2019 Château Peyrat, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Wine Review
This bottle was oxidized. Deep golden in color. A fair amount of oak showing but no fruit. A shame as there is often great value in the under $30 world of Bordeaux. It is a blend of 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. The cork looked fine but something went wrong somewhere. The current vintage is 2023, but even at age six years from vintage, it seems it should still be drinking well. Oh well.
2018 Château Malartic-Lagravière La Réserve de Malartic, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review
The second wine of Chateau Malartic-Lagravière. This is a blend of Merlot 58 %, Cabernet-Sauvignon 35 %, Cabernet-Franc 5 %, Petit-Verdot 2 %. Ruby and purple swirls in the glass, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, black cherries with a bit of spice and char. Medium bodied. Bright acidity. Vibrant on the palate. Flavors of cassis and cherries with some char. Some depth. Nice finish. This may still improve a bit but is drinking well now. Drink over the next ten years. It would work well with a cheddar cheese quiche.
2002 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review
From Magnum. This was an ok year in Bordeaux, but Haut Brion may have made the wine of the vintage. In regular bottles, this should be at or past peak, but in Magnum it was doing just fine. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and flat. The nose is mature with cassis, cigar box, gravel and slight char. Medium bodied. Medium silky tannins. On the palate, cassis, with some tobacco, gravel and char. Some complexity. Good finish. Older bottles are always variable, but these should be drunk sooner than later. This will work better with hearty food. Cassoulet would work we
2005 Château Pape Clément, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review
A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. The cork was popped at 9:00 am, a half ounce poured off, then a neutral cork inserted before being transported and served at 7:00 pm. The wine took about 30 minutes to really open and hit its stride. Purple in color with a ruby rim, opaque and bright. The nose shows black cherries, cassis, smoke, slight chocolate, and leather. With air, a subtle earthiness emerges that is classic Bordeaux. Full bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, this is complex and deep. Cassis, black cherries, chocolate cigar box notes and earth. Layers that un
2005 Château Haut-Bergey, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review
The 2005's are really starting to come into their own now and this is one more data point supporting that. This is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, char, slight cigar box, leather and spice. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, this is complex. Flavors of cassis and black cherries, slight leather and char. Great balance. Long finish. This is about at peak but should stay there for another ten years. Nice on its own, but better with food. This would wo
2004 Château Haut-Brion, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review
My personal favorite of the First Growths. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright. The nose is classic with cassis, black raspberries, gravel and slight black olives. Full bodied. Good acidity. Medium tannins. On the palate, this is a powerful Haut Brion which is interesting as the vintage was good but not great. Complex. Just starting to show signs of maturity. Cassis and black raspberry fruit with underlying char and gravel. Long finish. This may still improve a bit. Drink over the next twelve to fifteen years and probably more. This would work well with a beef a
2008 Château Smith Haut Lafitte, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Review
Pop and pour, this is drinking very well. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is great with cassis, black cherries, tobacco and spice. Full bodied. On the palate, this has nice tight layering that unwinds in the glass. Light tannins. Notes of cassis, black cherries, slight chocolate, and char. Great balance. Long finish. Still a bit on the young side but no harm in opening a bottle. This will drink well for another ten to fifteen years. Great on its own, even better with food. Pot roast would be a great choice.
1985 Domaine de Chevalier, France, Bordeaux, Graves, Wine Review
Opened and decanted for sediment. This is drinking well. Purple in color with ruby swirls, slight bricking. The nose is nice with cassis, cherries, leather and cedar. Full bodied. Tannins seem resolved. On the palate, cherries and black cherries with underlying leather. Good balance. Nice finish. This seems fully mature but not over the hill. Complex and also delicious. It would work well with braised lamb. Drink over the next five to seven years.
2005 Château Pape Clément, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Léognan, Wine Review
Once again demonstrating how long the 2005's are taking to come around. Pop and pour (for logistic reasons), this was just starting to open at the two hour mark. Still, a great showing though.