Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

pomilion

I've tried a number of 2011 vintage ports multiple times, and it's a sensational vintage. Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca and Graham's especially are wonderful, and I think they'll develop and be drinking beautifully in 15-20 years. Hell, they're drinking well now, though very primary. Had a 1970 Graham's ...

pomilion

Anyone else going? Featuring the 2011 vintage, perhaps it's not as exciting as '05, '09 or '10, but my wife and I almost always go and it's a great opportunity to taste a large number of recently released bordeaux. And the 2011 Sauternes are apparently quite good. If anyone's attending the Los Angel...

pomilion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAF8D0ugyVk

pomilion

As for life after Bob, I would bet dollars to donuts Neal Martin will take over from Bob in a few years. Jim, you will probably like his taste. He has a traditional British palate. Parker, in my view, would significantly add to his reputation and legacy by having Neal succeed him -- not only is Nea...

pomilion

We're staying in tonight, will probably open something new world (Saxum, Rhys or Radio Coteau most likely) followed by a 2001 sauternes. Spent yesterday at our wine lockers pulling everything out and doing a complete reorg/inventory, feeling a lot of muscle soreness today... Christmas eve with frien...

pomilion

Have a single bottle of 1999 Clerc Milon that was given to me a few years ago as gift. Anyone have any thoughts on whether it's time to drink up or further cellaring might be beneficial? Has anyone had this in the past couple years? TIA for any advice.

pomilion

Great choice, Jim! '04 SHL has been exceptional every time I've tried it. I have mixed feelings about more recent vintages only because of the price, which is a direct result/reflection of Parker's grade inflation. On the one hand, I'm very happy for the Cathiards to be recognized for the great work...

pomilion

robert goulet wrote:Another margaux '05 brane cantenac?

This would be a fabulous choice -- one of the half dozen top wines at the 2005 UGC tasting (which included many much-more-expensive heavy hitters) and it has never failed to disappoint when we've had it since.

pomilion

I may be overly sensitive to the alcohol because I've been drinking so many staid left bankers. I don't dispute your main premise, but this is probably part of why the alcohol was so distracting and troublesome for you. I drink a decent amount of California red wine (syrah, pinot and zin as well as...

pomilion

The color is stunning, a beautiful black/purple that fades not to ruby but rather a slightly lighter purple. The nose is immense, it has that La Tour Carnet thing going on, times ten that is: tar, licorice, roasted herbs, very concentrated cassis and black cherries. It has a profound finish It clea...

pomilion

I can see where this is headed... Hopefully the alcohol will die down. I'll be opening '05 CLG on x-mas eve, and 2010 CLG was one of the 3-4 best wines at last year's UGC tasting. Hope this turns around for you tonight.

pomilion

Older:

1985 Lynch Bages
1990 Angelus
1990 Pichon Baron

Newer and not astronomically priced:

2005 Sociando Mallet
2009 Gruaud Larose
2009 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge
2010 Canon La Gaffeliere

pomilion

Jim...bobby just texted me declaring he is done with St. Emilion...he said to much Parker and Splinters Even Figeac? I know they're under new direction, but has anyone tasted a difference yet? Perhaps 2009 Figeac is an aberration because of the character of the vintage, but it tasted very modern at...

pomilion

.very hedonistic, sensuous, rich I have no problem with Jeff loving this vintage, but these are descriptors I like in my napa/Washington state wines....not my bordeaux...I doubt I will ever add much '09 bordeaux to the cellar...in the big picture, that's what makes it all great, if everyone liked t...

pomilion

pomilion

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but perhaps there should be two BWE wines of the year -- one from a relatively recent vintage, and a second WOTY 10 or more vintages old. I think the former is important if part of the point of anointing a WOTY is to serve as a heads-up to BWEers to think abo...

pomilion

stefan wrote: 2002 right bank wines are generally disappointing, while 2001 right bankers are mostly very good.

Couldn't agree more, have had very few '02 right bankers I've been impressed with but many '01s.

pomilion

Has the backlash from the shutdown neutralized the tea party and far right to allow a more mainstream Republican to survive the primary process? The entire center of the Republican party has slid to the right since the 1960's. Back then if you were a "Goldwater" Republican you were consid...

pomilion

Nic -- 2008's not a horrid vintage, it's just mediocre and uneven. It was apparently more promising from barrel -- a variety of critics including Parker were very high on the vintage then sharply revised their in-bottle scores lower. All I can tell you is that I haven't been bowled over by a single ...

pomilion

Not real thrilled with 2008, Tom, including an '08 Gruaud Larose uncorked the other night. 2008 overall is a very mediocre, uneven vintage, imo. Obviously there are exceptions, but a majority of the wines are under-fruited and at least appear to be overly acidic (have no idea about the technical ac...

pomilion

I really loved the 2009 La Fleur de Bouard, voluptuous and rich, inky purple color, cassis and blueberries, stunning bouquet, a mouth-filling wine that will "drink well now and for the next fifteen years." 93 points. 2009 Clos Lunelles: Have had this twice now, will get more at $27 per bo...

