Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

sdr

Sad story, stefan, I understand perfectly, it's their loss.

Stuart

sdr

It was a treat to host Patrick in my home town. I had not seen him in a long time and I did not remember him as well as I should have, but in the usual BWE tradition we reacquainted easily and quickly. He proved to be an engaging guest, conversing well on a variety of topics. Great notes from Patric...

sdr

Nice notes, Stefan.

Curious - why did you close your account with WineBid?

Stuart

sdr

The '88 Krug is a masterpiece, one of the greatest champagnes of the late twentieth century. The fact that is has sentimental value for the lucky some of us only adds to its allure. The '96 Krug is fabulous too, and in several years may reach the heights the '88 has already achieved. Bouchard, red a...

sdr

BWE statistics: Favorite château overall: Mouton (8 votes) Favorite non-FG château: Pichon Lalande (5 votes) Favorite vintage: 1982 (15 votes) Second favorite vintage: tie, 1989 and 1959 (8 votes each) Left bank: 87%, Right bank: 13% First Growths: 54% (if you include Pétrus and Cheval as FGs) Saute...

sdr

That is, wines you have never tasted but are the ones you are most eager to try at least once before you relocate to the big tasting room in the sky. Mine: #1. 1870 Lafite, but only from a pristine Glamis Castle magnum :o #2. 2007 DRC Montrachet, multiple bottles available from a local wine shop on ...

sdr

#1. 1961 - amazingly concentrated and pure, most still going strong. #2. 1982 - lavishly fruity with ripe tannins and good acidity. #3. 1959 - unique vintage profile of smoke and brown sugar, not a lot of highlights but there are three masterpieces, Lafite, LMHB and Mouton. I have hopes 1989 will ev...

sdr

Comte Flaneur wrote:I don't think anyone is going to match, let alone beat, that Stuart!

It's not a contest, Comte. I've been incredibly fortunate, I know. I'm just curious what everyone else's experience has been.

Stuart

sdr

Criteria: 1) you've tasted more than a tiny sip, preferably a glass or more 2) old or young (based on potential) 3) you have tasted it within the last 15 years 4) you would sell your first born to taste them again :mrgreen: Mine: #1. 1961 Pérus Tasted 5 times, all rated 100 by me except the fifth bo...

sdr

Even though I am fond of the older stuff, I can say I have really enjoyed the 2000s I have tasted in the last couple of years for their ripe juicy fruit, especially the rather dazzling Mouton.

Stuart

sdr

Nothing beats an aged Bordeaux when the magic happens in the bottle, producing that amazing mélange of tertiary complexity and underlying fruit . . .When I'm in the mood for fresh, up-front fruit I tend to go to California. +1 The glory of Bordeaux is how wonderfully it ages. No need to buy Bordeau...

sdr

'86 Pichon-Lalande is great now and for the foreseeable future, open it for Danielle and she will be happy.

'86 Mouton needs another century or two, try it on your 100th anniversary.

Stu

sdr

So last month it was my turn to host a tasting of my local wine group and I thought it would be interesting to compare examples of merlot-based wines from California, Italy and France. We sampled the wines in four flights, not blind, with one bottle from each country in each flight, with the flights...

sdr

My Lafite went to auction when prices got silly. If you had continued to hold them, the prices would only become sillier. I decided not to sell my high scoring bottles until I really need the $$$ so as to maximize my investment. That said, the prices of most older Lafite seem to be softening slight...

sdr

It's always a treat to see Danny and his lovely wife Danielle. The weather this week in Florida is spectacular and Danny is able to get in a few rounds of golf, avoiding the yips that plagued Ernie Ells. I can't possibly improve on Danny's great notes above. I am glad to see he and Danielle enjoyed ...

sdr

Jay has it right. Osteria del Teatro is casual in atmosphere but great in food. Pricey like most places in South Beach. Another terrific slightly more upscale Italian place (but still South Beach casual atmosphere) is Dolce, highly recommended. The South Beach branch of the Nobu chain (Peruvian-Japa...

sdr

Does everyone prefer the flavor profile of chardonnay to that of sauvignon blanc/semillon? Maybe if you grew up in the Loire or New Zealand you would like sauvignon/semillon better? Often, you like best what you know best. The '89 HB blanc was one of the greatest white wines I have ever drunk. But c...

sdr

I guess I am just to the left of Francois. I don't even have any twenty-first century Bordeaux. The ones from the eighties (1980s, not 1880s) are just fine for me right now. And there are plenty from the seventies, sixties, fifties . . . that I like too. If I want young wine, I'll drink California o...

sdr

David, To each his own. I don't think that I will ever get that disgusting flavour of the Lampoie de Bordeaux out of my mouth/mind. I think it was horrible to look at and the dense oily,fishy taste was gastly....for me. I remember a few like yourself/Francois loved it but Larry and I were looking w...

sdr

A 7-month moratorium? That would be some kind of record Glenn. Remember when a bunch of us tried to go from Memorial Day to Labor Day without buying anything? We failed miserably. I beg to differ, David. Thanks to a special dispensation from you on a pre-arrival bottle, I limped home with no new pu...

sdr

For those who went on this trip and also the one in 2005, I'd be curious how you compare them. Both were obviously great experiences. But from what I can tell the 2015 bus seems like a definite upgrade from 10 years ago . . .

