Thursday evening, I am off to this `04 Bordeaux tasting!!

Reception - 2004 Château La Garde Blanc (Pessac-Léognan) - $34.99

1) 2004 Domaine de Valmengaux (Fronsac) - $44.99

2) 2004 Château du Tertre (5th Growth Margaux) - $59.99

3) 2004 Château Pontet-Canet (5th Growth Pauillac) - $94.99

4) 2004 Château Léoville Barton (2nd Growth St. Julien) - $109.99

5) 2004 Château Montrose (2nd Growth St. Estèphe) - $119.99

Dessert - 2004 Château Climens Premier Cru (Barsac, France) - 375mL - $64.99

We have ours on Wed the 24th.

Looking forward to comparing notes.

Reception - 2004 Château La Garde Blanc (Pessac-Léognan) - $34.99

1) 2004 Domaine de Valmengaux (Fronsac) - $44.99

2) 2004 Château du Tertre (5th Growth Margaux) - $59.99

3) 2004 Château Pontet-Canet (5th Growth Pauillac) - $94.99

4) 2004 Château Léoville Barton (2nd Growth St. Julien) - $109.99

5) 2004 Château Montrose (2nd Growth St. Estèphe) - $119.99

Dessert - 2004 Château Climens Premier Cru (Barsac, France) - 375mL - $64.99

Nice lineup of wines, Bob, and I eagerly await your report. But, OMG, the prices are outrageous! Those you show are double what I'm used to seeing for those wines, and the CA/US exchange rate isn't the cause.

Mark Lipton

de Tertre. Not too seductive a nose, plum color, violets on nose, finish not bad but way too tannic.

Pontet-Canet. Big tannins, huge oak on finish. Long haul for sure, currant, licorice.

Montrose. This gonna be good, steely, big tannins. as usual most backward of the lot! Blackberry, blueberry, just a hint of sweetness. Many liked this one but....................................>

Leoville Barton. Top wine of the night, beautiful depth of color, thin watery rim. Very nice elegant nose, agree for once with RMP, how does Anthony B do this every year?!!

Mystery wine was a `96 Pontet-Canet. No real sign of age on the rim, barely into adulescence! Fruit still way in the background. Very nice.

Dessert was `04 Ch. Climens, Barsac. Yum, full round. Very rich, tons botrytis. Goodness me drinks now but as usual one to put away folks.

I envy you this opportunity, Bob. Most of these wines have been on sale here during the Autumn Foires aux Vins at reasonable prices, but buying is blind. On the strength of track record and some enthusiastic reviews, I bought some Pontet-Canet for EUR 39 but might not have done if I had tasted "huge oak on the finish". However I live in hope that the oak will integrate as it often does with Bordeaux.

Oh do not worry Tim. It will come around but not sure when! The 96 was not near drinking status as I wrote!

Thanks for those notes, Bob. The wines sound like they basically lived up to expectations (at least mine). Hasn't there been some talk of a change in style at Pontet-Canet, one toward the use of more new oak?

Mark Lipton