Bordeaux

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

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

This had been decanted for an hour or so.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is dusty with cherries.  On the palate, slight tannins.  Tart cherries.  Some complexity.  Seems to be nearing but not quite at peak.  Nice with food.  

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.  

Deep golden in color.  The nose is nice with slight canned peaches and apricots.  On the palate, this has a nice acidity.  Nice apricot and peach notes.  depth and complexity.  Long finish.  This is entering a peakish period but no hurry on this at all.  

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries but also some barnyard stink.  This only partially blew off with air.  On the palate, this has cherries, cherry juice, slight black cherries and layers of damp earthy forest floor.  Still has some tannins.  This certainly is at peak at best and probably a bit past but not too far.  There is a nice complexity and still fruit left.  I would drink these over the next five to ten years depending how you like your Bordeaux.  For my wallet, this house usually over delivers albeit not at the top level of Bordeaux eit

Purple in color.  Ruby at the rim.  The nose is nice with cherries and cedar.  Some spice.  On the palate, there are medium tannins.  Plenty of cherry fruit.  A bit of earthy funk.  This has a good complexity.  Showing far better than I might have expected from the vintage or the second label status.  Good finish.  Seems to have plenty of life left.  Not sure if it improves but might gain some complexity.

Purple/brown in color.  Not at the edges but the whole color.  Interesting and still bright.  On the nose, this has some black cherries, roasted fruit (not too much) and spice and vanilla.  On the palate, this is tight but opens in the glass with air.  Black cherry and black raspberry fruit with some spice.  The oak is prevalent here and the tannins, while present are diminishing.  I doubt this ever fully sheds the oak before the fruit is gone.  That said, there is plenty to like if one is not too oak averse.  I would still recommend drinking it sooner than later, say by 2022 which isn't to

Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has spice, oak and dark cherries.  On the palate, cherries and chocolate.  Seems like a fair amount of Merlot must be in this.  A new estate for me.  This is drinking well right now at 8 years from vintage.  It has a fair amount of oak on it, so if that is an issue, let it cellar for a while.  It should integrate in the next five years or so.  

Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is nice with cassis and tobacco.  On the palate, cassis and dark cherry fruit.  Medium tannins.  Long finish.  There is some depth and complexity here.  It is nearing maturity given the vintage but easily a decade left.  

Opened late in the evening (probably should have skipped it) but it was a nice treat.  Drinking great right now.  Golden in color, but not that dark for an 01 (purchased on release).  The nose is gorgeous with apricots and honey and a bit of burnt sugar.  On the palate, not quite as expressive but still quite nice.  Burnt sugar and apricots carry thru.  Viscous but not cloying.  Sweet but not overtly.  Ok acidity.  Long finish.  This was from a 375 and even in that format, has a long life left.  

Update.