Bordeaux
Château Giscours
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2021
2021 vintage. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32 % Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. — 7 days ago
Château Latour
Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1981
Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a dull purple/garnet color with a translucent core and significant rim variation, moving towards a rust color. The wine has medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, dried blackberries, dried red and purple flowers, old leather bound books, tobacco, a touch of menthol, some earth, old wood and a sprinkle of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Super high quality but a touch thin.
Initial conclusions: Due to the observable characteristics of color, rim variation, sediment, smell and flavor, I think this wine has significant age; 30+ years. However, this is still very alive and showing more than enough markers to give an indication of place. Subsequently, this could be a Cabernet-based blend or a Tempranillo-based blend from the United States, France, or Spain. For me, I’m getting new French oak vibes instead of American so I’m eliminating Spain. I also think this leans more towards its fruit than its structure and since this comes across a little on the thin side, I’m going to say this comes from a tougher vintage. My final conclusion is this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the USA, Napa, 1981. Wow! This showed really well.
It never ceases to amaze me how analogous the 1981 vintage was in both Napa and Bordeaux. I find it equally amazing how well that vintage has held up; particularly when considering its poor reputation, mostly based on the prevailing thought at the time. From my perspective, well stored examples are not going to fall off of a cliff but I would drink now through 2031. — a month ago
Château La Conseillante
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2020
94-95 Tried pop n pour. The nose jumped out of the bottle and glass and filled the room. Dense. Decanted 3 hours and drank over next 3 hours. The nose is floral violets, graphite, blue and black fruits. On the palate is coating, chewy mouthfeel with good acidity and tannins. The layers keep coming when you introduce enough oxygen. Everything is in such great balance. It’s 6 years old but should’ve waited until 10. Luckily I have a couple more bottles. Will try to wait 4 years and then another 5. But, it’s really damn good now too. — 11 days ago
Château Malescot St. Exupéry
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2018
50% Cab Sauvignon 35% Merlot some Cab Franc and PV
Well integrated tannins, nice rich berry nose and great balance fruit and acidity on the palate. At eight years has still time to mature more but showing it’s there for the long run.
Very nice package overall — 14 days ago
Château Margaux
Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1983
Tangy. Dark plum and dried herbs. A gamey lush quality with a touch of iodine. Savory with a pinch of salt in the finish — 15 days ago
Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)
St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep purple/garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, mixed brambles, tobacco, purple flowers, graphite, dry organic earth and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+.
Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or based blend), Merlot (or based blend) or Tempranillo (or based blend) from France, the United States or Spain. But the oak is French so unlikely to be from Spain and I think this leans more towards its structure so I’m taking this to France. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet-Sauvignon-based blend from France, from Bordeaux, from the Haut-Medoc, 2015. I’ll take it. Tasty stuff. Drink now through 2049. — 9 days ago
"Odedi"
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Earthy nose with black fruits and chocolate notes.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, licorice, dark chocolates, coffee, light vegetables, herbs and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Paulliac. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex, elegant and fruit forward.
This 9 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.
Easy drinking, and good by itself or with food.
A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Aged in (75% new) French oak barrels for 17 months.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$85. — 3 days ago