2002 Château Cissac

Community Tasting Notes (18) Avg Score: 86.6 points

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  2/28/2020 - drmackey wrote:

  Not drank

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  8/5/2017 - johnrm Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Happily, my positive comments in my previous note still stand. Decanted 3h prior. Excellent fruit on the nose. Damsons and dark fruits (mainly black cherry) on the palate with a hint of maraschino on the late palate, though this was less noticeable after food. Excellent with a rare chargrilled sirloin. Just enough tannin to complement the meat. Later, it was good on its own - very smooth, well balanced, and long. Despite the comments of some pundits this was purchased en primeur and, considering what it cost then, it was a real bargain. Cissac rarely disappoints - you just need to age it (and store it well) then choose the right time IMO. 90+

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  4/30/2017 - johnrm Likes this wine: 90 Points

  I add this note simply to emphasise my belief that the wine still needs time after opening to show its best.
  After decanting, there was a little browning at the rim. Good fruit when first opened. There seemed to be more tannin and less fruit 3h later but the wine opened up with a rare steak. Later (5h+), the fruit emerged more noticeably and included cherries, blueberries, and other dark fruits. The wine seemed to be saying 'just give me time to show!'. I think this is a good time to enjoy the rest of my stock but I'll still open it early with the confidence to let it open properly over a few hours before drinking.

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  2/4/2017 - johnrm Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Good colour. Attractive nose and palate when first opened. Settled down 4h after decanting to show rich, spicy fruit. Perhaps a lingering trace of phenolics on the nose but with spice (including cinnamon) taking over with some fennel later. Very smooth and 'together' - it seemed less austere than the last bottle. Enough smooth, integrated tannin to make an excellent partner for rare sirloin steak. After food, (5+h after opening) it seemed softer and was still evolving with cherries and a trace of orange zest. It still showed excellent fruit, spice, and length.
  This bottle maintains my respect for the 2002 vintage of Cissac and confirms my feeling that it was well worth keeping for longer than some of the pundits suggested.

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  10/29/2016 - johnrm Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Two years on from our last bottle. Still a good colour with good fruit when first opened. Settled down over 6h after decanting to reveal a typical Bdx nose and smooth, homogeneous palate. All the expected, slightly austere characteristics (not a Parker wine) with a very slight hint of phenolics on the nose and late palate at one point. Good, integrated tannins. Needs food to show its best. It did so with a slow-cooked lamb shoulder. It actually seemed at its best after the food (7h after opening) - excellent fruit, spice, and length.
  A fine survivor from a mixed vintage (2002) for those who believe in Cissac and were prepared to wait.

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