St Sebastian Bay
Château La Grange
Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2006
There are some acts that are hard to follow. So is the case with the 06 Bordeaux vintage vs. 05. However, that is not entirely the case with the 06 Lagrange. Normally Margaux for rack of lamb, thought I’d try some St. Julien elegance and change it up a bit. Exquisite with the Allen Brothers Lamb Lollipops.
The fruits are, dry, ripe, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, black raspberries, bright, dark cherries. Dry clay, semi-sweet lead pencil, charcoal, sandalwood, fresh tobacco notes, limestone powder, dry herb notes-bay leaf, dry river stone, dark, rich soil with dry leaves, a mix of Indian & Asian spices, some black licorice mixed with dark fruit cola, charcoal/volcanic ash, mix of semi-fresh to withering dark, bright florals framed in violets & lavender, really nice acidity and lush , rich, smooth, velvety, well balanced finish that last two-minutes. Happy Labor weekend from #ChateauIsbel — 8 months ago
Duemani
Altrovino Toscana IGT Merlot Cabernet Franc 2018
O wow. This is something!
A Merlot/ Cab Franc blend from halfway between Pisa and Piombino.
Vinified in cement & clay, aged in wood., biodynamic.
Very, very Bordeaux’esque. Very St. Emilion.
Black currants, plums, black currant leaf & a touch of dark cherries. Sweet & plush yet savoury. With a touch of allspice, black pepper, bay leaf, a hint of roast. Fresh, juicy.
Amazing precision on the palate, plush yet juicy, rich yet vibrant. I love the super fine, polished tannins. And the balamce between black currant freshness and savoury, spicy, earthy character.
Complex yet so lovely & drinkable.
Unexpectedly, this is brilliant stuff! — 3 months ago
Domaine Bertagna
Les Murgers Nuits Saint Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2014
Notes of fig, raw cranberry, white peppercorn, and bay leaf. Fantastic drinking now. We’ll structured with a beautiful king finish. — 9 months ago
Château Calon
Montagne-St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2010
I have opened the 2010 Château Calon Montagne-Saint-Emilion. A blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc.
On the nose I am getting black cherry, blackberry, black plum, black currant, herbs, tobacco, licorice, chocolate, spice and earth.
On the palate there is nice dsrk fruit, black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, bay leaf, licorice, herbal notes,graphite and earth.
This wine is medium to full bodied with a supple mouthfeel, medium+ acidity and medium to medium + fine supple tannins that leaves you with a long dark fruit earthy finish. Have a great week ahead and please be safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 3 years ago
Château Pavie
Arômes de Pavie St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
I have said for many years, buy good Bordeaux second or other producers wines in great vintages. St. Emilion was very good in 2005, just not as good as Left Bank. Pavie’s other (or some would say a second wine-yet not technically true-more just another) wine.
Allen Brothers Ribeye. Not as good as their Ripcap but, none the less excellent.
I would have thought on another wine from Pavie would have been perfect at 13 years in bottle. It’s nice (good steak wine) but, still needs 5-8 yrs.
Out of the decanter & on the nose, beautifully ruby & floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plums, raspberries & strawberries. Cinnamon stick, dark spice, dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid dark to dark cola, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped fruit tea, soft herbaceousness-bay leaf with sage dominant, dry stone, forest floor, leather, dry tobacco, cedar to shoe leather, incense, burnt ambers, used, dark roast coffee grounds with candied florals that are fresh & withering; dark, red, purple& blue.
