Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Ianjaig

I ended up buying 6x Lynch Bages@$86 and 3x Pontet Canet@80. Given storage costs here in NYC, I'm not convinced I'm making an optimal decison. But sometimes, you just gotta say f it and pull the trigger. Nice one. You're prices are a tad more favourable than over here. I paid just over a $90 US for...

Ianjaig

Branaire Ducru 2009.

Needs a minimum of 3 or 4 more years IMO (opened this too early). Classically styled, tannic with an incredibly long finish.

Ian.

Ianjaig

I personally didn't enjoy the 2016 La Vieille Cure as I found this to be too New World for my liking (all candy floss, oak and syrupy). But that may just be my palate. Unfortunately I also didn't enjoy the 2016 Potensac either, but for opposing reasons, too thin and weedy for my liking. But I apprec...

Ianjaig

I've just taken the plunge and put my name down for some Lynch Bages. My fingers are getting twitchy and I've got the feeling I'm going to go big on the 19s as A) by all accounts it sounds like a great vintage (somewhere between the 18s and 15s is what I'm reading?) B) I'm 47 so have time on my side...

Ianjaig

At this point Duhart and PC would be what I would do, but I will wait for more of them to come out (d'Armailhac, Clerc Milon, GPL, LB, GL) and potentially more people to taste them. I doubt PB or Lynch will fit into my budget. Duhart has just been priced at $102 NZ (or $66 US) over here. I'm tempte...

Ianjaig

Had some friends round last night and coincidently, we also opened up a 2009 Bourgneuf. I liked this very much, was very refined and beautifully balanced. I'm glad that I have added some 14s and 16s to my cellar. A 2005 Jean Faure was another wine opened - surprisingly tannic with more time left on ...

Ianjaig

Had only one glass of this at a 2016 tasting a few months ago, but was impressed also. I know very little about this producer but understand the current owners also own Lilian Ladouys and have a part ownership in D'Issan?

Ianjaig

Pontet Canet is out. Priced very well, around $75, if there are no tariffs. Funny, have just received an email offering this at the exact same price ($NZ) + landing fees. Ch. Pontet Canet 2019 Pauillac 1st payment $129.00 est 2nd payment $36.16 A very tight, compact red that shows wonderful precisi...

Ianjaig

2012 Les Hauts du Tertre.

This is an exceptional QPR. Pronounced leather on the nose, vanilla and strawberries. Lovely.

Ianjaig

I’m sure geographical isolation has helped somewhat AKR, but I don't think it has been the deciding factor in how hard a particular country has been hit by the virus. For example, a country like Vietnam has been very successful in mitigating the impact of Covid-19 from what I understand, and their b...

Ianjaig

Had to search for this topic, but an interesting thread & tasting notes AlexR. I’ve recently bought some Le Hautes du Tertre 2015’s on sale after enjoying the 2012’s. Marquis De Calon /Le Marquis de Calon Segur is another regular purchase I make (in good years). La Parde de Haut Bailly & Le ...

Ianjaig

I’m a fan of some second wines Claudius2, as for me they can offer great value particularly in stronger vintages.

Ianjaig

Domaine De Chevalier 2006.

Surprisingly concentrated, meaty with decent tannic bite. Evolved and improved further on day 2. Needs more time IMO.

Ianjaig

Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape 2004 Good with food but without, there is simply too much of the 15% alcohol poking through. Classically styled yet disappointing. 87 Had a couple of 2011's last year and came to a similar conclusion. It was a bit of a 'head scratcher' for me, as I wanted to like ...

Ianjaig

Popped open a Grand Puy Lacoste 2006. Classically styled and absolutely humming...

Ianjaig

stefan wrote:1 1978 Pape Clement @ $73.50

I love 1978s and have never tasted this wine and 1978 is my daughter's birth year, so I thought, "why not; it comes out of her inheritance anyway".

What a great line …

Ianjaig

Yes, agree Jim, its a fantastic QPR - I think it was going for circa $60 (NZ) which seemed to be an absolute steal.

Thanks for the invite

I have a sister in law that lives in the Sonoma (her husband is in the wine trade, Kendall Jackson I believe) so who knows, maybe one day

Cheers.

Ianjaig

I had the 2011 not that long ago and I thought it was beautiful!! Very much my type of Bordeaux. I was more generous and gave it 94pts. Luckily I've also grabbed a few of the 16s which I have high expectations for.

Ianjaig

Thanks for the tasting note. I opened a SHL 06 recently and although I did enjoy it, I was somewhat underwhelmed. I have one more bottle left. I tried the 2016 Labegorce at a tasting a while ago and was really impressed. Unfortunately I have missed the boat on this one as it’s no longer available ov...

