Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

I remember drinking a 1990 Leoville Barton from a magnum back in the late nineties -- I bought two of them for a hundred bucks each at that wine store in the north end of Boston -- and I thought it was brilliant back then. I remember it being really tannic, in a good way, and thinking it would be a long-lived wine.

One of my 2010 Brunello 3 liters...

Thanks for the thoughts on the 90 LB. I had it at an otherwise semi-disappointing 1990 Bordeaux horizontal last year and I came away extremely impressed. Was probably my wine of the night.

3 bottles of the 1985 Cos d'Estournel.

Here's a pic of the actual bottles:

Nice Patrick, what did you pay for those? I had this a few weeks ago, and it was pretty good, just a tad outgunned by the 1989

Picked up a 6pack of the 2010 Valdicava BdM on a private client offer from JJBuckley for $82/btl.

The 85 Cos weren't cheap ($130/bottle all-in), but there are some notes on CT recently singing its praises and I love Cos from the 80's. Plus I paid extra for the good looking condition of the bottles and reputable auction outfit.

I friend's father had cases of 85 Cos in the late 90's. We drank several excellent bottles then.

mmmm. 80s Bordeaux… Truly, the golden decade.

I've dramatically scaled down my wine purchases in terms of total bottle count, so my tolerance for high unit costs on rare bottles has gone way, way up. I never used to spend much more than $50 on a bottle except on very special occasions... these days I don't blink to buy mature wines for $100... I think I have too much mature wine now, I need some visitors who appreciate fine claret help me with this.

Found a killer deal on the 2004 Felsina Chianti Classico Rancia Riserva for $32.99/btl at Best Buy Liquors in Brooklyn NY and snapped up a couple of cases.

Good price for a really strong vintage of Rancia.

Should I buy 6 bottles of the 2004 Felsina at that price?

Either the 2004 Felsine Rancia needs more time or it was overrated on release. I just had a half bottle that was still a tannic beast, and it lacked freshness/the fruit was highly extracted and a bit pruney. It may blossom with more time and Rancia is known for needed ages, but I would hold off unless one knows they like Felsina Rancia in general.

My recollection of that wine is that it was stewed.

08 Rancia is drinking beautifully still. It's a ripe site I think, so perhaps ideal in good but not overly hot vintages.

Pop's Wine and Spirits picked up a private cellar of some 80's Bdx that they have priced sharply. While I am not sure what's left, I snatched the case quantities available of the '85 LLC, the ''89 Beychevelle and the '89 Cos

12 1989 Beychevelle, St. Julien - $99
3 1982 Cadet Piola - $49
12 1989 Cos D’Estournel, St. Estephe - $139
12 1985 Cos D’Estournel, St. Estephe - $149
12 1985 Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac - $99
12 1982 Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac - $199
12 1986 Gruaud Larose, St. Julien - $129
4 1985 Gruaud Larose, St. Julien - $119
3 1983 Gruaud Larose, St. Julien - $79
3 1981 Gruaud Larose, St. Julien - $79
2 1966 Gruaud Larose, St. Julien - $99
12 1986 L’Arosee, St. Emilion - $69
12 1989 La Dominique, St. Emilion - $69
1 1979 La Dominique, St. Emilion - $49
12 1988 LaFleur, St. Emilion - $69
12 1982 Lafon Rochet, St. Estephe - $79
1 1970 Les Forts de Latour, Pauillac - $199
1 1977 Laville Haut Brion Blanc, Pessac Leognan, Graves WHITE - $199
12 1985 Leoville Las Cases, St. Julien - $189
12 1982 Leoville Las Cases, St. Julien - $299
3 1975 Leoville Las Cases, St. Julien (Mid-Shoulder) - $129
10 1985 Lynch Bages, Pauillac - $149
10 1986 Margaux, Margaux - $429
12 1989 Meyney, St. Estephe - $89
6 1983 Meyney, St. Estephe - $49
3 1982 Meyney, St. Estephe - $99
2 1961 Montrose, St. Estephe (Mid-Shoulder) - $299
12 1982 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac - $899 ea.
12 1975 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac - $199
1 1996 Opus One - $249
1 1977 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - $129
12 1982 Chateau Puy Blanquet, St. Emilion - $69
12 1989 Chateau Talbot, St. Julien - $89
1 1980 Chateau D’Yquem, Sauternes - $299

Jcba

A heroic feat of bravery and sagacity

2013 Clos de Gat Chardonnay (2)
2014 Petit Castel
2014 Tzora Judean Hills
2013 La Joaveline Vouvray
2014 Fourrey Chablis 1er Cote de Lechet

stefan wrote:2013 Clos de Gat Chardonnay (2)
2014 Petit Castel
2014 Tzora Judean Hills
2013 La Joaveline Vouvray
2014 Fourrey Chablis 1er Cote de Lechet

Hahaha Stefan, last month I drank in Israel the Petit Castel and the Tzora and found both really nice, I also tried the Fourrey and hated it. I used the second bottle of that to cook some risotto. I would love to hear your impressions of it.
Oh, I also liked the Flam Blanc for a crisp white wine.

