January 18, 2024 - Drank in Burgundy
Beautiful classic claret. Fully mature
July 15, 2023 - Enjoyed a class from magnum at a private dinner in the Cal Club LA. The color was still solid and just minor bricking on the outer rim. Bouquet was delightful yet slightly muted. Palate core of black cherry. Finish was clean -smooth. Good length in great shape for a 58 y/o.
November 8, 2022 - Now a couple hours in this beautiful sweet pure fruit to it. Just wonderful.
November 8, 2022 - Not quite all savory but mostly so, with some.green tobacco notes. But beautiful, palate is so alive. Not for everyone but delicious.
May 4, 2022 - Lafite Rothschild vertical (Taberna del Alabardero, Washington D.C.): Slightly cloudy but good color, also a very sound cork. Fully mature complex nose displaying subtle sweet red fruit, strawberry, raspberry, sous bois, eucalyptus, mint leather, mushroom, cedar, and damp earth. There is a hint of VA that is not bothersome. Fully integrated palate, medium concentration, subtle red fruit, fluid perhaps slightly thin, warm and round, medium acidity and mineral, and a medium long subtle red fruit driven finish with leather and mushroom at the end. This has 94 point nose but 90 point palate. If you like really mature claret, this is not a bad wine to try.
April 2, 2022 - Sadly the nose showed that the wine had seen a little heat at one point, but the palate was incredibly in tact and lively. A very youthful 1964.
March 11, 2020 - Late in life, however holding up well versus slightly bigger 1961 tonight, a treat.
January 27, 2020 - Elegant, light on it's feet, served blind by PW, guessed by the chateau-rep. - quite impressive - not much stuffing here, but the balance is great. Mature, not fading
#d'Angleterre
December 31, 2019 - "Compelling"
One taster / drinker's utterance upon having a glass. And probably the most descriptive one can be about 56 year old grape juice.
From an OWC case from a cellar that was never moved, until now. Still had the steel wires on it.
Nose was very old bookshelf, in a loving way. Palate was sensational. Light doesn't hit it - tons of depth but, in the Hugh Johnson phrase, finished like water. Wonder if anyone's ever made the Huge Johnson joke to him.
It was an experience to have - compelling, sensation, whatever - one of a kind moment.
If you have the means, I highly recommend it.
November 12, 2019 - Lafite Dinner 2019 (Blue Hill): Ex-Chateau. Soft tannin, delicate flowers, very straightforward and clean. Perhaps a bit one-dimensional but super fresh. Rain during harvest? 93-94