Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

It is that time of year already....

One of my top wine experiences this past year was the 2002 Haut Bailly that Art brought over to my house. Absolutely loved it, a real BWE kind of wine. It is not my nomination because it was not experienced enough here on the site in 2010, but it was certainly one of my favorite wines in the past year.

Previous BWE Wines of the Year:

2000: 1996 Sociando-Mallet
2001: 1989 Lynch-Bages
2002: 1995 d'Yquem
2003: 1999 Haut Brion Blanc
2004: 2000 Pichon Baron and 2000 du Tertre
2005: 2000 Margaux
2006: 2003 Pontet-Canet
2007: 2002 Leoville Poyferre
2008: 2005 Burgundy vintage (protest vote)
2009: 1989 Lafite Rothschild

I vote for a perennial BWE favorite: The 1995 Angelus

Some potential contestant :

1989 Chateau Léoville Poyferré
2002 Chateau Cos d'Estournel
2000 or 2006 Chateau Haut-Bailly (but I did not had the 2006 yet).
2004 Chateau Malescot St-Exupéry
2001 Chateau Bourgneuf (I know, not a lot of BWEers had it).
1998 Chateau Grand Mayne (I did not had it, but I have full confidence on the BWEers who reported on that wine this year)
2005 Chateau Cantemerle (I think many BWEers liked it, including me. and it is from the famed 2005 vintage).

I'll think a bit more if there are some others.

Nic

Some of my favorite Bordeaux I had this year:
1983 Pichon Lalande
1982 La Lagune
1986 Rausan Segla
1986 Gruaud Larose
1986 Cos
1989 Palmer
1981 Tour Haut Brion

For younger wines, I'd nominate:
2003 Duhart Milon (a serious sleeper, once available for $28, and probably 93-94 pts in my book)
2000 Louviere (played up on this site, the bottle I had over the summer was terrific. Can still be found for $30-35 on Winebid)

I think the only Bordeaux wines younger than 1999 that I had this year were a couple of Bordeaux Superieur from 2005. So don't know that my own drinking experiences offer much by way of nominations. That said, I have found the comments here about 2005 Cantermerle to be quite interesting. It seems to be true to its location, is made with some appropriate restraint, possesses pretty good balance, is from a recent vintage, and can be had for a reasonable price. For all of those reasons, it seems to me that it deserves consideration for BWE wine of the year. And if it wins, then I certainly will need to purchase some!

I would definitely agree 2005 Cantemerle is a BWE kind of wine, Jon, although I think Jacques is not a big fan of the property.

There is probably no wine I have consumed more in 2010 than 2005 Cantemerle.

Sounds like I should test drive one of my 2005 Cantemerle's! I haven't had one since June 2008. Here's my nite from then:

This is very good. The color is a traditional dark garnet. The subdued bouquet is high-toned (white flowers and alcohol) followed by some sweet scents. The action is in the mouth, where fleshy fruit and tarry tannin dance in unison. There is very good ripeness to the dark cherry and cranberry fruit, yet the texture is elegant and crystalline, and the acids are a perfect foil to the ripeness. The tannins are evident but so soft and tar-like (in taste and texture). This has good depth and length. Enjoyable now (with decanting), I'd say this has excellent upside in the cellar. Cellar it so it can develop more aromatic nuance and let the tannins melt some. 90-91 points with potential.

It has been my house wine this year....

Of course, I didn't drink at all for half of the year.

And I'm a month away from going into one of my extended wine fasts.

Three of my goals for 2010:

1. Submit my novel for publication. (It is being edited by about ten people right now.)

2. Record my band's CD. (We have three songs recorded, seven to go. I'm really pleased with what we've produced so far!)

3. Get into marathon shape. (Going for blood tests tomorrow, I've convinced myself I have diabetes....)

I would put a nomination down for these two... 96 Palmer & 02 Lagrange...

Admire your abstinence and discipline Jim - you will be fine

1978 Palmer would have to be a strong candidate given its performance at the BWE 70s tasting (it 'won')...it is very good

Personally I would vote for a wine I drank with Jono: 1996 Palmer - a well kept secret but it is going to be a legend in a very un-parker kinda way

Other candidates would include:

02 LLC - greatness beckons

01 Cheval Blanc - likewise but ssshhhhh about the 01 right banks

La Conseillante '89 - won the La C vertical in London (of BWE only Jono and I were there)

But my vote would go for something more humble: Ch. Haut-Batailley 2002 - a super Pauillac at $23.95 from Franks - totally ready to go and world beating QPR.

Apparently 1995 Ducru was 'rocking' (excuse the crude vernacular) at Manhattan tasting featuring many BWE, and former BWE people this year

Have to agree with Comte, that the 1978 Palmer for me, so far, but the year is not over yet!!!!

And the Christmas season may throw up some gems!

Mine '01 Bahan Haut Brion

I've had the '89 lynch, '82/'90/'95 l'evangile, '95 GPL, '01 cos, '05 monbousquet, '05 SHL, '02 Pichon L, '00 pichon baron and a few other studs within the last year and the Bahan is the only one haunting me.

