December 3, 2023 - Fabulous. It was wonderful in primary colours but now it is secondary it is in a serious magisterial mode. Slightly dusty, almost Pessac Leognan style. Deep and complex. Glorious example of a great right bank vintage. I leave it to others to describe it, I just bathe in the mixture of tastes and smells. Goes on for ever. Wow! (Will keep for years). A privilege to drink it. This is why one gets interested in great wine.
August 24, 2023 - Tasted blind. Dark red with orange rim. Blackcurrant, stewed strawberry, crushed petals, cigar, cedar and pencil shaving. Perfume and elegant. Hint of cool climate. Balanced, good structure, and well made. Long finish. I thought it was a grand cru claret from Margaux. I was surprised it was from Right Bank. Prime to drink now, and can cellar for another decade easily.
August 2, 2023 - Black cherries, chocolate, smoke, spice, chocolate and roses meld together. The wine is lush, rich, full, opulent and elegant with a silky, polished, long finish. Fully mature, this is a beauty that I seem to have seriously underrated. Drink from 2023-2030.
June 30, 2023 - Remains stunning at this stage !
May 20, 2023 - Quite solid, fully integrated. Not backwards like some 98 right banks still are. I would say possibly on the downslope at this point. Some good spices but nothing that blew me away given the vintage. I think TR might be an earlier drinking wine in general based on other experiences anyways.
May 1, 2023 - A remarkably good bottle (cork, fill, etc) and wine. This had everything. A little coiled initially, an hour in the decanter had it ready to roll. All the best facets of 98, with ample ripeness and concentration. The Merlot component (80% from what I can glean) really shines today, with all sorts of plum and berry fruit remaining, alongside a well developed tertiary spectrum. Balanced acidity and resolved tannic structure have this lovely specimen ready to deliver some pleasure. An auction buy and a very pleasant surprise.
May 12, 2022 - Beautiful ripe black fruit but without being heavy. Cigar box, leather and herbs de Provence. Plummy and cool on the palate, very fine tannins and rather long. Excellent.
May 1, 2022 - Quite good but definitely starting to show some age and fruit fading...probably past peak.
April 5, 2022 - Fabulous nose was promising. Delivered nice earth/fruit mix but finished a little flabby.
February 16, 2022 - In a great drinking window atm…