The DDC was a bit more expressive initially but then retreated back into its shell shortly after actually starting to drink it. A pity as the palate was certainly elegant and long enough.
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Picked up a few recently at auction and I’m very happy with the acquisition. If you like a smoky, earth-infused bouquet with tobacco and green peppercorns (as I do), this provides olfactory nirvana. The palate is lithe, spicy, energetic, clearly on the leaner, brighter end of the spectrum. With food, this style shines. A Burgundian claret if ever there was one. Just terrific.
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From the moment the cork was pulled to my first sniff of the wine, I could tell that this was such a great representation of Graves. That quintessential smokiness / tobacco rang through instantaneously, accompanied by earthy aromas of forest floor and herbs, alongside dark cherries and a hint of vanilla. The lively, aromatic nose carried perfectly into a complex palate that was so full of life. Immediately hit with how silky and well integrated this wine was, the tertiary qualities of truffle, mushroom and forest floor dominated the up front before the mid-palate introduced reducrrants, black cherries and that same vanilla from the nose across some good acidity. The finish brought in quintessential Bordeaux notes of anise and cassis, balancing out the wine extremely well. Perhaps I'm biased due to 1998 being a birth year vintage for me, but the farther south I've gone in the vintage - namely Margaux and Pessac-Léognan - the more expressive the wines have been for what was a weaker year farther up north. This bottle is a great example of that.
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High acidity, fine-grained tannins. Medium intensity on the nose, with some tertiary aromas; leather, forest floor. Currant, black currant, red plum flavours. Still fruity and young, with just a hint of tertiary flavours. Medium(+) fruit concentration, well balanced between alcohol, intensity and acidity. Medium(+) finish. No problem pushing the drinking window five more years.
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1998 Bordeaux Horizontal - London (Sun Street Hotel, Liverpool Street, London): Classic, dictionary definition Graves. The first sniff of any red on the night and I'm smitten. Tobacco leaf, cool, dark fruits, a smidge of classy sandalwood and the palate is long, balanced and cool. With some air their is the faintest suggestion of shaved cornichon. My wine of the night.
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(Domaine de Chevalier) This was a great surprise. Great nose of scorched earth, weedy tobacco, red currants, dandelions and violets. Very pretty nose. Palate was deep and concentrated with great elegance. Great core of pretty red fruit. Tannins were big but ripe and everything was in beautiful balance. Very pure. The more I drink Pessac's I realize that it is the Chinon-lovers Bordeaux. Excellent wine.
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4/18/2024 - geraldsng Likes this wine:
The DDC was a bit more expressive initially but then retreated back into its shell shortly after actually starting to drink it. A pity as the palate was certainly elegant and long enough.
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1/28/2024 - blanquito wrote: 93 Points
Picked up a few recently at auction and I’m very happy with the acquisition. If you like a smoky, earth-infused bouquet with tobacco and green peppercorns (as I do), this provides olfactory nirvana. The palate is lithe, spicy, energetic, clearly on the leaner, brighter end of the spectrum. With food, this style shines. A Burgundian claret if ever there was one. Just terrific.
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12/11/2023 - ankitmehra Likes this wine: 93 Points
From the moment the cork was pulled to my first sniff of the wine, I could tell that this was such a great representation of Graves. That quintessential smokiness / tobacco rang through instantaneously, accompanied by earthy aromas of forest floor and herbs, alongside dark cherries and a hint of vanilla. The lively, aromatic nose carried perfectly into a complex palate that was so full of life. Immediately hit with how silky and well integrated this wine was, the tertiary qualities of truffle, mushroom and forest floor dominated the up front before the mid-palate introduced reducrrants, black cherries and that same vanilla from the nose across some good acidity. The finish brought in quintessential Bordeaux notes of anise and cassis, balancing out the wine extremely well. Perhaps I'm biased due to 1998 being a birth year vintage for me, but the farther south I've gone in the vintage - namely Margaux and Pessac-Léognan - the more expressive the wines have been for what was a weaker year farther up north. This bottle is a great example of that.
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9/15/2023 - TS Likes this wine: 93 Points
High acidity, fine-grained tannins. Medium intensity on the nose, with some tertiary aromas; leather, forest floor. Currant, black currant, red plum flavours. Still fruity and young, with just a hint of tertiary flavours. Medium(+) fruit concentration, well balanced between alcohol, intensity and acidity. Medium(+) finish. No problem pushing the drinking window five more years.
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6/22/2023 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 94 Points
1998 Bordeaux Horizontal - London (Sun Street Hotel, Liverpool Street, London): Classic, dictionary definition Graves. The first sniff of any red on the night and I'm smitten. Tobacco leaf, cool, dark fruits, a smidge of classy sandalwood and the palate is long, balanced and cool. With some air their is the faintest suggestion of shaved cornichon. My wine of the night.
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