Brief notes. The Caronne I queried on this board some time ago and last night I had the second botlle from the case. Very disappointing, again. Caronne goes modern, big time. 13.5%, tastes like more. Suspiciously dark colour, extracted nose, nice enough fruit but then a bitter extracted finish. The ...

I've bought quite a lot of 06s, most quite recently at prices that in UK are still at or near en primeur level and look like good value (especially compared to 05) for a vintage that sounds like it's very much my style - 04-style with bit more concentration and grip seems to be the consensus. Clerc ...

I've had some bottle variation with Potensac 2000. Even the best bottle was rather less focussed than the Potensacs I recall from the past - for instance the lovely 78...

Richard

Thanks Comte -

First 2 cases were en primeur at c£160 ib from a very keenly priced outfit called Vintage Holdings; third case was halves at £10 a half all-in from Lay and Wheeler sale.

Very much doubt any more from either of those sources.

Best

Richard

One small but pleasurable improvement in the new home is the logo and picture: that's a real Riedel-style glass next to that sadly empty bottle (from the shape it looks exactly like the Riedel Vinum Chianti, the industry-standard glass for tastings and my favourite glass for the lighter-style claret...

I agree with Claudius about St Juliens - it has always been my favourite commune, ever since 64 Las Cases was my unforgettable induction into claret back in the early 70s. I've easily more St J from 99-06 in my cellar than any other commune. 06 GL I bought after tip-offs that the property had really...

Nic - forgot to add - the Soc Mallet 04 is sensational.

R

Thanks for replies. Langoa 90 was really very lightweight, I recall. 99 was good but way below Barton. My impression is that it's only in the last few vintages that the quality and sheer volume of Langoa has been ratcheted up to the level of Barton or nearly. Prices for 05 and 06 en primeur were als...

Can it be AC Bordeaux if it has any Grenache? Surely not?

Richard

Thought I'd cross-post the below for Langoa fans who might have missed it on the other thread (Houndsong's) bout 04s: "And Richard was very much with Richard on the 2004s last evening when I celebrated securing a third case of Langoa at more or less opening price (c£18 all in) by cracking open ...

... but 14.5%? In my book that's not claret at all - well, it is but I don't want it - well, my liver (such as it is) doesn't want it...


Richard

Thanks Hound! And Richard was very much with Richard on the 2004s last evening when I celebrated securing a third case of Langoa at more or less opening price (c£18 all in) by cracking open my second bottle. I think I extolled it mightily on this Board after the first bottle - but - wow - This is ex...

Go for it, Jim! Side by side, blind, I got the 05 and 06 the wrong way round - not sure if I've ever come across 2 vintages of the same wine tasting (and looking - identical colour) so similar - though as the evening wore on the 05's extra puissance pulled it ahead - but the 06 is that good! (I thin...

Now this is seriously good wine and I'm seriously sorry for underrating it badly in my note some months ago. I was offered some more bottles at a very keen price so I cracked open another bottle from the first case to help decide. I decided. And last night I put a bottle beside Armailhac 04. No cont...

Agree with Jim absolutely about the 05 Cantemerle. Posted a note on the board before it moved here, comparing it with the 06. I said something about both wines being traditional to the point of making me feel nostalgic!

Richard

Thanks for posting. I've come across her stuff elsewhere and she seems very reliable. Glad I bought Chevalier and Lagrange. One UK insider warned me against the Branaire after the London UGC tastings. As to overall quality of 06 versus 05: when I put the 2 (bottled) Cantemerles blind side by side I ...

Have just signed on to the new site - well done to all for the transition!

Hope this works.

Lagrange 02 still to improve - luckily I have good stocks.

Best

Richard