pomilion

Other classic places to visit include Montelena and Shafer. Napa isn't my favorite place to visit w/out appointments - on a walk-in basis, they're all a bit corporate and impersonal compared to most other wine regions in the States or elsewhere.

pomilion

Today, my Lynch/Angelus/La Lagune/Pavie Macquins are D’Issan, Roc de Cambes, Martet, Charmail, Les Carmes Haut-Brion, and many other wines. Elegance and delicacy are the magical words, not the power. Love Roc de Cambes. Little sister of Tertre Roteboeuf (both owned by Francois Mitjavile), elegant a...

pomilion

Hilarious responses, particularly Jacques and David. Didn't mean to stir things up this much, but I'm glad I did (anything to generate discussion about one of my favorite wines)! It's hard for me to put my finger on exactly what strikes me as "burgundian" about TR -- it's certainly, in man...

pomilion

There's something burgundian and unique about TR that's enthralling. OK, I have seen a lot of different descriptions for Tertre Roteboeuf but I have never heard it described as "burgundian". :? In many vintages of TR, something about the texture, nose, elegance and flavor profile strikes ...

pomilion

For me, Angelus, Tertre Roteboeuf and, outside of bordeaux, Ridge Monte Bello. A bottle of 1990 Angelus 8-9 years ago pushed my interest in bordeaux into high gear and I've been buying since but tapering off lately because of the spiraling cost. Same cost issue with Tertre Roteboeuf but still bought...

pomilion

It is a real dilemma when wines escalate so much you wonder if you can afford to drink them. Angelus is one of my right bank favorites, but 2006 was the last vintage I bought -- it's gotten crazy expensive, along with most of my other favorites :( Still holding onto a lone bottle of the 1990, which...

pomilion

I like some recent vintages of Lascombes, like the under-rated and nicely priced 2004, but both times I've tried the 2005 (at the UGC 2005 tasting and once a couple years ago) it was incredibly oaky, like chewing on a 2x4 and almost undrinkable. Maybe it's bottle variation to some extent though -- u...

pomilion

I'm pretty sure I tried it at the 2009 UGC a year and a half ago, but I'd have to look up my notes. Have a vague recollection of liking it but not quite as much as the '05. My wife asks me about the '05 at least once every three months or so ("when are we going to have one of those?") -- a...

pomilion

Brane Cantenac was one of the top 6-8 wines at the UGC 2005 tasting -- really sensational. Bought some, haven't tried it since. May need to remedy that!

pomilion

I'm a very big Carlisle fan, have been on their mailing list going on something like 6-7 years. Mike's zins are often a little bigger/riper than Ridge's (which I also love) but definitely less ripe/jammy than Turley or Martinelli. I've also had good luck aging Carlisle -- had a 2002 syrah the other ...

pomilion

I've had terrific luck with this wine. Bought a boatload (3.5 cases) when one of the more prominent west-coast wine shops blew it out for $29.99/bottle a few years ago. Perhaps, as you say, not mind-blowing or shouting Margaux typicity, but a very nice wine, unmistakably bordeaux if not quintessenti...

pomilion

I bought at $108. I wouldn't buy at $200+. If it is for consumption and doesn't have to make perfect economic sense, then I'm sure you can find comparisons to Napa cult cabs or First Growths that says $210 is a value. But there are a lot of very good wines for much less. Jon hits the nail on the he...

pomilion

2009 GPL Test-Drive What I can say with confidence, this 2009 certainly is different -- not necessarily worse, maybe even better, but definitely different -- than the 00/01 GPLs which I tasted young. This is ripe and shows modern influences on its winemaking... or is this just the 09 vintage showin...

pomilion

The 2005 GPL I tried on release was killer... sure, it seemed a bit modern in its cleaniness and fruit-richness, but these features seemed like potential improvements to the excellent GPL model (lovely, classic, but sometimes a bit lean to run with the best) from the 80's and mid-1990's. Couldn't a...

pomilion

haven't tried it, but pretty good scores from Neil Martin, Jancis and Tim Atkin as well:

http://www.farrvintners.com/wine.php?wine=29454

pomilion

Thanks for the note David. Have you (or has anyone else) had '06 Angelus in the past few years? Loved it early on and bought a bunch when it was semi-affordable but haven't had one for a few years.

pomilion

I came to this question by way of Brane Cantenac. After reading HWSRN's remarks on BC, I noticed that here in Canada the 09 is near double the price of the 08. That puts it almost at the same level as Rauzan Segla! I then recalled what other super second and super second wannabes have done with the...

pomilion

Here are some stats comparing Parker's current scores for the top red bordeaux of 1982, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010: 1982: 100 -- 6 wines 98-99 -- 3 wines 96-100 -- 15 wines 95-100 -- 21 wines 1989: 100 -- 4 wines 98-99 -- 1 wine 96-100 -- 9 wines 95-100 -- 15 wines 1990: 100 -- 4 wines 98...

pomilion

I came oh so close to buying a case of the 2010 Duffau at $179 assuming it was a solid 100 from uncle bob based on everything I read. I thought for sure it was the most obvious 100. I've never tasted BDL but nevertheless got sucked into the hype about the '09 and bought a bunch at $110. When the 20...

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