Superb Bordeaux with a beautiful colour and an amazing nose of green peppers. The palate is silky and full of berries and some graphite notes. Stunning wine with another 10+ years in the tank
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Dark red. Old school, green bell pepper and sweet cassis. Everything you want from an aged bordeaux is there, school desks, cedar, tobacco, leather and lead, all underpinned by seductive dark cassis. A smokey note emerges with time, it becomes a bit meaty. It's incredible to think this is approaching 30 years old, it's so effortlessly smooth and expressive, rolling along like the class act it is. Sensational wine in all respects.
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France vs ROW (Home): In a really good spot: green pepper jumps out of the glass at first pour, joined by ripe dark berries, pencil shavings, a gamey note- although the fruit really leads the way. It impeccably walks the fine line between saturated richness and cool restraint. No hurry with this one.
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The aroma presents subtly with hints of tobacco, pencil shavings, and faint gamey nuances.
On the palate, the wine displays a compelling juxtaposition of power and grace. Soft, well-integrated tannins offer a mouthwatering sensation, accompanied by flavors of plum, dried cherries, cedar, and leather.
With an undeniable vitality, this wine shows no signs of slowing its evolution for several years. While it may not steal the spotlight as a showstopper, it certainly earns its place as an above-average aged claret.
Decanting for 60 minutes reveals its true character.
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Lunch at Noizé: Dense, full garnet to cloudy mid ruby. Blackcurrant with some mocha. A touch of smoke and beef fat. Fine grained tannins and good acidity. Still quite young. It’s all there. ****
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Generously shared with me by an old friend. What a wine! Upon opening it was very vertical, very tight lines. As it opened and fleshed out came the beautiful Bordeaux aromatics and wine just expanded horizontally for the next 2.5 hours. Just as complex and compelling as wine can get. Drink it or hold it. This bottle showed zero signs of slowing down.
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Solid depth of color. Initial notes are heavy tobacco. Quite light on the palate. Acid and tannins are strong, but balanced. With time, the nose and palate blossomed - great depth. Leather, tobacco, and wood notes.
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CdB BoG; 1/25/2024-1/27/2024 (Denver): From a 15L!!!! What a stunning wine. I thought there was no way this could be so open with only an hour or so decant before serving. Drinking incredibly well, full of fruit, tobacco, spice. No formal notes but wow and consistent with my assessment that 1996 is a fantastic vintage for drinking now (and not to imply it won’t hold up, because it surely will)
Decanted to remove sediment. Open for business immediately with aromas of cranberry, tobacco, green pepper, and roasted coffee beans with some coaxing. The coffee notes continued to intensify with air. Cassis, saddle leather, and pencil lead all in fine balance in the mouth. No rough edges on the medium weight frame. Was hoping for a bit more fruit to stand-up to the structure and minerality but this was in fine form and delivers what you want from an aged Pauillac. Ready now but will hold in this place for another 3-5 years followed by a long graceful decline.
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13 years since my last note on this wine. It definitely seems to have improved! A medium bodied wine, but noble and stately. Tobacco, graphite, leather, and plummy fruit, and a long, gratifying finish. Not as rich or exuberant as other vintages, but it has that Pauillac character for sure.
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Stored since purchase in a tempered cellar. Damped label. Decanted 3 hours based on experiense from previous bottles. Dark red with some brick notes in the rim. Typicle Bordeaux nose. Didn't take any notes. It was a good wine but not great. Had expected more power in the boquet and complexity in the mouth. Hopefully bottle variation. Seems not to be any problem with it's age.
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Wonderful as always. This was the first bottle from a sealed owc. Great richness, lots of mineral. Fruit perhaps just starting to fade. I'd say this has passed peak and is slowly aging toward the older side of its window. Still has a long way to go. Excellent.
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Don't think it was a flawed bottle but the palate came across as light and had a distinct lack of fruits (all tertiary). The nose stayed very aromatic but the palate really didn't hold up. My initial feeling was that with air it will put across more weight but it didn't really happen.
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Crabs and scallops and kanonkop oh my (Winchester): The. Nose. All the things. Opened and poured and my goodness you couod live for a month on just what you get from sniffing the glass. Bricking on the rim - hard to believe it’s younger than the Kanonkop. The nose draws you on - no funk but so much claret going on, pencil shavings and sone bramble, and on the palate such balance and length. It’s like listening to a great recording of the brandenburg concertos on a really good hifi, it’s all there, it seems quiet and natural until you turn it off and then you realise just how special it is.
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Pronounced nose intensity with notes of mushroom, earth, spices, toast, cooked black fruits. Medium acidity and medium tannin. Tannin is integrated. Long finish. This is my 4th bottle of 1996 vintage and I realised my score are all different. It seem like theres quite a big variation of bottle condition. Did not decant and don’t think it need decanting.
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Finally had to admit, after drinking three in the last 6 years, that the pleasure has been intellectual more than sensual. I appreciate it and it's interesting, but there's no hedonism here for me. Happy for folks for whom it's a fuller experience.
Tasted blind next ot the 1996 Grand Puy Lacoste which was surprisingly similar yet a tad less structured. Tight nose of tobacco, cedar, and with some some coffee notes. Very tight and concentrated with cool blackcurrant fruit. This bottle was suprisingly young and needs time.
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1er nez s'ouvre sur le poivron rouge, puis très vite apparaissent les arômes noble et classieux de boite à cigare, tabac, blond, fumé, chocolat léger, prunes séchées.
Bouche entre puissance et finesse sur le tabac blond, les tannins sont savoureux.
Un très bon et beau bordeaux (sans notes truffées ou mentholées à ce stade).
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Pencil shavings slight hints of green cassis dark and blue berries. This wine drinks great and should continue to do so for a long time to come. Very enjoyable with a nice decant.
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Deep garnet. Rich nose of blackberries and tobacco. A bit more muted on the palate, but still very good. Probably not yet at its peak. Soft tannins, but fairly high acidity. Decanted an hour before drinking.
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Over ripe plums and blueberry, a chunk of graphite and cedar, forest floor, leather. Wonderfully open with deep fruit. Still a lick of tannins but this is drinking very well.
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Opened by Jcubed at an offline. Clear garnet color. Beautiful old worl character. An erthy texture with mineral, iron, cassis and leather notes. A smooth and round finish. Frist time I've had the 1996 but compared to the 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2010 vintages I previously had this was right up there and surpassed only by the 2000. 96 points.
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Showing some age with a bit of bricking. Notes of macerated red berries, currant, sandalwood and autumn forest. Medium-bodied with integrated tannins and flavors of red currant, tea, earth and cedar. A bit of cigar box as well. Excellent and drinking quite well having just a little while to breathe in bottle once the cork was pulled- perhaps only thirty or forty minutes. One of my favorites tonight. (J3)
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I supplied for our wine dinner at CKH last nite, and didn't disappoint. Decanted briefly at our table (mistake: Decant for solid 1-2 hrs next time). As at my last tasting, very impressive nose of cigar box, black fruit and tobacco. Medium body, still copious amounts of black fruit, good concentration and grip, soft tannins somewhat resolved. The wine seemed more muted than I recall, and seemed to be holding back a bit--hence, my suggestion for long decant to open it up more next time. Still, a lovely long finish. Drinking well, and still some good drinking time ahead. Nose is the wine's best element on this occasion, but hopeful the palate will come around more hedonistically the next time.
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A near facsimile of my note from October 2021, maybe this time with a hair more staying power. If you come to this wine expecting a top Baron vintage or a Baron that does what it does nowadays - challenges the firsts regularly - then you may be disappointed. But if you approach the wine not expecting a top 96, you’ll find a very nice representation of Baron.
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Very lean and clean Paulliac. Tobacco, cigar box. A touch of sweet fruit left. A magnum of this was singing a year ago, and was bigger. This didn't quite live up but was still solid. Maybe an earlier drinker? Or a middle age phase.
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Tied for my wine of the night with a 2000 SHL. Amazing nose, initial taste, integration of grapes and mouthfeel. It was tasted blind and most of us guessed right bank since the ‘clues’ suggested a merlot based wine (it was 80% cabernet and 20% merlot). Drank directly from bottle without decanting for 2 hours and it maintained all of its nuances throughout that time period. I think it can maintain this plateau for 5+ years. Great wine and vintage. It’s partner wine (1996 Pichon Lalande) is one of my favorite Bordeaux hands down.
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Nose of flint and tobacco, dark fruit is medium body seemed older...integrated light tannin and acid....good finish. Classic. I decanted for 90 minutes....less next time.
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Popped and poured, and ravaged over the next hour. What a great wine. What a great bottle. Stored so well over 28 years. Mature Bordeaux at its best. Man, this thing was great!
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Drank last nite with the Case Handler at Lure. Opened in my apt hour b4, and decanted briefly at restaurant. Impressive nose of cigar box, black fruit and tobacco. Medium body, good black fruit, good concentration and grip, soft tannins somewhat resolved. Lovely long finish. Drinking well, and still some good drinking time ahead.
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4th of 12, opened 90 minutes, perfect cork and level, developing glacially and little changed from bottle noted in March 20, upside, 25+ years. F+ (18).
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This drinks exceptionally well right now. I agree with the prior tasting note that this wine is in the early part of its long drinking window and has many more years before it starts to decline. I am going to go out on a limb and say that this will be drinking at its peak in 5 years or so. This wine is surprisingly youthful and required a little over an hour in the decanter to show it's best and continued to blossom in the glass. This is classic Paulliac. I only had one bottle but I will seek others. This is right up there with the 1990 vintage of this wine that I love.
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Dinner after the Royal Maundy (Home): Deep garnet. Lovely nose of cassis and tobacco, really quite dense and plush with some pencil lead. Maturing nicely, this is in line with a bottle before Christmas. Really starting to open and show some development without losing sight of its structural frame. Classical, assured understatement. Super with a wild garlic and parsley crusted rack of new season lamb. ****1/2
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Tastes young. Very good wine with a long, bright future ahead. Tannic and a touch vegetal (probably Cab Franc). Let this one sleep for a while, and you will be rewarded (or your children will!).
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This wine is drinking beautifully right now. Decanted for 60 minutes and enjoyed over 2 hours to accompany grilled steak, twice—baked potatoes and avacado/tomato salad. The cork was perfect, the nose surprisingly fruit and floral with no barnyard scent. On the palate it is more herbal and minty with a fairly long finish and prominent tannins. Really quite delicious. I have several more bottles and look forward to the next showing of this superb Bordeaux.
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From 75cl, exquisite cork, no staining back from end. Decanted 90 minutes, seemed about right. Amazingly pure, with a hint of consommée on the nose and pure concentrated blackcurrant on the entry. Smooth as silk on the light-to-medium bodied mid-palate, not particularly long for a wine of this quality. Super-civilised, super-delicious Médoc (blind I would have guessed a Léoville/St.Julien rather than a Pauillac), slightly overwhelmed this evening by rack of lamb with garlic and rosemary. This bottle (retail purchase in 2011) would have kept but not necessarily improved for many years. 92P
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This might be a slightly inflated score, but this is one of these wines where drinking it reminds me of everything great about claret.
Powerful but not flamboyant nose, more herbal than floral. Very minty. A few slightly surprising manure notes when first opened. These dissipated with air, but I'm still unsure if that's a good thing. Lovely fresh mouthfeel. Delicately posed tannins and a delicious long finish.
There are more life-changing Bordeaux wines for sure. But if I had to drink this wine every night for the rest of my life, I'd have no complaints.
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10/12 - decanted 1/2 hour. Quite restrained - showing dark fruit, cedar, touch of blood, medium bodied, harmonious with fresh acidity and a good length finish.
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Christmas Claret: A clear step up from previous bottles. A touch more restrained on the nose. Elegant and classic, more Pauillac than Baron, but opens to,show its class. Deep, plush, nuanced and a sense of elegant restraint. Excellent, and really starting to come in to its own. ****1/2
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Restaurant bottle. Popped and poured. Excellent bottle and impeccably stored. Compared against the 96 Margaux. What a great wine, but tough to beat the Margaux. Still, what a great wine and well within its drinking window.
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Double decanted two hours before dinner. Impressive bouquet, quite proper and very much in keeping with the château and vintage, with notes of blackberry, dried plums, aged tobacco, black truffle, crushed gravel and earth. Medium bodied, with ripe tannins, impressive lift, excellent delineation and grip, and a long and refreshing finish. Bags of life!
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The 1996 may not climb into the top tier of Barons, but it is immediately accessible and dominated on the nose by all things classically Baron - fresh blackberry, coal, beef blood, cedar, tea. What’s missing here is the presence on the palate and dynamic energy seen in the vintages (1989, 1990, 2010, 2016). However, this concludes with a refreshing, long, pencilly finish. After 90 minutes, the aromatic delineation of the nose starts to fade - so a quick decant for sediment just before service seems advisable. Followed for 3.5 hours in total. While this might not deliver the top Baron experience, the market has priced it accordingly in my opinion and there’s plenty of pleasure to be derived from drinking it.
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BYO - Erik: Slightly disappointing performance. The wine is still good but it never really shows any kind of excitement. Especially next to Comtesse and Ducru-B. 91-92p
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Pronounced nose intensity with notes of meaty, earth, toast, herbaceous. High acidity, medium+ tannin. Previously had 96 Baron a couple of months ago, but this bottle taste much better. It could be bottle variation or different storage environment.
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Classic Pichon Baron taste but it’s almost as if someone turned down the volume on the wine. The nose is there but doesn’t invade the sinuses. The palate is there but it is muted and doesn’t finish long. Surprisingly acidic for its age. Bricking on edges. Possibly needs more cellaring but I’ve had other ‘96 BDX that are already excellent.
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Had a 1990s blind tasting Bordeaux theme. Key observation was that despite different individual palate, drinking experiences and how food will impair/change the wines, like previous tasting together; the WOTN and the least preferred is always the most distinctive and obvious. Leaving the rest to individual taste. Also, based on RP vintage chart, 1996 is extraordinary vintage; 96 pointer with remarks of still tannic, youthful or slow to mature. Sometime, off vintage might be a better choice for its readiness and price point.
Bottle 1: 1994 Chateau Latour Medium garnet in colour, tight nose with grippy tannin. Nose of red/black fruits, oak, toast. Medium+ acidity and high tannin. Decanted for 1 hour. Poor vintage for Bordeaux and show that even in poor vintage, the winemaker still can blend and produce good wine. Will not improve and should drink up to enjoy.
Bottle 2: 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild Medium garnet in colour, savoury, mushroom, wet forest, red/black fruits, toast, oak, toast. Silky in the palate. Could guess it’s most probably early 90s. Very enjoyable. Did not decant. My thought aftermath was should drink up and will not improve.
Bottle 3: 1996 Chateau d’Estournel The taste is way better than the nose. Infact felt that the nose was rather closed. On the palate, its mellow, smooth and elegant. Blackcurrant, black fruits, with some toast notes. It lost out due to the nose. Decanted for 1 hour. Previously when tasting d’Estournel I remember always tasting smoky, toast, oaky notes. Should drink up now, in its drinking window.
Bottle 4: 1993 Chateau Angelus Deep garnet in colour. Nose is pronounced of all. Savoury, wet forest, black fruits, oak, toast. Medium+ acidity and high tannin. Though high tannin, it is resolved and smooth in the palate. Double decanting for approximately 1 hour. Another poor vintage but performing at its peak. Surprisingly, based on the notes, it can still probably improve and can be kept easily 5-10 years.
Bottle 5: 1996 Leoville Las Cases Deep garnet in colour. Nose is restrained. More red fruits than black fruits. High tannin and acidity. Very grippy tannin. Slow ox for 2 hours. Personally felt that Las Cases should be showing better than this. Should benefit if it’s decant longer. I felt that it’s in the early drinking window and will improve with more cellar time.
Bottle 6: 1996 Pichon Baron Deep garnet in colour. Nose is poorest compare to all. Full of green, mint, pepper, some slight tints of black fruits. High acidity and tannin. It did not perform well despite a good vintage and wine producer. Probably due to not decanting ahead. Will definitely improve with decanting and cellar time.
Bottle 7: 1996 Carrudes de Lafite Deep garnet in colour. Pronounced notes of red/black fruits, savoury notes. High tannin and acidity. Tannin is smooth in the palate. Did not decant. Drinking very well and will improve with 1-2 hours of decanting. In its optimum drinking window and also will benefit with cellar time.
The WOTN as per average consensus: 1) 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, followed by 2) 1993 Chateau Angelus 3) 1996 Chateau d'Estournel 4) 1996 Carruades de Lafitte 5) 1996 Leoville Las Cases 6) 1994 Chateau Latour and lastly 7) 1996 Pichon Baron
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Blackcurrant, cedar, sandlewood, pencil shavings and a nicely mocha-tinged richness offset against the 96 line. Good line, with a freshness to the finish. Back on form after a slightly underwhelming bottle a couple of months ago. ****
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Very classic on the nose and in the drinking: blackcurrants and raspberries mingle with violet and savoury bay leaf. It is so fresh. Hints of leather and graphite.
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1996 Pauillac with Jane Anson (Zoom!): 80% CS, 15% M, 5% CF. Pencil lead with delightful sweet flowers on the nose, though this sadly faded a bit after about an hour. Really classic and delicious on the palate, with lots of juicy cassis and some hints of strawberry, but also some sexy, dark tertiary things to liven things up and create a sense of tension between the flavours. Really balanced and silky. This wine has undoubtedly come on since I had it a couple of years ago.
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Lunch at La T (La Trompette, London): Served a little warm, but lacking focus and precision initially. Quite soft and broad, a rounded right bank feel. Lacks the trademark mocha notes. Warm and gentle, cosseting even. ****
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No detailed notes. Decanted about 1 hour. Moderately deep garnet-red color with some bricking. Nose at first reserved but eventually opened to reveal sous bois, cassis, tobacco, dry herbs, pencil shavings, and plenty of fruit. The nose never diminished over 3 hours. Beautifully balanced and classy on the palate.
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From magnum. Decanted over cocktails. Showing beautifully with oodles of the wet earth that is the signature of Pichon Baron, medium acid, mature tannins, dried fruit and herbs. At peak I would say but no rush. The earthiness of this label made this one of my favorite wines early in my journey and it remains delicious although I now have occasion to drink more expensive Bordeaux. If you like the style, this is spot on.
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Belle couleur brune, notable epaisseur pour 25 ans d’âge. Nez intense et corsé. Élégance classique. Notes de Sous bois et de poivre . Belle acidité et tanicité, tannins certes bien fondus mais quelques uns tapissant le palais. Seul point négatif. apparition de desagreables notes ferreuses après 3 heures et demie.
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From a 375ml. Needed some air to open up. Dried and fresh red cherries, blackberries, spice, menthol, earth, smoke, tobacco, aged wood, and other complex earthy aromas. Tart cherry, cranberry, red cherry, earth, dried cherry, spice, hints of blackberry, herb, and wood on the palate. Fades nicely but ends with a long, delicious finish. Tart acidity, slightly grippy tannins, lengthy finish. The first word that came to mind was "delightful." So good.
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At the beginning the wine is muted, soft, elegant....but after 3 hours in the bottle (did not decant) glass the wine explodes in intensity into a potpourri of sweet mocha, cigar box, red fruit, and cassis. Everything delightful of the left bank. The tannins are soft and velvety but the structure is still there for plenty of cellaring potential ahead. What a beautiful wine! And what a transformation!
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Last bottle and what a treat. Fully soaked cork. Pristine bottle. Very saline nose and palate before decanting. After an hour in the decanter this wine was singing. Tawny color, very evolved to an extent I was scared the wine may be oxidized. On the nose very complex dark and black fruits, spices, notes of iodine, and mocha. Medium bodied on the palate, quite complex and multiple notes of dark berries, cherries, cassis, spices, top structure and active mid palate, very precise focus typical of left bank 96s, and a nice long finish with spicy mocha coating the supple tannins beautifully. Great stuff, the reason why I'm partial to aged left bank wines!
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Drunk at the Mandarin Grill Hong Kong - Old school claret with very fine resolved tannins. Those textbook secondary Bordeaux characteristics are unmistakable on the nose. All in all a very positive surprise.
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Nez corsé, plein d‘epices. Notes tertiaires avec peu de fruit mais des tanins bien incorporés. Profonde pourpre étonnamment foncée pour l’âge. Belle complexité. Un régal!
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3rd of 12, opened 3 hours, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, back on track presenting like so many 96s as a young wine albeit losing some of the earlier angularity (see last note in May 16), nice harmony to the fruit, green tinge happily resolving as bell pepper, silk developing, excellent grip and roundness, proper Pauillac puissance, not yet the excitement of the 88-90 trio, but on improving trend, a pleasure with slow roasted lamb shoulder! F+ (18).
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Absolutely gorgeous and drinking perfectly now, as are several of the other top 1996 Bordeaux. Elegant but with enough weight to give a hedonistic kick. Perfectly balanced cassis and bramble fruit. Nice tertiary notes of leather, underbrush and herbs. Long and complex.
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Watching the Super Bowl with Walter. From half bottle. PnP. Purple in color. Dark fruit on the nose, but red raspberries and boysenberries(?) in the mouth along with a bit of cocoa and some cedar-cigar box nuance. Other complexities lurk in the background. This was an excellent foil for our roasted potatoes and mushrooms (+ roast beef sandwiches).
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I simply adore pichon baron. This is a wonderful wine that has a soft chalk opening that quickly shows sweet cedar and baking spice. A wine to drink now thru 2030.
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Pichon Baron vertical 1982-2009 (Local wine club): Shy opening with leather, cedar, marzipan and sweet fruit. Dry, high acidity with the fruit a bit dried out. Then something happens after 2-3 hours and the wine grows tremendously in the glass. Forgot to make further notes...
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2nd try this year: Red fruits, cassis, tobacco, tea leaves, earth. Classical in style, with oak on the finish. Similar to my last try in October, this tasted very different in style to other Barons I’ve tried. Also, tasted older than it should, lacking vibrancy. Probably past it’s prime.
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Bordeaux and Smoked Long Bone Beef Rib Roast (Brandon and Kendall's, Mpls): Very dark purple/red color. PNP, drank a glass over 90 minutes. Fine pencil shavings, earthy, cassis, plum and blackberries on the nose, a lot of leather, dried dillweed and dried herbs. The palate is full bodied, powerful and dense, black fruits of cassis, plum and blackberry, pencil, leather, herbs, dried earth, and fine grained tannins with some firmness. This is very nice; it needs some air or more time to be at peak. Long life ahead. 93+ to 94pts.
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No formal note, this is a long aging wine that even now, with 23 years of age on it, is drinking very young, with secondary elements just beginning to show. This can easily go another decade if not longer.
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Red fruits, black fruits, tobacco leaf, spices, with cigar box tertiaries and black tea on the finish. Unlike any Barons that I’ve tasted, this was on the feminine side. Enjoyed this tonight but a tad below the Lynch Bages ‘99 tasted alongside which was more vibrant. Nonetheless a classic, well-aged Bordeaux. Open soon as I believe it is moving out of its prime.
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Decanted about 30 minutes, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated, tannic, masculine and classic. Loaded with tobacco leaf, smoke, wet earth and bright red fruits, the wine shows some bite in the fruit that works perfecty with the freshness. I am sure this will improve, but it is already quite tasty today.
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Wonderful wine at a wonderful occasion. Uncorked 24 hours prior to serving, gently introduced to fresh air and room temperature after 20+ years in my cellar. Starts off very quietly, slowly building confidence, hitting its stride after about an hour and two glasses down. It's beautifully sensually packaged, with deep blackcurrant fruit, vibrant aromas of violets, roses, cool wet earth, and the right amount of of secondary and some tertiary aspects of cigar box and cedar. There's also a red fruit note that I noticed recently in the '11, like wild raspberry, that provides testimony both to the terroir of the estate and the ability of Pauillac to churn out Cabernet aromatics like no other place on earth that I know of. It's just a beautiful wine--- remarkably fruity at this age, yet restrained, yet quietly flamboyant, combining fresh aromas with just the right amount of maturing flavours. A real treat and a privilege. Will keep
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Huge (and mouthwatering) aroma of cassis and sophisticated oak came off as I poured into the decanter, but this was the only point at which the wine showed much fruit influence, and that was a slight shame as it was promising great things at that point.
That said, the wine did show beautifully, if in a somewhat restrained fashion: nose dominated by lead pencil, with some tobacco; slightly bitter (coffeebean?) in the mouth, with a hint of cassis but more savoury notes, such as tomato puree, to the fore. Long but slightly simple meaty finish. Good both with and without food as tannins are in a good spot now - elegant and drinkable.
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This has improved since my last bottle 4hrs ago. Aromatics are where it’s at, with classic cigar box and mint notes. Palate is more dilute and lighter than expected, with red fruit profile that is mostly tertiary at this point. Lengthy finish. Typical flavor profile of the estate. Doesn’t have the power of the elite years but quite good.
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Bricking at the edge a bit here. Some dried fruit character coming through, cherry, cassis, and some cigar box/pencil shavings. Tense on the palate. Tannin, acidity and fruit are all a bit tight upon opening. This will likely unfold beautifully but the 1986 tasted beside it is really showing better. Obviously more integration, but the fruit on the 1986 is more pronounced as well fun tasting. Hold this for another few years and drink over the next 15.
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I’ve had better experiences with this same vintage...mushrooms and darkness that never fully dissolved...I don’t think corked but something clearly off...
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Color is a medium garnet- suggesting this has reached full maturity.
This is confirmed on the nose with fully mature aromas of dusty black fruit, earth, vanilla, balsamic and some lead pencil.
Medium bodied with enough acidity to keep fresh and fully integrated tannins.
Finished medium plus and savory. . This bottle was purchased on release and stored thereafter. . I would drink up as I believe this would have been better a few years ago.
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Nice mature Bordeaux. Dark fruit and leather on the nose. The palate has good fruit and soft tannins. After 2 hours the acidity becomes more pronounced. Enjoy now.
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Drinking well, this bottle showed classic aged Bordeaux properties. Fruit in perfect balance with acid. Dark berries. Just a bit of astringency on the finish kept the points from being higher. Don't wait too long for these.
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Decanted and immediately served. This was on good form with a lovely complex nose showing leather, a touch of bloody meat and underlying red and black berry fruit. The palate was medium bodied, quite feminine and elegant, soft tannins, tobaccoey fruit, touch of bloody meat again and a good length harmonious finish. Really lovely.
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good youngish red-purple just starting to lighten at the rim, firm oak and pepper on the nose, a hard earth note, almost a pickle note as well- from the oak, on the palate still pretty tight, where some other Pauillacs like Lynch-Bages have been fairly forward this still seems shut down, dark berries, cassis, quite a bit of tannin still present- but overall the wine is well balanced, fine lengthy finish, at an awkward phase now but a good future in store I think, while Pichon-Baron has remained traditional in most ways- the oak is a bit heavy for my tastes and whether it fully integrates will have a big impact on my eventual impression, where the 2000 and 2005 tasted alongside are going to be powerhouses- this could hopefully come out more in the vein of the magnificent mid-weight 1990 which is dazzling today, though I think the oak here will remain somewhat conspicuous. (****)+?, I would wait at least another 5 years on this, 2025-2035+
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This was firing on all cylinders - amazing with duck aux cerises and Umbrian lentils. I would buy this again in a heartbeat. Decanted for about 2 hours.
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Bottle opened one nite before consumption. Typical structured yet balanced Pauilliac wine, with a deep crimson colour, with aromas of pencil shavings, cigars box and some fruit that has been treated through a prestigious kitchen. Harmonious but timid. Better on the palate with a refined texture, decadent softness that never, ever bores. Notes of black fruit and moka coffee. A beautiful example of what B'dx 1996 can offer. Time to go ...
Botella abierta un día antes de su consumo. Típico vino del Pauilliac estructurado aunque equilibrado, de un color carmesí profundo, con aromas a mina de lápiz, caja de puros y algo de fruta que ha pasado por una cocina de prestigio. Armónico pero tímido. Mejor al paladar con una textura refinada, decadente suavidad que no cansa nunca. Notas de fruta negra y de café moka. Un bello ejemplo de lo que puede ofrecer un 1996. Hora de descorchar ...
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Sublime, fully mature and smashing with a dinner of grilled lamb. Again a wine from the underrated 1996 vintage that blows past the 95. The fruit is there, However is has softened. The finish is tea like and very enjoyable as I like that kind of profile. Drink now thru 2021.
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8/12, excellent cork. Decanted 1/2 hour. Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose shows composed dark fruit, touch of tobacco and tea. Medium bodied on the palate, soft, resolved tannins, balanced acidity, dark fruit, some underlying red berries, tobacco, good length, harmonious finish. Decent if lacking a bit of excitement.
