2011 vintage. Decanted with some sed and tasted after 1 hour. Bigg structure with plenty of tobacco, underbrush and dark fruit. A complex kid. Lots of moving parts but really unified currently and moving towards a common goal. Total BDX ringer in a pricey blind. This has miles to go. 8.2.24. — 2 months ago
Can’t tell if not in a great spot or maybe some slight heat damage—but leaning to the latter. Tasty, but not as good as it should have been — 6 months ago
The 2014 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is one of my favorite wines from the Left Bank in this vintage. Bright and vivacious blackberry, cedar and graphite scents soar from the glass with real purpose. Wonderful delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite tensile with ample depth. It has matured since I last tasted it four years ago. It is very fresh and has a saline finish. Recommended. Tasted at the Bordeaux Index 10-Year-On tasting. N.B. Two bottles tasted blind at Southwold showed oxidation on the first. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 6 months ago
The back label says 15.5% but I am digging this nonetheless. Nose has spiced dark berry fruit of pristine purity. There’s also a bit of crushed rock and fresh green herbs. In the mouth it’s so deep and flavorful. I don’t think I’d be able to say it’s over 15 if served this blind. Length for days. Delicious. — 6 days ago
I love this vintage now. Cedar, camphor and pine as well as dry roses and pot pourri. Long finish full of elegance. The marker of Pauillac for me is blood sausage/iron/cured meat and here it was just exploding. Great bottle, classic, perfect for a blind tasting. — 3 months ago
It’s a night of consecutive first year decades, 90 & 80. Enjoyed in reverse order.
I had an 80 from Andy Beckstoffer’s cellar at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April 24 with Andy & Tor Kenward. This library bottle I bought recently at K&L is better than what I had a Pebble. Just look at the cork!
Glorious mouth entry. Juicy, perfect, ripe fruit that shows age but it is not missing a step. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark, juicy, poached strawberries, baked rhubarb mid, dark cherries, candied raspberries to raspberry pudding. Just a touch of v/a, chocolate pudding/fudge, mocha, caramel, light, soft, sun tea, softened baking spices- cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, some fresh & dry herbs, dark, rich soils with dry leaves, evolved, dark spices w/ some palate heat, dry top soil, limestone powder, hint of mint, with & fresh florals that are; dark, red, blue & liquid violets and lavender sprinkled in, perfect acidity and perfectly balanced, softly tensioned, knitted and a refined finish that lasts two-minutes.
This bottle is in a perfect spot & as good as it gets. Perfectly stored. It has another 5 years. Liquid, velvety tannins. One of the more perfect bottles I’ve had in 5-10 years.
Photos of, my tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine. The retail wine shop at Spanish Bay, Andy Beckstoffer & Tor Kenward. — a month ago
1982 vintage. Above average fill. Cork 98% saturated. Decanted and throwing a mix of chunky and sandy sed. Tasted after 15 minutes. Dark-fruited nose. Still medium body. Any overt fruit is gonzo and this specimen ended up as more muscular than remembered with notable balance. Tannic skeleton definitely in place. Least favorite 1st growth overall but this was a great showing. In a sweet spot currently and likely to hold here without drop off for another 4-5 years. 6.1.24. — 4 months ago
The 2014 Trotanoy has a more complex bouquet than the 2014 Gazin, with more Pomerol DNA in the mix, iron-tinged red berry fruit, black truffle and cedar. Fine delineation and quintessentially Pomerol. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and harmonious, soy-tinged black fruit with white pepper sprinkled over the finish. This has personality and class but needs time (comme d'habitude). One of the standouts in what is an inconsistent Pomerol vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2024)
— 6 months ago
S
Wow. Smooth. Paris Louvre — 9 days ago