1/23/2021 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Excellent. Already drinking very well with some tertiary notes emerging. A wine with endurance that didn't exhibit any considerable drop-off over a few hours. Very good value.

5/18/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Much better than expected, as some of these left bank 1995s currently lack a bit of charm found in a vintage like 1996. There's still some rusticity, with leather, cigar box, and dry earth. But at the forefront is a nice core of dark fruits. The wine showed really good complexity and a smooth, even finish with excellent length. I wish I had more of this, as I wonder if it will be even better in a few years.

5/25/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Less awkward than the last bottle I had of this. Had good red fruit and baking spice. Still won't be one of the best vintages of this wine, but perhaps it's turned the corner. Very good overall.

5/4/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

I'm surprised that some found this to be at peak maturity. I found this wine to be showing very young and almost primary. Don't get me wrong; it is a very well made wine with excellent potential, but it needed 3 hours to smooth out. Blackberry, blueberry, tobacco, fresh herbs, and dark chocolate on the nose. Very powerful, with tannins left to resolve. Really nice acidity creating a fresh finish with excellent length. For my palate, I would save this for at least 3-5 more years.

5/4/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Last tasted 1.5 years ago. It's actually become a bit more advanced. Still has a dark ruby color. The nose consists of black currant, eucalyptus, smoke, and leather. Rustic and slightly austere on the palate. Tannins somewhat firm. This wine is very easy to like, especially for those who like classic Bordeaux.

4/28/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Have had this wine several times in the past few years, and this was probably the best bottle. It was absolute classic Pauillac, with cassis, graphite, pencil shavings, and tobacco. There was less earthiness present than in previous bottles. It's so well-balanced and elegant. Beautifully balanced acidity and soft tannins. This wine is clearly at its peak, but it may be there for a long time. No rush to drink this wine, but there's no reason not to as well.

4/28/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Not quite as strong as other recently tasted bottles, but not flawed. Still drinking well with good depth. The nose was dominated with red fruits, pepper, herbs, and floral notes. Still very smooth and nicely balanced on the palate.

4/28/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Disgorged in 2015. This continues to be one of my favorite NV brut champagnes, and is a killer value. Has such a nice toastiness to it. Citrus, yeasty brioche and toast. Complex and alluring. Punches well above its weight.

4/28/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

A distinct acidic spine dominated this wine on the palate. This isn't to say that it was overly acidic, it just had a distinct crispness to it. Fruits more along the apple/pear spectrum, with less citrus. Medium length finish. No signs of oxidation.

4/28/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Age has been kind to this wine, as there is some nice matured complexity. Nose was full of plum, smoke, spice, and sous bois. Compared to a 2015 Littorai Pivot next to it, this was obviously a completely different wine, showing less power and concentration. I would drink this soon, as it won't improve from here.

4/28/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Very round on the palate, with a nice silky texture. Nose is dominated with lemon/lime and floral notes. Medium acidity. No signs of oxidation.

4/28/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Really nice and smooth for such a young wine. Wrapped in lots of power. Very primary right now, but with some nice oak spice. It wouldn't be a crime to open this now, but this should flesh out better in 2-3 years.

3/31/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

A good, but not great, showing of this wine. It's got all of the typical elements that you would look for in this wine, with cassis, cedar, graphite, and tobacco. It's really smooth and balanced on the palate, but it just lacks the wow factor of some other 1982 Bordeaux. I am fairly certain that this is coming off of its peak and should probably be consumed within the next decade.

4/19/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Very surprised by this bottle, as it was far better than expected. It was clear to me on opening that this was an excellent second wine that represented the great 1998 vintage in Pessac well. Excellent complexity, with lots of cassis, graphite, pencil shavings, violets, and espresso on the nose. The palate was nicely balanced and integrated. Very elegant on the palate. It never lost any steam over 2-3 hours. This wine has at least 7-10 years left in its prime drinking window, which is pretty impressive for a second wine.

4/13/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Needs very little air to open up. As always, this is a consistent performer that is still one of my favorite 1994 Bordeaux wines. It is certainly starting to come down from its peak and has now hit its plateau. I would definitely drink these over the next 3-5 years, but now is probably preferred. It still has some nice red fruit, truffle, and cedar to enjoy.

4/12/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

This bottle was a little disappointing. I have had other bottles from the same case in the past, so there was no issue with storage. It is just clearly coming down on its evolution curve. It had a really nice nose, but was quite simple on the palate and had some tartness to the finish. Also showed much more barnyard (but pleasant) on the nose that I am accustomed to with this wine. Time to drink this now.

4/11/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Interesting note: I found this bottle that had a glass removed via Coravin two years ago, so I figured I would open the bottle and finally finish it. The wine in the bottle was perfect, with no signs of oxidation (not that I didn't expect this). This is a really nice vintage of du Tertre; it's perhaps not as good as the overachieving 2005, but it's really good. It's still drinking very well and is showing no real signs of tiring. Very floral and with very pure black currant.

4/12/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Just starting to enter its drinking window. Dominated by stone fruits, but starting to show a hint of petrol in the nose. Good balance of sweetness and acidity. Delicious and will improve from here.

4/18/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

From 375ml. Dark golden color. Full of pineapple and apricot fruit. Dense and fruit-forward right now. Acidity still needs to come into better balance, but this is still a delicious wine.

4/20/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Pretty impressed with this, considering it's just a Bourgogne. I had this a year or so ago, and it's evolved considerably since then (when it seemed very reductive). It's also improved a lot. Definitely good to drink now.

3/30/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Very fragrant aromas of green apple and lime. Round on the palate, and with medium acidity. Not lots of depth, but in a good spot now.

3/30/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Another excellent bottle of the 1990 Palmer. My other tasting notes will provide a more detailed description of this wine, but this is as good as any bottle I can recall. The dark plum, black currant, fresh violets, sous bois, and cigar tobacco create a gorgeous nose. It has a perfect weight on the palate, and the tannins are silky smooth. This is a great time to drink this, and doesn't require the aeration time of the much younger appearing 1989 Palmer.

3/29/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Right now, the sweetness is much more apparent than the acidity. Thick and lush on the palate. Orange peel, mango, and honey. In my opinion, this wine isn't yet ready, unless you are really looking or the 'sweet wine experience.' But this will develop into a much fresher Sauternes over the next 5-10 years, so I would hold.

3/29/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

A beautifully matured, classic Côte-Rôtie. There's so much red fruit, raspberry, white pepper, smoked meat, and violets. In a perfect spot for drinking now. It may not have the depth of some others from 1999, and won't be a 50 year wine, but it's drinking so perfectly right now.

3/28/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

One of the strongest Bordeaux wines from 1982. It's full of classic Pauillac aromas of black currant, graphite, and cedar, and there's also some anise and herbal notes as well. Needs very little air to open up, but perhaps 30 minutes is recommended. Long finish with just the right amount of acidity, and the fruit just kept lingering on the palate. Drink over the next 20 years.

3/26/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Situated next to Valandraud, this is made from 100% Merlot. Only 300 cases produced. Lots of dark fruit, smoke, and espresso, and is surprisingly showing very young right now. I would actually wait a couple of years for this to soften up a bit, though it's okay to open now.

3/25/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Probably opened this too young, but I still think it has good potential. You can sense that everything hasn't yet integrated, as the acidity is sharp and sticks out a bit. There's a good bit of red fruit and spice to provide immediate enjoyment, but I would wait another five years to open this.

3/25/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

One of the better second wines from the right bank, this is a strong vintage of Virginie. The fruit is ripe, red, and bright, and there are some nice herbs, dark chocolate, and tobacco to complement. Medium bodied on the palate, and quite lush and silky. 14%ABV is handled very well and stick out a bit. Fresh finish with good structured acidity. This is probably drinking at or near its peak, but I think it should drink well for the next 5-10 years, depending on your preferred maturity level.

3/16/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

A great showing for this wine, with no notable flaws. This wine is showing no signs of tiring, I could even see it improving a bit with more bottle age. The color is very dark, and the fruit dominates on the nose and palate. There's a lot of dark fruit, cedar, pencil shavings, cigar box, and dark chocolate. It's less floral and earthy than the 1983 Margaux, and perhaps more Pauillac in character. No rush to open well-stored bottles like this one.

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Seemed to be better than it was a year ago. Still has a lot of apple, pear, and lovely brioche. The acidity just seems to be in a better spot, and the wine has lost a little of its harshness. Will be interesting to see how this evolves relative to the 2002.

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Pineapple, apricot, and brioche on the nose. Good sweetness on the palate, but not overly so. Still needs a few years for the acidity to catch up.

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): One of the best bottles of 1990 Lafite that I can recall. Dark ruby color. A nose of black currant, blackberry, tobacco, eucalyptus, and dark chocolate. Even better on the palate. Very complex and fantastic concentration. Seemed to improve throughout the evening. This is getting close to its peak, but will remain there for a very long time.

