April 2, 2024 - I was disappointed by my previous bottle a decade ago. Not so with this one, which is really quite classic with deep brambly fruit and cassis, with a shaving of graphite and minerals. On the precipice of maturity with room to improve further.
January 27, 2024 - Enjoyable and fairly powerful wine but more interesting than wow. Decanted for 2 hours then back into the bottle (had a glass each and then took upstate). Second day the character had really faded so this was perhaps a mistake.
The nose was medium plus on the first day with sharp black fruit and a bramble, herbaceous note. Carried through on the flavor, with both of those characteristics prominent, plus some menthol and leathery tertiary characteristics. Acid wasn’t overpowering but clearly present and tannins still reasonably firm. Tasted like a younger wine and still clearly has some life left. Long finish and fairly full body. On the second day the classic Bdx pencil shaving flavors had emerged but the rest died down, including the aroma.
December 6, 2023 - Incredible wine.
Agree w the other tasters here, in the beginning this was monolithic and one dimensional, not bad just restrained and not interesting, I was thinking 91 points.
BUT after 6 hours in the decanter the fireworks started.
Truffle, forest floor, tobacco, cedar, lovely dark fruit. Amazing.
Poor saps that don't allow this to breath long enough miss all the fun and excitement.
November 26, 2023 - Burning wood, smoked herbs, leafy tobacco, and sharp red currants with a peppery edge shape the perfume. Crisp, firm, and slanting towards austere in the palate, this is an old-school-styled wine that some tasters will appreciate more than I did. Drink from 2023-2045.
October 25, 2023 - This shows a beautifully mature nose with notes of grilled nuts and smoky gravel. On the palate, the wine is lovely but doesn't quite deliver on the promise of the nose due to that touch of green when a '96 was picked too early. A bit lean but the texture is silky-fine making it easy to drink. The bottle I had earlier this year was much better even though this one didn't really have any flaws. Mmmm...
September 13, 2023 - On the open, you get this really intense smoke and tobacco, followed by wafts of red plummy fruit, cassis, liquorice, bell peppers. The fruit here is plush and the core is deep. Talk about a weak vintage..
September 13, 2023 - Post work neighbourhood session. Tasted blind. Aired in VOSS bottle. Drank in Conterno Sensory.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour with thin garnet rim. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of green capsicum bell pepper, leather, blackcurrant, tobacco, gravel earth. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (13%), resolved silky medium+ tannins, nicely full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry, tobacco, elegant leather, gravel earth, nice bell pepper capsicum edges. Very long finish.
Very good quality. Drinking prime. A treat now. Was guessing late 90s off vintage Left Bank Bordeaux.
June 9, 2023 - 瓶醒 過瓶 表現非常好 尤其是四個小時之後的丹寧非常柔順
香氣爆發 原本是悶悶的濕土壤味 後來出現了梅子味 peak的時候 草本味大爆發 唯一可惜的是雪茄盒的味道沒有出來
June 1, 2023 - This has reached a wonderful level of drinkability that i had not noticed earlier in its life. Superb cut and intensity with classic '96 chiseled tannins still present. Very fresh and mineral-driven but also with ripe and succulent dark cherry fruit. This is a vibrant wine with really good energy and juicy freshness. Just fabulous and only upside from here.
May 17, 2023 - Amazing Bordeaux To Mark A Special Birthday (Noizé, London): The subtle red fruits here are complemented by some freshly sliced mushroom, some Parma ham some sweated leeks and a little planed white chocolate. Palate is charming and cool with a little creamy spearmint. Very fine.