2018 Les Pagodes de Cos, France, Bordeaux, Saint-Estephe, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$48.00USD

This is the second wine of Cos D'Estournel.  It is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.  Deep purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with dust cassis, cherries, soy sauce, slight tobacco and spice.  A great lush texture.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, cassis, black cherries, with spice and slight tobacco notes.  Long finish.  This needs another seven to ten years to mature and will drink well for ten to fifteen after that.  It will work well with roasted meats such as Roasted Lamb with garlic.  

2018 Château Malartic-Lagravière

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

From Pesac-Leognan in Bordeaux, this is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and the rest 3% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cedar, cassis, black cherries, and asphalt.  Full bodied.  A lovely, plush, velvety texture.  The palate has cassis and cherries with slight leather notes.  Nice acidity.  Firm tannins.  The asphalt note re-emerges on the finish.  This needs another seven to ten years and should drink well for ten to twelve after that.  If drinking now, give it 12 hours of air.  It will work well w

2018 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc, France, Bordeaux, Pesac-Leognan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

This is 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon.  Pale silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting with pine, pears and apples and a bit of minerality.  On the palate, pears, slight candied lemon and a bit of menthol on the finish.  This has a lovely full bodied texture without giving up its acidity or cut.  Solid finish.  Drink this over the next five to eight years.  It will work well with lighter and medium bodied foods.  It will work well with a Goat cheese and Beet salad.  

2017 La Route Pomerol, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

This is a wine from the right bank of Bordeaux appellation Pomerol that was new to me.  It is 100% Merlot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, plums, black raspberries, cedar and spice.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, lots of red and some purple fruits with layers of cedar and slight earthiness.  This should continue to mature and improve over the next decade and drink well for ten to twelve more after that.  This would go well with roasted eggplant dishes.  

2016 Château Tour Baladoz La Dame de Baladoz, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

 This is the second wine of Château Tour Baladoz.  It is produced made from the youngest vines and consists of 90% Merlot.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight milk chocolate and spice.  Full bodied.  On the palate, there are light tannins.  The cherries and chocolate come thru with slight earthiness.  Nice finish.  Not profound but tasty and easy drinking.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  This drinks well on its own and would be a nice match with stuffed peppers.  

2016 Château d'Yquem, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$360.00USD

Always a privilege to be able to drink Yquem.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  Great nose with honey, slight caramel, apricots, slight pineapple and slight ginger.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Sweet not cloying with good acidity.  On the palate, honey, slight mandarin orange, apricots and a bit of burnt sugar.  Long, long, finish.  Stunning if young.  Drink this over the next fifty years.  This will work with some desserts but really deserves to be served on its own.  It will improve a bit as it matures.  

2010 Château Le Gay Pomerol, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$169.00USD

Very impressive showing and while just a bit tight, this opened nice with air.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  Black currants, plums, baking spices, graphite and char on the nose.  Full bodied with a lush texture.  On the palate, this unwinds in the glass to show depth and layers of fruit (plums and black currants), spice, slight forest floor, and smoke.  Great balance.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This is not yet at peak but well worth opening now and letting it breathe.  Drink over the next twenty years.  It drinks great on its own but will work better with food.  Roasted duck or eggp

1982 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru), France, Bordeaux, Saint Julien, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1982
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Spectacular showing for this wine.  Opened, allowed to breathe for ten minutes then decanted for sediment and allowed to breath for another twenty minutes.  Totally exceeded expectations.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is everything one could want from aged Bordeaux.  Cassis, black cherries, tobacco, slight leather, hints of funk and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is complex, layered and contemplative.  Layers of cassis, black cherries, funk and earth.  Great balance.  Long finish.  More elegant than a powerhouse, but it can hold its own as well.  This bottle seemed at

1983 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru), France, Bordeaux, Saint Julien, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1983
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

What a treat.  The cork was popped, waited ten minutes and decanted for sediment.  This is classic old Bordeaux.  Deep ruby in color with some bricking at the rim.  The nose is great with cassis, cherries, tobacco, some funk and dried cherries.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is complex and delicious.  Most likely past prime but not a whole lot.  This bottle had been purchased on release and properly cellared.  Flavors of cassis and cherries layered with dry earth and funk.  Great balance.  Nice finish.  Drink now if you own any.  A bottle like this will work with dinner but it

2005 Château Branaire-Ducru, France, Bordeaux, Saint Julien, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This was popped and allowed to breathe for 20 minutes.  Certainly way too early but it was quite enjoyable nevertheless.  Consumed next to the 82, 83 and 09, for my tastes, this was the least great showing, but in time, will be the best wine.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spice and freshly turned earth.  Powerful as it opens in the glass.  Wonderful texture.  On the palate, this is delicious if tight.  Cassis, slight black cherry with a hint of minerality.  Long finish.  This needs another ten to twelve years and should drink well for 30 after th

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