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Yes, I have to agree. The 2009-2010 vintages are meaty and dense - although the 2009's seemed ready much earlier than the "experts" suggested - with a few notable exceptions amongst the pricier estates. The 2010 is still going strong, and many examples seem (to me, at least) more like a Cali or Oz made in the Bordeaux Tradition - sort of Parker "fruit bombs" rather than the usual fare from SW France. I have quite a fe of the 2010's left, but only a few 2009's in line with my own take on their aging capabilities.
2016 is a great vintage, and 2015 is not far behind. 2014 is more a normal-good vintage and is especially nice for those who liked the old-stye, somewhat "skinnier" wines we came to love in the 1970's. Of course, this is just my opinion. Climate change is here, though, regardless of those who wish to ignore it.
For my money (and within my "drinking lifetime") the best ever vintage has to be 2005. These wines do not surrender the regional identifiers of taste and terroir like the 2009 and 2010's. I have about a case of 2005 left (maybe a little less than that... I can't actually confirm since they are all packed for the coming move). As for purchases to date, about 2-3 for 2016 and around 2 for 2015 (remaining, that is - but there is a lot of this juice still available).
The 2017 I have been unable to sample, but have assumed it to be rather pedestrian alongside the 2014-2016. 2018 holds great promise, according to reports, about the same as 2016. I will likely grab a couple of cases from the 2018.
Anyway, load up from the expensive properties for the 2017 assuming the market actually responds as it should.
SZ
I liked the '05 vintage also, but, alas, I have none left. Strangely, the uber hot 2001 vintage gave me some really good wines also. None left of those either. May with be the higher alc contents on the horizon they were forced to leave the canopy cover and pick earlier. Did notice some greener tones in them though.
I was fond of the 2005, 2010 and 2015 vintages. I believe I've had at least one 2016 vintage but not an expensive bottle. It's almost hard to find a bad bottle from the Bordeaux. I need to start looking for a nice 2016 example soon, before you guys buy up the North American supply.
I wish.
We try. To buy up that supply, I mean. But in vain, alas. Still, we made it a good go, some of us. Al, I recommend trying a couple of 2016 petit chateau somewhere in the US price range of 30-35 dollars. In fact, there are some exceptional and well-respected Bordeaux Supérieur or Cotes de Bordeaux for about 8-10 dollars less but hitting above such a price point: namely, Chateau Croix-Mouton, Carignan, Reynon and Bolaire. You might give them a try and see what you think. From Haut-Médoc, there are many, many good wines, for example, Malescasse, l'Escurac, Lanessan, Larrivaux, Beaumont, and Belle-Vue - to name but a very few. Good hunting!
The local Crown Corporation, the BC Liquor Distribution (government run) brought in 11,000 cases for a one-time distribution to fans throughout the province of British Columbia last Saturday, so it was like bees to a honey-pot...
SZ
I've Malescasse for a few years now and they've developed into a steady solid producer - their '16 is real nice. Lanessan, IMHO, is up and down and like Lillian Ladouy and Paloumey need to time to develop fully.
I'll see what I can find at Unwined. It would be nice if Vanessa were there to help me pick a decent one, but your list is a great start SZ. Same for Paul too.
I am going out to see what is left from last week. I was in North Vancouver (a suburb to the north of the harbour) this morning meeting old reprobates but did not look into any local stores (wanted to get out of the horrible traffic headed to the ski resorts at Whistler and beyond). Thus, I'll probably open a wine and report later...
Can't wait til the 15th Steve - don't know that I blame you though.
Yeah, but don't worry: I am saving something special for the 15th. Unfortunately, I can't stay away from these delicious wines... and there are so, so many. I just tried the Ferran blanc 2016 (I posted some comments on the rouge recently). This Pessac-Leognan is a very good buy for white Bordeaux - even from the southern extremities of the region. If you find it, it should be about 30 US (or less, perhaps, depending on the state you live in). Here are my remarks,
The Ferran blanc seems steeped in citrus (grapefruit and lime sharpness) on the nose, and presents nicely as early season dandelion wine yellow. Entry is replete with tart gooseberry, pink grapefruit peel and a little semillon musk on the finish. Elegant for the price and a second bottle would come easy... 4 cups or 89-90.
SZ
Well, as anticipated (by me, at least), there is another red review coming in an hour or two. Probably Chateau Larrivaux...
This one is for Chateau Larrivaux.
This amazing 2016 Bordeaux vintage just keeps rolling along! The 2016 Larrivaux is pure Haut-Medoc; the scent of this wine is wonderful, with blackberry and cassis dominating. A pure wine with entry of tannic blackberry, this product is ready for drinking although it may last up to 5 years in the bottle. A fantastic buy. 91.
BTW, my wife and I plan a cross-conintental trip in the near future. I hope to see some of you on that trip, which would be he third such excursion. We are (unfortunately) getting older, and there is some urgency, although I think it will all work out as it should. I have embraced my life so far, so why not continue to do so?
Are you by chance planning to see Washington DC? We have a spare bedroom here in Northern Virginia, which is about 20 minutes driving time from the district of Columbia (Washington DC).
That's very generous of you, Al. We'll keep that well in mind. As far as visits out west, those are also possible, but Lynn and I need to get over the "hump" (of our move) first (as of today, the move should be completed as of October 23rd) before we can get our heads around much. We should be in a much better position to consider travelling options in a month or two.
My wife has, BTW, never seen DC (I have). But there are many things yet to see (for example, I never got to the Smithsonian).
You need to make Washington DC a priority then, especially if we can still protest in the streets before Trump is removed from office.
Yes, cooperation by the GOP might take away all that fun and drama.
