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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:7
 | | 01/17/2003 3:36 PM |
| With the 2000 Bordeaux vintage arriving, our tasting group decided to see what we could expect to find in the bottle several years from now by sampling some 80’s and 90’s vintages. We tasted 9 different Bordeaux’s in three flights of three wines each. If we learned anything, it was to keep our itchy palms off of these wines until they are at least 12 years old:
Flight #1
’96 Smith Haut Lafite – decanted 2 hours prior to tasting – offered up little to no fruit with massive tannins and oak ending with smoky notes. Tasted the next day with some fruit (mainly cassis) showing although it still was very austere. Hopefully this is in a dumb phase.
’95 Grand Puy Lacoste – decanted 2 hours prior to tasting – dark purple with aromas of bell pepper and earthy flavors of cherry and rhubarb stunted by considerable tannins. Unlike the Smith, this wine alludes to a nice future for those with patience.
’95 Montrose – decanted 2 hours prior to tasting – much more balanced wine which provided cassis, cherry and mocha integrated with sweet tannins. Still needs a few more years to reach its peak but is enjoyable now.
Flight #2
’95 Pichon Longueville Baron – decanted 12 hours prior to tasting – bright ruby red with a dusty nose and dark fruits and olive(?) hidden by substantial tannins. Don’t even think about touching this wine for at least 5 years.
’95 Leoville Barton – decanted 4 hours prior to tasting – bell pepper and caraway on the nose with (again) nice fruit components just starting to shine through well structured tannins.
’90 Cos d’Estournel – decanted 4 hours prior to tasting – finally a wine that was ready to drink!! So purple that it almost looked black. Smoky notes of cedar and cassis on the nose which revealed a complex palate of licorice, raspberry and tart cherry interwoven with sweet tannins. This wine is approaching its peak but will probably remain there for some time. The WOTN for half the group.
Flight #3
’90 Chat. Pavie – decanted for 2 hours before drinking – much more fruit forward wine than its predecessors it exhibited vanilla and blackberry aromas which translated into a gush of cassis and plum flavors. Well integrated tannins suggested that this wine is probably at its peak and would not improve significantly with further time in the cellar (but wouldn’t decline for some time either). The WOTN for the other half of the group.
’88 Grand Vin de Leoville-Las Cases – decanted 8 hours prior to tasting – funky nose that initially was thought to be corked. While the cork was intact, some “seepage” was evident. The palate showed dried dark fruits with a raisin component that suggested some oxidation had occured.
’90 Les Forts de Latour – unfortunately, this wine was corked. Duuoooohhhh!!!
Bonus wines that were tasted later in the night-
’94 Beringer Private Reserve – decanted 2 hours prior to tasting – I threw this wine in blind to test the group. It was identified as a Cali Cab almost immediately. Significant vanilla and candied fruit on the nose (seemed like a jolly rancher compared to the Bordeaux). Massive amounts of cassis and dark cherry flavors supported by a nice level of tannins. Should hit its peak within the next couple of years but delicious nonetheless.
’55 Chat. Figeac – a special treat, this wine had a mid-neck fill, a label that was completely intact and the cork was in excellent condition and foreshadowed what was to come. Blend of 35% Cabernet 35% Franc 30% Merlot. Bright ruby color with a slight browning on the edge this wine looked like a 10 year old Burgundy. Lively nose with an earthy cherry and vanilla bouquet that balanced perfectly with the black cherry and cassis flavors. Surprisingly long finish with tannins that are still evident suggesting this wine could easily hold on for another few years. What an experience.
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| Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10803
| | 01/17/2003 3:51 PM |
| | What a great first post! Thanks for the notes on these wines. It's good reinforcement for keeping my Bordeaux off-site and out of the reach of my corkscrew. | | | |
| ojeffso
warren, new jersey
Wine Lover
Posts:4877
| | 01/17/2003 4:08 PM |
| few surprises in this bunch.
those 95 and 96's are no where near ready. 90 cos was a good choice because it tends to drink well early. one of my favorite 90's. pavie also drinks well early. although not a great wine, the 88 las cases was a bad bottle.
if you would like to try a 95 drinking well now, try the monbousquet. btw, the 2000 vintage will be very similar to the 1990 vintage, so for most wines, hands off for 8-10 years. if you would like some to drink earlier, go with the lesser appelations. | | | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 01/17/2003 10:21 PM |
| | Great tasting nots!! Thanks- what a great line up of wines. |
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