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Very typical of the left bankers from this vintage, in being very forward in its development and with an abundance of fruit on the nose and palate. Blackcurrent and cedar dominate but with flavours of graphite on the palate. The tannin is evolved but still steely, and even a little gripping, with a decent finish, if a little imbalanced, and with a residual sourness. All in all an enjoyable wine, but without the magic of some of its siblings from the vintage. Some decanting time is recommended.
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Vinetasters: 1996 Bordeaux (Skokie, IL): Served double blind in a flight of 1996 Bordeaux. Lots of earth on the nose, as well as some barnyardy funk, followed by a sweetness that seems to evoke merlot (it's that plummy brown spice of an English pudding). The palate shows some of that ripe fruit as well. Good balance and sweetness here. Fully resolved and ready to go. My 1st, group's 2nd.
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PnP, decanted and drunk over 4 hours. Had its moment right after opening the bottle with a bouquet of hallmark Bordeaux stable, earth, tobacco, black truffle nose with cassis underneath. Very classic, fresh with velvety tannins. Quite enjoyable but with time in the glass/decanter the wine lost its appeal and became a bit boring (ok, maybe that’s because the Pape Clement 2006 and Lewis Cellars Cab Reserve 2010 became better and better as the evening progressed).
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A day in Noizé (Noizé restaurant, London): Consistent with previous notes. This is a moderately rich Baron, suitably mocha-scented alongside the more classic cedar and cassis. Certainly drinkable now, but probably another decade or so of development until it's close to its peak. Smooth, velvety. Long. ****
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In an amazing place right now. Great black currants, black minerals, and graphite. What made it so great were the soft integrated tannins and balance of fruit and acid structure making each pour better than the last. Always a treat.
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Beautiful classic mature claret, so elegant and finesse, lovely nose of cedar, tobacco, red fruits, graphite, on the palate medium bodied, very refined, perfect balance, just makes you want the next sip, absolutely delicious! 94
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Wines with the HDH Auction: Terrific showing for this wine. Big explosive nose of ash, smoke, bell pepper, dark chocolate and plum fruit. Palate is so well balanced. Tannins are chewy yet still refined. Apparently this was initially quite stinky, but cleaned up with a couple hours of air.
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HDH auction tasting at Spiaggia; 12/14/2017-12/16/2017 (Chicago, IL): Absolutely classic Bordeaux. I'm told the nose was quite poopy at first, but that certainly cleared up with air. The palate and nose are quintessential Bordeaux, with some of those classic cedar and leather aromas. Really nice ripeness and balance, this doesn't show too angular at all. In fact, it seems to be fairly resolved. Delicious.
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2nd wine of a '96 dream tasting in Bourdeaux with our group. Done 2 separate times over 2 separate weeks. 1st bottle-more garnet, increased bricking at the edges than the Lalande. Nose of black fruit, smoke and after a swirl a very perfumed component. Earthy, red fruit entry, plenty of acid backbone left with a nice spicy ending with plenty of red cherries too. Increased depth and increased power over the Lalande. Definitely a more masculine wine. 2nd week-more of the same with even better acidity on the backend so more consistency from bottle to bottle.
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Right out of the bottle, this has classic Bordelaise aromatics of cassis, leather and spicy red fruits; The palate is still fairly concentrated, with plenty of red and dark fruits interspersed with herbal and earth tones, with some tannic grip on the finish remaining; Drinking in a very nice spot currently, but certainly has the bones to last much longer
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Cedar and leather more than anything else on the nose. Dominated by cigar and tobacco flavors, soft mellow tannin but something is missing here. Compared to previous notes this seems to be an off bottle with less of the fruit element, seemed almost as if it was starting to dry out. Still not bad or flawed. Just less appealing than the previous bottle.
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in /12 i gave this a 93 i believe... 5 years later, i will give it a 95. We gave it a little over an hour in the decantor and served with tender medallions of beef ... again... Fantastic...
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Absolutely stunning! Opened too late, only 30 min before dinner. Cork was a disaster fell into several pieces, but luckily the wine was not affected. Great to entrecôte of lamb, but now after two hours, the wine is just wow. Red with brick rim, nose with lead pencil, cigar and cigarbox, black currant, some herbal spice, complex, but the best is the taste. Soft tannins, complex, the acidity is there, Perfectly balanced and with great length.
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Eight years, different bottle, developed sensibilities, a lot can change when tasting the last of this lot from my cellar. Nothing but scartlet-purple color with pure blackberry, black currant and cassis fruit with expressiveness to share that leads to a beautifully balanced, smooth and luxurious in mouthfeel. Cedar, expresso, sweet black licorice with filtered pine tar, and a touch of cloves are fresh, pure, and surrounded by soft caressing tannins. A winner!
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Allowed to breathe in glass 2 hours before tasting. Clear deep dark garnet color. Fabulous bouquet of black currants, blackberries, black cherries and their liqueurs; lilacs, crushed gravel, dark baking spices, cardamom, cloves, forest floor, hints of leather and cigars. Similar on the palate, full body, balanced, beautiful acidity, polished tannins, long finish. Seems youthful, at early end of prime drinking window. Improved with several hours of air and held up fine under vacuum stopper in refrigerator for 4 days. Addendum: score upgraded one point as the bouquet got sweeter and yummier after a few hours.
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Medium Ruby, evolved color but not brick. Coming from drinking 3 weeks of predominately Burg I needed to readjust my nose to having oak in the aromas... Expressive nose, classical for mature Medoc, scents of of pine, peat, forest floor, dark fruit, oaky but not excessive, overall fantastic, guests really liked it. Enters the palate with good fruit, acidity and very nicely dissolved tannins providing the right structure. Fully mature and great to drink. Convincing package.
From memory at boy's dinner at Capitol Grille after double decant & SO'd for a few hrs: medium ruby with no brick, classic aged left bank Bordeaux with dark fruit & a touch of tobacco, mod. tannins, med/long finish; delicious, drink or hold. Amazingly, I found it almost indistinguishable from the 89 Lynch Bages with the exception that it was a little lighter in color.
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Splendid. Plum and strawberry bouquet with hint of anise. The palate is a wonderful mix of mature fruit and leather. Pichon loves red meat. We enjoyed this bottle with steaks and sautéed kale.
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Decanted. Crystal clear deep garnet color, with a bright energetic quality. Glorious bouquet of black and red fruit, boysenberries, black currants, creme de cassis, tobacco, stony soil. Similar on the palate, full body, impeccable balance, seamless, beautiful structure, lingering finish. My favorite of all the PBs tonight, surpassing 2010, 2000, 1990, and 1989. An extraordinary wine, youthful and vigorous, at the beginning of its ideal drinking window, where it will remain for decades.
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minerals, iron, volcanic, earthy, black and red fruits that are supported bu elegant, discrete and fine acids, little wood, this wines shows its pure fruit and finesse, I like this style
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Stood next to Pavie 2001, La Conseillante 2001 and Tertre Roteboeuf 2007.
+ Nose - spicy, herbal, iron, volcanic rock, forest floor, hummus + Flavour - very light, fruity, light tobacco, full on red candy + Finish - again, a bombshell, very full, opulent, white pepper
We were stunned this was an 1996 vintage, almost no hints of ageing !!!
Mathijs
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1st of 12. Mature well rounded and drinking nicely. An elegant wine which still has some primary fruit and the potential to develop further. Drunk with simple grilled duck breast, a good match as the wines complexities are subtle and could easily be overwhelmed. 4/5
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In the bouquet dark forest fruits, a touch of pleasant barnyard, concentrated, luxurious oak, cedar, refined and complex. On the palate beautiful dark forest fruits, graphite, sweet and salty licorice, well dosed oak, beautiful acidity and round tannin. Beautifully mature and ready now, but there is no hurry to drink it. Around 2020 will be fine ;-). Belongs to my favorites of the 1996 vintage.
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3 hour decant. Refined, classic, mature and well balanced. Tertiary scents of graphite, tobacco and dried flowers. The mid palate is velvety smooth with subtle energy charged with a core of dark fruit. Drinking well but still plenty of life.
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At 20 years of age, this is really starting to show. The tannins have softened, yet, there is still a slight Medoc firmness to the wine. Cassis, cigar box, cedar chest, tobacco, lead pencil and olive tapenade aromatics create the nose. The finish has the perfect blend of tannins, elegance, freshness and a touch of austerity, coupled with plenty of sweet, juicy sweet fruits to let you know you are firmly in Pauillac . If you have a bottle of this wine that have been waiting for, your wait is over. Pop a cork on it today!
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2nd of 12, decanted an hour, perfect level and cork - essentially as my 2013 note, there is an angularity and an unattractive green tinge to the fruit, not one of the better 96s and well off the Comtesse in ths vintage. At best VGI (17).
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Very much like the 1989 at the same point in its maturation. Loads of purple fruit, extremely long, not so much complex as penetrating. Will keep improving but very good now.
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Gorgeous nose, violets and spices, cardamom and pepper, leather. Palate is less interesting, not too long. Had it with mushrooms stroganoff. Very enjoyable. Ready to drink. Not waiting with my second bottle.
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Nicely dark ruby. Quite open and spicy and a little lush on the nose with blackcurrant, coffee and mocha aromas. Similar on attack: not as structured as the Palmer or LMHB, more open and giving; a little broader. Not quite diffuse but lacks the precision and focus of the aforementioned. Comely, even quite sexy though a little too easy and lush. Plenty of fun despite or because of that. Just lacking a little decorum for top flight proper. ****
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The nose is intoxicating, showing spicy red fruit, cassis and tobacco; The palate is fairly ripe with a dense core of red fruits, but it's still beautifully balanced with silky tannins and some herbal notes on the finish; This should evolve for many years, but it's certainly very delicious right now with some air
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1-2 hour decant but clear lightweight of a flight with 96 GPL and Pontet Canet. Just not enough stuffing...maybe a bad bottle but not a wine I would seek out
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Tasty Bdx if not a little riper than I'd expect it to be but perhaps that's what the producer offers? I enjoyed this wine and expect any real BDX fan would dig it even more than I did. In very nice condition and a pleasure. Drinking fairly young yet at nearly 20 years old but no issues with opening. This came with the cork already out and I assume likely decanted.
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Another level up from Aussie and Calicabs. A lovely uplifting nose of cedar, graphite, charcoal, cassis, earth, cigarbox i.e. great complexity. On the palate a lot of cigarbox, dry but not drying and with the acidity and a fruit core intact. Long lingering balanced finish. This is just great! Wine of the night by far. At a good drinking point. 94-95p.
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Just slight signs of evolution around the rim, bright and glossy. Generous, open nose with sweet and layered fruit, lots of spice box, tobacco, cedar. Gentle and round on the palate, more elegant than the 1995 in comparison, lovely structure and balance, nice tannic bite, fresh. Decent length. Drink or hold. 93-95
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Has aerien creme de cassis, blackberries, cedar, tobacco, flowers, bell peppers and menthol aromas. Much silkier and layered, finessed palate than the beefy 1995 with an aristocratic and deliniated midsection. Similar very long and sculpted freshly fruited finish with aromatic aftertaste. Much finer than the 1995. Balanced for such a big wine.
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Drank at Cremelliere last nite with the Kindlers. Wonderfully expressive nose that opened more and more in the glass. (Should have decanted this before we got there, needs at least 2-4 hours in glass next time). Loads of sweet fruit and tobacco on the nose. Medium bodied, and quite elegant, with soft tannins, and copious level of ripe fruit. Cedar, cigar box, lead pencil, graphite, and leather all here, blended nicely with the fruit. Excellent concentration and depth, but very restrained. Very structured with all elements nicely integrated. The wine opened up very nicely over time; wished we had more by the time it was gone. A fine example of an aged Pauillac that still has a long life ahead but wonderfully enjoyable today.
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What a difference a year makes. This wine seems to be near its peak, firing on all cylinders. The nose opens up beautifully to cassis, pencil shavings, olive tamponade, bacon, and sous bois. Can sense the complexity and depth. The balance is outstanding, with silky tannins. Long, lingering, fresh finish. Right now, this seems to be drinking as good as any Left Bank '96. It's clearly time to start popping the cork but there's no rush here, as there is a long life ahead. I look forward to following this for the next 20+ years.
During a tasting, served semi blind. Medium Ruby. Expressive nose of pine, peat, forest floor, dark fruit. Enters the palate with good fruit, acidity and very nicely dissolved tannins providing good structure. Fully mature and great to drink. Convincing package.
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Drinking very well now, if you don't mind powerful acidity and tannin (which I love). Showed very fresh, with a strong mint/eucalyptus note that I also enjoyed. Gritty tannins are starting to round out and earthy elements are starting to emerge. This should have plenty of development left. Very nice, classic, masculine left bank.
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Big step up from my last bottle 4yrs ago. Much more integrated and clearly in its drinking plateau, though likely won't fade for a while. Smoke, flint, pipe tobacco and a little green cab on the nose. Palate is finely cut, with cassis and ton of leafy tobacco flavor. Still has plenty of tannin, but the fruit/tannin/acid are all in balance and enjoyable now. Moderate to long finish.
Or damn close to it. Gorgeous smoky, gamey Pauillac flavors; incredibly supple mouthfeel. Difficult to imagine this getting any better, but wouldn't be surprised if this held for years.
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This bottle is a little more advanced than I expected. Mature with leather, mellowed dark oak tannins, dried herbs. More delicate than powerful. Very nice.
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Tobacco on the nose screams Pauillac. More austere than I expected. I enjoyed this wine when it was young, and I expected more fruit on the palate at this stage. I suspect that this wine will blossom with a little more time in the bottle, and the fruit is intact, only hiding behind the still substantial tannins. Already better after an hour or so of air. Nice acidity and finish.
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The last of a case of 12, and possibly the best of them all. It has a deep colour, with concentrated and very rich blackcurrant fruit, a thick texture, good balancing acidity and a long finish. Very fine.
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Decanted for 45 minutes. Needs decanting at this stage. Its been 2 years since we crossed patch with this classic claret beauty (rated 94 and 93). White pepper, cedar, light leather. Good fruit, well evolved and to be honest still very much young in a way and needs time to mellow the tannin. We thought that by now the tannin would have mellowed a lot more but still going strong. Very nice wine and with lots of life ahead of it. 93
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1996 Bordeaux at RSJ (RSJ, Southwark): Cedary, red fruited bouquet. Spice. Medium bodied, spicy, soft tannins, finish not overly long. Not as good as previous bottles ***1/2.
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This wine needs a long decant, we gave it three hours before trying any. The air is not really to soften the tannins as much as it is to allow the wine to actually express itself. We drank this over two days, with the wine showing much better the second day.
The colour is a fading dark ruby, as others have described. The nose starts with a ton of cedar and pencil. There was an herbal overlay early, which disappeared after several hours and made the nose much more enjoyable. It took time for the fruit to really show itself on the nose, but the wait was worth it. The cedar and pencil gave way to a myriad of red fruit and light barnyard, classic Paulliac.
The palate is balanced, with medium body and great fruit presence and soft, resolved tannins. One thing we really loved about the wine was the finish. We found the finish to be quite long, especially given how soft the tannins had become with age. This wine showed its absolute best at the end of the bottle. Whatever you do with this 1996 Baron, do not drink it too quickly after opening; the more time you give it, the better it shows.
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Very nice showing, and ready to go. Lead and mature fruit on the nose. Lovely dark fruits in the mouth with nice acidity buffering. No rush to drink, but no reason not to either. Not a knock your socks off wine, but very nice and classy.
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Elegant and classic Pauillac with a lovely nose of gravel and tobacco. Similar flavors on the palate with with notes of dark berries and black currants. Finishes smooth and silky with tannins still present and complex notes of roasted nuts, charcoal, gravel and tobacco. Suffers just a bit from that "hole in the middle" of some '96's but should still improve. 91+
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Enough has been written about this wine. It is, of course, good wine, though not great. Needs a fairly long decant and is better by itself than with food.
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Decanted and poured, this wine gave an excellent to almost outstanding showing. Both the bouquet and palate show a combination of youthful and mature notes. The bouquet offers dark fruits, cigar box, cedar and some herbal notes. The color is a maturing, tarnished dark ruby that is correct for the wines age. The medium / full bodied palate gives excellent overall balance with an underlying sense of maturity that gives complexity and nuance. The wines gives a medium length finish with softening but still present tannins. This is at or around its peak and tending toward maturity. It should continue to drink well for many years.
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The 96 Baron is a very delicious wine, and will bring much enjoyment to the drinkers. Ruby coloured, the nose is initially predominated with green elements, but with aeration time, the complexity comes out in full strike. Your smelling senses will be drenched in dark and blue fruits, cigar box, cedar wood, lead pencil, cinnamon and wet wood. Concentrated, juicy palate has all the balance and structure one can ask for a top fine Bordeaux. All the elements seem to be well integrated and it can be (will be) enjoyed for many years to come.
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Mature colour, with some browning; this seems fully mature on the palate, with elegant blackcurrant fruit, medium weight and good length. There is a savoury richness to the wine which makes it very attractive now. Best drunk before it starts to fade.
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Excellent Pauillac wine with a lot of life left. Decanted over 4 hours, and it definitely improved. Initially, there was a lot of dark fruit and graphite, and this transitioned to more green pepper, mushroom, bacon fat, and mineral notes. Good acidic backbone with very long finish. A lot of tannins left, but not overly astringent. My guess is that while drinking well now, this wine has at least 10 years left.
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A Ledbury lunch: Quite a deep, full dark ruby. Lovely nose of blackcurrant, blackcurrant leaf, a lunch of coffee and a dash of orange zest. Positive attack, nice shape with good acidity and a dense silkiness to the fruit. Quite long. Developing nicely but plenty of life yet. ****1/2
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Tasted a bottle over three days along with a 1995 and 2000, all stored under nitrogen between tastings. On day one this seemed a bit thin compared with the 1995; just a bit less complex, although still a nice balanced flavor. It had medium tannin and a bit of jammy fruit, but less of the character in terms of green notes, smoke or leather. On day 2 and 3 it got much better, seeming bigger and more open, with strong fruit flavors, and developing a slightly more vegetal nose. It seems like this one could cellar for a bit longer still.
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At Chateau. Tasted 95, 96, 98, 03 & 09. 96 seems to be the best of them now, but 09 shows the most potential. All but 95 are quite good, 95 okay but not worth seeking out.
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Cabernets of the world with the Petaluma Wine Group (My house): Wonderful. At a really good age, in its early maturity window. Balanced, complex with herb, menthol, dried flower. At the same time powerful and delicate. My WOTN. Exactly what I look for in Bordeaux. Another great 1996. A/A-
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This needs a 90 min decant minimum. Medium bodied and slightly muted throughout, average finish, in prime with plenty of life left. No heat and average balance.
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Brick red colour, with some brown; attractive blackcurrant fruit and some elegance, but the wine has lost some vigour and this bottle is perhaps past its best. Reasonable weight and length, but this has been better in the past.
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Decanted 1.5 hours in advance. Very nice dark color. Classic nose with leather and cigar-box. More smooth and power compare with Montrose 2000. Nice balance between acidity and tannic. Long after taste. Great Pauillac!!
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When I first tasted this wine I thought it might not be good, or was over the hill... it is NOT either. It just needs more time to breathe and this bottle was fantastic. Amazing first impression with a great nose (shaved pencil and deep aromatic fruit, I think the real pros call it). Got better and better thru dinner and I am happy to have more.
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RENAISSANCE OF A TOP CHÂTEAU (Terminal City Club, Vancouver, BC, Canada): Deep ruby core, just a tad lighter than the 1990, showing slight hint of brick on the rim. On the nose: dark fruit, dried fruit, spice, smoke, gamey note. Shy, not too expressive. Medium plus acidity, fine tannins. Shut down at the moment, similar to the 2005. Hopefully it will come out of its shell sometime soon. (80% CS and 20% Merlot)
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Wine of the night, with 2006 chappellet Pritchard hill cab franc, 02 Heitz Martha's, 09 100 acre, 99 Mondavireserve, 08 lacchini la bestia, still could sit in a cool cellar for a while. No rush
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Double-decanted 2hrs, it needed a cool-down then more air in the glass to shine (2.5-3hrs double-decant and cool next time). From a pristine bottle from my cellar. A wine of precision and freshness. The nose isn't there yet, starts with cedar and faint tobacco, leading to cassis. Initially medium bodied, it becomes full bodied with air and the heavy tannins become crisp - balanced by the fruit (mostly blackberry) and a lively acidity that begs for another glass to be poured. Nice now, this will be stunning in 5-10yrs - it has it all... Dense fruit, tannins, acidity and class. Just needs some more secondary flavours and the nose to wake up. Love the promise of 96 Paulliacs and I think this is one of those 'under the radar' wines that will surprise people. A great buy at current prices, but all too easy to drink.
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popped and poured. Nice balance of red fruits and earth. 3rd bottle opened over past few months. This wine is in a good place right now.
Red plums and mushroom and a pleasant long finish.. The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Plum, Cherry, Mushroom, and Forest floor. It tastes like Red Currant, Plum, and Mushroom. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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A fine, mature example, with classic Pauillac character. Well rounded, elegant and long. I don't see this wine improving much from here, but it is drinking well now.
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Cornucopia - Christmas Wimps (La Trompette, Chiswick): Dark, savoury, beefy black fruited nose, spice and vanilla notes. Upright and correct on the palate with a firm tannic core, fresh acidity, black fruit and a touch of bloody meat and a long, savoury/sweet finish. Seems very young in the context of this flight, but lovely. ****(1/2).
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Tasted alongside a 1994 Comtesse. Colour near purple. Clearly riper, more primary aromas, bright red and black fruit, clear cassis, blackberries and black cherry, some iron, minerals, cedar and pencil shavings. Surprisingly primary on palate, quite intense. Excellent fruit weight, tannins visible, but very sleek and fine grained, with good acidity. Flavours of crème de cassis, blackberry and black currant, classic Pauillac. Persistent and fresh, medium bodied but powerful, quite masculine and long. Needs another 5-10 years to integrate, when it may get a higher score. A bit too primary now, so 92.
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Actually, quite boring. I think it is shut down, because it is hard to believe that it is shot. Just an average, light weight wine that has a hint of something that could be special back in there. I am giving it another year or so.
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Wow, wow, wow! So different from the last times, and clearly I should have waited. For my education: all the sour notes had disappeared and there was no lightness at all. Rich, plum-y, full, cedar and smoke. Tannins full, but pleasant. Definitely in the window, with room to spare.
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What a lovely wine. Perfumed, so balanced, tobacco and cedar notes. A second growth at the top of its game and right in its drinking window. It will keep for a long time still but maybe at its best right now? We decanted the wine and just went for it, no regrets until the decanter was empty!
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This bottle showed better than previous tastings. Lots of tobacco, cassis, earth, olive, cedar and a hint of bell pepper in the nose. Masculine in tenor, but with enough class and elegance in the fruit to make it enjoyable to taste. With an hour of air, the tannins subsided a bit, allowing the wine to expand and gain more elegance in the texture. Based on this bottle, the wine should age quite well and could merit a better score in the years to come.
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In the nose coffee, cedar, herbs, fennel seeds, chocolate, cherries, with progressing aeration the nose harmonizes incredibly and gets more balanced, full ripe red currant, elegant. On the palate incredibly balanced, nice incorporated acidity, fine tannins, musculine, powerful. Finish long, and complex.
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Very nice wine. Glossy, mature ruby color; nice viscosity. Fragrant. Nose sports a full bouquet of iron and iodine; attractive. Same on the palate. Cassis, plum. Long finish. Perfectly mature, drinking wonderfully but with years ahead as well. 5-13-17-9: 94/100.
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Lovely garnet colour, orange/brown towards the rim, glowing. After 2.5hrs in the decanter the nose was fantastic: liquorice, cassis, sour cherries, cedar, tobacco, mushrooms, earthy forest notes as well, spices... wonderful. Very elegant and smooth on the palate with great balance, fresh with soft tannins, still lots of grip and lots of black fruit towards the finish which is rather long and persistent. Very elegant. This is showing beautifully now, and should continue to do so for the next 7-10 years.
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Nose was spot on and awesome...shame the wine itself was lacking any depth. Was like a previous poster stated...very thin. Was a great warm up to '99 Leoville Barton.
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Beautiful with homemade grilled pizzas and medium rare filets. Cigar box, pencil, clearly a medium-aged Left Bank nose of character. Too bad what wines like this fetch these days.
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Classic Pauillac nose of graphite and tobacco. Needed a good, long decant and then showed excellent smoky black fruit flavors with notes of green tobacco, cedar and Asian spices. Refined and leaner-styled with firm but ripe tannins and a complex finish with hints of grilled nuts and minerals. If anything, perhaps a bit thin in the middle but this is a fine, medium-bodied Pichon Baron that is still young and true to it's terroir.
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Soft open nose of black fruit, damp earth, a bit of smoke and cedar. Palate matched and was easy and open. Nice balance. Worked well with the veal. Medium finish. Really enjoyable and a nice surprise.
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Classic! A lot more ready than expected and open from the start. Cedar, dark fruits, pepper, mineral. On the palate it needs a touch of air but the wine is at top form and at a great time to be enjoyed. A stunning wine. 94 and beautiful now. Another great 96 from the left bank
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4 wines in this blind flight, all turning out being 2:em Left Bank 1996 Bordeaux. Chateau Cos d’Estournel, Pichon – Longueville Baron, Léoville las Cases, Rauzan – Segla. Smokey nose, with dark cassis and some tar, touch of barnyard and tobacco. Quite dry fruit with good and grippy tannins and high acidity, but all in all in a very good balance. In a great drinking window right now, but will live for years ahead. Lovely wine! (93+)
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Bright red, young, primary cassis on nose and palate, med full, good grip and persistence, still young and tight, but lovely ripe fruit and not over-extracted - 17.5/20, but should improve, more austere as yet than its flashier neighbour.
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Slightly more developed than LB. Complex, dark-toned, weighty, slightly rubbery & plummy, nose. Full, concentrated palate with a very decent acidity. Dark cherries, earth. Just a hint raisiny perhaps, rather spicy, but not heavy at all, quite balanced. Velvety, well-structured. Clean finish. Good length. Minerals, chocolate, cassis, spice in the aftertaste. Still very young.
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Drank in Hong Kong This really improves with a lot of time in the decanter. Drank with some mature Cyril and Mount Edelstone Henschke's which this came out on top. Lovely stuff
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Still deep colour with small rim. Cassis, smoke, vanilla on nose. Lovely fruity palate - quite delicate for Baron and very nicely balanced. This was claret drinking perfectly.
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Color ruby to black red. In the nose violets, dark chocolate, fennel seeds, lovage, leather, smoky, graphite, sour cherry, coffee, bay leaves, all spice, licorice, sandalwood, very complex. On the palate elegant, masculine, spicies more dominant, woody, juicy. Finish medium bodied but very long, meaty, elegant. Still young. 91 at the moment maybe more in a few years.
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Drank at Napa Men's Lunch Club. The nose has great tobacco and sweet grilled meat scents. There is an accompanying smell of dark red and black fruits and pipe tobacco. The palate is lush and beautifully resolved. Melted tannins add to the smooth mouthfeel.
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Feiner, schön strukturierter, gereifter Bordeaux. Schöner Cabernet Touch mit leichter Holznote. Abgang nicht speziell lang, aber sonst sowas von fein. War äusserst angetan von diesem Wein, bewerte ihn höher als von den professionellen Bewertern beurteilt.
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The COLOR is dense althought in the glass with a slightly sign of age on the border of the glass like an water circle...
The SMELL is incredibly straight with not so much varieties but strong to charme You all night long ! earthy - lether - mushrooms and a lead of pencil shavings....
The TASTE is so much more forward: a very noble alike Margaux , classy - barnyard - forrest floor - not so sweet and fruty but so elegant WARM and with hughe "fire" in its deepness... the aftertaste is not any long but if You stay close to your glass this wine is getting you very quick for the next seducive nipp !
Go for it !
96 / 100 Points
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Excellent wine. Still rather in its early maturity phase on the nose and palate, though showing age on the rim. Nice well-balanced, attractive nose with dark fruits, plums, chocolate, tobacco, toffee, cinnamon and the usual mature notes like leather, wet wood, etc. Sweet, round taste with good acidity, well integrated, but very present tannins and medium long finish. Nothing very special or exciting, but very well made and probably enjoyable well beyond 2025.
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Vertical tasting of 1996, 2004, 2005, and 2006; also allowed to breathe in the open bottle only without decanting; the nose and palate were so balanced, complex, intense, mellow, and round in a very elegant and velvety way; I would love to smell and drink this one all night; though the finish was a bit short, still my #1 favorite wine of the night; 95-96 points, and probably near or at its prime time already.
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Pichon Baron & Lalande (The Medlar, London): More expressive on the nose, quite bright and floral and lifted. Rich on the attack but with a citrus freshnesss. Lovely, and lots of potential here. Ground coffee, orange rind, fish acidity coming through. Lovely.****1/2
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Dinner with Boutz, Steve* and Waz. Didn't take notes, but this thing was fantastic. Decanted for 1-1.5 hours, very typical Bordeaux with great noise, fantastic finish and just an overall great wine. Drinking perfectly right now and has plenty of time left.
