Château La Vieille Cure
Fronsac Red Bordeaux Blend
Canon-Fronsac, Libournais, Bordeaux, France
So impressed by the quality here. These are hidden gems to my palate that really shine with some age. This shows cigar tobacco, wet leaves, cocoa and plenty of tertiary complexity while retaining freshness with vibrant black fruit, acid and mellow tannins. Thankfully the critics never seem to pick up on this (though JR nailed it with a 17/20), and it unbelievably still retails for around $30. This is in its prime and I expect will drink well for another 10 years at least.
So impressed by the quality here. These are hidden gems to my palate that really shine with some age. This shows cigar tobacco, wet leaves, cocoa and plenty of tertiary complexity while retaining freshness with vibrant black fruit, acid and mellow tannins. Thankfully the critics never seem to pick up on this (though JR nailed it with a 17/20), and it unbelievably still retails for around $30. This is in its prime and I expect will drink well for another 10 years at least.
1 person found it helpfulJul 3rd, 2021Never disappoints; at 15 years it clearly still has a lot of life in it, and always shows better on day two. Aroma is reticent at first, but then opens to classic Bordeaux graphite and bramble fruit, plus pretty licorice and floral notes layered with tobacco and earth. Unyieldingly traditional and delivering a whole lot of pleasure for the dollar. Best of all, pairs well with a variety of food, even rustic vegetarian dishes, unique for Bordeaux. Flirting with 9.3.
Never disappoints; at 15 years it clearly still has a lot of life in it, and always shows better on day two. Aroma is reticent at first, but then opens to classic Bordeaux graphite and bramble fruit, plus pretty licorice and floral notes layered with tobacco and earth. Unyieldingly traditional and delivering a whole lot of pleasure for the dollar. Best of all, pairs well with a variety of food, even rustic vegetarian dishes, unique for Bordeaux. Flirting with 9.3.
1 person found it helpfulNov 4th, 2020
I am more and more convinced that the wines from Chateau La Vieille Cure are made for the pleasure of those who truly love old school Bordeaux. There is absolute nothing modern about them. Dark currants, earth, pencil shavings, olive tapenade, and mushrooms. About as rustic as they come. Tannins are well integrated but the structure is holding fast. While I think it’s safe to say that the 2005 has entered its gradual, graceful decline, I have no doubt in my mind this will deliver the goods for at least a decade.
I am more and more convinced that the wines from Chateau La Vieille Cure are made for the pleasure of those who truly love old school Bordeaux. There is absolute nothing modern about them. Dark currants, earth, pencil shavings, olive tapenade, and mushrooms. About as rustic as they come. Tannins are well integrated but the structure is holding fast. While I think it’s safe to say that the 2005 has entered its gradual, graceful decline, I have no doubt in my mind this will deliver the goods for at least a decade.
1 person found it helpfulMay 8th, 2020
Found a couple of bottle in the cellar. Best to describe this wine as “thin”. Not much fruit more of that barnyard on the nose. Not terrible but is just there. Best guess I should have found this sooner!
Found a couple of bottle in the cellar. Best to describe this wine as “thin”. Not much fruit more of that barnyard on the nose. Not terrible but is just there. Best guess I should have found this sooner!
1 person found it helpfulFeb 21st, 2018Still drinking well with good intensity, but definitely needed some time to open up. Like some other 2005s recently, seems to have lost some forward fruit but still maintains lots of acidity...
Still drinking well with good intensity, but definitely needed some time to open up. Like some other 2005s recently, seems to have lost some forward fruit but still maintains lots of acidity...
Apr 25th, 2017
Black fruit, mineral, acid, medium-bodied.
Black fruit, mineral, acid, medium-bodied.
Mar 22nd, 2021
Awesome. The vintage helps this a lot
Awesome. The vintage helps this a lot
Dec 24th, 2020
Green bell pepper, forest floor, jammy blackberry. Concentrated with a high extraction.
Green bell pepper, forest floor, jammy blackberry. Concentrated with a high extraction.
Jan 2nd, 2019
Still young, but this is drinking well with an hour in the decanter. The dusty, smoky nose is followed by dark fruit, leather, forest floor, and some wood spice. The tannins are still perky, so it works best with food for now. Wish I had more to drink over the next 10 years.
Still young, but this is drinking well with an hour in the decanter. The dusty, smoky nose is followed by dark fruit, leather, forest floor, and some wood spice. The tannins are still perky, so it works best with food for now. Wish I had more to drink over the next 10 years.
Nov 9th, 2015