Bordeaux Blend

This has been one of the best values in Bordeaux and continues to be.  Great showing for the money.  Purple in color.  The nose is tight at first but then opens to cherries and dark cherries.  It starts out bitter and tannic, but with some air, the cherry and dark cherry fruit explode.  Nice depth.  Some oak but integrated.  Good finish.  Right now it could use a decant.  It will continue to improve for a decade or more.  $30.  

Purple/Ruby in color.  The nose is dusty with dark cherries, cedar and slight dill.  On the palate, there is black cherries and tobacco.  Firm tannins.  Juicy acidity.  This is the second wine of Pape Clement and cost $35.  It did keep improving as it opened with air.  Probably needs some cellaring for a while to hit peak.  It is good now but should improve.  

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.  

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.  

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.  

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