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Unfortunately I did not take notes. I can only say that this wine is drinking perfect right now. Full and bold with great color and legs not showing its age at all. Resolved tannins with dark black fruit. Texture was silky and elegant with classic Bordeaux style on the palate. Not angular at all but well balanced rich and creamy. Perfect compliment to one of the best Filet M.ignon's I have had at home from my local butcher. Not lengthy but not short in somewhat spice finish. Sorry I don't have more specific notes.
Day 2: Today a more herbal and vegetal notes on the nose. Color still deep and rich with ever so slight rusting at the rim. Legs and body still strong on the glass. Palate has some spice and acidity with tobacco, chocolate, mocha dust, big and bold with a spice finish which lingers. After opened for 20 minutes, mellowed into a beautiful elegant wine. Classic Bordeaux and definitely a food wine.
Bought 3 magnums today of 1989 so that should tell you how I sold on this wine.
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1996 Red Bordeaux (Medoc) , with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Deep, intense and very elegant on the nose. A touch burgundian on the nose if we can use that analogy . Round a fleshy fruit on the palate, well round, no rough/youngish tannins here and all is in good balance. A great showing and a wine that can easily be enjoyed now and with a great deal of life ahead. 92-93 for now from us.
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Decanted and let it breath for 1/2 hour or so. I had this wine over 2 nights, decanting out of the bottle both times. First night I thought the wine was very good, but did not get a strong or nuanced nose from it. However, on the 2nd night it really showed its stuff. Vacuum corked overnight, as usual. Allowing the air to be on the wine in the bottle for a hour the first night and decanted on the 2nd made all the difference for bringing out the bright, big fruit still left in this wine. Plenty of tannins were left, but the were well integrated and went extremely well with the meals. Rating is based on 2nd night.
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Poured half bottle into decanter, waited about 15 min and slowly drank over the next 3h. A perfect cork and fill. Dark ruby, lighter than the recent 96 Pontet Canet. Initially with little fruit and mostly secondary/tertiary notes, this gains weight in the decanter and after about 1h you have a classic Bordeaux nose with earth, barnyard, leather and dark fruit. Medium body, again a touch lighter than the PC from the same year, still some tannins. However the finish is significantly longer than the PC. Overall this is a very consistent "package" on a very high level, which makes it a joy to sip even though, besides the great balance of all parts, there is no element that really wows you on its own. For me this will likely not get any better given the fruit is not excessive and the tannins are still there.
PS: The rest of the bottle on day 2 (vacuumed and in fridge) is much smoother with a very creamy mouth feel and almost no noticeable tannins. On the other hand it loses some of it's precision and intensity, and I also can taste the oxidized Merlot (perhaps I am particularly sensitive to this...), luckily it's only 15% Merlot here so not too bad.
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Fortunately decanted this for almost 2 hours... opened to a full smooth wonderful balck cherry flavor. Others found the hint of tobacco, I personally did not. From reading the other reviews here, this wine needs it time on the decantor and for most folks likely needs to be served with a fine beef dish. We happend to have it with some boneless ribs as well as steak tips... it was delicious!
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Decanted for 2 hours. Delicious, lots of fruit but also a lot of Paulliac "funk", moss, forest floor. The decant was definitely needed. Drank alongside a 96 Spottswoode. Will try the next one in 3 years or so.
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Classic 1996, Great Cabernet Sauvignon year, Great Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Aromatically, classic bordeaux with a strong emphasis on the fruit and perhaps slightly less so on the cedar/cigar box aspect, but there is room for that in my wheelhouse too! Decanted approximately two hours, the wine was surprisingly delicious and approachable (even from magnum) again with a strong emphasis on fruit. There is structure and tannin here but it is beguilingly disguised and balanced to the point of being un-noticeable. A stand out in a night of very strong wines across the board to me and many others at the celebration.
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6/12. Decanted 1/2 an hour. Medium/deep garnet core, wide pale mahogany/garnet rim. Savoury, slightly spicy yet sweet red and black fruited nose, mellow and complex with a hint of soil. No more than medium bodied on the palate, a lovely sweet fruited, spicy, harmonious wine, soft as silk, with strawberry fruit, hints of bloody meat then fresh acidity on the lingering, harmonious slightly savoury finish with a hint of caramel on the tail end Lovely and drinking perfectly.
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No detailed note, but a wonderful showing, offering excellent complexity on the nose and a smoothe , lingering palate. Drinking great now, though no signs of decline.
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I think it a mistake to drink this wine without a good 90 minutes of andouzing. While well balanced and full of flavor; the short time in the glass was obvously not a benefit to the wine. Dark, brooding and offering great treats---patience and air will reward the consumer. enjoy now---or over the next 10 years.
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Simply delightful. PnP and enjoyed among pals over an hour. Perfect color. Nose was a smidge closed, but the flavor profile is in a great place at this time. Tannins were perfect - good structure and good harmony. Certainly no rush to drink up but, why wait much longer when this is about as good as it is likely to get?
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Color cherry-red, with brown edges. Nose complex, fine, warm, soft, fine acid, lots of fruit, dark cherries, tobacco, blackberries, licorice, violets, a bit earthy. On the palate fine, violets, tar, very masculine, still acid and tannins, a bit bitter, long finish, needs more time… Hugh potential but for now only 90 points.
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A bit disappointing at the beginning in comparison with Les Forts de Latour that was served at the same time it opened after 3 hours of decantation. Definitely a smoky/tobacco note; difficult to get to the fruit. Pleasurable in the mouth with a rather long finish.
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Très beau nez typique du cabernet à maturité, sur des arômes de fruits rouges.
Le bouche est en phase avec le nez: cassis et cèdre dominent. C'est riche et bien mûr, tout en restant parfaitement équilibré autour d'une acidité très bien maîtrisée. La longueur est très satisfaisante. Un véritable bordeaux à maturité et qui y restera encore bien quelques années!
A défaut d'être véritablement un grand vin, c'est en tout cas un très beau vin. 94-95
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Fine, mature claret, with ripe blackcurrant fruit, vanilla oak and a touch of cigar box spiciness. There is also a useful streak of acidity keeping it fresh.
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Decanted for 2 hours and drank over the next two. It absolutely needed this time to open up and express itself. Dark garnet with brick hues. Typical Pauillac nose with loads of ink, pencil shavings, cassis, red and darker cherry, tobacco, leather and cedar. Medium+ bodied with nice, lively fruit, firm and slightly drying tannins and balancing acidity. Long aftertaste. Aromatically it is quite evolved and expressive, but its tannins indicate it could use some more time to mellow. That said, it is already very enjoyable, especially with meat dishes.
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Very ripe, sweetish fruit, with intense blackcurrant and plum flavours. There is plenty of depth and the wine is now nicely mature. Still vigorous, but unlikely to improve.
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Rich, full flavored fruit with tobacco, toasted oak, herb, and a touch of sweetness. Just beautiful reference point Bordeaux. Long expansive finish. on the young side, drinking fine now and for 20+ years. A-
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Nice acidity even after four hours. Overwhelming red fruit on the attack: red cherry, strawberry, red currant, traces of chocolate. Silky smooth and medium length.
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In a really good place right now, with secondary characteristics peeking out and the structure melting away. The finish was a touch short and the depth of fruit a touch lighter than expected. A classically styled Bordeaux, but I think this wine also struggled from being served too warm.
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GPL vertical with '96 Pauillacs (Scenic Loop Cafe, San Antonio, TX)): Double decanted for about an hr and consumed 2hrs later. Flamboyant nose of coffee, funk/barnyard, and currants. Palate was ripe with dark fruits, mostly currants, plum, and blackberry--almost no red fruit--deeply concentrated and complex, with plenty of oak influence and flint. Finish was dark and complex, with coffee, toast, and dark fruit. Showing quite young and fruit forward.Brawny and masculine. Didn't have the subtly or the GPL of the complexity of Latour. Still tannic with fine grippy tannins and fresh acidity. Needs time.
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Decanted 2 hrs. Aromas of cedar and tobacco abound, along with a slight touch of funk that oddly wasn’t out of place at all. A classic claret in the sense of its cassis tinted fruit was really more of a back drop to the more pronounced earthy flavors, very precise and smooth texture, and along enough in the finish to evoke aristocratic thoughts, especially considering what current 2nd growth Bordeaux goes for these days. Still, it left me a bid in the cold, a very good wine, nothing I could pick apart, but simply lacked that quality that awakens my emotional interest when sipping a good wine.
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From a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, this fully mature Pauillac offered scents of tobacco leaf, cassis, cedar wood and earthy forest notes. Fully mature, this medium/full bodied, lighter style of Pichon Baron offers soft textures with a cassis filled finish that is that is slightly marred by some green notes. This Pauillac is best enjoyed over the next 5-8 years to preserve the fruit.
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Decanted 1/2 an hour. Medium/deep garnet, wide pale mahogany rim. Lovely developed nose with notes of blood, cedar, spice and tobacco, vestiges of sweet blackcurrant fruit and a slight note of mushroom. Medium bodied, with soft, caressing tannins, slightly more fruit than on the nose but still full of interest, fresh acidity, lingering sweet fruited finish. Lovely.
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Perfect time to drink this wine - has ample fruit expression on the nose, supple tannins mid-palate, and a finish that lingers with just the right amount of complexity. I agree with much of the commentary and think that the cassis is in full expression here with tobacco and lead pencil in the back. Thankfully have another bottle!
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Pichon Dinner - Lalande vs. Baron (Palena - Washington, DC): I enjoyed this bottle more than the 95 Baron, but less than the 96 Lalande. I think the '96 are just in a better spot generally at this point...which gave this bottle a more developed, fruit expression with nice tobacco and forest tones. Spicer than I expected, which provided a subtle complexity throughout the body.
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Pichon Baron vs. Pichon Lalande @ Palena (Washington DC): Once again a bit deeper, darker and sweeter fruit expression that the LaLande. Cassis, lead pencil, coffee, smoked cigar. The tannin is nicely integrated and excellent concentration. Not precise and expressive and the Lalande.
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Outstanding with Easter dinner of grilled rack of lamb, baby potatoes and asparagus. We opened two and there was some bottle variation with the second bottle earning the 95 score. Both bottles were very elegant and classic, but we liked #2 better as the fruit was stronger, the tannins were slightly stronger, and it was just a touch sweeter. Incredibly long finish. We suspect this will last a long time. We've had this a few years so we are not sure how it was store pre 2008 though it was in a bankrupt Vermont Inn when we bought it and the cellar was extremely cold.
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This is mature, but not old. Blackcurrant fruit, some oak, good weight, savoury but fresh. Quite a lot of sediment. We recently drank Ch Grand Puy Lacoste 1996 which we think is better, but this is certainly fine.
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Decanted 2 hours and consumed over 2 hours. Opaque garnet-red color with significant bricking at the rim. Classically Pauillac on the nose with cedar, cassis, autumn leaves, tobacco, and wet stones all mingling happily with one another. Full, ripe and savory on the palate with the tannins showing only after several seconds. Long, cassis-laden finish. Interestingly, the wine seemed to shut down after a while, with tannin and acid taking the upper hand. There was ample fruit initially, so I think this wine still has a long future ahead. Drank with grilled lamb chops, farro with black trumpet mushrooms, and sauteed spinach. This bottle as in perfect condition, purchased on release and stored in my cellar since then.
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more earth than fruit right after opening..moist earth, mushrooms and leather. 40 min in dark red fruits started to develope into a nice well balanced wine. long smooth finish and integrated tannins with med minus acid. will decant next one for half hour first.great wine.
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Pristine bottle; popped and poured. A pretty purple-ruby color with a touch of garnet at the rim. Quite expressive on the nose, offering up notes of roasted herbs, grilled meat and ripe dark fruits. Good grip, quite structured, but still with a pleasing texture. More complexity on the nose than palate, but a wonderful wine.
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Now, this is more like it. It had showed little at decanting compared to Lagrange, it was really opening up. Blackcurrants, earth, tobacco. Tannins seem fine/supple, and there's a nice lively acidity. Big, needs time but really lovely. A-
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1996 Bordeaux Horizontal (Harry's, NYC): Rich with long finish. Dark with full deep fruit. Tight acidic fine tannins. Olive. Young and strong. A nice drink. A-
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Earth and mushroom on the nose, with red and black fruit. Palate features cassis and cedar. Nice, though not especially long finish. Elegant, classic Bordeaux.
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The wine has a deep dark red color with red garnet color to the rim, there is really no sign of age for this wine. The nose is elegant and complex: aromas of blackcurrant, autumn leaves, forest floor, mushrooms, old leather, cedar, mint and with aeration aromas of green vegetables: green bell pepper and asparagus build more complexity on this beautifully evolved 14 years old wine. In the mouth this wine is like silk with flavors of red and black currant and discreet ripe cherry, mixed with cedar, sandalwood, green pepper, coffee bean, tobacco and leather. The wine is medium to medium plus body with great balance and very elegant. There are firm tannins present on the medium plus finish that show this wine has plenty of years left and a nice bitterness with a big mocha aftertaste.
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My last bottle, and the best showing for this wine. Beautiful fruit, balance and complexity. This held its own very well in a big lineup of mature bigger-name and pricier Bordeaux that night.
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Classic Pauillac..Nose: Leather, pencil lead, hint of tobacco along with dark and red fruit. Palate: Soft and elegant medium bodied bordeaux. Red berries along with pencil shavings, tobacco, cassis, dark roasted coffee beans..This is a pretty wine which is drinking well now but has many years of good drinking ahead of it. The finish was long and delightfull...I am thrilled to have 1 left..Cheers!!!
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Ordered off the wine list, think the price was $105. Had a couple glasses, seemed to possess pretty good weight and freshness, with some cassis like and tobacco notes. Wasn't showing any old bones at all.
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Elegant, a excellent example of Bordeaux. Wonderful balance, classic Pauillac notes of cedar and cassis. Lacks only that extra intensity that marks the 95+ BDX, but a wonderful experience, great match with rack of lamb.
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Classic Bordeaux. Wonderful nose of dried currants, cedar, crushed fallen leaves, roasted coffee beans. The palate was medium to full bodied, showing the silky texture of maturity with supple black and red berry fruits, coffee notes, excellent acidity and a nice finish. Classicly persistent, but not mind blowing, just great wine.
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Not as great of a showing as last time. At first I thought this had tca, but it blew off. Very austere on opening, plenty of fruit but very tightly wound. Classically structured, aromas of pencil shavings, cedar and dark red fruit. Palatte hints at something better, but is stopped short in youth. Waxy and deep with abundant fruit, but not quite firing yet. With more time, tobacco and smoky darker fruits emerge into a very long finish. This will be really good eventually.
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Opened for 3 hours and then decanted for about an hour before drinking... Had opened up quite nicely.... Muskiness when open, but went away soon after. Strong pleasant fruit. Smooth and nice finish. Balanced acidity.
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I have to give this a higher point rating than 92 as this wine held it's own in a tasting of 20 other wines, mostly meritage and some cabernets. Some top bordeaux and CA wines such as 2004 Miner Oracle and 2000 Cos d'Estournel. The wine opened for two/three hours and we started the tasting at 6:30 pm. After drinking all others myself and others continued to come back to this wine and at 10:30 at night the wine was still going having evolved nicely. My notes are vague other than this, but given the staying power, beauty and overall value for the bottle, I'd give it a 94. On another note, I'd not keep it much longer. It's really doing great now. I doubt it will improve much. Drink 'em if you got 'em. It should also be noted that my bottle was a 1.5 L.
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Tasted blind. Started out with a huge reductive stench (in a good way...) that dissipated after a few minutes to reveal a classic left-bank nose. Lots of sous-bois, lead pencil. Very tannic on the palate, quite reserved, not opulent. Turns out to be a 1996 Pichon-Baron. I have to say this is not nearly as good as the 1989.
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This is a most enjoyable wine! Popped and poured for beef bourgonion with my parents. Brilliant loamy profile, smooth with no rough tannins; this is even bodied and just in a great spot---I could drink this regularly and be most happy!
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Pichon: Baron vs. Comtesse: A wine that everyone seemed to like but received no first place scores. Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has funk and cassis with earthy undertones. On the palate, black cherries and tannins. Very tasty. Long finish.
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lovely nose that reqired 30-45 minutes in a decanter to sing. still deep violet color. perfumed nose and rich deep fruit on the palate and a very fine tannin back bone filing out the finish. This is outstanding.92+
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Decanted 1/2 an hour. Deep ruby core, medium pale ruby rim. Aromatic, open nose, pure, ripe cassis fruit, showing some development too with a bloody edge, tobacco and spice. Medium bodied, sleek and fine on the palate with very fine, integrated tannin, smooth and harmonious but with great mid-palate length. Showing classic claret cassis, tobacco and cedary notes on the mid-palate where a lovely fresh savouriness emerges before a long, clean, sweet fruited finish with just a hint of lingering caramel. This is very fine - elegant, classy and aristocratic yet relatively feminine (for a Pauillac). Excellent, drinking really well but still with potential for improvement as it becomes more complex.
Decanted for 3+ hours. Last time I didn't think decanting helped, but it actually did bring out the best in this wonderful Bordeaux. Killer good wine, complex, good balance of fruit, acid and well resolved tannins. Pleasure to drink!
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This one really surprised us. I decanted for two hours and thought the first sips were not very good with a strange, barnyard-type aroma. It looked like it was past its prime and tasted as though it may have been corked. About 45 minutes later, with dinner, I poured another glass and the color had changed, the aroma had changed and it became incredibly more complex. Towards the end of dinner this was a completely new wine - with great depth, complexity and color. I've had many great bottles, but I don't think I have ever seen a bottle change and gain complexity as this one did. I would recommend decanting for 4+ hours to get to the heart of this wonderful Pauillic.
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4/3 Lot of good wine drunk this past week or two. And yet this was still special. Depth on the nose you could lose yourself in. I did. It smells of, oh it smells of everything, cedar, berries, leather, earth, violets, everything and more but it's the integration, and the intensity. Then in the mouth, perfect feel, restrained body but intense flavour, complex, changing, enveloping. Structure perfect, still got that cleaning tannin at the back and then it lasts... Enough, it's been half an hour since it's over and I can still taste it, and I'll remember it a lot longer...
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The nose is nice--saddle leather and red fruits. Seems to be entering maturity, a little austere, but good mouthfeel, length and finish, not great. I actually like the '99 better right now.
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Mortons Madness (Hong Kong Mortons): Looks mature, let me at it! Nose of cooked cabbage. Perfect balance. Leather, blackcurrents, fine tannins. Front, to back seemless, just a yummy wine. Med weight, a great wine, fun to drink.
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Pichon vs Pichon NYC (New York, United States): This wine seemed to be a bit more austere and a bit simple. Certainly good delivery with fine freshness, and even perhaps a bit mute compared to the next wine...
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Very nice bottle. strong blast of herbal Bdx aromatics, complex notes of currant, cigar box, leather, and herbs. Medium weight palate, acids have softened, but all is in balance, complex flavors of soft curranty fruit, leater, a bit of poo (in a good way), and spice. Texturally, very soft and ready (decanted for six hours), finishes long. Nice. Great with beef.
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So much better than the 1997. I decanted this for about 2-3 hrs. Lots of aromas fight for attention - cedarwood, herbs, blackcurrants & leather. The finish is long and fruity with blackcurrants, and some tannin that really balance the flavour. This could last another 10 years. I want another.....
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This wine reminded me why I like mature traditional Bords. Medium ruby with an expressive cedar nose. Very well balanced. The applicable word here was DEPTH. Great nuance and focus. A very nice wine.
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This is a refined, elegant and somewhat restrained claret. Medium to full body; fairly long finish; however, it lacks the extra dimension expected of such an exalted wine: perhaps it still needs time to develop. Potentially a 90+ point wine.
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Decanted approx 4hrs with periodic tastes. Nice bricking. Nose of blackberry, cassis, some leather, wet stone, cedar. Similar on the palate with some earth. Gentle tannins. Perhaps a bit short on the finish, but overall an elegant, balanced claret. This wine opened up significantly after 3 hrs in the decanter. Drank for our 13th Anniversary.
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I can't go with the over 90 crowd. Decent, moderate, fruity wine. Light tannins are hidden under the fruit. Drinking well and things seem balanced, but not enough intensity of each part: fruit, flavor, acid, tannin. Maybe I don't know elegance, but to me this wine is merely pleasant, not outstanding. Opens in an hour or so; 24 hours has lost its zest.
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Meatier and richer than the Clerc Milon poured alongside; this has gorgeous aromatics with a fragrant new leather element on top of cassis, plum, graphite and herbal notes. The fruit feels very youthful, sweet and ripe in the mouth with leather, earth and some cocoa notes adding nice savoury elements. Really enjoyable, and the balance and structure suggests it'll stay that way (or get better) for a long time.
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I had a scare when I opened it as the cork crumbled and was all mushy but wow was I positively surprised! This is drinking very well right now and although I am into vintage wines this was very enjoyable already today! Lots of leather and barnyard initally on the nose with coffee, sweet tobacco developing after a while in a nice blend with cassis. I find it quite peppry on the nose as well. On the palate quite light with good acidity and integrated tannins. Bravo and I would not necessarily keep my bottles for long. I am not sure this will get much more exciting over the years although I'm sure it is not going to deterioate either.
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Fun-filled way to start Aug: A spa on the senses! Young fresh soft velvety wet leather, green stewed capsicums and after shower talcum powder. Interesting. Progressively got more sweet leathery aromas, cracked peppercorns and roasted mocha beans.Succelent sweet with almost burg like stewed black cherry goodness. Sexy florals and ethereally rings in the mouth with velvety satin like tannins. There are also nuances of savory beef jerky. As masuculine as it is supposed to be, I feel this wine is more of a sexy lady in her silk nightie.I also have to comment that this wine felt absolutely clean with perfect provenance. Perfect bottle condition with cork very much looking as though it was made yesterday. I suspect ex-chateau.
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Drank at Cree and Sara's wedding in San Antonio with Susan, Peggy, and Gordon. Poped and poured. Very dark purple color with strong Paulliac nose and flavor. Tannins were mostly resolved, nad a gorgeous strong nose with a strong yet somewhat reserved palate. Lots of room for development Excellent balance and structure. At least 10, probably 20+ years to go with most of those years having upside.
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This wine just keeps improving. Classic Pauillac. Everything was working against it tonight: The cork from the half-bottle was crumbled, provenance from the New Hampshire Liquor Store was probably not the greatest. Nonetheless, this was a joy to drink, beautifully expressive from the moment I finally got the disintigrating cork removed. Great integration of fruit and wood, tobacco and black currant. A wine that I once considered a disappointment is now strutting its stuff at age thirteen. Drinking well now and for another ten to twenty years.
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No formal note. This bottle borderline corked, with a slightly musty edge evident on the nose every now and again and the palate slightly shorrter and more angular than previous bottles. Same classy, and relatively feminine claret underneath though still giving much pleasure.
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UK Wine Pages Pichon Baron Offline (The Alba, London): Odd, bitter, metallic slightly vegetal nose. Notes of coffee. Dark fruited on the palate, fresh acidity, quite firm on the finish leading me to guess as the 94. Did improve in glass but something slightly amiss with this bottle.
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Pichon Baron Offline (UK Wine Forum) (Alba restaurant, London): 94/95/96 served blind. Curious start; bovril nose, stewed eef tea. More flesh than B (94) on the palate. Indeed the texture and taste of thisis the richest and most opulent of the three. curious nose is getting rubbery now. After 20 mins the nose clers up and this is very nice. A richness and sense of opulence, sexy even. I think this is the 96. ****1/2
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Excellent. Served alongside the '96 Calon Segur with grilled lamb. Decanted for 3 hours. This wine will likely have a very long life - like many a 96 it is still loaded with tannins. Very enjoyable here but we think it will only get better.
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We tried an experiment with this wine by pulling the cork, decanting half of the bottle and then vaccum sealing the remaining half immediately. It worked well overall and the wine was better (as expected) on the second night. Bottle, fill cork all excellent. Very tight initially and opened up slowly. Very Paulliac nose and flavor profile. Very tannic, vigorous wine with decades of life left. Softer and more complex on night two. The split decanting worked well with this wine, but I wouldn't touch a bottle of this for another 20 years or more if you want it to gain in complexity.
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This was the first time I've been impressed by this wine. Drank it last night from half bottle, the fruit seemed to break through the 1996 tannins to reveal classic Pauillac traits of cedar and black fruit. The lead pencil nose was impressive right from the start, and the ripe fruit satisfied from beginning to end. The bottles I've had to date have been muted and disappointing, but not this one!
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I'm a big fan of decanting for air, so I decanted for 6h. (Upon opening there was virtually no aromas coming out of the glass) The wine was clear and had a dark ruby core. A bit brownish to the edges and a bit watery rim. On the nose it showed a lot of smoke, like from burnt grass. I also got graphite, red meat and a touth of cigar box. On the whole a very nice bouquet. The taste, I felt, didn't quite hold up to the smell. The weight was good and tasted of ripe fruit. The tannins were pretty integrated and the aftertaste fairly long. Good balance too. Just not that special. I must say that the wine didn't knock my socks off, but atleast the label is one of the nicest looking I've seen on a bottle.
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Fine, elegant, smooth, with rich blackcurrant fruit and discreet oak. It perhaps lacks some intensity of fruit on the finish, but it makes up for this in elegance. Very enjoyable.
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on the nose, saddle leather, cassis, cedar, sweet hay, clover, spice, mint and chocolate. In the mouth it was savoury fruit, subtle blackcurrant and meaty. Some spice, particularly cinnamon and a long subtle finish with integrated and balanced tannins. Good mouth feel as well. Pity this was the only bottle I had.
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Wii - Thanksgiving (Chateau de Stearns - Hong Kong): Tinge of brick on a rusty red glass. Long nose of stinky soft French cheese. Full bodied, dark fruit & Chocolate, light fine drying tannins. Double swallow chocking deep finish. Old? An interesting similarity to the Opus.
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Had with roasted chicken. Good strong fruit. didn't have time to really let it open, but thought the first sips were a bit harsh, it quickly opened up and was smooth on the tongue. a bit of raisin.
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I have always been a big Baron fan. Drank this wine with TK, Willie and Albert at the Laguna Country Club. The pairing was with Japanese food. Had 2 Burgundy reds before the Baron. It took a long time to open up and when we were finally drinking, TK commented that the wine still was not fully opened up. Beautiful Pauillac nose with aromas of fruit, cedar and tobacco. The palate was complex with strong hints of fruit and tannins but it was not overwhelming. Albert noted that the finish was short and it was true. It had a great bouquet with a wonderful feel when the wine was on the palate but just as you wanted more of it, there was only a faint lingering trail left. Such was the frustration and the feeling of incompleteness especially when it was otherwise very good. I paid about SGD 180 for it and probably would not buy a second bottle. But I still love the Baron for its sophistication and deep harmony.
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While a good wine, it lacks the power, ripeness and concentration of the top Medocs from 1996. The cassis, blackberry, truffle and tobacco, coupled with a smooth, albiet not very concentrated mouth feel offers nice sensations. The tannins are soft allowing the wine to sdrink well today.
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Very classic claret, for all its ripeness - some cedar, some blackcurrant, some spice, all in balance, not showy, superb match for the Sunday roast beef
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I have decanted it for 1 hr before serve it . Clarity : clear Colour : purple in colour Nose : Medium intensity of plums , black fruit , earthy on the nose Palate : It is medium-full bodied wine with silky texture . It taste a bit sour until the black fruit come out but the acidity is still there. There are blackcurrent , spicy earthy on the palate and a sweet medium length of earthiness aftertaste( last for 15 sec) .
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Almost. Do yourself a favor and decant for 3 - 4 hours. Tastes a little sour until the meat and fruit awakens. Then, there is decent elegance in a medium frame. Not your California fruit bomb, instead cedar and real cab flavors. Tannins softening; apparent acidity makes this a good food wine.
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Excellent nose of graphite, crushed red berries and some cedar on the back end. A wonderful paillac that screams for lamb chops or any other wintry dinner. Be sure to give this adequate decanting as a mere splash won't elicit its full potential. Perhaps 3-4 hours will give the nuaces and gravitas this bottling can deliver. I would suggest that this wine is just entering its midlife and offers years of good drinking. Prost!
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The second wine in the lineup was the 1996 Pichon Longueville Baron Pauillac, which turned in a creditable if less than outstanding performance. Certainly a solid example of Pauillac in its overall balance, minerality, the aromatic profile and overall palate impression were just a little bit less powerful than that of the Pontet Canet. I bought this bottle at the Chateau, where I had tasted the 1996 up against the absolutely outstanding 2000, and the 1996 had suffered in comparison. The mid-palate richness is just not there at the same level in the 1996, and this seemed to be more subtly the case in the present company as well.
