Search found 28 matches

by AlainB.
Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:06 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Visit to DRC
Replies: 16
Views: 2868

Re: Visit to DRC

Merci Alex!
I loved reading your story..
by AlainB.
Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:36 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 38 Sauternes
Replies: 35
Views: 9688

Re: 38 Sauternes

Great report, Alex! I can testify on a few wines.. 2002 and 2005 Lafaurie-Peyraguey. I had the opportunity to taste these two earlier this year as I visited the estate. Clos Haut Peyraguey is one of my favourites growths. And it's so obviously undervalued! Suduiraut is running on all cylinders since...
by AlainB.
Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:38 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Thoughts on Médoc 2007
Replies: 13
Views: 2062

Re: Thoughts on Médoc 2007

Good discussion and nice report, Chris! Thanks a lot.. And thanks for your recommendation on 2007 Pichon Baron which, quite surprisingly, I never tested to this day! From my recent experiences to Bordeaux, I very much agree with your analysis of the 2007 vintage. Visiting chateaux these days means g...
by AlainB.
Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:11 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: NWR: French post cards (humorous)
Replies: 1
Views: 229

Re: NWR: French post cards (humorous)

These guys are quite famous here (in Switzerland) for their surrealist sense of humour..

Thanks Alex..
by AlainB.
Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:00 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Anyone else notice the steep drop in 2006 BDX prices?
Replies: 8
Views: 727

Re: Anyone else notice the steep drop in 2006 BDX prices?

I've heard that Chateau & Estates, the by-far-biggest importer of Bdx into the US, took a complete pass on '08 futures. To my view, this is a serious strategic mistake made by US importers. Prices in € are down by 30% in average from the 2007 level while 2008's quality is excellent to outstandi...
by AlainB.
Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:37 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 89 Langoa Barton / 89 Léoville Barton
Replies: 11
Views: 2169

Re: 89 Langoa Barton / 89 Léoville Barton

The blend is very similar Jon. Langoa: 70% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc Léoville: 73% C-S, 23% M, 4% C-F. Production process at both properties are under supervision of Barton's Technical Director Michel Raoult. Vinification and aging (50% in new oak barrels for 20 months) ar...
by AlainB.
Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:48 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 89 Langoa Barton / 89 Léoville Barton
Replies: 11
Views: 2169

Re: 89 Langoa Barton / 89 Léoville Barton

You're certainly right Claudius.
Nevertheless, I think Houndsong's point was more about the differences between the two Barton where crop management and vinification are almost similar, rather than the Léovilles which, as you mentioned, are indeed managed totally separately.
by AlainB.
Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:05 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Who knows this wine site?
Replies: 6
Views: 678

Re: Who knows this wine site?

Thanks William..
I was wondering if it was worth to contact them for a project I'm currently working on.

Alain
by AlainB.
Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:58 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: WSJ critics are thumbs down on 2006 first growths
Replies: 10
Views: 1059

Re: WSJ critics are thumbs down on 2006 first growths

One thing is sure: $600 is way too much.. even for classified grape juice as mentioned by Stefan! There are certainly a number of nice lefties in 2006. But to my view, the best of 2006 probably comes from the Right Bank which offers an outstanding number of truly excellent wines for less than 1/10th...
by AlainB.
Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:47 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 89 Langoa Barton / 89 Léoville Barton
Replies: 11
Views: 2169

Re: 89 Langoa Barton / 89 Léoville Barton

Hi Alex, Last January we had both wines at a "1989 - 20th anniversary" blind tasting with a group of friends where each of us came along with a few bottles. Both Léovilles (Las Cases and Barton) where among the best wines that night. Langoa was much appreciated even though it lacked a bit ...
by AlainB.
Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:38 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Who knows this wine site?
Replies: 6
Views: 678

Who knows this wine site?

I was wondering if some of you have any experience with a multi-disciplinary wine site called Snooth.com?
I never heard of it before but apparently it seems to be quite popular in the US?

Thanks and cheers,

Alain
by AlainB.
Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:52 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Harry's CduP book is on the way...
Replies: 34
Views: 4967

Re: Harry's CduP book is on the way...

Congrats, Harry!
I'm very impressed by the preview on your site. You've done an incredible work..

Looking forward in reading this masterpiece!

Cheers,
Alain
by AlainB.
Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:53 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Israeli food and wine scene (formerly Whining, etc...)
Replies: 27
Views: 2789

Re: Bordeaux Whine Enthusiasts has sunk to a new low

I completly missed the Squires board dispute as I don't go there anymore. But I've read Jim's posts here and found the whole story pretty sad.. and boring! As long as Parker has any influence on the world of wine - and for sure he still has a huge one - there will be a significant amount of people w...
by AlainB.
Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:40 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: TN: 2005 Château Les Grands Chênes (France, Bordeaux, Médoc)
Replies: 3
Views: 413

Re: TN: 2005 Château Les Grands Chênes (France, Bordeaux, Médoc)

Never had the 2005.. The 2004 Les Grands Chênes was quite controversial.. so terribly woody. As we say in French, it was pure plank juice..
by AlainB.
Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:37 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: TN: 1988 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Replies: 3
Views: 315

