Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Ianjaig

I am participating in a 2005 tasting dinner next Thursday, which I am greatly looking forward to, though today I am recovering from a 2010 Barolo dinner. This is our 2005 line up, no big boys yet, but it should be interesting: Poujeaux I had a couple of 05 Poujeaux over the last few years (the last...

Ianjaig

Went to a Bordeaux tasting with some friends last week. I thought we were trying the 18s that are now starting to land, but there were plenty of 16s to try as well. There were probably 30+ wines open and we managed to taste around 2/3rds of them. The two standouts for me were Sociando Mallet and Cor...

Ianjaig

Seems to be lots of sales on at the moment, no doubt clearing the shelves for the 18s that are about to arrive.

Picked up 2 x Bourgneuf 2015 ($75 NZ).

Ianjaig

AKR wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 7:47 pm What's weird is that Henri Bourgeouis has opened up a NZ outpost....Clos Henri. I picked up a bottle of their wine a while back, but have yet to try it.

They have been there a while though, 20 odd years I think - Marlborough of course.

Ianjaig

Chasse Spleen 2009: Day one: Found this to be surprisingly modern. Blackcurrant and vanilla dominate, giving way to rich, velvety chocolate and soft black fruits, yet still full bodied and tannic. Very pleasant - but could easily be mistaken for something from the Barrosa. Day two: not a lot of evol...

Ianjaig

FYI - the latest (August) Decanter issue has reviewed 2019 Cru du Beaujolais.

Ianjaig

Had a few wines with some friends last night. Of note were the 2015 Château Fonréaud (good QPR) and a 2014 Te Mata Estate Bullnose Syrah, which is probably my favourite NZ wine. We decanted the Bullnose and it was a noticeable level above the other wines - very elegant and northern Rhone like.

Ianjaig

Thanks for the notes. I've only ever had the 16 and 09 at a LLC tasting. Its not a wine I'm familiar with but I liked the 09. Was surprisingly traditional, vegetal even. Only thing that has put me off is the price.

Ianjaig

1 x 2009 Chasse Spleen bought at auction.

Am quite happy with the purchase although Celler Tracker scores seem low. Was outbid on a 2005 Chasse Spleen and had my eye of some 2008 Poujeaux but they went for crazy money also.

Ianjaig

Les Hauts du Tertre 2012.
Day one: stunning nose of leather, soft tannins, medium to light bodied. Elegant, refined, fantastic value. Beautiful savoury notes.
Day two: leather even more pronounced and more tannic, chewy. Outstanding value.

Ianjaig

The Lynch offer just came through today - $280 (NZ) or $200 US? and Echo at $80 - both all up.

Will probably skip both, but am thinking about Reserve de la Comtesse at $89.

The prices aren't as good as 19 of course, but I'm keen to keep adding.

Ianjaig

Just added some Giscours as well. That will probably be it for me. So total 2020 purchases are:

La Lagune
Tour St Bonnet
Phelan Segur
Saint Pierre
Giscours
Labegorce

Edit: Looking at the above, realised I was missing some Bourgneuf - order now placed.

Ianjaig

Thanks AKR.

Iven just added some 2020 Phelan Segur and Saint Pierre, so will hold off on the above for now.

Ianjaig

Speaking of DDC, does anyone have any experience/views on their second wine, L'Esprit de Chevalier Rouge? The 2020 is being offered at $45 (NZ all up) which I'm considering pulling the trigger on.

Ianjaig

La Lagune, Labegorce & Tour St Bonnet for me so far.

Will add some more as the offers come through (likely to be Giscours, Bourgneuf and Phelan Segur).

Ianjaig

Held a small tasting over the weekend with some friends. In order of preference: 1) Giscours 2014 - Unlike my previous bottle, this took time to open up and in hindsight would have benefited from a decant. Still hints at being something special in time. 2) Branaire-Ducru 2012 - elegant, smooth, soft...

Ianjaig

2014 La Lagune x 6 ($94 NZ each)
2020 Tour St Bonnet x 12 ($25 NZ each) EP.

Ianjaig

Château La Tour de Bessan and Château Labégorce are good value Margaux's IMO.

Ianjaig

Musigny 151 wrote: ↑Thu May 13, 2021 9:59 pm but the final straw was when we were overtaken by a one legged nun. (Don’t you just hate it when that happens!)

I love Giscours and have just tucked away 5 x of the 14s which Ive been impressed by.

Ianjaig

Thanks Jim, hope the Canon comes round for you (I haven't tried the 12).