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Evolving beautifully. Softened significantly from my last tasting six months ago. Showing very nicely; tannins integrating very well. Lovely nose of tobacco and cedar, silky smooth with a decent finish.
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Had this in a vertical with the 89/90/95/96/98/00/02/03. Just a step behind the 89/90/00. Excellent wine with lots of upside potential for the patient ones. So classic Pauillac and a big success for this Chateau.
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what an easy drinking wine. nose of barnyard, very earthy, cedar, pencil lead. perfectly balanced mough, good fruit, good acidity. there was absolutely nothing wrong with this wine. on the other hand it didn't blow me away either. could have had more complexity, more oomph. but it is in an optimal drinking spot.
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This was WOTN in a bordeaux nineties non first growth tasting. beautiful nose - on the palate it is smooth with textbook pauillac tastes of cedar, lead pencil and cigar box. Really long finish. No longer a bargain but still a relative bargain compared to other 96s
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Blind tasted with 96 and 99 Batailley and 94 Pichon. We all preferred the 1996 Batailley to the 96 Pichon (probably to do with the Batailley being softer and less tannic - would probably give the Pichon 96 more cellar time). The 1994 Pichon definitely a poorer wine than the 1996. 1996 had more fruit and length compared to the 94's quite short finish.
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Decanted four hours - perhaps a little too long. (This was in a decanter; a previous bottle I double decanted, so no doubt more air exposure this time around). Was perhaps fractionally tired on the palate as a result, but still a stunning display of tobacco and dark fruits. I am glad to have a few caases of this to watch it evolve over the next 15 years...
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Decanted 1 1/2 hours. Darker fruited, more cassis than previously, some tobacco. Also more tannic, but improved considerably over the evening. Great depth and balance, still with an exceptionally long finish, undoubtedly excellent, but on this showing has crept back in it's shell a little and needs more time.
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one of the wines of the vintage. Poured straight from bottle, fantastic bouqet of exotic spices, leather and tobacco. Wonderful silkiness on the palet, heeps of fruit intermingled with lead pencil shavings. Gorgeous!
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Drank with Delahaye, Stefan, Colen, Sullivan. Had in magnum format. Everyone agreed this was a fab wine. We decanted, but it really did not add anything. The wine was great from the get go. Plenty of ripe fruit, well balanced and will age more, but drinking well now. Birthday dinner started with couple of bottles of Kistler Dutton 04 which was also fab-94+.
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Tasted 1 year ago. Some bricking on the rims, with a nose redolent of cassis pain grillé. More classic bdx flavours on the palate but still restrained. Needs more time. Few 96s seem to have come around.Medium finish.
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French wines 1996 tasting (DTV): Nose filled with blackcurrant, sweet licorise, earth and tobaco. Super sweet blackcurrant, very intense youthful fruit. Big structure. More complexity comes in on the midpalate and aftertaste, tastes of tobaco, licorise, chocolate. Very nice, and very youthful.
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Right out of the bottle this wasn't showing much - a slightly musty taste with little fruit. After being open for three hours, it really came to life - loads of dark fruit, tar, and a strong jolt of acid. Really went well with steaks.
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Paired this with beef wellington at a tasting. Decanted 3 hrs., and this wine was gorgeous. Lots of cassis, cigar box, earth, smoke, cedar and spice on the nose, with the secondary characteristics more present on the palate. But the fruit is definitely still there, just a bit subdued. This classic Bordeaux paired marvelously with Beef Wellington, with the mushrooms causing the fruit to explode out of the glass. Tannins are becoming integrated, but the decanting definitely helped.
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Seattle Tasting Group does Pauillac (Seattle, WA): A youngster. A sharp and intense nose with pine and mint. The palate is definitely tight and taut but with a juicy core, lots of tobacco. This is going to be a winner.
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A touch of mint fooled me... the cassis and slight earth is there. Not as much cigar box as I usually get from Pauillac. Medium depth but very nice balance and length. Fell off a lot on day 2 compared to other bottles (gassed but not chilled); would make me worry. If a I had a bunch I'd monitor...
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2 hr. decant. Bouquet jumps out of the glass with lavendar, cassis, cedar and well integrated oak. Wonderful minerality, very terroir driven with a great core of fruit. Medium body with blue and black fruits. Try again in 5 years.
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Poped and poured. Surprised at how open this wine is. Very approachable. Slight nose with a big mixed bag of dark red fruits, did not detect any tertiary flavors or aromas yet. Will try to wait at least 5 years before touchiong another. Could rate higher score at peak. Drank at an offline with 9 people, so did not get to revisit it later. JP
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Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of plums, blackberries, coffee and graphite. Flavors of plums, blackberries and cassis. Good balance. Drinking remarkably well for such a young wine. Drink or hold. Should hold for many years to come.
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Decanted 1 1/2 hrs. Deep ruby core, pale garnet rim. Lovely open, complex, developed nose with red-toned fruit, some cassis, cedar, hints of tobacco and blood. Not much more than medium bodied on the palate with strawberry fruit, some juicy cassis and hints of caramel. This is beautifully balanced with fine, approachable tannins, decent concentration and lovely fresh balancing acidity. The finish is incredibly long with lingering savoury and cedar notes.
Thought this might disappoint after its showing at the TWS tasting but no, it's absolutely delicious, drinking well now but with further potential for improvement.
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2nd wine I tried at the Farr Xmas tasting at Vintners Hall EC4 (after the 2003 Pavie). It lived up to the previous Farr Blind Tasting 1st position - http://www.farrvintners.com/offer.php?offerid=46 Perfect drinking, but with room to improve. Deep, clear, rich claret colour. Fine well rounded bouquet - fruit and cedar if I'm not mistaken. The best was the taste - perfectly rounded, mouth filling, just the right balance of tannins and fruit. Half the price of the Pavie and right now - in my opinion - a better wine!
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Very menthol dominated nose with ground beef and cassis in the background. Very thin to taste when first decanted but it developed and fleshed out a lot over 3 hours - quite good after 2, with more cassis fruit showing. Very in-between at the moment, give it another 5 years and I think it will be better.
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Wine Society "Stars of Pauillac" Tasting (The Wine Society, Stevenage): Medium/deep garnet core, medium garnet rim. Evolved nose, very spicy with lovely savoury yet sweet red-toned fruit, cedar and some gamey notes. Spicy strawberry fruit on the palate, some darker notes but overall red-toned like the nose, lovely savoury flavour with quite evolved but still pertinent tannins and then slightly surprises with an incredibly long, lingering sweet, savoury, gamey finish. Lovely, classic, old-fashioned claret, certainly approachable now but will also make old bones. WOTD.
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1995 / 19956 Bordeaux Offline (Alba, London): Cassis, cedar, sandlewood, slightly muted. Slightly leatherey, dry finish. far far better then B. More elegant, longer, slightly more austere. WOTN so far. Guess 1996 Pichon B. My wine though so I think I knew the order.
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Ruby color core, fading slightly at the edges but not bricking. Earthy, cigar box nose. A little tight at first but quickly opens up to show a wide array of complex flavors from green olives to some subtle dark fruits with soft tannins.
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A little tight, but lush cassis fruit and mocha/leadpencil notes over a muscular frame. I saved a bit till end of night when it was really singing. Despite the lushness of the fruit there's a refreshing acidity to make this very foodfriendly
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As usual, still tight and young but given time to open up it reveals cassis and other dark fruit with a lovely mouthfeel. Smashing stuff for the price.
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As usual, still tight and young but given time to open up it reveals cassis and other dark fruit with a lovely mouthfeel. Smashing stuff for the price.
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My first experience with this wine in this vintage. After recent notes, I expected more. Youthful ruby color with little to no bricking. The nose is red fruits with a bit of spice, char, and earth. On the palate, the red fruits are somewhat sour, and the wine seems a bit out of balance. Tannins are still firm and the finish is medium. Maybe more age will help this wine come together, but I doubt it will ever be really top notch.
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Double decanted this about five hours ahead of consumption, and I think it really helped. Beautiful bouquet of tobacco and cedar on the nose, very pleasant mouthfeel with cassis and dark fruit. Medium bodied, and a very satisfying finish. Surprisingly approachable with suitable decanting time, this was much better than bottles I've had at offlines recently; probably due to its having time to breathe. I think this has potential to improve over the next five or so years. A bargain !
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Toronto Offline at Reds with Ian Darshan Cauble: Much more closed than the 1995 on the nose, more black fruit and restrained. The fruit was burlier and more compacted, bit of leather and tar, but you know this was going to have a better future. Rather tight on the tannic finish. Nice wine.
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A little closed at first but really opened up at about the 2 hour mark. Cedar, cassis, blackberry and a hint of spice (future tobacco?). A solid 92 pointer right now with the potential to gain a point or two in 4-7 years. I'll save my other two until then.
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Dark & full with lots of dark fruit, leather, tar. Some acidic tannins, some sweet fruit coming out. Currently a thick, dense, somewhat backward wine. Not fully closed but could use a few more ears. A bit too acidic. Concentrated.
$50 S-L 12/05
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Beautiful deep ruby, mild sediment. Large nose of steel, fuit, vanilla, leather. Same on the palate with nice weight. Quite full bodied but not quite fully integrated and seems perhaps ever so slightly underripe? I'd give it a little more time. Perhaps a bit more forward and fruity than the 96 Montrose but not as elegant or silky.
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Dinner with friends in Austin. Color is medium garnet with slight lightening at the rim. On the nose, classic Bordeaux...cassis, cedar, tobacco. On the palate, medium body, cassis, cedar, spice. Tannins present, but well-integrated. A classic, elegant Bordeaux, and a bargain at that...good for at least another 5-10 years.
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Drank last night with a Prime New York strip and Maitake mushrooms. The food was a good match to the wine since it emphasized it's earthy character. This wine still has very nice acidity and solid fruit. Try again in 2010?
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Bob Fyke in Queens: at the start - oppulent, sweet nose with cedar and tobacco and plums. medium body, light tannins but nice balance. with time some more mint? notes. sweetness faded and it became a more "old fashioned" bordeaux with a clean refreshing mouthfeel. yummy stuff and perfect now although obviously can last.
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Beautiful wine at a beautiful stage. Showing the complexities of earth, and leather, tobacco while the dark red fruit shines on. Balanced, with a steady finish. Pichon-Longueville Baron is gorgeous without beating you over the head.
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great currant, smoke and spice. this is a very sexy bdx that gains weight in the glass and just delivers the goods. touch of tobacco, green olive,cedar and earth, its the best wine for the price to get great pauillac nuance. served in cases at my wifes birthday bash, a real hit . a steal for 45 bucks and 2 hrs of decanting. that good.
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Dark red brown (PB often seems to have this brown tinge, even when young), forthcoming tobacco nose, coffee and smoke on the palate, long finish but a touch astringent. Ready, but best with food.
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Classic nose of cassis, clove and earth. the palate is textbook pauillac, blackcurrant, gravel, minerality, touch of green olive, very elegant, complex, sophisticated and so damn delicious. this wine is mispriced at 45 bucks. It keeps getting better, and will be even better in a few years. search it out.
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Opened for my parents joint birthday celebration. I decanted at 4pm and Karen and I were both impressed by the aroma! Deep dark cherry flavors and a rich taste that coats the palate--I was quite happy! I would allow that the wine is not as deep and brooding nor as rich as the 2000; that is a wine I need to acquire! As the night went on, the wine facilated between richness and softer cedar notes. There is a lot to like about this wine, as Dan Teng mentioned, if you are looking for a fine bordeaux for drinking now to 2015--this is a wine to buy ($50).
I rate it 92 points for now with the provision for an improved score at maturity (94 point potential).
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Perhaps this showing was just a fluke, but it was amazing. Color is ruby/purple with some bricking on the edges. Aromas of tobacco, leather, earth and baked cherries jump from the glass. Full bodied and long in the finish with excellent balance. In my opinion an absolute steal at the going rate of $49 for mildly aged Bordeaux - a classic. Surprised I don't read more about this one. Will definitely buy more - maybe a 6 pack.
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Dark ruby-red all the way to the rim and throwing a small bit of fine sediment; aromas of roasted coffee, earth, dark fruit; really smooth and sweet on the palate, with dark berry fruit, more of the roasted coffee, minerals, then a long and slightly plummy finish. Hints of oak are well integrated, with smooth tannins. Could go for many years, but drinking well right now. Nicely paired with hanger steak w/roasted shallots & chantrelles, beet & orange salad.
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Tasted from a half bottle at the Chateau in Bordeaux. Lighter than the 2000, but showing the characteristic sinew and structure of the best 1996 Medoc wines. On the nose, pencil lead and leather dominate. At an intermediate stage at this point, just beginning to emerge, although I think best kept until 2010.
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4/13/2024 - Radders12345 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Proper stuff.
Nose of bell pepper, posh leather, cassis.
The palate is, in a word, delicious, and very youthful and fresh.
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4/13/2024 - Rafa01 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Superb Bordeaux with a beautiful colour and an amazing nose of green peppers. The palate is silky and full of berries and some graphite notes. Stunning wine with another 10+ years in the tank
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4/13/2024 - oenanthe Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark red. Old school, green bell pepper and sweet cassis. Everything you want from an aged bordeaux is there, school desks, cedar, tobacco, leather and lead, all underpinned by seductive dark cassis. A smokey note emerges with time, it becomes a bit meaty. It's incredible to think this is approaching 30 years old, it's so effortlessly smooth and expressive, rolling along like the class act it is. Sensational wine in all respects.
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4/13/2024 - Joshvoulters Likes this wine: 92 Points
France vs ROW (Home): In a really good spot: green pepper jumps out of the glass at first pour, joined by ripe dark berries, pencil shavings, a gamey note- although the fruit really leads the way. It impeccably walks the fine line between saturated richness and cool restraint. No hurry with this one.
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3/23/2024 - Carson.McEvoy Likes this wine: 92 Points
The aroma presents subtly with hints of tobacco, pencil shavings, and faint gamey nuances.
On the palate, the wine displays a compelling juxtaposition of power and grace. Soft, well-integrated tannins offer a mouthwatering sensation, accompanied by flavors of plum, dried cherries, cedar, and leather.
With an undeniable vitality, this wine shows no signs of slowing its evolution for several years. While it may not steal the spotlight as a showstopper, it certainly earns its place as an above-average aged claret.
Decanting for 60 minutes reveals its true character.
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3/8/2024 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Lunch at Noizé: Dense, full garnet to cloudy mid ruby. Blackcurrant with some mocha. A touch of smoke and beef fat. Fine grained tannins and good acidity. Still quite young. It’s all there. ****
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3/6/2024 - Devlon Moore Likes this wine:
Generously shared with me by an old friend. What a wine! Upon opening it was very vertical, very tight lines. As it opened and fleshed out came the beautiful Bordeaux aromatics and wine just expanded horizontally for the next 2.5 hours. Just as complex and compelling as wine can get. Drink it or hold it. This bottle showed zero signs of slowing down.
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2/8/2024 - Eric Wright Likes this wine: 93 Points
Solid depth of color. Initial notes are heavy tobacco.
Quite light on the palate. Acid and tannins are strong, but balanced. With time, the nose and palate blossomed - great depth. Leather, tobacco, and wood notes.
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1/27/2024 - Decanting Queen Likes this wine: 96 Points
CdB BoG; 1/25/2024-1/27/2024 (Denver): From a 15L!!!!
What a stunning wine. I thought there was no way this could be so open with only an hour or so decant before serving. Drinking incredibly well, full of fruit, tobacco, spice. No formal notes but wow and consistent with my assessment that 1996 is a fantastic vintage for drinking now (and not to imply it won’t hold up, because it surely will)
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1/8/2024 - drmarclevine wrote: 93 Points
Decanted to remove sediment. Open for business immediately with aromas of cranberry, tobacco, green pepper, and roasted coffee beans with some coaxing. The coffee notes continued to intensify with air. Cassis, saddle leather, and pencil lead all in fine balance in the mouth. No rough edges on the medium weight frame. Was hoping for a bit more fruit to stand-up to the structure and minerality but this was in fine form and delivers what you want from an aged Pauillac. Ready now but will hold in this place for another 3-5 years followed by a long graceful decline.
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12/27/2023 - davergny Likes this wine: 92 Points
13 years since my last note on this wine. It definitely seems to have improved! A medium bodied wine, but noble and stately. Tobacco, graphite, leather, and plummy fruit, and a long, gratifying finish. Not as rich or exuberant as other vintages, but it has that Pauillac character for sure.
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12/11/2023 - chalongp Likes this wine: 90 Points
3 hours decant. Color still relatively young. Medium-light body. The wine is very well balanced, but for a Second Growth Pauillac, one expects more.
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12/9/2023 - AURUM Likes this wine: 91 Points
Stored since purchase in a tempered cellar. Damped label.
Decanted 3 hours based on experiense from previous bottles. Dark red with some brick notes in the rim. Typicle Bordeaux nose. Didn't take any notes. It was a good wine but not great. Had expected more power in the boquet and complexity in the mouth. Hopefully bottle variation. Seems not to be any problem with it's age.
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11/10/2023 - MRichman wrote:
Wonderful as always. This was the first bottle from a sealed owc. Great richness, lots of mineral. Fruit perhaps just starting to fade. I'd say this has passed peak and is slowly aging toward the older side of its window. Still has a long way to go. Excellent.
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9/24/2023 - Dibbs wrote: 89 Points
Don't think it was a flawed bottle but the palate came across as light and had a distinct lack of fruits (all tertiary). The nose stayed very aromatic but the palate really didn't hold up. My initial feeling was that with air it will put across more weight but it didn't really happen.
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9/1/2023 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Crabs and scallops and kanonkop oh my (Winchester): The. Nose. All the things. Opened and poured and my goodness you couod live for a month on just what you get from sniffing the glass. Bricking on the rim - hard to believe it’s younger than the Kanonkop. The nose draws you on - no funk but so much claret going on, pencil shavings and sone bramble, and on the palate such balance and length. It’s like listening to a great recording of the brandenburg concertos on a really good hifi, it’s all there, it seems quiet and natural until you turn it off and then you realise just how special it is.
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7/11/2023 - Tao wrote: 95 Points
Large in size and scale, nose of fine, spicy black fruits, the palate is rich and lengthy, luxurious in style! Will give you more in the future!
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7/4/2023 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 96 Points
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of mushroom, earth, spices, toast, cooked black fruits. Medium acidity and medium tannin. Tannin is integrated. Long finish. This is my 4th bottle of 1996 vintage and I realised my score are all different. It seem like theres quite a big variation of bottle condition. Did not decant and don’t think it need decanting.
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6/25/2023 - ledocq Likes this wine:
Finally had to admit, after drinking three in the last 6 years, that the pleasure has been intellectual more than sensual. I appreciate it and it's interesting, but there's no hedonism here for me. Happy for folks for whom it's a fuller experience.
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6/22/2023 - Fftjr Likes this wine: 96 Points
Absolutely spectacular. Youthful nose. Deep ruby color. Great body and structure. Drinking well. Has many many years to go. Too bad my only one.
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5/8/2023 - Brolawa wrote:
G3/G4. Drank at Pebble Lodge. Much better than last bottle.
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5/8/2023 - Rani Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasted blind next ot the 1996 Grand Puy Lacoste which was surprisingly similar yet a tad less structured. Tight nose of tobacco, cedar, and with some some coffee notes. Very tight and concentrated with cool blackcurrant fruit. This bottle was suprisingly young and needs time.
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5/3/2023 - François1986 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Robe vermillon d'intensité moyenne +
1er nez s'ouvre sur le poivron rouge, puis très vite apparaissent les arômes noble et classieux de boite à cigare, tabac, blond, fumé, chocolat léger, prunes séchées.
Bouche entre puissance et finesse sur le tabac blond, les tannins sont savoureux.
Un très bon et beau bordeaux (sans notes truffées ou mentholées à ce stade).
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4/30/2023 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pencil shavings slight hints of green cassis dark and blue berries. This wine drinks great and should continue to do so for a long time to come. Very enjoyable with a nice decant.
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3/18/2023 - ChateauSimon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep garnet. Rich nose of blackberries and tobacco. A bit more muted on the palate, but still very good. Probably not yet at its peak. Soft tannins, but fairly high acidity. Decanted an hour before drinking.
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3/2/2023 - wa2ofd Likes this wine:
Still quite youthful. About an hour decant and could have used a few more. Enjoyable now but plenty of life left.
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2/25/2023 - Radders12345 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Over ripe plums and blueberry, a chunk of graphite and cedar, forest floor, leather.
Wonderfully open with deep fruit. Still a lick of tannins but this is drinking very well.
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11/14/2022 - Vino Me wrote: 96 Points
Opened by Jcubed at an offline. Clear garnet color. Beautiful old worl character. An erthy texture with mineral, iron, cassis and leather notes. A smooth and round finish. Frist time I've had the 1996 but compared to the 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2010 vintages I previously had this was right up there and surpassed only by the 2000. 96 points.
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11/11/2022 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Showing some age with a bit of bricking. Notes of macerated red berries, currant, sandalwood and autumn forest. Medium-bodied with integrated tannins and flavors of red currant, tea, earth and cedar. A bit of cigar box as well. Excellent and drinking quite well having just a little while to breathe in bottle once the cork was pulled- perhaps only thirty or forty minutes. One of my favorites tonight. (J3)
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10/19/2022 - cephomer Likes this wine: 94 Points
I supplied for our wine dinner at CKH last nite, and didn't disappoint. Decanted briefly at our table (mistake: Decant for solid 1-2 hrs next time). As at my last tasting, very impressive nose of cigar box, black fruit and tobacco. Medium body, still copious amounts of black fruit, good concentration and grip, soft tannins somewhat resolved. The wine seemed more muted than I recall, and seemed to be holding back a bit--hence, my suggestion for long decant to open it up more next time. Still, a lovely long finish. Drinking well, and still some good drinking time ahead. Nose is the wine's best element on this occasion, but hopeful the palate will come around more hedonistically the next time.
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10/2/2022 - englishman's claret wrote: 94 Points
A near facsimile of my note from October 2021, maybe this time with a hair more staying power. If you come to this wine expecting a top Baron vintage or a Baron that does what it does nowadays - challenges the firsts regularly - then you may be disappointed. But if you approach the wine not expecting a top 96, you’ll find a very nice representation of Baron.
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9/30/2022 - Jd6725 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very lean and clean Paulliac. Tobacco, cigar box. A touch of sweet fruit left. A magnum of this was singing a year ago, and was bigger. This didn't quite live up but was still solid. Maybe an earlier drinker? Or a middle age phase.
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7/23/2022 - madmaxcmd wrote: 94 Points
Tied for my wine of the night with a 2000 SHL. Amazing nose, initial taste, integration of grapes and mouthfeel. It was tasted blind and most of us guessed right bank since the ‘clues’ suggested a merlot based wine (it was 80% cabernet and 20% merlot). Drank directly from bottle without decanting for 2 hours and it maintained all of its nuances throughout that time period. I think it can maintain this plateau for 5+ years. Great wine and vintage. It’s partner wine (1996 Pichon Lalande) is one of my favorite Bordeaux hands down.
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6/26/2022 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nose of flint and tobacco, dark fruit is medium body seemed older...integrated light tannin and acid....good finish. Classic. I decanted for 90 minutes....less next time.
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6/18/2022 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Popped and poured, and ravaged over the next hour. What a great wine. What a great bottle. Stored so well over 28 years. Mature Bordeaux at its best. Man, this thing was great!
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6/2/2022 - hargy Likes this wine: 92 Points
a lovely, mature Pichon Baron with a fabulous bouquet - quite gentle so I am not sure it will improve much from here but certainly delicious!
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5/24/2022 - cephomer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank last nite with the Case Handler at Lure. Opened in my apt hour b4, and decanted briefly at restaurant. Impressive nose of cigar box, black fruit and tobacco. Medium body, good black fruit, good concentration and grip, soft tannins somewhat resolved. Lovely long finish. Drinking well, and still some good drinking time ahead.
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5/8/2022 - liber Likes this wine: 94 Points
4th of 12, opened 90 minutes, perfect cork and level, developing glacially and little changed from bottle noted in March 20, upside, 25+ years. F+ (18).
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5/1/2022 - UFGators Likes this wine: 96 Points
This drinks exceptionally well right now. I agree with the prior tasting note that this wine is in the early part of its long drinking window and has many more years before it starts to decline. I am going to go out on a limb and say that this will be drinking at its peak in 5 years or so. This wine is surprisingly youthful and required a little over an hour in the decanter to show it's best and continued to blossom in the glass. This is classic Paulliac. I only had one bottle but I will seek others. This is right up there with the 1990 vintage of this wine that I love.
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4/14/2022 - SimonG wrote: 94 Points
Dinner after the Royal Maundy (Home): Deep garnet. Lovely nose of cassis and tobacco, really quite dense and plush with some pencil lead. Maturing nicely, this is in line with a bottle before Christmas. Really starting to open and show some development without losing sight of its structural frame. Classical, assured understatement. Super with a wild garlic and parsley crusted rack of new season lamb. ****1/2
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4/14/2022 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
Drinking at peak, perhaps on the young side.Tannic with many years to go.
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2/14/2022 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
Tastes young. Very good wine with a long, bright future ahead. Tannic and a touch vegetal (probably Cab Franc). Let this one sleep for a while, and you will be rewarded (or your children will!).
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1/22/2022 - theelvoid Likes this wine: 96 Points
This wine is drinking beautifully right now. Decanted for 60 minutes and enjoyed over 2 hours to accompany grilled steak, twice—baked potatoes and avacado/tomato salad.
The cork was perfect, the nose surprisingly fruit and floral with no barnyard scent. On the palate it is more herbal and minty with a fairly long finish and prominent tannins. Really quite delicious. I have several more bottles and look forward to the next showing of this superb Bordeaux.
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1/14/2022 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy wrote: 95 Points
Brought to a restaurant. Popped and poured, ans drank over 1.5 hours. Impeccable bottle. This thing was ripping!
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12/19/2021 - honest bob wrote: 92 Points
From 75cl, exquisite cork, no staining back from end. Decanted 90 minutes, seemed about right. Amazingly pure, with a hint of consommée on the nose and pure concentrated blackcurrant on the entry. Smooth as silk on the light-to-medium bodied mid-palate, not particularly long for a wine of this quality. Super-civilised, super-delicious Médoc (blind I would have guessed a Léoville/St.Julien rather than a Pauillac), slightly overwhelmed this evening by rack of lamb with garlic and rosemary. This bottle (retail purchase in 2011) would have kept but not necessarily improved for many years. 92P
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12/18/2021 - NewFrenchClaret Likes this wine: 94 Points
This might be a slightly inflated score, but this is one of these wines where drinking it reminds me of everything great about claret.
Powerful but not flamboyant nose, more herbal than floral. Very minty. A few slightly surprising manure notes when first opened. These dissipated with air, but I'm still unsure if that's a good thing. Lovely fresh mouthfeel. Delicately posed tannins and a delicious long finish.
There are more life-changing Bordeaux wines for sure. But if I had to drink this wine every night for the rest of my life, I'd have no complaints.
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12/13/2021 - Paul D wrote: 92 Points
10/12 - decanted 1/2 hour. Quite restrained - showing dark fruit, cedar, touch of blood, medium bodied, harmonious with fresh acidity and a good length finish.
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12/13/2021 - SimonG wrote: 94 Points
Christmas Claret: A clear step up from previous bottles. A touch more restrained on the nose. Elegant and classic, more Pauillac than Baron, but opens to,show its class. Deep, plush, nuanced and a sense of elegant restraint. Excellent, and really starting to come in to its own. ****1/2
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12/3/2021 - SonnyChiba wrote: 94 Points
Delicious right out of the gate. Elegant and beautiful mature Bordeaux. Exactly what you hope it’s going to taste like.
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12/3/2021 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Restaurant bottle. Popped and poured. Excellent bottle and impeccably stored. Compared against the 96 Margaux. What a great wine, but tough to beat the Margaux. Still, what a great wine and well within its drinking window.
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11/7/2021 - tbabes wrote: 96 Points
Double decanted two hours before dinner. Impressive bouquet, quite proper and very much in keeping with the château and vintage, with notes of blackberry, dried plums, aged tobacco, black truffle, crushed gravel and earth. Medium bodied, with ripe tannins, impressive lift, excellent delineation and grip, and a long and refreshing finish. Bags of life!
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11/5/2021 - S1 Likes this wine:
Chas Offlineorama VI, Another embarrassment of riches; 11/3/2021-11/7/2021 (Various locations): Mostly dark fruits, sweet leather, and dark tannins served with a large side of Brett! I don’t mind a bit of the funk so I loved it.
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11/5/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Charleston VI; 11/3/2021-11/7/2021 (Charleston, SC (various locations)): Perhaps a touch of brett in this one but overall I think it was still lovely. Woodsy. Darker fruit and lots of spice cabinet. Very enjoyable.
