5/2/2024 - phynes wrote:

Revisiting this after seven years. Very smooth but with a freshness that belies its 24 years of age. Lacks a bit of power and complexity to be an outstanding wine but extremely enjoyable. Still 5-10 years of life left in it.

4/30/2024 - phynes wrote:

From a double magnum, decanted four hours ahead of time. Smooth, red fruit, rust and damp earth. Not a ton of complexity or power but enjoyable all the same. Suspect regular bottles are now at their peak.

4/28/2024 - phynes wrote:

Very young but a nice nose and already a degree of complexity on the palate.

4/28/2024 - phynes wrote:

Delicious. Smooth from start to finish. Feels like it is still a young wine and will evolve nicely from here.

4/26/2024 - phynes wrote:

Lovely colour as it hit the decanter. A smooth wine with still a fair amount of stuffing. Notes of iron filings, smoke, earth and caramel. Amazing for a 42 year old wine.

4/25/2024 - phynes wrote:

PnP. Light bricking around the edges and a lovely nose. Not a heavyweight wine but nicely balanced. A sense that it may open up further if given a few more years.

4/5/2024 - phynes wrote:

Gets better with age.

2/29/2024 - phynes wrote:

Drank alongside the Pavie 2010. This was in a great place and a reminder that really good Bordeaux needs at least a couple of decades to hit its stride. Nice combination of soft tannins, but still a decent amount of fruit left to give it some bite. Might not reach the heights on the 1982 but a fabulous claret.

2/29/2024 - phynes wrote:

Drank alongside the Pichon Lalande ‘96. Powerful, fruit forward, jammy wine. Not unlike something from Napa. Too young to have much complexity at this stage, but hard not to enjoy.

2/14/2024 - phynes wrote:

Smooth, alcoholic, fruit forward but young.

2/9/2024 - phynes wrote:

This was my note from 2017 and it pefectly reflects how u I felt drinking it at the Luton Hoo Hotel 7 years later.

Decanted for 1.5 hours and drank over a 5-course dinner at the Connaught in London. Best showing yet. An absolutely fabulous nose, one of the most intoxicating I have ever experienced. Lovely on the palate as well with all the classic Mouton characteristics. The finish though was a bit disappointing, perhaps reflecting the vintage.

12/22/2023 - phynes wrote:

Floral, bitter red fruit, rust and smooth. Quite linear and precise. Delicious and drinking well now.

11/26/2023 - phynes wrote:

Drank with turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. Very bright/fresh/acidic with lots of red and black fruit. Enjoyable but could do with a few years to mellow out a little bit.

9/5/2023 - phynes wrote:

OK but it was showing its age and came across as tired and lacking much in the way of fruit or depth. Would drink up.

7/17/2023 - phynes wrote:

Delicious. Very smooth from start to finish. Feels like it’s in a very good place at the moment but will keep for at least five years.

7/8/2023 - phynes wrote:

Delicious. Classic left back. Beginning to mature and nice balance of fruit and secondary notes. Hard not to enjoy.

6/17/2023 - phynes wrote:

94 nose and 91 on the palate. In a great place with a lovely nose and layers of complexity. Just felt a little light.

6/7/2023 - phynes wrote:

Delicious - powerful Barbaresco that still feels young.

5/6/2023 - phynes wrote:

Straighforward, well-balanced, unpretentious wine. Lacks power and complexity but enjoyable to drink.

5/4/2023 - phynes wrote:

Finally, the 2005s seem to be opening up. This was very pleasant with dark fruits and a hint of tobacco. Nice complexity with tannins still present, but smoothing out.

5/4/2023 - phynes wrote:

Drank from Magnum over lunch. Delicious mature Bordeaux. Very smooth, with some coffee, cigar and menthol notes.

3/23/2023 - phynes wrote:

Drank alongside the Mouton Rothschild 2002 over dinner. Pleasant wine but a little monolothic compared to the MR.

3/4/2023 - phynes wrote:

Hard not to enjoy. Silky, polished, hedonistic and very smooth. Not a hard edge in sight. That said, two nights ago I had a couple of 20-year old Pomerols for roughly the same price and they would get my vote every time.

3/2/2023 - phynes wrote:

Enjoyable, easy drinking. At its plateau of maturity but not over the hill by any means.

3/2/2023 - phynes wrote:

Still youthful with decent fruit and good structure.

2/24/2023 - phynes wrote:

Enjoyed a bottle over dinner. Very smooth and easy to drink although the fruit has faded and it would be viewed by most as over the hill.

12/28/2022 - phynes wrote:

Drank on Christmas Day. No time for decant. Very pleasant if still a little tight. Should drink well for another 5-10 years.

12/11/2022 - phynes wrote:

Drank two bottles among six of us at De Terra in East London. In a great place at the moment - fully mature but no rush to drink up. Decanted for one hour. Coffee, chocolate, mint, leather and rust. Smooth with no rough edges.

11/2/2022 - phynes wrote:

Pleasant, medium-bodied wine with lots of fruit and moderate tannins. A few hours in the decanter helped bring out the best of it. Should drink well for several years.

