Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

chris kissack

Don't know much about Selbach-Oster, but last tasted Pape-Clement 1998 in 2014, and I liked it, although it was not really a killer wine for the 1998 vintage, which was top notch in Pessac-Léognan. I have certainly had more pleasure out of some more recent vintages such as 2005. The bottled I had ca...

chris kissack

I would like to vote for any gold commemorative label, especially if painted/engraved rather than on a printed label.

chris kissack

To be fair to Prince Charles, he didn't paint that for the Mouton label. It was a pre-existing painting that the Rothschilds selected, so the question should be "what were the Rothschilds thinking?".

chris kissack

Hi Alex Strange how none of the articles (there was quite a lot written about this when it went through the courts) mentioned Clos La Madeleine. Presumably the prosecutors (and therefore the journalists) concentrated on those estates known to have 'received' the Vin de Lune? Fonroque was sold to Ass...

chris kissack

And two more.

I hear Clos La Madeleine has been acquired by Christian and Edouard Moueix.

And yesterday Alain Moueix was reported to have sold Château Fonroque.

chris kissack

I can't resist replying to a Muscadet post on a Bordeaux forum! I love Muscadet, both the traditional fresh mineral-laced traditional style, and the more textural cru communal wines, which are different in style. The Jules Verne label Muscadets made by the Lieubeau family are the most fun labels eve...

chris kissack

My view of Château Batailley has changed somewhat over the past decade. I long thought it was a fairly dull wine, and would have ranked it fairly low in Pauillac. I would often prefer Haut-Batailley, for example. Over the past 5-10 years though Philippe Castéja was clearly making efforts to improve ...

chris kissack

Grand-Puy-Ducasse seemed to pull out all the stops in 2004 - it was a wine I liked as well. 2005 was equally good, although no vintages since, including 2009 and 2010, seem to have lived up to this promise of a resurgence in this chateau's fortunes.

chris kissack

The only statement I wold take umbrage with is that 1989 and 1990 Angélus were "magical". Not to my palate.

chris kissack

Haven't tasted the 2005 Lascombes for four years but thought it great back then. I have found with other vintages that they can be all over the place on subsequent tastings though, e.g. I thought the 2004 was really good at two years of age, but two years later it seemed like a mess. I haven't had a...

chris kissack

They made one of the better 2002s, in my limited experience of the vintage. Remember tasting it at the château a few years ago during the primeurs, and thought it was really good. Will be stopping by at Haut-Bailly next week for a 15-vintage vertical tasting which will surely include the 2002, so I ...

chris kissack

What I have learned is that I have a palate with a particular bent that may not necessarily align with the judgments of the "critics". Take Chinon for example. Bob rarely "bestows" a Chinon with a strong rating, yet that region is turning out knock-out wines with true expression...

chris kissack

I still have quiet a few bottles of the 1994, which was when quality first moved upwards IMO. In more recent vintages, I picked up just a few odd bottles here and there, including '04, '05 and '09 I think.

chris kissack

This is a funny thread. I've never seen a wine described as a "panty dropper" before, and I love the confidence of "I'm not afraid of this thread". Thanks to those that asked my opinion. For what its worth.... Léoville-Poyferré is a very good wine, but to my palate I found the ta...

chris kissack

GPL 2010 is one of the real star performers of the vintage, punching well above its weight. The other that comes to mind, and a lower price point, is Gloria. Both blew me away when tasted at the primeurs, and they're doing the same thing now that they're in bottle.

chris kissack

Wow, time flies. I spotted this post the other day and felt grateful for the think and thought to myself "must post something there" but before I know it a week has flown by and the post has disappeared from the home page (well, it had before I added this post anyway). Just a note really t...

chris kissack

Thanks for the kind words and wishes of good luck here - I'm very grateful. I especially like "Long on facts and easy on hype"! Any chance I could start using that as my tagline?!

Totally understand that some people won't be subscribing. It's not for everybody.

Thanks again.

chris kissack

Haven't tasted the 2009, but the 2010 is certainly a much better wine than those vintages I have previously tasted. The renaissance is down to new owner Jacky Lorenzetti, who bought the place in 2008, before then also buying Pédesclaux in Pauillac the following year. Vincent Mulliez no doubt brought...

chris kissack

Interesting that you liked Fieuzal so much. I'm not so keen on the wines ofthis estate in recents vintages, as they are darker, more extracted and tannic, and have lost some of the classic Graves style. I don't know if it is the influence of Laforest or whether it is the direction in which the owner...

chris kissack

It's great to read of Sauternes enjoyed with savoury food - I think the combination can often work really well. Not just the obvious choices such as (blue) cheese and foie gras, but roast chicken and al sorts of seafood too. Only last week I drank half a bottle of Coutet 2010 with squid first, and t...

