Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

DavidG

Madoff said he intended to satisfy every investor before it all came crashing down. The PC "model" works, unless there comes a time when it doesn't work. I remember going into their store a few years back and seeing what Arv described, basically very little wine on the actual premises. It...

DavidG

The difference between PC and Bernie Madoff? Seriously? PC delivers, and when they don't they give your money back.

DavidG

JCNorthway wrote:That is an itinerary to die for. I wish things had worked to be able to go. For anyone who is going, it should be a most memorable week. Great work by the planning committee.

This^

Outstanding work but the organizers!

DavidG

I've got about a half-dozen '03s but the only one I've tried is the Pontet Canet. I've had it several times and think it is not yet showing its best but I don't get any hot, overripe, torrified sense from it except some heat immediately after opening. I've been reading a fair number of TNs on variou...

DavidG

They're raised the price on the '89 Lynch but still a bargain. Lots of other good things on the list at decades-old pricing. Stefan - it was pretty nice yesterday, around 70 and sunny, but sill way too cold for going in the ocean, not that that stopped some of the young and restless. We're just rela...

DavidG

Never had an '05, Roel. They may benefit from more time. I usually like my Bdx much older but thought this one to be an early drinker. I've been wrong before and could be way off. If you've got more than a few '05s, ten years would be a good time to take a look. CT notes seem to indicate it's out of...

DavidG

A personal favorite and in one respect a BWE founding partner, we splurged for this bottle while taking a break at the beach. 1989 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac Purchased off the list of our favorite secret seaside joint. They've raised the price but still a relative bargai...

DavidG

2010 Château Cantelys - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan Perfect cork and fill. Dark red to rim. Pop and pour. Initially pretty simple, ripe fruit and cassis on nose, not too interesting on the palate. But after an hour or two it started to show some interesting interplay between fruit and ...

DavidG

Yes it's new-world-y. I would think the '09 would be good to go without need of cellaring. Might have noticeable oak as a baby, but the ripeness of the vintage should make it an early drinker.

DavidG

2005 Château Croix de Labrie - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru Cellared since release. Perfect fill and cork. Pop and pour, drunk over 4 hours. Dark purple to rim. Dark berries, cedar, soy/umami on the nose. Medium to full body, lush ripe fruit, wood, soy, adequate balancing aci...

DavidG

You're right about tartrate crystals Arv but I don't see them that often, and that's not the only acid in wine.

DavidG

Thanks, Stefan, that makes sense. I wonder what happens chemically to the acid and sugar over time. I don't think that they polymerize like tannins/polyphenols, becoming less noticeable as the molecules get bigger and the wine ages. The only Sauternes I've followed longitudinally has been the '88 Cl...

DavidG

Arv - you're making me feel a little better, thanks!

DavidG

I have a handful of 2001 Sauternes. Coutet, Doisy-Daëne and Fargues. I figured they should be good to go now and for a decade or two to come. I'm not ready to write them off based on one bottle from a different producer. Harry, which ones did you find cloying? Stefan, my experience with old Sauterne...

DavidG

I'm hearing 2014 is notably better than 2011-2012-2013, and will be priced higher. I imagine that there are plenty of over-priced, under-qualitied 2011s and 2012s sitting in distributors' warehouses and retailers' back rooms herein the U.S. that they would love to move by getting the consumer to bac...

DavidG

It's not the '70s any more. Or the '80s or '90s. For most wines, there's just no economic sense in buying en primeur at the prices offered the last few years. It doesn't really matter whether it was the Chateaux, courtiers, negociants, importers or retailers that hoovered up the profits. For the con...

DavidG

Not my notes, these are from a tasting in New Zealand of mostly 1975 Bordeaux. I found it an enjoyable read.
http://www.geoffkellywinereviews.co.nz/ ... icleID=228

Tim, what was the year of the Heitz Martha's you brought to Dubai? That was an awesome wine, and still fully alive.

DavidG

JimHow wrote:I wonder if my unopened case of 1998 Pape Clement is old school or new school?

Once you open it, it'll be school's out before you know it!

DavidG

Jim which Pape did you bring to the BWE Conventions a few years ago that we sampled in your room before the main festivities? That one was new school as I recall, but don't recall the year.

DavidG

I can drink bretty wines with horse-$hit on the nose all day, but you mention mouse droppings and, well, I just hope I forget this note before I open my next Pape Clement.

DavidG

Who is Max? Max Marinucci at Wine Connection?

DavidG

Stefan, ever try Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noirs? There is a very good deal on a one-off cuvee ($19/btl for 2013 Berserker's Cuvee and half-off shipping) that I sprung for sight unseen.

DavidG

I have Bdx-sized slots so I can't answer your question directly Michael. Can you find out the spacing of the particular Champagne racks you're considering? I don't know if they are all the same. You could take two blocks of wood spaced that far apart and put a Bdx bottle on top of it to see how secu...

DavidG

Jimmy, you are on a roll with the TNs!

Glad to hear good things about this one. You might even get me to engage in a little vinfanticide.

DavidG

Agree that 1994 Clinet and L'Evangile were excellent. I would add Angelus. Disagree with Troplong Mondot -tannins overwhelmed the fruit on that one, even after 15 years.

DavidG

I have a smattering of '99s. The only one in common with Ian's notes is the Giscours, and I would agree with his take. A nice pleasant wine but it doesn't scream Margaux or offer any real complexity. I drank mine up. The 1999 Palmer, however, is outstanding. Never tried the Ch. Margaux or the D'Issa...

DavidG

I think it was around $50 pre-arrival. Maybe less.

DavidG

I hope the future holds more promise for this wine. I have a few and will probably wait 5 years to open one.

DavidG

I have a few of these and agree with Arv's note. A nice daily drinker, I thought it an excellent value at the $24 I paid. Should drink well for 5-10 years but wouldn't expect it to make old bones. If I had room in the drinking plan for more young daily drinkers and less mature wine in the cellar, I ...

DavidG

Ian, you are right on the money regarding tasting vs. drinking. Arv has the solution, but who's got the time?

DavidG

That first pic suggests they were all mind-bendingly good.

DavidG

I haven't had an '82 Pichon Lalande that recently, Ian, so can't comment on whether it may be in decline or if your birthday bottle just wasn't representative of the best that it can be. At 30 years, as they say, no great wines, only great bottles.

DavidG

I've never had them side by side that I can recall, but the '82 has blown me away all 4 times I've had it. The '86 was outstanding the 4 times I've had it but it just doesn't have that extra gear...

DavidG

Nope. Best PLL ever is the 1982.

DavidG

Good question. Sooner or later I guess they'll have to price it to move. Maybe when they run out of storage space. That's what I do. When the cellar starts to overflow, time to send some off to auction...

DavidG

Yes, good to see you posting again Arv!

DavidG

I think Ian's description of Neal Martin's palate matches my impression from reading his notes. I've never met him. But does Bordeaux need saving? They seem to still be plugging along despite all the dire warnings about pricing themselves out of existence. And they've exhibited that seemingly irrati...

DavidG

Clearly Robert Parker's influence has waned. With the general population, where anyone with an Internet connection and a 90+ score can end up on a shelf-talker. And amongst our merry little band, where even those of us who cut our Bordeaux-buying teeth on the Wine Advocate (raising my own hand here)...

DavidG

Wow, Tim. I'll be arranging tickets to Paris shortly. What can I bring to entice you to pop the '47 Petrus?

DavidG

Sounds like a pleasant surprise! Early word on 2005 left bank was that they would take a looong time to come around. Thanks for the update. Might have to move a few of these up into the try this year queue.

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