Re: TN: 1988 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Recently we had a lot of pleasure with a 1989 Beaucastel. This bottle seemed to be at least 10 years younger than its real age!
My only concern is thinking how old I'll be when my CNDP 2005, 2006 or 2007 will reach their maturing stage.. :shock: :|
by AlainB.
Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:18 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Chateau Lafite Rothschild - 1999 Bust
Replies: 20
Views: 2568

Re: Chateau Lafite Rothschild - 1999 Bust

Hi Steve, Last Friday was my brother's birthday and we experienced 1999 Mouton and 1999 Lafite side by side :D . Mouton currently seems quite nice and forward with smooth integrated tannins, though it doesn't really "explode" on the palate. Lafite has layers of complexity and a deeper stru...
by AlainB.
Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:49 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Wine and sushi
Replies: 18
Views: 4025

Re: Wine and sushi

Steve, It is widely accepted that i.e. bluefin tuna have been severely overfished, with some stocks at risk of collapse. I went through an article published last week by Reuters which confirms what I already know for a couple of years. It clearly corroborates the critical situation of the Atlantic a...
by AlainB.
Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:11 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Wine and sushi
Replies: 18
Views: 4025

Re: Wine and sushi

The worldwide Sushi hype in the last 10 years is causing great damage to the ocean. Since 1995, the volume taken out of the sea for kind of fishes commonly used for the preparation of Sushi is up by.. 80% ! This rate is simply unsustainable on the long term. Another fact is that the average size of ...
by AlainB.
Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:06 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: First of first growths out: 2008 vintage
Replies: 19
Views: 3826

Re: First of first growths out: 2008 vintage

AlexR wrote:2008 Latour is going for 110 euros a bottle (price to négociants).
I heard of 140€ / bottle to négociants for Latour?
by AlainB.
Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:58 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Parker's buying advice
Replies: 40
Views: 5894

Re: Parker's buying advice

Rieslingfan wrote:You guys are missing half the fun - misinterpret RP then get the human shields to mock you in a 15 page thread on RP's site.
This kind of reminds me something.. :mrgreen:
by AlainB.
Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:08 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: TN: 1978 Clerc Milon, 1985 La Lagune
Replies: 3
Views: 317

Re: TN: 1978 Clerc Milon, 1985 La Lagune

Thanks for reporting Stephan!
Nice memories as I owned a couple of bottles of 1985 La Lagune but was much too impatient and opened them both a long time ago..
by AlainB.
Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:00 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Parker's buying advice
Replies: 40
Views: 5894

Re: Parker's buying advice

Who said there where no great wines but only great bottles?

RP's correct sentence makes much more sense to me now.. ;)
by AlainB.
Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:10 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Parker's buying advice
Replies: 40
Views: 5894

Re: Parker's buying advice

Claudius, To my view, 2001, 2004, 2006 (and 2008?) are good to excellent on the Right Bank (no generalizations though!). But 2002 is much more a Left rather than a Right Bank success.. As for 2003, I recall Château Le Pin (Pomerol) didn't even produce one single bottle as they considered quality to ...
by AlainB.
Sun Mar 15, 2009 3:16 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Parker's buying advice
Replies: 40
Views: 5894

Re: Parker's buying advice

Sorry.. Does RB mean Right Bank??? According to my own tastings, 2003 on the Right Bank is not (always) that exciting :?: Last week-end I attended to a blind tasting on the "2003 in France" theme. 38 wines were reassessed and the clear winners (Bordeaux speaking) were on the Left Bank (Soc...
by AlainB.
Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:39 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 1998 Ch. Léoville Barton
Replies: 7
Views: 768

Re: 1998 Ch. Léoville Barton

Hi David.. I'll try to be around "BWE II" more often ;) Hi Alch, nice to see you around here! To my view, Cabernet Sauvignon had problems to ripen properly in 1998. Therefore Left Bank wines are sometimes tight and closed with a slight greenish tannin feel. But a number of good properties ...
by AlainB.
Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:46 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: TN: 1998 l'Evangile
Replies: 1
Views: 216

Re: TN: 1998 l'Evangile

Hi Harry, Nice to read from you again! How's your book on CNDP going?? If I remember well, you came along to Paris in June 2006 to meet a number of BWE members and you shared a bottle of 98 L'Evangile at "Laurent" with us. At that time I found it potentially very good but tight and closed....
by AlainB.
Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:29 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Visits to Ferriere, Kirwan, Feytit Clinet, Lafleur & Ausone
Replies: 12
Views: 1426

Re: Visits to Ferriere, Kirwan, Feytit Clinet, Lafleur & Ausone

I'm just back home from Bordeaux where I've been visiting 16 properties in 5 days. Last Thursday at Château Lafleur and Château Ausone were memorable moments. The château owners are generally willing to spend time with people like us at this moment of the year as they are not specially under pressur...
by AlainB.
Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:08 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 1998 Ch. Léoville Barton
Replies: 7
Views: 768

Re: 1998 Ch. Léoville Barton

My first post on BWE :D is to thank Alex for his invitation at the "L'Orléans" restaurant. By the way, this typical French Brasserie should be on the books for anyone visiting Bordeaux. The food is excellent and the wine list is extensive with very studied and reasonable prices. A hot reco...