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10/23/2021 - englishman's claret wrote: 93 Points
The 1996 may not climb into the top tier of Barons, but it is immediately accessible and dominated on the nose by all things classically Baron - fresh blackberry, coal, beef blood, cedar, tea. What’s missing here is the presence on the palate and dynamic energy seen in the vintages (1989, 1990, 2010, 2016). However, this concludes with a refreshing, long, pencilly finish. After 90 minutes, the aromatic delineation of the nose starts to fade - so a quick decant for sediment just before service seems advisable. Followed for 3.5 hours in total. While this might not deliver the top Baron experience, the market has priced it accordingly in my opinion and there’s plenty of pleasure to be derived from drinking it.
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5/7/2021 - canan wrote: 91 Points
BYO - Erik: Slightly disappointing performance. The wine is still good but it never really shows any kind of excitement. Especially next to Comtesse and Ducru-B. 91-92p
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5/2/2021 - ggroebli Likes this wine: 98 Points
Excellent, consistant avec la note précédente.
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3/13/2021 - europat55 wrote: flawed
1996 Tasting (Andre and Sabine's House, Mountain View, CA): Nose: Corked, Palate: Corked
My #12, Group's #12 (156 pts). Tasted blind.
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2/13/2021 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of meaty, earth, toast, herbaceous. High acidity, medium+ tannin. Previously had 96 Baron a couple of months ago, but this bottle taste much better. It could be bottle variation or different storage environment.
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1/27/2021 - Brolawa Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Pichon Baron taste but it’s almost as if someone turned down the volume on the wine. The nose is there but doesn’t invade the sinuses. The palate is there but it is muted and doesn’t finish long. Surprisingly acidic for its age. Bricking on edges. Possibly needs more cellaring but I’ve had other ‘96 BDX that are already excellent.
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12/29/2020 - Sean Tay wrote: 90 Points
Had a 1990s blind tasting Bordeaux theme. Key observation was that despite different individual palate, drinking experiences and how food will impair/change the wines, like previous tasting together; the WOTN and the least preferred is always the most distinctive and obvious. Leaving the rest to individual taste. Also, based on RP vintage chart, 1996 is extraordinary vintage; 96 pointer with remarks of still tannic, youthful or slow to mature. Sometime, off vintage might be a better choice for its readiness and price point.
Bottle 1: 1994 Chateau Latour
Medium garnet in colour, tight nose with grippy tannin. Nose of red/black fruits, oak, toast. Medium+ acidity and high tannin. Decanted for 1 hour. Poor vintage for Bordeaux and show that even in poor vintage, the winemaker still can blend and produce good wine. Will not improve and should drink up to enjoy.
Bottle 2: 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Medium garnet in colour, savoury, mushroom, wet forest, red/black fruits, toast, oak, toast. Silky in the palate. Could guess it’s most probably early 90s. Very enjoyable. Did not decant. My thought aftermath was should drink up and will not improve.
Bottle 3: 1996 Chateau d’Estournel
The taste is way better than the nose. Infact felt that the nose was rather closed. On the palate, its mellow, smooth and elegant. Blackcurrant, black fruits, with some toast notes. It lost out due to the nose. Decanted for 1 hour. Previously when tasting d’Estournel I remember always tasting smoky, toast, oaky notes. Should drink up now, in its drinking window.
Bottle 4: 1993 Chateau Angelus
Deep garnet in colour. Nose is pronounced of all. Savoury, wet forest, black fruits, oak, toast. Medium+ acidity and high tannin. Though high tannin, it is resolved and smooth in the palate. Double decanting for approximately 1 hour. Another poor vintage but performing at its peak. Surprisingly, based on the notes, it can still probably improve and can be kept easily 5-10 years.
Bottle 5: 1996 Leoville Las Cases
Deep garnet in colour. Nose is restrained. More red fruits than black fruits. High tannin and acidity. Very grippy tannin. Slow ox for 2 hours. Personally felt that Las Cases should be showing better than this. Should benefit if it’s decant longer. I felt that it’s in the early drinking window and will improve with more cellar time.
Bottle 6: 1996 Pichon Baron
Deep garnet in colour. Nose is poorest compare to all. Full of green, mint, pepper, some slight tints of black fruits. High acidity and tannin. It did not perform well despite a good vintage and wine producer. Probably due to not decanting ahead. Will definitely improve with decanting and cellar time.
Bottle 7: 1996 Carrudes de Lafite
Deep garnet in colour. Pronounced notes of red/black fruits, savoury notes.
High tannin and acidity. Tannin is smooth in the palate. Did not decant. Drinking very well and will improve with 1-2 hours of decanting. In its optimum drinking window and also will benefit with cellar time.
My blinded choice:
1) 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
2) 1996 Chateau d’Estournel
3) 1993 Chateau Angelus
4) 1996 Carrudes de Lafite
5) 1994 Chateau Latour
6) 1996 Chateau Leoville Las Cases
7) 1996 Pichon Baron
The WOTN as per average consensus:
1) 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, followed by
2) 1993 Chateau Angelus
3) 1996 Chateau d'Estournel
4) 1996 Carruades de Lafitte
5) 1996 Leoville Las Cases
6) 1994 Chateau Latour and lastly
7) 1996 Pichon Baron
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12/25/2020 - empire80 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fully mature, cedar, spice, black fruit and a hint of mocha. In a very good place.
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12/19/2020 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Blackcurrant, cedar, sandlewood, pencil shavings and a nicely mocha-tinged richness offset against the 96 line. Good line, with a freshness to the finish. Back on form after a slightly underwhelming bottle a couple of months ago. ****
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12/15/2020 - 7nuahs Likes this wine:
SQ's. Very nice and smooth. Will drink it again.
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11/24/2020 - mrgarreth Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very classic on the nose and in the drinking: blackcurrants and raspberries mingle with violet and savoury bay leaf. It is so fresh. Hints of leather and graphite.
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11/11/2020 - NickA Likes this wine: 95 Points
1996 Pauillac with Jane Anson (Zoom!): 80% CS, 15% M, 5% CF. Pencil lead with delightful sweet flowers on the nose, though this sadly faded a bit after about an hour. Really classic and delicious on the palate, with lots of juicy cassis and some hints of strawberry, but also some sexy, dark tertiary things to liven things up and create a sense of tension between the flavours. Really balanced and silky. This wine has undoubtedly come on since I had it a couple of years ago.
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10/10/2020 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Bordeaux 1996 Left bank versus 1998 Right bank (more or less) (By SK In Vught Aan het Fornuis): Beautiful bouquet with dark berries, luxurious oak, smoke and barnyard impressions. On the palate a slight touch of development, but beautiful fruits and a lot of good acidity. Beautiful wine.
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10/9/2020 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
Lunch at La T (La Trompette, London): Served a little warm, but lacking focus and precision initially. Quite soft and broad, a rounded right bank feel. Lacks the trademark mocha notes. Warm and gentle, cosseting even. ****
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10/3/2020 - VINNICK wrote: 95 Points
Just drinking great right now. 6 hour decant. Beautiful!
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9/1/2020 - tomandlu wrote: 93 Points
No detailed notes. Decanted about 1 hour. Moderately deep garnet-red color with some bricking. Nose at first reserved but eventually opened to reveal sous bois, cassis, tobacco, dry herbs, pencil shavings, and plenty of fruit. The nose never diminished over 3 hours. Beautifully balanced and classy on the palate.
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8/17/2020 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
From magnum. Decanted over cocktails. Showing beautifully with oodles of the wet earth that is the signature of Pichon Baron, medium acid, mature tannins, dried fruit and herbs. At peak I would say but no rush. The earthiness of this label made this one of my favorite wines early in my journey and it remains delicious although I now have occasion to drink more expensive Bordeaux. If you like the style, this is spot on.
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8/16/2020 - europat55 wrote: 95 Points
Nose: A Palate: A-/A
My #2, Group's #2 (55 pts). Tasted blind. Thin, but yet complex palate!
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8/16/2020 - europat55 wrote: 88 Points
Nose: B/B+ Palate: B+
My #10, Group's #8 (74 pts). Tasted blind. This fell apart after 30 minutes in the glass...
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7/30/2020 - G_H wrote:
Leather, red berries, forest floor, herbs, cedar wood, porcini, espresso, red bell peppers
Quite nice the first 30 minutes, after that a slight cork started to develop, what a shame
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7/11/2020 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 95 Points
Firing on all cylinders! Needs a three hour decant. That’s when it really gets going. Quintessential old world elegance, balance, and structure.
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7/9/2020 - Sean Tay Likes this wine:
Cooked black fruits, sourdough, cassis, medium+ acidity and tannin. Garnet. Pronounced secondary nose.
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6/24/2020 - ggroebli Likes this wine: 94 Points
Belle couleur brune, notable epaisseur pour 25 ans d’âge. Nez intense et corsé. Élégance classique. Notes de Sous bois et de poivre . Belle acidité et tanicité, tannins certes bien fondus mais quelques uns tapissant le palais. Seul point négatif. apparition de desagreables notes ferreuses après 3 heures et demie.
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6/5/2020 - rmh66 wrote: 92 Points
From a 375ml. Needed some air to open up. Dried and fresh red cherries, blackberries, spice, menthol, earth, smoke, tobacco, aged wood, and other complex earthy aromas. Tart cherry, cranberry, red cherry, earth, dried cherry, spice, hints of blackberry, herb, and wood on the palate. Fades nicely but ends with a long, delicious finish. Tart acidity, slightly grippy tannins, lengthy finish. The first word that came to mind was "delightful." So good.
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5/9/2020 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 95 Points
At the beginning the wine is muted, soft, elegant....but after 3 hours in the bottle (did not decant) glass the wine explodes in intensity into a potpourri of sweet mocha, cigar box, red fruit, and cassis. Everything delightful of the left bank. The tannins are soft and velvety but the structure is still there for plenty of cellaring potential ahead. What a beautiful wine! And what a transformation!
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4/10/2020 - the player Likes this wine: 95 Points
Last bottle and what a treat. Fully soaked cork. Pristine bottle. Very saline nose and palate before decanting. After an hour in the decanter this wine was singing. Tawny color, very evolved to an extent I was scared the wine may be oxidized. On the nose very complex dark and black fruits, spices, notes of iodine, and mocha. Medium bodied on the palate, quite complex and multiple notes of dark berries, cherries, cassis, spices, top structure and active mid palate, very precise focus typical of left bank 96s, and a nice long finish with spicy mocha coating the supple tannins beautifully. Great stuff, the reason why I'm partial to aged left bank wines!
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4/9/2020 - KoalaHK wrote:
Drunk at the Mandarin Grill Hong Kong - Old school claret with very fine resolved tannins. Those textbook secondary Bordeaux characteristics are unmistakable on the nose. All in all a very positive surprise.
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3/14/2020 - ggroebli Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nez corsé, plein d‘epices. Notes tertiaires avec peu de fruit mais des tanins bien incorporés. Profonde pourpre étonnamment foncée pour l’âge. Belle complexité. Un régal!
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3/12/2020 - liber Likes this wine: 93 Points
3rd of 12, opened 3 hours, decanted an hour, perfect cork and level, back on track presenting like so many 96s as a young wine albeit losing some of the earlier angularity (see last note in May 16), nice harmony to the fruit, green tinge happily resolving as bell pepper, silk developing, excellent grip and roundness, proper Pauillac puissance, not yet the excitement of the 88-90 trio, but on improving trend, a pleasure with slow roasted lamb shoulder! F+ (18).
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2/28/2020 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Absolutely gorgeous and drinking perfectly now, as are several of the other top 1996 Bordeaux. Elegant but with enough weight to give a hedonistic kick. Perfectly balanced cassis and bramble fruit. Nice tertiary notes of leather, underbrush and herbs. Long and complex.
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2/2/2020 - mhudes wrote: 92 Points
Watching the Super Bowl with Walter. From half bottle. PnP. Purple in color. Dark fruit on the nose, but red raspberries and boysenberries(?) in the mouth along with a bit of cocoa and some cedar-cigar box nuance. Other complexities lurk in the background. This was an excellent foil for our roasted potatoes and mushrooms (+ roast beef sandwiches).
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1/19/2020 - BradA Likes this wine: 94 Points
I simply adore pichon baron. This is a wonderful wine that has a soft chalk opening that quickly shows sweet cedar and baking spice. A wine to drink now thru 2030.
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1/3/2020 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Chateau Baron Vertical ‘89-‘14 (Abigail’s Highland Park, IL): Deep color, wonderful intoxicating flavor, longer finish and so drinkable now.
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12/15/2019 - appel54 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tegelröd färg
Paprika, blyerts, läder, kaffe, någon form av diskmedelston som efterhand försvinner med lite mer luft
Torrt, stramt, finstämda taninner (lena), bra längd, bra intensitet.
Ett vin som är i en bra drickfas
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12/15/2019 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pichon Baron vertical 1982-2009 (Local wine club): Shy opening with leather, cedar, marzipan and sweet fruit. Dry, high acidity with the fruit a bit dried out. Then something happens after 2-3 hours and the wine grows tremendously in the glass. Forgot to make further notes...
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11/30/2019 - dnnk88 wrote: 90 Points
2nd try this year: Red fruits, cassis, tobacco, tea leaves, earth. Classical in style, with oak on the finish. Similar to my last try in October, this tasted very different in style to other Barons I’ve tried. Also, tasted older than it should, lacking vibrancy. Probably past it’s prime.
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11/30/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Bordeaux and Smoked Long Bone Beef Rib Roast (Brandon and Kendall's, Mpls): Very dark purple/red color. PNP, drank a glass over 90 minutes. Fine pencil shavings, earthy, cassis, plum and blackberries on the nose, a lot of leather, dried dillweed and dried herbs. The palate is full bodied, powerful and dense, black fruits of cassis, plum and blackberry, pencil, leather, herbs, dried earth, and fine grained tannins with some firmness. This is very nice; it needs some air or more time to be at peak. Long life ahead. 93+ to 94pts.
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11/29/2019 - SteelerFan wrote: 90 Points
Very good. Cassis, tar and berry. Very typical in nature. A bit lean. No rush but I am not sure it will improve.
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11/11/2019 - MRichman wrote:
Very good.
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11/7/2019 - quaffnov Likes this wine: 91 Points
No formal note, this is a long aging wine that even now, with 23 years of age on it, is drinking very young, with secondary elements just beginning to show. This can easily go another decade if not longer.
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10/12/2019 - dnnk88 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Red fruits, black fruits, tobacco leaf, spices, with cigar box tertiaries and black tea on the finish. Unlike any Barons that I’ve tasted, this was on the feminine side. Enjoyed this tonight but a tad below the Lynch Bages ‘99 tasted alongside which was more vibrant. Nonetheless a classic, well-aged Bordeaux. Open soon as I believe it is moving out of its prime.
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6/26/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Decanted about 30 minutes, the wine is full-bodied, concentrated, tannic, masculine and classic. Loaded with tobacco leaf, smoke, wet earth and bright red fruits, the wine shows some bite in the fruit that works perfecty with the freshness. I am sure this will improve, but it is already quite tasty today.
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6/4/2019 - Timbalimba wrote: 97 Points
Wonderful wine at a wonderful occasion. Uncorked 24 hours prior to serving, gently introduced to fresh air and room temperature after 20+ years in my cellar. Starts off very quietly, slowly building confidence, hitting its stride after about an hour and two glasses down. It's beautifully sensually packaged, with deep blackcurrant fruit, vibrant aromas of violets, roses, cool wet earth, and the right amount of of secondary and some tertiary aspects of cigar box and cedar. There's also a red fruit note that I noticed recently in the '11, like wild raspberry, that provides testimony both to the terroir of the estate and the ability of Pauillac to churn out Cabernet aromatics like no other place on earth that I know of. It's just a beautiful wine--- remarkably fruity at this age, yet restrained, yet quietly flamboyant, combining fresh aromas with just the right amount of maturing flavours. A real treat and a privilege. Will keep
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5/29/2019 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fine Wines SG - Bordeaux 90s Dinner - Left vs Right (Fine Wines SG): A good acidity, tannin, and weight, with blackberry, cassis, cocoa, and graphite. Great depth, and can see several more years with this
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4/27/2019 - NickA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Huge (and mouthwatering) aroma of cassis and sophisticated oak came off as I poured into the decanter, but this was the only point at which the wine showed much fruit influence, and that was a slight shame as it was promising great things at that point.
That said, the wine did show beautifully, if in a somewhat restrained fashion: nose dominated by lead pencil, with some tobacco; slightly bitter (coffeebean?) in the mouth, with a hint of cassis but more savoury notes, such as tomato puree, to the fore. Long but slightly simple meaty finish. Good both with and without food as tannins are in a good spot now - elegant and drinkable.
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4/14/2019 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This has improved since my last bottle 4hrs ago. Aromatics are where it’s at, with classic cigar box and mint notes. Palate is more dilute and lighter than expected, with red fruit profile that is mostly tertiary at this point. Lengthy finish. Typical flavor profile of the estate. Doesn’t have the power of the elite years but quite good.
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3/12/2019 - Andrewbdc wrote:
Michael Schuster: 1996 Medoc - An Affordable Maturity? (Mullenlowe, C-Space, 37-45 City Riad, London, EC1Y 1AT): Very sweet fruit. Cassis, vanilla, cedar, gravel. Developing. Fresh medium acidity, med+ tannins, long finish. Ripe red and blackcurrant core of fruit. Compared to the St Julien's tasted this evening (Langoa Barton, Leoville Barton, Ducru Beaucaillou), this is richer, more muscular, greater concentration of fruit. Outstanding.
80% CS, 13% alcohol
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2/24/2019 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Bricking at the edge a bit here.
Some dried fruit character coming through, cherry, cassis, and some cigar box/pencil shavings.
Tense on the palate. Tannin, acidity and fruit are all a bit tight upon opening. This will likely unfold beautifully but the 1986 tasted beside it is really showing better. Obviously more integration, but the fruit on the 1986 is more pronounced as well fun tasting. Hold this for another few years and drink over the next 15.
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2/24/2019 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 93 Points
Mature with medium body and notes of pencil and currant...nice nose and finish....really well balanced....still has some time.
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2/21/2019 - mattiasjansson wrote: 95 Points
2nd Growth Bordeaux (Boston): Medium-red. Pencil lead. Big fruit. Long, exciting finish.
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1/31/2019 - wa2ofd wrote:
I’ve had better experiences with this same vintage...mushrooms and darkness that never fully dissolved...I don’t think corked but something clearly off...
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1/27/2019 - Vancouver Likes this wine: 92 Points
Color is a medium garnet- suggesting this has reached full maturity.
This is confirmed on the nose with fully mature aromas of dusty black fruit, earth, vanilla, balsamic and some lead pencil.
Medium bodied with enough acidity to keep fresh and fully integrated tannins.
Finished medium plus and savory.
.
This bottle was purchased on release and stored thereafter. . I would drink up as I believe this would have been better a few years ago.
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1/6/2019 - Erik12000 wrote:
Nice mature Bordeaux. Dark fruit and leather on the nose. The palate has good fruit and soft tannins. After 2 hours the acidity becomes more pronounced. Enjoy now.
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1/1/2019 - achasd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well, this bottle showed classic aged Bordeaux properties. Fruit in perfect balance with acid. Dark berries. Just a bit of astringency on the finish kept the points from being higher. Don't wait too long for these.
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12/21/2018 - Paul D wrote: 94 Points
Decanted and immediately served. This was on good form with a lovely complex nose showing leather, a touch of bloody meat and underlying red and black berry fruit. The palate was medium bodied, quite feminine and elegant, soft tannins, tobaccoey fruit, touch of bloody meat again and a good length harmonious finish. Really lovely.
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12/15/2018 - phol wrote: 94 Points
Perfect to drink now dark chocolate chassis leather plum and nice smooth integrated tannins
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12/9/2018 - kstoddard Likes this wine: 95 Points
From magnum
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11/23/2018 - BradA wrote: flawed
Corked.
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11/16/2018 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
good youngish red-purple just starting to lighten at the rim, firm oak and pepper on the nose, a hard earth note, almost a pickle note as well- from the oak, on the palate still pretty tight, where some other Pauillacs like Lynch-Bages have been fairly forward this still seems shut down, dark berries, cassis, quite a bit of tannin still present- but overall the wine is well balanced, fine lengthy finish, at an awkward phase now but a good future in store I think, while Pichon-Baron has remained traditional in most ways- the oak is a bit heavy for my tastes and whether it fully integrates will have a big impact on my eventual impression, where the 2000 and 2005 tasted alongside are going to be powerhouses- this could hopefully come out more in the vein of the magnificent mid-weight 1990 which is dazzling today, though I think the oak here will remain somewhat conspicuous. (****)+?, I would wait at least another 5 years on this, 2025-2035+
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11/10/2018 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Similar to prior notes; another lovely bottle!
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9/29/2018 - Moonie wrote: 88 Points
Not bad, but really nothing terribly interesting. Fairly one dimensional.
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9/11/2018 - kmforster Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was firing on all cylinders - amazing with duck aux cerises and Umbrian lentils. I would buy this again in a heartbeat. Decanted for about 2 hours.
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8/30/2018 - Harley1199 Likes this wine:
Bottle opened one nite before consumption.
Typical structured yet balanced Pauilliac wine, with a deep crimson colour, with aromas of pencil shavings, cigars box and some fruit that has been treated through a prestigious kitchen. Harmonious but timid. Better on the palate with a refined texture, decadent softness that never, ever bores. Notes of black fruit and moka coffee. A beautiful example of what B'dx 1996 can offer. Time to go ...
Botella abierta un día antes de su consumo.
Típico vino del Pauilliac estructurado aunque equilibrado, de un color carmesí profundo, con aromas a mina de lápiz, caja de puros y algo de fruta que ha pasado por una cocina de prestigio. Armónico pero tímido. Mejor al paladar con una textura refinada, decadente suavidad que no cansa nunca. Notas de fruta negra y de café moka. Un bello ejemplo de lo que puede ofrecer un 1996. Hora de descorchar ...
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8/5/2018 - BradA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sublime, fully mature and smashing with a dinner of grilled lamb. Again a wine from the underrated 1996 vintage that blows past the 95. The fruit is there, However is has softened. The finish is tea like and very enjoyable as I like that kind of profile. Drink now thru 2021.
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6/28/2018 - MRichman wrote:
Good but not the best bottle or this that I've had recently.
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5/27/2018 - Papies wrote: flawed
Just a bit corked and a real shame!
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4/29/2018 - Paul D wrote: 89 Points
8/12, excellent cork. Decanted 1/2 hour.
Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Nose shows composed dark fruit, touch of tobacco and tea. Medium bodied on the palate, soft, resolved tannins, balanced acidity, dark fruit, some underlying red berries, tobacco, good length, harmonious finish. Decent if lacking a bit of excitement.
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3/21/2018 - djhammond Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very typical of the left bankers from this vintage, in being very forward in its development and with an abundance of fruit on the nose and palate. Blackcurrent and cedar dominate but with flavours of graphite on the palate. The tannin is evolved but still steely, and even a little gripping, with a decent finish, if a little imbalanced, and with a residual sourness. All in all an enjoyable wine, but without the magic of some of its siblings from the vintage. Some decanting time is recommended.
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3/19/2018 - billcow Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully
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3/4/2018 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Vinetasters: 1996 Bordeaux (Skokie, IL): Served double blind in a flight of 1996 Bordeaux. Lots of earth on the nose, as well as some barnyardy funk, followed by a sweetness that seems to evoke merlot (it's that plummy brown spice of an English pudding). The palate shows some of that ripe fruit as well. Good balance and sweetness here. Fully resolved and ready to go. My 1st, group's 2nd.
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2/9/2018 - Cailles wrote: 90 Points
PnP, decanted and drunk over 4 hours. Had its moment right after opening the bottle with a bouquet of hallmark Bordeaux stable, earth, tobacco, black truffle nose with cassis underneath. Very classic, fresh with velvety tannins. Quite enjoyable but with time in the glass/decanter the wine lost its appeal and became a bit boring (ok, maybe that’s because the Pape Clement 2006 and Lewis Cellars Cab Reserve 2010 became better and better as the evening progressed).
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1/19/2018 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
A day in Noizé (Noizé restaurant, London): Consistent with previous notes. This is a moderately rich Baron, suitably mocha-scented alongside the more classic cedar and cassis. Certainly drinkable now, but probably another decade or so of development until it's close to its peak. Smooth, velvety. Long. ****
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1/11/2018 - portman63 Likes this wine: 93 Points
In an amazing place right now. Great black currants, black minerals, and graphite. What made it so great were the soft integrated tannins and balance of fruit and acid structure making each pour better than the last. Always a treat.
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12/19/2017 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful classic mature claret, so elegant and finesse, lovely nose of cedar, tobacco, red fruits, graphite, on the palate medium bodied, very refined, perfect balance, just makes you want the next sip, absolutely delicious!
94
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12/15/2017 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Wines with the HDH Auction: Terrific showing for this wine. Big explosive nose of ash, smoke, bell pepper, dark chocolate and plum fruit. Palate is so well balanced. Tannins are chewy yet still refined. Apparently this was initially quite stinky, but cleaned up with a couple hours of air.
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12/15/2017 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
HDH auction tasting at Spiaggia; 12/14/2017-12/16/2017 (Chicago, IL): Absolutely classic Bordeaux. I'm told the nose was quite poopy at first, but that certainly cleared up with air. The palate and nose are quintessential Bordeaux, with some of those classic cedar and leather aromas. Really nice ripeness and balance, this doesn't show too angular at all. In fact, it seems to be fairly resolved. Delicious.
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11/11/2017 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to prior (noncorked) notes; delicious & ready to drink
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11/11/2017 - jsmorris707 wrote: flawed
Badly corked, apparent as soon as I extracted the "perfect" cork; bummer!
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9/17/2017 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 96 Points
2nd wine of a '96 dream tasting in Bourdeaux with our group. Done 2 separate times over 2 separate weeks. 1st bottle-more garnet, increased bricking at the edges than the Lalande. Nose of black fruit, smoke and after a swirl a very perfumed component. Earthy, red fruit entry, plenty of acid backbone left with a nice spicy ending with plenty of red cherries too. Increased depth and increased power over the Lalande. Definitely a more masculine wine. 2nd week-more of the same with even better acidity on the backend so more consistency from bottle to bottle.
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8/26/2017 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to prior note but this time had with 96 Lalande. It is lighter & more open than the Lalande; delicious & ready to drink
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8/19/2017 - eluebchow wrote: 94 Points
Right out of the bottle, this has classic Bordelaise aromatics of cassis, leather and spicy red fruits; The palate is still fairly concentrated, with plenty of red and dark fruits interspersed with herbal and earth tones, with some tannic grip on the finish remaining; Drinking in a very nice spot currently, but certainly has the bones to last much longer
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8/9/2017 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cedar and leather more than anything else on the nose. Dominated by cigar and tobacco flavors, soft mellow tannin but something is missing here. Compared to previous notes this seems to be an off bottle with less of the fruit element, seemed almost as if it was starting to dry out. Still not bad or flawed. Just less appealing than the previous bottle.
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7/2/2017 - Aspenhawk Likes this wine: 95 Points
in /12 i gave this a 93 i believe... 5 years later, i will give it a 95. We gave it a little over an hour in the decantor and served with tender medallions of beef ... again... Fantastic...
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6/30/2017 - AURUM Likes this wine: 95 Points
Absolutely stunning! Opened too late, only 30 min before dinner. Cork was a disaster fell into several pieces, but luckily the wine was not affected. Great to entrecôte of lamb, but now after two hours, the wine is just wow. Red with brick rim, nose with lead pencil, cigar and cigarbox, black currant, some herbal spice, complex, but the best is the taste. Soft tannins, complex, the acidity is there, Perfectly balanced and with great length.
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6/24/2017 - MRichman wrote:
This is in a great place. Wonderful bottle of wine.
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6/18/2017 - gsquireh Likes this wine: 96 Points
Eight years, different bottle, developed sensibilities, a lot can change when tasting the last of this lot from my cellar. Nothing but scartlet-purple color with pure blackberry, black currant and cassis fruit with expressiveness to share that leads to a beautifully balanced, smooth and luxurious in mouthfeel. Cedar, expresso, sweet black licorice with filtered pine tar, and a touch of cloves are fresh, pure, and surrounded by soft caressing tannins. A winner!
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6/17/2017 - Javachip Likes this wine: 95 Points
Allowed to breathe in glass 2 hours before tasting. Clear deep dark garnet color. Fabulous bouquet of black currants, blackberries, black cherries and their liqueurs; lilacs, crushed gravel, dark baking spices, cardamom, cloves, forest floor, hints of leather and cigars. Similar on the palate, full body, balanced, beautiful acidity, polished tannins, long finish. Seems youthful, at early end of prime drinking window. Improved with several hours of air and held up fine under vacuum stopper in refrigerator for 4 days. Addendum: score upgraded one point as the bouquet got sweeter and yummier after a few hours.
