2005 Château Troplong Mondot, France, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
99
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$325.00USD

In a really special place right now.  Fantastic.  This is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black cherries, cherries, slight chocolate, tobacco, leather and slight funk.  Full bodied.  Velvety texture.  On the palate, this is vibrant but also showing layering and complexity.  Flavors of black cherries and cherries with underlying earthiness.  Some chocolate on the finish.  This is at peak but should drink well for another decade.  Great on its own as it is contemplative, but will work great with roasted fowl, meat or even vegetab

2005 Château Fleur Cardinale, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

Gorgeous showing for this wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is wonderful with black cherries, chocolate, spice, cherries and slight funk.  Full bodied.  Lush texture.  On the palate, this is just about at maturity.  Plenty of vibrant fruit; cherries and black cherries but also starting to show some depth and complexity.  No hurry though.  This should drink well for another ten to twenty years.  Nice on its own, but better with food. Lamb would be a good match.

2000 Les Forts de Latour, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$300.00USD

This is, of course, the second label of Chateau Latour.  In recent years the price on the seconds has sky-rocketed as well.  That said, this is an excellent wine in a really nice place right now.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, tobacco, leather, slight graphite and spice.  Also a bit of the funk.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Nots of cassis, slight dried cherries and a bit of leather.  Some underlying char and funk.  Long finish.  Complex and deep.  Drink over the next twelve to twe

2003 Château Léoville Barton, France, Bordeaux, St. Julien, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$165.00USD

This was from the crazy hot, 2003 vintage. Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, tobacco, slight leather, damp earth and spice.  Full bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, this is ripe but certainly not over ripe.  No prunes or raisins.  A really amazing Bordeaux that is just getting to maturity.  Loads of cassis with some spice and a bit of Bordeaux funk.  Long finish.  This should continue to drink well for another ten to fifteen years.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  This went well with roasted root vegetables and rice.  

2013 Château d'Yquem, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$350.00USD

Not a whole lot more to say about Yquem that hasn't been said, but it is arguably the greatest winery on the planet.  The 2013 is a very good if not top vintage, but still a thrill to drink.  Golden in color, light with just a tinge of orange.  The nose is great with apricots, slight honey and slight tangerines.  Viscous.  Full bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Flavors of apricots and tangerines.  Sweet with enough acidity to not be cloying.  The finish goes on forever.  This is drinking well now and should drink well for another twenty to thirty years.  Great on i

2005 Château Haut-Bergey, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

The 2005's are really starting to come into their own now and this is one more data point supporting that.  This is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, char, slight cigar box, leather and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, this is complex.  Flavors of cassis and black cherries, slight leather and char.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is about at peak but should stay there for another ten years.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  This would wo

1998 Château Calon-Ségur, France, Bordeaux, St. Estephe, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1998
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$166.00USD

A good vintage if better on the right bank, this wine is drinking at or maybe slightly past peak, but still very nice.   It is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.  Old school in style.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with tobacco, cassis, forest floor and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, cassis, tobacco with underlying earthiness.  Good texture.  Complex.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and will work nicely with lamb chops.  Drink over the next few years.  

2000 Château Lanessan, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2000
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This is always one of the best values in Bordeaux.  The 2000 vintage in particular seems to be a slow developing vintage and at age 22, this is just about at peak.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  Medium bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Cassis, tobacco, with slight earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next five to seven years.  Better with food, this is the perfect wine for Meatloaf.  

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