This bottle was a library release from the Chave cellars. Decanted about an hour prior to service (but could have benefited from more time) and enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2001 Chave rouge pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of charred blueberry pie, mushrooms, scorched earth, grilled meat, coffee, black pepper and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and super complex. With more and more air, this really came into its own. Totally Chave. Totally Hermitage. Totally awesome. Drink now with a little patience and through 2041. — a day ago
The 2004 Léoville Barton is less opulent on the nose than the Langoa but offers a little more refinement and terroir expression. A touch of seaweed develops with time. The palate is fresh on the entry. It is one of the most saline Léoville Barton that gets the saliva flowing. It is classic old-school Anthony Barton with a judicious dab of black pepper and menthol furnishing the finish. Excellent. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— a month ago
Pretty deep ruby , with a narrow ruby , garnet rim . Quite aromatic with nice blackberry , cassis , cedar , spicy grafite , smoky mineral nuances . On the palate quite sweet , juicy black fruits and creme cassis , round and generous , with mineral grafite , earthy notes on the reasonable length finish. Balanced acidity and rounded fine but noticeable tannins . Drinking well now but will continue to show well over the next 10 years . — 19 days ago
Long decant … almost five hours.
NOSE: wintergreen, cassis … a little bourbon?
TASTE: super dense cassis, loam, and oaky tannin … red currant too .. I don’t get all the complexity I got last time I tried this — but it is very good. 94. — 21 days ago
Medium deep garnet , quite thin ruby , garnet rim . Quite spicy and dark fruited nose , blackcurrant , cassis , coffee , grafite . On the palate quite juicy with those dark cassis fruits , blackberry , and coffee touches . This has a roundness and fleshiness that is really appealing . Slightly saline with grafite , coffee and cacao touches . The tannins are round and integrated , good refreshing acidity . Decent length , this is drinking well now . Drink now and over the next 5-10 years, I don’t see this being particularly long lived but it is very enjoyable . — a month ago
Bottle was a little bit off but still an excellent wine in an underrated vintage. The better crust like Ducru Beaucaillou have done much better in 2001 than in 2000. This is so evident these days. Classical vintage and starting to get accessible now. — 16 days ago
1970 | Red Blend
Chateau Beychevelle
Bordeaux; Médoc, St. Julien, France
(91-93; Drink 2015-25)
3H decant
(Typical blend as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc & 4% Petit Verdot; it's unknown to me the exact percentages for this vintage)
Nose has dried plum, truffle, old wet leather, earthy notes, moist tobacco and damp forgotten firewood.
Palate has dried cherry, vanilla/cedar, dried blackberry, sweet cherry, dehydrated plum, garden soil with faint tannins and fading acidity.
Happy Father's Day 2024 to all. — 21 days ago
GaryWEdwards
42 years and retains dark ruby color with little coaxing required. No decant but opened bottle for about an hour. Cassis in broad shoulders yet elegant wine. Absolute delight. Long life remaining. Wow! — 3 days ago