Vino_Veritas
Member #431,190 signed up 12/17/2015
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VTCellarDweller
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VTCellarDweller
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Francophile1
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1920 Château Branaire-Ducru
1/31/2021 - Vino_Veritas Likes this wine: 98 Points
From Bern's in Tampa where this beauty had been purchased in the 1950s and perfectly stored since. Likely the chance of a lifetime, so the die was cast. What an incredible experience. Branaire-Ducru always seems more the gentleman than the showboat, irrespective of vintage. Typically structured and feminine, leaning more towards Margaux than Pauillac in the tug of war that is St. Julien. Proper claret, as the British say. Decanted and took about 15 minutes to arise from its slumber, but then a great perfume of spring flowers, earth and leather emerged. Fruit was mostly subsumed, but raspberries and strawberries presented along with bright, focused acidity, surprising given the age of the wine. Noetheless indicative of a fine vintage and quality wine making. The wine peaked at about 45 minutes and stayed in prime form for another 30 minutes before gently fading away 2 hours after opening. Judged on smell and taste alone, this is ~92 points, but when considering this was bottled fresh off of WW I and the Spanish Flu, lived through the roaring '20s, depression of the '30s, WW II, etc. and is twice as old as I, it is an experience I hope all true wine lovers can behold at least once in their lifetime.
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2008 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Combe des Fous
12/21/2020 - Vino_Veritas Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cellared since purchase, perfect cork, fill. Nose of red fruits, especially raspberry, and licorice, furfural and lavender. Medium bodied with a silky finish. Drinking well now and will continue doing so for 5-10 years. Very good but not great-great.
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2002 Château Léoville Las Cases
12/6/2020 - Vino_Veritas Likes this wine: 94 Points
Purchased upon release and appropriately cellared, perfect cork and fill. Decanted 90 minutes, still tight and opening up over the 3 hours consumed. Plenty of life ahead and will only get better. Medium-bodied, beautifully made wine - hard to believe this is an ‘02...must have been Draconian selection to obtain the rich flavors which are well balanced alongside still softening tannins. Beautifully structured, highlighting the femininity of St. Julien - perfume of violets and vanillin, sweet red fruits with a touch of green pepper on the finish. Given the proximity of LLC to Latour, would be a fascinating head-to-head comparison in this vintage where the wine maker / terroir shine and both chateaux worked their magic.
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