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4/23/2017 - empire80 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful mature fruit and cedar, absolutely perfect now.
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4/10/2017 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very elegant; mature, turning bricking; beautiful nose; great fruit and balance.
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2/18/2017 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Medium Ruby, evolved color but not brick. Coming from drinking 3 weeks of predominately Burg I needed to readjust my nose to having oak in the aromas... Expressive nose, classical for mature Medoc, scents of of pine, peat, forest floor, dark fruit, oaky but not excessive, overall fantastic, guests really liked it. Enters the palate with good fruit, acidity and very nicely dissolved tannins providing the right structure. Fully mature and great to drink. Convincing package.
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1/10/2017 - popopdrops wrote: flawed
Oxidized
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12/31/2016 - wa2ofd Likes this wine:
Drinking exceptionally well at the moment. All the makings of classic left bank Bordeaux
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12/31/2016 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
From memory at boy's dinner at Capitol Grille after double decant & SO'd for a few hrs: medium ruby with no brick, classic aged left bank Bordeaux with dark fruit & a touch of tobacco, mod. tannins, med/long finish; delicious, drink or hold. Amazingly, I found it almost indistinguishable from the 89 Lynch Bages with the exception that it was a little lighter in color.
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12/23/2016 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank at Home
Fully mature and singing. Wonderful
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12/2/2016 - tbushnell Likes this wine: 91 Points
Needed about 1 and half hours to open up.
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11/5/2016 - 79bulldog Likes this wine: 94 Points
Splendid. Plum and strawberry bouquet with hint of anise. The palate is a wonderful mix of mature fruit and leather. Pichon loves red meat. We enjoyed this bottle with steaks and sautéed kale.
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10/15/2016 - Javachip wrote: 97 Points
Decanted. Crystal clear deep garnet color, with a bright energetic quality. Glorious bouquet of black and red fruit, boysenberries, black currants, creme de cassis, tobacco, stony soil. Similar on the palate, full body, impeccable balance, seamless, beautiful structure, lingering finish. My favorite of all the PBs tonight, surpassing 2010, 2000, 1990, and 1989. An extraordinary wine, youthful and vigorous, at the beginning of its ideal drinking window, where it will remain for decades.
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9/30/2016 - Kris G Likes this wine: 93 Points
minerals, iron, volcanic, earthy, black and red fruits that are supported bu elegant, discrete and fine acids, little wood, this wines shows its pure fruit and finesse, I like this style
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9/6/2016 - shaferguy91 wrote: 92 Points
No decant. Drinking very well now.
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9/2/2016 - Mathijs81 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Stood next to Pavie 2001, La Conseillante 2001 and Tertre Roteboeuf 2007.
+ Nose - spicy, herbal, iron, volcanic rock, forest floor, hummus
+ Flavour - very light, fruity, light tobacco, full on red candy
+ Finish - again, a bombshell, very full, opulent, white pepper
We were stunned this was an 1996 vintage, almost no hints of ageing !!!
Mathijs
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8/22/2016 - nstow wrote: 90 Points
1st of 12. Mature well rounded and drinking nicely. An elegant wine which still has some primary fruit and the potential to develop further. Drunk with simple grilled duck breast, a good match as the wines complexities are subtle and could easily be overwhelmed. 4/5
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7/19/2016 - jerry6 wrote: 96 Points
it is ready , as good as it gets . Drink now , no use letting it sit longer
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7/9/2016 - Zweder wrote: 96 Points
In the bouquet dark forest fruits, a touch of pleasant barnyard, concentrated, luxurious oak, cedar, refined and complex. On the palate beautiful dark forest fruits, graphite, sweet and salty licorice, well dosed oak, beautiful acidity and round tannin. Beautifully mature and ready now, but there is no hurry to drink it. Around 2020 will be fine ;-). Belongs to my favorites of the 1996 vintage.
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7/4/2016 - jmoon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Jeff leve got it right
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5/29/2016 - Vstalam Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nice balance of primary fruit and secondary flavor of black pepper, graphite, and other lighter notes. Paired well with steak.
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5/14/2016 - Arcturus wrote: 94 Points
3 hour decant. Refined, classic, mature and well balanced. Tertiary scents of graphite, tobacco and dried flowers. The mid palate is velvety smooth with subtle energy charged with a core of dark fruit. Drinking well but still plenty of life.
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5/8/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
At 20 years of age, this is really starting to show. The tannins have softened, yet, there is still a slight Medoc firmness to the wine. Cassis, cigar box, cedar chest, tobacco, lead pencil and olive tapenade aromatics create the nose. The finish has the perfect blend of tannins, elegance, freshness and a touch of austerity, coupled with plenty of sweet, juicy sweet fruits to let you know you are firmly in Pauillac . If you have a bottle of this wine that have been waiting for, your wait is over. Pop a cork on it today!
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5/1/2016 - liber Likes this wine: 90 Points
2nd of 12, decanted an hour, perfect level and cork - essentially as my 2013 note, there is an angularity and an unattractive green tinge to the fruit, not one of the better 96s and well off the Comtesse in ths vintage. At best VGI (17).
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4/9/2016 - DaleW wrote: flawed
Black fruit, pencil lead, an odd note- eventually conclude mildly corked
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4/2/2016 - blanquito wrote:
Only got a small pour late in the night, wasn't very impressed, showed quite tart and one-dimensional.
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4/2/2016 - Tree512 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very much like the 1989 at the same point in its maturation. Loads of purple fruit, extremely long, not so much complex as penetrating. Will keep improving but very good now.
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4/2/2016 - mikita77 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Gorgeous nose, violets and spices, cardamom and pepper, leather. Palate is less interesting, not too long. Had it with mushrooms stroganoff. Very enjoyable. Ready to drink. Not waiting with my second bottle.
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2/2/2016 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Nicely dark ruby. Quite open and spicy and a little lush on the nose with blackcurrant, coffee and mocha aromas. Similar on attack: not as structured as the Palmer or LMHB, more open and giving; a little broader. Not quite diffuse but lacks the precision and focus of the aforementioned. Comely, even quite sexy though a little too easy and lush. Plenty of fun despite or because of that. Just lacking a little decorum for top flight proper. ****
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12/25/2015 - empire80 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic pauillac. Cedar notes and lush black fruit stands out after a couple of hours in the decanter.
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12/15/2015 - MEKWINE Likes this wine: 90 Points
WIMPS La Trompette Cornucopia 2015. Ripe black fruits and tobacco, with hints of spices. Completely resolved tannins and drinking well.
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11/29/2015 - eluebchow wrote: 94 Points
The nose is intoxicating, showing spicy red fruit, cassis and tobacco; The palate is fairly ripe with a dense core of red fruits, but it's still beautifully balanced with silky tannins and some herbal notes on the finish; This should evolve for many years, but it's certainly very delicious right now with some air
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11/23/2015 - Mr T wrote:
1-2 hour decant but clear lightweight of a flight with 96 GPL and Pontet Canet. Just not enough stuffing...maybe a bad bottle but not a wine I would seek out
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11/15/2015 - chablis28 wrote: 93 Points
Tasty Bdx if not a little riper than I'd expect it to be but perhaps that's what the producer offers? I enjoyed this wine and expect any real BDX fan would dig it even more than I did. In very nice condition and a pleasure. Drinking fairly young yet at nearly 20 years old but no issues with opening. This came with the cork already out and I assume likely decanted.
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11/11/2015 - Mascarello59 wrote: 95 Points
Another level up from Aussie and Calicabs. A lovely uplifting nose of cedar, graphite, charcoal, cassis, earth, cigarbox i.e. great complexity. On the palate a lot of cigarbox, dry but not drying and with the acidity and a fruit core intact. Long lingering balanced finish. This is just great! Wine of the night by far. At a good drinking point. 94-95p.
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11/10/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Just slight signs of evolution around the rim, bright and glossy. Generous, open nose with sweet and layered fruit, lots of spice box, tobacco, cedar. Gentle and round on the palate, more elegant than the 1995 in comparison, lovely structure and balance, nice tannic bite, fresh. Decent length. Drink or hold. 93-95
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11/6/2015 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great Balance....opens over 3-4 hours. Drink or hold
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10/18/2015 - macaujames Likes this wine: 93 Points
Has aerien creme de cassis, blackberries, cedar, tobacco, flowers, bell peppers and menthol aromas. Much silkier and layered, finessed palate than the beefy 1995 with an aristocratic and deliniated midsection. Similar very long and sculpted freshly fruited finish with aromatic aftertaste. Much finer than the 1995. Balanced for such a big wine.
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10/18/2015 - cephomer Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank at Cremelliere last nite with the Kindlers. Wonderfully expressive nose that opened more and more in the glass. (Should have decanted this before we got there, needs at least 2-4 hours in glass next time). Loads of sweet fruit and tobacco on the nose. Medium bodied, and quite elegant, with soft tannins, and copious level of ripe fruit. Cedar, cigar box, lead pencil, graphite, and leather all here, blended nicely with the fruit. Excellent concentration and depth, but very restrained. Very structured with all elements nicely integrated. The wine opened up very nicely over time; wished we had more by the time it was gone. A fine example of an aged Pauillac that still has a long life ahead but wonderfully enjoyable today.
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10/10/2015 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 95 Points
What a difference a year makes. This wine seems to be near its peak, firing on all cylinders. The nose opens up beautifully to cassis, pencil shavings, olive tamponade, bacon, and sous bois. Can sense the complexity and depth. The balance is outstanding, with silky tannins. Long, lingering, fresh finish. Right now, this seems to be drinking as good as any Left Bank '96. It's clearly time to start popping the cork but there's no rush here, as there is a long life ahead. I look forward to following this for the next 20+ years.
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10/8/2015 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
During a tasting, served semi blind. Medium Ruby. Expressive nose of pine, peat, forest floor, dark fruit. Enters the palate with good fruit, acidity and very nicely dissolved tannins providing good structure. Fully mature and great to drink. Convincing package.
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10/7/2015 - Robert Pavlovich Likes this wine:
Drinking very well now, if you don't mind powerful acidity and tannin (which I love). Showed very fresh, with a strong mint/eucalyptus note that I also enjoyed. Gritty tannins are starting to round out and earthy elements are starting to emerge. This should have plenty of development left. Very nice, classic, masculine left bank.
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7/3/2015 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big step up from my last bottle 4yrs ago. Much more integrated and clearly in its drinking plateau, though likely won't fade for a while. Smoke, flint, pipe tobacco and a little green cab on the nose. Palate is finely cut, with cassis and ton of leafy tobacco flavor. Still has plenty of tannin, but the fruit/tannin/acid are all in balance and enjoyable now. Moderate to long finish.
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7/1/2015 - cos65 Likes this wine:
An eclectic night in Maryland (Potomac Maryland): Perfect.
Or damn close to it. Gorgeous smoky, gamey Pauillac flavors; incredibly supple mouthfeel. Difficult to imagine this getting any better, but wouldn't be surprised if this held for years.
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6/25/2015 - MRichman wrote:
This bottle is a little more advanced than I expected. Mature with leather, mellowed dark oak tannins, dried herbs. More delicate than powerful. Very nice.
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6/19/2015 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Tobacco on the nose screams Pauillac. More austere than I expected. I enjoyed this wine when it was young, and I expected more fruit on the palate at this stage. I suspect that this wine will blossom with a little more time in the bottle, and the fruit is intact, only hiding behind the still substantial tannins. Already better after an hour or so of air. Nice acidity and finish.
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6/3/2015 - La Grappe wrote: 94 Points
The last of a case of 12, and possibly the best of them all. It has a deep colour, with concentrated and very rich blackcurrant fruit, a thick texture, good balancing acidity and a long finish. Very fine.
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6/2/2015 - senex Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still delicious though not as good as previous bottles. It probably could have done with more of a decant (1/2 hour).
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5/13/2015 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 45 minutes. Needs decanting at this stage.
Its been 2 years since we crossed patch with this classic claret beauty (rated 94 and 93). White pepper, cedar, light leather. Good fruit, well evolved and to be honest still very much young in a way and needs time to mellow the tannin. We thought that by now the tannin would have mellowed a lot more but still going strong. Very nice wine and with lots of life ahead of it. 93
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5/6/2015 - Paul D wrote:
1996 Bordeaux at RSJ (RSJ, Southwark): Cedary, red fruited bouquet. Spice. Medium bodied, spicy, soft tannins, finish not overly long. Not as good as previous bottles ***1/2.
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5/2/2015 - hman888 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine needs a long decant, we gave it three hours before trying any. The air is not really to soften the tannins as much as it is to allow the wine to actually express itself. We drank this over two days, with the wine showing much better the second day.
The colour is a fading dark ruby, as others have described. The nose starts with a ton of cedar and pencil. There was an herbal overlay early, which disappeared after several hours and made the nose much more enjoyable. It took time for the fruit to really show itself on the nose, but the wait was worth it. The cedar and pencil gave way to a myriad of red fruit and light barnyard, classic Paulliac.
The palate is balanced, with medium body and great fruit presence and soft, resolved tannins. One thing we really loved about the wine was the finish. We found the finish to be quite long, especially given how soft the tannins had become with age. This wine showed its absolute best at the end of the bottle. Whatever you do with this 1996 Baron, do not drink it too quickly after opening; the more time you give it, the better it shows.
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4/18/2015 - joshbryer Likes this wine:
Very nice showing, and ready to go. Lead and mature fruit on the nose. Lovely dark fruits in the mouth with nice acidity buffering. No rush to drink, but no reason not to either. Not a knock your socks off wine, but very nice and classy.
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3/14/2015 - dream Likes this wine: 91 Points
Elegant and classic Pauillac with a lovely nose of gravel and tobacco. Similar flavors on the palate with with notes of dark berries and black currants. Finishes smooth and silky with tannins still present and complex notes of roasted nuts, charcoal, gravel and tobacco. Suffers just a bit from that "hole in the middle" of some '96's but should still improve. 91+
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3/10/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Classic Pichon Baron, but fading somewhat. Lacks the depth of better vintages. Drink now. Paired well with wagyu steak.
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12/31/2014 - Ungifted Likes this wine: 92 Points
Needs at least 3 hours decanted (or equivalent) before consumption, nose is typical of Pauillac and it drinks accordingly.
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12/27/2014 - Topper wrote: 91 Points
Enough has been written about this wine. It is, of course, good wine, though not great. Needs a fairly long decant and is better by itself than with food.
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12/21/2014 - sehill Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted and poured, this wine gave an excellent to almost outstanding showing. Both the bouquet and palate show a combination of youthful and mature notes. The bouquet offers dark fruits, cigar box, cedar and some herbal notes. The color is a maturing, tarnished dark ruby that is correct for the wines age. The medium / full bodied palate gives excellent overall balance with an underlying sense of maturity that gives complexity and nuance. The wines gives a medium length finish with softening but still present tannins. This is at or around its peak and tending toward maturity. It should continue to drink well for many years.
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12/14/2014 - Cheungtp Likes this wine: 95 Points
The 96 Baron is a very delicious wine, and will bring much enjoyment to the drinkers. Ruby coloured, the nose is initially predominated with green elements, but with aeration time, the complexity comes out in full strike. Your smelling senses will be drenched in dark and blue fruits, cigar box, cedar wood, lead pencil, cinnamon and wet wood. Concentrated, juicy palate has all the balance and structure one can ask for a top fine Bordeaux. All the elements seem to be well integrated and it can be (will be) enjoyed for many years to come.
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12/12/2014 - La Grappe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mature colour, with some browning; this seems fully mature on the palate, with elegant blackcurrant fruit, medium weight and good length. There is a savoury richness to the wine which makes it very attractive now. Best drunk before it starts to fade.
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11/20/2014 - clayfu wrote:
soft pretty round wine, loads and loads of strawberry fruit on the palate with a nice tannic backbone
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10/25/2014 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 93 Points
Excellent Pauillac wine with a lot of life left. Decanted over 4 hours, and it definitely improved. Initially, there was a lot of dark fruit and graphite, and this transitioned to more green pepper, mushroom, bacon fat, and mineral notes. Good acidic backbone with very long finish. A lot of tannins left, but not overly astringent. My guess is that while drinking well now, this wine has at least 10 years left.
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10/17/2014 - SimonG wrote: 94 Points
A Ledbury lunch: Quite a deep, full dark ruby. Lovely nose of blackcurrant, blackcurrant leaf, a lunch of coffee and a dash of orange zest. Positive attack, nice shape with good acidity and a dense silkiness to the fruit. Quite long. Developing nicely but plenty of life yet. ****1/2
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10/14/2014 - politeskeptic Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted a bottle over three days along with a 1995 and 2000, all stored under nitrogen between tastings. On day one this seemed a bit thin compared with the 1995; just a bit less complex, although still a nice balanced flavor. It had medium tannin and a bit of jammy fruit, but less of the character in terms of green notes, smoke or leather. On day 2 and 3 it got much better, seeming bigger and more open, with strong fruit flavors, and developing a slightly more vegetal nose. It seems like this one could cellar for a bit longer still.
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9/24/2014 - DaleW wrote: flawed
terribly corked
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9/19/2014 - budh wrote:
At Chateau. Tasted 95, 96, 98, 03 & 09. 96 seems to be the best of them now, but 09 shows the most potential. All but 95 are quite good, 95 okay but not worth seeking out.
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9/13/2014 - PC73 wrote: 91 Points
Openned for 8 hours.
Super young still.
Overall impressive.
Classic paulliac. Pencil shaving. Blackcurrant. Lots of tannin structure still.
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9/12/2014 - MRichman wrote:
Cabernets of the world with the Petaluma Wine Group (My house): Wonderful. At a really good age, in its early maturity window. Balanced, complex with herb, menthol, dried flower. At the same time powerful and delicate. My WOTN. Exactly what I look for in Bordeaux. Another great 1996.
A/A-
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8/29/2014 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 92 Points
This needs a 90 min decant minimum. Medium bodied and slightly muted throughout, average finish, in prime with plenty of life left. No heat and average balance.
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5/13/2014 - La Grappe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Brick red colour, with some brown; attractive blackcurrant fruit and some elegance, but the wine has lost some vigour and this bottle is perhaps past its best. Reasonable weight and length, but this has been better in the past.
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4/8/2014 - Khon Kaen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours in advance. Very nice dark color. Classic nose with leather and cigar-box. More smooth and power compare with Montrose 2000. Nice balance between acidity and tannic. Long after taste. Great Pauillac!!
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4/1/2014 - ldorf wrote: 94 Points
When I first tasted this wine I thought it might not be good, or was over the hill... it is NOT either. It just needs more time to breathe and this bottle was fantastic. Amazing first impression with a great nose (shaved pencil and deep aromatic fruit, I think the real pros call it). Got better and better thru dinner and I am happy to have more.
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3/29/2014 - laralh wrote: 90 Points
Moreller, solbær, lakris, lær og litt papirka. Finkornete tanniner. Bra lengde og fylde. Kunne hatt litt mer kompleksitet.
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3/23/2014 - bill00 wrote: 93 Points
From magnum. Cedar, tar and tobacco. Smooth, elegant and complex. Drinking really well in early maturity.
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2/28/2014 - Libiamo! wrote:
RENAISSANCE OF A TOP CHÂTEAU (Terminal City Club, Vancouver, BC, Canada): Deep ruby core, just a tad lighter than the 1990, showing slight hint of brick on the rim. On the nose: dark fruit, dried fruit, spice, smoke, gamey note. Shy, not too expressive. Medium plus acidity, fine tannins. Shut down at the moment, similar to the 2005. Hopefully it will come out of its shell sometime soon. (80% CS and 20% Merlot)
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2/27/2014 - camben Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wine of the night, with 2006 chappellet Pritchard hill cab franc, 02 Heitz Martha's, 09 100 acre, 99 Mondavireserve, 08 lacchini la bestia, still could sit in a cool cellar for a while. No rush
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1/30/2014 - JulianSkeels Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double-decanted 2hrs, it needed a cool-down then more air in the glass to shine (2.5-3hrs double-decant and cool next time). From a pristine bottle from my cellar. A wine of precision and freshness. The nose isn't there yet, starts with cedar and faint tobacco, leading to cassis. Initially medium bodied, it becomes full bodied with air and the heavy tannins become crisp - balanced by the fruit (mostly blackberry) and a lively acidity that begs for another glass to be poured. Nice now, this will be stunning in 5-10yrs - it has it all... Dense fruit, tannins, acidity and class. Just needs some more secondary flavours and the nose to wake up. Love the promise of 96 Paulliacs and I think this is one of those 'under the radar' wines that will surprise people. A great buy at current prices, but all too easy to drink.
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12/31/2013 - traxxx Likes this wine: 92 Points
popped and poured. Nice balance of red fruits and earth. 3rd bottle opened over past few months. This wine is in a good place right now.
Red plums and mushroom and a pleasant long finish..
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Plum, Cherry, Mushroom, and Forest floor. It tastes like Red Currant, Plum, and Mushroom. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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12/25/2013 - empire80 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Superb match for Christmas Day rib of beef. Decanted for 4 hours, drinking superbly now but clearly no hurry.
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12/21/2013 - La Grappe Likes this wine: 93 Points
A fine, mature example, with classic Pauillac character. Well rounded, elegant and long. I don't see this wine improving much from here, but it is drinking well now.
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12/11/2013 - Paul D wrote:
Cornucopia - Christmas Wimps (La Trompette, Chiswick): Dark, savoury, beefy black fruited nose, spice and vanilla notes. Upright and correct on the palate with a firm tannic core, fresh acidity, black fruit and a touch of bloody meat and a long, savoury/sweet finish. Seems very young in the context of this flight, but lovely. ****(1/2).
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12/5/2013 - HowardNZ Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted alongside a 1994 Comtesse. Colour near purple. Clearly riper, more primary aromas, bright red and black fruit, clear cassis, blackberries and black cherry, some iron, minerals, cedar and pencil shavings. Surprisingly primary on palate, quite intense. Excellent fruit weight, tannins visible, but very sleek and fine grained, with good acidity. Flavours of crème de cassis, blackberry and black currant, classic Pauillac. Persistent and fresh, medium bodied but powerful, quite masculine and long. Needs another 5-10 years to integrate, when it may get a higher score. A bit too primary now, so 92.
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12/1/2013 - ldorf wrote: 89 Points
Actually, quite boring. I think it is shut down, because it is hard to believe that it is shot. Just an average, light weight wine that has a hint of something that could be special back in there. I am giving it another year or so.
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11/29/2013 - ParkHill Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow, wow, wow! So different from the last times, and clearly I should have waited. For my education: all the sour notes had disappeared and there was no lightness at all. Rich, plum-y, full, cedar and smoke. Tannins full, but pleasant. Definitely in the window, with room to spare.
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11/14/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank at Davy's
My last bottle :-( I have to say this is a wonderful wine which will last for many more years. Think I will try and buy some more.
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10/31/2013 - senex wrote: 96 Points
What a lovely wine. Perfumed, so balanced, tobacco and cedar notes. A second growth at the top of its game and right in its drinking window.
It will keep for a long time still but maybe at its best right now?
We decanted the wine and just went for it, no regrets until the decanter was empty!
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10/20/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
This bottle showed better than previous tastings. Lots of tobacco, cassis, earth, olive, cedar and a hint of bell pepper in the nose. Masculine in tenor, but with enough class and elegance in the fruit to make it enjoyable to taste. With an hour of air, the tannins subsided a bit, allowing the wine to expand and gain more elegance in the texture. Based on this bottle, the wine should age quite well and could merit a better score in the years to come.
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10/12/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank at Home
Perfectly ready and a beautiful example of Pichon Longueville
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10/10/2013 - GFischer wrote: 94 Points
In the nose coffee, cedar, herbs, fennel seeds, chocolate, cherries, with progressing aeration the nose harmonizes incredibly and gets more balanced, full ripe red currant, elegant. On the palate incredibly balanced, nice incorporated acidity, fine tannins, musculine, powerful. Finish long, and complex.
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9/30/2013 - BradE wrote:
Don't think I've ever had the 96 Baron, and it was good, if not great. Solid 90 for points people.
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8/25/2013 - MicklethePickle wrote: 94 Points
Very nice wine. Glossy, mature ruby color; nice viscosity. Fragrant. Nose sports a full bouquet of iron and iodine; attractive. Same on the palate. Cassis, plum. Long finish. Perfectly mature, drinking wonderfully but with years ahead as well. 5-13-17-9: 94/100.
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8/25/2013 - rossi.wine wrote: 94 Points
Lovely garnet colour, orange/brown towards the rim, glowing. After 2.5hrs in the decanter the nose was fantastic: liquorice, cassis, sour cherries, cedar, tobacco, mushrooms, earthy forest notes as well, spices... wonderful. Very elegant and smooth on the palate with great balance, fresh with soft tannins, still lots of grip and lots of black fruit towards the finish which is rather long and persistent. Very elegant. This is showing beautifully now, and should continue to do so for the next 7-10 years.
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8/21/2013 - GA Old World Guy wrote: 90 Points
Nose was spot on and awesome...shame the wine itself was lacking any depth. Was like a previous poster stated...very thin. Was a great warm up to '99 Leoville Barton.
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8/10/2013 - BillyT wrote: 91 Points
Previous notes apply
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7/29/2013 - shaferguy91 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Can't score it as high as most of previous CT scores. Good but too thin.
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6/23/2013 - Saint Stephen wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful with homemade grilled pizzas and medium rare filets. Cigar box, pencil, clearly a medium-aged Left Bank nose of character. Too bad what wines like this fetch these days.
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6/21/2013 - dream Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic Pauillac nose of graphite and tobacco. Needed a good, long decant and then showed excellent smoky black fruit flavors with notes of green tobacco, cedar and Asian spices. Refined and leaner-styled with firm but ripe tannins and a complex finish with hints of grilled nuts and minerals. If anything, perhaps a bit thin in the middle but this is a fine, medium-bodied Pichon Baron that is still young and true to it's terroir.
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5/15/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank at Davy's
See previous notes
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4/28/2013 - johnh1001 wrote: 91 Points
Soft open nose of black fruit, damp earth, a bit of smoke and cedar. Palate matched and was easy and open. Nice balance. Worked well with the veal. Medium finish. Really enjoyable and a nice surprise.
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4/28/2013 - Papies wrote: 94 Points
Classic! A lot more ready than expected and open from the start. Cedar, dark fruits, pepper, mineral. On the palate it needs a touch of air but the wine is at top form and at a great time to be enjoyed. A stunning wine. 94 and beautiful now. Another great 96 from the left bank
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4/18/2013 - Ramberg wrote: 93 Points
4 wines in this blind flight, all turning out being 2:em Left Bank 1996 Bordeaux.
Chateau Cos d’Estournel, Pichon – Longueville Baron, Léoville las Cases, Rauzan – Segla.
Smokey nose, with dark cassis and some tar, touch of barnyard and tobacco.
Quite dry fruit with good and grippy tannins and high acidity, but all in all in a very good balance.
In a great drinking window right now, but will live for years ahead.
Lovely wine!
(93+)
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4/5/2013 - liber Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright red, young, primary cassis on nose and palate, med full, good grip and persistence, still young and tight, but lovely ripe fruit and not over-extracted - 17.5/20, but should improve, more austere as yet than its flashier neighbour.
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3/24/2013 - helicopterbob wrote: 92 Points
Perfect drinking time fruit explodes in your mouth from the moment of contact. Nose was beautiful.
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3/20/2013 - igaf wrote:
Slightly more developed than LB. Complex, dark-toned, weighty, slightly rubbery & plummy, nose. Full, concentrated palate with a very decent acidity. Dark cherries, earth. Just a hint raisiny perhaps, rather spicy, but not heavy at all, quite balanced. Velvety, well-structured. Clean finish. Good length. Minerals, chocolate, cassis, spice in the aftertaste. Still very young.
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3/17/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank in Hong Kong
This really improves with a lot of time in the decanter. Drank with some mature Cyril and Mount Edelstone Henschke's which this came out on top. Lovely stuff
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3/17/2013 - DonalOB wrote: 94 Points
Still deep colour with small rim. Cassis, smoke, vanilla on nose. Lovely fruity palate - quite delicate for Baron and very nicely balanced. This was claret drinking perfectly.
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2/24/2013 - Ljuay Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is such a well balanced wine. Generous aroma filled with fruits, leather, coffee, very sophisticated and complete.
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2/9/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank in London
Classic claret notes of tobacco, cassis and vanilla. Rich full and deep. Medium length.
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2/1/2013 - GFischer wrote: 91 Points
Color ruby to black red. In the nose violets, dark chocolate, fennel seeds, lovage, leather, smoky, graphite, sour cherry, coffee, bay leaves, all spice, licorice, sandalwood, very complex. On the palate elegant, masculine, spicies more dominant, woody, juicy. Finish medium bodied but very long, meaty, elegant. Still young. 91 at the moment maybe more in a few years.
