Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

...and soon it will be prime bdx guzzling season again!

Although we certainly didn't stop consuming over this summer, but perhaps now more friendly food will be on deck.

Rather than the salads, fish, and grilled items of the summer.

Cooling down in Sac Arv? Mid to upper 90's in smoky Reno.

I grill year round and open bigger reds when I am the mood. I am yearning for some braised lamb shanks and 95 Calon Segur which can wait until I am on vacation mid September.

About the only wine I will not open in summer is Port.

When I started my week I looked at my calendar and Wed, Thurs, and Fri were completely clear -- no court, no appointments, etc. -- going into the weekend. This like never happens. An amazing five straight days off. As the week progressed those 3 days completely filled up, turning my little 5 day late summer vacation into a normal Sat-Sun off. It's a rat race. But, sipping on a sour bitter cherry 1996 Lynch Bages on Friday night. This wine has surprisingly not aged well. It is sour, bitter cherry, tannic. Not going to improve with age. Aromatics are decent. I'll give this 90 points out of charity. It still had the $49.99 price tag on it. At $150-plus, or whatever it is going for these days, it is definitely a thumbs down.

Jim is this the first bad 96 LB you had or has it always underperformed? Curious as a have a few.

Glenn I cracked open my case in May. Two or three bottles have been corked or flat. This is the first one that I felt wasn't damaged or flawed, but it is just bitter and mediocre. this wine rivaled the 89 in its youth. I have 7 or 8 bottles left. Hard to see this getting better. Drink em young.

OK, I may need to try the first bottle of my half-case tonight. We are doing a rack of lamb, so easy to justify a Bordeaux. I will report back on my experience.

We have drunk some good reds while visiting stefanJr, Irena, Shea, and Elle in Eugene, including '95 Chapoutier La Sizerane Hermitage and '07 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage last night at the most interesting local restaurant (Campbell House). Tonight we have a first growth dinner with a '95 Cheval Blanc that stefanJr has been saving and a '83 Lafite we brought from Texas. In spite of the heat we have drunk no white wines other than some pinot gris at one outdoor party.