Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

AlexR

Gosh, I need to compute all of this! Few remarks off the cuff: We had 83 Climens and 83 Yquem at the same meal a couple of years back. The latter clearly outshone the former and has much more life left it in. Fully agree with you about 76 Yquem! Less in agreement about 97 Yquem. All the best, Alex (...

AlexR

Wow,

Too much to assimilate in one reading. I'll have to go back!

First reaction is to be surprised at the fairly low scores for Domaine de Chevalier.
At the estate, they decant the wines, which I think helps.

No Fieuzal?

All the best,
Alex

AlexR

Hi, The only (modern) Pavie I have ever had at table was the 99 vintage. This was with 2 English wine merchants and one Bordeaux négociant. It was served blind. We were all disappointed and flabbergasted to learn what it was. The words "hollow" and "extracted" correspond exactly ...

AlexR

Richard, Châteaux have stocks of capsules, corks, and labels which they need to use up. Any print (labels) or branding (corks) run is impossible to work out exactly. So sometimes, estates need to use up labels (by overprinting) or corks (by using them even if they don't match the labels). So, it is ...

AlexR

Château La Gatte is owned by a New Yorker.
A nice guy.
Also does bed and breakfast.

All the best,
Alex

AlexR

David, Your wrote: "Scientists will also tell you that unless you are blinded, an $80 bottle of Pontet Canet will taste better than a $20 bottle from a minor property, even if there is Pontet Canet in the $20 bottle". You're the scientist, but I believe in the scientific method i.e. to exp...

AlexR

Took the words out of my mouth, Jim!

Stefan, do you think this is the kind of wine that could do a Cinderella thing and knock your socks off in 10-15-20 years?

Alex

AlexR

David, You accept the reasoning of "the sky is the limit" for winebuying, and that this is non-linear and perhaps even illogical. So be it. Far be it from me to tell people how to spend their money! It reminds me of François bristling when people criticized his buying old wines. That's his...

AlexR

Richard, The reason for that is that estate wines cut both ways. The Bordelais invented "château" wines. They sell not only good wine, but an aura of mystery and identification with a world of luxury. *However*, the flip side of all this is that châteaux only have a limited production. Tha...

AlexR

Steve, Agreed, the top 1% usually *are* the best. Question is, isn't it tiresome to always stay in that category? It is for that reason I would never go to just Michelin-starred restaurants, for instance, money aside. Because other places might not have the glamor, but they often have something much...

AlexR

Sorry, don't have the breakdown.

Over half of all Bordeaux comes from the Bx. and Bx. Supérieur appellations, so I assume they also account for the lion's share of estates.

Alex

AlexR

11,074 to be precise, the Fédération des Vins de Bordeaux has just announced.

Time for some of you out there who drink only great growths to get out and make an effort.
And me too!

Best regards,
Alex R.

AlexR

I think the Internet has made certain laws obsolete and unenforceable. A friend tells me buys his cigars in Switzerland where there is no tax on chocolate... and tobacco. Has them sent by courrier. Surely buying cigars this wasy is not legal - but my friend has been doing so for the last 2 years. Th...

AlexR

Jim, Ch La Chaize Brouilly Brouilly 07 This is a huge estate (100 hectares) that was imported into America for years by Château & Estate. A good middle-of-the-road wine Bonserine Ct Rotie Les Moutonnes Cote Rotie 00 Bonserine Ct Rotie Sarrasine Cote Rotie 02 This producer's wines are not among t...

AlexR

Hi Rudi,

I am very pleased to see you over here on Bordeaux Wine Ethusiasts.

I hope to read your posts often!

All the best,
Alex R.

AlexR

Patrick,

High time you made it to the mother lode.

You do it, and the corks will be flying.
So to speak.

Alex

AlexR

Jacques, Thanks for taking the time and trouble to post again. Sorry to hear your 2000 Clos du Marquis was not up to scratch. We're starting to talk serious money for a wine like that today! I, meanwhile, had - all on my lonesome, wife's away - a half bottle of 2007 Notre Dame de Cousignac, Côtes du...

AlexR

Thanks Jacques. In fact, I've copied your answer onto my hard disk for further reference. Now all I need is a similar reply from an English person, and I'll be all set! As you know, I'm in the translation business, and most of my customers want British English over here. I'm not sure what the overla...

AlexR

Hi Jacques, Your remark made me do a little research. This is complicated by the fact that we are dealing with: - different ways animals are butchered in France, England, and America (you also have "bavette d'alyau" and "bavette de flanchet") - the difference between British Engl...

AlexR

Steve, Hanger steak is what thy call bavette here and what the English call skirt steak. It is a great French classic, and invariably served with shallots, usually slowly cooked in butter. Hanger steak *is* chewey, but it is also tasty. Many Americans criticize the texture of French beef and Disneyl...

