1855 Classification

[Claudius2]

Richard
We all like to make jokes about RP but I am rather dismayed at the effect he had on several Australian estates. I’m an Aussie and saw some of the Barossa and McLaren Vale estates unabashedly change the styles of their wines to get high points. Yes it worked but therein was my joke about the bitumen emulsion.

However there are so many wines I DO like that there is plenty of choices so these days I don’t really worry about it.

So my choice - assuming my first choice of LMHB is out of scope - would be:

LLC
DB
Pichon Lalande (which I prefer over PB)
Palmer
Cos D’Estournel
And if I can add another it would be Montrose.

I am somewhat surprised at the points given to some of the Pessac wines. Again I am not saying they are bad just that the Medoc wines have been solid performers for a long time and I think deserve more recognition than SHL or HB and whilst I have a few vintages of Pape Clement I don’t see it in the same category as the Medocs.

One last point, Croizet Bages has to my taste buds always been an under performer but Marquis DB has at least improved in recent years though albeit in a more modern commercial style which tends to divide tasters.

So my list of under performers includes Croizet Bages but not Marquis DB.

Cheers
Mark