Community Tasting Note

Motz wrote:

Saturday, October 13, 2018 - Half bottle, tasted over two days, alongside several other quality Bordeaux. Was able to evaluate this bottle more thoroughly than in April, and it showed exceptionally well. Shy upon opening, with air the bouquet takes on Margaux-like qualities, delightful, 'sweet' sophistication. And, also with air, the wine features Saint-Julien like firmness and grip, the mouthfeel offering touches of luxury typical of higher classed growths.

The kicker here, as with many 2015 quality Bordeaux, is the acid level, which tends to be disproportionately high vis-a-vis the tannin. Moreover, the tannin in this wine, and in many other Bordeaux of this vintage, is ripe and ultra fine, loess-like if you will, the Giscours being a striking exception.

For example, I poured this double-blind on the second day for two trade professionals and neither called it Bordeaux. In fairness, one first thought it Bordeaux, but, knowing it to be young, noticed other elements, a suave refinement in particular (the absence of hard tannins), that steered him away from Bordeaux. I wonder if this atypical character has left some pros and Bordeaux aficionados scratching their heads, perhaps leading to lower scores than many wines merit.

'Keith Levenberg's' and 'chatters's' recent experiences with the 2015 Domaine de Chevalier, a standout of the vintage to be sure, in which they note similarities to Burgundy, offers an example of the unique quality of many wines.

Whatever the case, this wine has the acid to evolve for at least a decade, probably two (likely improving), and hold for a decade thereafter. If drinking in the near term, let it breathe for several hours.

Post a Comment / View Motz's profile
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (11,443 views)