2006 Duhart Milon and 1998 Quinault l'Enclos

[JimHow]

Was searching through the cellar last night and discovered I had a 750 of '95 d'Yquem I didn't know I had, also two mags of 2006 Duhart Milon that I did not know where down there. The 2 mags freed me up psychologically to drink the remaining 750 of 2006 Duhart Milon that I knew I had. Had my father over for dinner, we had some filet mignons and popped and poured the Duhart. It was tart at first but rounded out very nicely with air. This seems to be a common experience I have with this wine from this vintage. It is a beautifully integrated wine, showing medium body and all the traits of Duhart and Pauillac that we normally look for. The Quinault (from half bottle) was surprisingly very mature, almost abnormally so. It seemed like a 25 year old wine, with chocolate, leather and tobacco. Two very nice wines. I've been a fan of these two wines from these two years and they did not disappoint last night.

[Gerry M.]

Jim, how much airtime would you give the Duhart? Based on your comments it might end up a Thanksgiving bottle.

[JimHow]

It's a real nice wine, Gerry. It definitely benefits with at least a couple hours of air, probably more. It really evolved during dinner last night, and I remember similar experiences with a couple other bottles. A very nice, medium bodied, Lafite-like effort. What Carruades should be like.

[Claudius2]

Jim
my advice has always been to forget Carruades and buy Duhart instead.

One comment on the 06. I am finding that this is a very good vintage indeed, maybe in the show of 05 but very good in its own right.
I've bought more of them at reasonable prices over the last year and the only wine I foound a disappointment was GPL - don't know why but this estate is a bit variable of late. They are not as black fruited as 05 or as tannic but offer freshness and interest at reasonable prices. So I've picked up some pretty nice wines for around $US30-50 and a decent Aust, NZ or USA chardonnay costs at least that in Singapore.

[JimHow]

I agree, Claudius, 2006 is a very good vintage.

[JimHow]

And I agree that GPL has been in a funk since 1996.

[Claudius2]

Jim
I still have unopened cases of the 96 and 2000 GPL.
Are they any good or should I send them to auction?

[JimHow]

Keep the 96, Claudius, auction the 2000.

[Blanquito]

I agree the 2000 GPL is lackluster, and the 2003 GPL is a dud... but I was wowed by the 2005 the one time I had it, and I hear great things about the 2009.

My only beef with Duhart these days are the silly prices: e.g. the cheapest price in the US for the 06 DM is $100. I bought the 96 Lafite (a 100 pt wine) for $150 in 2000! My last Duhart vintage was the 2005, secured for $44 on futures. I turned around and sold a lot of it two years ago for $125/each.

[JimHow]

I actually thought the 2003 GPL was a flawed wine. Bad. Very bad, as Dan Aykroyd would say. Kind of like an Opus One from a bad vintage. Very bad. Although I think Nic and Alex liked it. I haven't had the '05. The '09 is selling for a Benjamin in NH, I passed. I have a case of the 2005 Duhart sitting in the cellar that I scored from PJs at $44 per bottle.

[chris kissack]

I kinda like the 2003 Grand Puy Lacoste - nothing amazing, but I wouldn't have described it as "bad". I have some in the cellar (not sure why I bought them!!) and will revisit sometime in the next year or two I expect.

I dunno about it being in a 'funk', but I have found the 2009 and 2010 to be brilliant wines. I tasted the 2010 again only last week, and while it didn't engender quite the level of excitement it did as a barrel sample it was still on top form.

[JimHow]

I have not had the 2009 and 2010 GPL, I'll need to give at least the '09 a try. I miss the great GPLs of yore.