WTN: 2001 Clos Les Lunelles (Côtes de Castillon)

[David M. Bueker]

Drinking very well now, but lots of fruit, tannin & just overall guts to hold/improve for a while yet. The tannins demand a steak/lamb (I had steak), but make for an overall attractive package that is fruity & weighty without being over the top.

I agree this is a great wine and value. Jason and I split a case after the last tasting at your house.

Funny. I've always thought of Les Lunelles as representing everything that is wrong with Bordeaux: A wine made to win the heart of Robert Parker, and the hell with everything else. Disclaimer: I haven't tasted the '01, but the '03 is a veritable cartoon of a wine: Lots of oak, lots of glycerine, lots and lots of everything except balance and restraint.

Dave,

When I had this wine I did not think it was a great Bordeaux or cal cab or anything else. We tasted this blind and the wine was good regardless of where it was from or what it was trying to be. Is it a classic bord? No, but its still a nice wine.

[David M. Bueker]

Doug pretty much sums it up for me. This is not a style of wine I drink often, but when there's a steak on the grill & I want to sit & watch football (i.e. not spend a lot of intellectual capital) this is a good wine for the situation. I would never try to pass it off as typical Bordeaux.

As for "made to please Parker" I think that's a strawman (as it has been for years).

Don't think I've had the 2001. I didn't care much for '03 & '04- obviously well made, huge for CdC, but just too slick and low acid for me. Thanks for notes.

[David M. Bueker]

Dale - I'll make a bold prediction & say you would hate it. It's a low acid, big, extracted wine, but it does have backbone.

I've had the 2004, I found it decent but oaky and not worth the price. I liked the 2001 enough to buy some to lay down. Last time I had it was in 2005 and I found it closed.