Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

johnz

I haven't tried the 2010, but had the '05 just last week and was pleasantly surprised -- classic bordeaux nose, good herbal fruit and with a still slight tannic bite. A 90-point bordeaux to me -- still young and may improve in a few years, so I'm glad I have 5 more. . . surprising for a Bordeaux Sup...

johnz

Ohhh an unopened case of '98 -- lucky you Jim. '98 may be even better for Pessac (and PC) -- I have a magnum . . .

--Gary Rust

johnz

I bought a few bottles of '90 and '89 Angelus in the early-mid 90s for $45-$60 when I was paying $25-$35 for Grand Puy Lacoste, Lynch Bages, Pichon Baron, etc. at the same time (those were the days). Angelus was never cheap -- they don't make a lot of it compared to the likes of many Medoc wines. I ...

johnz

To each his own for sure. FWIW, 2001 Margaux sells for $500 here, but I for one (maybe the only one) would never pay close to that for it.

--Gary Rust

johnz

Sell. At $250/bottle you can get better wine, but if you don't have any '89 Angelus I'd certainly use some proceeds to find a couple bottles -- even at today's cost, that is great wine. And don't forget about 1990 Leoville Poyferre -- wow!

--Gary Rust

johnz

I've followed Dan Kravitz' long threads on "another board" about Lanessan, which he's been drinking for decades. He claims he's learned not to touch it for about a dozen years after the vintage, and then drinks it for 6-10 years. I've just started to pop a few of my 375s of the 2000 -- the...

johnz

1996 Pape Clement is very good right now. Wine House (CA) has it for $135 right now, but I snagged some at auction just a year or so ago for $65-70 and I saw a bottle or two similarly priced at July online Acker auction (which is now over).

--Gary Rust

johnz

I haven't had this wine, but there are still very few '96s that I like to drink today. I've found Branaire to be good and Pape Clement to be very good, but Lagrange (St. Julien) is still tooth drying and puckery. I think the terrific '96 Pichon Lalande was drinking better 6-8 years ago then it is cu...

johnz

Don't kid yourselves -- chablis is open to premox -- I've had plenty. The last 2004 Fevre Les Clos I had was so poxed you could smell it a table away . . .

-Gary Rust

johnz

Hey how about a BWE Convention in the Twin Cities -- currently snowing hard with 5 inches of new snow on the ground and more on the way through Friday . . .???!!!

--Gary Rust

johnz

Personally, I am not convinced that simply opening and slow-oxing for 4-8 hrs does much of anything for wines less than 30-40 years. I've done it plenty, but without good success with such young wines. I think Francois would agree as I've seen him write that his method is only for "older" ...

johnz

Michael -- could be my preference to more resolved wines, or perhaps my chilly cellar -- I have an active cooling unit in the unheated Minnesota basement, but in winter the weather takes over and drives it down to 45F or less Nov-March. I find the '96 Pape Clement more to my liking right now . . . -...

johnz

I had the 1996 Lagrange (St. Julien) in 2006 and again this year. In 2006 it was tough and quite tannic, with a tooth-drying finish. Last month I gave it 2.5 hrs in a decanter, and while the bouquet kept building, on the palette in was still angular. I think the '96 Lagrange is not yet at it's best ...

johnz

I too purchased this wine (on futures) and have tried it several times in the last year or two and found it very simple -- not bad but almost dull, and I really don't think it will improve. Many other low-end 2000s have been similarly forgetful. I can't make a judgment about the vintage based on thi...

johnz

Well . . . I'm really not too excited . . . What is the point of a vote when the outcome is the same? Both candidates represent the interests of Israel, not the interests of the US. Both candidates represent the interests of the military/security complex, agribusiness, the offshoring corporations, t...

johnz

I think Romney is toast, and here's why: First, I don't think anything Romney said in the sneaked video should be at all surprising. The remarks may have been "off-the-cuff" but completely unremarkable. Sure, Romney managed to slur everyone as a parasite who believe there is a human right ...

johnz

Hmmmmm . . . as long as we're talking politics, I have a little different perspective. To trot out Bill Clinton as some sort of nostalgic hero is really dishonest in my opinion. In fact dot-com Bill and his financial deregulation is nearly single handedly responsible for the economic plight that sti...

johnz

Do not write off 1975 bordeaux. Pichon Lalande is absolutely great right now, as is Haut Brion. Gruaud Larose is also interesting as is Ducru. I've had some "tired" bottles, including Lascombes, but that vintage finally did come around for many properties. I think many properties drink bet...

johnz

Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon (not so much the Tanbark Hill). I had a '92 last year that was really complex -- most all the vintages need 10+ years, maybe 20.

--Gary Rust

johnz

I'd love to taste the 2009 Clinet, but at the current $275-$400 per bottle and climbing I doubt that I ever will. I have some 1990 though and it's mighty good.

--Gary Rust

johnz

I have found the 1982 Sociando Mallet to be about the best vintage I have tasted, and still young when last tasted 18 months ago. It's not a very complex wine, but deep, strong and solid. I think it can last about as long as any bordeaux, including Latour.

