2005 Barde Haut

[Houndsong]

I cranked up another one of these last night preparatory to Lez Zeppelin. My senses were somewhat dulled already by the Cali meritage my neighbors had brung for happy hour but like it or not the BH made a similar impression, perhaps with more snappy acidity. This wine boasts amazing sweetness and when was the last time a Bordeaux aced a Cali blend by a full 100 basis points of abv (14.5% to 13.5%).

OK, I've opened the door for another anti-Parker tirade. Anyone care to step through?

The feature act was pretty good. I'll bet they sounded better than a few Led Zep shows. They did not make the same impression on me as Hell's Belles did but I didn't hear anyone complaining. In fact I heard very little for several hours after the show. Always a good sign.

[stefan]

Uh-oh. Is the '05 BH another CA wannabe? That is a shame.

stefan

[Chasse-Spleen]

Thanks for the review, Hound. Party on!
-Chasse

[AKR]

We had a 12.5% abv 1998 Barde Haute tonight, with French bread pizza and a spinach salad. As mentioned above with the 2005, this really richens/sweetens with air. It's a lovely, fully mature wine that is generous, open and pleasing.

It's interesting how much global warming has beefed up the wine over the years. In this era, its still a midweight.

[Blanquito]

Just sold my most of my 2005 Barde Haut and all of my 2005 Haut Bergey for $55/each. Nothing wrong with these wines, but lots of things I like much more these days.

[stefan]

2005 Haut Bergey was a good buy at $25. I looked at some yesterday but passed when I saw it was now north of $50.

[Blanquito]

Yeah, I paid $21 for the 05 Haut Bergey as a prearrival from PC. The 05 Barde Haut was $34 back then.

[robert goulet]

I made mention that a local retailer had a bin full of the 2010 on sale for $24...bought one...never went back...its not bordeaux

[AlohaArtakaHoundsong]

Despite being co-owned the HB is qualitatively different from the BH, at least in vintages I've tried, and not just in the way that left and right banks tend to be qualitatively different due to varietal, geography etc.

[AKR]

I wonder if the modern ones will keep as well as the older ones. Barde Hauts from this era seem to have more vibrancy than comparable wines (Faugeres etc.)

Only have a few of the newer ones, and have not tried them.