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1/17/2013 - fdub wrote: 93 Points
Drank at Napa Men's Lunch Club. The nose has great tobacco and sweet grilled meat scents. There is an accompanying smell of dark red and black fruits and pipe tobacco. The palate is lush and beautifully resolved. Melted tannins add to the smooth mouthfeel.
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12/14/2012 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Battle between Pichon Baron, Pichon Comtesse and Lynch Bages. 11 TOP Vintages from 1982 - 2009 (@ Bottles; Sas van Gent, Netherlands): Beautiful and luxurious bouquet with smoke and dark forest fruits. On the palate soft and round with beautiful tannin and a beautiful balance between acidity, sweetness and integrated oak. Some smoke again. A very tempting and delicious wine. At its peak now and it will stay there for some years.
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12/14/2012 - md20 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Feiner, schön strukturierter, gereifter Bordeaux. Schöner Cabernet Touch mit leichter Holznote. Abgang nicht speziell lang, aber sonst sowas von fein. War äusserst angetan von diesem Wein, bewerte ihn höher als von den professionellen Bewertern beurteilt.
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11/22/2012 - paulst wrote: 91 Points
Flowered, earthy and tar nose; blackberry, cherry and licorice; light and delicate; moderate finish.
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11/13/2012 - GlöckliWein wrote: 96 Points
What an terriffic WINE the Pichon BAron 1996 ....
The COLOR is dense althought in the glass with a slightly sign of age on the border of the glass like an water circle...
The SMELL is incredibly straight with not so much varieties but strong to charme You all night long !
earthy - lether - mushrooms and a lead of pencil shavings....
The TASTE is so much more forward:
a very noble alike Margaux , classy - barnyard - forrest floor - not so sweet and fruty but so elegant
WARM and with hughe "fire" in its deepness... the aftertaste is not any long
but if You stay close to your glass this wine is getting you very quick for the next seducive nipp !
Go for it !
96 / 100 Points
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11/12/2012 - svdheijden wrote: 93 Points
Excellent wine. Still rather in its early maturity phase on the nose and palate, though showing age on the rim. Nice well-balanced, attractive nose with dark fruits, plums, chocolate, tobacco, toffee, cinnamon and the usual mature notes like leather, wet wood, etc. Sweet, round taste with good acidity, well integrated, but very present tannins and medium long finish. Nothing very special or exciting, but very well made and probably enjoyable well beyond 2025.
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11/2/2012 - CWang wrote: 95 Points
Vertical tasting of 1996, 2004, 2005, and 2006; also allowed to breathe in the open bottle only without decanting; the nose and palate were so balanced, complex, intense, mellow, and round in a very elegant and velvety way; I would love to smell and drink this one all night; though the finish was a bit short, still my #1 favorite wine of the night; 95-96 points, and probably near or at its prime time already.
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11/1/2012 - SimonG wrote: 94 Points
Pichon Baron & Lalande (The Medlar, London): More expressive on the nose, quite bright and floral and lifted. Rich on the attack but with a citrus freshnesss. Lovely, and lots of potential here. Ground coffee, orange rind, fish acidity coming through. Lovely.****1/2
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10/28/2012 - fhmesq wrote: 93 Points
Dinner with Boutz, Steve* and Waz. Didn't take notes, but this thing was fantastic. Decanted for 1-1.5 hours, very typical Bordeaux with great noise, fantastic finish and just an overall great wine. Drinking perfectly right now and has plenty of time left.
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10/27/2012 - BillyT wrote: 93 Points
Unfortunately I did not take notes. I can only say that this wine is drinking perfect right now. Full and bold with great color and legs not showing its age at all. Resolved tannins with dark black fruit. Texture was silky and elegant with classic Bordeaux style on the palate. Not angular at all but well balanced rich and creamy. Perfect compliment to one of the best Filet M.ignon's I have had at home from my local butcher. Not lengthy but not short in somewhat spice finish. Sorry I don't have more specific notes.
Day 2: Today a more herbal and vegetal notes on the nose. Color still deep and rich with ever so slight rusting at the rim. Legs and body still strong on the glass. Palate has some spice and acidity with tobacco, chocolate, mocha dust, big and bold with a spice finish which lingers. After opened for 20 minutes, mellowed into a beautiful elegant wine. Classic Bordeaux and definitely a food wine.
Bought 3 magnums today of 1989 so that should tell you how I sold on this wine.
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10/16/2012 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
1996 Red Bordeaux (Medoc) , with Richard Brazier (Handford Wines, London): Deep, intense and very elegant on the nose. A touch burgundian on the nose if we can use that analogy . Round a fleshy fruit on the palate, well round, no rough/youngish tannins here and all is in good balance. A great showing and a wine that can easily be enjoyed now and with a great deal of life ahead. 92-93 for now from us.
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10/6/2012 - up4wine wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and let it breath for 1/2 hour or so. I had this wine over 2 nights, decanting out of the bottle both times. First night I thought the wine was very good, but did not get a strong or nuanced nose from it. However, on the 2nd night it really showed its stuff. Vacuum corked overnight, as usual. Allowing the air to be on the wine in the bottle for a hour the first night and decanted on the 2nd made all the difference for bringing out the bright, big fruit still left in this wine. Plenty of tannins were left, but the were well integrated and went extremely well with the meals. Rating is based on 2nd night.
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10/4/2012 - pavel_p wrote: 93 Points
Poured half bottle into decanter, waited about 15 min and slowly drank over the next 3h. A perfect cork and fill. Dark ruby, lighter than the recent 96 Pontet Canet. Initially with little fruit and mostly secondary/tertiary notes, this gains weight in the decanter and after about 1h you have a classic Bordeaux nose with earth, barnyard, leather and dark fruit. Medium body, again a touch lighter than the PC from the same year, still some tannins. However the finish is significantly longer than the PC.
Overall this is a very consistent "package" on a very high level, which makes it a joy to sip even though, besides the great balance of all parts, there is no element that really wows you on its own.
For me this will likely not get any better given the fruit is not excessive and the tannins are still there.
PS: The rest of the bottle on day 2 (vacuumed and in fridge) is much smoother with a very creamy mouth feel and almost no noticeable tannins. On the other hand it loses some of it's precision and intensity, and I also can taste the oxidized Merlot (perhaps I am particularly sensitive to this...), luckily it's only 15% Merlot here so not too bad.
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9/25/2012 - Aspenhawk wrote: 93 Points
Fortunately decanted this for almost 2 hours... opened to a full smooth wonderful balck cherry flavor. Others found the hint of tobacco, I personally did not. From reading the other reviews here, this wine needs it time on the decantor and for most folks likely needs to be served with a fine beef dish. We happend to have it with some boneless ribs as well as steak tips... it was delicious!
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7/20/2012 - phof1998 wrote: 82 Points
was
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7/14/2012 - matro wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Delicious, lots of fruit but also a lot of Paulliac "funk", moss, forest floor. The decant was definitely needed. Drank alongside a 96 Spottswoode. Will try the next one in 3 years or so.
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7/1/2012 - Sky King wrote: 93 Points
Classic 1996, Great Cabernet Sauvignon year, Great Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Aromatically, classic bordeaux with a strong emphasis on the fruit and perhaps slightly less so on the cedar/cigar box aspect, but there is room for that in my wheelhouse too! Decanted approximately two hours, the wine was surprisingly delicious and approachable (even from magnum) again with a strong emphasis on fruit. There is structure and tannin here but it is beguilingly disguised and balanced to the point of being un-noticeable. A stand out in a night of very strong wines across the board to me and many others at the celebration.
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6/25/2012 - La Grappe wrote: 92 Points
This is now quite evolved and mature; very full, with classic claret elegance and depth. Towards the end it tired a bit, but it was certainly fine.
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6/17/2012 - Paul D wrote: 93 Points
6/12. Decanted 1/2 an hour. Medium/deep garnet core, wide pale mahogany/garnet rim. Savoury, slightly spicy yet sweet red and black fruited nose, mellow and complex with a hint of soil. No more than medium bodied on the palate, a lovely sweet fruited, spicy, harmonious wine, soft as silk, with strawberry fruit, hints of bloody meat then fresh acidity on the lingering, harmonious slightly savoury finish with a hint of caramel on the tail end Lovely and drinking perfectly.
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5/19/2012 - Ibetian wrote: 95 Points
No detailed note, but a wonderful showing, offering excellent complexity on the nose and a smoothe , lingering palate. Drinking great now, though no signs of decline.
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5/18/2012 - BradA wrote: 93 Points
I think it a mistake to drink this wine without a good 90 minutes of andouzing. While well balanced and full of flavor; the short time in the glass was obvously not a benefit to the wine. Dark, brooding and offering great treats---patience and air will reward the consumer. enjoy now---or over the next 10 years.
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5/17/2012 - nortonnose wrote: 94 Points
Simply delightful. PnP and enjoyed among pals over an hour. Perfect color. Nose was a smidge closed, but the flavor profile is in a great place at this time. Tannins were perfect - good structure and good harmony. Certainly no rush to drink up but, why wait much longer when this is about as good as it is likely to get?
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4/19/2012 - paulst wrote: 89 Points
Earthy with tight acidic fruit; decent balance and smooth lean tannins.
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3/23/2012 - jterry wrote: 93 Points
Sweaty leather, chocolate, cassis, blackberry notes. Drinking beautifully but plenty of years to go.
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3/21/2012 - thelostverse wrote: 90 Points
Opened by Jim at CWM dinner at Suzette's with xhoser. Black fruits with a hint of herbal on the finish. Tannins have integrated nicely.
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3/17/2012 - GFischer wrote: 90 Points
Color cherry-red, with brown edges. Nose complex, fine, warm, soft, fine acid, lots of fruit, dark cherries, tobacco, blackberries, licorice, violets, a bit earthy. On the palate fine, violets, tar, very masculine, still acid and tannins, a bit bitter, long finish, needs more time…
Hugh potential but for now only 90 points.
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3/2/2012 - stephane wrote: 89 Points
A bit disappointing at the beginning in comparison with Les Forts de Latour that was served at the same time it opened after 3 hours of decantation. Definitely a smoky/tobacco note; difficult to get to the fruit. Pleasurable in the mouth with a rather long finish.
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2/25/2012 - fifboy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Très beau nez typique du cabernet à maturité, sur des arômes de fruits rouges.
Le bouche est en phase avec le nez: cassis et cèdre dominent. C'est riche et bien mûr, tout en restant parfaitement équilibré autour d'une acidité très bien maîtrisée. La longueur est très satisfaisante. Un véritable bordeaux à maturité et qui y restera encore bien quelques années!
A défaut d'être véritablement un grand vin, c'est en tout cas un très beau vin. 94-95
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2/18/2012 - paulst wrote: 94 Points
Leather and lead pencil; soft with nice acidity; smooth blackberry abd soft sweet tannins.
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12/25/2011 - La Grappe wrote: 92 Points
Fine, mature claret, with ripe blackcurrant fruit, vanilla oak and a touch of cigar box spiciness. There is also a useful streak of acidity keeping it fresh.
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11/20/2011 - Yiannis wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 2 hours and drank over the next two. It absolutely needed this time to open up and express itself. Dark garnet with brick hues. Typical Pauillac nose with loads of ink, pencil shavings, cassis, red and darker cherry, tobacco, leather and cedar. Medium+ bodied with nice, lively fruit, firm and slightly drying tannins and balancing acidity. Long aftertaste. Aromatically it is quite evolved and expressive, but its tannins indicate it could use some more time to mellow. That said, it is already very enjoyable, especially with meat dishes.
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10/27/2011 - RayOB wrote: 93 Points
Drank at Davies Wine Tasting Evening
A wonderful Pichon that shows Pauillac at its best. The '96 is a great year and it's drinking now although this will last for many years to come.
Blackberries and cherries on the nose that hits you in the face. Wonderful depth and length.
A masterpiece.
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10/12/2011 - La Grappe wrote: 94 Points
Very ripe, sweetish fruit, with intense blackcurrant and plum flavours. There is plenty of depth and the wine is now nicely mature. Still vigorous, but unlikely to improve.
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8/30/2011 - MRichman wrote:
Rich, full flavored fruit with tobacco, toasted oak, herb, and a touch of sweetness. Just beautiful reference point Bordeaux. Long expansive finish. on the young side, drinking fine now and for 20+ years.
A-
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8/20/2011 - Fantomas Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice acidity even after four hours. Overwhelming red fruit on the attack: red cherry, strawberry, red currant, traces of chocolate. Silky smooth and medium length.
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8/3/2011 - Jaco2112 wrote: 96 Points
Supurb! I cannot believe I only paid $39/bottle for this wine.
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7/26/2011 - pjaines wrote:
In a really good place right now, with secondary characteristics peeking out and the structure melting away. The finish was a touch short and the depth of fruit a touch lighter than expected. A classically styled Bordeaux, but I think this wine also struggled from being served too warm.
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7/23/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 92 Points
GPL vertical with '96 Pauillacs (Scenic Loop Cafe, San Antonio, TX)): Double decanted for about an hr and consumed 2hrs later. Flamboyant nose of coffee, funk/barnyard, and currants. Palate was ripe with dark fruits, mostly currants, plum, and blackberry--almost no red fruit--deeply concentrated and complex, with plenty of oak influence and flint. Finish was dark and complex, with coffee, toast, and dark fruit. Showing quite young and fruit forward.Brawny and masculine. Didn't have the subtly or the GPL of the complexity of Latour. Still tannic with fine grippy tannins and fresh acidity. Needs time.
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7/22/2011 - Dale M wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hrs. Aromas of cedar and tobacco abound, along with a slight touch of funk that oddly wasn’t out of place at all. A classic claret in the sense of its cassis tinted fruit was really more of a back drop to the more pronounced earthy flavors, very precise and smooth texture, and along enough in the finish to evoke aristocratic thoughts, especially considering what current 2nd growth Bordeaux goes for these days. Still, it left me a bid in the cold, a very good wine, nothing I could pick apart, but simply lacked that quality that awakens my emotional interest when sipping a good wine.
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7/21/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
From a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, this fully mature Pauillac offered scents of tobacco leaf, cassis, cedar wood and earthy forest notes. Fully mature, this medium/full bodied, lighter style of Pichon Baron offers soft textures with a cassis filled finish that is that is slightly marred by some green notes. This Pauillac is best enjoyed over the next 5-8 years to preserve the fruit.
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7/8/2011 - Paul D wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 1/2 an hour. Medium/deep garnet, wide pale mahogany rim. Lovely developed nose with notes of blood, cedar, spice and tobacco, vestiges of sweet blackcurrant fruit and a slight note of mushroom. Medium bodied, with soft, caressing tannins, slightly more fruit than on the nose but still full of interest, fresh acidity, lingering sweet fruited finish. Lovely.
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6/10/2011 - stephane wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful wine. Full expression on the nose. Velvet yet tannic.
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5/31/2011 - melli0 wrote: 90 Points
Nice bottle. Drinking well currently with velvety tannins and a decent amount of fruit. A bit oaky.
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5/20/2011 - jaredament wrote: 94 Points
Perfect time to drink this wine - has ample fruit expression on the nose, supple tannins mid-palate, and a finish that lingers with just the right amount of complexity. I agree with much of the commentary and think that the cassis is in full expression here with tobacco and lead pencil in the back. Thankfully have another bottle!
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5/17/2011 - tooch wrote: 92 Points
Pichon Dinner - Lalande vs. Baron (Palena - Washington, DC): I enjoyed this bottle more than the 95 Baron, but less than the 96 Lalande. I think the '96 are just in a better spot generally at this point...which gave this bottle a more developed, fruit expression with nice tobacco and forest tones. Spicer than I expected, which provided a subtle complexity throughout the body.
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5/17/2011 - dcwino wrote: 92 Points
Pichon Baron vs. Pichon Lalande @ Palena (Washington DC): Once again a bit deeper, darker and sweeter fruit expression that the LaLande. Cassis, lead pencil, coffee, smoked cigar. The tannin is nicely integrated and excellent concentration. Not precise and expressive and the Lalande.
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5/14/2011 - wurzel68 wrote: 94 Points
Tief braunrot, intensives Bouquet; anfangs Stallnoten, dann raumfüllende Fruchtaromen von dunklen Beeren, Cassis, Johannisbeere, Brombeere; auch Zeder, Vanille, Kakao, Kreide; erdige Töne/Pilze; tolles Mundgefühl, feinste Tannine, gut balancierte Säure, sehr ausgewogen, sehr elegant; fruchtiger Abgang, samtig, trotzdem Power; ganz tolle Weinerfahrung!
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4/24/2011 - Teamcrev wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding with Easter dinner of grilled rack of lamb, baby potatoes and asparagus. We opened two and there was some bottle variation with the second bottle earning the 95 score. Both bottles were very elegant and classic, but we liked #2 better as the fruit was stronger, the tannins were slightly stronger, and it was just a touch sweeter. Incredibly long finish. We suspect this will last a long time. We've had this a few years so we are not sure how it was store pre 2008 though it was in a bankrupt Vermont Inn when we bought it and the cellar was extremely cold.
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4/18/2011 - La Grappe wrote: 92 Points
This is mature, but not old. Blackcurrant fruit, some oak, good weight, savoury but fresh. Quite a lot of sediment. We recently drank Ch Grand Puy Lacoste 1996 which we think is better, but this is certainly fine.
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4/12/2011 - tomandlu wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours and consumed over 2 hours. Opaque garnet-red color with significant bricking at the rim. Classically Pauillac on the nose with cedar, cassis, autumn leaves, tobacco, and wet stones all mingling happily with one another. Full, ripe and savory on the palate with the tannins showing only after several seconds. Long, cassis-laden finish. Interestingly, the wine seemed to shut down after a while, with tannin and acid taking the upper hand. There was ample fruit initially, so I think this wine still has a long future ahead. Drank with grilled lamb chops, farro with black trumpet mushrooms, and sauteed spinach. This bottle as in perfect condition, purchased on release and stored in my cellar since then.
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4/1/2011 - traxxx wrote: 93 Points
more earth than fruit right after opening..moist earth, mushrooms and leather. 40 min in dark red fruits started to develope into a nice well balanced wine. long smooth finish and integrated tannins with med minus acid. will decant next one for half hour first.great wine.
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4/1/2011 - tbabes wrote: 94 Points
Pristine bottle; popped and poured. A pretty purple-ruby color with a touch of garnet at the rim. Quite expressive on the nose, offering up notes of roasted herbs, grilled meat and ripe dark fruits. Good grip, quite structured, but still with a pleasing texture. More complexity on the nose than palate, but a wonderful wine.
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3/1/2011 - DaleW wrote:
Now, this is more like it. It had showed little at decanting compared to Lagrange, it was really opening up. Blackcurrants, earth, tobacco. Tannins seem fine/supple, and there's a nice lively acidity. Big, needs time but really lovely. A-
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2/28/2011 - MRichman wrote:
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal (Harry's, NYC): Rich with long finish. Dark with full deep fruit. Tight acidic fine tannins. Olive. Young and strong. A nice drink.
A-
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2/25/2011 - Ibetian wrote: 94 Points
Earth and mushroom on the nose, with red and black fruit. Palate features cassis and cedar. Nice, though not especially long finish. Elegant, classic Bordeaux.
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1/13/2011 - Wine_lvr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Superb, no hurry to drink. Plenty of reserves
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1/6/2011 - cosmin_grozea wrote: 92 Points
The wine has a deep dark red color with red garnet color to the rim, there is really no sign of age for this wine. The nose is elegant and complex: aromas of blackcurrant, autumn leaves, forest floor, mushrooms, old leather, cedar, mint and with aeration aromas of green vegetables: green bell pepper and asparagus build more complexity on this beautifully evolved 14 years old wine. In the mouth this wine is like silk with flavors of red and black currant and discreet ripe cherry, mixed with cedar, sandalwood, green pepper, coffee bean, tobacco and leather. The wine is medium to medium plus body with great balance and very elegant. There are firm tannins present on the medium plus finish that show this wine has plenty of years left and a nice bitterness with a big mocha aftertaste.
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12/25/2010 - ParkHill wrote: 89 Points
Better than the last time. Nice, but moderate in fruit and other flavors. Everything nicely balanced with enough tannins at the end.
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12/19/2010 - Counselor Chris wrote: 94 Points
My last bottle, and the best showing for this wine. Beautiful fruit, balance and complexity. This held its own very well in a big lineup of mature bigger-name and pricier Bordeaux that night.
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11/23/2010 - THA wrote:
CdBaH 79th (RDG): An excellent wine. Still quite young. Preferred this wine to the Pichon Lalande.
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11/22/2010 - vinopa wrote: 92 Points
Classic Pauillac..Nose: Leather, pencil lead, hint of tobacco along with dark and red fruit. Palate: Soft and elegant medium bodied bordeaux. Red berries along with pencil shavings, tobacco, cassis, dark roasted coffee beans..This is a pretty wine which is drinking well now but has many years of good drinking ahead of it. The finish was long and delightfull...I am thrilled to have 1 left..Cheers!!!
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10/30/2010 - psmith wrote:
Dark fruits. Pencil shavings and coffee tones. Medium bodied. Well balanced with fine tannins. Still young. Very nice.
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10/26/2010 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Ordered off the wine list, think the price was $105. Had a couple glasses, seemed to possess pretty good weight and freshness, with some cassis like and tobacco notes. Wasn't showing any old bones at all.
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9/18/2010 - Ibetian wrote: 94 Points
Elegant, a excellent example of Bordeaux. Wonderful balance, classic Pauillac notes of cedar and cassis. Lacks only that extra intensity that marks the 95+ BDX, but a wonderful experience, great match with rack of lamb.
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9/12/2010 - John wrote: 90 Points
great wine from s great vintage. only needed 30 minutes to sing. has plenty of years ahead of it but not sure its gonna get any better.
A- grade
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9/7/2010 - tkoby11 wrote: 93 Points
Classic Bordeaux. Wonderful nose of dried currants, cedar, crushed fallen leaves, roasted coffee beans. The palate was medium to full bodied, showing the silky texture of maturity with supple black and red berry fruits, coffee notes, excellent acidity and a nice finish. Classicly persistent, but not mind blowing, just great wine.
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8/27/2010 - drunkstar wrote: 92 Points
Smokey bacon flavour, lovely cedery woody nose.....yum....drinking perfect now........
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8/26/2010 - Employee500 wrote: 91 Points
Very expressive nose, but somewhat muted palate....still quite delicious, but it's holding back.
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8/10/2010 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
Still vigorous and youthful, stalky mulberry fruit, but wonderfully nuanced and the richness came through, cool and complex
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7/26/2010 - joshbryer wrote:
Not as great of a showing as last time. At first I thought this had tca, but it blew off. Very austere on opening, plenty of fruit but very tightly wound. Classically structured, aromas of pencil shavings, cedar and dark red fruit. Palatte hints at something better, but is stopped short in youth. Waxy and deep with abundant fruit, but not quite firing yet. With more time, tobacco and smoky darker fruits emerge into a very long finish. This will be really good eventually.
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6/29/2010 - hyperman wrote: 93 Points
Smooth tannins. Still lots of dark fruits but well integrated. Tasted at Estate for dinner
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6/25/2010 - vumansky wrote: 92 Points
Opened for 3 hours and then decanted for about an hour before drinking... Had opened up quite nicely.... Muskiness when open, but went away soon after. Strong pleasant fruit. Smooth and nice finish. Balanced acidity.
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6/14/2010 - wineguysf wrote: 94 Points
I have to give this a higher point rating than 92 as this wine held it's own in a tasting of 20 other wines, mostly meritage and some cabernets. Some top bordeaux and CA wines such as 2004 Miner Oracle and 2000 Cos d'Estournel. The wine opened for two/three hours and we started the tasting at 6:30 pm. After drinking all others myself and others continued to come back to this wine and at 10:30 at night the wine was still going having evolved nicely. My notes are vague other than this, but given the staying power, beauty and overall value for the bottle, I'd give it a 94. On another note, I'd not keep it much longer. It's really doing great now. I doubt it will improve much. Drink 'em if you got 'em. It should also be noted that my bottle was a 1.5 L.
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6/9/2010 - Rani Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted blind. Started out with a huge reductive stench (in a good way...) that dissipated after a few minutes to reveal a classic left-bank nose. Lots of sous-bois, lead pencil. Very tannic on the palate, quite reserved, not opulent. Turns out to be a 1996 Pichon-Baron. I have to say this is not nearly as good as the 1989.
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5/24/2010 - BradA wrote: 93 Points
This is a most enjoyable wine! Popped and poured for beef bourgonion with my parents. Brilliant loamy profile, smooth with no rough tannins; this is even bodied and just in a great spot---I could drink this regularly and be most happy!
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5/7/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
Pichon: Baron vs. Comtesse: A wine that everyone seemed to like but received no first place scores. Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has funk and cassis with earthy undertones. On the palate, black cherries and tannins. Very tasty. Long finish.
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5/2/2010 - VoteferPedro wrote:
lovely nose that reqired 30-45 minutes in a decanter to sing. still deep violet color. perfumed nose and rich deep fruit on the palate and a very fine tannin back bone filing out the finish. This is outstanding.92+
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4/7/2010 - Paul D wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1/2 an hour. Deep ruby core, medium pale ruby rim. Aromatic, open nose, pure, ripe cassis fruit, showing some development too with a bloody edge, tobacco and spice. Medium bodied, sleek and fine on the palate with very fine, integrated tannin, smooth and harmonious but with great mid-palate length. Showing classic claret cassis, tobacco and cedary notes on the mid-palate where a lovely fresh savouriness emerges before a long, clean, sweet fruited finish with just a hint of lingering caramel. This is very fine - elegant, classy and aristocratic yet relatively feminine (for a Pauillac). Excellent, drinking really well but still with potential for improvement as it becomes more complex.
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3/7/2010 - wpd wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 3+ hours. Last time I didn't think decanting helped, but it actually did bring out the best in this wonderful Bordeaux. Killer good wine, complex, good balance of fruit, acid and well resolved tannins. Pleasure to drink!
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3/4/2010 - dstraub wrote: 94 Points
This one really surprised us. I decanted for two hours and thought the first sips were not very good with a strange, barnyard-type aroma. It looked like it was past its prime and tasted as though it may have been corked. About 45 minutes later, with dinner, I poured another glass and the color had changed, the aroma had changed and it became incredibly more complex. Towards the end of dinner this was a completely new wine - with great depth, complexity and color. I've had many great bottles, but I don't think I have ever seen a bottle change and gain complexity as this one did. I would recommend decanting for 4+ hours to get to the heart of this wonderful Pauillic.
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2/21/2010 - h12 wrote: 98 Points
4/3 Lot of good wine drunk this past week or two. And yet this was still special. Depth on the nose you could lose yourself in. I did. It smells of, oh it smells of everything, cedar, berries, leather, earth, violets, everything and more but it's the integration, and the intensity. Then in the mouth, perfect feel, restrained body but intense flavour, complex, changing, enveloping. Structure perfect, still got that cleaning tannin at the back and then it lasts... Enough, it's been half an hour since it's over and I can still taste it, and I'll remember it a lot longer...
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2/13/2010 - davergny wrote: 90 Points
The nose is nice--saddle leather and red fruits. Seems to be entering maturity, a little austere, but good mouthfeel, length and finish, not great. I actually like the '99 better right now.
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1/30/2010 - tplskylrk wrote:
Mortons Madness (Hong Kong Mortons): Looks mature, let me at it! Nose of cooked cabbage. Perfect balance. Leather, blackcurrents, fine tannins. Front, to back seemless, just a yummy wine. Med weight, a great wine, fun to drink.
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1/22/2010 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine:
Pichon vs Pichon NYC (New York, United States): This wine seemed to be a bit more austere and a bit simple. Certainly good delivery with fine freshness, and even perhaps a bit mute compared to the next wine...
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1/2/2010 - cfe wrote: 93 Points
Very nice bottle. strong blast of herbal Bdx aromatics, complex notes of currant, cigar box, leather, and herbs. Medium weight palate, acids have softened, but all is in balance, complex flavors of soft curranty fruit, leater, a bit of poo (in a good way), and spice. Texturally, very soft and ready (decanted for six hours), finishes long. Nice. Great with beef.
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12/30/2009 - christhewino wrote: 92 Points
So much better than the 1997. I decanted this for about 2-3 hrs. Lots of aromas fight for attention - cedarwood, herbs, blackcurrants & leather. The finish is long and fruity with blackcurrants, and some tannin that really balance the flavour. This could last another 10 years. I want another.....
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12/29/2009 - Grimble wrote:
Just superb right now.
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12/25/2009 - Mike Dildine wrote: 92 Points
This wine reminded me why I like mature traditional Bords. Medium ruby with an expressive cedar nose. Very well balanced. The applicable word here was DEPTH. Great nuance and focus. A very nice wine.
