Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Blanquito

I can get a 6-pack of the 2019 Montrose for $116 each (pre-tariff), also tempting.

For those who’ve tasted recent vintages (my most recent was the 2008), what’s the style at Montrose these days? The critics are ga-ga over what they’ve be doing there since at least 2005.

Blanquito

I see that I can get the 2019 Lynch for $85 including sales tax (but not including a 25% tariff). Buy???

Blanquito

Great stuff, Ian. What other 2019s have you tried other than the d’Issan?

The ones catching my eye are Branaire Ducru, Langoa Barton, Gloria, St Pierre, Brane Cantenac — all estates whose style I still like and which are attractively priced.

Blanquito

Good to hear your take on SHL, Jacques. I need to try again. A big part of the problem is most modern Bordeaux does so little for me, in fact I usually dislike it especially the high merlot cuvees. I am especially turned off by gloss and new oak aromas and tannins, which are both things I’ve found i...

Blanquito

Smith Whore Lafeet I couldn’t have said it better! Starting in 1999, SHL: modem, oaky, glossy, boozy, often over extracted, boring. At least through the 2006 — I stopped trying after that. But I’m happy to be disabused, and try again given the chance... If Orlando picks BAMA and Sociando, I am putt...

Blanquito

Nick, this does help, a lot! My interest in 2019 futures has vanished as fast as the tannins in a RollandIzed cellar!

Blanquito

One thing becoming evident in this thread — many of you like Smith Haut Lafitte way more than I do. I would put SHL as a 5th Growrh at best in my ranking.

Blanquito

Prices for 2019 are still (semi)-tempting, assuming the tariffs vanish in a big orange poof on Jan. 20. Presumably the risk of bankruptcy has faded as well with vaccines on the horizon. But to Alex’s point made in the spring, have enough of “us” tried the ‘19s to know what we might be or have purcha...

Blanquito

It does make sense to base an updated classification on more recent vintages, a task many of us cannot do well given how few of the recent vintages we’ve tried. To my mind and personal biases, the great estates either restored, maintained or made their reputations in the 80s — to be sure, some of th...

Blanquito

1982-1990, LB was a super second, maybe even first growth quality with simply tremendous wines in 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89 and 90. Come on Pat. Was Trump your favorite, maybe even First Growth President? :o As excellent or touching Heaven has been Lynch Bages some specific vintages, never really chal...

Blanquito

Musigny 151 wrote:Jean Michel Cazes made lovely wines: less convinced by the glossier ones made by Jean Charles.

What year did Charles take over?

Blanquito

1982-1990, LB was a super second, maybe even first growth quality with simply tremendous wines in 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89 and 90, but in my experience that was its golden era which it has not since replicated. But there have been some excellent wines in the years since — 96, 00, 09, etc — so I voted ...

Blanquito

With the passage of time it is becoming increasingly clear that 2009 is an epic Bordeaux vintage, not a Cali vintage, and it is already becoming approachable. I am seeing this as well, I’ve been amazed by some 09s already — BUT with one caveat: there is the potential for some major landmines on the...

Blanquito

If it makes you feel any better, Marcus, this was a pretty hardcore sale — the Pichon Baron was priced $160 there before going on sale. All told at this sale, I got 7 bottles of the 2016 PIchon Baron for $99, 4 bottles of the 2016 Lynch Bages for $99, 3 bottles of the 2016 Cos d’Estournel for $130, ...

Blanquito

All the best to BWE, in country and abroad.

Having a 99 St Innocent Shea Pinot Noir with dinner.

Blanquito

Just a word of caution which Arv mentions — I heard the the HDH auction side, which relocated to Delaware I believe, wasn’t even providing a shipping service anymore! Apparently, the customer had to come up with their own shipping. Maybe that’s not longer the case.

Blanquito

Kind of remarkable how Bordeaux prices are flat or dropping everywhere you look. HDH has huge supplies of the 2016 Pichon Baron at $140/bottle. I bought that wine for like $165 six months ago, and thought it was an OK price for such a highly rated wine from a supposed vintage of the century. I have...

Blanquito

jckba wrote:HDH has a 15% Off Site-Wide Sale going on right now, some pricing is better than others so be sure to check.

http://www.hdhwine.com/112520

Has their retail shipping gone all PITA like the auction side?

Blanquito

2013 Ayala Champagne Blanc de Blancs Young and coiled, this needed quite a bit of time to unwind. At first, I wasn't that high on this, but with air it grew on me. This is a bright, intense bubbly right now, defined mostly by its acids. It also has the most distinctive note of yellow apples, even ap...

