Tasted at home with friends, the seventh of a 10 bottle vertical tasting of Chateau Cissac vintages from 2014 to 1975. Opened and poured almost immediately (I generally don't like opening old bottles in advance in case they fade too quickly). Light maroon colour with some cloudiness. Less fruit on the nose, a hint of orange, plummy and cabbage. Soft and mellow, but still some tannin. More savoury than fruity. A great example of a good Bordeaux some 28 years after the vintage.
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Ruby with pronounced tawny highlights. Primary fruit has gone but interesting dried black fruit, rotting leaves, mushroom. The flavours are have dried fruit, olives, savoury, umami notes. Past it’s best but still interesting.
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I opened and decanted this immediately before serving because I was concerned that it might have aged considerably already and might not benefit from too much aeration. This was a good decision. The colour is still good, medium ruby, not much sign of browning The nose is classic Bordeaux, more forest floor than distinguishable fruit. On the palate, it's earthy, slightly oily, the first taste has some ripe fruit. Returning to the glass about 30 minutes later, it had indeed opened up. So very good overall if you are a fan of aged Bordeaux.
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Two cases of this have been in a cupboard of a my cottage on the east coast of the uk for 17 years. I've opened the odd bottle here and there to see if the horribly hard tannins have stopped overwhelming the fruit. Marriages have come and gone, children have appeared and now, finally, when I had given up all hope, this wine is opening up. Interestingly Parker has rated this as "old" for years....
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Paul B's place (Cambridge, UK): Popped and poured, tasted double blind. This was 22 years old??! It did not look or smell so, although there was a hint in the taste. Very floral, cherries with a hint of paprika. The palate was elegant with lots of tannins, some secondaries, fairly austere, although the fruit is good. An enjoyable wine although my guess went astray (I thought Sangiovese!).
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A typical Cissac, solid and dependable, restrained and correct but never that exciting. Showing some amber in the glass - it looks fully mature. Nose has all the usual Claret aromas - no surprises. Good flavour, ripe fruit but not over extracted as some can be in this vintage. Good cedar and tobacco claret with a bif of blackcurrant. Nice wine. Ready but would keep.
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garnet, with brick rim; need time to unfold; black fruits, plums,cedary; old school claret, with depth & intensity; still tannic -too much? Yet to peak? V good. 15not flashy, sturdy, good now, no rushColour holding; classical claret, sturdy nose, leafy; solid, foursquare, some tannin but softer; opens out on an attractive extended finish 15
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12/4/2023 - Chris Davies Likes this wine: 90 Points
A great example of how delicious modest, mature Bordeaux can be. Lively fruit, nice balance and still plenty of vibrancy. Wonderful!
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9/29/2018 - Keith Cooper Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted at home with friends, the seventh of a 10 bottle vertical tasting of Chateau Cissac vintages from 2014 to 1975. Opened and poured almost immediately (I generally don't like opening old bottles in advance in case they fade too quickly). Light maroon colour with some cloudiness. Less fruit on the nose, a hint of orange, plummy and cabbage. Soft and mellow, but still some tannin. More savoury than fruity. A great example of a good Bordeaux some 28 years after the vintage.
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5/26/2018 - bacchus of knockholt wrote: 87 Points
Ruby with pronounced tawny highlights. Primary fruit has gone but interesting dried black fruit, rotting leaves, mushroom. The flavours are have dried fruit, olives, savoury, umami notes. Past it’s best but still interesting.
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11/6/2017 - Keith Cooper Likes this wine: 92 Points
I opened and decanted this immediately before serving because I was concerned that it might have aged considerably already and might not benefit from too much aeration. This was a good decision. The colour is still good, medium ruby, not much sign of browning The nose is classic Bordeaux, more forest floor than distinguishable fruit. On the palate, it's earthy, slightly oily, the first taste has some ripe fruit. Returning to the glass about 30 minutes later, it had indeed opened up. So very good overall if you are a fan of aged Bordeaux.
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6/10/2017 - Jonny616 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Part of a 31 vintage vertical of Cissac. As with the 1989 a beautiful thing. Nothing between them.
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3/22/2014 - 747sp wrote: 87 Points
Two cases of this have been in a cupboard of a my cottage on the east coast of the uk for 17 years. I've opened the odd bottle here and there to see if the horribly hard tannins have stopped overwhelming the fruit. Marriages have come and gone, children have appeared and now, finally, when I had given up all hope, this wine is opening up. Interestingly Parker has rated this as "old" for years....
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10/16/2012 - NiklasW wrote: 90 Points
Paul B's place (Cambridge, UK): Popped and poured, tasted double blind. This was 22 years old??! It did not look or smell so, although there was a hint in the taste. Very floral, cherries with a hint of paprika. The palate was elegant with lots of tannins, some secondaries, fairly austere, although the fruit is good. An enjoyable wine although my guess went astray (I thought Sangiovese!).
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4/19/2011 - chbeaumont wrote: 89 Points
Authentically good old fashioned claret. No need to rush.
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8/25/2008 - kevin h wrote:
A typical Cissac, solid and dependable, restrained and correct but never that exciting. Showing some amber in the glass - it looks fully mature. Nose has all the usual Claret aromas - no surprises. Good flavour, ripe fruit but not over extracted as some can be in this vintage. Good cedar and tobacco claret with a bif of blackcurrant. Nice wine. Ready but would keep.
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5/6/2005 - tendring wrote: 80 Points
Light and showing no age.
Initially farmyardy, then oak, unripe blackcurrants, a youthful nose.
Loads of fruit and tannin in the mouth, needs food.
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6/27/2004 - chbeaumont wrote:
garnet, with brick rim; need time to unfold; black fruits, plums,cedary; old school claret, with depth & intensity; still tannic -too much? Yet to peak? V good. 15not flashy, sturdy, good now, no rushColour holding; classical claret, sturdy nose, leafy; solid, foursquare, some tannin but softer; opens out on an attractive extended finish 15
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9/21/1999 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 87 Points
Seems fully mature already.
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