Opened and poured side by side to sip on while watching the Dodger-Diamondback playoff and dining on rack of lamb (warning: gratuitous photo follows.) The intention was to only drink half of each, but OOPS.
Vaudouvan crusted R of L with lemony potatoes and scorched sweet onions (yes, the scorch is deliberate).
2001 Château Barde-Haut St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend
Drank over four hours; not decanted. Effusive nose of red fruit, chocolate and tobacco. On the palate, red fruit, leather and a touch of red dirt minerality combined to radiate a kind of inner warmth, though the palate didn't fully open up until the second hour. It was the better wine with the food, and had the strongest finish. Drink over the next two years, I reckon.
2002 Château Montrose St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend
Drank over four hours; not decanted. Immediately attractive blackberry and plum fruit, interesting spice, some sweetness and floral notes. Definitely the more primary of the two wines and the friendliest, at first. Faded somewhat in the second hour, but seemed to come back a bit in the fourth. However, tannins were light and the finish a bit short. Not sure what to make of longevity here; most reviews on CT think this is the end of the line. Please opine if you disagree--I have many more bottles.
