Search found 2373 matches

by AlexR
Tue Mar 26, 2024 7:21 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2009 and 2010 St Emilion and Margaux tasting notes
Replies: 15
Views: 256

Re: 2009 and 2010 St Emilion and Margaux tasting notes

Hi Mark, Thanks for your detailed notes. I'm a big fan of the 2009s. Received wisdom is that 2010 is "better" in that it was a cooler vintage with greater acidity and, therefore, greater potential. Maybe. But the 2009s were goregeous from the get-go. I have a marked preference for the Left...
by AlexR
Mon Mar 25, 2024 7:22 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2003 La Tour Blanche, 2000 Poujeaux
Replies: 4
Views: 88

2003 La Tour Blanche, 2000 Poujeaux

Three wines with dinner on Saturday night. We kicked off with 2006 Castelnau Champagne. I was unfamiliar with this house. The wine seemed far younger than its age with good tension and fine balance. A nice discovery. We then had 2003 Ch. La Tour Blanche with duck foie gras. Sauternes and foie gras i...
by AlexR
Mon Mar 18, 2024 1:33 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: The solution for Saint Émilion?
Replies: 5
Views: 230

Re: The solution for Saint Émilion?

Is that a négociant blended wine? To be fair, traditional Bordeaux drinkers the other side of the Atlantic have always been more Médoc oriented. The big bruisers of Saint Emilion, while not a thing of the past, are certainly less prevalent today. Between adapting to climate change and planting much ...
by AlexR
Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:02 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Pontac Lynch
Replies: 2
Views: 115

Pontac Lynch

Pontac Lynch. The name is so steeped in the history of the Médoc that it sounds almost made up! And yet… These two famous wine families – the Pontacs, onetime owners of Haut Brion, Lafite, Latour, Mouton, and Calon Ségur, and the Lynch family of Lynch Bages, Lynch Moussas, and Dauzac – joined forces...
by AlexR
Sun Mar 03, 2024 4:57 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2020 Le loup de la Loubière
Replies: 5
Views: 97

Re: 2020 Le loup de la Loubière

Was this wine dry?

AR
by AlexR
Mon Feb 26, 2024 6:59 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2015 Ch. Fourcas Hosten
Replies: 0
Views: 62

2015 Ch. Fourcas Hosten

Listrac (pronounced "Lees-trahk) is probably the Médoc communal appellation with the lowest profile, even less so than Moulis. Although the latter is of comparable size (630 hectares vs. 570 for Listrac), it boasts a greater reputation and better-known châteaux. What makes Listrac unique? For a...
by AlexR
Sat Feb 24, 2024 5:12 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Bordeaux négociants in a tizzy
Replies: 1
Views: 118

Bordeaux négociants in a tizzy

Hi, This is not a golden age for Bordeaux wine. They've started uprooting 10,000 hectares of vines because of overproduction, and that is certainly not enough. Wine consumption in France has declined markedly, especially that of red wine. Young people, in particular, are drinking less and drinking o...
by AlexR
Wed Feb 14, 2024 2:43 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: What is your Valentines Day wine?
Replies: 9
Views: 198

Re: What is your Valentines Day wine?

I had the Tarlant "Zéro" two weeks ago.
This was very fresh and focused, but perhaps à bit austere for my taste, and not just referring to the dosage.

Alex
by AlexR
Wed Feb 14, 2024 7:50 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Poll: Was Robert Parker a net positive or a net negative for Bordeaux?
Replies: 29
Views: 736

Re: Poll: Was Robert Parker a net positive or a net negative for Bordeaux?

Izak, I wrote: "Parker did, however, give the nod to some new generation wines that did not please lovers of classical claret." That comment refers to "some wines", Izak, certainly not most or all of them! No one in Bordeaux believes that Parker had no effect on winemaking at fam...
by AlexR
Wed Feb 14, 2024 6:16 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: What is your Valentines Day wine?
Replies: 9
Views: 198

Re: What is your Valentines Day wine?

