret is all about. This is a wine that demands food (we had it with rump of lamb) and does not shout about itself, but artfully enhances the meal. I picked this up at auction for about £20, but would happily pay a little more.
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Colour: ruby red, pale at rim, clear, no purple. Nose: hints of sweet, woody, cedar, menthol. Taste: medium bodied, very little tannin, medium finish, slight fruit, overall slightly thin. Conclusion: drink up, not a strong year for bordeaux - this compared to the recently tasted 1995 proves the point.
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13%. Decanted for 30 minutes. Rustic red. Straightfrorward light nose of berry, coffee, earth and hints of cassis. Soften tannins and drinking very well. Rather short to medium finish though. Soft medium bodied. Went very well with the roasted leg of lamb. This 1997 is probably nearing the end of its drinking window. Same owners as Pontet-Canet, this property has not performed as well as their Paulliac sister Chateau.
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Excellent wine with complex nose and palate. Soft tannins and long finish. fruit was sutle but not overpowered by the oaking. Served with roast turkey. Wine was light but still had some robustness which demonstrated its quality. Decanted for an hour.
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ZICHT: Kristalhelder, Intens, Doorzichtigheid: 4/5, Granaatrood AROMA: Intens - geur van zwarte vruchten, gedroogde vijg, eikenhout, Vanille en begin van dierlijke geuren AANGENAAM - EVENWICHTIG EN HARMONIEUS GEMAAKT Moet gedronken worden
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Still a favorite Chateau of mine producing reasonable priced wines, with good quality level. Just drank my last 1997 and even though they might drink well for another couple of years I think they are starting to loose their fruit a little and the oak seems to be the most dominant character of the wine now.
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12/24/2023 - Doc90 wrote: 92 Points
Warm spice, moody forest. Quite typical Saint-Estephe, and totally enjoyable while cooking on Christmas Eve.
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12/20/2023 - jeffbobick Likes this wine: 91 Points
We opened this tonight & were immediately brought back to our time in Bordeaux. Still has quite a bit of life left to it- what a pleasant surprise! Decanted ~1 hour. Golden hues. Bright & flavorful. I would think this still has a few years of life left to it!
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2/3/2023 - danstrings Likes this wine: 90 Points
Showing great at 25+ years old. Just barely starting to brick at the edges. Heady nose of black fruit, crushed stones, hint of bell pepper.. Very "French" (in a good way :))
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1/26/2023 - iBurg1229 wrote: 87 Points
13% ABV. Medium garnet appearance. Poured in a decanter and served after 30 min.
Got punched in the face with Brett at first whiff. Blackberry, cassis, cigar box, saddle leather, and gameiness on the nose. Elegant moutfeel. Acidity still vibrant. Tannins are resolved. Medium+ length finish.
Really hard to shake off the Brett influence on this as it tended to overpower most of the aromas throughout the night. I'm sure there's better bottles out there, but overall, this shows a classic St. Estephe profile in aromas while not being very profound ('97 was a tough vintage). This is a drink now with urgency as I don't see this evolving further and probably on its decline.
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1/18/2023 - GuanYu Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pinkish/brick red rim, dark ruby center. Decanted for an hour. Masculine bouquet of blackcurrant and earthiness. Youthful despite 26 years of age. Drank like a junior Pichon-Lalande. In prime and very pleasant.
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3/6/2021 - pilatus88 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still has bite and the bouquet is powerful and fruity. Finish is long and has bit of dry wood and cloves in it. Last one in the case and this was a great buy 20 or so years ago.
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6/25/2020 - Oenecnist wrote:
Records not handy. Bought 6b, probably under 25/b from Binny's about 18 years ago along with some other '97s; this is #1. Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Medium purple; fragrant blackcurrant nose that follows on the palate, good but overall simple flavors. Has held up well, no sign of decline but won't improve. Others have found more to like in recent years so I'll try again. Tasty now and for some time to come, glad to have a few more. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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2/9/2020 - pilatus88 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Although past prime it has a lot of mature Bordeaux character. Medium body, not big on the nose but great balance and long display of layers of fruit. Really enjoyable in a mote subtle style.
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6/20/2019 - Lype Likes this wine:
Attractive bouquet of ink and cassis, the palate follows the nose offering ripe fruit, deep inky flavours, mouldy earth and forest floor, cassis and tones of a mature Bdx, still holding surprisingly well and drinking nicely, a harmonious wine, clearly one of the better -97s if the bottle is well kept.
