vinokeeno

9.2

2000 vintage. Decanted and tasted over the course of 1.5 hours. Expected amount of sed. Chunky, unresolved nose. Medium body. Still too youthful. Would try to give it another 7-10 years if possible. Initial tree branches/greenery dipping into morning fresh water morphed into classic graphite/lead pencil after 45 mins in the decanter. There was a slight metallic streak on the finish that appeared about 20 minutes in and still hadn't dissipated after 1.5 hours. More nimble than the og bad boys from this estate ('86, '88, '89, '90) and a bit less weighty. Mostly positives along with a few (mostly) minor quibblings. A ways to go, tho, before hitting the summit this estate established four decades ago. 9.24.23. — 7 days ago

vinokeeno

9.5

1990 vintage. Last tasted 01.20.23 (9.6) and 05.16.21 (9.4). This slots in just between. Tastes as if from a colder cellar because this specimen was as fresh (too fresh) as a daisy. Decanted and tasted after 2 hours. Tannins for tannins sake. And I love big tannins. Less evolved than the January visit and drinking better than the 5.16.21 visit. Still bleeping massive as it ever was upon release back in the day. Very little has changed. This wine and the 1989 Gaja Sorí Tilden Barbaresco the two biggest, uncompliant wines with years to go before really revealing those hidden charms that I've tasted in recent memory. Getting closer but not quite ready to settle down any time soon. Out of a larger format bottle, must be positively overwhelming…like jumping to hyperspace accidentally…or on a boozy dare. 9.21.23. — 10 days ago

vinokeeno

9.5

2003 vintage. For my ca$i$h, still, consistently, the sexiest, most voluptuous red Bordeaux out there. Medium-heavy body. This kicked in the door to “the zone” recently without knocking and is set up for the next 10-12 years easily. Such a fantastic balancing act of fruit and structure. Total and blissful synergy. . 9.25.23. — 6 days ago

Vino Joe

9.3

Way too early. I have a few 375mL bottles and was curious to learn how a wine like this might be even though it was well before it’s suggested drinking window. The bones and structure are evident and this should grow into a monster. It was still a very pleasant wine it was just holding back the whole time. Unfocused fruit and a bit too sweet but I think this score will be significantly higher for round 2. — 2 days ago

vinokeeno

9.1

2006 vintage. Lean and mean. Decanted and tasted after 1.5 hrs. Not too much sed. Nice little sprinkling of cocoa powder in a feminine nose but, otherwise, all business and very transactional. Difficult to love and hard to understand with this effort being pretty linear vs what we've come to know/expect/love from this property. Plenty of concentration but lacking that extra oomph of finishing depth and seems like it has topped out/not improving. 9.23.23. — 8 days ago

Ericsson

9.5

This is an incredible wine and pop and pour at that. Opulent yet balanced. Absolutely loved this wine. — 8 days ago

vinokeeno

9.3

1982 vintage. Tremendous color. Decanted and tasted over the course of two hours. Throwing respectable sed. Ridiculous body for a 1982, esp considering the Saint-Julien pedigree. Big, initial fruit in the entry palate that carried over into the mid-palate. Thinned out noticeably at the end. Woulda guessed 1990. Have had approx 7-8 '82's this year and they were all consistent throughout with the lean body. This one was a joker for sure. Based on this example, not improving but can leverage the performance for another 3-5 years without significant drop-off. Full disclosure...love older St. Julien reds but not a fan of Branaire. 9.16.23. — 15 days ago

David Kline

9.8

Incredible depth of color rim to rim without variation. Inky. Showing slight brick under strong light. Nose of rye toast, tobacco, turned earth, black cherry, oak bark, crumbly roses, dried lavender, and sage. Descriptors do not do justice to the seamless whole of the smells, which are sewn together with espresso and bay leaf, allspice and forest notes. Smooth and silky tannins slip over medium mouthfeel of dried mushroom and graphite, re-emerge as round textural tapestries, filled with candle smoke, dark, rich cherry and ripe black currants. A stunner that needed days of exposure to fully emerge. Enticing and exquisite.




#chateauhautbrion #hautbrion #premiergrandcruclassé #2009 #pessacléognan #graves #bordeaux #leftbankbordeaux #leftbank #grandcruclasséde1855 — 10 days ago

with Courtney

David Kline

9.8

Graphite and raisin, fig and marinated porcini, smoky dried cherries, black pepper on grilled beef fat, toasted sesame, dried black and red currants, all within an aura of damson and violet and honeyed rose petal. Palate leaps with damson and dried and fresh bing cherry, dried spiced plum, cedar and dried lavender, black olive, moist tobacco, and perfectly toned tannins which come off as a separate, undefinable taste of fruit skin extraction with stunning depth; tea leaves meet dried blackberry in a redwood stand. Soft date and creamy fig follow to a tart raspberry end.




#châteauchevalblanc #chevalblanc #1ergrandcruclassé #1995 #stemiliongrandcru #saintemiliongrandcru #grandcruclassé #grandcru #appellationsaintemiliongrandcrucontrolée #misenbouteilleauchateau #stcivileduchevalblanc #gironde #bordeaux #rightbank #bordeauxrouge — 10 days ago

with Courtney

Robert Torretti

9.3

Dollar for dollar a really lovely wine. Enjoyed along side a 1995 Lynch-Bages with an oeufs en Meurette dish. Just a great all-around wine, great color, lovely nose and great mouthfeel. Displayed the elegance of St Julien. Look out for 1989s down the stack from Saint Julien for sure. — 5 days ago