Margaux

Though 1999 is a good if not great vintage, Palmer is certainly one of the top wines of the vintage.  This is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot.  It is at peak.  This bottle was opened at 2:00 and allowed to breathe until 5:00 when it was double decanted back to its original bottle and sealed before serving at around 8:00.  That seemed to be about right.  Garnet in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spice, cedar and floral notes.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this is complex and layered.  Cassis

This is the second wine of Chateau Palmer and from the great 2000 vintage.  It is drinking very well now and likely at peak (not something I say often about 2000 Bordeaux wines).  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, some cassis, a bit of baking spices, and leather.  Full bodied.  Just a wisp of tannins.  Enticing texture.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Cassis and some black cherry fruit with a bit of spice and tobacco.  Nice finish.  This drinks great on its own, but will be better with food.  Lamb would be a classic pairing.  Drink over the next five to eig

Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, cassis, slight floral notes and cedar.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has ripe cassis flavors with a touch of leather and slight dried floral notes.  Medium tannins.  Good finish.  This needs a few more years to open and then should drink well for another ten to twelve more.  This would work well with a bacon-cheese Quiche.  

Any time one gets a chance to drink a first growth, it's a true pleasure.  They have become prohibitively priced, so its nice when a bottle actually gets open and consumed.  Perhaps not the greatest vintage of Margaux, but a very good one.  At age 22, this is pretty much at peak and drinking very well.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The  nose has a bit of that Margaux liquor/perfume with cherries, cassis, slight spice, and leather but clean.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  The palate has black cherries, slight black tea, and slight soy.  Long finish.

This winery calls itself the first garage wine from Margaux.  Deep ruby with some purple at the core.  The nose is very nice if a bit more earthy than what I think of for Margaux.  That is it has cassis, barnyard funk, blueberries and spice.  Full bodied and a luxurious mouthfeel.  On the palate, cassis and blueberries with underlying funk.  This is showing some maturity but not fully there.  Maybe another few years, but this should drink well for at least another decade.  Medium tannins.  Nice finish.  A delightful wine to drink on its own, it will also work well with roasted meats, fowl o

Another great showing from this estate.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Opaque and bright.  The nose has slight cherries with a bit of smoke.  Delicate but persistent.  On the palate, this is very smooth.  Light tannins.  Cherries and sour cherries with a slight char underneath.  Nice finish.  This is a more delicate wine with nice acidity and will appeal to those who like more red fruits than say purple.  It will match well to pasta dishes or fowl.  This should improve a bit more over the next few years and then drink well for another ten to twelve after that.  

Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Opaque and bright.  The nose is dusty with black cherries, cedar and a slight herbal note.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Light tannins.  Nice black cherry fruit with some underlying oak.  Nice acidity.  Nice finish.  This should continue to improve for a few more years and drink well for ten more after that.  It  is a solid wine right now but it will be interesting to see where it goes.  This will drink better with food.  Roasted meats would be a good choice.  

This is a second growth under the 1855 classification system.  Not a super second but often can be found for a reasonable price.  A blend of  53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  Slight funk in the glass which slightly blows off with air.  Cassis, cedar and roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has nice fruit plums and cass along with some underlying spice/cedar.  Slightly drying tannins.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with roasted fowl or meats.  It is close to peak but may still be a bit better.  It sh

For wines that are purchased on release and  cellared for years, it is rare to hit a bottle at its exact prime.  Often the bottle is opened too early, or too late.  Wine lovers often discuss which is better.

Consumed after a tasting of First Growths from 2008, this more than held its own.  It is 51% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot.  The definition of a sexy wine.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, floral notes and slight plums.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Juicy yet velvety.  Lots of cassis and some raspberries over a slight spice/earth.  Long finish.  There are medium to firm tannins but they are more silky in style.  A delicious wine right now, it should improve for a decade and last another couple (at least) after that.