The finest vintage this decade is 2002 left bank.

[stefan]

Good theme, Patrick. It will motivate me to bring my '02s out of storage.

[Houndsong]

Jim's drunk up all of his vintage of the decade wines. How ironic. Except his Lafite of course, which are so valuable the moral thing to do is auction them off, proceeds to go to the Lewiston Legal Defense Fund.

[Blanquito]

Didn't you have some 2002 Branaire to deliver to the BD, Hound? Mags, if I'm not mistaken?

[Houndsong]

Didn't you have some 2002 Branaire to deliver to the BD, Hound? Mags, if I'm not mistaken?

2004. Not lugging those things. I offered to bring the Haut Bailly but he demurred. I'm perfectly happy to keep them all. It's not renegging until I've drunk them.

[JimHow]

I told him we'll uncork them when I get out there to Colorado eventually....

[JonoB]

Update: having asked Mini-HWSNBN 'How do you describe bad?' in relation to bad Bordeaux, -> airwave silence!! :rolleyes:

[JonoB]

I'm waiting for him to say drink 02 and you'll find out, and I will reply saying that he should give the good doctor Jim How a phonecall...

[hautbrionlover]

Has anyone had the '02 Les Forts de Latour?
I bought a bunch of it in halves on release. I tried a bottle years ago and decided it needed time, so I've left it alone.
Now I'm thinking about opening another, and I'm just curious as to whether anyone has had recent experience with it.

[stefan]

We drank the '02 Lagrange last night with flatiron steak. The nose is developing nicely and the structure is quite firm. The tannins are rather harsh, so I am in no hurry to take my case out of storage. Lucie preferred the Lagrange to the '95 Pichon Baron that we also drank. The PB is just OK for a wine of its class in a good year. I expect it to be better in a few years as it is well balanced with firm tannins.

[Blanquito]

Im with you Bill, my 2002s need more time for my palate. Promising to be sure, but tannic. I had the d'Armailhac recently and even that normally early-drinker was firm.

[rjsussex]

I like left-bank 01s at least as much as 02s but the style is very different - more succulent. Montrose 01 is one of the best wines in my cellar, Barton is at least as good as the 03 (tasted side by side not long ago) and Pontet delicious - probably better than the 04.

Best

Richard

[Rick]

David....I have so few 02s I must have been on a buying pause too
Now like you I have loaded up on 04s at some very attractive prices on release and can not say i have had a bad one yet
The Lafite is a real treat once it get some air.....I have a number of 04s in OWC I have yet to open

The 02s I have are because of Jim going on and on a few years back I had to order a few should have bought more
rick

[JonoB]

I spotted an 02 Branaire Ducru on te shelves in Tokyo... Any thoughts?

[Nicklasss]

Revue du Vin de France is on your side Jim, has they reviewed the 2002 really positively.

Nic

[JimHow]

2002 is a claret lover's vintage, Nic.

I have a case of 2002 Branaire, Jono, I had a bottle or two and liked it so much I bought a case. It is not big and exotic... just solid, representative St. Julien....

[Houndsong]

I thought the 2002 Branaire was the finest among the Sociando Mallet, Lafon Rochet, Clerc Milon, Gloria, and Duhart Milon, all of which I bought in greater or lesser quantities. Very refined and classy. I'm not sure it's there with the 2002 Haut Bailly, but I haven't had either one in a long time, and certainly not within close temporal proximity. It was much tighter than the Haut Bailly, that I recall for sure. I didn't know what to make of 2002 P-C, and the Lafite is a horse of a different color. Come to think of it I have some 2002 Ducru and also some Leo B. (I think) but I don't recall having tried these although I probably did.

[JonoB]

I think I will buy a bottle and report back... It just looks at me saying... 'you know you want to...' from thr top shelf!

[jal]

$50 is also the price at Sherry Lehmann in NYC. I just bought a bottle to try

[JimHow]

Well done, Jacques, just remember, you have to calibrate your expectations to the Jim How palate. As a true Bordeaux wine enthusiast and non-sycophant of He Who Shall Remain Nameless, my preferences are not always the popular choice. And the wine is likely to be emerging from an awkward stage at the eight year mark. I urge you to decant for several hours before drinking this wine.

[jal]

Well done, Jacques, just remember, you have to calibrate your expectations to the Jim How palate. As a true Bordeaux wine enthusiast and non-sycophant of He Who Shall Remain Nameless, my preferences are not always the popular choice. And the wine is likely to be emerging from an awkward stage at the eight year mark. I urge you to decant for several hours before drinking this wine.

Ha! Like I don't know your palate by now....

[JimHow]

[JimHow]

What are your thoughts on this six bottle white Burg order I have queued up at Sherry-Lehman?


Item Qty Cases Price Item Total
Vincent Dauvissat, Chablis "La Forest" 1er Cru, 2008
Size: F - 750 ml, Bin#: A5720 $49.95 $99.90 Remove
William Fevre, Chablis "Les Clos" Grand Cru, 2008
Size: F - 750 ml, Bin#: A4396 $79.95 $159.90 Remove
Michel Niellon, Chassagne-Montrachet "Champs Gains", 2007
Size: F - 750 ml, Bin#: A4435 $61.95 $123.90 Remove
Subtotal: $383.70
Update Cart

[jal]

I like these, Jim. I bought a case of the Niellon at S-L and have posted a TN on it earlier in the week, I found it austere and I think it needs time. Dauvissat is also very reliable but I think the Fevre will blow away both of these and will be awesome.

Good luck.

[Blanquito]

My palate aligns nicely with yours, Jim, with one exception: I can't see through young tannins nearly as well as you can (but few can!).

[JonoB]

What no Montee de Tonnere Jim?

Get back online

[JimHow]

Good question, Jonathan, there are about a dozen different Fevre bottlings from '07 and '08, perhaps I should be exploring those as well?

[JonoB]

Whatever you do, you will not be disappointed with Mont de Milieu or Montee de Tonnerre from 07 & 08. From any of thr top producers. They neighbour Les Clos and are of Grand Cru quality more often than not.

[DavidG]

Yes, the Montee de Tonnerre is excellent and the sweet spot in the QPR curve in that group of Fevres.

[jal]

Yes, the Montee de Tonnerre is excellent and the sweet spot in the QPR curve in that group of Fevres.

Ok, I disagree. Sorry fellas. I think the Fevre Montee de Tonnerre are a little too ripe for my taste and I prefer the Valmur and the les Clos.

[DavidG]

No problem, Jacques. More MdT for me, and more Clos and Valmur for you!

[Rick]

Jim
your post had me grab an 02 Lagrange out of the celler...only a few left out of my case

dark, solid bordeaux nose, tannins but gobs of chewy fruit, I picked up chocolate and coffer on the long finish
very drinkable day two but I think was better day 1 after an hour

rick

[Michael-P]

Jim:

To my bank account, you are a real #@!X#Z!!!

I have been stressing about all the wine I have been buying, asking BWE for help with my addiction, just adding my comment to Blanquito's post on a Buying Feeze, and you go and remind me I have almost no 02s and therefore.......

I NEED TO BUY MORE WINE!

Just great!

Michael-P

[JimHow]

You think you got it bad, Michael, I'm so lost I'm about to pull the trigger on some... drum roll... white Burgundy....

[mike reff]

well not to rain on anyone's parade but I picked up a 2002 Grand Moulinet, Pomerol. 90% Merlot 10% Cab Franc and after 3 hours in the decanter the wine is quite good to drink on a lazy afternoon.

[JonoB]

02 Lagrange in my glass right now... Notes to follow. :-p