Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend

I need to start w/ a little preamble.

For me, Pessac-Leognan was a late comer Bordeaux region. The last one I gravitated to in my 26 yr Bordeaux experience.

Nearly all the previous 2000 Bordeaux’s I’ve had up to this point needed a lot more cellaring. Mostly 1st & 2nd Growths, some 3rd. This 2000 started lean…lacking depth & a bigger tannin profile. But that is not entirely uncharacteristic for older Pessac’s. It seemed slightly more late in its drinking window. It picked up weight in the decanter at 2 1/2 hours and then showed more weight & depth w/ my Ribcap.

This started elegant w/ soft Bordeaux characteristics. Beauty & elegance as I understand it in Bordeaux’s from this region and this kind of age. But lacked 2000 earthiness & depth. For me, this is a 3rd tier Pessac producer, my terminology. Not up there with Haut Bailly or Pape Clement and of course Haut Brion.

2000’s up to this point have shown great depth & deep characteristics. Most needing longer than anticipated aging.

This was beautiful, elegant but lean based on previous definitions. Early on it seemly felt like it was a drink up in the next 3 yrs w/o the steak. With a longish decant & steak, more 7-10 yrs.

The nose shows muddled to slightly stewy; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, some mushroom notes, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles-top soils with dark, red, withering flowers.

The palate shows beautiful elegance with nothing that bites back. Perfectly resolved velvety tannins. Ripe, juicy, somewhat ruby fruits. Yet, have slightly stewy characteristics. Dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, softly layered & even baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid, dark, Asian spices, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened, nearly sweet graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, charcoal, volcanic ash, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles, dry top soils with dark, red, withering flowers, near perfect acidity, well balanced w/ softened structure/tension, great length and an elegant finish that goes on and on and long sets on spice & clay.

Almost new cork and little to no sediment.

92-93 with a long decant & a rich, fatty steak-Ribcap. First taste after pouring into the decanter, 90.

Photos of; Haut-Bergey, Paul Garcin-Managing Director and Francois Prouteau-Cellar Master.

Deep Ruby color with red berry fruit and floral aromas. On the palate flavors of plum and raspberry fruit flavors with licorice notes. Fine tannins, medium+ length ending with fruit and spicy notes.

Deep Ruby color with red berry fruit and floral aromas. On the palate flavors of plum and raspberry fruit flavors with licorice notes. Fine tannins, medium+ length ending with fruit and spicy notes.

Blend of all 5 Bordeaux varietals Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot & Malbec, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, spice and earthy notes, aged in 33% new oak for 16 months. On the palate flavors of blackberry and plum with tobacco, pepper and cacao. Fine chewy tannins, medium+ finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy character.

No real notes. Crazy dinner party with old friends. Showing better than my last bottle. Terra cotta earthiness, cigar box, deep fruit.

2009 Vintage. This wine has aged well. A touch of leather, spice and fading fruit. Nice wine for a $39 price years ago. Great with prime rib eye. Very enjoyable.

Color starting to mature a bit. Nose has lots of different things going on: cassis, warm brick, an iodine note, cigar box, and a bit of eucalyptus even. Soft and expansive in the mouth, though not terribly dense of concentrated. Dark berries, leather, lots of dry sandstone.

Violets, cassis and earthy notes on the nose. The palette demonstrates notes of plum, blackcurrant and cassis. Firm tannins on this wine give it a solid structure.

Some say it’s the exceptional soils of clay and gravel washed down from the Pyrenees that give Bergey its charm. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, spice, cedar and smoke. On the palate flavors of plum, blackberry and black raspberry with cacao, oaky tones and mineral spice. Lingering finish ending with fruit and toasty cedar character. Good value.

Some say it’s the exceptional soils of clay and gravel washed down from the Pyrenees that give Bergey its charm. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, spice, cedar and smoke. On the palate flavors of plum, blackberry and black raspberry with cacao, oaky tones and mineral spice. Lingering finish ending with fruit and toasty cedar character. Good value.