Community Tasting Note

Cailles wrote:

Wednesday, November 10, 2021 - Bordeaux 2011 - 10 Years On - 30 Reds: All tasted blind, not decanted. A few observations: 1) As expected, it's a mediocre vintage with many wines lacking depth and mid palate weight of great vintages. My average score for the reds was 91.3 pts vs group scores at more recent horizontals for 2010 (93.0), 2000 (92.7) and 2009 (93.9). 2) I expected more green/unripe notes and drying tannins but that is not the case (hence the solid 91.3 average). Most wines showed well-made (with only 6 out of 30 reds rated below 90 pts). 3) Left bank (average 91.8 pts) clearly trumps right bank (90.6) thanks to more mid palate substance. 4) Virtually no wine showed a) over extracted and already dying and b) with far too much ripeness. Both 2009/2010 (and 2015/2018) have several wines with these problem. 5) Most wines are in a good drinking window. Although not yet with tertiary complexity, the structure has softened and the wines are open (even without extended decanting). 6) Unfortunately (due to price), the best reds were Le Pin (97+ pts), Margaux (96), Petrus (96) and Mouton (95). 7) Good vintage for Sauternes it seems (we tasted only two) with a surprising Giraud (96 pts) beating a too sweet Yquem (93).

TN: Very mineral-driven nose, missing a bit of fruit and overall not expressive enough. The contrary on the palate which is dominated by an intense, candied strawberry fruit core. Especially intense on the attack, the wine thins out towards the mid palate and has a rather short finish. Quite simple but also quite fun to drink and with fine tannins and a well-integrated acidity as well as an airy structure. Overall ok and this bottle was clearly better than a bottle back a few months ago (rated 90 pts) which showed more astringent.

Post a Comment / View Cailles's profile
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue (4,772 views)