Tasted blind. Much greener nose as they are common today, coming from a period when CabSav was picked below ripeness. I guessed 25 years old but it was 40. Good showing for a lesser Cru like this, very drinkable with strong farmyard and forest aromas. The Burgundy drinkers on the table liked it more, referring to whole cluster like notes as see with Dujac & Co.
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Much better showing than my last bottle. Really classic, old-school claret here with a core of sweet red fruits and plums framed by developed cedar, pipe tobacco and other savoury tertiary elements. With some time in the decanter it seems to gain in intensity and richness, and it's drinking at peak now with the structure fully integrated and all the flavours coming together really seamlessly.
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The previous notes capture the wine quite well. I found it to be more youthful than expected with surprisingly vigorous maroon color. Very Burgundian on the palate with good elegance and energy. Lacks depth on the finish to be great but it is utterly enjoyable all the same.
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Cantemerle/La Lagune vertical (Dobbs Ferry): Really savoury and tertiary, there's some gentle red fruit in the background but it's really all about the mature leathery, cedary and earthy notes here. The structure's fully resolved here, and this is a very nice, fully mature claret.
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Dinner with Paul Goldschmidt, the proprietor of Chateau Vray Croix de Gay at Ripple (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Decanted for an hour, showing beautifully. Expressive and complex nose displaying red fruits, plum, also a hint of cassis, strong note of cedar ashes, earth and obvious note of green. It is at best medium body wine that is made in traditional style. It is a beautiful wine that was meant to be drunk with a simple fatty grilled dish. If cellared properly, this would be a wonderful bottle of claret. 91 pointer but 95 point with food.
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Was a bit worried about the bottle age and not knowing how it had been stored. High shoulder fill, clean cap; so I took the leap of faith. Brought to Zuni Cafe Xmas dinner and decanted for around an hour or so. Cork was fine, up to par, right out of bottle to sample the nose was great, nice fruit, leather, pencil lead. The mouth feel was immediately sweet to the taste with a bit ofnice acid at the finish. My eyebrows peaked and I knew we had something good here. After allowing it to sit, it developed into a sophisticated pleasure, round and sweet with a blueberry backround with a touch of gentle tannins. I reminded me of a good lightly sweet tawny port, a real pleasure. Sometimes you take a risk on an old bottle and it works out beautifully.
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Found myself in the mood for old Bordeaux due to a glorious '71 the other day, and reached for this not sure whether it would still be hanging on. Wonderful surprise. This still has an evocative tobacco aroma and a real richness of material that's supple and elegant without seeming even close to turning frail.
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3/3/2021 - Alex Brogan wrote: 83 Points
Amazing freshness, still so much acidity despite being so old. There's no sign of any fruit though. Not really my thing but impressive in other ways
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3/4/2020 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
Tasted blind. Much greener nose as they are common today, coming from a period when CabSav was picked below ripeness. I guessed 25 years old but it was 40. Good showing for a lesser Cru like this, very drinkable with strong farmyard and forest aromas. The Burgundy drinkers on the table liked it more, referring to whole cluster like notes as see with Dujac & Co.
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2/27/2015 - dmalcolm wrote: flawed
Corked
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9/4/2014 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Much better showing than my last bottle. Really classic, old-school claret here with a core of sweet red fruits and plums framed by developed cedar, pipe tobacco and other savoury tertiary elements. With some time in the decanter it seems to gain in intensity and richness, and it's drinking at peak now with the structure fully integrated and all the flavours coming together really seamlessly.
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7/26/2014 - pifcho Likes this wine: 92 Points
Back to back great bottles of this! I might have liked it a touch better this time around. More depth on the finish.
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7/18/2014 - pifcho Likes this wine: 91 Points
The previous notes capture the wine quite well. I found it to be more youthful than expected with surprisingly vigorous maroon color. Very Burgundian on the palate with good elegance and energy. Lacks depth on the finish to be great but it is utterly enjoyable all the same.
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6/28/2014 - salil wrote: 89 Points
Cantemerle/La Lagune vertical (Dobbs Ferry): Really savoury and tertiary, there's some gentle red fruit in the background but it's really all about the mature leathery, cedary and earthy notes here. The structure's fully resolved here, and this is a very nice, fully mature claret.
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4/17/2014 - tobidura wrote: 91 Points
Good for it's age. No nose but power in the mouth, not very well structured and not much fruit left, the finish is rather short.
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4/19/2013 - dcwino wrote: 91 Points
Dinner with Paul Goldschmidt, the proprietor of Chateau Vray Croix de Gay at Ripple (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Decanted for an hour, showing beautifully. Expressive and complex nose displaying red fruits, plum, also a hint of cassis, strong note of cedar ashes, earth and obvious note of green. It is at best medium body wine that is made in traditional style. It is a beautiful wine that was meant to be drunk with a simple fatty grilled dish. If cellared properly, this would be a wonderful bottle of claret. 91 pointer but 95 point with food.
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12/27/2011 - jeanclaude wrote: 92 Points
Was a bit worried about the bottle age and not knowing how it had been stored. High shoulder fill, clean cap; so I took the leap of faith. Brought to Zuni Cafe Xmas dinner and decanted for around an hour or so. Cork was fine, up to par, right out of bottle to sample the nose was great, nice fruit, leather, pencil lead. The mouth feel was immediately sweet to the taste with a bit ofnice acid at the finish. My eyebrows peaked and I knew we had something good here. After allowing it to sit, it developed into a sophisticated pleasure, round and sweet with a blueberry backround with a touch of gentle tannins. I reminded me of a good lightly sweet tawny port, a real pleasure. Sometimes you take a risk on an old bottle and it works out beautifully.
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6/13/2011 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 93 Points
Found myself in the mood for old Bordeaux due to a glorious '71 the other day, and reached for this not sure whether it would still be hanging on. Wonderful surprise. This still has an evocative tobacco aroma and a real richness of material that's supple and elegant without seeming even close to turning frail.
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