4/29/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Deceptively light took a good hour to even show its Pauillac pedigree - enjoyed over 3 hours - lots of cedar and a touch of cigar (no pencil lead), vibrant acidity and largely mature red fruits. Lovely for sure but definitely one of the lightest young(ish) Latours I have had.

4/22/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

From a very cold cellar - still deep red to the rim, almost a hint of purple at the core - no brick whatsoever - would never think this was 24 years old - deep red fruits, a touch of stalkiness and underbrush - a wine to drink with food (we had a foie gras terrine with white wine jelly and carrot puree). Fruits on the mature side but still this wine presents about 8-10 years old, not 24.

4/16/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Tiny tiny bubbles. All finesse. Just lovely. So persistent. Certainly will improve with some cellar time but hard to resist today. Highly recommended for the cellar.

4/16/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Not my favourite vintage. Some blood and meatiness on top of tobacco but none of Margaux classic iron which I missed. Opened with strong barnyardiness but that passed in the glass. Nice and tannic. Not bitter. But just not yet fully together. Give it another decade in the cellar.

4/16/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

2 hour decant - was a touch hazy but cleared up quite quickly. Classic classic classic. Fully mature, delicate, yet complex and engaging. Very fresh but suspect that this won't get much better. Enjoy it, love it.

4/16/2023 - Fuel55 wrote:

Sadly oxidized - was really looking forward to this wine.

4/16/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Still viable. Took 45 minutes to balance out once decanted but then was soft, mature and lovely for about 90 minutes before starting to decline. Quite light and not too Mouton-like but lovely nonetheless for a wine this old from a minor vintage.

4/16/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Required 6 hours decant to really come into its own but this wine is beautifully rich and decadent. After significant air the fruits, tobacco and cedar took on lovely espresso bean flavours that really rounded this quite high acid wine into something special. Certainly drinkable today but probably 2-3 decades of life left.

4/13/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

A solid wine on a 2 hr decant. Not particularly sophisticated but well structured and should improve with time.

4/10/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Still very youthful. Some mature fruit notes but structure still needs to give way.

4/1/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Really really good. Balance, precision so indicative of the '14 vintage.

3/24/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Very light and clear orangey-red colouring. A little reticent even after an hour in the decanter but lovely in the mouth - just edging to maturity with brightness, integrated tannins and well defined fruit and floral notes. A real winner of wine that should only improve and increase complexity over the next decade.

3/18/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Now fully mature but I think there are still many years of drinking pleasure ahead. Very left bank styling at this point. Delicious.

3/17/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Really solid bottle - truthfully could have used more time in the cellar - more old school than their '09 (which is my only other point of reference). Lovely dried red fruits with tobacco and a touch of ash on the finish which held it back just a touch. 30 minute decant and enjoyed over two hours - remained consistent over this time frame.

3/8/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Well here we are almost three years since the last bottle. Brooding asian spices dominate red currants and some strawberry. Still a touch hot on the finish - that may never resolve? More earthy now. My gut says leave it in the cellar for a while yet and let it sort itself out. Definitely a quality wine as far as BC Pinots go.

3/4/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Drinking very well - blood, iron, leather overtones to deep black fruit - very French styling. A nice smoky edge. Lovely stuff.

3/4/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Slow-oxed for an hour at cellar temp (note - this cork was longer than a Durand and left a small disk which needed to be dropped into the wine - otherwise intact). Used a port funnel to decant directly from the original bottle to a new bottle then sealed for 90 minutes before service. A small taste at this point was amazing - all cedar and sweet tobacco in a delicate framework. At service, mature and dried red fruits joined the party. A real treat from the Old School when Caymus had their shit together.

3/4/2023 - Fuel55 wrote:

Definite a dark color - all nuts and sherry with a hint of maple syrup to start but that oxidation largely blew off within 30 minutes to be a fairly classic old Dom. This bottle was definitely end of life so I would prob drink up if I had more in the cellar.

2/26/2023 - Fuel55 wrote:

Quite austere - certainly could have used a longer decant - almost Chablis like chalk notes with some citrusy freshness - obviously a wine of great stature but was a tough one to place (never having had La Fleur-Pétrus before). Easily mistaken for a more cabernet dominant wine but obviously Bordeaux. Tough to peg vintage as well but most were in the 2012-2015 camp.

2/26/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Perfectly mature and in a really really nice spot. So delicate, so seductive. Could drink this every day forever and never get bored.

2/26/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

93 with room to grow - very very tightly wound - I recommend holding this another decade before opening - did evolve in the glass but primarily citrus notes and high acidity overwhelming the subtle fruit undertones. Super highly quality for sure - just needs time.

2/4/2023 - Fuel55 wrote:

Decanted 90 minutes - still a little closed - lots of cedar on the nose, a touch smoky on the palate. Very very long finish. Left it another 90 minutes. This is a very seductive wine. Touches of truffle, blueberry and smoke. But it didn't really open up much over the next two hours. Delicious for sure, but I feel like this bottle could have given more.

1/26/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Coming into full maturity - still bright with 3 hours decant (it def needs the air). Fairly classic Chianti. Nice spice notes over red fruits.

