Comments on my notes

Red

1988 Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend

3/27/2024 - red_man Likes this wine:

93 points

perfect mid-neck fill, long elastic cork, decanted 3 hrs, some coarse sediment, still very youthful vibrant colour with only the slightest brown tinge, lovely lifted, really fine and classy nose, elegant but with great intensity, also wonderful intensity, finesse and class on the palate, smooth and long, quite dry with distinct acid at the finish keeping it clean and fresh, lovely fine wine at its peak, classic aged DdC with a featherlight touch, only 12% abv, wonderful fragrant nose in the near-empty glass, the Volnay lover’s Bordeaux

red_man commented:

3/29/24, 5:21 AM - Indeed it is, because the finesse and perfume of a top aged Volnay Premier Cru is for me rather special. The flavour and aroma profiles are obviously different but it is the filigrane character of aged DdC that I find comparable and really appreciate.
red_man commented:

3/30/24, 10:06 AM - Hi Chatters. Thanks for the comment. You clearly also have a real soft spot for DdC. You have greater breadth in your collection, I have more of individual wines due to en primeur purchase minimum bottle number limitations: red 1978, 1988, 2005, 2008, 2010, white 2009, 2010, 2011. We have other things in common and your reviews are much appreciated because of the not uncommon overlap in interest or wines in the cellar. I grew up in Australia, my interest in wine developed during a time in Adelaide, and when I left for a job in Switzerland I shipped 600 bottles with me: aided by the fact that Switzerland considered wine to be household goods and therefore free of tax or duty if owned more than six months. My moniker comes from my fondness for Redman and Eric Brand Coonawarra of that time - not unlike DdC in that they were characterised by finesse and balance rather than extraction or power. These were A$2 wines back then, with Grange “expensive” at A$10. Another personal favourite was the Chateau Reynella Claret Vintage Reserve line. Now there only a few odds and sods left from that original 600. Standouts from those drunk were the Lindemans Bin number Hunter River Burgundies and the Leo Buring White Label Show Reserve Bin # Rieslings from Watervale and Eden Valley (just from memory without going back to my old pre-CellarTracker pen-and-paper notes). I look forward to seeing many more of your notes in the future.
red_man commented:

4/1/24, 3:26 AM - Your guess is correct. I came in 1979 initially for 2 years and never left (except for holidays, with occasional winery visits, especially to the Hunter, with limited bottle purchases). I hope indeed for you that the situation with the secondary market for DdC continues. The reasonable prices for DdC red (unfortunately not the white) are of course helped by the fact that the château has traditionally not been greedy on the initial primeur market.
Cheers,
red_man

Comment (See all 6 comments)

White - Sweet/Dessert

1983 Château Coutet Barsac Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend

9/4/2023 - Verb Does not like this wine:

93 points

very similar to my last tasting note - golden amber - carmelized botrytis nose - medium full mouth with very nice acid-sweetness balance - long 15-20 second finish - still a medium weight Barsac that has aged nicely and continues to drink beautifully now - superb accompaniment to goat cheese ice cream with fresh fruits - sometimes you don't always need a d'Yquem to simply enjoy a well-made Sauternes on a warm summer evening, even if understated

red_man commented:

9/4/23, 12:56 PM - from the very positive review and the 93 score do you really not like this wine - or just hit the wrong button?

Comment

Red

1975 Trennert Shiraz Bin 3 McLaren Vale

6/12/2021 - red_man wrote:

83 points

short cork, level mid-shoulder, distinct volatility on the nose when opened, greatly reduced after 2-3 hours in the decanter but still a hint of volatile sharpness, quite brown colour, smooth and still remarkably good rich fruit on the palate, bordering on necrophilia but still drinkable and enjoyable, wine was bought at the winery from the very friendly and engaging couple who owned Trennert, wine holds good memories

red_man commented:

3/26/22, 9:12 AM - Sorry would like to help but this was a single bottle orphan that had simply been forgotten in the cellar. I did not intend to keep it so long. I am of almost the same age as your father-in-law and have very fond memories of the friendly Happy Valley winery tasting room and of the cheerful and enthusiastic owners. A long time ago now. I wish your father-in-law a great birthday.
red_man commented:

3/26/22, 9:14 AM - It is great how wines can hold (and jog) old memories

Comment (See all 4 comments)

Red

2005 Château Ormes de Pez St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend

10/16/2021 - red_man wrote:

89 points

half-bottle, first of a case, 2-hour decant, perfect level and cork, still relatively youthful deep colour with only the slightest bricking at the rim and still some purple, rich fruit nose, already quite complex but with only hints of aged tertiary characteristics, palate typical northern Medoc / St Estephe Cru Bourgeois, rich, warm, fruity, dry, structured, some vegetal character, just slightly rustic, very good food wine because it has real depth, power and character, QPR OK but not outstanding because the 2005’s en primeur were rather expensive, pleased to have more, in the beginning of its optimal drinking window but will continue there for another 10-15 years (at least for me, but I have a penchant for quite aged wines).

red_man commented:

1/12/22, 10:56 AM - Sorry a typo to be corrected, it was 2005. Thanks for picking this up.