Half bottle of Charles Heidsieck ar breakfast with scrambled eggs and smoked salmon.
Obligatory red rose.
Gotta look after your woman

AR
by AlexR
Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:01 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Poll: Was Robert Parker a net positive or a net negative for Bordeaux?
Replies: 29
Views: 736

Re: Poll: Was Robert Parker a net positive or a net negative for Bordeaux?

This is an oft-raised issue. I think that Parker was definitely good for Americans because he was the first American to speak French, go to Bordeaux, and show an ability to think outside the box. He emancipated Americans from English wine critics and explained wine to them in a way they could unders...
by AlexR
Tue Feb 13, 2024 6:32 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2000 Chasse Spleen
Replies: 3
Views: 87

Re: 2000 Chasse Spleen

A Belgian wine writer once referred to the wines of Moulis as "les Margaux de l'intérieur", which I thought was very apposite.

AR
by AlexR
Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:01 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2000 Chasse Spleen
Replies: 3
Views: 87

2000 Chasse Spleen

I drank this on Sunday with a roast free-range chicken. Isn’t it amazing how such a simple dish, if the bird is first rate (i.e. not industrially raised) and cooked right, provide so much pleasure? By the same token, the thin-skinned creamy-fleshed Agata potatoes with crème fraiche and chive were a ...
by AlexR
Wed Feb 07, 2024 9:33 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2000 Ch. Lagrange
Replies: 6
Views: 203

2000 Ch. Lagrange

I served this wine on Saturday with a roast leg of lamb. I used a magnum decanter I picked up at a flea market not long ago for 10 euros. It is often easy to find really nice decanters for sale at rock bottom prices because there is no matching stopper. Seeing as I don’t ever use the stoppers anyway...
by AlexR
Tue Jan 30, 2024 4:31 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Whole Lotta Lafite
Replies: 29
Views: 1045

Re: Whole Lotta Lafite

OMG, 19 vintages, including some legendary ones. And such good tasting notes! What strikes me is that the "first of the firsts" only garners one score above 94 (for the 1986 vintage). What gives? I'm a tough grader myself, but even so... I have tasted Lafite en primeur for a few years with...
by AlexR
Wed Jan 24, 2024 4:58 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 05 La Tour Blanche, 17 Langoa Barton, 00 Beychevelle
Replies: 6
Views: 610

05 La Tour Blanche, 17 Langoa Barton, 00 Beychevelle

Hi, Dinner at my house last night. Apéritif: Grand Cru blanc de blancs “Les Aventures“ from A.R. Lenoble. Blend of 2002 and 2006. Bottled in 2017. Rope capsule! A little oxidation there, but not very bothersome. Clearly an older Champagne that to me was past its best. Nevertheless enjoyable. 2005 Ch...
by AlexR
Sun Jan 21, 2024 6:58 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Our October trip to Bordeaux.
Replies: 10
Views: 1250

Re: Our October trip to Bordeaux.

Harry, Château Talbot is indeed in Saint Julien. But when I wrote “1986 Talbot: Jim bought a bottle of this in Saint Emilion”, that was not a mistake. Jim, Tom, Tim, Gail, and I visited Etablissements Martin in Saint Emilion, and this is where Jim found the bottle, in the underground cellar where th...
by AlexR
Fri Jan 19, 2024 7:07 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Un week-end avec les Canadiens.
Replies: 23
Views: 1679

Re: Un week-end avec les Canadiens.

It's funny. The Québécois défend the French language far more than the French do themselves. It is very common for English words to be simply adopted in France whereas their use is monitored according to à set of laws ln la Belle Province. I bring this up because Jim used the term "week-end&quo...
by AlexR
Thu Jan 18, 2024 7:55 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Trip to the Argentinian wine country (long)
Replies: 3
Views: 651

Trip to the Argentinian wine country (long)

I had never been to Latin America until last month, so I was pretty excited about a trip to Argentina, a country five times the size of mainland France. My wife and I arrived on the eve of the presidential elections there. Despite a massive campaign budget (funded, it seems, by the government in pow...
by AlexR
Mon Jan 15, 2024 4:57 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Our October trip to Bordeaux.
Replies: 10
Views: 1250

Re: Our October trip to Bordeaux.

