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MNB: Left Bank Bdx Communes
Home (Noe st)
Tasted May 13, 2019 by RajivAyyangar with 205 views
Introduction
Margaux often has significant (>5%) PV!
Flight 1 (7 notes)
Red
2009 Château Brane-Cantenac Le Baron de Brane
88 points
(non-blind - my wine)
Medium plus ruby, slight red at the rim.
Medium intensity nose. Coffee (oak and pyrazines), medium intensity ripe bell pepper (pyrazines), slight ripe blackcurrant. Slight mushroomy brett - warm and vaguely horsey.
Dry, 14% alcohol, medium acid, medium tannins (still a bit papery / rustic). Medium plus finish - leather, slight cedar.
Overall, seems straight down the middle Bordeaux, but quite pyrazinic for 2009. Less ripe grapes? It's a bit austere on the palate, especially given the vintage. Shows only the faintest hint of development - softened tannins, faintly savory fruit. A bit baked and low in acid - signs of the vintage?
30% new French oak
58% merlot, 42% cab
The main wine (brane-cantenac) was 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc
Medium plus ruby, slight red at the rim.
Medium intensity nose. Coffee (oak and pyrazines), medium intensity ripe bell pepper (pyrazines), slight ripe blackcurrant. Slight mushroomy brett - warm and vaguely horsey.
Dry, 14% alcohol, medium acid, medium tannins (still a bit papery / rustic). Medium plus finish - leather, slight cedar.
Overall, seems straight down the middle Bordeaux, but quite pyrazinic for 2009. Less ripe grapes? It's a bit austere on the palate, especially given the vintage. Shows only the faintest hint of development - softened tannins, faintly savory fruit. A bit baked and low in acid - signs of the vintage?
30% new French oak
58% merlot, 42% cab
The main wine (brane-cantenac) was 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc
Red
2012 Château Pedesclaux
89 points
(blind)
Medium plus ruby - vibrant.
Elevated intensity nose - leading with tart blackcurrant - pure, like a jam. Faint brett, faint oak (nutmeg), faint minty bell pepper pyrazines, faint coffee (oak, blending with pyrazines). This is an excellent, fruit-forward Bdx nose.
Dry, 14%, medium plus body, elevated acid (higher than the Margaux), medium plus tannins (polished and chewy), long finish - dense blackcurrant with leather and secondaries.
Youthful, Pauillac style - classic from a ripe vintage with great acid. 2010.
70% cab, 30% merlot.
2014 Pauillac, 3rd-5th growth. $50.
Reasoning: great quality, youthful color, good acid, good tannins.
Actually 2012 Pedesclaux 5th growth, $65.
70% new oak.
63% cab 32% merlot, 5% cab franc
Alcohol content: 13.17 % vol.
Residual Sugar (g/l): 0.4 g/l
Acidity (g/l): 5.4 g/l
pH: 3.66
Medium plus ruby - vibrant.
Elevated intensity nose - leading with tart blackcurrant - pure, like a jam. Faint brett, faint oak (nutmeg), faint minty bell pepper pyrazines, faint coffee (oak, blending with pyrazines). This is an excellent, fruit-forward Bdx nose.
Dry, 14%, medium plus body, elevated acid (higher than the Margaux), medium plus tannins (polished and chewy), long finish - dense blackcurrant with leather and secondaries.
Youthful, Pauillac style - classic from a ripe vintage with great acid. 2010.
70% cab, 30% merlot.
2014 Pauillac, 3rd-5th growth. $50.
Reasoning: great quality, youthful color, good acid, good tannins.
Actually 2012 Pedesclaux 5th growth, $65.
70% new oak.
63% cab 32% merlot, 5% cab franc
Alcohol content: 13.17 % vol.
Residual Sugar (g/l): 0.4 g/l
Acidity (g/l): 5.4 g/l
pH: 3.66
Red
2012 Château de Pez
83 points
(blind)
Medium plus ruby, ruby rim.
Slightly reductive nose - singed. Diminished aromatics.
Dry, 13% alcohol (actually 13.5%), medium plus acid, medium plus tannins (harsh and bitter). Short finish. Hard.
20% new oak.
Based on the harshness, medium plus acid, scratchy tannins, and low intensity of fruit:
Called: 2014 Haut-Medoc, $25. 55% merlot, 45% cab.
Actual: 2012 Ch. De Pez $50
Medium plus ruby, ruby rim.
Slightly reductive nose - singed. Diminished aromatics.
Dry, 13% alcohol (actually 13.5%), medium plus acid, medium plus tannins (harsh and bitter). Short finish. Hard.
20% new oak.
Based on the harshness, medium plus acid, scratchy tannins, and low intensity of fruit:
Called: 2014 Haut-Medoc, $25. 55% merlot, 45% cab.
Actual: 2012 Ch. De Pez $50
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Comment
Red
2012 Château Léoville Barton
87 points
(blind)
Medium plus ruby, ruby rim.
