La Fleur Saint Emilion GC 2005
Quite a bit of plum and blackberry fruit as well as a little mocha and liquid smoke. Bold and aggressive tannin. A bit masochistic at this stage, and hardly classic SE, but for the price, a TON of wine. In fact, it seems they’ve stuffed twice the volume into one bottle.
Beau Sejour Becot Saint Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classe 2005
Black currant, blueberry, cardamom, charcoal, and a brioche like savoriness. Burnt sugar and very herbal. The extract almost defies logic but surely helps balance out the alcohol. I wonder just how long the solids can possible stay in solution?
Beau Sejour Becot Saint Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classe 2004
Yes! So soft and sultry. The wine is very pleasurable after the ’05. Highly aromatic and perfumed -More cherry, liquorice and graphite. Chocolate coffee bean. Beautifully integrated tannin and great freshness and acidity.
La Mondotte Saint Emilion 2005
Cassis, blueberry crème, priorat-like perfume-violets and lavender, butterscotch, crème brulee. Tannin is saturated in a wave of silkiness. It is modern and streamlined, but also firm. A dazzling display of generosity. I feel so used!
La Mondotte Saint Emilion 2003
The fruit here is quite a bit more soupy. It has jammy, blackberry fruit, savory roasted beef flavors, root vegetables, banana and molasses. The tannin is choppy and blunt. Although I like the slightly rustic direction of this wine, the flavors are too wildly divergent and I wish there was more herbaceousness.
Vieux Chateau Certain Pomerol 2005
Sweet and savory with such an extraordinary coolness -minty menthol, Dark berry fruit, toffee, rust, bing cherry, lead and wet, sexy sweat. Excellent stuff.
Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac-Leognan 2005
Extremely heady and aromatic -lilac and tar, black cherry, pencil lead and oregano and anise. Quite the spicy little wine and a great value.
Brane Cantenac Margaux 2005
More solid and punchy than so many BCs, but still a very pretty and graceful wine despite the vintage. Blueberry, bilberry, and lavender candy with a bit of smoke and salt. Great acidity, great balance.
Brane Cantenac Margaux 2004
CORKED
Chateau Chasse Spleen Moulis en Medoc 2005
Soft and well balanced with a lovely teardrop texture. Plum, blackberry, sea-shell and fish oil. Fine but prevalent tannin. Good.
Gruaud Larose Saint Julien 2005
Rich black cherry, sweet caramel, vanilla, toasted cashews. Hefty, supple and balanced. I like the class and restraint that it shows. It is stoic and solid. Very good.
Gruaud Larose Saint Julien 2003
More refined and aromatic. Blackberries, dill, dried wildflowers and a little brettiness.
Sociando-Mallet Haut Medoc 2005
Very good. Purple toned and masculine. Roasted duck breast, black cherry, and wild flowers. Forest floor and orchid.
Lafon-Rochet Saint Estephe 2005
Rigid and statuesque. Raspberry, boysenberry, tenderloin and smoke-stained leather. Gritty tannin.
Chateau Mouton Rothchild Pauillac 1975
Texturally, this wine is dishing out immense pleasure. The fruit is till soft and supple although it is heading towards strawberry and cherry, dried fig with yerba mate tea, blood orange, teriyaki beef, saddle leather and hay. Drink up. 11,5% alc.
Chateau Lafite Pauillac 1966
In great condition. Cherry and johannisbeeren fruit now, very spicey -cinnamon, cigar leaf, (a little) soy and sandalwood. The tannins are surprisingly spunky and while the fruit is starting to fade a bit, a year or two more won’t hurt. Lovely stuff. 11,5%
Cheers,
Bill