Thanks for posting Jim. It was great to see you and the others even if your trip was short. There are an infinite number of things to discover in Bordeaux! Yes, by all means come back and we'll continue where we left off! I might add that visiting châteaux with just a few people is easier than with ...
by AlexR
Fri Jan 05, 2024 7:29 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Guide Hachette 2024
Replies: 9
Views: 1394

Re: Guide Hachette 2024

i have taken part in Guide Hachette tastings for years, so I'm kind of biased about them :-). As opposed to one critic's opinion of a wine he has not tasted blind, 4-member juries are totally impartial. Jurors are almost exclusively wine professionals There is no way of knowing what the wines are (d...
by AlexR
Wed Jan 03, 2024 8:17 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: A fantastic night with Stu and Kathy
Replies: 12
Views: 1751

Re: A fantastic night with Stu and Kathy

The tip of the tip of the iceberg.

What a bunch of fabulous wines!

Seems impossible to drink any better.

Alex R.
by AlexR
Wed Dec 27, 2023 7:41 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Xmas 2023
Replies: 9
Views: 1437

Re: Xmas 2023

My Christmas bottle was 2009 La Tour Figeac, which exceeded my (already high) expectations. Great wine.

AR
by AlexR
Tue Dec 26, 2023 4:23 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: A few Christmas wines
Replies: 7
Views: 1003

Re: A few Christmas wines

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your notes and best wishes for the New Year.

I am also grateful to you for letting me know that there is a Château Lagrange in Saint-Emilion!

All the best,
Alex
by AlexR
Tue Dec 19, 2023 4:18 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Mini dreamer tasting
Replies: 10
Views: 1100

Re: Mini dreamer tasting

Nic, You said on a previous post that you were dispirited that people didn't react to your posts, or reacted very little. I read each and every one. I was very interested to read you comments about the Italian wines and I think that Destieux is a dark horse wine that is quite good, which seems to be...
by AlexR
Sat Nov 25, 2023 12:56 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: BWE lives! In Auckland New Zealand
Replies: 7
Views: 2412

Re: BWE lives! In Auckland New Zealand

Hi,

I'm presently in the wine country of Argentina (Mendoza) and Ian Amstadt and I have exchanged photos from other sides of the world.
The brotherhood of wine is truly international.

Alex R.
by AlexR
Tue Nov 21, 2023 9:28 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2021 Clos de la Roilette
Replies: 6
Views: 1699

Re: 2021 Clos de la Roilette

Izak,

That is twice the average size in the Beaujolais:

https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles ... nd-figures

Burgundy is so much smaller!

I also seem to see the wine everywhere.

Alex
by AlexR
Sun Nov 19, 2023 1:13 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2021 Clos de la Roilette
Replies: 6
Views: 1699

Re: 2021 Clos de la Roilette

One of the very reliable large producers in Beaujolais.

I intend to spend a week in the region next year and fill the trunk with affordable wine.

Alex
by AlexR
Mon Oct 30, 2023 4:49 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: The future of BWE?
Replies: 5
Views: 1936

The future of BWE?

Hi guys, Ian posted this message earlier today, so I decided to use it to start a new thread. ================================================================================== “A poignant interview with Jim. I am sure many of us were shaken as much as I was about what happened in Jim’s hometown, wh...
by AlexR
Mon Oct 30, 2023 6:14 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Mass shooting Lewiston, our BD's hometown
Replies: 37
Views: 40092

Re: Mass shooting Lewiston, our BD's hometown

Nic, You wrote, "but i feel my posts are just mostly ignored". Please, please don't feel that wasy! I, for one, read everything you post on BWE, even if I don't post a comment or reply. I'm sure I'm not alone in this! Keep up the good work Nic. I particularly like your posts about wines fr...
by AlexR
Thu Oct 26, 2023 6:19 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Mass shooting Lewiston, our BD's hometown
Replies: 37
Views: 40092

