Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

PghMike

I think this was a more masculine and less silky/ethereal vintage than other Conseillantes from that era. So a little rigid. But not at all overdone and well structured and balanced. The 2009 was softer and makes an interesting contrast. I view the 2005 at its best as almost a combination of the 20...

PghMike

Fairly tight at pop and first sips. Poured into decanter and left for an hour or so. Definite improvement. Nose reminded me of 2014 VCC, smoky and deep but also greener. Core of blueberry and some black fruit. Medium in body. Chalky tannins. A little tart on the finish which felt abrupt. Overall I e...

PghMike

I had one of the 14 Malescot's a year and a half ago. Was quite tight then, good to see it's opening up.

PghMike

Looks like an incredible time. I hope to visit London next year with the family for Summer vacation. First trip to Europe with the kids and I haven't yet been to London myself.

PghMike

Had a bottle of the 19 Montrose with friends last night. Opened about 3 hours in advance but only splash decanted. First sip was excellent but didn't blow me away. By the last glass I was ready to try to find a case. Quite a bit of evolution over a short time (about an hour) in the decanter and in g...

PghMike

'86 Ducru is best described as a gamble, Patrick. Fortunately, I am the only drinker who is very sensitive to TCA. If I detect taint, I won't say anything unless someone else thinks the bottle is off. I would not do this in Oregon with my bloodhound son. I had a rebottled one last year that was fan...

PghMike

I finally took the wine.com plunge, and with coupons and 30% rewards through Capital One shopping, I grabbed the following: 4 x 2019 Ferriere 4 x 2020 Ridge Geyserville 2 x 2019 Giscours All for around $28 each (plus tax and there $59/year flat shipping deal) once everything was stacked. I've doubl...

PghMike

Great original post. I was raised Catholic but lost the faith and kept many of the values. I found the hypocrisy difficult to stomach. It seems we as a society are biased towards a speedy negative judgement in nearly all facets of life versus seeking to understand and engage.

PghMike

Blanquito wrote: ↑Sat Feb 11, 2023 10:39 pm Bravo! Party in Pittsburgh.

I'd be happy to host or meet up with anyone who comes out this way!

PghMike

My first sip of this wine at pop and pour led to an immediate wow. A beautiful deep purple but still transparent. Nose is quite expressive with lilac, clean sheets, licorice, and the smell of a woodshop. Palate is ripe red plums, just a touch of dark chocolate and a finish of menthol and bing cherri...

PghMike

Very impressed. Incredible value. Note to come.

71% merlot, 24% cab. Franc, 5% cab.
14.5% abv.

PghMike

A nice delivery today..

PghMike

We're enjoying it as well. Definitely bigger and black fruited but finishes a bit brighter thain the main attack for me. I've not found much oak in the other 2019s but I'm getting a little here on the nose and palate. Quite a coincidence, I got home from the airport and it was the first bottle I saw...

PghMike

Hah I also opened the 2019 Haut Bages Liberal. Just came back from Saskatoon Saskatchewan where it was bone chillingly cold....

PghMike

4x 2019 Durfort Vivens @ 75 all in.

Seems like it could be a big value based on some of the recent notes and well, why not.

PghMike

Steaks were great but boy do i struggle mentally with the concept of grilling in the snow... Coffee rub for steak from Bon Appetit is a solid recipe. The first glasses I could have easily been convinced that this was a high quality Napa merlot. Has alot going for it but also a bit all over the place...

PghMike

Here we go. Bought these as one of my first futures buys. Wasn't much info out there and wanted a Pomerol. Was noted as 14.6 abv when I bought but is labeled as 15.

PghMike

Very nice! Sitting on 3x 750s and 2 mags. It looks like 2020 might be another vintage in the right direction, if only the prices were a little more compelling.

Even in Napa there are producers breaking from the chains, though I'm sure there will always be monstrosities to be found.

PghMike

Sure, just add a bunch of tartaric acid and viola, the wines still seem fresh! I’m not directing that at the 2019 vintage per se, just in general. On same basic biochemical level, you can’t have high alcohol and high acids wines “naturally” (I put that in quotes because on some level wine making is...

PghMike

I don't find 14.5 alcohol levels that are well balanced very surprising. With far more Napa tasting experience than Bordeaux, I have had plenty of Napa cabs at or above this range that weren't heavy, tiresome, goopy, sweet, etc. I've also had some that were terrible. 14.5 in fact is the limit I targ...

