From Art's cellar. One-hour decant through a screened funnel. Some sediment. During decant, a boysenberry nose wafted across the table. Wine was clear, dark bowl lightening to the rim, but no amber. In the glass, nose of dark berries, leather, dried flowers and (unfortunately) some mildew. Over our 2 hours of pre-dessert dining, the mildew aromas subsided significantly but never fully dissipated. In the mouth, wine was perfectly smooth; tannins completely melted and integrated. Flavors of dried plums, some vanilla and rose hips on the long finish. Had the TCA not reared its ugly head, this wine would have been a solid 95. But one must judge wines by how they tasted, not how one wants them to have tasted. Wine was certainly enjoyable, and well-kept bottles should be singing when consumed.
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This is a wonderful old Bordeaux that is extraordinarily enjoyable with soft tannins and wonderfully balanced fruit. I don't think it will age further, but it did not fade over a New Year's eve dinner and instead opened further into a very approachable cabernet/merlot blend with good structure after many years.
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My third bottle from the lot. Once again a solid and pure aged bdx. Soft tannins, with old leather, dusty books, and touches of herbal berry. Beautiful in every way.
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På näsan är det oerhört mycket stall, körsbär och lite russin. En del gröna toner. Ceder och även lite kaffe på näsan. Frukten börjas dock kännas lite trött.
Fortfarande ett helt okej vin i munnen. En del syra, medium längd, torrt och stramt. Då frukten kändes lite övermogen så tappar den även lite intensitet i munnen.
Helt klart ett bra vin som passar mig. Jag gissade på en Bdx från tidigt 2000. Jag trodde högra stranden pga de gröna tonerna. Första gången jag dricker en Bdx från toppårgången -82 så det var riktigt skoj. Spännande att frukten fortfarande finns där (dock på nedgång).
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Second bottle of the lot, one year later. Dark purple, healthy and rich in color. 1 hour decant this time, with continuous improvement upon more time exposed. Initial nose of restrained back fruit, wet tobacco and evergreen, opening up overtime to intense ripe berry, concentrated jam and cocoa elements. Palate followed along a similar evolution, rich black fruit, mint, pipe tobacco, earth and chewy tannin. Drinking perfectly, with intact structure and just the right backbone. The closest you can get to a first growth.
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Rich garnet color, showing vibrancy and little signs of a wine with 30 plus years on it. Nose was muted at first, with light and dusty berry notes and some floral elements. After an hour of air, secondary notes started to shine, and definable evergreen, spice, cassis and forest elements were very evident. Palate was light and elegant, with more spiced fruit, graphite and stone coming thru. Still plenty of life left and a great example of just how great second labels can be.
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Wow, this is NOT on the downhill slide, though certainly will not improve. Glorious actually in its dry plummy bright fruit and substantial, perfectly balancing structure and quite adequate length, though a touch rustic. I played with this bottle for a week, and only in the last sip on the last day did this start showing oxidative notes. Given to me by a friend. (Nice gift, thank you Dennis.) More, please. -smile-
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Mild floral nose (jasmin) that grew over time. Cherry, oranges, cedar. Mouth filling, nice sweetness but light and quite delicate. Pencil lead, flowers and earthiness. Alcohol aroma a bit too prevalent at first (a tad 'porty' - slight oxidation?) but this burnt off after an hour or so. Past its prime I think , but still enjoyable.
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30th Birthday Bash Wine Dinner (Scoozi, Chicago): Greg brought this to Scoozi to celebrate my 30th. Lots of oxidation on the nose - but definitely still alive. A big essence of dill weed and thyme. Lots of leather and tobacco doused raspberries and dark cherries up front. Old world but still vibrant and showing a nice inner core of cherries with touches of ripe cotton candy fruit. A nice wine. Great transition from white to the big reds.
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Moden nese, sigar, solbær. Myk i munnen, god lengde, og rund fruktighet. Bør drikkes. Lite margaux-preg egentlig; kunne nok heller gjettet St.Julien. Alt i alt en meget god vin, men for dyr (2750,- ex chateau) ifht prestasjonen.
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Monthly Tasting Group HWS #039; Bordeaux GCC 2nd wines (By BS): Very mature, tertiary and rusty bouquet. Very mature on the palate as well, but still enough stuffing. Completely evolved tannin and still pleasant acidity. Although definitely past its prime, the wine is still a pleasure to drink. No score.
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First bottle was corked, Second was great. Cigar tobacco for days on the slightly earthy nose. Flavor of red fruits (cherry), light tobacco and earthiness that was a pleasure. Good complexity and full round fruit for the age. Drink sooner than later...AMM
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10/7/2023 - wu_wine wrote:
Ready to drink in 2006; this was just for giggles bought from Wine Club
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6/23/2021 - Roidupif wrote: 80 Points
Unfortunately, wine must have been badly stored...
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4/23/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 88 Points
From Art's cellar. One-hour decant through a screened funnel. Some sediment. During decant, a boysenberry nose wafted across the table. Wine was clear, dark bowl lightening to the rim, but no amber. In the glass, nose of dark berries, leather, dried flowers and (unfortunately) some mildew. Over our 2 hours of pre-dessert dining, the mildew aromas subsided significantly but never fully dissipated. In the mouth, wine was perfectly smooth; tannins completely melted and integrated. Flavors of dried plums, some vanilla and rose hips on the long finish. Had the TCA not reared its ugly head, this wine would have been a solid 95. But one must judge wines by how they tasted, not how one wants them to have tasted. Wine was certainly enjoyable, and well-kept bottles should be singing when consumed.
