Community Tasting Note

forceberry wrote:

Saturday, January 29, 2022 - A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Petit Verdot (5%). Aged for 18 months in French oak barriques (typically 40 to 80% new). 13% alcohol. Tasted blind

Moderately evolved brick-red color with a tertiary rusty hue. Very classic Bordeaux nose from the rather evolved end of the spectrum; aromas of tobacco, some oxidative notes of beef jerky and soy sauce, a little bit of smoke, light sweet notes of dried blackcurrants, a woody hint of pencil shavings and a touch of beef jerky. The overall impression is quite tertiary, but still recognizably very Bordelais in character. The wine is medium-bodied, quite intense and quite concentrated by the age with evolved, tertiary flavors of beef jerky, wizened dark berries, some gamey tones, a little bit of earth, light sweet notes of prunes and dried red fruits, a hint of tobacco and a touch of soy sauce. The overall feel is quite firm and structure-driven, thanks to the high acidity and still rather ample and grippy tannins. The lengthy finish is dry, tannic and slightly bitter with powerful and a bit tired flavors of beef jerky, some tobacco, a little bit of earth, light savory notes of old leather, a hint of wizened blackcurrants and a touch of soy sauce.

A still very firm, structured and moderately grippy Bordeaux that is structurally still quite tightly-knit, but flavor-wise already a bit tired and perhaps already sliding slightly downhill. This feels like the polar opposite of 1996 Ducru-Beaucaillou, which was somewhat more youthful compared to this 1995, but showing very resolved and soft structure. This 1995, on the other hand, retained much more structure, but at the same time coming across as noticeably more evolved in character. While neither of these vintages show that much potential for any further cellaring, I'd rather drink 1995 now and keep 1996, if only one vintage would be needed now. This is still very Bordelais in all possible ways and very much recognizable for one when tasting the wine blind, but I suspect it won't be in such shape for much longer - it's high time to drink up. Seeing how tertiary the wine is, I'd say it's rather expensive at 150€.

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