The palate is still big with tarry meaty tannins yet, round & juicy. Good first look but, better things in 5 plus years. The structure, tension is still grippy. The length & balance are rounding out of adolescence. Ruby, candied & floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plums, raspberries & strawberries. Cinnamon stick, dark spice, clove, some nutmeg, vanillin, dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid dark to dark cola, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped fruit tea, soft herbaceousness-bay leaf with sage dominant, dry stone, forest floor, dry top soil, dry, crushed rocks, used leather, dry tobacco, cedar to shoe leather, incense, burnt ambers, used, dark roast coffee grounds with candied florals that are fresh & withering; dark, red, purple& blue. The acidity is nicely round. The long; elegant, well balanced finish loads juicy fruits, sliding into earth and spice that persists endlessly. — 3 years ago
Château Léoville-Las Cases
Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1990
Tasting the 1990 Léoville Las Cases just a few days after the 1989, it is clear which is the best vintage…this one. It has a sublime nose of melted black fruit, tar, cedar and bay leaf that shrugs off the heat of that summer better than most others. At 33 years of age, you could just lose yourself in these aromatics. The palate is clearly holding up well: beautifully defined and supple yet with typical Las-Cases backbone and depth. It builds magnificently in the glass toward a harmonious finish that reminds me of the 1985 in terms of its fleshiness. Wonderful. Tasted at the Lia's Wings/book dinner at Medlar restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— 4 months ago
Domaine Henri Gouges
Clos des Porrets St. Georges Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2020
The nose on all these 2020’s reveal it’s warm/hot vintage. The fruits are quite ripe, some over ripe vs many other vintages. #ClimateChange
The nose shows ripe, even slightly stewy & candied fruits of; blackberries, dark plums, dark cherries, plum framed in raspberries. Dark tarry notes, dark chocolate, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, light bay leaf, dark berry cola/licorice, powdered rocks, limestone marl minerals, spice, tarragon, hints of mint with ruby, withering dark red, purple florals surrounded by violets.
The palate is dark lush currants. Fruits of; ripe, even slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, dark plums, dark cherries, plum framed in raspberries. Dark tarry notes, dark chocolate, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, light bay leaf, dark berry cola/licorice, powdered rocks, limestone marl minerals, dry top soil/sand, dark spice, tarragon, tree bark, eucalyptus, hints of mint with ruby, withering candied, dark red, purple florals surrounded by violets. The acidity big and round. The long well polish finish is well balanced/structured that is fruity running to dry austere and lasts a minutes.
Lots of time needed here.
@Delectable I can post but can’t leave comments back due to error code 500 — a year ago
Château Ormes de Pez
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2009
My first bottle opening of a 2009 Bordeaux. We’ve tasted a number of 2009’s, this is the first one we’ve opened. Showing the glory of 2009, even in a lesser bottling. I’ll say it again, for the value buyer of Bordeaux’s, buy good producers second, third or other wines. 2009, perhaps, the best Bordeaux vintage since 1982.
Good first look to judge better more expensive, quality producers of 2009 Bordeaux wines for when to best open your first. I would say those need another 8-10 years more in bottle to have them fully shine to buying expectations.
Family member from the Jean-Michel Cazes family that brings us Lynch Bages.
The 2009 shows better on its own than with our Wagyu Ribcap.
It simply shows the elegant beauty of the vintage. It brings similarities to 1982.
It shows velvet tannins with ripe, ruby fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, poached strawberries & raspberries. Bay leaf, wet clay, dark spice with heat, limestone, dry, crushed rocks, nutmeg, clove, soft cinnamon & understated vanillin, black licorice, dry twig, spearmint, tough leather, dry tobacco, graphite, oak barrel shavings with fresh & slightly withering; dark, red, purple florals. Acidity for days. Straight up; lush, well knitted and balanced finish that persists nicely for minutes.
Photos of; Chateau Ormes de Pez, Saint-Estephe vineyard, inside the Chateau-breakfast room and their barrel room.
1/15/21 — 3 years ago
Adam Gäfvert
2011 might be a forgotten vintage but this CB is really memorable. Did a pop and pour and it had great aromatics straight away. Medium to full bodied. Velvety. Layered. Dark berries, herbs, black tea, licorice, bay leaf. First wine on the trip to France. Great start! — 3 months ago