Tag Archives: bordeaux

Cos D’Estournel 2001, St. Estephe, France

20 Monday Apr 2026

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For my birthday weekend I opened/will open some treasures from the cellar, including the 2001 Cos.  I did not take real notes as I wanted to enjoy my family, and the wine.  It was stunning.  I remember the day I purchased the case, back in 2003?  I have tasted this wine’s evolution and it is at peak.  Delivering aromas and flavors of  everything you could image a Left Bank wine of such pedigree could offer….. Cassis, tobacco, pencil shavings, plum, blackberry, baking spice, etc etc.  The intensity on the nose and palate were both amazing and the finish clocked in as medium (+) in length.  The tannins have done a good job keeping up with Father Time, fully melded yet still gripping.  Such a lovely, silky bottle with plenty of life left.  95 points from me.  Salut….

cos d'estournel

Chateau Carbonnieux 2020, Pessac-Leognan, France

13 Friday Mar 2026

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Deep ruby colored, with slight staining, and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of black plum, blackberry, cassis, tobacco, bramble berry, ink, cedar plank, a touch of vanilla and chocolate.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium body, and medium tannins that are quite chalky.  Medium (+) intensity flavors are noted and the finish is medium (-) in length.  The tannins are really plush, the wine offering a great mouthfeel.  I like this Bordeaux blend of 60% Cab Sav, 30% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.  It gets 90 points, and at $55- 4 stars.  It would have scored higher if the finish had more to offer.  Drink till 2030.  Salut….

Chateau Carbonnieux

Chateau Saint-Roch 2016, Saint-Estephe, France

13 Saturday Dec 2025

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Medium ruby colored, with a medium viscosity (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of tobacco, cassis, blackberry, green herbs, honey, a touch of earth, and petrichor.  The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body, and medium tannins that are slightly overwhelmed by the acidity.  Medium intensity flavors of cassis, black raspberry, rhubarb, green herbs, and sour red cherries.  It’s an interesting wine that smells one way, and tastes another.  The shortish finish is quite tart, and lacking much fruit.  I want to give this bottle a chance to soften up, but for now it’s an 87 point wine at best.  I bought it at a wine shop in Paris and forgot to write down the price.  Drink till 2028.  Salut….

Chateau Saint-Roch

Chateau Guiraud 2004, Sauternes, France

21 Monday Apr 2025

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Medium gold colored with high viscosity (13.5% ABV). Medium (+) intensity aromas of honey, apricot, orange marmalade, white flowers, and green almond. The palate is sweet, with medium (+) acidity, and a full body. Medium (+) intensity flavors of spun honey, apricot, orange marmalade, white tea, spicy chai, white blossom, and preserved lemons.  The finish is medium (+) in length,  unctuous, and delicious.  It is evolving nicely and will continue to do so for a few more years. It begs for blue cheese, or a cherry tart.   It’s not as intense as the 2003, scoring a point less as a result.  93 points for this $26 bottle makes it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

chateau girded sauternes

Chateau Guiraud ‘Le G de Chateau Guiraud’ Blanc Sec 2022, Bordeaux, France

31 Friday May 2024

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Pale lemon colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose of this Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend is intense. Aromas of lemon, lime, cut grass, nectarine, cat pee, tangerine zest, lanolin and orange blossom.  It’s full on and stunning.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium body with some phenolic bitterness.  Medium (+) intensity flavors of lemon, tangerine, nectarine, cut grass, lanolin, orange blossom and green herbs.  The finish is long in length and mouthwatering from the acidity- lovely and cutting.  I loved this wine when tasted at the chateau prior to release and am ecstatic that I scored a case recently.  It should develop over the next few years but I may not have the patience.  93 points from me and for $19- 5 stars.  Salut….

 

Chateau Pontet-Canet 2000, Pauillac, France

26 Friday Apr 2024

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It’s my birthday week so we had friends over for dinner- best friends, so it warranted a nice bottle.  I have been sitting on this 5th Growth Bordeaux for 20 years, it’s time.

