Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

• 1997 Moccagatta Barbaresco Bric Balin - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco (3/25/2011)
  Garnet. Nose initially had a little bottle stink that blew off and grew and grew over time from eucalyptus to mint to licorice hints to full licorice to tobacco-scented licorice. Taste was medium weight, mouthfilling tobacco and mint, truffles. Shows that my WOTY 2010 was no fluke. (95 pts.)
• 2003 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (3/25/2011)
  Deep garnet. Nose of black fruits, seasoned salt. Taste was similar, deep and a touch closed appearing. But still delish. (94 pts.)
• 2006 Peter Michael Chardonnay La Carrière - USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley (3/25/2011)
  pale gold. Nose of citrus, vanilla and cinnamon. Taste similar with a smooth taste, hint of acid lift on the end. Me likey. (93 pts.)
• 2007 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (3/25/2011)
  pale yellow. Nose of lemon curd and citrus, vanilla. Taste the same with an acid lift. Young and nice. (93 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Harry. Thanks for the great notes on the 2 reds. I love Moccagatta as a producer and have a few orphan bottles of the '97 which I haven't tried yet but from your note make me want to crack one.
I am also glad to see the Branaire '03 showing well as I have a case and never opened it. They are one of my favorite under the radar producers who do not make flashy wines, just solid wines year in and out. I have gone back and fourth about the '03 vintage and in the last few years believe that it will turn out well. The one thing that Bordeaux does well is they produce wines which require and reward aging and I think that even in this hot year they will be really good.

OWN-concerning the Branaire-I do think it will reward 5 more years. But try one yourself to see how it's doing. I feel there is a partial closed state, but try decanting an hour+ and see.

I have tried Calon Segur a few years ago (one of my fav's) and it was drinking great. Last year tight as a drum and in need of many more years cellaring. The same with Malescot St E and Lynch Bages. It seems that the '03's were open for business a little longer than usual and have now shut down hard. What I hear more from the pundits that it is not a good vintage when they all hyped it at the start. Check out WS original reviews ditto Gary V. I guess they either need the advertising dollars or have wine to sell but now their opinions have reversed. Anyway I was not as much of a fan in the beginning but I am now coming around more and more. Maybe I will be proved wrong (won't be the first time) but from what I am tasting now I like what I see. I really enjoyed Moulin Haut Laroque young and went thru several cases happily. I realize that the wines are light in acidity and balance is a very important component in a wine but I believe that these wines will evolve wel,l just differently. Just my two cents but I am glad the Branaire is drinking well.