1/20/2023 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Nearing full maturity. Well balanced - black fruits, tea, tobacco and a touch of pencil lead. Probably time to consider drinking up. Not much more to be gained. This is classic Napa at its apogee.

12/20/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Ever so slightly over the hill but still a marvellous bottle - lots of tertiary notes and perfect balance. Definitely nothing more to be gained by waiting. Drink up.

12/20/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Just stunning.

12/20/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Just stunning.

12/9/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Easing into maturity. Fresh and dried red fruits on the nose. Just a touch of cola. Very perfume-y bottle really fills up the room. Still tangy - such of orange peel maybe. Medium bodied and quite long. Not totally harmonious just yet, but quite drinkable. Room to improve a little bit with 2-3 more years in the cellar.

11/7/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Powerful stuff - thicker and sweeter the Yquem - less acidic (or at least it appears less) - every descriptor possible comes into play over the course of two hours in the glass. My first ever L'Extravagant - and a real treat if you can ever find a bottle. A really unique bottle.

10/22/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Edging into maturity with some tertiary herbaceousness creeping in. I'd think this is going to reach its apogee in 4-5 more years. Decant at least an hour at cellar temp.

10/22/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Was better on release. Herbal notes starting to creep in but not really mature by any means. I'd hold off opening for 2-3 more years to let it come together.

5/11/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Quintessential Pauillac from a lesser vintage - perfect for current drinking. Softer than I remember but still complete and enjoyable.

5/11/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Really fantastic wine that just continued to change and evolve as we drank it. Classic limestone spine overlayed with delicate fruit and citrus notes that ebbed and flowed. Ethereal. Perfect now but will likely cellar for at least 10-15 more years.

4/21/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

I cannot believe how good this wine is at this point. 2nd bottle in a week - with consistent observations - flower petals, bright red fruits, sweet, saline, tea - its all there and in perfect harmony.

3/31/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Leaner but fruity and enjoyable. Modestly stern backbone. Drinking well for a lesser vintage. Perfect with prawn risotto (heavy on the leeks and cayenne).

3/25/2022 - Fuel55 wrote:

Honeysuckle, white roses, orange, lightly toasted nuts - all there. Very long, barely sweet. Very charming.

3/25/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Fully mature - a touch sweet but oddly satisfying. Drink cool and with fruit for max enjoyment. Very Burgundian at this point.

3/24/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Obviously a great wine to be but for god's sake don't open this wine yet. Criminally youthful and exuberant. If you feel the need to open, decant today and drink tomorrow.

3/17/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Bright, jammy red fruits. Quite primary but decent thickness and richness for an NZ pinot. Mouthfilling with zippy acids. Should cellar well for 5-7 years.

3/13/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Amazingly precise and fresh - but still a pup. After an hour or so there were hints of mushroom/truffle on top of the citrus but will take another decade to really evolve. A rare beast to really enjoy at any phase of itself of its long life. #privileged

3/13/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Really took many hours to reveal itself. More polished and softer than I would have expected but there are still cagey/epic tannins lurking in behind. Very fresh and vibrant in a lighter-than-usual Mouton style. Give it another 5-10 years.

3/10/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

2nd bottle of 2000 Cos in as many months. Explosive cedar for the first hour made way to more balance - blend of primary and tertiary red fruits with oolong tea, white pepper and classic Cos Asian spice. Less evolved than the last bottle - leaner, edging on maturity. Decades of life left.

3/8/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Seems deeper and inkier than previous tastings. Very floral. Red, black and blueberries. Atypical for Tempranillo for sure but can't really be anything else. Lots of mocha, asian spices, vanilla and oak. Probably worth waiting another 5 years. Still very enjoyable.

3/4/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Like a junior Clos de Tart but needs at least another 3-4 years to figure it out.

2/25/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Wow - lovely maturity here - full body, intense and pure - merlot as it should be. Notes of cherry, plum, tobacco and cedar. Very very long (90 seconds). Finishes bright and spicy. First of 3 bottles cellared. No rush on the other two but so good it will be hard to avoid opening the others!

2/4/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Classic Corton. Perfectly mature and ready to drink - lots of lemon, apple, acidity. Great balance. Gets rounder as it warms in the glass.

1/27/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Very light in color. Sweet cherry fruit dominates with lighter hints of herbs, rose petals and a dash of white pepper. Very young but drinkable with a 2 hour decant.

1/10/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Premox avoided in this little lovely. Full bodied and robust. Fresh, bright - more mineral and flowers, than lemon and pitted fruit - give it a great elegance. Really enjoyable - lemon curd easing its way in after about 45 minutes. Great QPR.

1/8/2022 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Wow this is just a lovely BDX Blanc. Highly recommended. Mostly Semillon so not as bright as you might expect but so round and mouth filling! All lemon curd. Long long finish. Not cheap but still amazing QPR.

12/24/2021 - Fuel55 Likes this wine:

Crisp and vibrant. Slight bits of flint on opening morph quickly to lemon peel and tangy freshness. Probably needs 2 years in the cellar to fully integrate itself. Fine, long finish. Enjoyable now but try to wait.