Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Jeff Leve

Just as it happened with the last vintage-of-your-lifetime, when the 2005s pricing came down and were reasonable pick-ups at release or lower-than-release pricing a few years later, I won't be surprised if the 2009s will be available at release or better pricing, sans any storage or foregone opport...

Jeff Leve

For me, It is the prices of $95+ for the 2010 d'Issan, and $100+ for 2010 Branaire, Gruaud, etc., that scare me off, and that's where I say goodbye to you, Bordeaux.... Jim... Even though the price points might have changed, didn't you make this same statement about previous vintages? :D There are ...

Jeff Leve

Count me in as a big fan of 2003 Pontet Canet. IMO, it was the first truly strong Pontet Canet since Alfred took over in 1994. However, starting in 2005, it became a new ball game. 2005 and younger are much better wines.

Jeff Leve

I like Vrai Canon Bouche since the 20005 vintage. Stephane Derenoncourt is the consultant now. I'm not sure what they were doing back in 2003.

Here's a little bit of background on the winery. www.thewinecellarinsider.com/?page_id=1676

Jeff Leve

You wondered "why are people calling Parker an Anti-Wine Consumer Advocate?" And the answer is simply that his interests and the way he defines his job no longer seem to correspond with the interests of the consumer. At least to me, helps the consumer. He tastes wine. He wrotes about it. ...

Jeff Leve

Jeff, You make a good point. By the way, the 09 Clinet is stunning. You should have seen how quickly the bottle was drained. My issue is not with Parker but more with the abuse of his ratings for pricing. No problem with retailers quoting scores. They are in the business of selling wine. Yet I see ...

Jeff Leve

I agree, Jeff. Look at it this way - after more than a decade of wild price increases, I think a buyer could find at least 50 wines in 2009 that are better than say, 1997 Cheval Blanc, and still have a lower retail price than than the '97 CB on release . The first growths may still command a premiu...

Jeff Leve

Thanks for the preliminary look at 2011, Jeff. I can't wait to read what you have to say after you return from Bdx, especially about the left side. Pls keep us informed. Your description of the weather patterns for 2011 make it sound a little bit like 04; what do you think? 2011 is quite different ...

Jeff Leve

Good conversation! I am consumer just like all of you. I am priced out of many wines I used to buy. I do not blame Parker. His job is to let people know his views. More people subscribe today. More people compete for the same wines. The wineries are makikng less wine today than ever before. But the ...

Jeff Leve

I love 2009 Clinet. Like almost every 2009 Pomerol, it's been stunning since it was first tasted in barrel in 2010. This is my note from the most recent tasting with the UGC. 2009 Clinet – It’s fitting that 2009 turned out to be the best wine from Ronan Laborde, since he began managing the estate te...

Jeff Leve

This is my first look at the wines from the 2011 Bordeaux vintage. I’m leaving for Bordeaux next week to taste several hundred of the top Bordeaux wines from both ends of the spectrum. Aside from all the top estates, as always, I’ll also taste as many of small, value Bordeaux wines as possible. If y...

Jeff Leve

Which leaves me with question - will 2009 vintage have problems with balance? If you think 2009 has problems with balance today, that is a fair question. But if you consider it balanced now, why should that change. WIne making is more than weather charts. Vintners are much smarter and more selectiv...

Jeff Leve

Having tasted hundreds of 2009 Bordeaux in multiple occasions, personally, I might have given 10-12 wines 100 Pts. But if Bob likes the wines that much, that is his view. With close to 35 years of experience, longer than a lot of posters have been alive, I'm not betting against his track record. He'...

Jeff Leve

Jeff/all - I have a couple of questions and some obsevations: - Is that first list of wines the ones that scored 100 points? I counted 19 wines in that first list... - If that many wines achieve 100 points, does that not imply that the scoring system is too lenient/should become tougher, so we can ...

Jeff Leve

JonB wrote:Who is this Parker fellow? I follow Jeff Leve's scores.

Me too!

Jeff Leve

I am not sure if you guys saw this earlier today, but Parker gave 18 wines from 2009 100 Pts! Of course Latour, Petrus and some of the other usual suspects hit triple digits, but Pontet Canet, Leoville Poyferre, Smith Haut Lafitte and others are up there as well! For full details... http://www.thewi...

