Pardon My French

Château Palmer

Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1983

Violets, violets and more violets aromatically, after sitting in the decanter for 15 minutes, this wine decided to show its still youthful tannin, likely to inform me that it was still way too young to drink, long finish, but ideally needs more cellaring, one of my favorite Bordeaux ever, I have some more bottles so will wait on those, amazing!! — 3 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Andrew, Jonathan and 11 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Never had the ‘83! (I had no $$ when these futures were offered or when released 🤷) Said to be legendary!
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I purchased a case of this on futures after some of the wine guys I knew in NYC in the 1980s touted Palmer — one guy was a doctor who had cellared Palmer for decades served 1961 & 1966 Palmer in splits at a wine dinner in the Village, blew my socks off, he said the 1983 would be the next GREAT Palmer and I just listened and bought (as you know, those 1980s Bordeaux were not super expensive). I opened one of these 3-4 years ago with 1982 Pichon-Lalande and a few other outstanding 1980s Bordeaux, and that bottle of 1983 Palmer blew everything away — this bottle showed more tannic structure, though amazing violet aromatics, and definitely needs more cellaring. I LOVE Palmer!!
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, one other LOL about this Palmer yesterday — I asked my wine friend to open and decant, he pulled out his Durand — and the bottom 1/4 of the cork decided it’d rather stay in the bottle!! That’s why I like the olde English tradition of super-heated Port tongs to take the glass above the neck off that way!! 🤔🤷😂

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1955

My late grandfather’s bottle. Stored poorly but showing well. Watching it turn from rust and come alive. A little higher acid than expected but not vinegar! — 25 days ago

Rob, Ira and 5 others liked this

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2014

2014 vintage. 375 ML format. Tasted with @Neil Valenzuela Gorgeous, somewhat candied and dominant melon fruits evident currently. In the youthful, know it all phase now. Has the basis/structure for the long haul. Load up the truck now or in three decades. Thank you @Neil Valenzuela So good. 12.10.25. — 12 days ago

Neil Valenzuela
with Neil
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Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

Fantastic wine! Deep gold color. Aromas of dried pineapple, lemon and Granny Smith apples. Nice dried pineapple on the palate, pear and stone fruit.

🏅98 Points - Wine Enthusiast
🏅98 Points - James Suckling
9.4

Domaine François Raveneau

Montée de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay 1988

Cork broke in half (actually 6-7 pieces), initially some “old cork” flavors show through, yet after 5 minutes in the glass those dissipate and we’re left with a lovely aged Raveneau with mature fruit, some lemon and mineral notes as well, very nice complexity and length, I’ve always been very lucky aging my Raveneau, this is clearly a success (shaky cork notwithstanding)! — 5 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Dave, Tom and 9 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Sounds ok to me!!!
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Wow! So cool. I have ZERO experience with Raveneau and ZERO Raveneaus in my cellar. ☹️ so your advice is purely of a hypothetical nature for me. (I’ve been lucky enough to have a few Dauvissats, however.) Did you use a Durand corkscrew? I use that with any 20 year or older bottle. Essential.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I did not, but the cork broke into so many pieces that I don’t think what cork puller I used mattered (shrug)!

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2020

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fresh fruits on the nose with cedar, licorice and chocolates notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, light oak, spices, chocolates, coffee, licorice, light vegetables, tobacco, light earth, herbs and black pepper.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious 5 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Pauillac. Elegant, fruit forward and rich.

Wine Spectator 96 points. Wine Advocate 94 points.

Still young, and a tad subdued at the moment, but with good structure and nice complexity. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

Already showing a great mouthfeel, nicely balanced and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot. Aged in (75% new) French Oak barrels.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$90.
— 17 days ago

Tom, Dave and 20 others liked this

Jacques Selosse

Initial Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay 2017

Amazing! Concentration, flavour...wow! — 4 days ago

Tom, Tom and 14 others liked this
ESF

ESF

👍
Jan de Weerd

Jan de Weerd

What an experience!!!
Andrew McIntyre

Andrew McIntyre

@Jan de Weerd a truly exceptional Champagne. Quite a lot of hype around the producer and often in this situation the wines don't live up to it or arent your taste. This was amazing!
Sidenote: if you are ever in Paris then the restaurant was great. Offered the wine for below market price as well🥳

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

So, my long time wine group buddy brought this bottle from his cellar, absolutely stunning 36-year-old Bordeaux, but honestly, it tasted like a 10-year-old wine, so fresh and so amazingly long on the finish, honestly needs another 25-30 years in the cellar, nigh perfect!! — 3 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Andrew, Jonathan and 14 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Dave, that Palmer and Margaux were opened in part due to two of my wine group guys and our wives being present — one of the wives is unfortunately having quite serious medical issues, and I said to my buddy who brought the 1989 Margaux that I was bringing the Palmer for her to taste, so he one-upped me (which I was thrilled with), so just a special occasion. Some of the other recent special bottles are my response to pulling older bottles these past 3-6 months that have disappointed me, I figure it’s better to drink some of these a few years too early than keep being disappointed.
Dave

Dave

Sounds like a special time!
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Dave, it was, and I’ll always be glad for it!!

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1990

1990 Chateau Lynch Bages in Nebuchadnezzar. At a Lynch Bages dinner for the Commanderie de Bordeaux NY Chapter. Paired over the course of three courses vs the 1995, 1996 and 2000. The 1998 was also served earlier in the evening. So youthful, given the large format. Still got to experience different stages of evolution of the wine as it was poured throughout the night. Well balanced and beat out the other wines that night, with rhe 1996 showing more pepper and spice but also green bell pepper from the Cab Franc. The 2000 also showed strongly, but could not outshine the 1990. — 2 days ago

Ira, Andrew and 9 others liked this

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2015

Always a treat. Especially at thirty thousand feet. — a day ago

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Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

1989 vintage. Last tasted 3 years ago (9.6). Nice fill. Durand used to open. Cork 95% saturated with extensive bottle rim cleaning involved before pouring. Not decanted. Tight, minty nose throughout along with a decided, lingering zinc note under the tongue at the finish line. Tasted 2 hours after opening. Power but without delineation. Just a consistent, forgettable push. Nothing wrong with the wine...it just needed more air/time and a decant but it wasn't my call. Feel like the zinc flavor would have dissipated/blown off with more time. Good but more memorable for what it wasn't vs what it was. Pity and an entire wasting of what could have been. 11.21.25. — a month ago

Tom, Paul and 16 others liked this
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Very interesting and diplomatic note.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego Premium Badge

@Pinotman /// Andreas Had to bite my tongue.