Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Rudi Finkler

Sorry, not a single one for me...

Rudi Finkler

In recent German history, there is a little parallel to this amazing spectacle with Trump. The former Bavarian governor Franz-Josef Strauß, the most polarizing German politician in the post-war period, insisted on a candidacy for the chancellorship in the late eighties. The result was a disaster for...

Rudi Finkler

I don't think so, Jim. I have cellared 2008, 2009, and 2011 so far. Impressive vintages, as always in the past.

Rudi Finkler

En passant I tasted some clarets in our local supermarket recently. Some quick impressions. BTW, all wines have 13% alcohol: 2012 Cantemerle, a disappointment, lacks fruit, a bit one-dimensional, and a bit too thin, not worth the price, €22. 2011 Sociando-Mallet, outstanding, beautifully balanced, d...

Rudi Finkler

If you are a fan of rotten cabbage and rotten cauliflower, and moreover have an indestructible stomach, the 1994 Pichon Comtesse is a must have. A faint promise of fruit on the nose remains an unfulfilled promise, but with a lot of imagination, you can detect a hint of sour cherry and rotten plums b...

Rudi Finkler

There was a nice Freudian slip in the First German Television a few days ago: 'Der amerikanische Präsidentschaftskandidat Donald Drunk...' /'The American presidential candidate Donald Drunk...'

Have a lot of fun, guys!

Rudi Finkler

Thanks for the link! I had completely repressed the memory of the cork debacle in the meantime.

Rudi Finkler

My hopes were high, when I opened my first bottle of the 2005 Beaulieu Comtes de Tastes, Bordeaux Supérieur, shortly after release. I remember a deeply coloured, concentrated, beefy wine, with layers of dark fruits, an unmistakable earthiness, and plenty of oak... The earthiness remains as well as t...

Rudi Finkler

stefan wrote:Batailley, more than any other 5th growth Pauillac, requires patience. Its problem for a long time is that what it delivers when mature is not worth the waiting for it to reach maturity.

I couldn't disagree more...

Rudi Finkler

To put it in a nutshell, both wines are very delicious, each in its own way, and illustrate what a remarkable diversity the widespread appellation Haut-Médoc has to offer. The 2005 Bernadotte is a wonderful, old school claret that reveals its true class only over the course of the meal. Initially, i...

Rudi Finkler

Why?

Rudi Finkler

Thank for sharing, Alex! Indeed, not a bad way to spend a Friday evening! :-) Concerning 'Y', a little anecdote springs to mind: In the late eighties, a supermarket with an excellent wine department in Saarbrücken offered a twelve bottle case of 1985 'Y' for 111,- DM per bottle. For comparison, La C...

Rudi Finkler

I have not had the '09 Pichon Comtesse yet, Ian, but maybe the Grand Vin is overoaked.
One can hardly blame the alcohol or the fruit for the Napa-esque impression.
And BTW, drinking a second wine at just the right time, can give you more pleasure than drinking the Grand Vin at the wrong time.

Rudi Finkler

Both wines were outstanding and went perfectly with the grilled lamb chops with fresh thyme from the garden last night. Will they benefit from a few years of cellaring? - Yes! If you particularly like the fruiter profile of young red Bordeaux wines, then you have come to the right place. Although bo...

Rudi Finkler

Tanks for the nice note, Nic! I have never seen Bertinerie in the wine shops here in our region, but we had an excellent bottle of 2001 Haut-Bertinerie in a restaurant a few years ago. Seems to be one of the numerous underrated châteaux from the so called satellite appellations.

Rudi Finkler

Yes, I also think the term 'masked' is very appropriate in this context. The temperature rise in the glass alone, is usually sufficient to reveal the heat of a well-masked alcohol. For me, red Bordeaux is all about elegance, finesse, balance, freshness, and digestibility. There is no room for Napa-e...

Rudi Finkler

Rudi Finkler, I know Tertre Roteboeuf and Roc de Cambes like my own pocket. 2005 with 14 grades alcohol and so what? It's natural, no added sugar! It's perfectly integrated with fruit and tannin right now. I hate people complaining about high alcohol in Bordeaux wines, but they drink without compla...

Rudi Finkler

Gentlemen, I must confess, it was impossible for me to open these two bottles without a feeling of nostalgia, and a bit melancholy. Since 2005, 14+% alcohol is the inglorious standard at Château Roc de Cambes, unacceptable for me, and unfortunately, in 2010, the Furt family sold Les Carmes Haut-Brio...

Rudi Finkler

'Sexy, just sexy' was the spontaneous comment of Albert at the first sip of Les Carmes Haut-Brion last night. How true! Is there a greater compliment? :-) The profound, subtle bouquet of Morello cherry, delicious, sweet dark berries, violets, and spices taken by itself is already an extraordinary pl...

Rudi Finkler

Château Clos du Meunier is missing in the 'other notables' list.