Jeff Leve

Thanks for the comments! 90 La Conseillante is now a better wine than the 89 La Conseillante. Which is a problem for me as I bought a lot of 89 La Conseillante, but not as much of the 90. For some reason, the 89 was everywhere when it was released, but not much of the 90 was in the west coast.

Jeff Leve

http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/NYE-bottles-2-300x224.jpg 2011 went out with a whimper. Thank God. All I can say to last year is, don’t let the door kick you in the ass on the way out. 2011 had numerous highpoints that produced some special memories I’ll always cheris...

Jeff Leve

Jeff we'd love to have you join us for a few days of wining and dining in DC for the BWE Annual Convention. There are a couple of threads titled BWE12 with details. The main event is Saturday March 31 at Charlie Palmer Steak in DC. David... I'd go in a New York minute. But I'll be in Bordeaux. Some...

Jeff Leve

Jay Winton wrote:Thanks Jeff. You need to come to our convention dinner in March.

Jay... When and where is it?

Jeff Leve

It's nice to see so many lists. While I was lucky and did enjoy a lot of great wine this year, more importantly, the occassions for sharing the wines mattered the most. That being said, drinking great wine does not suck

I hope everyone enjoys a great holiday filled with wine...

Jeff Leve

http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Top-Ten-Wines-Tasted-300x264.jpg When thinking about the best wines from 2011, there were as many wines to chose from as there were reasons to pick them. My mission was to narrow down the list, as well as the reasons why some wines made...

Jeff Leve

Sales for 2010 Bordeaux remain soft. There are a few exceptions, but there is not a lot of demand. The wines are very expensive. Plus, the tannic, acidic nature of the wines that will require serious age will be a turn off to many American buyers. Due to the drop in the Euro, coupled with the lack o...

Jeff Leve

Vieille Cure is a delicious wine that IMO shows best young. While the estate was purchased in 1986 by the current owner, they did not start making really fine wine until 2000. If you want a little background on Vieille Cure http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/bordeaux-wine-producer-profiles/bordeaux...

Jeff Leve

Want it or not, these rating (and the bad tendencies to have many wine over 90/100, or over 95/100) are made only to sell the young wine, at a higher price. Normally, I would expect that a brand new wine would not be rated over 95, and would gain some points with age, if maturation is still improvi...

Jeff Leve

Jim... 2005 is a rounder, plusher, riper, but also more pure and concentrated wine than the 96. 2005 has more power coupled with more finesse. I agree, 2000 could have been better. I would have liked more depth. But for me, the wine is still good. 2005 GPL is worth the tariff IMO.

Jeff Leve

JimHow wrote:GPL hasn't produced an exceptional wine since '96.

Have you had either 2000 or 2005? For me, 2005 rocks it! It's a beautful vintage for GPL. While you have not yet tasted 2010, IMO, it could be the best wine the estate has ever produced! I like 2009, but it's a little light for my taste.

Jeff Leve

Nic... Please, Mr. Leve is my father. :D You can probably keep 2003 Chave the rest of your life! If you have a case, pop one. If you have one bottle, or only a few bottles, I'd wait another decade. It has not moved since the day it was bottled. Jay... It's a matter of style. For me, 82 Mouton is the...

Jeff Leve

Jim My last tasting of 98 Troplong was in August. I liked it a lot. You can read my note... www.thewinecellarinsider.com/?page_id=789 I like how most 1998 Right Bank wines are showing today. I am starting to pop them now. They do not offer the same level of depth found in 2000, and the tannins do no...

Jeff Leve

http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Tenser-chinois-blind-300x228.jpg There is no group I have more fun tasting with, than “7 Blind Men”. Devoted to blind tasting, you never know what wine is going to show up. For each tasting, all the wines are served double blind. Guessi...

Jeff Leve

Due to the constant hot days and nights, you might find some raisin flavors in 2003. That is not the case with 2009 because the nights were cool. There is a lot of flesh to the wines, but for my money, there is enough acidity to give the wines lift. From the wines you mentioned, neither made a good ...

Jeff Leve

It sounds to me like 2009 is an idealized version of 2003. 2003 is the product of a dry, hot year. It was hot morning, noon and night. 2009 was warm and dry, but the nights were cool. I think the 2009's have more glycerine. They have a better, mouth feel.People who do not like 2003 in Pauillac and ...

