April 27, 2024 - 17/18/19 side by side blind. My preference was in that order. 17 was the cleanest and comparatively elegant and red fruited. I got the 18/19 backwards as the latter was bigger, riper, and not so clean. Both freshened up after being open for a day and need lots of time.
March 13, 2024 - A Baudry wouldn't be a Baudry without a strong smell of manure and this one had plenty! I'm not sure it's a badge of honour, but it's certainly a characteristic. Anyway, as usual a couple of hours in the decanter got rid of the pong, leaving bright notes of red cherry, redcurrant and herbs. On the palate, I was relieved to taste proper fruit, rather than the savoury variety, loads of wild strawberry and red cherry. At the moment, it doesn't have the complexity it will have in the future, but it does have a beautifully silky texture and subtlety to the fruit. Very enjoyable indeed.
October 5, 2023 - Double decanted around noon and taken to a tasting dinner. Ever so little sediment. Dark garnet crimson color. Nose has the telltale herbal, slightly vegetal notes of Cab Franc but it fades quickly with air. Also peppery spice, roasted herbs like rosemary and lavender then layers of red fruit. Texture is way lighter than the color would indicate, very elegant and refined with bright acidity and just enough tannin to keep the structure balanced. Very red fruited on the palate with herbs and spice. Moderately long finish with a little bacon hint. Will improve with air and cellaring, just at the beginning of the tasting window in my view.
March 25, 2023 - Deep ruby; some stubborn reduction, cool red fruit, lead pencils; clean, fresh feel, tannins seem fully resolved, medium-full; sleek finish, decent length.
June 25, 2022 - Way too young?! Overwhelmed by a combination of brett and oak. Smoke and cedar and underlying hints of anise, cloves and some rusticity. Still can't get over the brett. Blind I would've probably guessed a Rioja or bdx blend. After some more research it seems only 2-3 yrs old barrels were used but still it gives me the signature 'dill' American oak vibes. Might have even guessed Malbec or WA Cab/bdx blend.
Edit: this improved significantly after 4-5 hrs and over the next few days (at cellar temps) and was way less harsh and oaky. 88 -> 92
June 17, 2022 - Served alongside the 2018 vintage, I found this bottle to be lighter, more forward in its development, and while enjoyable, lacking some of the more distinctive characteristics found in the 2018. That being said, it will pair well with a greater range of foods. Based on this one example, I suspect that this vintage is unlikely to become as powerful as the 2018 seems destined.
Both bottles were opened and decanted approximately two hours before being served.
Rated +1 on a scale of -1 to +3.
December 18, 2021 - Deep purple color. First slightly closed, but starting to open up a little with about 1 hour in the decanter. Notes of black cherries, blackberries, also some red berries too, some smoke, sweet spices, violets, also graphitey/lead pencil minerality and just a touch of horsesaddle. It‘s medium-full bodied, but feels lighter due to the medium-high acidity cutting through everything and medium+ tannin that is exceptionally silky, but adding grip. Long finish with building complexity. This would still need another 2-3 years in bottle and can age for 15+ more years from my perspective. Beautiful and a great QPR for top-notch Cabernet Franc
October 23, 2021 - Decanted for 2 hours. Nose has really nice cherry, brambles/soil, lilacs, and charcoal. Palate was really tannic, but despite the spun up energy still drank very nicely. Red fruit! Rose petals! Earth! With structure structure structure. Admittedly drank this 5-15 years too early, but enjoyed it with a NY strip steak. Should age nicely.
September 11, 2021 - Nicely fruity in this vintage with a black currant leaf herbal lift. Just so solid and dependable
August 8, 2021 - Obviously young, but figured would pull an early one in the name of science. Big, bold, and relatively polished on day one. The structure firms up a bit on day two with a bit more cab franc character actually coming through. Pretty good; we’ll see how it does with some proper age.