Ianjaig

La Tour St Bonnet 2016. Had never tried this producer before and bought initially as bit of a 'cellar blocker'. But I have been really impressed by this, particularly given its price ($30 NZ) so went back and split a case with some friends. Have since read that it may reward cellaring so may tuck a ...

Ianjaig

Ha, Luckily we’re both Liverpool fans; he, since birth, me since the seventh grade. Ready to be left empty handed again this year despite being the best team in the world :-( Nice one. I'm a massive Red as well (I was fortunate to be there when we won the European Cup in Istanbul, 2005). If the sea...

Ianjaig

I predict you will be pleased with those bottles, Ian, 2006 is a "light on its feet" vintage that I think does well in that region. I was very pleased with my case of 2006 Haut Bailley, although someone here I think was recently disappointed. I have 5 bottles left. Thanks Jim, and yes I a...

Ianjaig

Snapped up a couple of 2006 Domaine De Chevalier at auction. There were some interesting comments in another thread on the variability of the 06 vintage, so will be interesting to see how these show up.

Ianjaig

Decided to give this producer another go and picked up a couple of 2016s on sale for NZ $60 ($35 US?) which seemed too good a deal to ignore. Look forward to seeing how this has evolved since my earlier experiences with this estate.

Ianjaig

One advantage of this lockdown is its easy to reallocate $$ towards wine purchases instead.

2 x Domaine Chevalier 2018
2 x Phelan Segur 2018
1 x Saint Pierre 2018

All EP

Ianjaig

I’ve always liked PC, both the wine and the story behind it e.g. its transformation from French Railway quaffer to a wine now regarded (by some) to be of 2nd growth quality - its use of Breton draft horses, reducing its environmental footprint etc, etc. I guess I’m bit of a sucker for that sort of s...

Ianjaig

JimHow wrote:Indeed, it is weedy and stern, Ian...
Just the way I like my Medocs!

All good (and each to their own)!

Ianjaig

Glad you are enjoying the 2016, Jim. I must admit, I must be bit of an outlier with Potensac however, as this Producer has consistently been underwhelming and disappointing for me. I have always found them to be thin and “weedy”. I went to a tasting recently (where we had the 03 & 08) and it was...

Ianjaig

2 x Tour Saint Christopher 2018 - En Primeur.

Looking forward to these arriving as I have never had anything from this producer before.

Ianjaig

PNP a Domaine Janasse CDP 2010 - mistake on my part as this needs a lengthy decant. 15.5% - Yikes!

Ianjaig

2006 Calon Segur - pure elegance. Ian, Do you think they are ready and open for business or do you recommend to wait a bit for even more? I think I have couple of them... Open for business and in a great drinking window IMO. Interestingly, I decanted most of it for 4+ hours and it was soft, supple ...

Ianjaig

2006 Calon Segur - pure elegance.

Ianjaig

Thanks for the notes. The 2016 Saint Christophe is no longer available over here unfortunately, but I intend to order some of the 2018 En premier.

The 2016 Haut Brisson is indeed very good, and an absolute steal at its price.

Ianjaig

Had a session with some friends before shut down. Here is what we went through:

2010 Marquis de Calon
2009 Château d'Arsac Margaux
2011 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes
2010 Xavier Vignon Vacqueyras

In addition, opened up the 2010 Château Sociando-Mallet last night.

Ianjaig

We tasted a Te Mata and I liked the wines. I wish I had purchased some Coleraine then or immediately on returning home (K&L sometimes has this) as it seems to have increased in price. I think their second wine after Coleraine is supposed to be fine as well. I did not find prices unreasonable at...

Ianjaig

Sorry, I’ve never heard of Chestnut Grove, Claudius 2. The producers over here are all very “boutique” however, and are often bought up by bigger brands. Perhaps that has happened with this producer? You weren’t by any chance thinking of Walnut Ridge from Martinborough?

Ianjaig

greatbxfreak wrote: Before Frederique Vayron took over vinification duties in 2008, the wine was very traditional, strong and powerful Pomerol.

Thanks for the above. Come to think of it, their wines pre-2008 we the ones I typically loved!

Ianjaig

I’m from NZ (i.e. a “Kiwi”) and have been living here again for the last 15 years or so having returned from the U.K, so feel reasonably qualified to comment on the state of NZ wines :-) My take on the wines here are: 1) The reds are typically quite expensive (and unjustifiably so in my opinion). Ju...

Ianjaig

Thanks for the tasting note. Bourgneuf will always be a special wine for me, as in many ways, it was a 1990 Bourgneuf I had in the early 2000s that sparked my infatuation with Bordeaux wines. I bought it from a Supermarket in Normandy and when I had it in the early 2000s, it was the single greatest ...

Ianjaig

Went into a wine shop I haven't frequented for a while and couldn't believe what I saw on the self staring back at me. Had to be done:

2 x Sociando Mallet 2010 (tucked away)...

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