75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, aged in oak barrels (40% new) during 18 months, 13% vol. Cellared since release.
PnP and planned to drink half of the bottle at dinner and store the second half for the next day, but at the end of the evening the bottle was empty. On the nose leather, underwood and in the back still a hint of black current, on the palate dry with good freshness and mouthfeel, medium+ bodied and very long finish, superb.
Mature and classic Médoc, best bottle yet but unfortunately the last one, drink now or within the next 10+ years, needs food (for me as always with a selection of best French cheese) else it might be still a bit austere.
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13% alcohol. The cork is of medium length but of pretty good quality, and it shows no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. Deep colour with moderate thinning at the rim. The nose is correct Médoc without much charm; nothing wrong, but pretty straight-laced. Similarly strict in the mouth, with plenty of integrity but short on flexibility. Enjoyed it less than Gloria 2005 that I had recently. Frankly not terribly successful on this outing.
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Decanted for half an hour. Very dark ruby/red. Nose is full of blackcurrant fruit. Drank initially without food. Tannins noticeable, and a little acidic. Quite dry, but enough fruit to make it pleasant drinking. With food it is delicious, the acidity and tannins (almost) disappear, leaving soft mainly blackcurrant fruit, but without a great deal of length. Very good with strong cheese.
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13% alcohol. CS 75%, M 25%. Cork of average length showing no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. Deep colour with little sign of ageing. The nose has good intensity, with prominent blackcurrant. The mouth follows suit in a lively sprightly style; largely resolved tannins, but plenty of grip nevertheless thanks in no small part to its refreshing acidity. The oak is properly confined to a supporting rôle. Maybe more austere than most people's idea of Margaux, but very enjoyable nevertheless. I see that the Merlot content is now much increased (since 2014), and I cannot help wondering if this was due to the relentless contempt in which the property was held by influential reviewers (remember these dinosaurs?) over the years. I would be interested in tasting the new brew, but my experience with Merlot in southern Médoc is not that positive.
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Decanted an hour before dinner. Needs time to open, still very tart and requires food, On the nose intense and quite complex with a lot of tertiary notes (leather, forest floor and smoke), the fruit is more in the background but it's there and tends to black currant. On the palate high acidity, medium+ bodied and long finish. Was very good with cheese and I am still impressed on this wine, when it was young it was airy and easy drinking, not very complex but good, now it gets very complex and quite dense, there is no hurry to drink, it is still improving and will easily stay for 10 or more years, 91-92.
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Traditional lean claret, in a good way, with nice lift and freshness and recognisable Margaux signature. A bit more rustic than its Rauzan-Segla flight mate, but very satisfying glass of claret.
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13% alcohol. Long cork of mediocre quality (the end bit nearly becomes detached upon careful pulling out). Decanted a short hour ahead. Medium to high colour density. The nose has good energy, with just-about-ripe wild berries and some muted confectionery. The mouth is similarly lean, but not in a bad way. This screams Médoc rather than Margaux to me, which is not a major complaint. No protruding oak; tannins are civilised. Not smooth or silky, but very enjoyable nevertheless in a slightly rustic way.
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Perfect cork with barely a mm of wine penetration; 13% alcohol. Decanted for an hour. Deep colour showing no sign of evolution. Pleasant nose of blackcurrants. The mouth is classic Médoc with impeccable balance, good intensity, perfect acidity and barely a hint of tightness in the finish. The oak is completely integrated. Harmonious but not quite voluptuous would be my overall impression at this stage. Another success for this unheralded vintage. Capable of at least ten more years of graceful ageing, I would say. Ferrière had had a bad press for years when I purchased this wine en primeur (I seem to remember peremptory phrases like "perennial underachiever" from a certain self-appointed universal oracle), and I have Clive Coates to thank for alerting me to the quality of the property; not all wine critics are created equal. A repeat purchase if prices are still sensible.
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Decanted for more than an hour. Typical Bordeaux nose, mature, black currant and leather, superb. On the palate still a bit dominating acidity that is typical for the vintage but lowers the score a bit, ends long. It will easily last for another 5 to 10 years but I'm not sure if it will improve but I will give a try.
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Belle robe rubis-noir. Nez timide mais présent de framboises, tourte de linz, groseille rouge, vanille et de la réglisse. En bouche, l'attaque est franche avec encore passablement beaucoup de tannins, mais polis, suivi avec le fruit bien présent mais entouré par la structure. C'est un vin de bonne facture qui a bien supporté l'âge (à mon sens, peut tenir encore au moins 4-5 ans), ce qui est plutôt étonnant pour le millésime. Bon équilibre, longueur moyenne, beaux arômes au nez. Pas mal. Ma dernière demie-bouteille.
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From a half bottle, dark ruby. Aromas of cherries, cassis, smoke and a little bit of tobacco. On the palate, still quite the structure, with aromas of cherries and red currants with smoke and a hint of chocolate. The tannins are still present, though very pleasant and there is also quite a bit of acidity left. After all these years, it is at its best now. Too bad I drank the first 10 when it was too young. At its best now (half bottles), but don't think it will improve much. Good wine with power and finesse. Just lacking a little sensuality/volume. But for the vintage, excellent!
