newer Bordeaux

[alchemeus]

Just a few.

1999 Palmer
Very floral on the nose. Just lovely. Ready? No idea.

2000 D'Issan
Loads of sediment. Not very 'Margaux' at this stage, but very nice and drinkable.

2000 GPL

Earthy. Smooth but earthy. Not much else but earthy, mushrooms and such. Not ready?

1998 Clos du Pape

Nice, smooth, complex. A very lovely wine. Oh can go on with bullshit a bit but a grand typcal CdP.

[stefan]

The 2000 GPL is surely not ready. Try some right bank 2000s instead. Some of them are very nice now even if still on the up slope.

'99 Palmer is a gem, yes?

[JimHow]

I still say the 2000 GPL is not up to par for the vintage, but I'm in the vast minority on that one I think.

[Blanquito]

Nice wines. I concur on the 2000 d'Issan and the 1998 Clos de Papes.

The one time I had the 2000 GPL, I was not overly impressed. Nothing really wrong, but it seemed very light given the estate and vintage. Time will tell.

[Comte Flaneur]

Alch - thanks for the update - I agree Palmer 1999 is a beauty...but I dont think it is close to being ready yet...but that nose...you coudl sniff it until the cows come home

Is the 1998 Clos De Papes ready to drink? Could it do with more time?

Also any one had Beaucastel 1998 recently? I hear very mixed reports about it from UK-land

[AlexR]

Thanks for your notes.

I always try to promote lesser-known Bordeaux, as well as wines from so-called off vintages.

I went to an off-line with memebers of the Wine Lovers Discussion Group a couple of years ago, and the wine I brought was 99 Palmer.
It was absolutely lovely and, I hope proved my point...

I have 2 or 3 bottles of the 2000 d'Issan, so read your notes with interest.
I will wait a couple of years before opening one though, I think.

I have 00 and 03 Clos des Papes, which is very much of a media darling.

All the best,
Alex

[JonoB]

99 Palmer is one of those legends I am still waiting to try! I hope I have the chance soon!

[JimHow]

It is indeed epic, Jonathan, I've had it several times.
The '99 Chateau Margaux we had when Houndsong and Kathy came to my house last September was breathtaking.

[JonoB]

The only time I've tried 99 Margaux it was meaty, odd and disjointed!! Verging on awful... So it mist have been a really bad bottle!

[JimHow]

OMG completely opposite experience....
Youthful, vital, ultimate Margaux nose, the definition of class....
I can still see that stunning purple color. It was my WOTN among a group of stellar wines.

[JonoB]

Jim, I trust your judgement, you showed me the 02 Lagrange through here and I tried it, it was superb. So clearly I tried an absolutely awful bottle, because it was awful in the extreme.

[Houndsong]

The 1999 Margaux at Jim's was all there and all that but still young. It sat at the right hand of my WOTN Trinity.

[JCNorthway]

By pure happenstance, I bought two bottles of 99 Palmer on sale at a local shop shortly after release. At the time, I was not aware of what the reviews were saying. So I feel very fortunate to have them, and am looking forward to enjoying them (hopefully at their peak!).

[AlexR]

I'd say no reason not to try one of your bottles soon.

Alex R.

[Winona Chief]

Thanks for posting, Alch.

Mostly agree with your notes. The 1999 Palmer is so nice now but will improve and evolve for at least another 10 to 15 years. I think 2000 GPL is too young right now and I really don't have a clue as to what its evolutionary path will be. The 1998 Clos des Papes is a very good (but not great) CdP that is ready to drink.

Note to Comte: I have had very mixed results with 1998 Beaucastel - some bottles have been very good but a couple have been over the hill. Why?

The 1999 Margaux is an outstanding wine. I enjoyed a bottle with friends in Minneapolis in the Summer of 2009. At that time, the wine was very fragrant and flavorful but quite young.

Chris Bublitz

[alchemeus]

Alch - thanks for the update - I agree Palmer 1999 is a beauty...but I dont think it is close to being ready yet...but that nose...you coudl sniff it until the cows come home

Is the 1998 Clos De Papes ready to drink? Could it do with more time?

Also any one had Beaucastel 1998 recently? I hear very mixed reports about it from UK-land

The Palmer may be drinkable for a decade or more. Just a beautiful wine. Expensive at the time, $99 per methinks. The Clos de Papes half that or less but will last longer methinks.

[alchemeus]

Thanks for your notes.

I always try to promote lesser-known Bordeaux, as well as wines from so-called off vintages.

I went to an off-line with memebers of the Wine Lovers Discussion Group a couple of years ago, and the wine I brought was 99 Palmer.
It was absolutely lovely and, I hope proved my point...

I have 2 or 3 bottles of the 2000 d'Issan, so read your notes with interest.
I will wait a couple of years before opening one though, I think.

I have 00 and 03 Clos des Papes, which is very much of a media darling.

All the best,
Alex

Hiya Alex! Long time no post.

I thing the d'Issan is in some phase, not really closed but not really open. HUGE amount of sediment in a 10 year old wine so, maybe telling. Not sure. Got some 2001 Margaux for retirement to judge by.

d'Issan has been a favorite in a few past years, in fact, the first Margaux that converted me. 1995?

[alchemeus]

The 2000 GPL is surely not ready. Try some right bank 2000s instead. Some of them are very nice now even if still on the up slope.

'99 Palmer is a gem, yes?

I agree. The GPL my be in recession now, love the earthiness and it is drinkable, just not exciting. Not really closed as it does exhibit the earthy/mushroomy thing and some fruit but not typical. Might be a wine for ten years from now.

The Palmer is a beauty now, and no idea for how much longer.

[alchemeus]

Alch - thanks for the update - I agree Palmer 1999 is a beauty...but I dont think it is close to being ready yet...but that nose...you coudl sniff it until the cows come home

Is the 1998 Clos De Papes ready to drink? Could it do with more time?

Also any one had Beaucastel 1998 recently? I hear very mixed reports about it from UK-land

Damn right. And Damn RIGHT! Nose is worth the price alone. Smooth on the palate too, and with lots of fruit. I'd not be surprised if it didn't last 10-20 more years and even get better.

[alchemeus]

99 Palmer is one of those legends I am still waiting to try! I hope I have the chance soon!

Well, if it holds out, be one of the few 'legends' I've had. But honestly, you could be satisfied with the nose on this wine.

[BordeauxKassett]

I've had the 99 Palmer and it appeared to me as green, unripe, slightly unpleasant, with coaly/petrol'y nose. Could maybe be good in a 10-15 years, but don't even think about opening one now IMHO.

[alchemeus]

I've had the 99 Palmer and it appeared to me as green, unripe, slightly unpleasant, with coaly/petrol'y nose. Could maybe be good in a 10-15 years, but don't even think about opening one now IMHO.

Not my experience at all. But then, bottles is bottles.