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9/16/2020 - MPC61 wrote: 96 Points
Spectacular - beautiful nose and structure. Classic velvet. Peak drinking. A nice treat for Scott's 31st!
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1/1/2020 - Yaozi wrote: 94 Points
This is a wonderful old Bordeaux that is extraordinarily enjoyable with soft tannins and wonderfully balanced fruit. I don't think it will age further, but it did not fade over a New Year's eve dinner and instead opened further into a very approachable cabernet/merlot blend with good structure after many years.
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3/2/2018 - peterdenh wrote: flawed
Very sad to discover the bottle was corked. :(
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12/5/2016 - T.E.D. wrote: 93 Points
My third bottle from the lot. Once again a solid and pure aged bdx. Soft tannins, with old leather, dusty books, and touches of herbal berry. Beautiful in every way.
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12/4/2016 - Nekodab wrote: 96 Points
Well Above average. Perfect earth after a 2 hour decant
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8/6/2016 - appel54 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Moget med en tät kärna. Lite roströd i färgen.
På näsan är det oerhört mycket stall, körsbär och lite russin. En del gröna toner. Ceder och även lite kaffe på näsan. Frukten börjas dock kännas lite trött.
Fortfarande ett helt okej vin i munnen. En del syra, medium längd, torrt och stramt. Då frukten kändes lite övermogen så tappar den även lite intensitet i munnen.
Helt klart ett bra vin som passar mig. Jag gissade på en Bdx från tidigt 2000. Jag trodde högra stranden pga de gröna tonerna.
Första gången jag dricker en Bdx från toppårgången -82 så det var riktigt skoj. Spännande att frukten fortfarande finns där (dock på nedgång).
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12/6/2014 - T.E.D. wrote: 94 Points
Second bottle of the lot, one year later. Dark purple, healthy and rich in color. 1 hour decant this time, with continuous improvement upon more time exposed. Initial nose of restrained back fruit, wet tobacco and evergreen, opening up overtime to intense ripe berry, concentrated jam and cocoa elements. Palate followed along a similar evolution, rich black fruit, mint, pipe tobacco, earth and chewy tannin. Drinking perfectly, with intact structure and just the right backbone. The closest you can get to a first growth.
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10/18/2014 - canan wrote: 92 Points
Mushroom and Birthday tasting (Helsingør): Has kept very nicely. Lovely bright and pure fruit flavors but lacking intensity and aftertaste.
Still a lovely bottle.
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12/21/2013 - T.E.D. wrote: 92 Points
Rich garnet color, showing vibrancy and little signs of a wine with 30 plus years on it. Nose was muted at first, with light and dusty berry notes and some floral elements. After an hour of air, secondary notes started to shine, and definable evergreen, spice, cassis and forest elements were very evident. Palate was light and elegant, with more spiced fruit, graphite and stone coming thru. Still plenty of life left and a great example of just how great second labels can be.
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8/13/2013 - sawira wrote: 91 Points
Wow, this is NOT on the downhill slide, though certainly will not improve. Glorious actually in its dry plummy bright fruit and substantial, perfectly balancing structure and quite adequate length, though a touch rustic. I played with this bottle for a week, and only in the last sip on the last day did this start showing oxidative notes. Given to me by a friend. (Nice gift, thank you Dennis.) More, please. -smile-
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7/23/2013 - stubot Likes this wine: 90 Points
Mild floral nose (jasmin) that grew over time. Cherry, oranges, cedar. Mouth filling, nice sweetness but light and quite delicate. Pencil lead, flowers and earthiness. Alcohol aroma a bit too prevalent at first (a tad 'porty' - slight oxidation?) but this burnt off after an hour or so. Past its prime I think , but still enjoyable.
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3/19/2012 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
30th Birthday Bash Wine Dinner (Scoozi, Chicago): Greg brought this to Scoozi to celebrate my 30th. Lots of oxidation on the nose - but definitely still alive.
A big essence of dill weed and thyme. Lots of leather and tobacco doused raspberries and dark cherries up front.
Old world but still vibrant and showing a nice inner core of cherries with touches of ripe cotton candy fruit. A nice wine. Great transition from white to the big reds.
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8/5/2011 - stiang wrote: 91 Points
Moden nese, sigar, solbær. Myk i munnen, god lengde, og rund fruktighet. Bør drikkes. Lite margaux-preg egentlig; kunne nok heller gjettet St.Julien. Alt i alt en meget god vin, men for dyr (2750,- ex chateau) ifht prestasjonen.
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9/9/2009 - Zweder wrote:
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #039; Bordeaux GCC 2nd wines (By BS): Very mature, tertiary and rusty bouquet. Very mature on the palate as well, but still enough stuffing. Completely evolved tannin and still pleasant acidity. Although definitely past its prime, the wine is still a pleasure to drink. No score.
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8/22/2009 - bobbylion wrote: 90 Points
nice. will run out of steam in 1-2 years, but now still ok if past its prime.
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10/27/2008 - AMM3RD wrote: 92 Points
First bottle was corked, Second was great. Cigar tobacco for days on the slightly earthy nose. Flavor of red fruits (cherry), light tobacco and earthiness that was a pleasure. Good complexity and full round fruit for the age. Drink sooner than later...AMM
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12/22/2007 - Charlie Carnes wrote: flawed
Bottle was badly corked.
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