Bordeaux Blend

Old bottle are always fun.  Sometimes they work out, other times, not so much.  This bottle had a very low fill.  Below the shoulders and near the top of the label.  The cork was removed using a Durand.  It virtually exploded as it escaped the bottle.  very little integrity.  The bottle was decanted for sediment and pieces of cork, checked right away, but allowed to breathe for a while.  It turned out the wine continued to improve in the decanter for at least 30 minutes as it blew off the bottle stink and gained some strength.  Ruby/brown in color.  The nose has some mushrooms, some fresh m

Ruby in color.  The nose is a bit old.  Lighter with cherries, tobacco, dried fruits. bell pepper and slight celery.  On the palate, this is tart and dried cherries.  A bit of a bell pepper streak.  Still drinking ok but getting a bit long in the tooth.  Probably better ten years ago.  

This wine has notoriously been slow to come around.  This is a very masculine but classic Bordeaux.  This was decanted for sediment (not a lot) and then allowed to breathe for an hour or so, it opened nicely although the best days are still ahead for this wine.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, tobacco, some earthiness and a fair amount of oak coming thru as cedar and slight fresh cut timber.  On the palate, this was tight initially.  Eventually opening up to show a classic, if still on the young side of mature, Bordeaux.  Cassis, black licorice, black cherries and slight earthiness. 

Wow.  Great wine.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, coffee, slight floral note and graphite.  Its big and gorgeous.  On the palate, this has an amazing texture.  Lush but precise.  Great balance and acidity.  Tons of fruit but also depth.  Tight layering that unwinds in the glass.  Black raspberries, graphite and underlying char.  This wine is very intense but also quite delicious.  It works with big foods.  Still young and will continue to improve for a decade and be good for another decade or two after that. 

From an excellent vintage whose wines are slow to come around, this one is drinking well.  Seems to be shy of peak but getting close.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, slight tobacco and spice.  On the palate, this has medium body.  Cherries with some intertwines tobacco.  Some depth if not a lot.  Good acidity.  Worked well with food.  Nice finish.  I believe this was under $30 on release which is a fair price.  

This is one of my favorite wines from Pomerol.  They have gotten crazy expensive over the years and this was probably the last reasonably priced vintage.  2002 was not a great vintage.  What is good about it though is that the wines drank well in the short term and were evenly good if not great.  This bottle is at peak right now or maybe just shy.  It will probably stay there for another few years, so if you own any, be thankful and drink up.  It won't get better and depending on the bottle, may start to fade.  Purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, chocolate, slight spice and a bit

On opening the cork fell into the bottle.  It was fished halfway out and removed with a Durand corkscrew.  Anytime one gets the opportunity to try a Cheval Blanc it is truly a treat!  Of course, this is not a great year and it might be getting a bit old but it still has plenty to offer.  It took about 15 minutes to really open up.  Purple in color, slight browning at the edges.  There is some initial bottle stink but that blows off leaving cherries, slight dried cherries, spice, dust and blood.  Interesting.  On the palate, this has nice tart cherries layered with dry forest floor and some

Pop and pour.  This is very solid but given the release price ($50) and ten years from a great vintage, it seemed to under perform a bit.  Purple in color.  The nose is tight at first but eventually opens up to cassis and spice.  On the palate, this has a nice enough texture.  Nice cassis fruit but a bit one dimensional.  Perhaps there is still time to develop but it seems that if that was the case, there would be glimpses.  Still, it is enjoyable and if straightforward, at least that is a good direction.  

This was a treat.  Lafite was not at the top of their game back in the 60's but still a first growth is cool.  I believe this came from a private collection that was sold to a wine store.  No idea about storage.  The cork was soaked to the rim and the very bottom disintegrated upon opening.  The wine was then decanted for sediment.  Purple in color which was surprising.  The nose took about 30 minutes to blow off all of the bottle stink.  At first it seemed corked but that blew off so clearly it was not (TCA doesn't blow off).  Eventually showing some tobacco, dried fruit, some cassis, and

Purple in color.  The nose is dusty and warm.  With air, it opens to show cassis and some tobacco.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Black cherry fruit.  Light tannins.  Juicy acidity.  At $80, this will hopefully be better with some cellaring.  Not a lot of value at the moment, but it is a very pleasurable wine that is good with food.