April 15, 2024 - Another 2004 horizontal (Hawksmoor Guildhall): Initially more attractive than the Rauzan, its charms much more conventional. Big, rich, smoky nose, with some exotic musk. Smooth and luxurious on the palate, with attractive blue fruit. Tannins now very well integrated, but there was a nice chew to the finish. Definitely tasty, but the consensus seemed to be that the Rauzan ultimately offered more interest.
April 15, 2024 - Jonathan’s/Nick’s 04 Bordeaux (Hawksmoor Guildhall, London): Dense ruby. Broader and meatier on the nose, less precise with some blackcurrant leaf alongside the fruit. Broader palate too, accentuated by being 2–3C° warmer too. Quite rich with less precise definition. A bit more Henry Moore than David; fun though. ****
December 13, 2023 - Mid weight, well made smooth claret. Some mature red fruit, a little tobacco and some tertiary underbrush. Hard to fault, but not particularly exciting. 91 points.
The price hasn’t influenced the score, but you can’t get away from the fact that this is a terrible terrible QPR.
August 20, 2022 - Superb Margaux! Pencil shaving, blackcurrant, tobacco, leather, cedar, plum, chocolate, coffee, mint, green paprika / tapenade, medium plus body, still soft tannins, superb long finish.
July 14, 2022 - A beauty with complexity a tiny bit high in acidity. So far not showing a great deal of aged notes. Still bright garnet color. It is a great bottle but needs more time.
June 18, 2022 - Finely perfumed with understated redcurrant and blackcurrant fruit flavours. Initially dry, leathery and dusty, there were pronounced tannins and spice progressing onto a really long refined and elegant finish. In essence an old fashioned claret. CHP 90 pts.
January 31, 2022 - (SJ) heat damage. Lots of oak spice and dark fruit. Fully mature, lightweight, medium-low concentration, slightly acidic and chewy finish. 87
October 8, 2021 - Beautiful ruby. Young and vibrant looking. Lovely nose of light cassis, black cherry and lily. More peppery and spice notes emerge later. Totally ready and all in balance and integrated. Wonderful cedar and tobacco on the palate, balanced and uplifting acidity with generous rounded fruit. So we’ll made, mid-weight but in a good way making it so enjoyable but with so much going on. Delicious stuff!
June 20, 2021 - This was pristine, years left on it. Opened the day before and let it rest at cellar temp. Very balanced, red fruit like cherry, and purple fruit like just a little cassis, but then mastic gum, mint, smoke, just classic dead-ringer Bordeaux terroir.
March 13, 2021 - Juicy ripe black current, earth tones, silky tanins.