March 25, 2024 - 2004 Bordeaux at Blacklock, City, with NLWTS (Blacklock, City): Acidity pretty prominent. Medium bodied (much lighter bodied than the ‘04 Montrose tasted alongside). Still a ways off ‘full’ maturity on the palate, but it doesn’t feel like it has much stuffing left in the tank in terms of structure; what tannins are present dissipate pretty quickly. This is good, albeit I had higher hopes! Just not hitting the heights I had hoped for.
March 25, 2024 - Bordeaux 2004 20 years on Part 1 (Blacklock City): Tight. Tighter than the Montrose, as least to my palate. Marked note of herbs, mint tea, not exactly fruit-laden. This is as straight-laced as they come, not gruff or grumpy, just very linear and strict. It gains some sweetness, some red fruit peeking out with time, whereas the Montrose remained dark the whole way through. An overwhelming feeling of restrained elegance, of having been made to be reserved and distant. And fully fulfilling that objective!
March 25, 2024 - Jonathan's 2004 horizontal (Blacklock City): A classic Left Bank nose, with some hints of spice to add interest. Despite having been double-decanted the morning before the dinner, still pretty tannic and lacking in mid-palate amplitude, although time in the glass did emphasise the sweet-fruited side of the wine. Grippy dark fruits and some graphite. Really benefited from being drunk with food.
March 24, 2024 - 2004 Bordeaux at 20 years courtesy of Mark Taylor; 3/23/2024-3/24/2024 (Atlanta, GA): Mmm, lead pencil, green, LEAFY, wonderful, wonderful vegetal aspect if you like that. Personally I just love the herbal character, very reminiscent of a recent 2000 Figeac, spicy, leafy, tobacco, nice red fruit, tart. Almost like a rich Chinon. My #5 and the group #6. Correctly guessed as Calon-Ségur.
February 15, 2024 - Odd bottle. Too much green for me.
February 15, 2024 - Crimson in color. 13% ABV. Classic nose of red fruits, leather, graphite and wet leaves. Medium body with perfect acidity and a compelling freshness. Supple, warm and approachable. Black cherry, plums, currants and minerals on the palate. Nice length on the finish with gritty tannins. Well made Bordeaux from a less than ideal vintage that is showing well at twenty years of age. It is hard to ask for more. Best over the next 2-4 years.
October 3, 2023 - Still remarkably dark in colour. Opened about 3 hours in advance and double-decanted. Quite closed to start with but eventually opened up into a very enjoyable drink - remarkably warm and ripe blackcurrant fruit. I'd be inclined to enjoy this now while I reckon it's at its peak.
September 11, 2023 - Nicely balanced aged Bordeaux albeit from a lesser vintage. This is finally coming into it own. Decanted this for 90 minutes. No sign of its 19 year age. Still indigo in color. Limited nose but what there is, is reminiscent of forest floor or damp leaves. Raspberry and other red berries on the palate. Minerals, dry leaves and cedar on the back palate. Gone now are the (typical of 2004) green, herbal notes. Still some tannins provide backbone. I would call this medium in body, alo reflective of the off vintage. Never the less, now is the time to drink. I wish I had waited longer before consuming earlier bottles.
August 15, 2023 - Great QPR. Ready to drink.
March 5, 2023 - Delicious, plenty of fruit left. Worth being patient and seeing what the secondary window has in store.