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11/8/2009 - MRichman wrote:
Firm with strong fruit, tobacco, iron. Almost entering it's drinking plateau, but still young at the moment.
B
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10/15/2009 - La Grappe wrote: 89 Points
This is a refined, elegant and somewhat restrained claret. Medium to full body; fairly long finish; however, it lacks the extra dimension expected of such an exalted wine: perhaps it still needs time to develop. Potentially a 90+ point wine.
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10/13/2009 - cgrimes wrote: 90 Points
Decanted approx 4hrs with periodic tastes. Nice bricking. Nose of blackberry, cassis, some leather, wet stone, cedar. Similar on the palate with some earth. Gentle tannins. Perhaps a bit short on the finish, but overall an elegant, balanced claret. This wine opened up significantly after 3 hrs in the decanter. Drank for our 13th Anniversary.
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10/1/2009 - MauriceE wrote: 89 Points
Good wine, but nothing to get excited about. Good structure, stylish Pauillac. Lacking length.
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9/4/2009 - ParkHill wrote: 88 Points
I can't go with the over 90 crowd. Decent, moderate, fruity wine. Light tannins are hidden under the fruit. Drinking well and things seem balanced, but not enough intensity of each part: fruit, flavor, acid, tannin. Maybe I don't know elegance, but to me this wine is merely pleasant, not outstanding. Opens in an hour or so; 24 hours has lost its zest.
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8/28/2009 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Meatier and richer than the Clerc Milon poured alongside; this has gorgeous aromatics with a fragrant new leather element on top of cassis, plum, graphite and herbal notes. The fruit feels very youthful, sweet and ripe in the mouth with leather, earth and some cocoa notes adding nice savoury elements. Really enjoyable, and the balance and structure suggests it'll stay that way (or get better) for a long time.
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8/21/2009 - robertek wrote: 93 Points
I had a scare when I opened it as the cork crumbled and was all mushy but wow was I positively surprised! This is drinking very well right now and although I am into vintage wines this was very enjoyable already today! Lots of leather and barnyard initally on the nose with coffee, sweet tobacco developing after a while in a nice blend with cassis. I find it quite peppry on the nose as well. On the palate quite light with good acidity and integrated tannins. Bravo and I would not necessarily keep my bottles for long. I am not sure this will get much more exciting over the years although I'm sure it is not going to deterioate either.
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8/1/2009 - Alex H wrote: 90 Points
Fun-filled way to start Aug: A spa on the senses! Young fresh soft velvety wet leather, green stewed capsicums and after shower talcum powder. Interesting. Progressively got more sweet leathery aromas, cracked peppercorns and roasted mocha beans.Succelent sweet with almost burg like stewed black cherry goodness. Sexy florals and ethereally rings in the mouth with velvety satin like tannins. There are also nuances of savory beef jerky. As masuculine as it is supposed to be, I feel this wine is more of a sexy lady in her silk nightie.I also have to comment that this wine felt absolutely clean with perfect provenance. Perfect bottle condition with cork very much looking as though it was made yesterday. I suspect ex-chateau.
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7/21/2009 - gsquireh wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple, full bodied with a cassis and coffee nose laced with smoke. The tannin has become subdued and the fruit sweet. Classic Bordeaux.
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7/12/2009 - vintage61 wrote: 92 Points
Drank at Cree and Sara's wedding in San Antonio with Susan, Peggy, and Gordon. Poped and poured. Very dark purple color with strong Paulliac nose and flavor. Tannins were mostly resolved, nad a gorgeous strong nose with a strong yet somewhat reserved palate. Lots of room for development Excellent balance and structure. At least 10, probably 20+ years to go with most of those years having upside.
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6/4/2009 - JimHow wrote: 92 Points
This wine just keeps improving. Classic Pauillac. Everything was working against it tonight: The cork from the half-bottle was crumbled, provenance from the New Hampshire Liquor Store was probably not the greatest. Nonetheless, this was a joy to drink, beautifully expressive from the moment I finally got the disintigrating cork removed. Great integration of fruit and wood, tobacco and black currant. A wine that I once considered a disappointment is now strutting its stuff at age thirteen. Drinking well now and for another ten to twenty years.
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5/30/2009 - Paul D wrote:
No formal note. This bottle borderline corked, with a slightly musty edge evident on the nose every now and again and the palate slightly shorrter and more angular than previous bottles. Same classy, and relatively feminine claret underneath though still giving much pleasure.
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5/15/2009 - Paul D wrote:
UK Wine Pages Pichon Baron Offline (The Alba, London): Odd, bitter, metallic slightly vegetal nose. Notes of coffee. Dark fruited on the palate, fresh acidity, quite firm on the finish leading me to guess as the 94. Did improve in glass but something slightly amiss with this bottle.
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5/15/2009 - Rupert wrote: 91 Points
UK Wine Pages Pichon Baron offline (Alba Restaurant, London): Celery and marmite on the nose and it took a while for the richness of the fruit to show through, but when it did, this was an attractive meaty wine
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5/15/2009 - SimonG wrote:
Pichon Baron Offline (UK Wine Forum) (Alba restaurant, London): 94/95/96 served blind. Curious start; bovril nose, stewed eef tea. More flesh than B (94) on the palate. Indeed the texture and taste of thisis the richest and most opulent of the three. curious nose is getting rubbery now. After 20 mins the nose clers up and this is very nice. A richness and sense of opulence, sexy even. I think this is the 96. ****1/2
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4/19/2009 - Teamcrev wrote: 94 Points
Excellent. Served alongside the '96 Calon Segur with grilled lamb. Decanted for 3 hours. This wine will likely have a very long life - like many a 96 it is still loaded with tannins. Very enjoyable here but we think it will only get better.
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4/13/2009 - vindictive wrote:
We tried an experiment with this wine by pulling the cork, decanting half of the bottle and then vaccum sealing the remaining half immediately. It worked well overall and the wine was better (as expected) on the second night. Bottle, fill cork all excellent. Very tight initially and opened up slowly. Very Paulliac nose and flavor profile. Very tannic, vigorous wine with decades of life left. Softer and more complex on night two. The split decanting worked well with this wine, but I wouldn't touch a bottle of this for another 20 years or more if you want it to gain in complexity.
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4/8/2009 - JimHow wrote: 91 Points
This was the first time I've been impressed by this wine. Drank it last night from half bottle, the fruit seemed to break through the 1996 tannins to reveal classic Pauillac traits of cedar and black fruit. The lead pencil nose was impressive right from the start, and the ripe fruit satisfied from beginning to end. The bottles I've had to date have been muted and disappointing, but not this one!
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3/31/2009 - J.L wrote: 91 Points
I'm a big fan of decanting for air, so I decanted for 6h. (Upon opening there was virtually no aromas coming out of the glass) The wine was clear and had a dark ruby core. A bit brownish to the edges and a bit watery rim. On the nose it showed a lot of smoke, like from burnt grass. I also got graphite, red meat and a touth of cigar box. On the whole a very nice bouquet. The taste, I felt, didn't quite hold up to the smell. The weight was good and tasted of ripe fruit. The tannins were pretty integrated and the aftertaste fairly long. Good balance too. Just not that special. I must say that the wine didn't knock my socks off, but atleast the label is one of the nicest looking I've seen on a bottle.
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2/25/2009 - La Grappe wrote: 92 Points
Fine, elegant, smooth, with rich blackcurrant fruit and discreet oak. It perhaps lacks some intensity of fruit on the finish, but it makes up for this in elegance. Very enjoyable.
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2/20/2009 - wa2ofd wrote:
This wine was asleep..decanted for hrs, never came around
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12/12/2008 - chatters wrote: 92 Points
on the nose, saddle leather, cassis, cedar, sweet hay, clover, spice, mint and chocolate. In the mouth it was savoury fruit, subtle blackcurrant and meaty. Some spice, particularly cinnamon and a long subtle finish with integrated and balanced tannins. Good mouth feel as well. Pity this was the only bottle I had.
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11/28/2008 - tplskylrk wrote:
Wii - Thanksgiving (Chateau de Stearns - Hong Kong): Tinge of brick on a rusty red glass. Long nose of stinky soft French cheese. Full bodied, dark fruit & Chocolate, light fine drying tannins. Double swallow chocking deep finish. Old? An interesting similarity to the Opus.
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11/17/2008 - EHF wrote: 92 Points
Had with roasted chicken. Good strong fruit. didn't have time to really let it open, but thought the first sips were a bit harsh, it quickly opened up and was smooth on the tongue. a bit of raisin.
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11/15/2008 - m_yang wrote: 92 Points
I have always been a big Baron fan. Drank this wine with TK, Willie and Albert at the Laguna Country Club. The pairing was with Japanese food. Had 2 Burgundy reds before the Baron. It took a long time to open up and when we were finally drinking, TK commented that the wine still was not fully opened up. Beautiful Pauillac nose with aromas of fruit, cedar and tobacco. The palate was complex with strong hints of fruit and tannins but it was not overwhelming. Albert noted that the finish was short and it was true. It had a great bouquet with a wonderful feel when the wine was on the palate but just as you wanted more of it, there was only a faint lingering trail left. Such was the frustration and the feeling of incompleteness especially when it was otherwise very good. I paid about SGD 180 for it and probably would not buy a second bottle. But I still love the Baron for its sophistication and deep harmony.
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10/1/2008 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
While a good wine, it lacks the power, ripeness and concentration of the top Medocs from 1996. The cassis, blackberry, truffle and tobacco, coupled with a smooth, albiet not very concentrated mouth feel offers nice sensations. The tannins are soft allowing the wine to sdrink well today.
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9/14/2008 - Rupert wrote: 91 Points
Very classic claret, for all its ripeness - some cedar, some blackcurrant, some spice, all in balance, not showy, superb match for the Sunday roast beef
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9/11/2008 - Deschat wrote: 90 Points
I have decanted it for 1 hr before serve it .
Clarity : clear
Colour : purple in colour
Nose : Medium intensity of plums , black fruit , earthy on the nose
Palate : It is medium-full bodied wine with silky texture . It taste a bit sour until the black fruit come out but the acidity is still there. There are blackcurrent , spicy earthy on the palate and a sweet medium length of earthiness aftertaste( last for 15 sec) .
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7/17/2008 - ParkHill wrote: 89 Points
Almost. Do yourself a favor and decant for 3 - 4 hours. Tastes a little sour until the meat and fruit awakens. Then, there is decent elegance in a medium frame. Not your California fruit bomb, instead cedar and real cab flavors. Tannins softening; apparent acidity makes this a good food wine.
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7/14/2008 - BradA wrote: 93 Points
Excellent nose of graphite, crushed red berries and some cedar on the back end. A wonderful paillac that screams for lamb chops or any other wintry dinner. Be sure to give this adequate decanting as a mere splash won't elicit its full potential. Perhaps 3-4 hours will give the nuaces and gravitas this bottling can deliver. I would suggest that this wine is just entering its midlife and offers years of good drinking.
Prost!
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6/4/2008 - CSteefel wrote: 91 Points
The second wine in the lineup was the 1996 Pichon Longueville Baron Pauillac, which turned in a creditable if less than outstanding performance. Certainly a solid example of Pauillac in its overall balance, minerality, the aromatic profile and overall palate impression were just a little bit less powerful than that of the Pontet Canet. I bought this bottle at the Chateau, where I had tasted the 1996 up against the absolutely outstanding 2000, and the 1996 had suffered in comparison. The mid-palate richness is just not there at the same level in the 1996, and this seemed to be more subtly the case in the present company as well.
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5/26/2008 - Dubliner wrote: 92 Points
Evolving beautifully. Softened significantly from my last tasting six months ago. Showing very nicely; tannins integrating very well. Lovely nose of tobacco and cedar, silky smooth with a decent finish.
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5/5/2008 - Brnshj22 wrote: 93 Points
Had this in a vertical with the 89/90/95/96/98/00/02/03. Just a step behind the 89/90/00. Excellent wine with lots of upside potential for the patient ones. So classic Pauillac and a big success for this Chateau.
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3/30/2008 - loverboy wrote: 92 Points
Big impressive nose of leather, cassis, black fruits. Still tannic and new. 1st time, Love it.
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2/1/2008 - goofy Yno wrote: 92 Points
what an easy drinking wine. nose of barnyard, very earthy, cedar, pencil lead. perfectly balanced mough, good fruit, good acidity. there was absolutely nothing wrong with this wine. on the other hand it didn't blow me away either. could have had more complexity, more oomph. but it is in an optimal drinking spot.
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1/4/2008 - il_diavolo wrote: 94 Points
This was WOTN in a bordeaux nineties non first growth tasting. beautiful nose - on the palate it is smooth with textbook pauillac tastes of cedar, lead pencil and cigar box. Really long finish. No longer a bargain but still a relative bargain compared to other 96s
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12/27/2007 - nwood wrote:
Blind tasted with 96 and 99 Batailley and 94 Pichon. We all preferred the 1996 Batailley to the 96 Pichon (probably to do with the Batailley being softer and less tannic - would probably give the Pichon 96 more cellar time). The 1994 Pichon definitely a poorer wine than the 1996. 1996 had more fruit and length compared to the 94's quite short finish.
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12/26/2007 - drunkstar wrote: 94 Points
decanted for a couple of hours...drinking well, velvety in the mouth with just the right balance of acid and fruit...loved it
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11/22/2007 - Dubliner wrote: 92 Points
Decanted four hours - perhaps a little too long. (This was in a decanter; a previous bottle I double decanted, so no doubt more air exposure this time around). Was perhaps fractionally tired on the palate as a result, but still a stunning display of tobacco and dark fruits. I am glad to have a few caases of this to watch it evolve over the next 15 years...
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11/3/2007 - Paul D wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 1/2 hours. Darker fruited, more cassis than previously, some tobacco. Also more tannic, but improved considerably over the evening. Great depth and balance, still with an exceptionally long finish, undoubtedly excellent, but on this showing has crept back in it's shell a little and needs more time.
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10/19/2007 - PatrikO wrote: 95 Points
one of the wines of the vintage. Poured straight from bottle, fantastic bouqet of exotic spices, leather and tobacco. Wonderful silkiness on the palet, heeps of fruit intermingled with lead pencil shavings. Gorgeous!
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9/25/2007 - wpd wrote: 94 Points
Drank with Delahaye, Stefan, Colen, Sullivan. Had in magnum format. Everyone agreed this was a fab wine. We decanted, but it really did not add anything. The wine was great from the get go. Plenty of ripe fruit, well balanced and will age more, but drinking well now. Birthday dinner started with couple of bottles of Kistler Dutton 04 which was also fab-94+.
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9/7/2007 - Saint Stephen wrote: 95 Points
A real knockout on this evening - my clear favorite at my 96 left bank tasting.
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7/3/2007 - mimik wrote: 89 Points
Tasted 1 year ago. Some bricking on the rims, with a nose redolent of cassis pain grillé. More classic bdx flavours on the palate but still restrained. Needs more time. Few 96s seem to have come around.Medium finish.
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6/29/2007 - Terkel wrote: 94 Points
French wines 1996 tasting (DTV): Nose filled with blackcurrant, sweet licorise, earth and tobaco. Super sweet blackcurrant, very intense youthful fruit. Big structure. More complexity comes in on the midpalate and aftertaste, tastes of tobaco, licorise, chocolate. Very nice, and very youthful.
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5/7/2007 - JM67 wrote: 93 Points
Right out of the bottle this wasn't showing much - a slightly musty taste with little fruit. After being open for three hours, it really came to life - loads of dark fruit, tar, and a strong jolt of acid. Really went well with steaks.
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4/19/2007 - Bill in Chicago wrote: 94 Points
What a nice bottle. This wine has really improved over time. Drinking very well right now. Last bottle.
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4/5/2007 - Myownscale wrote: 83 Points
Nose:
barnyard
Palate:
seems hot, a little berry, currants, meaty
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3/2/2007 - cmbond wrote:
Paired this with beef wellington at a tasting. Decanted 3 hrs., and this wine was gorgeous. Lots of cassis, cigar box, earth, smoke, cedar and spice on the nose, with the secondary characteristics more present on the palate. But the fruit is definitely still there, just a bit subdued. This classic Bordeaux paired marvelously with Beef Wellington, with the mushrooms causing the fruit to explode out of the glass. Tannins are becoming integrated, but the decanting definitely helped.
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2/23/2007 - Eric wrote: 94 Points
Seattle Tasting Group does Pauillac (Seattle, WA): A youngster. A sharp and intense nose with pine and mint. The palate is definitely tight and taut but with a juicy core, lots of tobacco. This is going to be a winner.
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12/10/2006 - Grinner wrote: 90 Points
A touch of mint fooled me... the cassis and slight earth is there. Not as much cigar box as I usually get from Pauillac. Medium depth but very nice balance and length. Fell off a lot on day 2 compared to other bottles (gassed but not chilled); would make me worry. If a I had a bunch I'd monitor...
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11/24/2006 - joshbryer wrote:
2 hr. decant. Bouquet jumps out of the glass with lavendar, cassis, cedar and well integrated oak. Wonderful minerality, very terroir driven with a great core of fruit. Medium body with blue and black fruits. Try again in 5 years.
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11/24/2006 - Winetex wrote: 90 Points
A nicely rounded, primary and balanced wine that was a bit hollow through the midpalate. It drank well but will probably continue to improve.
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11/24/2006 - vintage61 wrote: 92 Points
Poped and poured. Surprised at how open this wine is. Very approachable. Slight nose with a big mixed bag of dark red fruits, did not detect any tertiary flavors or aromas yet. Will try to wait at least 5 years before touchiong another. Could rate higher score at peak. Drank at an offline with 9 people, so did not get to revisit it later. JP
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11/24/2006 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
Dallas Offline with Winetex (Amici's in Carrollton, TX): WIML93,WS91,WS92
Tasted November 24, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of plums, blackberries, coffee and graphite. Flavors of plums, blackberries and cassis. Good balance. Drinking remarkably well for such a young wine. Drink or hold. Should hold for many years to come.
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11/17/2006 - Paul D wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 1 1/2 hrs. Deep ruby core, pale garnet rim. Lovely open, complex, developed nose with red-toned fruit, some cassis, cedar, hints of tobacco and blood. Not much more than medium bodied on the palate with strawberry fruit, some juicy cassis and hints of caramel. This is beautifully balanced with fine, approachable tannins, decent concentration and lovely fresh balancing acidity. The finish is incredibly long with lingering savoury and cedar notes.
Thought this might disappoint after its showing at the TWS tasting but no, it's absolutely delicious, drinking well now but with further potential for improvement.
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11/14/2006 - Colonel Lawrence wrote: 94 Points
2nd wine I tried at the Farr Xmas tasting at Vintners Hall EC4 (after the 2003 Pavie).
It lived up to the previous Farr Blind Tasting 1st position - http://www.farrvintners.com/offer.php?offerid=46
Perfect drinking, but with room to improve.
Deep, clear, rich claret colour.
Fine well rounded bouquet - fruit and cedar if I'm not mistaken.
The best was the taste - perfectly rounded, mouth filling, just the right balance of tannins and fruit.
Half the price of the Pavie and right now - in my opinion - a better wine!
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10/21/2006 - kevin h wrote: 90 Points
Very menthol dominated nose with ground beef and cassis in the background. Very thin to taste when first decanted but it developed and fleshed out a lot over 3 hours - quite good after 2, with more cassis fruit showing. Very in-between at the moment, give it another 5 years and I think it will be better.
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10/14/2006 - Paul D wrote: 94 Points
Wine Society "Stars of Pauillac" Tasting (The Wine Society, Stevenage): Medium/deep garnet core, medium garnet rim.
Evolved nose, very spicy with lovely savoury yet sweet red-toned fruit, cedar and some gamey notes.
Spicy strawberry fruit on the palate, some darker notes but overall red-toned like the nose, lovely savoury flavour with quite evolved but still pertinent tannins and then slightly surprises with an incredibly long, lingering sweet, savoury, gamey finish.
Lovely, classic, old-fashioned claret, certainly approachable now but will also make old bones. WOTD.
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9/15/2006 - SimonG wrote:
1995 / 19956 Bordeaux Offline (Alba, London): Cassis, cedar, sandlewood, slightly muted. Slightly leatherey, dry finish. far far better then B. More elegant, longer, slightly more austere. WOTN so far. Guess 1996 Pichon B. My wine though so I think I knew the order.
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7/9/2006 - Rob MacKay wrote: 92 Points
Ruby color core, fading slightly at the edges but not bricking. Earthy, cigar box nose. A little tight at first but quickly opens up to show a wide array of complex flavors from green olives to some subtle dark fruits with soft tannins.
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6/30/2006 - DaleW wrote: 92 Points
A little tight, but lush cassis fruit and mocha/leadpencil notes over a muscular frame. I saved a bit till end of night when it was really singing. Despite the lushness of the fruit there's a refreshing acidity to make this very foodfriendly
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6/29/2006 - MRichman wrote:
Pauillac Fest (Les Sans Coulettes, NYC): Nice dark fruits in sweet tannins. Substantial. Dark notes. Punchy, dense, a bit tight.
B++
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6/29/2006 - Dubliner wrote: 93 Points
As usual, still tight and young but given time to open up it reveals cassis and other dark fruit with a lovely mouthfeel. Smashing stuff for the price.
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6/17/2006 - Dubliner wrote:
As usual, still tight and young but given time to open up it reveals cassis and other dark fruit with a lovely mouthfeel. Smashing stuff for the price.
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5/21/2006 - Wineosseur wrote: 91 Points
My first experience with this wine in this vintage. After recent notes, I expected more. Youthful ruby color with little to no bricking. The nose is red fruits with a bit of spice, char, and earth. On the palate, the red fruits are somewhat sour, and the wine seems a bit out of balance. Tannins are still firm and the finish is medium. Maybe more age will help this wine come together, but I doubt it will ever be really top notch.
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5/8/2006 - MRichman wrote:
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal: Beautiful, lush, sweet, silky, dense. QPR of the night. More ready to drink than I expected.
A-
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4/9/2006 - Dubliner wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted this about five hours ahead of consumption, and I think it really helped. Beautiful bouquet of tobacco and cedar on the nose, very pleasant mouthfeel with cassis and dark fruit. Medium bodied, and a very satisfying finish. Surprisingly approachable with suitable decanting time, this was much better than bottles I've had at offlines recently; probably due to its having time to breathe. I think this has potential to improve over the next five or so years. A bargain !
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3/28/2006 - beachbum wrote: 93 Points
Toronto Offline at Reds with Ian Darshan Cauble: Much more closed than the 1995 on the nose, more black fruit and restrained. The fruit was burlier and more compacted, bit of leather and tar, but you know this was going to have a better future. Rather tight on the tannic finish. Nice wine.
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2/14/2006 - rherman wrote: 92 Points
A little closed at first but really opened up at about the 2 hour mark. Cedar, cassis, blackberry and a hint of spice (future tobacco?). A solid 92 pointer right now with the potential to gain a point or two in 4-7 years. I'll save my other two until then.
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1/12/2006 - hcampana wrote: 92 Points
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal in Gusbo's honor (Pichon Lalande, Lynch Bages, Pichon Baron, Calon Segur, Sociando Mallet, Carruades de Lafite, Pavillon Rouge, 1990 Suduiraut & 1972 Don PX Toro Albala) (Monterrey, Mexico): Medium to full ruby color, this wine had the most evolved color in flight. Nose of pure black currant, blackberries and chocolate. Layered and deeply flavored, but less opulent than wine no. 1. Full bodied and long, this was a beauty to drink. I incorrectly guessed this was the Lynch Bages. My second favorite of the flight. (Two 1st place votes, Three 2nd place votes, Two 3rd place votes).
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1/3/2006 - MRichman wrote:
Deep dark nose with toast & black fruit.
Dark & full with lots of dark fruit, leather, tar. Some acidic tannins, some sweet fruit coming out. Currently a thick, dense, somewhat backward wine. Not fully closed but could use a few more ears. A bit too acidic. Concentrated.
$50 S-L 12/05
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12/9/2005 - pbjosh wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful deep ruby, mild sediment. Large nose of steel, fuit, vanilla, leather. Same on the palate with nice weight. Quite full bodied but not quite fully integrated and seems perhaps ever so slightly underripe? I'd give it a little more time. Perhaps a bit more forward and fruity than the 96 Montrose but not as elegant or silky.
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12/2/2005 - Thilo wrote: 93 Points
Dinner with friends in Austin. Color is medium garnet with slight lightening at the rim. On the nose, classic Bordeaux...cassis, cedar, tobacco. On the palate, medium body, cassis, cedar, spice. Tannins present, but well-integrated. A classic, elegant Bordeaux, and a bargain at that...good for at least another 5-10 years.
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11/12/2005 - jnewlander wrote: 91 Points
Drank last night with a Prime New York strip and Maitake mushrooms. The food was a good match to the wine since it emphasized it's earthy character. This wine still has very nice acidity and solid fruit. Try again in 2010?
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11/7/2005 - Mlermontov wrote: 92 Points
Bob Fyke in Queens: at the start - oppulent, sweet nose with cedar and tobacco and plums. medium body, light tannins but nice balance. with time some more mint? notes. sweetness faded and it became a more "old fashioned" bordeaux with a clean refreshing mouthfeel. yummy stuff and perfect now although obviously can last.
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10/9/2005 - WST wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful wine at a beautiful stage. Showing the complexities of earth, and leather, tobacco while the dark red fruit shines on. Balanced, with a steady finish. Pichon-Longueville Baron is gorgeous without beating you over the head.
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8/17/2005 - Koods wrote:
great currant, smoke and spice. this is a very sexy bdx that gains weight in the glass and just delivers the goods. touch of tobacco, green olive,cedar and earth, its the best wine for the price to get great pauillac nuance. served in cases at my wifes birthday bash, a real hit . a steal for 45 bucks and 2 hrs of decanting. that good.
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6/12/2005 - Rupert wrote: 88 Points
Dark red brown (PB often seems to have this brown tinge, even when young), forthcoming tobacco nose, coffee and smoke on the palate, long finish but a touch astringent. Ready, but best with food.
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5/15/2005 - Koods wrote:
Classic nose of cassis, clove and earth. the palate is textbook pauillac, blackcurrant, gravel, minerality, touch of green olive, very elegant, complex, sophisticated and so damn delicious. this wine is mispriced at 45 bucks. It keeps getting better, and will be even better in a few years. search it out.
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4/21/2005 - MRichman wrote:
Pichon Baron vs Pichon Lalande (Triomphe Restaurant in NYC): Needs time. Good fruit, some clove, light core. Somewhat closed.
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4/21/2005 - jamiekutch wrote: 90 Points
TN: OFFline: Pichon Baron VS. Pichon Lalande 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2000 (NYC): Not quiet as full as the Lalande this had a healthy taste of toasted wood. Almost toasty like a California Cabernet. The acid also stuck out.
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1/23/2005 - BradA wrote: 92 Points
Opened for my parents joint birthday celebration. I decanted at 4pm and Karen and I were both impressed by the aroma! Deep dark cherry flavors and a rich taste that coats the palate--I was quite happy! I would allow that the wine is not as deep and brooding nor as rich as the 2000; that is a wine I need to acquire! As the night went on, the wine facilated between richness and softer cedar notes. There is a lot to like about this wine, as Dan Teng mentioned, if you are looking for a fine bordeaux for drinking now to 2015--this is a wine to buy ($50).
I rate it 92 points for now with the provision for an improved score at maturity (94 point potential).
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12/26/2004 - Dteng wrote: 94 Points
Perhaps this showing was just a fluke, but it was amazing. Color is ruby/purple with some bricking on the edges. Aromas of tobacco, leather, earth and baked cherries jump from the glass. Full bodied and long in the finish with excellent balance. In my opinion an absolute steal at the going rate of $49 for mildly aged Bordeaux - a classic. Surprised I don't read more about this one. Will definitely buy more - maybe a 6 pack.
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12/13/2004 - Veloman wrote:
Dark ruby-red all the way to the rim and throwing a small bit of fine sediment; aromas of roasted coffee, earth, dark fruit; really smooth and sweet on the palate, with dark berry fruit, more of the roasted coffee, minerals, then a long and slightly plummy finish. Hints of oak are well integrated, with smooth tannins. Could go for many years, but drinking well right now. Nicely paired with hanger steak w/roasted shallots & chantrelles, beet & orange salad.
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9/11/2004 - MRichman wrote:
Bordeaux offline (Tout Va Bien, NYC): Big & tannic. Fruity
B/B+
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12/10/2003 - umazz wrote:
Very dense and deep, with powerful fruit and good tannic structure.
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11/18/2003 - CSteefel wrote: 92 Points
Tasted from a half bottle at the Chateau in Bordeaux. Lighter than the 2000, but showing the characteristic sinew and structure of the best 1996 Medoc wines. On the nose, pencil lead and leather dominate. At an intermediate stage at this point, just beginning to emerge, although I think best kept until 2010.
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