Margaux

This is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  It is a classic Margaux with a perfumed nose and plenty to seduce the palate.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, spice and floral/perfumed quality to it.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Lots of cassis fruit with minerality and slight cigar box.  Medium tannins that get a bit stronger in the glass.  It is very young but still accessible.  It is an outstanding wine that will require time to develop.  It has another couple decades for us to see how good it gets.  The group I tasted it w

Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, slight barnyard and a bit of cigar tobacco.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Drinking well right now with black cherry fruit and underlying earthiness.  Good acidity.  Should be pretty food friendly for medium or heavier foods.  Nice finish.  Drink now.  It might last for five more years, but won't get any better.  

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.  

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.  

Purple in color.  The nose is very tight at first.  Eventually, it opens with a perfumed nose of cassis, slight menthol and cigar notes.  On the palate, this is very tannic.  Boysenberries with some earthiness.  Nice finish.  This kept improving all night.  It is an expensive wine at $130.  There is no reason to open this for at least a decade to justify the price.  The potential is there but it will take time.