2011 Bx revisited from 27 chateaux.....

[greatbxfreak]

Last Wednesday, 27 chateaux from Bordeaux visited Copenhagen to present their 2011 vintage from barrel and one older vintage. They have done this trip since 2002 with Bordeaux based negociant, Beyerman. Compared to last year, neither Montrose, nor Pontet Canet, nor Troplong Mondot found their way to Copenhagen,Beyerman explained their absence with wish of going on their own meaning going alone and presenting their wines at Winemaker’s dinner.

I managed to taste 60 wines during 2.5 hours and my general impression was, that 2011 is good to very good vintage, better for sure than 2008, developing well and not showing austerity and edgy corners. Several wines benefitted from further staying in oak. All in all it's a very useful vintage and will be a great value for money when it hit the shelves in the end of 2013 with prices not higher than primeur ones.

Here are my TNs:


D’Aiguilhe 2011 – powerful, tasty black cherries, fine fruit and structure, meaty and fine length. Fine effort. 90p.
D’Aiguilhe 2007 – earthy flavors, compact, strong, well-balanced with fine intensity and length. 88p.



D’Armailhac 2011 – better ripeness here than in 2008, tannins are softer, fine finish. 91p.

D’Armailhac 2008 – powerful, strong and concentrated, spicy flavors, certain dryness on the finish. Needs time to soften. 89p.



Beauregard 2011 - was very intense on the nose, tight, aromatic, with dark berries, nice velvety finish and oak very well integrated with fruit. 90p.

Beauregard 2009 – strong with sweet cherries, lot of stuffing, splendid structure and meaty finish. Fine effort. 91p.



Beychevelle 2011- as impressive as during primeur week og maybe even better. Pretty aromatic and subtle wine, full-bodied. Splendid aftertaste with a lot of flavours. Graceful and stylish. Stupendous wine. 93+p.

Beychevelle 2005 - fabulous thick aroma of dark berries, awesome great length, balance and concentration, formidable depth and aftertaste, and it’s full load of finesse, elegance and graciosity. Seamless wine. 95+p.



Branaire 2011 – improved since tasting it 5 months ago. More concentrated with silky fruit and tannin, fine balance and smooth finish. 90p.

Branaire 2008– lack a bit of ripeness compared to 2011, otherwise it is well made wine with very good structure and length. 89p.



Camensac 2011 - aromatic ripe dark berries on the nose, seductive and charming, silky tannin, well- balanced. Fine aftertaste.90p.

Camensac 2005 – of course more intensity, concentration and better structure here than in 2011. Really fine effort for the vintage from this property. 91p.



Canon-La-Gaffeliere 2011 - offered fine nose of cherries, fat ripe tannin, splendid depth and persistent aftertaste. Impressive effort. 93p.

Canon-La-Gaffeliere 2007– nicely made, good tannin, nice structure, attractive and round. Firm aftertaste. 88p.



Chasse Spleen 2011 - offered excellent nose of black fruit with depth and intensity. Silky tannin, finesse, intense on palate and persistent fruity aftertaste. Splendid effort. 92p.

Chasse Spleen 2007 – aromatic, round and charming, very drinkable wine right now. 87p.



La Clemence 2011 - strong, tannic wine with robust structure, fine depth and firm finish. On the verge of overextraction. 89p.

La Clemence 2002 – soft and light wine, which is beginning to falter. 86p.



Clerc Milon 2011 - showed big concentration and strong structure, tight and intense on the palate, splendid balance and long finish. Superb wine. 92p.

Clerc Milon 2008 – not that different from 2011, but less concentrated and ripeness of both fruit and tannin is less apparent. 90p.



ClosL’Oratoire 2011 - offered fine nose of cherries, seductive style, splendid balance, elegance and smooth caressing aftertaste. 91-92p.

ClosL’Oratoire 2007 – charming and round with soft tannin. Ready to drink. 87p.



Coutet 2011 impressed a lot with great depth, lot of sweetness and corresponding acidity, stunning balance and long, long lingering aftertaste. Simply great effort. 94+p.

Coutet 1997– Great stuff. Still fresh with intense botrytized aromas of crème brulée and heather honey, fine acidity and strong honeyed finish. 15 years old wine at its peak. 93p.



Destieux 2011 - strong and sappy wine, ripe and tasty black berries, fine balance and long finish. Well-made wine. 91p.

Destieux 2008 – aromatic and powerful wine, strong structure, meaty, persistent finish.90p.



Domaine de Chevalier red 2011 – tasted better than during primeur. Very aromatic, great minerality, splendid depth and length, strong structure, meaty texture and smooth aftertaste. 93p.

Domaine de Chevalier red 2005 – this wine was really impressive. Excellent nose of intense black cherries, palate coated with layers of perfectly ripe black fruit, great freshness, excellent balance and great finish. Fabulous stuff indeed! 95p.

