Red Theory

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Deep ruby garnet , thin garnet rim . Just beginning to show some development, with grafite tinged , pipe tobacco, cassis , spicy herbal hints and oyster shell notes. On the palate this still comes across as very young , dark cassis , blackcurrant fruit and a very long , detailed mineral and saline length. Sweet but grippy tannin , and fresh acidity. Tobacco and oyster shell return on the long finish . Needs time but has a great future . Come back in 5 -10 years , will last well a further 25 . Apologies for the silly stock photo , don’t think I took one having been so excited by both the 2016 and 2010. A huge , vast improvement on the rather chunky , forced and flat 2009 had at Vinous Icons Miami in Nov 2024. At Vinous Icons NY , Pier 60 , Feb 2025. — 4 days ago

Tom, Dave and 12 others liked this

Château Mouton Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2020

1st Growth Bordeaux comparison. A young poet full of art and glory. Deep ruby colour, with scents of raspberry and red currant with graphite and even leather. Imposing on the palate yet balanced and elegant. Full bodied, high alcohol, fine grain tannings, medium acidity, with a long finish and notes of ripe red fruit. Wine with great aging potential. — 21 days ago

Andrew, Severn and 9 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

1st Growth Bordeaux comparison. Broad and bold, with red berries and red currant, medium acidity, velvet tannins, medium plus alcohol, long finish. Like a ballerina draped in silk. — 21 days ago

Peter, Andrew and 10 others liked this
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

Not fair to compare different years… 🧐 Premier Crus are excellent in their own way
Ericsson

Ericsson

Point taken…

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2003

Not for beginners, it feels easy to say this is oxidized, but it’s so much more if you pay attention and do not drink it all in one sitting, which will be difficult. — 6 days ago

Peter, Paul and 11 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006

Not sure I’ve had any other 2006 Bordeaux but decided to pull this to give it a go at nearly 20 years of age. Nice wine but perhaps not one that justifies the price point. At first quite tight, but after a 5 hour decant this really comes into its own. Lots of leather and dark blue and black fruit. Oak is really only apparent in structure now. Great acid. 13% which is nicely balanced. — 2 days ago

Severn, Andrew and 10 others liked this
Severn G

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Oh yeah! Our favorite S-J producer ❤️
Jay Kline

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@Severn G That’s a big statement!

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

1st Growth Bordeaux comparison. Mind blowing. I mean, from a weak Bordeaux vintage comes this masterpiece which can be enjoyed now or saved for decades to come. Beautiful nose and almost perfumed with roses and black cheery and blueberry, cedar, and pencil shavings. The palate is pure bliss full of complexity, intensity yet balanced and the finish just goes on and on. Cheers. — 21 days ago

Andrew, Severn and 9 others liked this

Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Pretty deep garnet ruby , garnet rim . This is pretty open and aromatic, with smoky creme de cassis , grafite , blackberry and cedar , light herbal touches , really quite classic and noble . On the palate this has good balance and density , good freshness also . Ripe , very fine but perceptible tannins . Dark fruits , grafite , tobacco , long and detailed slightly mineral notes on the good length finish . Really elegant , though quite serious and traditional, not easy to pull off. This is drinking perfectly now (Coravin might have helped here , I would certainly decant if I had a full bottle) , though still quite fruit driven with some tertiary complexity coming through . Really harmonious and complex . From now and over the next 15 years, maybe more . At Doppo Restaurant, Soho . — 24 days ago

Tom, Dave and 15 others liked this
David White

David White

Wow 🚀 that was an exciting line up of wines and it seems like the Pichon, Brunello and Lynch Bages were the cream of the crop
Somm David T

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Had one of mine two years ago. Didn’t think it was ready like a lot 2000’s I’ve had so far. Think it is either a forever vintage or just not living up to the hype of 2000? Cheers! 🍷
Andrew Cullimore

Andrew Cullimore Premium Badge

I thought this was really quite excellent @Somm David T , it did seem quite open , though this might be to do with it being under Coravin.. I would certainly decant for a while if opening a bottle . Or alternatively leaving for another 5-10 years will do no harm at all . One of the better 2000s I have had , in some ways it is a bit of a hit or miss vintage .. but the peaks are very high . Hope you enjoy your other bottles !

Château Léoville Barton

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

1995 | Red Blend
(74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc)
Château Léoville Barton
Bordeaux; Médoc, St. Julien, France
(92-94; Drink 2020-2035)

When you can drink anything you want...this was a spectacular paring with Wagyu burgers.
— 2 days ago

Dave, Doug and 27 others liked this
Severn G

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1990 ❤️ but open (slow ox, cork pull only) it 24h in advance, those 90's are still bulletproof.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Severn G, OK, thanks for the advice, will do!
Pooneet K

Pooneet K Premium Badge

Delicious.

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2017

1st Growth Bordeaux comparison. Lafite is a medium minus bodied wine with notes of bright red berries, it has medium alcohol and high acidity. The tannins are round and finish lingers. — 21 days ago

Peter, Andrew and 8 others liked this

Corison

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Double decant and pour(lots of sediment). A splendid medium ruby red color. On the nose: a little stewed red fruit, herbaceous, worn leather, mint, sweet smokey oak, loamy soil. Taste: smooth, elegant, savory wine with a touch of dried red fruit, dried herbs, cocoa, damp earth, minerals, and a spiced iron/meaty medium finish. YUM! Mature and on the long downside, but still drinks nicely at 28 years. — 3 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Dave and 13 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Wow!