December 26, 2018 - At first disappointing but with more air getting better. After about 2 hours a beautiful Pomerol in its best years. Beautiful nose with lots of plum, leather, earth, smoke, spices, wet cement and mint. Beautifully balanced on the palate with good acidity, fine tannins and great sweetness. I wish I had more but that was my only bottle.
December 22, 2016 - A very nice showing. Mature red fruits, tobacco, more exotic sandalwood and other spicy notes, and savoury earthiness all coming together into a very seamless, medium weight whole. Fully mature with the tannins resolved, drinking very well now.
December 22, 2016 - The last of my eight bottles, and one of the more youthful, better showings. Red and dark fruit, leather; some green tannin, very nice mouthfeel, a bit bitter in the finish. Quite pretty.
November 6, 2015 - At a tasting: Bordeaux 1985 at age 30. Medium-dark garnet. Nose of dark fruit and Maggi beef stock, some light sherry tones but not oxidative. Medium bodied on the palate, tannins a more granular than on the Figeac. Good finish. Drink up
October 5, 2014 - One of the better showings I've had from this wine. Very savoury, with lots of cedar, graphite, tobacco, and dried herbs framing gentle red fruited flavours. Not a whole lot of fruit left, but this seems to be at peak now, and very enjoyable.
October 5, 2014 - Nose of red fruit, pencil lead, a bit of tea. Palate of crunchy red fruit, cedar, cigar box. Medium-minus tannin, medium acid. Fairly long finish of red fruit, tobacco, and pencil lead, with a bit of bitterness at the very end. I wouldn't give this too much air, as it fades after a couple of hours. Perhaps the best bottle of 85 Gazin of the half-case I've had so far.
May 3, 2014 - This bottle was a bit more lively than the last couple and much more like my initial few, with red fruit (cassis) along with mostly tertiary characteristics (leather). Not improving from here.
November 23, 2013 - Quick notes (Vernon): Quite like previous notes. At peak or a bit beyond. Very nice structure, with fading fruit yielding to tertiary characteristics.
November 1, 2013 - Quite consistent with previous note: elegant, red fruit, sweet cedar, leather, and on the downslope.
August 16, 2013 - Good fill. Cork in good condition. Like previous note, bright red fruit and sweet cedar. This is just a bit beyond its peak and might be starting to fade. This bottle exhibited more sweetness than the last one.