Gary Rust

johnz

I really liked my 2000 Lalande-Borie bottles -- finished about 1 year ago. I thought they had real St. Julien red fruit character, and for $15, they were a steal. No not a "keeper," but I should have bought some in 2005 . . . maybe 2009 . . .

--Gary Rust

johnz

I had the '90 Cos 1 week ago, and I agree that it's perfectly mature now -- complex bouquet and more expressive than most other St. Estephe wines.

--Gary Rust

johnz

"Eleven years after the vintage? These have got to be well into HWSRN's drinking window." That got me curious, so I looked. Surprisingly, even HWSRN advises no drinking until 2014, and personally speaking, I usually add another 5-10 years on an opening window date from Him. But that's just...

johnz

I would guess now to be just about the worst time possible to try the 2000 GPL -- quite possibly hiding most of it's qualities until it's closer to being mature in another ten to twenty years. I'd agree that the '82 and '90 were good at ten years of life, but i don't think vintage 2000 is much like ...

johnz

I'd second the "lucky" call on the 1970 Mouton -- I had a bottle last summer that was completely over-the-hill to the point of undrinkable. The 1970 Palmer was terrific.

--Gary Rust

johnz

Boy -- that does seem odd for the '96 GPL to drink so young. I haven't had it for 10+ years and then resolved to holding my other 2 btls until 2015+. Ten years ago it seemed backward, tannic, big and beefy with decades ahead for more complexity. Dunno . . .

--Gary Rust

johnz

I'd guess that 4-5 years is pushing it, especially for Veuve Clicquot, which has been in a funk for some years. On the other hand, I've had 5 year NV Bollinger that was really good, and had some of the complexity found in superior vintage bubblies. Too bad the Bolly has had such a price increase -- ...

johnz

I agree that the '94 PC is a difficult wine to love -- I had it 3-4 years ago and based on that tasting made a mental note not to chase it, despite the RP score, which I think is overly generous. It's a rugged wine.

--Gary Rust

johnz

Sold mine at Winebid -- 750s first week, but the Mags remain, as do other Lafite Mags -- 1990, others. It's not a sure sell, but the Carruades is a no brainer.

--Gary

johnz

As I've posted, I've been selling some of my Lafite -- all of my Carruades. My 1996 Carruades went for $370/btl! Oddly, my Lafite Magnums are unsold -- I'm told the Far East marked doesn't value larger formats -- go figure. 2000 Duhart went for $100-$120/btl . . . there is commission -- 18-20%. --Ga...

johnz

Yes, the sale of Carruades is a no-brainer at $200-$300 per -- ten times what I paid, but Lafite is approaching that excessively priced level too -- should I sell it? The 1988 Lafite Mag I bought for $150 in early 90's is probably worth $2,000 now?! -- that's a LOT of 1989 Angelus, which is probably...

johnz

I had the '96 Lagrange 4-5 years ago, and while it was clearly a good wine, it was such an adolescent it just wasn't interesting to me. I have 5 additional bottles, but based on my first reading of it, I may give it another 5 years when it should be more integrated. It's a good wine, but I don't thi...

johnz

I've had the '96 Lagrange five-six years ago and recently, and I agree with Blanquito -- a few more years should help smooth the tannins in this bordeaux. I doubt if it will ever be as rewarding as the 1990 Lagrange, but I think the '96 is very well made, and was quite a bargain as well.

Gary R.

johnz

I bought (and largely consumed) 6 of these in the 2000 vintage. It never did much for me, and was one of my disappointing "lesser" 2000 purchases. I think it's correct to drink these very young -- the older the 2000s got the leaner and greener they seemed. I won't buy this house again. --G...

johnz

I did not know that the "Bahans" name was no more. Why change the name? I, like many who post here, do not think 2nd wines are a very smart buy, but I've always like Bahans -- I've found the '98 to be very good, still going strong, and better (to my taste) than the 2000. Still holding my '...

johnz

Again, Cellar Tracker Notes (tons of them) are all over the map on this wine over the last 2-3 years -- 80-95 points, "needs time," "won't age," etc. I do think this is a pretty simple wine, and I've had many vintages -- '86, '89, '90, '95, '96, '00, but worse -- it's clearly irr...

johnz

I've had this wine several times over the last 5-6 years, read even more TN's, and it seems to have been extremely variable -- scores just all over the map. Different batches? Bad out of balance batches? I just don't know. I've never been thrilled by the wine, but my last taste in 2008 indicated to ...

johnz

I really liked the 1990 La Louviere, but haven't had a younger vintage since. I some 2000, but haven't tested it -- anyone have a 2000 Louviere TN?

--Gary Rust

johnz

I had this in November w/o decant, and based on that bottle, my TN goes something like: nose of cherries, mint, smoke . . . in the mouth still vigorous maturing fruit with tannic edge, last glass best. No hurry on this, but perfectly good to try now.

--Gary R

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