Haut Médoc, Médoc
Château Lynch-Bages
Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2006
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. — 10 days ago
Château Palmer
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2015
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. — 4 days ago
Château Beychevelle
Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1989
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. — 8 days ago
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron
Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000
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. — 9 days ago
Château Montrose
Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990
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. — 12 days ago
Château Cos d'Estournel
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2003
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. — 8 days ago
John Bratincevic
NOSE: fur-bearing critter … earth, iron … cacao … a bit of cassis. Savoury. Pine and forest.
TASTE: iron, blackberry, cassis, MEATY, orange chocolate, leaves…good old fashioned dirt. Great deal. Could certainly age a while. 92.
NOTE: I tasted this a year ago (I forgot!) and notes were different. Unsure if it’s me, the bottle, or the extra year of age. Anyway, I liked it both times! — 25 days ago