2002 Château Hortevie

Community Tasting Notes (9) Avg Score: 89 points

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  11/17/2019 - johnrm Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Opened 5h before tasting. Very good, deep colour. Spicy, meaty, rich nose. Similar flavours on the palate with plenty of rich, dark fruit (mainly dark plums) but the 'sweetness' I detected a few years ago was no longer a feature early on. However, as it evolved in the glass, dark cherries emerged with hints of violets and the plum-skin tannins softened nicely and slight sweetness developed. A little Bordeaux austerity but pretty youthful and muscular considering its age. Very enjoyable on its own but even better with food (roast chicken etc.). Long and complex - it improved further with time developing more complexity (and touches of orange acidity) and showing all the character and quality one would expect from a respected St Julien CB. It definitely needed time to show its best. It is a really lovely wine from a generally middling year and a real step up from a bottle of Ch. Cantemerle from the same vintage tasted yesterday.
  My note of 2013 suggested that this wine was perhaps at its peak. My later notes and my view now show that was wrong and the wine has matured beautifully. It is a pity that since the sale of this vineyard around 2012, the wine is no longer produced as Chateau Hortevie. I am pleased to say that I have found another bottle of this vintage in my stock. I will hold it for a year or two..

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  4/4/2019 - townjbc Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Best bottle yet. Needed an hour to hit its stride, but then a lovely bottle of claret.

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  3/3/2019 - johnrm Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Pretty much as my note of April 2018. It improved over 6h after opening and still has fruit, spice, complexity, soft tannins, and length. Good with food (beef bourguignon) and a sample was at least as good next day. It has life.

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  10/2/2018 - townjbc Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Very nice, mature claret which has retained its fruit. I doubt it will improve, but good drinking now

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  5/20/2018 - johnrm Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Deep colour, restrained nose. Decanted and, 6h later, it showed dark fruits - damson, loganberry, with violets developing. Long but with a little tannin persisting beyond the plum stone ending. It softened substantially in the glass but definitely needed food to show its best.
  With rare roast beef and more time (8h after opening), it became a totally different wine. The nose showed dark fruit and spice. On the palate, tannins were totally integrated and soft but, more importantly, soft dark cherry fruit came to the fore and it showed all the perfumed, complex character one might expect from a very good St. Julien. Given time, a little patience, and food, this is an extremely attractive wine. I described it at first as a sturdy St Julien (thanks to a previous reviewer for that description). However, it gradually opened into an absolutely lovely, seductive wine. I have raised my score.
  Only a couple of bottles from a case left now - they will still give great pleasure but may not benefit greatly from further cellaring. If you have any, don't expect it to offer all its charms and qualities at first. Humour it, take your time, pair it with food, and it will repay you.

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