Bordeaux, France
Château Rieussec
Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1997
Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau Rieussec is another property that the Rothschild’s own.
1997 a difficult vintage for reds in Bordeaux. The upside is, when the reds lag, the whites almost always shine.
The nose shows; marmalade, dry peaches & apricots, pineapple, citrus blend, fresh orange peel, burnt almonds, almond cake, nut skin, burnt toffee, honey, caramel, beeswax, waxiness, toast, limestone, gravely stones, fruit blossoms and yellow florals.
The body is thick, gluey and rich. The mouthfeel magnificent. There is almost a dry tannin presence but it is it’s dry, gritty volcanic minerality, marmalade, dry peaches & apricots, pineapple, citrus blend, fresh orange peel, burnt almonds, almond cake, nut skin, burnt toffee, honey, caramel, beeswax, waxiness, toast, limestone, gravely stones, fruit blossoms and yellow florals. The acidity round and splendid. The finish is rich, well balanced, elegant, polished and delicious.
All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.
Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, glass of 1997 showing color, Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite presenting and another view of the city of San Francisco/Bay and the Golden Gate Bride in the background.
— 2 days ago
Château La Pointe
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
Time for some #MerlotThursday.
This is a very young,
yet approachable, Right Bank Bordeaux with a soft and elegant mouthfeel.
Dry and fruity on the palate with wood, vanilla, earth, spices, leather, tobacco, milk chocolates, black pepper, vegetables, bitter herbs and peppercorn.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and nice legs.
Long finish with grippy tannins and tangy cranberries.
Already delicious and will age nicely in the next 15 years. Needs 3 hours to open up properly.
A blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc.
14% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$60. — 2 days ago
Château Sociando-Mallet
L'Autre de Sociando-Mallet Bordeaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2010
Vintage 2010 / archetypical Haut Medoc smell with dark fruit tones, spices like laurel, forrest, a hint of a stable, even chocolate. Good acidity. And not sturdy stubborn in concentration but light footed which makes it a lovely Sunday luncheon wine. It’s not only the quality of a wine that counts but also if it matches the occasion. This is probably the most quaffable Sociando Mallet I ever tasted. / Paired with Cantonese beef and paksoi. — 6 days ago
Château L'Evangile
Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2008
Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau L’ Evangile is owned by the Rothschild Family.
The nose reveals; ripe, ruby, brightly floral fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, cedar, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals.
The body is full. It’s mouthfeel beautiful and gorgeous already. Brightly floral, ruby fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, black plum skin, baked strawberries with hints of pomegranate & dry cranberries. Steeped fruit tea, dry cedar plank, dry clay, crushed rock powder, sandy soils, graphite, dark rich soils, crushed rocks, dry underbrush, volcanic minerals, vanilla, touch of caramel & mocha, anise with fresh and dry dark & red florals. The acidity is round & really nice. The structure, tension, length and balance are just hitting a good stride. The finish is well balanced fruit & earth, elegant, beautifully floral and persists for several minutes. Needs to be held 15 years from birth and will drink through 2035+. 93 now with room for more down the road.
All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.
Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, our double decanters and pourers and another view of the city of San Francisco and the Bay. — 2 days ago
Château Ducasse
White Bordeaux Blend 2013
The stock on this 2013 is dwindling, only a couple bottles left. I do appreciate longer term aging on inexpensive Bordeaux Blanc, but this particular bottle seems to be in a little more advanced stage (decline) than our prior bottle several months back. We have a contiguous nose and palate, lightly grassy, fresh white peach, struck granite and green melon on the medium finish. Fun stuff yet still. — 13 days ago
Ets Thunevin
Mauvais Garçon Red Bordeaux Blend 2009
Drank 5/17/19. Paired with bacon cheeseburgers.
Nose of sweet plums, blackberry, and a touch of earth. Palate of blackberry liquer, over ripe plums, and a touch of leather. Perhaps it's the food pairing, but this came across as a bit ripe tonight. More of a napa palate, despite the more old world nose.
4/23/6/3/3 +50 =89 pts — 7 days ago
Château Lafite Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000
Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite.
Saskia told me they are buying an existing property or starting one in China.
The nose reveals; ripe and slight stewed fruits. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, dark plum skin, dry cranberries & poached strawberries. Dark, dry soils, limestone minerals, touch of bandaid=VA, saddle-wood, steeped black tea, dry river stone, dark rich & dry soils, crushed rocks, dry underbrush, cherry cola with dry and fresh dark and red flowers.
The body is full and thick. This wine is just coming out of its infant stage and just starting to stretch it arms & legs. The tannins are firm, rounded and powdery. The structure, tension, length and balance show the beauty of the vintage but, the drinking window on their 2000 is somewhere between 2035-2080. Blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, dark plum skin, dry cranberries & poached strawberries. Dark, dry soils, limestone minerals, touch of bandaid, saddle-wood, steeped black tea, dry river stone, dark rich & dry soils, lots of graphite, crushed rocks, limestone, dry crushed rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, dry herbs, dry underbrush, cherry cola with dry and fresh dark and red flowers. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is very good now but, if you don’t cellar it 35 years from birth, you are cheating yourself out of something truly special. Its well balanced, rich, ripe and persists for days. 95 now with more to come in 16-25 plus years.
All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.
Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite presenting and another view of the city of San Francisco/Bay and the Golden Gate Bride in the background.
— 2 days ago
Château Duhart Milon
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2015
Masterclass with in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Duhart-Milton is another property the Rothschild’s own.
The nose shows, bright, ripe, candied fruits with pleasant, bright florals. Blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, strawberries & pomegranate. Tobacco notes, leather, dry brush, limestone, crushed dry rocks, beautiful red, dark fresh florals with violets.
The body is full and shows the strength of the 15 vintage but, this is one should not be enjoyed at least for 10-15 years. Tannins are fine and firm. Ripe and slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, strawberries & pomegranate. Tobacco notes, leather, dry brush, limestone, crushed dry rocks, dry river stones, black dry earth, cedar, graphite, beautiful red, dark fresh florals with violets. The acidity is really good. The structure, tension, length and balance are good now but, show greater promise down the road. The finish is very good, well balanced, elegant and persists minutes.
All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.
Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, tasting set up, our double decanters and pourers and another view of the City and Bay with Alcatraz. — 2 days ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
Masterclass with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite in San Francisco. Rieussec is another property that the Rothschild’s own.
The nose shows; meyer lemon, green apple, white peach, apricots, tropical melons, ripe pineapple, beeswax, lanolin, green notes, soft chalky minerals, wet stone with spring flowers and yellow lilies.
The body is full, thick and a little waxy. There is some pronounced white spice as it sets. Meyer lemon, green apple, white peach, apricots, tropical melons, ripe pineapple, beeswax, lanolin, vanillin notes, green notes, hint of bay leaf, crisp grainy minerals, wet stone with spring flowers and yellow lilies. The acidity is round & beautiful. The well polished finish is; elegant, lush and persists for minutes. Nice White Bordeaux but, needs a few more years in bottle to show more.
All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.
Photos of; the intro slide to Saskia presentation, the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, the group having this Bordeaux before we started and one of the amazing San Francisco Bay views from the top of the Fairmont. Rieussec is another property the Rothschild’s own. — 3 days ago