10/19/2022 - phynes wrote:

Drank at ROH in London. PnP. A bit disappointing. Not much happening on the nose or the palate. Monolithic, with a warm sweet taste that reminded me of some lesser wines from Napa than a St Emilion from an average vintage.

10/8/2022 - phynes wrote:

Drank the 1970 ducru beaucaillou, montrose and la clotte to celebrate the fact that the number of people around the table were born in 1970 but missed out on having a 50th party due to Covid - I know, a first world problem! The wines were all thoroughly enjoyable despite their age. The Ducru (94 pts) just edged it ahead of Montrose (93 pts) and La Clotte (91 pts). A vintage that the can still offer pleasure if the wines are stored well.

10/8/2022 - phynes wrote:

Drank the 1970 ducru beaucaillou, montrose and la clotte to celebrate the fact that the number of people around the table were born in 1970 but missed out on having a 50th party due to Covid - I know, a first world problem! The wines were all thoroughly enjoyable despite their age. The Ducru (94 pts) just edged it ahead of Montrose (93 pts) and La Clotte (91 pts). A vintage that the can still offer pleasure if the wines are stored well.

10/8/2022 - phynes wrote:

Plush, opulent wine with no hard edges. A bit modern in style. Went very well with home made pizza.

10/5/2022 - phynes wrote:

Was served blind to me but consistent with my note from July. Smooth tannins, a mouthful of berries in the middle and notes of tar on the finish. Susoect it is at its peak and will drink well for 5+ years. incredible QPR.

9/12/2022 - phynes wrote:

PnP and it came across as quite light and floral with limited fruit or power. Next day it was a little better. Most 2009’s were drinking well - and my notes from 7+ years suggested I really liked this wine - so not sure what is going on. Eleven bottles left in the case so will see how it develops and will be sure to decant the next one for a few hours.

8/28/2022 - phynes wrote:

Similar notes to previous tastings but simply evolving into a delicious wine. Time is often the critical ingredient of great wine…

8/5/2022 - phynes wrote:

Very enjoyable wine. Dark and brooding but with a nice nose of caramel and hot berries. The wine is a little rough on first taste but after half an hour smooths out nicely. Enjoyable on its own but lovely with food and cheese. Drinkable now but suspect at least 10+ years of good drinking ahead.

7/31/2022 - phynes wrote:

I remember really enjoying the 2009 of this chateau and it appears to lend evidence to the theory of buying lesser wines in great vintages in Bordeaux. The nose is perfumed and the palate has notes of red and black fruits with a certain tar and caramel flavour. It is very smooth with no harsh talons and may not be built for the long haul but delicious now. I paid 15 euros a bottle and struggle to think of a better QPR. Bravo!

7/18/2022 - phynes wrote:

Drank over dinner alongside the 2013 Lynch Bages and 2010 Simard. This was everyone’s favourite. Very smooth and polished with notes of plum and chocolate. Suspect this is just hitting its stride now.

7/16/2022 - phynes wrote:

Drank three bottles with friends at Le Tertre restaurant in St Emilion. Enjoyable wine and a very enjoyable evening overall. Plum, chocolate and mineral notes. Very smooth and drinking well now.

4/23/2022 - phynes wrote:

Fully mature and a bit port-like but delicious. Tar, pepper, violets, blue fruits and a little spice from a chalky and earthy base. Not for everyone I expect but £90 for a wine with 20+ years of bottle age was decent value.

3/7/2022 - phynes wrote:

Brought to a restaurant and had little time to decant. Lovely smooth, opulent wine but feels very primary at the moment, not unlike many other 2005s. Feels like it needs 5+ years to hit its stride.

1/2/2022 - phynes wrote:

Very smooth without the concentration and structure to be considered a great wine. But very enjoyable nonetheless. Notes of red fruit, mocha, cigar and chocolate. Probably close to its peak with at least five good years ahead of it

12/31/2021 - phynes wrote:

Smooth, port-like and thoroughly enjoyable. Should drink well for another five years.

12/26/2021 - phynes wrote:

Christmas lunch. A bit thin when opened but a couple of hours later it had fleshed out and fitted the occasion well. Dark fruit, mocha, smoke and vanilla notes. Not overly tannic. Suspect at its peak where it should stay for at least five years.

12/12/2021 - phynes wrote:

Nice wine. Fresh red fruit, nice acidity and a decent amount of weight.

9/18/2021 - phynes wrote:

Simply stunning. A great combination of power, finesse and complexity. Fabulous nose -like a cocktail of crushed berries, cedar and smoke. On the palate, equally good weith power and opulence and a finish of firm but smooth tannins. At its peak I suspect but likely to stay there for 5-7 years. A great Pomerol.

8/26/2021 - phynes wrote:

Drank alongside the SHL ‘05 (95 pts). This was thin on opening but started to bloom after two hours in the decanter. Better than expected given the vintage.

8/26/2021 - phynes wrote:

Drank alongside the Gruaud Larose ‘07 (93 pts). This was more powerful and tannic - lovely but still young.

8/23/2021 - phynes wrote:

Still drinking very well and surprisingly full bodied for the vintage.