Bump... So Richard can nominate...

Sociando Mallet 04 and Cantemerle 06 are achetypical BWE wines (and vintages) and were/are also my QPR best clarets of 2010. I think the Cantemerle 06 may turn out better than the 05. Anyway 04 and 06 deserve the BWE accolade (as 02).

Richard

I have three more candidates, drunk recently

Leoville Barton 2001, quintessential claret combining the best of what is modern with the LB signature

Pichon Lalande 1996, I drank a split over the weekend, sensational

Pichon Lalande 1978, which i wrote up a couple of months ago

The Pichon Lalande 1996 is one of the best wines I've ever had in any year...

I agree that the 1996 chateau Pichon Lalande is a great wine, that many BWEers have tried, but I would like to see a younger Bordeaux to win.

Just my 2 ¢.

nic

I'd like to see a Bordeaux from 2006 or 2007 myself.

I think the 2007 Lafaurie Peyraguey, which I got for $29 in New Hampshire (some got it for less with a 15% discount), is a potential wine of the year.

This is one of those BWE-type-of-estates that has been performing at a high level year after year at very reasonable prices.

It is a property that has appeared at numerous BWE events in recent years and has always shown well.

The 2007 Lafaurie Peyraguey satisfies a couple of BWE Wine of the Year criteria: a recent vintage and reasonable cost.

I've had it a couple times and it has been stunning: rich and concentrated, but also light on its feet. I think I like it better than the voluptuous 2003....

2006 winners I've tried: Cantemerle, Lagrange, d'Issan, and Chevalier rouge...

If Jim says 06, well, yes - Cantemerle or (like Blanquito says) the excellent red Chevalier, another very BWE kind of property. (How did Jono bump me into nominating??!!)

Richard

06' d'issan is very good, but '04 alter ego is better.

at least for my palate the alter Ego is better, though probably not as long lived.
the Ego is loaded with leather which I love.

JimHow wrote:I think the 2007 Lafaurie Peyraguey, which I got for $29 in New Hampshire (some got it for less with a 15% discount), is a potential wine of the year.

This is one of those BWE-type-of-estates that has been performing at a high level year after year at very reasonable prices.

It is a property that has appeared at numerous BWE events in recent years and has always shown well.

The 2007 Lafaurie Peyraguey satisfies a couple of BWE Wine of the Year criteria: a recent vintage and reasonable cost.

I've had it a couple times and it has been stunning: rich and concentrated, but also light on its feet. I think I like it better than the voluptuous 2003....

As public service announcement, the NH state website shows 18 bottles left with a case in Keene (For anyone who can get there) with 2 in Manchester and 4 in Merideth. The price showing is $24.99!!

Wow! That's an incredible price for that wine, I may take a run out there. Thanks for the lead Gerry.

Son of a gun -- that stuff goes for $90 up here!!!! Damn, I live in the wrong place.

We're really lucky here in New England, Bacchus, the New Hampshire liquor stores have just about the best prices in the world, as far as I can tell.

If Jim says 06, well, yes - Cantemerle or (like Blanquito says) the excellent red Chevalier, another very BWE kind of property.

Picked up a bottle of the 06' chevalier rouge for $45 locally. A birth year wine for my son Cage. Looking forward to tasting it in about 15 years. Saving a Malescot also, looking at some other options. Probably will pick up a bottle of D'issan.

Now that 2010 is looking good. I am very much looking forward to picking up some birth wines for my brand new baby girl Jett!!

I too like the idea of nominating Dom. Chevalier rouge -- always good, and usually fairly priced. If value is part of the equation, how about the '04 vintage. Up here in Canada the '04 is about 60% the price of the '06 (and 1/2 the price of the '05). -- An interesting side note: In comparing reviews of the '04 and '05 vintages of the red Chevalier, I found that North American critics (I mean professionals like RP and WS mag) mostly prefer the '05 to the '04, while in Europe they seem to prefer the '04 to the '05.

I agree we should choose something new-ish, not from below. Without reseraching it, I think my best in 2010 so far have been:

95 Margaux
88 Margaux
95 LLC

Michael-P

found that North American critics (I mean professionals like RP and WS mag) mostly prefer the '05 to the '04, while in Europe they seem to prefer the '04 to the '05.

Then i will like the '04 version better II've been very pleased with many '04's that I've tasted.

Ok I'm going for red Chevalier 06, the best 06 I've tried and the best Chevalier ever for me (I've yet to try the 05) - quite a big step up from the good but touch green-peppery 04, imho

Richard

I think I'm going to have to make an executive decision on the 2010 BWE Wine of the Year....

There is a reason the title BD has been bestowed........

Alright, as long as people are talking about '06s, now I can think of a wine to vote for: 2006 d'Armailhac.

I really liked the 06 de Sales, Pomerol, but if going for an 07... Mouton would be my pick.

I nominate Dom Perignon 2002. Available most everywhere, got a lot of internet buzz and is quite good.