08 Lynch, 05 Brane, '05 Chevalier, '01 Chave, '00 Bellevue

[JimHow]

Family cookout Tuesday night here at Chateau How....

2008 Lynch Bages: Big, tough, tannic, rugged, rustic, hurts so good. This bottle was emptied very quickly. 94 points.

2005 Domaine de Chevalier: Stunning nose, classic Graves, classy wine, powerful but light on its feet. 96 points.

2001 Chave Hermitage: Ethereal, liquid gold, so, so smooth. 13% alcohol, so balanced. 96 points.

2005 Brane Cantenac: Youthful but drinking well now. Almost reminded me of that 99 Margaux we had, Hound.
A brilliant wine, going to buy some 09 Brane as a result of this experience. Great Margaux, I didn't think it was modern in any sort of negative way at all.
96 points.

2000 Bellevue (from half bottle): Very concentrated, I was struck by how tannic it was. The most tannic of the night. A beast of a wine. Yum!
94 points.

Happy holidays!

[dstgolf]

Talk about binge drinking. Not bad for a night on your own. Drowning your sorrows after the Bruins lost to the Hawks?

A nice line up of wines Jim without a week wine in the bunch.

[DavidG]

Nice! Jim was the Chave the white?

Danny, need a good ophthalmologist?

[JimHow]

No it was the red David, a beautiful wine, not hot at all, really smooth.

[DavidG]

I love both white and red Chave. The "liquid gold" reference threw me off.

[dstgolf]

David,

Family cookout for Jim and his dad or the extended clan?? Just joking. But If I need a good ophthamologist know where to find one.

Thanks. Hope everyones having a drier summer than we are!!

[robert goulet]

Excited about the BC 2005... I'm going to wait another 5 on this one

[Chateau Vin]

WHoaa Jim. Nice lineup...

I vaguely remember your previous posting about 08 Lynch, and if I am not mistaken you were not that enthusiastic about the 08 Lynch at that time. I could not find that post however...But seems like it is slowly coming around...

Glad to hear about 05 BC...I was impressed with 09 BC, and got a bunch of those. Looking forward to those in about 10 years...Don't have 05 DdC, but I have 05 Haut Bailly...and I am hoping and excited about it as well....

[JimHow]

I agree, CV, I'm trying to recall my one previous experience with the 2008 Lynch. This one was better, it was a nice full bodied, tannic Pauillac, slightly reminiscent of the 1986 Lynch. I loved all the wines but I think the Brane Cantenac had that biggest wow factor for me, a stunning Margaux.

[Chateau Vin]

I remember tasting Segla, BC and CB of Margaux at UGC, and was trying to decide which one to snap up. Loved Segla, and when I got a great deal I opted for it. I was torn between BC and CB becauue I liked them both, but I liked BC better. However, it was 10 to 12 bucks per bottle more than CB. I was torn between the two, but I finally snapped up BC since it was more on the classic side IMO than the CB...

[AlohaArtakaHoundsong]

Like the '99 Margaux? I would subscribe to that on that basis alone.

[JimHow]

I need to get more Margaux appellation wines in my cellar.

[Nicklasss]

Agree on the 2005 Brane Cantenac.

This what i wrote in may 2009:

2005 Chateau Brane-Cantenac : A glorious margaux. What a nice wine, great quality of fruit and everything composing that wine. Stay ''traditionnal'' Margaux at the same time. Long life ahead. TN : 93+.


I also had the 2009 lately. Again, i thought it was an amazing Margaux, a very good rival to the 2009 Giscours.

Nic

[pomilion]

Brane Cantenac was one of the top 6-8 wines at the UGC 2005 tasting -- really sensational. Bought some, haven't tried it since. May need to remedy that!

[JimHow]

Have you tried the 2009 Brane Cantenac pom?

[pomilion]

I'm pretty sure I tried it at the 2009 UGC a year and a half ago, but I'd have to look up my notes. Have a vague recollection of liking it but not quite as much as the '05. My wife asks me about the '05 at least once every three months or so ("when are we going to have one of those?") -- among many great wines at the '05 UGC, it was one of the very best, really really impressive.