PghMike

If they are looking really small there is a shop in Pittsburgh that distributes a few Italian producers direct to consumer and i know they arelooking for another producer to add. It is called Spill. I could help to make the connection.

https://www.spillthewinebarpittsburgh.com/menu/

PghMike

High praise and another data point that makes me wish I'd have gotten another three pack of Montrose. Alas only 3 750s and a Mag but I suppose some is better than none! I ended up with quite a few of the mentions in the Farr report. For a while I thought, wow is it crazy to buy so much bordeaux with...

PghMike

stefan wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 3:46 pm Looks very different from Coq au Vin I've had. Now I understand why you wanted to drink Bordeaux with this dish.

Here is the almost finished product with some additional sautéed mushrooms and yes - frozen pearl onions.

PghMike

I didn't catch any heat whatsoever with the Figeac. I noted a touch with the 2019 Rauzan previously.

So far I'm very happy to have gone quite long on this vintage. What perfect timing to dive into BDX from a decade of mostly dabbling in Napa.

PghMike

When I first popped this one I thought it might be a little tight, wasn't really getting much from the bottle, but it opened up almost immediately in the glass. After a few swirls it was clearly a nose of cab franc - dried flowers and pomegranate in spades. Three hours in I'm struck by the continued...

PghMike

Getting it started. First sips and aroma portend an impressive showing. Cab franc influence is clear. Wife who is a little ill and probably can't even smell very well right now was floored immediately.

PghMike

Im looking forward to it as well! My avg is $171 all in, but most places are over 250 now if not approaching 300. Wine.com has sporadically been listing them for 189 though with a 1 bottle max per customer even recently.

PghMike

Tomorrow will be a 2019 Figeac with Coq au vin. I managed to build up 9 of these at release price or better, 3 being at Wine.com recently at steal prices. Didn't get the Barton's or Segur delivered yet so Figeac it is. My first from this chateau.

PghMike

Yup. I was the $500 cellar.

PghMike

My note tonight on the 2014 Barton. Very nice. My only bottle but might pick up a few more of these. Amazing value. Popped and tried a few sips before waiting a few hours before diving in. Nose of asphalt/tar and blueberry reduction. Medium body and flowing across the palate. First sips struck me as...

PghMike

Fantastic. I only got three 750s and a Mag. Making me wish I'd have sprung for another three already.

PghMike

Show me yours and I'll show you mine? I should have my 2019 Bartons and Calon Segur in a few weeks. I'd be happy to try one and post in the name of scientific progress.

PghMike

Any tips on buying from UK? With the strength of the USD and my interests in buying some older vintages it seems like buying overseas makes sense.

Anyone that does this frequently? What volume makes sense to buy in bond and then ship? Any favored outles that you guys use?

PghMike

Nice, Mike. Do you like Austrian Riesling? I prefer it to the off dry German ones these days, though a little Spatlese is good once in a while. My wife and I both like dry riesling but can't say I have much Austria experience. I've had a Pichler or two a while ago and who knows what 6 or 7 years ag...

PghMike

To round out a case with those 3 Pavelot I bought, I grabbed some whites for the summery weather we’re having in Denver (not): -Alzinger Riesling Hollerin Smaragd 2021 x 3 -Alzinger Riesling Höhereck Smaragd 2021 x 2 -Nikolaihof Riesling Wachau Steiner Hund 2016 x 2 -Chidaine Montlouis-sur-Loire Le...

PghMike

About eight years ago I had quite a few in Croatia. One I recall was from Villa Dobravac called Simfonija. My wife and I liked it then and still talk about it whenever we hear about an orange wine, but it was earlier in our journey into wine. Can't say what I'd think of it today. Found this link tha...

PghMike

Has been over a decade now but my wife and I really enjoyed il Gabriello. I'll always remember it as the first place I had truly perfect al dente pasta.

PghMike

2x 2014 Latour - $465 ea

Couldn't pass this one up.

PghMike

Confirmed my 2019 Laguna bottles are in and the rest of the wine.com also. Just a little left at Zachys and a fair amount at Wally's. I've received about 3/4 of my total orders now. It does seem like there was a real container shortage in the fall and that hole is now finally being resolved. I was a...

PghMike

4x 2020 VCC @ $277. Still debating some first growths especially after this buy.

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