Deep garnet with bricking, slight staining, and a high viscosity (13% ABV). The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of Cassis, cedar, leather, baking spices, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, ripe blueberry pie, acai berry and is somewhere between youthful and mature, which is surprising. On the palate it’s dry with medium acidity, medium-to-full body and medium (+) tannins that are fully integrated. Absolutely lush flavors of Cassis, baked blueberry, acai berry, cedar, leather, tobacco, baking spices, vanilla and blackberry compote.  The finish runs a good length and shows off the wonderfully refined tannins mingling with the remnants of fruit alongside tertiary notes.  It’s a stunner that has rewarded my patience for sure. 96 points for this $160 bottle that gets 5 stars from me. Drink till 2030.  A treat for sure, Salut….

Chateau Poujeaux 2018, Moulis-en-Medoc, France

11 Monday Mar 2024

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Deep ruby colored with minor staining and a high viscosity (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of cassis, tobacco, cedar, black plum, camphor, mint, black coffee and iodine.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, a full body and medium (+) tannins that are chalky and crunchy.  Flavors of ripe blackcurrant, black plum, tobacco, cedar, coffee and that sanguine iodine note caress the tongue and carry on to a longish finish.  I like the tannic structure- it’s grippy yet lets the fruit do its job.  I like the flavor profile, it’s a classic Left Bank Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  Lovely stuff that gets 92 points from me and for $34- 5 stars.  It’s open for business now if you like ’em a bit dry and astringent, or you could wait.  This beauty will last till 2035.  I’m charring up some Sirloins with a pepper sauce.  Salut….

Chateau Les Ormes-de-Pez 2017, Saint-Estephe, France

18 Sunday Feb 2024

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Medium garnet colored with slight staining and medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).   The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, charcoal, blackberry,  acai berry, mint, licorice, a slight green note and warm baking spices.  The palate is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and medium body.  The tannins are integrating nicely and make for a silky mouthfeel.  Flavors that I love in Left Bank Bordeaux come out of the glass- cassis, leather, pencil shavings, licorice, blackberry and baking spice.  The finish is classic for the region- slightly tart, long and a touch dry from the fantastic tannins.  I first became a convert of this wine when we visited Lynch Bages and got to try this as part of the tasting.  For $40, I am impressed with the quality of this Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend.  91 points from me and 5 stars.  It is open for business now but will cellar nicely till 2030.  I’m pairing with Sunday roast.  Salut….

Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal 2017, Pauillac, France

20 Monday Nov 2023

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Medium ruby colored with high viscosity and slight staining on the walls- (13.5% ABV).  The nose of this Cabernet blend has medium (+) intensity aromas of cassis, tobacco, leather, cocoa, coffee, blackberry coulis, lavender, vanilla bean and violets.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are chalky.  Medium to full bodied, this wine has flavors of slightly underripe blackberry, tomato stalk, cocoa, coffee, leather, vanilla and some cassis.  The finish is medium in length and slightly tart.  It has telltale Pauillac notes that I love but is a touch underripe.  I am glad I have a few bottles in the cellar so I can watch the evolution, I think it has some more cellaring capacity and should get better.  Serving it tonight with Sunday Roast.  90 points, $60 and 4 stars.  Salut….

Chateau Marjosse 2018, Bordeaux, France

26 Thursday Oct 2023

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Medium garnet colored with high viscosity and very slight staining (14.5% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of black plum, charcoal, mint, cassis, hedgerow, blackberry pie and rose petals.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium (+) tannins that are chalky and bristle a touch.  The wine is full bodied with rich flavors of black fruit and oak coupled with some pretty florals.  A nicely balanced and maturing blend of Merlot, Cab Sav and Cab Franc with a touch of old-school Malbec that makes this Right Bank blend a pleasure to drink.  I am pairing it with Ox tail stew and rice with pees.  It will develop further and cellar nicely till 2029.  For $28 this 91 point bottle gets 5 stars from me.  Salut….