Community Tasting Note
-
JustBreathe680 Likes this wine: 96 points
September 26, 2020 - I opened this bottle for a very special occasion with family. I say this because this is not a regular bottle in my cellar and I've always struggled with the right time to pop the cork on a bottle of this stature. Tonight the stars aligned to pull the trigger on this beauty.
The wine was paired with a grilled CA Reserve Picanha steak. It was drank out of a Riedel SOMM Bordeaux glass. I have minimal experience with First Growths but I have previously enjoyed a 1982 and 2004 Château Margaux. This was my most memorable experience with the wine.
The wine was decanted for 2 hours, in part thanks to the guidance from Jeff Leve. It was drank over another 2 hours and it continued to improve with each glass poured. The color was purple with dark brick red edges. There was a nice bouquet with some hints of black fruits/berries, leather and cedar. There were primary and secondary flavors present. There were hints of black fruits/berries, plum and fig present. There were flavors of cedar, spices and some minerality providing a hint of sweetness. The body was medium to medium-full with medium minus acidity. The tannins were well integrated and smooth. I agree with other reviews that there was no signs of heat, which was a fear of the 2003 vintage.
This wine was a true delight to drink. However, it fell just short of being mentioned as my WOTY, which to date is the 1990 Ridge Monte Bello. My score is a 96+ and definitely has some room to improve with a little bit more time in the cellar. However, it is definitely in a very good drinking window and if you have the right reason to open this bottle, I would not hesitate to pop the cork!2 people found this helpful 5,093 views
1 Comment
-
jmoon commented:
11/29/20, 11:52 AM - Very good note thanks, you’ve inspired me to track one down