2015 Château Lagrange, France, Bordeaux, Saint-Julian, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with tart cherries.  Seemed quite tight.  On the palate, cassis fruit.  Medium bodied.  A fair amount of oak.  OK finish.  I am hoping this is just shut down at this point as it did not seem to give up too much.  At $50, this is not inexpensive.  It is good, but under expectations.  At this point, it should be cellared for a decade and then checked in on.  

2015 Château Beauregard Ducasse Blanc, France, Bordeaux, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Gold/silver/copper in color.  The nose has lemon and minerals with a bit of a metallic quality to it.  On the palate, this has good acidity.  Full bodied.  Green apples especially on the finish.  Slightly oily texture.  This is a very nice, relatively inexpensive white Bordeaux that is drinking fine right now.  I doubt it makes old bones, but that is fine.  Food friendly as well.  

2005 Château Grand Mayne, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Purple in color.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, slight chocolate and cedar.  On the palate, this is still not at peak but drinking very well.  Layers of black cherries, cherries, earth and spice.  Nice texture.  Good finish.  This is a nice value for top (not the very top) Bordeaux.  Still some upside for this wine as well as it matures.  Better with food.  There is plenty of fruit though.  

2003 Château Montrose, France, Bordeaux, St. Estèphe,Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

Pop and pour and consumed over two nights.  Much better on night 2.  I know many people say 2003 was such a warm vintage that the wines are already mature.  That might be true, but this one's best days are still to come.   62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, graphite, cedar, and smoked cigar.  On the palate, this is full bodied with medium tannins.  Lush cassis and black cherry fruit layered with forest floor, damp earth and tobacco.  Tightly layered.  Long finish.  This is delicious but very much from Bordeaux a

2009 Château Faugères, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is drinking youthfully but quite nice right now.  Purple in color.  The nose has cherries, dark cherries, chocolate and cigar tobacco.  On the palate, this has a lovely lush texture.  Lots of fruit; black cherries, some cherries with a bit of earth.  There is some oak but mostly integrated.  Light tannins.  Nice very smooth finish.  Drinking very well, it works well with food.  There may be some upside as it develops but I think mostly this is as good asa it gets.  

2005 Château Rieussec, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+

Golden in color.  The nose has orange peel and honey.  Just gorgeous. On the palate, this is amazing.  The orange peel carries thru along with some orange and apricot.  Great acidity that cuts thru the sweetness.  It is sweet, just right.  Complex and deep.  Long, long finish.  Drinking quite well right now, but no hurry.  Just a lovely wine.  

1982 Château Mouton Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1982
Score: 
100
Grade: 
A+

Lots to say about this wine, but first, why it was opened.  My friend Chris is about to retire.  Way back in 1986 or so, Chris was convinced to spend $30 for a 375ml bottle of this wine.  Since that time, he has waited for the right special occasion to open the bottle.  Luckily for me (since I din't meet Chris until around 2010), this bottle is known to maturing at a glacial pace.  He has moved all around the world waiting for the right time and place.  My wife and I had dinner at Chris's home before he leaves town and goes to spend his retirement in Cape Cod.  Chris opened the wine.  What

2009 Château Nairac. France, Bordeaux, Barsac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Deep golden in color.  The nose has canned peaches and simple syrup.  On the palate, this is a bit cloying.  It is good, but lacks the acidity that the better vintages have.  Sugary apricots.  A bit clipped on the finish.  That said, it is also delicious if you are just having a sip or two.  Very rich.  

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