March 13, 2022 - Very special and superb Bordeaux. Smooth, almost sweet, and a bit Sherry like flavours. Long after taste with dark chocolate, which slowly fades away.
November 9, 2021 - This was really a surprise, faded ruby, red cherry skin, tart plum, some spice box, exotic spice, elegant, just a little plummy but earthy, a bit high in acidity, but good complexity and verve. This bottle is still holding strong. DD Bordeaux dinner Lawson's steak house and next day at Birdie G's. 92-93
April 3, 2021 - Hard to rate because I think it was oxidized or certainly passed it prime.
Color of brick from rim to interior
No tannins to speak of but likely long past drinking.
Is it fair to rate a wine poorly because it’s pst it’s drinking age?
January 22, 2021 - Red fruits, quite resolved. Drinking ok but did not quite leave an impression tonight. 87
November 23, 2020 - During a St.Emilion dinner. Lots of Madeira notes, odixized. Second bottle (out of 3) of La Gaffeliere tonight with a problem, not a good ratio.
December 16, 2018 - I great shape, classic, cool feel to it, tart black cherry, tar, dark notes, very tannic for age; med. finish. With Spencer steak. Classic, not spectacular. At Taylors with MP gang.
November 29, 2017 - beautiful bouquet, very smooth, subtle and refined tannins, black currant, berries, leather, a classic Bordeaux, medium length finish. If you have any in cellar, drink them now.
November 16, 2017 - Vintage Bordeaux out of OWC tasting (Wine Watch, Fort Lauderdale, Florida): 1996 wasn't such a great year on the right bank of Bordeaux, and this is evident with this wine. A rust/amber color showed its level of advancement. It offers up some nice aromatic charm, with cherry, kirsch, truffle, barnyard, eucalyptus, and cedar. On the palate, the wine was restrained and a bit dilute. But while sometimes a Burgundian weight in Bordeaux wines can show off elegance and finesse, this exposed a lack of concentration. This wine is very drinkable now, and on its downward trajectory. On its own, it would still be perfectly fine with food or for those who want to explore its interesting aromatics. But next to the other wines in this tasting, it just didn't show the completeness many of the other wines did.
September 8, 2017 - Brown-garnet color, a bit pale, with brown sauce and tootsie roll and forest floor, wet leaves in the nose; ready now, a bit advanced but still has plenty to offer. This drinks like an aged Bordeaux now--could be a little more advanced than the other bottle. Have with any meat with mushroom sauce. Blind at store. Also finished coravin wine on Sunday at Taylor's. Still very good, great with meat 'n potatoes.
May 12, 2017 - My notes echo PETERNELSON to a large degree. Very complex, Atlantic influenced boquet. Lot of savory character to the palate. Still a bit of fruit, grip and acidity left, but for the most part very mellow and calm. Fair amount of bricking. I would drink these now or in the next year or two.