1995 Bordeaux Tasting - Uncorked

Uncorked, London
Tasted Thursday, June 8, 2006 by Russell Faulkner with 998 views

Introduction

A chance to track how the 1995s are doing now they are over ten years old. On the whole the high acid and tannin levels surprised me a little, I was expecting them to have softened a little, with very few being very pleasurable to drink yet. All wines were double decanted around 3 hours before tasting, and were served just a little too warm, which made several show a little alcohol on the finish.

Served with superb pork pies.

Flight 1 (14 Notes)

  • 1995 Château Pavie Macquin 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Lightening rim, wood notes, some black cherry. Solid tannin, restrained but ripe, fine but not great, about ready to drink. 13%

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  • 1995 Château L'Evangile 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    More oak, bigger tannic structure, very high acid, fresh, the oak slightly intrusive on the finish, quite lush though, not too far from being ready (though not mature by any means). 13%.

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  • 1995 Domaine de Chevalier 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Gravelly herbal notes, dried herbs, a little meaty, think oak. Light body, tannins a bit rough, enjoyable. 12%.

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  • 1995 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    A light nose of rust and herbal leaves. Again a lighter style, and a light LMHB, though tannins are quite prominent, very enjoyable soft fruit finish, not too sure where this is going. 13%.

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  • 1995 Château Poujeaux 85 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc

    Oaky nose, closed? Substantial oak and tannin, either closed or just too brutal. 12.5%.

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  • 1995 Château d'Angludet 85 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    More refined silky nose, but closed tight on palate, in the mouth intense, severe tannins are too prominent, astringent extracted finish. Might soften. 12.5%.

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  • 1995 Château Palmer 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Gobs of oak, some rich blackcurrent beneath. Very fresh fruit, lively acidity, solid tannin, this is sleeping tight, nowhere near ready. 12.5%.

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  • 1995 Château Talbot 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    A simple nose of light fruit, simple but fun, cedar and soft fruit, seems ready but coarseness to tannins on finish. 12%.

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  • 1995 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Very tight, closed, a hint of sweet almost kirschy fruit, very solid acid and tannin structure, long balanced finish, quite big, too young by far. 13%.

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  • 1995 Château Lynch-Bages 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Classy nose, sweet red fruit and pencil, medium weight, big acidity, well balanced smooth tannin that turn just a little astringent on the finish, getting there, and will be a very good wine. 13%.

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  • 1995 Les Forts de Latour 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    A little odd on the nose, expressive, almost like a liqueur. Massive tannin, like hitting a brick wall, some fresh dark fruit. Tannins knock it out of balance though, not sure if this will soften before the fruit has gone. 13%.

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  • 1995 Château Mouton Rothschild 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Light and simple nose, young, more wood than fruit, rough tannin and even a little hot on the finish. Not bad but nothing special even in this company. 12.5%.

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  • 1995 Château Calon-Ségur 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    A bit of rasberry on the nose, medium weight some wood tannin but plenty of summer fruit, enjoyable.

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  • 1995 Château Montrose 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

    Dense plummy fruit nose, massivly structured, very big grippy tannin but well balanced, I wonder how long before the tannin softens? Not close to being ready, will be special though. 12.5%

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Closing

Looking over my notes I am surprised how close to Parker I rate many of the wines (I didn't peek honest), the most obvious exception being Mouton, which, to my mind is not a spot on Palmer and more than double the price. The L'Evangile looks the best buy to me at £600 a case, Coates only scored this a 14!

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