2001 Chateau Larmande Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 13.5%
In November of 2005 I tried the 1995 Larmande and liked it so much that I blindly bought a case of the highly-touted and then relatively inexpensive 2001. With eager anticipation, last night I opened the first bottle from that case.
Perfect cork and elegant smell wafting from the bottle. Promising! Dark cherry color in the glass. Nose features prominent vanilla but the pleasant whiffs of cedar and blackberry are too subdued. First mouthfeel makes me think "still too young." Tannins are lightly grainy and upfront and the acidity is strong. After food, the acidity gets out of the way and the alcohol, insufficiently balanced by the fruit, becomes overly noticeable. A sensation of slightly excessive heat creeps in, and cherry takes over the flavor management department. In short, good wine, not great, with modest class and a decent measure of quality, but I find myself wondering if this was worth lugging 6,000 miles to Brazil. Ever eager to grasp at straws, I think "perhaps in 2011 this will taste as good as the 1995 did in 2005." Stay tuned.