I procured my 2016 Bordeaux bottles a week in advance, just in case Trump starts a nuclear war and the stores are wiped out.
You also have to stock up before the prices are improved by tariffs.
Unless, of course. China is going to step up to those tariffs, also.
The Pomerol on the left is quite well regarded for 2016. It may age well into the next decade, unless, of course, you drink it next week (which I would do, no problem at all). Just don't let "the old mallet" hit you too hard over the head.
I might plug for a decent Pomerol as well (maybe the one pictured, Montviel, Lagrange, or even la Cabanne). But I am leaning somewhat to a St-Emilion. Berliquet, or Corbin, maybe? There are so many to choose from. I have not had one for a bit.
You might try the regular Bordeaux ahead of the tasting (Gressina) to test the vintage.
SZ
I must be careful to not over-indulge. It's in my nature. Thanks for the assessment.
Steve - I have both the '15 & '16 La Cabanne - really good rep of merlot based Pomerol
Yeah, I bought a couple of '15's and a '16 la Cabanne (maybe get a second to try next week so as to have one to lay on its side a tad). Probably like you, PB, I like value, and try to research where the value might hide. Of course, I get it wrong from time to time.
We are exactly two weeks from loading up the moving trucks, so it has been busy. But we are about 90% done. We've been in this home for nearly 20 years and during that spell we've had not only our own possessions to wear as leg-irons, but those of our parents. In fact, I whittled my wine collection down to bare-bones - about 85 bottles now even with the 2.5 cases of '16 Bordeaux added of late. And I may add more, since I am a fan of the region, which produces by far the most consistent and varied high-end wine in the world. Of course, that's a lot to do with acquired taste (the delicious flavours notwithstanding) - sort of like when you first drank a cup of coffee as a small child, or puffed your father's cigarette (never got hitched to the latter vice, fortunately).
Al, I find it difficult sometimes to rationalize consumption limits myself given that I am retired. I was fairly young at retirement (58) and still very active climbing mountains etc. so still believed in a certain personal invincibility. But I find that, excepting a few situations where social events lend a certain glow to session drinking, I take care to protect the body. Having a wife whose interest in the glorious beverage is more measured helps a lot. Perhaps that's why single men tend (as a rule, not in strictness) to die much earlier than those who are hitched to another in some manner or another.
Anyway, we look forward to finally relocating. The move has put a damper on every other project, and really adds a hidden layer of stress that surfaces from time to time. I'll post as many 2016's I get a chance to taste between now and the tasting. I am leaning toward the Berliquet '16 for October 15th at the moment, or maybe a good Pauillac (Pibran is looking good).
SZ
What is your take on the Grand Cru's of St. Emilion. They seem to be widely availible and inexpensive. I seem to recall a reference to the ability to obtain Grand Cru status being eased in St. Emilion. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Randy - If I could I like throw my 2 cents in. The Grand Cru culture in the left bank as a whole has changed quite a bit. You are correct in saying that they made more widely available Same holds true for Haut-Medoc.
I think that the reason for this is 2 fold.
No.1 - Pricing. Many importers started to realize that were pricing themselves out of the picture - so they looking for wines from smaller estates putting out good wines. Starting 2005 I started seeing more wines available from more lessor chateaus.
They had the technology, they needed the sales and spotlight.
No.2 - They needed a vintage to shine through. '06/'07 & '08 were relatively down years, but some importers stuck by those estates. They were a source of good quality everyday drinkers and most importantly - they sold well. Then came the '09/'10 vintages.
Those lessor estates used them to make a big jump - Sansonnet, for example really upped their game and by 2014, were ready to take their place in the game. Their quality exploded - good farming, using the right leadership and technology - they've now become an under the radar force. They now make excellent wines.
Many others followed the route. So now there's a plethora of excellent quality wines in the $23 - $30 range (In some cases less.) out there. I'm in at that price range big time. There several that can sit for 3-5 years or longer with no problems.
Hard to disagree on these points, PB. And I don't. However, it gets one thinking about the complete hosing the wealthier among us have been getting from the more famous properties - and that, according to classifications that are long outdated (many properties did not even exist in 1855 or even 1955 (for St.-Emilion)). The 1855 Classification was really just a front for the export ambitions of Napoleon III during the Paris Exhibition of the same year... or at least, one has valid right to suspect as such.
As for St.-Emilion generally, I have been away from the region recently, but love the Merlot-driven wines at their best. It just happens that I have a soft spot on the palate for Cabernet Sauvignon. Having said this, if you are able to acquire some Grand Cru, most are worthy. For easy access and quality, you cannot go wrong with the properties I mentioned above, although if you want to load up on reasonable quality for less money, try Puy-Banquet. As a final remark, you might compare similar wines (by price and reputation) from Pomerol. Pomerol, in my opinion, is less bright than St.-Emilion, but has more density and perhaps more solemnity, if this works for you. I love both, but the better values may reside in St.-Emilion due to supply issues and demand from regions which value cachet (e.g., China).
Z.
OK, I lied... I am still into some of the better petits chateaux... like the following:
Chateau Joanin Becot 2016 (Castillon- Cotes de Bordeaux):
After the hype of the 2015 release for this property, I am surprised to find the better 2016 easily available in these woods; dark, deep and cherry red in colour, this wine invites you, and the nose encourages this notion even further with sandalwood, cherry and beefsteak dominant. Entry is tight and slightly vanilla-tannic on the down-spout, but rich with bright cherry, smoke and coffee. Great now, but may be tamed with 2-4 years of bottle aging. Fine stuff. 90 or...4 cups.
I think it will be.... Chateau Latour-Martillac (rouge) for me tomorrow night. See you then.
Decisions, decisions. I think we have three bottles to select from.