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Lovely crimson colour and a delicious deep red cherry on the nose. A hint of wood there too. As it opened up there was more cassis and a hint of eucalyptus there too. Similar on the palate - balanced acidity, dark cherry/cassis and a nice long finish. Not really any tannin on the palate though a touch coming through on the finish. A very nice bottle. Shame it was a one-off for me; part of a mixed case of '02s and better than I had expected for the year.
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Very nice claret, just lacking a little extract and length. Very expressive nose, with notes of cassis, mineral, iron, cedar, and cherry. Start popping if you have multiple bottles - this tastes really nice right now. Clive Coates freaked out about this wine years ago, which is why I bought it. I can see how this outpunches its class in a vintage like 2002.
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This is quite good, average fruit, earth, sugarcane. Austere structure, nice-balance for the 2002, round in an aggressive style, delicious, going well with roasted veal cheek. Good finished. IMO, 2002 is better than 2003 and 2004 though.
Drink now - 2015....89-90+/100....
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Looser of the night compared to Leoville Barton (WOTN), Gruaud Larose (#2 wine), Lynch Bages, Lagrange, Leoville Poyferre Too light on the palate, lacked weight and dropped off.
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Dégustation Cora 2005 (Charleroi, Belgium): Nez doux et assez discret, beau fruit Bouche élégante, bien définie, fruitée, très belle longueur; bons tannins, construction tout en finesse: une très bonne surprise ! 15 (€20)
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12/6/2023 - amateur62 Likes this wine: 92 Points
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, aged in oak barrels (40% new) during 18 months, 13% vol. Cellared since release.
PnP and planned to drink half of the bottle at dinner and store the second half for the next day, but at the end of the evening the bottle was empty. On the nose leather, underwood and in the back still a hint of black current, on the palate dry with good freshness and mouthfeel, medium+ bodied and very long finish, superb.
Mature and classic Médoc, best bottle yet but unfortunately the last one, drink now or within the next 10+ years, needs food (for me as always with a selection of best French cheese) else it might be still a bit austere.
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9/19/2023 - Eudemis wrote:
13% alcohol. The cork is of medium length but of pretty good quality, and it shows no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. Deep colour with moderate thinning at the rim.
The nose is correct Médoc without much charm; nothing wrong, but pretty straight-laced. Similarly strict in the mouth, with plenty of integrity but short on flexibility.
Enjoyed it less than Gloria 2005 that I had recently.
Frankly not terribly successful on this outing.
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9/9/2023 - khmark7 wrote:
Nice classic old school profile. Plenty of life in this bottle
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8/11/2023 - ivannikiforovitch wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for half an hour. Very dark ruby/red. Nose is full of blackcurrant fruit. Drank initially without food. Tannins noticeable, and a little acidic. Quite dry, but enough fruit to make it pleasant drinking. With food it is delicious, the acidity and tannins (almost) disappear, leaving soft mainly blackcurrant fruit, but without a great deal of length. Very good with strong cheese.
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11/1/2022 - drjb wrote: flawed
Corked.
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5/31/2020 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13% alcohol. CS 75%, M 25%. Cork of average length showing no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. Deep colour with little sign of ageing.
The nose has good intensity, with prominent blackcurrant. The mouth follows suit in a lively sprightly style; largely resolved tannins, but plenty of grip nevertheless thanks in no small part to its refreshing acidity. The oak is properly confined to a supporting rôle.
Maybe more austere than most people's idea of Margaux, but very enjoyable nevertheless. I see that the Merlot content is now much increased (since 2014), and I cannot help wondering if this was due to the relentless contempt in which the property was held by influential reviewers (remember these dinosaurs?) over the years. I would be interested in tasting the new brew, but my experience with Merlot in southern Médoc is not that positive.
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5/10/2019 - amateur62 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted an hour before dinner. Needs time to open, still very tart and requires food, On the nose intense and quite complex with a lot of tertiary notes (leather, forest floor and smoke), the fruit is more in the background but it's there and tends to black currant. On the palate high acidity, medium+ bodied and long finish.
Was very good with cheese and I am still impressed on this wine, when it was young it was airy and easy drinking, not very complex but good, now it gets very complex and quite dense, there is no hurry to drink, it is still improving and will easily stay for 10 or more years, 91-92.
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3/5/2019 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 89 Points
Traditional lean claret, in a good way, with nice lift and freshness and recognisable Margaux signature. A bit more rustic than its Rauzan-Segla flight mate, but very satisfying glass of claret.
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3/5/2019 - Paul D wrote: 89 Points
2002 Bordeaux at Piccolino (Piccolino, Exchange Square, London): Darker fruit, touch of meatiness, smoke. Medium/full bodied, tannins still quite firm on the finish.