Ianjaig

5 x Ch Giscours 2014
1 x Ch Branaire-Ducru 2012
1 x Ch Monbrison 2005 (I know nothing of this wine but thought Id give it punt)
1 x Ch Cruzelles 2017 (as above).

Ianjaig

I've always thought Marquis de Calon (or Le Marquis de Calon Ségur as it is now called) offers great value - although its price does seem to be on the rise. The 09 in particular was pretty special for a second wine.

Ianjaig

2010 Clos Puy Arnaud. Very modern in style, glossy. Of note is the 30% Cab Franc.

Not for me I'm afraid.

Ianjaig

1 x Montrose 2011.

Ianjaig

For our 20 year wedding anniversary yesterday, we had a 2001 Château Bourgneuf. Surprisingly this took 5 hours to really open up and start to sing.

We also had a 2007 Perrier-Jouët Champagne Belle Epoque which was tainted unfortunately.

Ianjaig

82 Sociando - wow, that sounds special. Saint Pierre 2012: Lovely nose of leather, cassis, mocha, earth, somewhat vegetal with a long, distinctive finish of sweet (almost stewed) plums. There’s a lot going on here but not in unintegrated way. It’s all beautifully balanced. I often couldn’t understan...

Ianjaig

Speak of the devil, just got an email from my preferred retailer who can get the 2014 Giscours in for me. $122 NZ. I've asked for 4. Happy days!

Ianjaig

After loving the 2014, just bought 2 x Giscours 2019 EP. $86 NZ each.

Ianjaig

Last night, a Médoc that some know here, the Chateau la Tour Saint-Bonnet , in the 2015 vintage. Let say that for less than 24 $cad, this is excellent, made in a classic way. Delightful now and for 7-10 years. I like that producer. Located between Chateau Rollan de By and Chateau les Ormes Sorbet, ...

Ianjaig

Also 1 x 2017 Fattoria di Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico after reading others rate this highly. Will pop open over the Xmas hols.

Ianjaig

18 x St Tour Bonnet 2016 (though splitting with some friends).
Managed to convince a retailer to bring some in after being seriously impressed by this QPR. Will add some to the cellar to see how it evolves, and have the others as a mid week quaffer.

Ianjaig

Nice post, Ian and an interesting exercise with results that surprised. Thank God for Cellar Tracker as some of these wines I had forgotten about until I undertook a search. Am envious of the wine’s others have had this year, but for me: 1. 2006 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2. 2014 Château Giscours 3. ...

Ianjaig

Capture Harmonie 2015: Caught up with my Californian brother in law last night after he spent the obligatory 2 weeks quarantine. He works for Kendall Jackson and bought over some of their wines. My knowledge of US wines is very limited but I enjoyed this. Cellar Tracker says it’s from Alexander Vall...

Ianjaig

Wow, I opened one of these yesterday as well! We could be drinking from the same bottle based on your note. Really nice bottle of Margaux. I bet it has even better years ahead. Finishing it this evening, still going strong.[/quote] Nice one, DavidG! Yes, I felt a bit guilty opening it so young, but ...

Ianjaig

Agreed, Jim. Count me as a big fan as well - both the estate and the vintage.
Must try and track down some more.
Cheers.

Ianjaig

Giscours 2014: PNP with a stunning nose of violets, vanilla and cassis right of the bat. Medium bodied + with blackcurrant dominating, firm, grippy tannins, yet all beautifully integrated with a typical Margaux elegance. The finish lasted a minute or more. Wow! Edit: this is one of the most memorabl...

Ianjaig

Both EP:
2x Bourgneuf 2019
2 x Lafon Rochet 2019

Ianjaig

Posted this a few weeks ago after a tasting I went to: Pichon Longuevulle Comtesse De Lalande – pure elegance, beautiful. 94. Calon Segur – No 1 wine of the group (2nd placed for me) but a surprisingly impressive CS given the vintage. Sweet cherries. Must buy some. 94 Bourgneuf – am falling for this...

Ianjaig

I was pleasantly surprised by the 17s that I tried, Jim, including the Haut Brisson 17 which I thought was lovely (again). In terms of the 18s I'm waiting to arrive: Dom Chev x2 GPL x 2 Leoville Barton x 2 Le Marquis de Calon Ségur x 3 Phelan Segur x 3 Réserve de la Comtesse x 3 Saint Pierre x 3 Soc...

Ianjaig

With 3 cheese soufflé we drank 1983 La Lagune. This bottle tasted very fresh; youngish even. "Really nice!" exclaimed Lucie, "the taste lasts forever," and I agree. 1983 was fine early and fine now. I was lucky to stumble on well stored bottles at an auction in 2019. I'm serious...

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