Community Tasting Note

Cailles wrote:

Sunday, September 3, 2023 - Bordeaux 2018 - 5 Years On - 7 Reds: Time to check in on some top 2018s, and the initial observations were all confirmed: A) This is obviously the ripest, sweetest Bordeaux vintage in the last decade. While only one wine (Cos d'Estournel, 88pts) was overripe and overdone, two others (Calon Segur - 94pts, Grand Puy Lacoste - 91pts) are not for purists and are quite sweet - at least this young. B) Despite the ripeness, the wines are generally very balanced and harmonious, not as extracted or thick as many 2009/2010s. C) The structural frames are of high quality with ultra-fine tannins and good acid backbones. However, with so many other great vintages produced in recent years, this is not the vintage to chase - especially for purists. The group winner was the highly elegant, seductive yet aristocratic Pichon Lalande (rated 95pts), just ahead of my WOTN, the floral, perfumed, airy Canon (96pts).

TN: Tasted double blind. Expressive ripe fruit nose, very ripe. Same on the palate with lots of glycerin and ripe red fruit notes, strawberries, with some herbs and graphite to complement. Overall a bit too sweet. With all that sugar, sweetness and red fruit I guessed this to be a right bank Merlot – without knowing the theme of the evening I would have guessed this to be a Napa Cab. Fine structure and good freshness. This is a crowd pleaser but has a bit of a hole mid palate and overall not the depth to get to a higher rating. I guess this might shed some of its sweetness and baby fat with another decade in the cellar which might help. 91pts today.

Decanting: Not decanted, no extensive decanting necessary.

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