Blanquito

Definitely sincere, Joel! Playful so for sure, but shared suffering/bankruptcy is always better served in the warmth of BWE (unlike revenge which is a dish best served cold).

Blanquito

JoelD wrote:1986 Lynch Bages at 135
1986 Pichon Lalande at 185
1989 Pichon Lalande at 235
2x 1989 Pichon Baron at 180
1989 montrose at 280
4x 2014 D'issan at 46

Thanks, Joel. I feel (even) better now.

Blanquito

I knew I'd get some solace here, thanks guys. I like the plan to inflate away the buyer's remorse! It's a great point when I think about it -- has anyone here ever considered a wine purchased years ago 'expensive' later, assuming you still like the style? I can't think of any. And even the ones whos...

Blanquito

2 bottles of the 2010 Robert Chevillon NSG Les Vaucrains for the absurdly high $157/each all-in. Total impulse auction bid placed days ago that I didn’t think I’d actually win. I’m pretty sure this is the most I’ve ever spent on a young wine. THESE BETTER BE AWESOME, MARCUS! I know your note was on ...

Blanquito

The 15 Siran was probably a wine best Howed. My last bottle in May had lost it’s upfront appeal and was fairly hard work. I’m sitting on 3-4 more bottles and I’ll see if the early charm reappears in a few years, but like all of you my optimism is tempered.

Blanquito

Indeed. And Jal was much better in that jewel heist flick than Depp.

Blanquito

I can just see it now! Stefan will gavel the convention to order and announce “FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS — WHO SHALL WE VOTE OFF THE ISLAND?”

Blanquito

DavidG wrote:Boy is it good to see normal people, responsible adults who can speak in full sentences, who aren’t sociopaths, not to mention actual experts, introducing themselves as Biden's national security team.

Yes! I enjoyed listening to NPR this morning for like the first time in nearly 5 years.

Blanquito

I read it was 3 - 0 to certify in Michigan as the Dom Don guy abstained (must have been the 07 Dom).

Blanquito

OrlandoRobert wrote:Ok outside observer here.

I checked and your 8 year anniversary on BWE is coming up in January!

In my estimation, that makes you an inner circle member at this point.

Come on in, the water is fine! (https://youtu.be/SBjWHBHlvAs)

Blanquito

If a recent vintage is the primary criterion, the 2014 Leoville Barton would get my first, second and third votes.

Blanquito

I always knew Jim was in cahoots with Hugo Chavez.

Blanquito

I believe our very own Robert Goulet would heartedly endorse a winner from 2004.

Blanquito

I bought a case of the 05 Duhart as futures for $42/each, but stupidly solid half of them during the Lafite crazy. I haven’t tried one yet, as I assume for my palate these still need a single or double Blanquito.

Blanquito

Gilman is to me the most thorough, interesting and provocative wine writer today. Agreed completely, though I don’t find his New World reccos as reliable as his Old World ones. Down: Cos d’Estournel (even the 80’s vintages not that great), Léoville Las Cases (80’s vintages stuck in neutral, overly ...

Blanquito

How is Chambers Street these days? This is where I used to get most of my old Barolo and barbarescos from, given their impeccable provenance, electric selection and reasonable tariffs, but the prices have gone from painful-but-fair to absurd. That said, I have LOVED the old Produttori's I've purcha...

Blanquito

A few of my top wines so far in 2020... 1964 C.V.N.E. Rioja Viña Real Reserva Especial 2016 Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet Chaumées Clos de la Truffière 2002 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Rare I haven't pulled a lot of old, special bottles from my cellar, as we've mostly been drinking casually at ho...

Blanquito

stefan wrote:The 1990 Lagrange is also outstanding.

Easily the best vintage I’ve tried of Lagrange. I believe the 90 was my nominee in a one-hit-wonders thread years back along with the likes of the 96 Lafon Rochet, 90 Louviere, etc.

Blanquito

1964 fontanafredda barolo. Light, floral, beautiful. Almost like a tea. Subtle, but still a touch of cherry. Funk blew off after 30 min in decanter. Bottle was perfect, everything in great shape. Great color. Glad I have a few more of these and some 71/74. Great value at $85 recently. 94pts Love th...

Blanquito

1994 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon From half bottle... this is a deep, dark wine. The nose is rich and a bit port-like showing stewed plum, dark chocolate, macerated black cherries, mint and mineral undertones. The palate is dry, fully resolved and basaltic, and leans on the bright and tart...

Blanquito

OrlandoRobert wrote: Baudry’s Clos Guillot is more approachable in its youth, 2015 is gorgeous.

Just took delivery of 12 bottles of Baudry, 6 each of the 2015 and 2016 Clos Guillot. These open enough to take one out for a test drive or do they really need a slumber first?

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