So, I am reposting this with realtime notes because I couldn’t a few weeks ago. I had it again tonight only with a Wagyu NY steak. While it went well with the steak, I think it shows even better on its own it’s that soft & elegant. I slightly over peppered my steak tonight and that could have contributed to that thought. I bought six more bottles last week for a ridiculous $39.99. For under $40, you’d be hard pressed to find a a better quality, drinkable Bordeaux at that pricepoint. I know if anyone researched the reviews on the bottling there would no scores 90 or above. Most or all I believe would be slightly below 90.
The thing that time & experience has taught me is trust in Clyde Beffa the owner of K&L Wine Merchants. He brings in older Bordeaux’s directly from Chateaux’s or Negotiants well after the fact as he has here and done very successfully for over 40 years. I have bought these kinds of older Bordeaux bottling’s to avoid drinking my wines that need cellaring too soon. Again, he has brought in a lesser Bordeaux regions and or Bordeaux producers that through long bottle evolution yielded magic after young critical reviews.
The nose reveals; older, musty funk on well aged, beautiful, ripe fruits of; soft blackberries, black raspberries, dark sweet cherry kirsch, stewy black plums, baked strawberries, dry rhubarb & cranberries. Baking soda, red fruit cola, steeped tea leaves, aged, dryish tobacco, well used leather, soft cedar to sandalwood, sandstone powder, mix of dry & fresh herbs, moist volcanic clay, limestone marl, dry river stone, well evolved and smoothed out lead pencil shavings, caramel hues, melted, warm, dark chocolate cake w/ frosting, classic older Bordeaux funk, withering to withering to dryish flowers that are dark & red.
The color isn’t even very brickish. Some barnyard, funk on well aged, beautiful, ripe fruits that are; soft blackberries, black raspberries, dark sweet cherry kirsch, stewy black plums, baked strawberries, dry rhubarb & cranberries. Baking soda, red fruit cola, steeped tea leaves, aged, dryish tobacco, well used leather, soft cedar to sandalwood, sandstone powder, mix of dry & fresh herbs, moist volcanic clay, limestone marl, dry river stone, well evolved classic, older, softened lead pencil shavings, caramel hues, melted, warm, dark chocolate cake w/ frosting, classic older Bordeaux funk, fresh to withering dryish flowers that are dark & red. Spring rainfall acidity with a well evolved, elegant, balanced, still nicely structured/tensioned, soft elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and falls on dry, well resolved tannins and perfect earthiness. Soft & complex as all get out! A steal at this price!
Photos of; the Chateau, stainless steel tanks, barrel room and Estate vineyards. — 2 months ago
Opens up very slowly, keeping a very youthful appearance. Shy black currant leaf, fresh black currants, a bit tobacco leaf, a smoky, earthy note, a faint whiff of orange peel. All interwoven, subtle, and yet, a bit underwhelming.
The wow happens on the palate - smooth and so polished… more silk than velvet.
Cool black currant, a touch of 100% cocoa chocolate, a bit of espresso savouriness
Not really rich nor broad… but the precision & depth are amazing. Harmonious, self assured, elegant. A finish that goes on forever
If only the nose would be as magical as the palate - what a grand wine this would be — a month ago
A nice representation of Haut-Médoc. Red fruits, moderate tannin. The 2016 drinking nicely in 2024. — a month ago
Medium ruby core and medium ruby , garnet rim . Quite closed and complex , dark fruits , touch of spice , mineral hints . On the palate intense red fruit focused , cranberry , red cherry , earthy , wet stone touches . Touch saline on the good length finish , balanced acidity and quite refined but present tannins . Mineral , sea spray notes on the finish . Needs time, will improve over the next 5-10 years and last well a further 5-10. The most successful wine in the tasting , without a doubt — 2 months ago
Big, rich and perfect pair with a rib eye! — 12 days ago
The quintessential St Estephe - savoury black fruit, earthy, slightly leathery/smoky. Firm yet juicy tannins, fresh acidity, v. nice depth & length. Lacks maybe some elegance but makes it up with authenticity. Not so much for sipping, and yet a perfect food wine. — a month ago
Low acid, red currant, pretty tame. Oaky on the nose, easy drinking, medium bodied, ashy, tannings. Good! — 2 months ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
For our reception, I packed a magnum of this in 2007 into my suitcase.. Same as it was that night, it is tonight. Every 750ml I/we have had since then has better than the magnum I brought. The magnum was good, but a touch broken down. This is in amazing shape. Storage is everything w/ wine of this age.
The nose was straight up brighter, aged fruit profile with mushrooms, sweetened led pencil & barnyard. Beautiful. Classic 80’s seminole Bordeaux. 48 years from inception & 46 years in bottle, amazing.
Happy anniversary Sofia! ❤️ you endlessly!
This is a perfect example of why I love Bordeaux. — a day ago