AlexR

Stéphane Derenencout does good work.
The wine has gotten pricier.
I'm not suprised you liked his 2000 so much!

Alex

AlexR

Hi, "Off-vintages" usually - but not necessarily - have at least 2 virtues - They cost less than the media darlings - They mature faster You also feel less guilty about opening them :-). Anyway, an unexpected guest turned up to dinner, so with hanger steak and shallots we had this 2002 Laf...

AlexR

It's true that blaming one's subcontractors is the easy way out.

Best regards,
Alex R;

AlexR

Hi Jim, Château Sociando Mallet 33180 Saint-Seurin-de Cadourne e-mail: scea-jean-gautreau@wanadoo.fr Fax: 011-33-556-733-888 Château Pontet Canet 33250 Pauillac e-mail: info@pontet-canet.com Fax: 011-33-556-592-663 A couple of thoughts: - August tends to be sacred in France (summer vacation with the...

AlexR

Richard,

Thanks for your notes.

I'm a big fan of the 2001s, and consider St. Pierre a "sleeper," and a claret lover's claret.

Recent vintages are even better IMHO.

All the best,
Alex

AlexR

Hi Chris, Yes, I will own up to a bit of wishful thinking, but it's not totally pie-in-the-sky either! When I was first learning about wine, the only serious source of information was the English press. Americans were much less present, much less systematic, and much less expert at tasting great Bor...

AlexR

Well, some strong opinions being expressed here! The notrious censorship on the Mark Squires board unfortunately reflects very poorly on Robert Parker, and that is a shame, because from what I know of the man he deserves much better. The guys hanging on his coat tails clearly can't hold a handle to ...

AlexR

Plince is a medium-range Pomerol with a decent QP ratio.

Here, I would expect to pay something like 25-30 euros for a recent vintage.

Alex R.

AlexR

Hi Chris,

Féret tells us that it's a tiny estate. I'm surprised it found its way to the US!

It's in the commune of Arsac, and 1.3 hectares are entitled to the Margaux appellation, and 1.5 to the Haut Médoc appellation.
75% C.S., 25% Merlot.

I've never seen this wine.

All the best,
Alex

AlexR

I have a soft spot for Lalande de Pomerol. I am a member of their brotherhood (Les Baillis) and go there at least once or twice a year. When I first arrived in Bordeaux, the wine firm I worked for sold LdP at the same price as Bordeaux Supérieur. How times have changed! Received wisdom is the the wi...

AlexR

Here's an article from the Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124330183074253149.html I do not think the issue is simple. I have written articles in the past and, as a result, enjoyed fine meals with old bottles. And, yes, have been given wine. However, there *are* limits, and the ...

AlexR

"A mediocre wine at best" is going a wee bit too far in my opinion. I've tasted the last few vintages "en primeur". It is a good, but not a great wine IMHO. As for the confustion between Les Carruades and the Grand Vin, yes, this is frequent. The former label was identical except...

AlexR

Thanks for your notes.

Meyney can be just great on occasion...

And you can buy 1970 Langoa Barton for $30?!?!

Alex

AlexR

Jeez Danny,

That's one very scary story!
Thank God you pulled through alright.

All the best,
Alex

AlexR

Otto,

Your wrote:

"As classy as the Lafite obviously was, and though it was obviously young and impressive, am I a horrible person if I say that I enjoyed the other two wines more tonight? "

Yes,
Alex

AlexR

Jim,

This belongs to Count de Neipperg, owner of Canon La Gaffelière, La Mondotte, Clos de l'Oratoire, etc.
It's a tiny estate that makes good wine.
A nice Pessac-Légonan at that price certainly seems rasonable enough.
I don't see how you could go wrong...

All the best,
Alex

AlexR

That's a very good price!
Vieille Cure is a regular overachiever.
Could it be because it's American-owned?

.

All the best,
Alex

AlexR

David, I hope Chris chimes in here because his impressions are probably more worthwhile. As to your questions: The room is huge, but even so it can bunch up a little in front of the most sought after châteaux. Still, the wait is llimited and you have no difficulty talking to château owners/winemaker...

AlexR

Hi, For the 4th time, the Union des Grands Crus organized this marathon tasting event in Hangar 14 in Bordeaux, overlooking the Garonne. http://www.wga-ugcb.com/ From 10 am to 5 pm, the owners or representatives of nearly 100 "grands crus" (not just great growths, but mostly) were there, p...

AlexR

Hi,

Re 1990 Pichon Comtesse

In fact, if it was far short of stunning, it was far better than just drinkable.

Best regards,
Alex R.

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