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7/29/2018 - Ebartone Likes this wine: 93 Points
I expected very little with this bottle that I had basically forgotten I had. Dreading the inevitable Brett, assuming well past it’s prime, thin and non-aromatic on a bottle that had less then stellar reviews to begin with. But I was wrong.....
Right out of the gate I was hit with wonderful aromas of fruit, and subtle oxidation. No signs of Brett whatsoever. This bottle was admittedly of medium body, but in a great place with age - the balance was perfect between acidity and alcohol, as well as with integrated oak, and a lot of red fruit. A complex Bordeaux to be sure, not my usual style preference, but this bottle was a very pleasant surprise!
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1/6/2017 - pilatus88 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Remarkably potent for the year. Love the fruit and long mellow spicy finish. At its prime and should be drunk now.
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8/8/2015 - Barry'sFault Likes this wine: 87 Points
Still a little life left in this well-made St. Estephe. Hints of tobacco and leather underpin the scant notes of anise and blackberry. I bet this was in full bloom about 5 years ago, but it was still a very enjoyable bottle with baby back rib dinner.
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3/14/2015 - pilatus88 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Surpassed peak! Getting thin.
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8/31/2014 - gaggs wrote: 88 Points
Red fruit and cassis. Weak tannins. May have shut down
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12/30/2013 - pilatus88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was a great surprise. Outperformed a bunch of other grand crus during a dinner (duck breast) and showed lots of nice flavors of cedar, tabacco and spice. Very long on the finish. Now I wish there were more bottles left in the case.
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2/24/2013 - pilatus88 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Medium bodied. Earthy with very little tannin but with some spicy tones of cedar. Very enjoyable but on the lighter side. Drink now.
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12/20/2012 - thewinelake Likes this wine: 90 Points
With a classically austere graphite/cedar nose and palate of restrained (rather than subdued) fruit, this is what Claret is all about. This is a wine that demands food (we had it with rump of lamb) and does not shout about itself, but artfully enhances the meal. I picked this up at auction for about £20, but would happily pay a little more.
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8/11/2012 - mygrogro wrote: 88 Points
smokey earthy soft
enjoy with a nice french dish
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8/7/2011 - mygrogro wrote: 88 Points
earthy smokey taste, very enjoyable
solid 88
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11/7/2009 - jglineker wrote: 82 Points
Colour: ruby red, pale at rim, clear, no purple. Nose: hints of sweet, woody, cedar, menthol. Taste: medium bodied, very little tannin, medium finish, slight fruit, overall slightly thin. Conclusion: drink up, not a strong year for bordeaux - this compared to the recently tasted 1995 proves the point.
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10/3/2008 - guelfi wrote: 77 Points
Décanté 1h. Vin clair et trop amer. Peu de fruits et peu d'épices. Bon nez.
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9/22/2008 - windgod wrote: 89 Points
13%. Decanted for 30 minutes. Rustic red. Straightfrorward light nose of berry, coffee, earth and hints of cassis. Soften tannins and drinking very well. Rather short to medium finish though. Soft medium bodied. Went very well with the roasted leg of lamb. This 1997 is probably nearing the end of its drinking window. Same owners as Pontet-Canet, this property has not performed as well as their Paulliac sister Chateau.
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8/11/2008 - David J Cooper wrote:
Deep red. A hint of funk, plums and coffee. Lots of flavour and nice tannins and acid. Very good Bordeaux.
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1/1/2007 - dwood wrote: 88 Points
Excellent wine with complex nose and palate. Soft tannins and long finish. fruit was sutle but not overpowered by the oaking. Served with roast turkey. Wine was light but still had some robustness which demonstrated its quality. Decanted for an hour.
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1/29/2006 - WHH wrote: 89 Points
ZICHT: Kristalhelder, Intens, Doorzichtigheid: 4/5, Granaatrood
AROMA: Intens - geur van zwarte vruchten, gedroogde vijg, eikenhout, Vanille en begin van dierlijke geuren
AANGENAAM - EVENWICHTIG EN HARMONIEUS GEMAAKT
Moet gedronken worden
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12/21/2005 - Botanique wrote: 77 Points
somewhat thin and lacking in both nose and body. Little tannins left.
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7/15/2005 - bevort wrote: 87 Points
Still a favorite Chateau of mine producing reasonable priced wines, with good quality level. Just drank my last 1997 and even though they might drink well for another couple of years I think they are starting to loose their fruit a little and the oak seems to be the most dominant character of the wine now.
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