Jeff Leve

Branon will probably get a high score and there is not much of it. I loved the wine!

Jeff Leve

Chris and Jeff, Any thoughts on '09 Pessac, in general or specifically estates that did well? Haut Brion and La Mish are now out of my price range, but I am a fan of the commune. Will the "Graves-y-ness" of the wines be able to shine through the ripe lushness of the vintage? David... For ...

Jeff Leve

One of the things I find interesting about our attempts to zero in on 09 and 10 by comparing them to one another and to earlier vintages, is that 05 has been left almost entirely out of the conversation. I noticed that same omission from Parker's recent comments in the link provided by Jeff. When d...

Jeff Leve

Jim... 2000 is a better vintage across the board. 2009 is less consistent. But 2009 hits higher peaks. The best Pauillac, St. Estephe and Pomerol are for my palate, better than what we saw with 2000. 2000 is ripe, round, concentrated and elegant. 2009 shares those qualities, but 2009 is more flashy,...

Jeff Leve

Parker hosted a tasting in Hong Kong about a week ago of twenty, 2009 Bordeaux wines. Some of his thoughts on the wines and the vintgage can be found here.... www.thewinecellarinsider.com/?p=18828 2009 is really about style. At its best, its a vintage of hedonistic pleasure and purity. For people wh...

Jeff Leve

It's been a while. I hope it's OK to drop in and chat a bit. I could not find my old login, so I am a newbie once again. I love 2009 Bordeaux. At their best, they are rich, opulent, pure, sensuous Bordeaux wines. Think 82, 89 or 90, but with better. The wines are alcoholic, but there is no sensation...

Search found 318 matches

Re: 2009 Ch Clinet Pomerol

Re: 2009 Ch Clinet Pomerol

Re: 2003 Ch Pontet Canet Pauillac revisited

Re: 2003 Vrai Canon Bouche has been uncorked and other ramblings

Re: 2009 Ch Clinet Pomerol

Re: 2009 Ch Clinet Pomerol

Re: 2009 Ch Clinet Pomerol

Re: 2011 Bordeaux tasting notes, early look at Right Bank wines

Re: 2009 Ch Clinet Pomerol

Re: 2009 Ch Clinet Pomerol

2011 Bordeaux tasting notes, early look at Right Bank wines

Re: Parker gives 18 wines perfect scores from the 2009 Bordeaux

Re: Parker gives 18 wines perfect scores from the 2009 Bordeaux

Re: Parker gives 18 wines perfect scores from the 2009 Bordeaux

Re: Parker gives 18 wines perfect scores from the 2009 Bordeaux

Parker gives 18 wines perfect scores from the 2009 Bordeaux

Re: Bordeaux Wine from New Years with tasting notes and a discov

Bordeaux Wine from New Years with tasting notes and a discov

Re: Top Ten Wines Tasted in 2011...

Re: Top Ten Wines Tasted in 2011...

Re: Top Ten Wines Tasted in 2011...

Top Ten Wines Tasted in 2011...

Re: 2010s selling well?

Re: Ch. La Vieille Cure: Will these be good with age?

Re: As we're talking about rating wine...

Re: The 1998 Trolong Mondot has been uncorked....

Re: The 1998 Trolong Mondot has been uncorked....

Re: Great Night Blind Tasting, Mouton, Chave, 82 BDX, Harlan

Re: The 1998 Trolong Mondot has been uncorked....

Great Night Blind Tasting, Mouton, Chave, 82 BDX, Harlan

Re: It seems that 2009 Bordeaux is the only vintage to buy, no?

Re: It seems that 2009 Bordeaux is the only vintage to buy, no?

Re: It seems that 2009 Bordeaux is the only vintage to buy, no?

Re: It seems that 2009 Bordeaux is the only vintage to buy, no?

Re: It seems that 2009 Bordeaux is the only vintage to buy, no?

Re: It seems that 2009 Bordeaux is the only vintage to buy, no?

Re: It seems that 2009 Bordeaux is the only vintage to buy, no?

Re: It seems that 2009 Bordeaux is the only vintage to buy, no?