Community Tasting Note
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Cailles wrote: 93 points
November 15, 2021 - Bordeaux 2019 - 15 red / 2 white / 4 sweet wines: UCG Arrivage Tasting. A few observations on the red wines: 1) Overall quality: 2019 is indeed another great vintage for Bordeaux reds. The quality was good across the board. 2) Ripeness: 2019 is less ripe than 2015/2018. Out of 15 wines only one (Gazin) showed overripe. But 2016 still wins in this category with the freshest and purest fruit expression. 2019 is in between 2015/2016. 3) Complexity: 2019 will not reach the heights of 2016 but is almost on par with 2015/2018, although the latter one will need to flesh out for quite some time reveal all nuances. 4) Precision: I found superb precision in many wines, however, again not on the level of 2016. 5) Structural frame: The tannins are ripe and very fine, the acidity is generally high (but not as high as in 2016), the texture is nicely airy (unlike with many 15s/18s), no alcohol heat (a problem in 2018) and the wines are very harmonious. 6) Best wines tasted were a magical Canon (96+ pts), a superb Leoville Barton (95 pts). Unfortunately, they were all out of Pichon Lalande - supposedly one of the wines of the vintage.
TN: I haven‘t tasted this wine before (other than corked bottle of the 2010) and hence didn‘t know what to expect. This was one of the positive surprises. Very intense, expressive on the nose and palate with lots and lots of power and aromatic pressure. Very dark fruit profile with ripe but not too ripe blackberris, cassis at the core. Additional layers of herbs and crushed rocks. It is one of the more powerful wines tasted today, probably also a touch riper than most left banks but everything is still on the right side of things. Easily 93-94 pts which is even more exciting considering the low price of this Cuvee.1 person found this helpful 3,847 views
2 Comments
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Jetjock commented:
5/6/22, 11:12 AM - Excellent commentary; Jean-Marc Quarin, French wine critic, shares your views as well. Hence, a buy for me. Merci beaucoup!
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Cailles commented:
5/6/22, 11:23 AM - Thank you! And definitely a buy. Quarin is one of the very trusted voices for me too, when it comes to Bdx En Primeur (although he has a slightly higher tolerance for high alcohol than I have).