Re: Mass shooting Lewiston, our BD's hometown

Does anyone here believe that incidents like this won't happen year after year, inexorably? Those who govern us stick to a literal interpretation of the US constitution purely in order to be re-elected by conservative voters. They are like the people who do harm in the name of religion by invoking s...
by AlexR
Wed Oct 25, 2023 7:25 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Best plots of land for winemaking
Replies: 5
Views: 1482

Re: Best plots of land for winemaking

Hi, I did as blog report about Chai Mica two years ago: https://bordeauxwineblog.com/chai-mica-or-where-to-buy-burgundy-in-bordeaux/ Your question is a very involved one touching on many fields of science (geology, climatology,chemistry, viticulture, etc.). Here are a couple of books on the subject:...
by AlexR
Wed Oct 18, 2023 10:31 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: What Should I Serve?
Replies: 7
Views: 2126

Re: What Should I Serve?

Depends on how wine savvy your guest is, or how much you respect him.

The Pichons are on the downward slope.
If pushed, I'd serve the 83?

Alex R.
by AlexR
Sun Oct 08, 2023 1:36 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Recent BWE get-together in Bordeaux
Replies: 7
Views: 2857

Recent BWE get-together in Bordeaux

This past weekend Tom and Gail Wheltle, Jim Howaniec, and Tim Mc Cracken converged on Bordeaux. Tim and Gail arrived first, on Wednesday evening, and on Thursday I went with them on a walking tour of Bordeaux. We had lunch at a restaurant that is overlooked by most guides, le Cochon Volant. This is ...
by AlexR
Tue Sep 19, 2023 5:29 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: President Trump
Replies: 5480
Views: 684392

Re: President Trump

Can you believe this?

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/18/poli ... index.html

This man must NOT be te-elected!!!

Alex R.
by AlexR
Tue Sep 05, 2023 2:09 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: Port questions
Replies: 2
Views: 1337

Port questions

Hi, I have noticed that some of the most famous Port houses bottle a flagship vintage Port as well as a single vineyard vintage Port. Examples of the latter: Dow’s Quinta do Bomfin Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas The price differential is quite significant between the “stra...
by AlexR
Thu Aug 31, 2023 7:01 am
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2019 Ch. Le Grand Verdus, Cabernet Franc
Replies: 6
Views: 1889

Re: 2019 Ch. Le Grand Verdus, Cabernet Franc

Izak, I do not doubt your experience with that wine, but I was speaking about the category as a whole. It is only normal that red Loire wines should be lighter in body since they are located 300 km north of Bordeaux. It's colder. I agree that light-bodied does not equate with weak. Yours truly, Alex...
by AlexR
Wed Aug 30, 2023 12:53 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: China
Replies: 17
Views: 6096

Re: China

Hi, China’s rise is due to a strong belief in their version of manifest destiny. Americans of my generation grew up believing their country was the best, number one in many, many ways – and that this would remain so. Despite political differences, Americans pulled pretty much in the same direction. ...
by AlexR
Mon Aug 28, 2023 7:08 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: France has too much wine.
Replies: 2
Views: 878

Re: France has too much wine.

Yes, there is indeed a crisis, but not for *all* French wines.

Rosé wines are doing exceedingly well and despite a brief blip, Chamapgne is going great guns. Burgundy is in huge demand.

The category that is losing out most is red wine which, of course, is over 80% of what Bordeaux produces.

Alex R.
by AlexR
Sun Aug 27, 2023 3:49 pm
Forum: Our Forum
Topic: 2019 Ch. Le Grand Verdus, Cabernet Franc
Replies: 6
Views: 1889

Re: 2019 Ch. Le Grand Verdus, Cabernet Franc

Dear Izak,

You are mistaken there. I lived in Saumur for rwo years and sold such wines, which I have enjoyed on countless occasions.

All the best,
Alex