Rudi Finkler

No particular order for the top of the tops, but I have a soft spot for Ducru Beaucaillou and Léoville Barton and would add Clos du Marquis and du Glana to the list.

Rudi Finkler

I have no particular pecking order, when it comes to the top of the top Pauillac wines. It depends on my mood and depends on the vintage, but I have a soft spot for Pichon Comtesse and Lafite. In any case, I would add Les Forts and Carruades to the upper mid-range, and Bellegrave near to Fonbadet.

Rudi Finkler

Yes, indeed, Alex, I think they have more to give. The potential is larger, the wines are more compelling than in 1999. I'm a fan of the 2006 vintage.

Rudi Finkler

Every time I drink or taste a wine near to perfection, a cascade of feelings and emotions comes over me. Not only enthusiasm and passion for this particular wine, but also a deep feeling of gratitude for this unique gift of nature and gratitude to the winemaker. It happened again last night, and eve...

Rudi Finkler

Ian, has the 1989 still this irresistible, lovely touch of port-like sweetness as in earlier days?

Rudi Finkler

BTW, a very interesting secondary aspect of this tasting was the influence of the awful acidity and the obnoxious tannin on the taste buds in the mouth. At least half an hour, the taste buds were so irritated and annoyed that the first sips of the following wine, a well-balanced, ripe, and elegant 1...

Rudi Finkler

I think you are right, Nic. Most wines from 1993 showed significantly more fruit than most wines produced in 1994. At least between 1997 and 2003, the 1993s provided a lot of fun, but, unfortunately, most of them were not very well structured and therefore not suited for a long storage...

Rudi Finkler

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq121/Rudolf-Josef/HorrorShow1994.jpg Until 2000, I thought a case of 1984 Cos d'Estournel was the worst purchase I had ever made. Far from it! Ironically, two 1er Grand Cru Classé wines from Saint-Emilion, 1994 Clos Fourtet, and 1994 La Gaffelière, were even more...

Rudi Finkler

No clue, Jim, but 1985, and especially 1990, were exquisite too.
It is hard to believe, but in earlier days, GPL was one of my favorite Pauillac wines...

Rudi Finkler

Similar in taste profile to the well-made 2004 Haut-Bages Libéral from the other day, the 2008 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is an elegant, well-balanced wine with good depth and concentration. Admittedly, the tannins are fine, the acidity is fresh, and the wine shows notes of noble woods, forest floor, and spi...

Rudi Finkler

2008 La Fleur de Gay, incredibly complex and delicate. One of the best Pomerol wines I ever had.

Rudi Finkler

Interesting that you mention the 2005, AKR. I had outstanding bottles of 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2006, but just the 2005 was a mild disappointment. Simply too modern for me. 2001 is my favourite Charmail, similar in style to the wonderful Sociando-Mallet and even a little bit better, but for hal...

Rudi Finkler

This exceptionally well-made, old school styled Cru Bourgeois from Haut-Médoc impressively demonstrates how outdated the 1885 Classification actually is. Easily the equivalent of a third classified growth, this delicious, multilayered wine offers a very elegant black and red berry profile with polis...

Rudi Finkler

Indeed Alex, it always pays to experiment...

Rudi Finkler

Laroque is a mostly overlooked wine from Saint-Emilion, and 2007 is regarded as a difficult vintage for red Bordeaux. All the more interesting for me to open a bottle... This wine is a joy. Not quite as sophisticated as the 2001 Laroque I had a few month ago, but just as elegant and well balanced. B...

Rudi Finkler

As long as the alcohol content does not exceed 14%, I have made good experience with La Petite Eglise, Franc- Maillet, Petit Village, Clos René, La Croix St.Georges, La Croix de Gay, and in particular with La Fleur de Gay in recent years.

Rudi Finkler

Thanks for the note, David! I think Croix de Labrie is a 'modern' wine that even lovers of traditional Bordeaux really can enjoy.
I just see that 1999, and 2000 are still available from my favourite online store.

Rudi Finkler

Leoville-Barton is such a reliable steed isn't it? A stalwart for us lovers of traditional Bordeaux. It is the wine I am back filling on most...latest purchase a case of 2004. Thanks for the note Nic. Seems like it too is a worthy addition to the traditionalists cellar. You have struck a chord with...

Rudi Finkler

Hi Rudy. I don't have too much experience with Léoville Barton, having sampled only the 1978, 1986 and that 2012. That 2012 seemed really good to me, and in that medium vintage, the wine is balanced and kinda creamy. I guess that i would drink it over the next 15-18 years. But the 1978, drank in 20...

Rudi Finkler

2001 Haut-Bergey Immediately after opening the 2001 Haut-Bergey last night, a delicate scent of marzipan, herbs, spices, and vanilla spreads around the table. On the palate, it offers Morello cherry, blackberry, blueberry, leather, oriental spices, and a nice hint of forest floor, followed by a long...

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