Comment (See all 2 comments)

White - Sweet/Dessert

2003 Château Rieussec Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend

7/14/2021 - red_man Likes this wine:

93 points

burnished gold colour, wonderful, super complex nose with marked botrytis character, exceptional on the palate, burnt salt-caramel, distinctly warm year character but with perfect balance and sufficient acidity to balance the lusciousness, fruit and botrytis character in good taut balance, endless length, great Sauternes, just lovely

red_man commented:

7/14/21, 12:25 PM - Yes it is drinking very well indeed (I am in fact still relishing the last glass). Fortunately, because this was the first of 6 half-bottles. This will easily keep for another 5 or 10 years but I do not see much potential for further improvement
red_man commented:

7/14/21, 12:33 PM - By the way, I tend to disagree with an earlier review that suggested this wine needs a lot of air. Personally I think it was perfect soon after opening and if anything slightly lost some of the necessary freshness with time - although it still remained great over the couple of hours until the shared half-bottle was finished.

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Red

2010 Château Beychevelle St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend

7/2/2021 - red_man Likes this wine:

93 points

colour still almost purple red, youthful, superb nose of real finesse, depth and complexity, violets, classic St Julien, excellent balance and concentration, depth, intensity, length, persistence and long long aftertaste, lovely wine with real power and finesse, distinct but very fine tannins at the finish, remarkably drinkable now but only at the beginning of its development, will still keep and improve for another 20 years, excellent fine wine

red_man commented:

7/4/21, 12:15 PM - You are very welcome. This particular wine was provided at dinner by my son-in-law and, as you can gather from the review, was greatly appreciated

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Red

1961 Château Léoville Las Cases St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend

4/4/2020 - red_man Likes this wine:

98 points

negociant bottling (de Luze & Fils), as was still common at the time, level uppermost shoulder, cork a bit short by modern standards, distinct brown tinge as would be expected at nearly 60, fantastic nose, fine, complex but really intense and still with powerful fruit, just lovely, palate just so fine but also with great intensity and power, the epitome of “fine wine”, a privilege to drink, at its peak and obviously has been for some time but the ultimate stability of the wine means it is not going downhill anytime soon

red_man commented:

11/30/20, 10:28 AM - Thanks you are right. For some very good reason I was not 100% concentrating. I will do a quick edit.

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Red

1986 Château Haut-Bages Libéral Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend

1/18/2020 - red_man Likes this wine:

92 points

unexpectedly found another bottle in the cellar, level base neck, perfect long cork, some brown at rim but good colour for age, nose fine, complex, subtle and nuanced, classic Pauillac cedar and lead pencils, palate has just perfect balance, medium weight but with concentration and intensity, again like the nose very fine and subtle, just lovely, a great Haut Bages Liberal, if I remember correctly this was a Claire Villars wine and it is a great compliment to her feminine touch, excellent ‘86

red_man commented:

5/20/20, 12:25 PM - jh270457 thanks for the comment. ‘86 is a year that I bought extensively en primeur - L. Barton, Cos d’Estournel, Cos Labory, Mouton Baronne, Clerc Milon, Gruaud Larose, Talbot, Lagrange etc and my personal preference has turned out to be for those with a light touch so that the typical vintage austerity did not dominate - and this could not be achieved by simply ramping up the fruit extraction. So perhaps surprisingly my favourites in the year are Prieure Lichine, Haut Bages Liberal and (surprisingly) Cos Labory - for all of which the cases are now gone and enjoyed.

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Red

1999 Camus Pere & Fils Chambertin Chambertin Grand Cru Pinot Noir

3/8/2014 - red_man wrote:

85 points

magnum, perfect level, good if rather short cork, relatively light and distinctly brown colour, not a good start, should be much less brown for age, vintage, location/classification, and magnum, nose has typical strawberry-Pinot character, initially a slight farmyard component that blew off with time, overall quite good but a bit "flat", no real vif or concentrated lift, palate similar, rather sweet stewed Pinot, not flawed just not really exciting considering the pedigree, poor purchase on my part even if it was moderately priced, still not worth it, poor advertisement for Camus wines considering the general reputation of the vintage, I should have heeded the warnings rather than been tempted by the relatively low auction price, oh well, live and learn, 6 magnums left so hopefully just a poor bottle

red_man commented:

7/3/15, 12:32 PM - I also have the 1999 Camus Latricières in 750ml bottles and for QPR I would agree - not at the top level but worth the reasonable price. I had just hoped for a bit more from the Chambertin in magnum from such a renowned vintage. Maybe it was just bottle variation - an earlier bottle was better from memory (and my notes)

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