Bretty nose (manure, dog, clove), with medium bell pepper - pyrazines.
Some slightly aged black and plum fruit - soft.
Dry, 13.5% alcohol, elevated acid, high tannins - chewy. Medium plus finish - low intensity blackcurrant, brett and medium pyrazines.
Given the rusticity, and slight diluteness/plumminess of fruit. 60 cab, 40% merlot:
Listrac/Moulis 2014. $40
Actual: 2012 Leoville Barton $120
Medium plus ruby, ruby rim.
Bretty nose (manure, dog, clove), with medium bell pepper - pyrazines.
Some slightly aged black and plum fruit - soft.
Dry, 13.5% alcohol, elevated acid, high tannins - chewy. Medium plus finish - low intensity blackcurrant, brett and medium pyrazines.
Given the rusticity, and slight diluteness/plumminess of fruit. 60 cab, 40% merlot:
Listrac/Moulis 2014. $40
Actual: 2012 Leoville Barton $120
Red
2010 Château Malescot St. Exupéry
90 points
(blind)
Medium plus ruby, ruby rim.
Strange nose - not very aromatic. Slightly burnt. Slight toast. Slight brett - earthy mushroomy fur. Vanilla - new oak with lots of toast. Eucalyptus-menthol (pyrazines? eugenol).
Tannic, with tight blackcurrant and 100% new French oak.
High tannins. 14%. Tight fruit. Savage but over time, the blackcurrant comes out more.
2012 St. Estephe, $70. 65% cab, 30% merlot, 5% cab franc.
2010 Malescot St. Exupery $100
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot with the remainder evenly split between Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
Medium plus ruby, ruby rim.
Strange nose - not very aromatic. Slightly burnt. Slight toast. Slight brett - earthy mushroomy fur. Vanilla - new oak with lots of toast. Eucalyptus-menthol (pyrazines? eugenol).
Tannic, with tight blackcurrant and 100% new French oak.
High tannins. 14%. Tight fruit. Savage but over time, the blackcurrant comes out more.
2012 St. Estephe, $70. 65% cab, 30% merlot, 5% cab franc.
2010 Malescot St. Exupery $100
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot with the remainder evenly split between Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2010 Château Kirwan
89 points
(blind)
Medium plus ruby to a ruby rim.
Beautiful nose, singing with blackcurrant, clovey brett, and well-integrated toasty new oak. Hint of pyrazinic coffee.
14.3% alcohol, intense cassis on the palate, savory and structured - with elevated acid, high tannins (chewy and polished). Excellent integration.
This is either a really good 2012 St. Julien, or a mid-level Pauillac.
Based on the silkiness of the tannins, I think this is a 2012 Pauillac, 2nd or 3rd growth, $100. 80% new French oak. 70% cab, 30% merlot.
Actually: 2010 Kirwan
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot.
Medium plus ruby to a ruby rim.
Beautiful nose, singing with blackcurrant, clovey brett, and well-integrated toasty new oak. Hint of pyrazinic coffee.
14.3% alcohol, intense cassis on the palate, savory and structured - with elevated acid, high tannins (chewy and polished). Excellent integration.
This is either a really good 2012 St. Julien, or a mid-level Pauillac.
Based on the silkiness of the tannins, I think this is a 2012 Pauillac, 2nd or 3rd growth, $100. 80% new French oak. 70% cab, 30% merlot.
Actually: 2010 Kirwan
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot.
3 people found this helpful
Comment
Red
2010 Château Branaire-Ducru
86 points
(blind)
Medium plus ruby to a ruby rim.
Nose is weird - honey (botrytis?), faded menthol/clovey new oak. Faded tamari cherry - shows more developed fruit than I'd expect given the color. Leads with integrated new oak.
Soft mid-palate aromas. Red-fruited - jammy and ripe. A bit of toasted popcorn kernel - stylistic reduction?
High tannins. 14.5% alcohol, medium acid. Long finish. Hotter and a bit more dilute. Floral and vanilla aromatics. Some oxidation (bruised apples) and tertiary development. Warm vintage?
Based on the overall hotter feel, 2009 Margaux, high new oak. $120+
Actually: 2010 Branaire-Ducru St. Julien
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23.5% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot.
Medium plus ruby to a ruby rim.
Nose is weird - honey (botrytis?), faded menthol/clovey new oak. Faded tamari cherry - shows more developed fruit than I'd expect given the color. Leads with integrated new oak.
Soft mid-palate aromas. Red-fruited - jammy and ripe. A bit of toasted popcorn kernel - stylistic reduction?
High tannins. 14.5% alcohol, medium acid. Long finish. Hotter and a bit more dilute. Floral and vanilla aromatics. Some oxidation (bruised apples) and tertiary development. Warm vintage?
Based on the overall hotter feel, 2009 Margaux, high new oak. $120+
Actually: 2010 Branaire-Ducru St. Julien
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23.5% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot.