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Red

1994 Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend

7/11/2018 - SINOPTICUS Likes this wine:

93 points

Bottle brought to a dinner party by a guest 11 years previously, it ended up in the oddments section of the cellar. With the very same guest in attendance at a dinner party recently, decided it was appropriate and fun to open....

Cork broke in two. Carefully eased the rest of the cork out. It was still wine, with only a slight bouquet. Then decanted and it opened up magnificently. Fabulous bouquet, what a great wine! Quite like a really good Rhone from the Cote Rotie? Beginning to brown a bit at the edges, lovely structure, magnificent red fruits, cough sweets, no hint of oak, slight garrigue herbs. A real treat: my only bottle. If I did have more (a) I would be very happy, but (b) it is really ready to drink now, and I wouldn't want to keep it say another 5 years...... but strong proof that some of these wines really do benefit from ageing.

Served with a chicken casserole, assorted roast vegetables. the 389 went fantastically well with the dinner.

SINOPTICUS commented:

1/31/19, 11:14 AM - Good cold cellar. Good luck with your last bottle.

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Red

2015 Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore SuperTuscan Blend

8/2/2018 - SINOPTICUS Likes this wine:

95 points

This could be a hidden gem. I tried this wine in Tuscany with roast porchetta, having seen the vineyard. Versus the Sassicaia 2015, or the Guado al Tasso 2015, it more than holds it own.

The structure is utterly superb. Beautiful balance to the wine.

I bought 2 cases. The aging potential is really exciting, I think this is a real find. I’ve had super Tuscan wines three times the price at this stage and they were not even close.

SINOPTICUS commented:

8/4/18, 10:38 AM - The Bolgheri Superiore.

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Red

2010 Château Lagrange (St. Julien) Red Bordeaux Blend

2/12/2018 - SINOPTICUS Likes this wine:

90 points

Still quite closed. Evidence that this will turn into a nicely balanced claret. Not a massive fruit bomb, more a carefully balanced thoughtful bouquet. Floral notes, good tannins — bit too Tamir at the moment but feels like it will settle nicely. Looking forward to the balance of the case over the next 5 to 7 years. Claret like it should be.

SINOPTICUS commented:

7/21/18, 8:50 AM - Thanks!!! Your note gave me a good chortle. Lunched in Bolgheri today, really beautiful. Saw Sassicaia from the edges, but Guado all Tasso spectacular. Sassicaia 2005 with lunch —- drinking rather well. ��

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Red

2003 Château Cos d'Estournel St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend

6/27/2018 - SINOPTICUS Does not like this wine:

83 points

This is REALLY WEIRD. Opened two bottles of this Cos and it’s hard to put your finger on it but this wine JUST ISNT RIGHT. It’s weirdly out of balance, as if you’ve drink two different wines together at the same time. Stewed, overly alcoholic, like evaporated wine. Ended up serving a Calon Segur from 2001 and it best the pants off the Cos 03. Just not a pleasant drink. Four hours later, no discernible improvement. Tried a small glass 24 hours later — nothing. I may return the remaining 10 bottles.

I’ve drunk Cos regularly for 30 years. I’ve tried every year available since 2003 up to 2014. I proposed to my wife over a bottle of 1970 Cos. I love Cos, but this is just WRONG.

SINOPTICUS commented:

6/27/18, 2:46 PM - Thanks — I’m not sure this is storage though. The wine seems to have a strange structure — I suppose it might have been “cooked” in storage. But it wasn’t like a wine that’s been exposed to too much heat. It just seemed woefully out of balance, like cough sweets on port. I was sad, not because of the stellar Parker score (emperor, clothes), but because this wasn’t the Cos I have known and loved for 30 years plus. The 2005s I’ve had, even if a little closed are just better wine and fundamentally different in structure than this. From original wooden case, so if they were faked then someone went to a lot of trouble — bought en primeur and stored in bonded warehouse until last December. Also both bottles.....
SINOPTICUS commented:

6/28/18, 12:05 AM - Let’s hope!! At the back of my mind is a disturbing article by Jane Anson (I think) in Decanter, suggesting that the premix issue with white burgundies may be happening to reds as well. In particular, reds which are out of balance, overly concentrated and from “hot” vintages — she cites 2003 and 2009. There was a little premature edge browning in the Cos 2003 I opened. All part of the fun!!!

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