Jacques, the Tzora went well with sautéed chicken thighs yesterday afternoon. Tonight we'll drink the Clos de Gat with oven baked Lavrock (dunno how that is spelled in Anglais). Thanks for the tip on the Flam and cooking wine, as Lucie asked me what to use for cooking.

Been buying very nice Rioja's in the 10.00 - 15.00 range.
And there's a Bordelaise connection with Rioja.

Still on my buying freeze, but once every couple months I let loose.

69 Dom Perignon
64 Petit Village
86 Chateau Siran
34 Latour
55 Pape Clement
70 Pape Clement
85 Lafite
82 Leoville Poyferre

Plus a few burgs and some Alsace.

Pretty impressive buying freeze.

Gosh, I would go on a permanent freeze if it meant I could buy what Tim does on his freezes.

2010 Clos de Gat Judean Hills
2012 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Clos de Gat Hartel Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Yatir Mt. Amasa
2014 Petit Castel
2008 Marques de Vitoria Gran Reserva Rioja (2)

Jacques wrote,

"I also tried the Fourrey and hated it. I used the second bottle of that to cook some risotto. I would love to hear your impressions of it."

Lucie and I drank the 2014 Fourrey Chablis 1er Cru Cote de Lechet at our Shavuot lunch of boiled shrimps today. We were both scratching our heads while trying to understand what you did not like about this wine. It is a fairly light but tasty Chablis that has minerals, lemons, and soap. The finish is long. From the taste I am pretty sure that this wine has not been within three feet of wood. Both Lucie and I like it more than 2014 Castel "C", which of course has quite a different profile, but is our favorite Israeli Chardonnay.

Usually your taste and mine are pretty closely aligned, but not on this wine. Did you taste the second bottle and find it consistent with the first one?

BTW: We met our mutual friend Friday at Tzora for the unveiling of their current releases. He'll come here for dinner tomorrow night.

Hi Stefan,
I thought it was lightweight, diluted, fizzy, acidic and unbalanced (VA perhaps?). Very little fruit and tasted nothing like a Chablis. I regretted immediately not paying an extra 10 shekels for the Fevre.
I am glad you liked it. Maybe mine was a bad bottle, but I will never know.
Please give my regards to our friend. Hopefully, I will see him in October.

Different wine entirely, Jacques.

I bought
1 2010 Cantemerle
1 2010 Barde Haut

You Devils made me do it. I blame you JimHow!!

You are my man Jacques Levy!
Very well done indeed.
We need to get together for dinner before 2016 is out, maybe in the Gator State, and drink some fine northern Medocs!

3 bottles 1995 Montrose
1 bottle 1982 Beychevelle
1 bottle 2013 V. Paris Granite 60 VV Côte Rotie

Picked up a full case of 2013 Coutet splits at $17.99/per along with a 6er of the 2012 Ponsot Gevrey Chambertin Cuvee de L'Abeille for $56.99/per during Zachys annual Bastille day in-stock French wine sale.

This week:

15x 2010 Grand Puy Lacoste
4x 2005 Bollinger La Grande Annee

Over the last month I started buying again after a long hiatus.

1 86' Beychevelle
1 89' Branaire-Ducru
1 85' Montelena Estate
2 91' Montelena Estate
1 86' Climens
1 01' Karl Lawrence Cab
1 97' La Jota Anniversary
1 89' Lagrange
1 87' Ridge Jimsomare Cab
1 91' Ridge Montebello
1 96' Robert Craig Mt Veeder
1 92' Spottswoode
1 92' Whitehall Lane Rsv
1 97' Whitehall Lane Rsv

Wow!
Hey Gerry are you around in the next week or two?

Killer list, Gerry. Looks like you've been buying on WineBid! Love those old Ridge cabs and the 91 Montelena is awesome.

I'm on a "freeze", so I'm only buying a mixed case a month or so.

Jim, I should be around. If you come on a weekend I could see if Michael and Andy are around to get together.

Blanquito, LOL, I guess I have been out there a lot lately. I only wished they turned their inventory over quicker, It seems we see a lot of the same stuff every week. There is less and less older stuff out there and more recently released items.

3 bottles 1989 Cantemerle
1 bottle of 1996 Ducru Beaucaillou

Likewise 3 bottles of Cantermerle 1989 the only three I could find in the UK

4 bottles of 2002 Branaire Ducru