chris kissack

I don't keep track of what others are saying Jeff, just say it as I feel it. I would like to read everybody, but simply don't have the time. Too much writing and too many other commitments. I can confirm, however, that at the UGC tasting in London last week, there was a lot of love for 2010. But the...

chris kissack

I thought pigeon-holing wine drinkers according to their 'American' and 'British' palates went out of fashion years ago. There are too many exceptions to these "rules". I don't find any lack of charm in 2010, and the only hard tannins are in St Emilion in my opinion, where long hang-time f...

chris kissack

I would think the most popular way to start-up these days would be using a content management system such as Wordpress or Joomla. You need to register and pay for the domain name you want, and pay for some web hosting on a server. Once done, many hosts offer one-click installation of a content manag...

chris kissack

Really lovely notes Jono! You've really captured the character of the wines and the producers here I think...

chris kissack

I'm not convinced that the Bibendum 2010 tasting event was about shifting stock. The producers are in London anyway for the UGC tasting, and this isn't the first time it has been held, there was one last year as well. Unless you're implying that they need to increase sales in every vintage and not j...

chris kissack

I kinda like the 2003 Grand Puy Lacoste - nothing amazing, but I wouldn't have described it as "bad". I have some in the cellar (not sure why I bought them!!) and will revisit sometime in the next year or two I expect. I dunno about it being in a 'funk', but I have found the 2009 and 2010 ...

chris kissack

It is Margaux in 2007, rather than 1999, that is my most recent personal definition of boredom.

chris kissack

What 1995s I have had have been starting to drink well in the last year or two. A wine like Pichon-Baron, provided storage is good, should be in this phase and certainly not 'past its prime'. I haven't really touched the handful of 1999s I own. It wasn't a vintage I bought into. But again I wouldn't...

chris kissack

I think you're right on the baudry - it will be incredible with time. The 2010 is also lovely, although more classic in its lines. The 2009s are richer, more rounded. Hopefully I will get to taste some more 2009s in the next few months; there's a trade tasting in London featuring exclusively Loire c...

chris kissack

Léoville-Poyferré 2008 is a real stunner - top wine along with Pichon Baron at the UGC tasting (which excludes firsts, Montrose, VCC, Cheval Blanc and the like) in London last year.

chris kissack

Thanks, guys, I've already got Dom de Chevalier and Haut Bailly on order, as well as Branon and Haut-Bergey from Pessac. Might pick up some Louviere, SHL and Malartic. Think it makes sense to buy now or wait until they show up on retailers' shelves? Pape Clement is too pricey for me at this stage. ...

chris kissack

Hi David If there is one wine which transcends the vintage it is Domaine de Chevalier, it was notable during the primeurs for its pure, red-fruited style, and tasted recently it has retained that elegant character. Other wines are equally impressive but more within the style of the vintage, so perha...

chris kissack

I've never thought of the 02 left bank wines as early drinkers, unless you like to drink your Bordeaux early, which some do, including me somtimes when I'm in the mood. But there's nothing in their constitution per se that makes them so. No me neither. But others have made that comment, such as Jan...

chris kissack

The UGC gang hit London much earlier than they come to the US, and so I've tasted many of the 2009s again now that they are in bottle. The vintage is consistently great on the left bank, but more important than this is the distinctive style of the vintage. It has a really seductive, velvety flesh th...

chris kissack

A nice wine I think. It's cooler style of vintage which wil appeal to many who are turned off by modern Bordeaux. Because it's a 'lighter' style of vintage there are some who have earmarked it as early drinking, but I don't agree (although I've only tasted a relatively small selection of wines, all ...

chris kissack

I doubt you will do that Bacchus. Besides, if it has to be Pauillac and nothing else, you can't go wrong with Pichon-Baron in 2008, superb wine. Just my opinion, of course.

chris kissack

Hi Bacchus It's very likely that I will be able to taste all three - most if not all of the Pauillacs in fact - in November 2012 at the Institute of Masters of Wine annual Bordeaux tasting, which next year will feature the 2008 vintage. It's possible I might see them before then, but by no means cer...

chris kissack

I'm employing classic work-avoidance behaviour and browsing a few wine forums on a Friday afternoon. Can't help chipping in on this one. First of all, I'm really happy to discuss my impression of the wines in more detail. It's good to know someone has read my notes - even if you disagree with them! ...

chris kissack

I've had real problems with my Verset Cornas. Had five from the case, two drinkable, with two oxidised and one corked. Just bad luck probably, reading the wonderful report here.

chris kissack

2010 Frantz Saumon Menu Pinaeu, Loire Valley This bone-dry wine had never failed to impress since I drank the 1st of a 6-bottle purchase from about 3 months ago. With bracing lemon acidity, I really like whatever fruit that‘s in it (Chenin?), the earthiness, and the rigid balance. Very good length....

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