Community Tasting Note
-
Jimaronson wrote: 97 points
July 12, 2021 - The wine was slightly tight in the finish after a 1 hour decant. After a couple of hours it settled down and was a wonderful French Bordeaux. I kept the wine overnight and the second day the fruit had surprisingly increased. I think this wine could be held for another 5 years and enjoyed. I'll try my next bottle in a year.
2 people found this helpful 4,224 views
6 Comments
-
oldwines commented:
7/12/21, 8:13 PM - In my experience, what you describe is a common occurrence with “old school” Bordeaux and Cali cabs. They need extensive aeration to really show the best… after 5-8 hours in a decanter or the next day the richness and fruit are shockingly better. I have had 1970 Ch. Lascombes not long ago that was just amazing, but you had to give it time (look up my notes on that one). Ch. Montelena Estate Cabs, Diamond Creek, Ridge Monte Bello, Dunn, Caymus SS, et al from the 1970’s, 80’s and early 90’s before Parker blew up the scores and the style were and still are that way. The same is true of old high acid Barolo and Brunello and some of the early Super Tuscans. Cheers!
“oldwines” aka Dave
www.dtpwineadvisors.com
ps…the 1990 Pichon Baron will go another couple decades IMO. -
Jimaronson commented:
7/13/21, 6:49 AM - Thanks for the post. What would you suggest with 1990 Cheval Blanc? I would tend to drink it after a 3 hour decant. Would you open and wait a day?
-
oldwines commented:
7/13/21, 9:04 AM - Three hours is just about right. I usually try to take a very small taste when first decanted to set a baseline, then give it the 3 hours, should be really open by then (if not sharing with many others, I will have several small tastes along the way to the 3 hours to monitor its evolution). I then try (if you can prevent it all being consumed) to taste it over some time (hours) from there and leave another small amount to try the next day. It is not always possible especially if sharing with a few other people but that really gives you the full sense of its potential. I will then have a good basis to handle any other bottles I have of the vintage and will just focus on the point I like it best. Cheers!
-
Jimaronson commented:
7/13/21, 12:20 PM - So, you would not open it and wait a day? I have a wine tasting group and have the opportunity of opening The bottle before they arrive or open it a day or two before the tasting. I know it's a tough call.
-
oldwines commented:
7/13/21, 2:03 PM - If you want to try to get it perfect and see how the group reacts, you could...I think I would decant it the evening before, clean and dry out the bottle...give it 2-3 hours in the decanter, then pour it back into the bottle and just cork it on the counter until a couple hours before the others arrive. let the last bit just be an autodoze... Good luck and I'll be interested to hear how it goes!
Cheers!
Cheers! -
Jimaronson commented:
7/13/21, 7:56 PM - I'll get back to you mid August with the tasting notes.
Thanks
Jim