Vinho Branco 2021 - very good, smooth buttery mouthfeel but still has a crisp taste. Strong enough to go with spicy meaty dishes even for a white. — 8 months ago
Favorite of Jacob and me — 3 years ago
Dark purple. Dry. Medium plus tannins. Med acid. 13.5% abv. Dark berries, plum. Ripe. A bit of that Douro funk that I’m looking for, but not quite there. Med plus body. Would do well with food. — 6 months ago
Happy Labor Day holiday weekend in the USA!
We’re enjoying a night off from studying while sipping a lovely Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2011 paired with a grilled steak, baked potato, green beans, and mushroom / zucchini kabobs. Soon (and sadly) we’ll have to say “au revoir” to summer.
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is situated on the left bank of Bordeaux, i.e., west of the Gironde Estuary, in the commune of Pauillac. Soils here are gravel-based, and free-draining, ideal for ripening the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon grape, which dominates in this Bordeaux blend.
Pauillac is known for producing age-worthy, structured Cabernet Sauvignon wines due in part to the growing environment. No wonder it’s home to 3 out of 5 first growth wines in the 1855 classification, including, Château Latour, Château Lafite Rothschild, and Château Mouton Rothschild. This particular wine ranks highly, as well, as a fifth growth and understandably so.
Based on our research the 2011 vintage in Bordeaux seemed to fast-forward many typical growing processes and timelines; grapes were budding and ripening ahead of schedule with warmer temperatures early in the season followed by notably cooler temperatures in August, ahead of harvest.
It’s remarkable how variable seasonal conditions can affect a wine’s profile, especially in less consistent climates like Bordeaux where vintage variation is a serious thing… still, this wine is lovely.
It is deep ruby with a medium (+) intensity of developing aromas offering notes of ripe blackberry, cassis, black cherry, plum, black licorice, anise, violet, tobacco, leather, clove, nutmeg, cedar, pencil shavings.
On the palate, this wine is dry with medium (+) acidity, high tannins that are ripe and smooth, a medium (+) body, medium (+) intensity of flavors consistent with the notes. The finish is medium(+).
This is an excellent wine that is drinking well now and could age further.
Cheers to the beauty born in 2011 in Pauillac AOC with this Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste! — 2 years ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Full bodied with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, light earth, light vegetables, herbs, tobacco leaf and black pepper.
Medium finish with grippy tannins and raspberries.
This 15 year old, Fifth Growth Bordeaux, is still young and tight. Needs 5 to 10 years in the bottle to mature properly.
I gave it 90 minutes in the decanter, but it probably was not enough.
Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.
Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Grippy and rich.
Definitely needs food at this point, like a big piece of steak.
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.
13% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$125. — 2 years ago
Excellent choice. Very smooth. — 3 years ago
Really delicious blend,medium bodied, very vibrant wine that is hard to put down. Great value. — 5 years ago
Mike Obley
Wow, this was still drinking very well. Could go on for several more years! — 3 months ago