 |
|
|
|
Notes from a tasting of Bordeaux - Saturday, July 16, 2005, at the Wine Exchange in Orange, CA. Twenty-one wines were poured for a tasting fee of $19. Overall impressions: this tasting was made up of a smattering of different things - some values from satellite appelations that are still on the market; a first look at some of the '02 vintage; and a mini-vertical of Rauzan Segla - plus a couple of Sauternes. The '02s were my favorites of the tasting, along with a couple of the Rauzans. The '02 Leoville Barton was excellent, with the Leoville Poyferre and Langoa Barton not far behind. The '02 Lynch Bages was very nice as well, and the '00 La Louviere was probably the best bargain in the lineup at $23. No real surprises here, though the Rauzan Seglas were a bit steep in price - but then, such is older Bordeaux. |
...some nicely-priced '00-'03 2000
Ch. Garreau Cuvée Armande - Blaye. $24.99. Medium-dark
ruby color. Semi-sweet nose of cassis, vanilla and light toast.
Medium-full in body, very nice balance, lots of cassis-driven flavors,and
long finish. 2000
Ch. Barrabaque - Canon-Fronsac. $23.99. Medium-dark
ruby color. Very Cab-Franc-like nose, with plenty of herbed cassis,
a touch of plum, and some toast. Lovely red and black flavors, nice
balance with touches of herb and toast throughout. Given the more
overt nose, it might seem a little wanting on the back end, but
altogether a very nice wine. 2000
Ch. Citran - Haut-Médoc. $21.99. Dark
ruby color. Somewhat hi-toned nose of cherry and cassis, with lesser
amounts of vanilla and toast. Tasty mouthfeel, nice flavors and
balance, and long finish. 2000
Ch. Lanessan - Haut-Médoc. $18.99. Dark
ruby color. Lovely nose of dark juicy fruit, with touches of toasted
walnuts, and cake spice. Very nice ripe cassis flavor, excellent
balance, and long smooth finish that seems to show just a bit of
heat. 2000
Ch. Haut-Bages Averous - Pauillac. $24.99. Dark
ruby color. Slightly herbaceous and funky initially, but this does
seem to blow off with some swirling, opening up aromas of cassis,
rose stem, cigar, and sage. Very nice mouthfeel, with lots of cassis
and a bit of toast, excellent balance, and long flavorful finish. 2000
Ch. Gigault Cuvée Viva - Premieres Cotes de Blaye.
$23.99. Dark
ruby color. A touch of dill accents the fruit-filled nose, along
with touches of toast and a light floral note. Off-sweet mouthfeel,
very nice balance and flavor, though the wine does seem a bit thin
on the palate. 2001
Ch. de Francs Les Cerisiers - Bordeaux-Cotes de Francs. $11.99.
Dark
ruby garnet color. Bright and lightly sweet in aroma, making it
seem a bit cloying in the nose. Much better on the palate, with
of-sweet mouthfeel, good body and balance and medium-long finish. 2003
Ch. Gigault - Premieres Cotes de Blaye. $12.99. Dark
ruby garnet color. Nice ripe cassis nose, with touches of toast
and candle wax. Very good mouthfeel, very nice balance, and smooth
long finish. 2001
Ch. Clos Chamont - Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux. $14.99. Dark
ruby garnet color. Lovely floral and cassis nose. Fleshy mouthfeel,
plenty of chewy fruit, very nice nice balance and long finish. 2000
Ch. La Louviere - Pessac Leognan. $22.99. Very
dark ruby color. Lovely nose of cassis, toasted herbs, and cigar
and pipe tobacco. Very tasty mouthfeel, excellent balance, with
lots of fine-grained tannins, and nice long smooth finish. ...a first-look at the 2002s
|
|
2002
Ch. Ducru Beaucaillou - St. Julien. $42.99. Very
dark ruby color. Lovely nose of cassis, toasted herbs, and cigar.
Nice mouthfeel - a bitt off-sweet/bitter in flavor, with complementary
sage and herb accents, excellent balance and long finish. 2002
Ch. Larcis Ducasse - St. Emilion. $29.99. Very
dark garnet ruby color. PLush and fleshy nose of cassis, plum, black
cherry, herbs, and just the barest hint of mint. A bit soft in mouthfeel,
very nice balance, medium-long finish, which seems to fall off just
a bit. 2002
Ch. Leoville Barton - St. Julien. $39.99. Very
dark ruby color. Beautiful nose of floral-accented cassis, herbs,
and pipe tobacco. Juicy and chewy mouthfeel, lots of dark cherry
and cassis fruit, excellent balance and long smooth finish. 2002
Ch. Langoa Barton - St. Julien. $29.99. Very
dark ruby color. Lovely nose of cassis, cigar and pipe tobacco,
with touches of herb and spice. Beautiful balance of flavors, nice
fine grained tannins, and long luxurious finish. ...a mini vertical 1990
Ch. Rauzan Segla - Margaux. $119.99. Dark
garnet ruby color, showing just a hint of bricking at the edge.
Nose of cassis, strawberry, tobacco, herb and orange zest. Very
nice mouthfeel, lovely balance and flavors, and nice long finish. 1989
Ch. Rauzan Segla - Margaux. $99.99. Medium
bricky garnet color. Nose of strawberry and cheese toast. Lightly
sweet mouthfeel, with strawberry and cherry fruit, accented by herbs
and spice, very good balance and nice long finish. 1985
Ch. Rauzan Segla - Margaux . $99.99. Medium
bricky garnet color. Lots of herb garden aromas, mingle with the
strawberry/cherry in the nose. Off-sweet-sour flavors, nice balance
and finish. ...2001 Sauternes 2001
Ch. Bastor-Lamontagne - Sauternes. $31.99. Light
gold-amber color. Lots of pear and pineapple aromas and flavors,
nice minerality, and a smooth sweetness to the finish. 2001
Ch. Doisy-Védrines - Sauternes. $41.99. Light
gold-amber color. Pineapple. apricot and white peach aromas.
Thicker and slightly sweeter than the Bastor-Lamontagne, and smoother
in finish as well. Very nice! |
|
|
|
No original material may be reproduced without written consent Mail & Comments - Eric Anderson |