The 2006 Clos de Tart was one of the better wines from Sylvain Pitiot's era. It has evolved a little since my last tasting in 2018. The broody black fruit on the nose still oddly harks toward Bordeaux. It's not as tight-fisted as before. The palate is structured with a lot of substance; what it lacks in elegance, it compensates with sheer bravura. Perhaps it just lacks the precision on the finish to compel you back for another sip. This wine is for those who seek Burgundy Grand Cru with body. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 5 days ago
The 2004 Léoville Las Cases has a noticeable mintiness on the nose that actually complements the red fruit, though it deviates away from what you might call Saint-Julien typicité. After ten minutes, it coheres with ash and black tea aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded texture on the entry. The 2004 shows fine acidity and is lightly spiced with cracked black pepper towards the finish. A little conservative, but it acquits itself well considering the vintage. (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 24 days ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2003 pours a deep ruby with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some light light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated dark fruits, green bell pepper, leather, tobacco, earth, and 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 satisfying. This was pretty impressive right out of the gate and seemed to show really well despite the challenging (historically hot at the time) vintage. Drink now through 2044. — 5 days 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. — 10 days 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)
— 24 days ago
The 2004 Ausone has a mature bouquet with brambly red fruit, marmalade, leather and touches of cooked meat. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, a little dry and more savory than expected. I feel there is something a little passé about this Ausone, indicative of the time when wines were being pushed a little hard and frankly, I much prefer more recent vintages (including the 2023 tasted alongside). (Neal Martin, Vinous, June 2024)
— 24 days 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 . — 12 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. — 15 days ago
Jay Kline
![Premium Badge Premium Badge](https://delectable.com/images/icn_premium_3x-9c5cf1b0.png)
Opened around 8pm the evening prior, double decanted and left in room temperature until service on Friday evening. In total, this was opened 24hours before service. The 1995 pours a beautiful garnet with transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate stating of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with surprisingly boozy dark fruit. Brambles, cassis, bell pepper, licorice, spearmint and 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 with great acidity. Overall, remarkably youthful. While it’s certainly ready to go, it will likely continue some positive evolution over the next couple of decades. Drink now with a long decant through 2045. — 6 days ago