The seductive cocoa and milk chocolate of 2005 Barde-Haut

[JimHow]

Adding to my previous very high impressions of this stellar wine: This wine has a very appealing cocoa, milk chocolate element to it that I didn't necessarily pick up on the first go around. Lots of sediment too in the end. Otherwise, I repeat everything I said in my previous review, about the earthiness, Burgundian character, etc. Very seductive. A beauty. 93 points.

[RDD]

You're hooked!

[Nicklasss]

That's it! In JimHow World, Chateau Lynch Bages doesn't exist anymore.

Nic

[JimHow]

I haven't changed, I'm just more in touch with my feminine side.

[AKR]

We finished another bottle of the 99 B-H tonight, and it had some of that cocoa mentioned in the 05.

It also had some spicy cinnamon too. Still a very well flavored wine despite the years.

Tastes much younger than you'd think.

[JimHow]

Barde Haut is an excellent wine at $30.

[Nicklasss]

Next thing, Jim will rave about the Tour Saint-Christophe.

Nic

[AlohaArtakaHoundsong]

Haven't had one of these in a while but it was one of the best tasting wines I ever recall on release.

[Claret]

Are cocoa and milk chocolate a desirable characteristic in Bordeaux? They are not what I am looking for.

[JimHow]

Bob Parker and I think so.

[DavidG]

Paging Father Stefan. Paging Father Stefan. It may be time for an exorcism.

[Racer Chris]

Are cocoa and milk chocolate a desirable characteristic in Bordeaux? They are not what I am looking for.

+1
I'm not a fan of milk chocolate to start with, so I doubt it would appeal to me as a significant note in a glass of wine.
OTOH, a hint of cocoa powder at the edge of a mature right bank wine doesn't bother me.

[marcs]

When I hear "seductive cocoa and milk chocolate" I think of an ad for one of those powdered milk chocolate drink mixes. Or maybe Cadbury bars.

The next step beyond fruit basket tasting notes is ice cream store / candy aisle tasting notes. Jeff Leve is already a master of those. I always think when I read his notes that he could save a lot of $$$ by just buying chocolate covered cherries or a nice Starbucks mocha frappucino directly.

with that said, a little touch of cocoa can round out a complex wine nicely.

[AKR]

I find some chocolatey notes are characteristic in ripe merlot. Maybe I'm just attuned to that flavor.

Lots of it in the 98 Barde Haut.

[AKR]

Been drinking another 99 Barde Haut the last couple of nights. It was better on the first night, but on the second you can pick up more of those cocoa notes. (On that, I was dispatched to the store today to secure baking supplies - which are well picked over, so no flour - and I could not figure out what Mrs AKR meant when she demanded baking chocolate bars not candy bars - as there was like ten variants of different cocoa percents so I just bought an overpriced spectrum). This wine is such an easy drinking delicious, balanced, yet long lived example. I bet years with better vintage characteristics (like 2005) will show even better. A- stuff.

[robert goulet]

I remember when I bought the 2010 from a closeout bin....it was a painful drinking experience

[DavidG]

Can’t go wrong with a spectrum of chocolate. Sure to be enjoyed one way or another. I can think of worse outcomes than not being able to bake with it.

I know Barde Haut gets a lot of love here. It’s a bit too expensive to drink young without expecting complexity and doesn’t seem to develop the complexity I need to warrant aging. Opening a bottle reminds me of Brigitte Bardot for the obvious reason but that wasn’t enough for me. So it didn’t make the cut when we downsized and I sold my remaining stash of 05, 09, and 10 when we moved.

[robert goulet]

Can’t go wrong with a spectrum of chocolate. Sure to be enjoyed one way or another. I can think of worse outcomes than not being able to bake with it.

I know Barde Haut gets a lot of love here. It’s a bit too expensive to drink young without expecting complexity and doesn’t seem to develop the complexity I need to warrant aging. Opening a bottle reminds me of Brigitte Bardot for the obvious reason but that wasn’t enough for me. So it didn’t make the cut when we downsized and I sold my remaining stash of 05, 09, and 10 when we moved.

I must say this was probably a wise move

[JimHow]

Over-analysis.
Just buy a bottle or two of Barde Haut each year, and drink it young.
It's a very lovely right bank wine, nothing to over-intellectuaiize about.

[Racer Chris]

I'm not easily seduced. When I want chocolate I want it to be 60% or more, dark and bittersweet.

[stefan]

>>
Opening a bottle reminds me of Brigitte Bardot for the obvious reason but that wasn’t enough for me.
>>

Um. Reminding you of the star of And God Created Woman and other masterpieces is not enough?

[JimHow]

Lol.
There's a market for 05/09/10 Barde Haut, David?

[DavidG]

LOL Stefan, not for $40/btl

Jim, I think they sold for about what I paid for them. Maybe a bit less for the younger ones.