Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend

It’s been a couple years since I last enjoyed the 1996 and based off this experience, it’s continuing to age gracefully.

Double decanted the night before. The wine pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, kirsch, purple flowers, tobacco, dried herbs, green pepper, old wood and gravelly earthy. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and sanguine. So much soul, it could make Marvin Gaye blush. Drink now with patience (and a long decant) through 2041. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass

This is drinking so well. Nose of cassis, redcurrant, classic Margaux flowers, green peppercorn (Carmenere), crazy florals, just a masterful nose. Leather and glorious spice. Palate is wide and sleek, elegant and decadent than sharply concentrated and sweet. The tannins are sweet and aggressive but the fruit is extraordinary and in a few hours I see this being even more supple. Fantastic.

Gorgeous but embryonic. Cassis and florality. Tweed jacket. Stunning florals. Tree bark. Desiccated leaves. Palate is round and wonderful but closed. This is so good and soooooo young. 9.7 on potential.

Tough vintage only means that Aligre transcended the vintage even more than normal. Killer nose. Such pure fruit. Rhubarb city. Strawberry, plum skin, cassis, but barely cassis and gorgeous light mid to early season cherry. Smoke, mint and more. Stunning fruit clarity on the attack and terrific concentration and depth. Chewy and tannic and finish is clipped for now but just opened and needs much time to unwind but good bones. So juicy and pure. Wow. The tannins are a combo of very 13 and very aligre. I love them so much. So sappy, dry, noble and pure. This has 50 years ahead of it.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of one week. Consistently enjoyable throughout but it seemed to be at its very best around Day 3 through Day 7 (when I enjoyed the last pour). The 2010 pours, a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and showing some slight rim variation; medium+ viscosity and moderate staining of the tears with some sign of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe notes of cassis, plums, tobacco, Fresno chilis, purple flowers, dry leaves, organic earth and faint baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The fruit is a touch more tart on the palate and there is also a sort of dry leather note that I didn’t get on the nose. The finish is medium+. A mesmerizing, dense wine that certainly has a very long road ahead. Great stuff. Drink now with patience through 2050 (assuming good cellar conditions).

Best BAMA ever. Young bottle but so so good.

Big stones, earthy, mineral, darker red currants diverging on black. Smells more angular which is the vintage for sure. Lots of herbs. Huge minty and floral. It’s very grapey but also very dusty. Gorgeous nose but def younger than the 11. Stunning though. Mushrooms on the nose. The tannins are much bigger and substantial. Juicy and clean. Needs mega air. This really came together after air. Big structure and that Margaux finesse. Amazing fruit and such an old library effect on the nose. Phenomenal.

Wow, so earthy and mushroomy. Margaux florals are singing. Red currants. leather, smoke, spice, so many aromas. A 9.7 nose. Lights out. Peppermint. Candy cane. So complex and diverse. Dried leaves. Wet leaves. Tree bark. Juicy and clean with lovely sweet red currant fruit, terrific freshness and some gritty tannins. Great acids and finesse. Cocoa powder and a bittersweet mocha on the finish linger. Spectacular. Such fine tannins and glorious cherry fruit now. BAMA kills in every vintage. After 20 minutes the nose closed as did the palate. I will wait.

Mushrooms, earthen aromas, damp leaves, dried cherry, cranberry bog and so floral with fresh cherry flavors and a vibrant energy. Long, tangy, fresh and deep. Needs 2 hours. Youngest bottle I’ve had in years.

Wow what a wine. Stunning florals. spice and tobacco. Palate is just gorgeous. Pure and so balanced. Long finish. Amazing plum fruit. Brilliant showing.