Brown in color. On the nose, medium intensity, serious development, cardamom, clove, cedar, basement, cigar box, leather, a bit tired but still very beautiful, with lots of earth, and some oak, but not any fruit left. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, silky tannins, balanced, good array of “other” flavors with a nice finish. Tired, but pleasant, I would have like to have met this wine 15 years ago.
Category Archives: Left Bank
1970 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou St Julien
1995 Chateau Lafite Rothschilde Pauillac
I do really love the people that can afford to drink this wine, and I especially love the people that don’t hesitate when they see a wine they know rocks. Nice ruby color with some browning. On the nose, developed, medium+ intensity, earth, and basement, loaded with spices, cigar, leather glove, and black currant, fig, and cherry, fruit, with earth, oak, and lots of “other” elements. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, medium tannin, medium+ body, very balanced, an almost indescibable harmony of elegance and power, with a thought provoking finish. All-star wine, and I think this guy bought our last two bottles.
2006 Chateau D’Armailac Pauillac
Ruby color. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, black currant, leather, earth, tobacco, some spice, some oak, but over-all kind of muted. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, medium tannin, medium acidity, just kind of medium, and it got lost in the sea of other Bordeaux’s.
2006 Chateau Clerc-Milon Pauillac
Purple ruby color. On the nose, youthful, medium+ intensity, black cherry, plum, fig, leather, lots of spice, chalky dusty earth, and some oak. On the palate, dry, medium+intensity, medium tannin, medium acidity, very rich and luscious mouth feel, beautiful fruit, cocoa, with a solid backbone and impressive length on the finish.
2006 Chateau Lynch-Bages Pauillac
Ruby color. On the nose, youthful, medium+ intensity, black cherry, black currant, leather glove, cigar box, loaded with basement-like earthy component, moderate oak, quite complex with a bit of everything. On the palate, dry, medium+ intensity, medium+ tannin, medium+ acidity, extremely well balanced, like this wine glided if not coated every part of the palate with deliciousness, and the finish was polished and pretty. This is always an over-achieving Fifth Growth, and a perfect addition to a cellar.
1995 Chateau Margaux
Yeah, the table gods love me and I love them back more. Ruby color, with definite rime variation. On the nose, developed, medium+ intensity, immense amount of spice, cedar, cigar, leather, tons of basement, some black currant, and fading cherry, some oak, and yes there is unmistakable earth. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, faded fruit, but seamless balance, beauty almost beyond description, with medium tannins, medium acidity, and a very long spicy finish. Perhaps on the down side, but maybe going through an awkward stage.
2007 Chateau Semonlon Haut-Medoc
50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot. Ruby color. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, earth driven with nice black cherry and plum fruit, cigar box, cocoa, stemmy character, with some oak, and lots of basement earth. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, medium tannin, medium acidity, nicely balanced, lots of black currants, tobacco, bell pepper, mineral, with lots of spice and a solid finish. If anyone was trying to figure out what black currants taste like, try this wine.
1996 Chateau Latour Margaux
Ruby color. On the nose, developed, medium+ intensity, clove, mud, coriander, anise, leather, loads of basement, some plum, currant, cigar, loaded with earth and oak, one of the best smelling wines I have ever come across. On the palate, dry, medium+ intensity, layered, black fruit, layered earth, oak spices, balance, elegance, medium+ tannin, but the finish falls off before the tannin does. Celebrated vintage that’s been falling out of favor amoungst collectors, still a classic vintage, but not as ageable as the 05.