Uncertain Smile: Bordeaux 2019 by Neal Martin

[Claudius2]

Guys
This is quite an interesting thread as I have always avoided describing Bdx as "modern" and "traditional" largely as to my palate, they all have their own style and that is a good thing to have.
I first started drinking wine in the 70's and started Bdx EP purchases with 1982.
When I first started, I really did not know that the better wines were meant to be kept for a long time, and in fact was more concerned that I'd kept them for too long. Okay I know a bit better now.

The first vintage that I bought in any volume was 1982 on EP.
I had of course drunk older wines, but I have to say, that during the 60's and 70's there were numerous poor vintages in Bdx and many of the wines were not suitable for long ageing.
In particular, my initial experiences with St Emilion wines (I did not buy Cheval Blanc or Ausone at the time and in fact have rarely done so in any case) were that they were rather light and often too herbal or green for my palate.
With 1982, the wines suited my palate. And I agree that they were nice to drink young with a few exceptions, but they were balanced when quite young. I drank them at 10-15 years including a few 1ers Crus picked up cheaply at auction.
Well Margaux and Mouton at $A50 (about USD34) was hard to turn down.

The one vintage that had confused me at the time was 1975. I bought quite a few of them in the 90's and they were still rather tannic then, and some did not ever come into balance.
To some extent, I'd say the same about 1986. 86 was better overall, but was affected by over-cropping and too much tannin.

I have regularly drunk classed wines from 2000 to 2010 over the last several years, from both banks.
There were only a few times when I kicked myself for opening a wine too young.

I really thought that the decade 1981-1990 showed amazing development in Bordeaux (and just about everywhere else) and I understand why so many think that decade is great.
Yet there were several poor vintages in the 90's that occasionally made me think that we had returned to the 70's.

I can handle a whack of tannin if the wine is balanced by intensity of fruit and some acid.
Even 2010 is not too tannic for my palate, though I do agree that most will improve for some yrs.

I do however have issues with alcohol content, yet this has not to my taste really been a big issue in Bordeaux.
It has unfortunately put me off buying Barossa and McLaren Vale shiraz except for a few favourite properties.

[DavidG]

So to sum up the unwelcome changes in Bordeaux for me the last 20 years:
Wines are a bit more accessible earlier but take a long time to develop any complexity.
Levels of alcohol are higher. While some don't mind, others are turned off.
A lot of the wines have a level of ripeness and sweetness that detracts from their character
Prices for classified growths, especially 1st growths, are much higher

What am I missing?

Uncertainty over the ability to develop the same tertiary Bordeaux complexities we all learned to love.

[Nicklasss]

I guess we should change the site name to "Audouze's wines enthusiast?" Everybody here seem to like tertiary/quaternary in their red Bordeaux or what?

I opened a bottle of 2016 Capbern last weekend: I think this wine is better than any 1991 to 2008 at 4 years old, and more complex too. I wish i would have tasted the 1970 to 1990 at 4 years old, but i guess i would have the same type of conclusion. The 2016 Capbern, A "young Rolling Stones" type of wine: irreverential, missing recognition, but too good to be true.

Nic

[JCNorthway]

Nic, can you describe what you like about the 2016 Capbern. You seem to like it a lot, and I am thinking about buying some.