Stuart

sdr

Fantastic summary, Ian, thanks for your effort.

Stuart

sdr

Bravo, Nic, I really enjoy reading all your reports.

Stuart

sdr

Thanks for the great report, Nic, keep them coming.

Stuart

sdr

Bon Vogage, indeed.

I second David's thoughts. But too intense for me and wife now. But memories of 2005 last forever, especially the camaraderie.

I will follow the grand event vicariously on BWE.

Stuart

sdr

Some of my greatest white wine experiences have been with white Bordeaux, with the apex being '89 Haut-Brion Blanc. But pre-mox hit white Bordeaux as hard as white Burgundy at about the same time and the price explosion makes them poor bets. I really miss them, though.

Stuart

sdr

Thanks for the detailed and evocative diary, Tim. You make almost make me feel like I was there. Much better than a long string of TNs with no context. Many of the bottles you mention seem too old for me, so I like to get your opinion. Krug has been preaching for years that their MV Grande Cuvee is ...

sdr

2005 Screaming Eagle 11/12/2014 This is a wonderful wine because 1) the intensity of liquid blueberry, raspberry and blackberry fruit is astounding 2) there is an intriguing top note of mint 3) the oak is well blended in the background 4) the acids and tannins are perfectly integrated and 5) the tex...

sdr

Elliot Staren, Wide World of Wine. Only one offer from them, none before, none since (by post card - this was early 1990s). Eighteen bottles of 1947 Cheval, mint condition, not fake. At 1/3 below going rate at the time. I did take a couple, but I'm still kicking myself for not sucking up the whole l...

sdr

Corkage $2.50 per person, no limit on number of bottles? Sounds more like 1965 than 2014. I like these kinds of places, we don't have any in the whole state of Florida. But I like hip-hop, too, at least some of it.

Stuart

sdr

Terrific dead-on report as always, Danny, the trip and the wines. Not used to seeing "Lynch" and "elegant" in the same sentence, through, but I believe you. For me, the eighties are the go to decade for Bordeaux. So many good/excellent vintages, so many terrific wines to drink no...

sdr

I haven't been to Berns in a long time, but my experience was mildly positive. Back then, the wine book was a 10 pound tome with hundreds of pages chained to the wall so you couldn't steal it (you could buy it, though). A new book was printed every few years. Naturally, the gems were quickly snapped...

sdr

Everything that has any calories is (or can be) "fattening," as stefan says. If fact I like all his advice. If you want to drink regularly and maintain the same weight as not drinking at all, you'll have to make up the difference somehow by eating less or exercising more. I am relearning t...

sdr

Wow, BWE 2015 Bordeaux. Sounds great. Looks like many of the 2005 veterans want to do it again. That dinner at Chateau Margaux will be hard to match, though.

I'd really like to do it, but my health is the question. Wife Kathy, probably not.

The week in May is not a problem for me.

Stuart

sdr

Very interesting attempt by M. Borie to salvage the reputation of Ducru during these troubled years. And a meticulous process. But I didn't see anything about subjecting the contents of each bottle to an analysis of TCA level. I'd pass on this proposition. There are many other younger and older vint...

sdr

Jim, The 2010: 7/5/2014 - 94 Points That Termanthia was an enormous fruit bomb as I expected - and wanted, to do battle with the short ribs. The difference is there is enough stuffing, dry extract, tannin and acidity to balance it. Great stuff if you're not looking for finesse or subtlety. The bottl...

sdr

That Termanthia was an enormous fruit bomb as I expected - and wanted, to do battle with the short ribs. The difference is there is enough stuffing, dry extract, tannin and acidity to balance it. Great stuff if you're not looking for finesse or subtlety. The bottle looked and felt like a magnum or a...

sdr

Thank you, Nic. A 2010 Termanthia for me tonight.

sdr

Great lineup, Comte. I am eager to get your impressions.

As great as HB and LMHB are, at this point in time, my favorite of the 1989 vintage is Palmer.

The '70 Palmer as also in the top 5 of the 1970 vintage for me.. Still very lively yet austere in that 1970 way.

Stuart

sdr

I am fortunate still to have a good supply of Bordeaux, but I am finding it more and more difficult to open one. I enjoy opening it for a sophisticated audience - like BWE. I feel a little guilty if its just me. Maybe my palate is fading. Now I like the Spanish Priorate and Toros. Nothing to think a...

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