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10/24/2018 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
13% alcohol. Long cork of mediocre quality (the end bit nearly becomes detached upon careful pulling out). Decanted a short hour ahead. Medium to high colour density.
The nose has good energy, with just-about-ripe wild berries and some muted confectionery. The mouth is similarly lean, but not in a bad way.
This screams Médoc rather than Margaux to me, which is not a major complaint. No protruding oak; tannins are civilised.
Not smooth or silky, but very enjoyable nevertheless in a slightly rustic way.
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2/18/2017 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
Perfect cork with barely a mm of wine penetration; 13% alcohol. Decanted for an hour. Deep colour showing no sign of evolution. Pleasant nose of blackcurrants. The mouth is classic Médoc with impeccable balance, good intensity, perfect acidity and barely a hint of tightness in the finish. The oak is completely integrated. Harmonious but not quite voluptuous would be my overall impression at this stage. Another success for this unheralded vintage. Capable of at least ten more years of graceful ageing, I would say.
Ferrière had had a bad press for years when I purchased this wine en primeur (I seem to remember peremptory phrases like "perennial underachiever" from a certain self-appointed universal oracle), and I have Clive Coates to thank for alerting me to the quality of the property; not all wine critics are created equal. A repeat purchase if prices are still sensible.
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6/8/2016 - amateur62 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for more than an hour. Typical Bordeaux nose, mature, black currant and leather, superb. On the palate still a bit dominating acidity that is typical for the vintage but lowers the score a bit, ends long. It will easily last for another 5 to 10 years but I'm not sure if it will improve but I will give a try.
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1/17/2015 - ChristopherB Likes this wine: 88 Points
Belle robe rubis-noir. Nez timide mais présent de framboises, tourte de linz, groseille rouge, vanille et de la réglisse. En bouche, l'attaque est franche avec encore passablement beaucoup de tannins, mais polis, suivi avec le fruit bien présent mais entouré par la structure. C'est un vin de bonne facture qui a bien supporté l'âge (à mon sens, peut tenir encore au moins 4-5 ans), ce qui est plutôt étonnant pour le millésime. Bon équilibre, longueur moyenne, beaux arômes au nez. Pas mal. Ma dernière demie-bouteille.
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10/11/2014 - ChristopherB Likes this wine: 89 Points
From a half bottle, dark ruby. Aromas of cherries, cassis, smoke and a little bit of tobacco. On the palate, still quite the structure, with aromas of cherries and red currants with smoke and a hint of chocolate. The tannins are still present, though very pleasant and there is also quite a bit of acidity left. After all these years, it is at its best now. Too bad I drank the first 10 when it was too young. At its best now (half bottles), but don't think it will improve much. Good wine with power and finesse. Just lacking a little sensuality/volume. But for the vintage, excellent!
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1/4/2013 - leebostock Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely crimson colour and a delicious deep red cherry on the nose. A hint of wood there too. As it opened up there was more cassis and a hint of eucalyptus there too.
Similar on the palate - balanced acidity, dark cherry/cassis and a nice long finish. Not really any tannin on the palate though a touch coming through on the finish. A very nice bottle. Shame it was a one-off for me; part of a mixed case of '02s and better than I had expected for the year.
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6/5/2010 - cpoulos wrote: 89 Points
Very nice claret, just lacking a little extract and length. Very expressive nose, with notes of cassis, mineral, iron, cedar, and cherry. Start popping if you have multiple bottles - this tastes really nice right now. Clive Coates freaked out about this wine years ago, which is why I bought it. I can see how this outpunches its class in a vintage like 2002.
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7/22/2009 - noppakit s. wrote: 90 Points
This is quite good, average fruit, earth, sugarcane. Austere structure, nice-balance for the 2002, round in an aggressive style, delicious, going well with roasted veal cheek. Good finished. IMO, 2002 is better than 2003 and 2004 though.
Drink now - 2015....89-90+/100....
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4/24/2009 - gportilla wrote:
Looser of the night compared to Leoville Barton (WOTN), Gruaud Larose (#2 wine), Lynch Bages, Lagrange, Leoville Poyferre
Too light on the palate, lacked weight and dropped off.
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4/15/2009 - cma82 wrote: 87 Points
Closed nose with an odd medicinal smell--like cassis Robitussin. Sweet and ripe fruit with good acid.
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2/5/2008 - noppakit s. wrote: 91 Points
My 3rd bottle is still confirmed when comepared with 1998, 2003 or 2004.
This 2002 is much better, more elegance, smooth, round and delicious. Good fruit, nice lavender and well-balanced. Easy falling in love with it.
Early matured...91-92/100...
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10/6/2005 - PhDP wrote: 86 Points
Dégustation Cora 2005 (Charleroi, Belgium): Nez doux et assez discret, beau fruit
Bouche élégante, bien définie, fruitée, très belle longueur; bons tannins, construction tout en finesse: une très bonne surprise !
15 (€20)
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