Domaine de Chevalier white 2011 - performed strong and powerful, lots of acacia flower, apple and citron grass. Great structure, depth and length on the palate, rich, great balance and strong finish. As always an utterly impressive stuff from this property! 96+p.



Ferriere 2011 - was tight and intense wine with dense structure, fine concentration of dark fruit, fat tannin, harmonious and firm finish. 92p.

Ferriere 2004 – fine intensity of aromatic cherries, fine depth and balance, long finish. Well-made wine. 91p.



Gazin 2011- pretty elegant and soft, fine cherry aroma, fine balance and fruity finish.91p.

Gazin 2006 –very nice wine, charming nose, nice structure, good tannin. Seems to mature rather quickly. 88p.



Giscours 2011 – this barrel sample showed even better than in April this year. Powerful and intense with lot of black cherries and cocoa, strong fat tannin, very well constructed, complex and with long finish. Stunning wine. 94p.

Giscours 2004 – strong and very perfumed wine, excellent structure, length and finish. All the best from Margaux commune is here and it makes you very happy. Very seductive wine! 92p.



Haut Bages Liberal 2011 - had oaky undertones, quite intense fruit, nice backbone and structure, and persistent finish. 89p.

Haut Bages Liberal 2008 – very similar to 2011. 89p.



Haut Bailly 2011 - was a rich and powerful wine with strong aroma of black cherries, great complexity, depth and length. Excellent future in sight. 93+p.

Haut Bailly 2007 – charming, round, very nice concentration and balance. Already drinkable. 87p.



Lagrange 2011 – was intense on the nose with black berries, with good grip on the palate with tasty fruit and firm aftertaste. Well-made wine. 90p.

Lagrange 2009 – riper fruit, more stuffing and longer than 2011, silky tannin, very attractive wine. 91p.



Larrivet Haut Brion red 2011 - had deliciously intense fruity nose with cherries, solid backbone, splendid depth and length. Persistent and firm finish. 92p.

Larrive tHaut Brion red 2009 – stronger, more intense and sweeter fruit than in 2011. 92+p.

Larrrivet Haut Brion white 2011 - was elegant and refined on the nose and palate with lot of finesse. Splendid acidity, great aromas of pineapple, apple and acacia flower, stylish and classy. 93p.



Lascombes 2011- showed great style and finesse. Very aromatic with black berries, excellent balance and complexity. Long caressing finish. True Margaux style.93p.

Lascombes 2009 – more power here than in 2011, more sweet fruit and tannin, complex with long and sweet finish. 93+p.



Latour Martillac red 2011 - offered splendid nose of ripe cherries, splendid depth and intensity. Silky on the palate with remarkable structure, fine length and smooth aftertaste. Fine effort indeed. 92p.

Latour Martillac red 2005 – excellent wine, perfectly ripe black fruit (cherries and blueberries), rich in flavors and nuances, long and smooth finish. Greateffort. 93p.

Latour Martillac white 2011 - was oaky with lot of acidity. Great intensity of apple and citron grass, freshness, great length on the palate and long finish. Terrific wine. 93-94p.



Leoville Poyferre 2011 - very complex and long on the nose and palate. Aromatic blackfruit, well-balanced, excellent structure and long firm aftertaste. Excellent for the vintage. 94p.

Leoville Poyferre 2007 – very nice, attractive and charming wine with good stuffing, light-footed fruit and tannin and soft finish. Very enjoyable to drink right now. 88p.



Phelan Segur 2011 showed much freshness with aromatic and spicy fruit, splendid structure, silky tannin and long finish. 91p.

Phelan Segur 2008 - – good intensity of blackcurrants, good grip, nice length and firm aftertaste. 88p.



Smith Haut Lafitte red 2011 – strong, meaty, very intense aroma of black cherries, complex, fine concentration and grip. Firm finish. Splendid. 93p.

Smith Haut Lafitte red 2007 – fruity, soft, round and charming. Ready to drink. 87p.

Smith Haut Lafitte white 2010 – aromatic with excellent acidity, apple, lemon grass and acacia flower. Remarkable balance, strong structure and long finish. 95p.



Talbot 2011-offered aromatic fruit (black cherries), were quite intense and powerful on the palate, with fine structure, balance and finish. 92+p.



Du Tertre 2011- improved significantly since primeur tasting in April. Strong and powerful, rich, elegant and longon the palate, excellent structure. Very impressive effort. 93p.

Du Tertre 2006 – not unlike 2011, slightly less powerful, but complex and with long finish. Fine effort. 92p.

[jmccready]

The beer you had after this must have scored 100!

[greatbxfreak]

Your comment scored 0!

[DavidG]

I found this an interesting read, even if I'm not in the market for '11s. Thanks!

[stefan]

It is interesting that in every case, Izak, you preferred the wine from the vintage that has the better reputation.

[Houndsong]

Things are really getting mean around here ever since that subversive clique formed up.

[DavidG]

You can count on our resident Math Professor to find the patterns...