Bordeaux

• Barsac
• Bordeaux Supérieur
• Margaux
• Graves
  • Pessac-Leognan
• Haut-Medoc
• Listrac
• Pauillac
• Pomerol
• Saint Emilion
• Saint Estephe
• Saint Julian
• Sauternes

Cos d'Estournel is one of the great wines of Bordeaux and so, one of the great wines of the world.  2008 is a vintage that doesn't always get the respect that it deserve coming right before the pair of great vintages 2009 and 2010.  It is also a bit more backward than its reputation and so the wines don't always show that well at this point.  They will.  This one is drinking well but patience will certainly be rewarded.  It needs a few more years in the cellar to get to peak.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with cassis and soy sauce.  Also some baking spice.  On the palate, this has med

A nice showing for this 2014.  Given that, it is probably worth checking out the 2015 or 2016.  This retails for around $25.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has plums along with some dusty tobacco.  Also a very interesting saline feature.  On the palate, this is very tannic.  Black cherry fruit with a bit of earthiness.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Everything you could want in a value Bordeaux.  

An issue with Bordeaux is how long do they need to be cellared before opening.  I saw a tasting note saying this was drinking great, so I opened a bottle.  Pop and pour.  Uh, no.  At least not for my tastes.  It was tight, closed up and tannic.  No harm though, the cork went back in and it was left for the next night.  Again, pop and pour on Night 2.  Much better although the last glass was certainly then best (by far).  If I was doing it again, I would wait a couple of years but if I really wanted it htat evening, a six hour decant seems about right.  As for the wine, it is inky purple in

Nice to check in on this.  That said, this bottle, purchased from retail on release had a significant amount of brett on it.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has some band-aid, slight barnyard, cassis, slight blueberries, and cedar.  On the palate, this was decanted and much but not all of the brett blew off.  It shows nice fruit with tight layers of barnyard and earth.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  A cleaner bottle can certainly go longer, but given how this showed, it might be better to open a bottle and see how it is doing.  Especially if you have more than one.  It needs b

2001 was such a great vintage and the wines from Sauternes or Barsac are in a gorgeous place right now.  Golden orange in color.  The nose is beautiful with honey and apricots.  Slightly sweet on the palate.  Oranges and apricots with honey.  Viscous with a nice backbone of acidity.  Long finish.  This is complex and layered and demands ones attention.  The first sip tastes good, then evolves on the palate and just does not let go.  Works great with blue cheese or a savory dessert.  

Gorgeous wine.  This was controversial on release for being too big and bold, but I think it would be less so today.  Maybe not.  It is still a ripe wine but not overblown or raisiny, etc.  Just a gorgeous expression of Merlot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is initially tight but opens quickly showing dusty cherries, slight mocha ad roasted herbs.  On the palate, black cherries layered with dry earth and just a hint of cocoa powder.  Great plush yet juicy texture.  This is deep with tight layering that unwind in the glass.  Long finish.  It probably won't get better but will

Nice wine.  From an easy to drink vintage that may have been the last reasonably priced vintage across the board in Bordeaux.  Even the best ones should be drunk sooner than later and while this is in that category, at age 16, it offered up a very nice wine.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose is clean with some cassis and slight herbal note.  On the palate, nice one dimensional cassis fruit.  A bit shallow but still fresh.  Not a lot of development here and no funk, tobacco, or other tertiary qualities but what is here is quality.  

Great wine and in a great place.  Still has plenty of life left but fantastic right now.  Purple in color, although a bit dull at the ruby rim.  The nose is fantastic; cassis, cigar box, cherries and dust.  With air it brings some funk in a beautiful way.  On the palate, cassis, dry earth and slight spice.  Complex and tightly layered it unwinds quickly in the glass.  Long finish.  This would be ideal with heavier or meat based dishes.  Truly a contemplative wine and everything you could hope for back when this wine was released.  

This was pop and gently poured around the table.  Ruby/brown in color.  The nose is dusty at first.  With air some cassis and celery come out.  With more air, the cassis takes over along with some cigar box, but after a bit, it starts to fade albeit slowly.  On the palate, it starts out slightly bitter but with air gets a bit riper.  Not the deepest or most complex wine but still drinking nicely.  Certainly past prime at this point but with something to offer.  A nice contrast to slightly more youthful wines.  At 35 years from birth, pretty impressive.  

Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight barnyard and a bit of cigar tobacco.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Drinking well right now with black cherry fruit and underlying earthiness.  Good acidity.  Should be pretty food friendly for medium or heavier foods.  Nice finish.  Drink now.  It might last for five more years, but won't get any better.