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Deep, dark ruby color. A really nice balance of fruit and earthiness. It showed no tiring, and it's definitely at its peak. Not as ripe as the 1990, but had a really nice earthy edge to it. Lots of tobacco. Gained weight throughout the night. A really nice wine in a good spot.

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Oxidized. Lots of prune and cheese.

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Why am I never blown away by the 1982 Lafite? Yes, it's a really good wine, but I suppose I expect more from a wine of this pedigree. Still with a dark color. Dark plum, anise, spice, tobacco, smoke, and dark chocolate on the nose. Layered on the palate, with lots of life. Good length on the finish.

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Surprisingly, one of my favorite wines of the evening. Similar color to the 1970, light and Burgundian. Aromas of red plum, truffle, tobacco, smoke, and brown spices. Interesting flavors on the palate. Lots of bright red fruits. Medium-plus length finish. Tannins essentially resolved and acidity was at a good level. The surprise of the tasting.

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Very consistent with previous bottles. A light salmon color and aromas of red plum, scuppernong, barnyard, iron, and truffle. I have always enjoyed this wine more than the critics did. Really elegant on the palate. A charmer that will never blow you away, but it's a memorable wine for me, due to its uniqueness.

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Really nice. A light ruby color. Aromas of black currant, smoke, violets, and anise. Had a soft, elegant mouthfeel. My only knock on it was its slightly drying finish. Elevated acidity.

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Flawed by TCA

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Unlike the oxidized 59 Lafite, this was a very good bottle. Medium ruby color, with lightened edges. It had a pretty, floral nose, with plum, sous bois, and rose petals. Elegant and with medium weight on the palate. Started to get a bit tired after two hours, but it was an excellent wine nonetheless.

1/10/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Château Lafite Rothschild vertical tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Mid shoulder fill. Amber-brown color. Unfortunately, the wine was tired and oxidized. Nose of stewed dark fruit, black olive, cashew, and soy. Better on the palate. Not fair to rate due to it being flawed.

2/28/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Drinking very well for a 2016. Mostly citrus fruit and lots of floral notes. Still very primary and will certainly improve with more bottle age. Soft, oily texture on the palate. Very round in the mouth. Acidity in good balance. Interesting to compare this to the great 2015; I may slightly prefer the 2015 right now, but this could certainly change in a few years. There is just a bit more acidity in the 2015, though the 2016 seems to be the rounder wine.

2/28/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Still one of the best left bank 96s, and it shows no signs of tiring. It just keeps gaining more complexity and charm. Pure black currant, barnyard, tobacco, cedar, pencil lead leather on the nose. The palate is seamless, and is balanced beautifully. The acidic and tannic structure complement everything so well. Expect another solid 10-15 years from this great wine.

2/8/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

At 20 years of age, this is still going strong. It still possesses the charm that elevates it to one of the more enjoyable wines from the vintage. Lots of dark and red fruits, barnyard, tobacco, and espresso. Nicely structured, and should provide some nice longevity. Sweet earthy fruit on the palate. Still at its peak; can hold or drink now.

2/3/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Difficult to rate. While it wasn't overtly flawed, I won't assign a score, as this is clearly not a representative bottle. It just lacked fruit and life on the palate. Far from the potential that this wine can deliver.

1/28/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Similar to the last bottle, but perhaps acidity seemed a bit lower. Orange marmalade and honey dominate. Dense on the palate.

2/4/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Impressive that this second wine from Giscours is drinking so well at this stage. However, there's no question that it won't get better from here. Red fruit, spice, and dark chocolate aromas are most apparent on the nose. Soft structure and medium weight. Impressive fresh acidity that balances well with the fruit. Quite enjoyable.

1/26/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

This wine is clearly at its peak. While my last bottle was marred by VA, this bottle showed no flaws. It had big black and blue fruit, truffle, earth, and espresso. A nice soft mouthfeel. Not overly complex, but this was very enjoyable. Medium finish with medium acidity. Should drink well for five more years.

1/25/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Jean Louis Chave Hermitage Tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Shared by one of the attendees at the Chave tasting. This was the perfect ending to a fabulous tasting. An alluring nose of pineapple, apricot, flowers, and brioche. The balancing acidity really makes these wines special. The fruit and acidity were so seamlessly balanced. The weight was perfect and the textures incredibly soft. A very long, lingering finish. This is clearly a great vintage of d'Yquem.

1/25/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote:

Jean Louis Chave Hermitage Tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): Shared by an attendee at the Chave tasting. Bright ruby color. Very powerful, but tight and needs more seasoning. Raspberry, red cherry, truffle, brown spices, and earth on the nose. Very powerful on the palate. Needs a little time to balance out, but should evolve into a really nice Brunello.