4 from Yquem

 

2022 Château d'Yquem

Golden. Apricots, peach, pineapples, nuanced, fruit forward, detailed, nuanced, detailed, bright nose, floral.Fresh acidity, peach, pineapples, nuanced, detailed, bright, detailed, intense, creamy, very elegant texture, refreshing and intense, yet not the deepest and most concentrated Yquem made. Gorgeous purity and lovely tension. Second highest sugar level ever on Yquem at 160 grams, 1945 has 165 and is the highest level ever. 96

 

2016 Château d´Yquem

Golden. Golden, detailed, bright, peach, apricots, detailed, fruit forward, layered, some vanilla, stunning nose. Floral. Fresh acidity, fruit forward, detailed, intense, liquorice, nuanced, intense, rich, touch of orange blossoms, superb finish. Creamy and superb balance. 96

 

2010 Château d´Yquem

Golden. Peach, apricots, nuanced, pineapples, detailed, some grilled pineapples, touch of cinnamon notes nose. Fresh acidity, rich, detailed, creamy, some caramel, layered, nuanced, intense, spices, touch of creme brulée, superb length. 98

 

2022 Y de Yquem

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some peach, fruit forward, nuanced, touch of almonds, elegant nose, bit firmer. Fresh acidity, fruit driven, nuanced, apples, peach, minerals, detailed, elegant texture, long finish. Has a new found salinity for me. 93

2015 Angelus and more tasted

2015 Carillon d'Angelus

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, dark fruits, nuanced, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, spices, minerals, fruit forward, somewhat leaner than last botle, long. 92

 

2015 Château Angelus

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, floral, nuanced, detailed, lifted and bright nose, some vanilla and spices, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, red and dark fruits, nuanced, detailed, energetic, minerals, layered, long finish, a beauty. 96

 

2018 Château Lamothe-Bergeron

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, vanilla nose, lighter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, vanilla, spices, lacks some lift, fairly juicy, good length. 88

 

2022 Albert Bichot Pouilly-Fuisse

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, pears, lighter nose, leaner. Fresh acidity, rounded, fruit forward, easy going, good length. 86

 

2018 Le C de Carmes Haut-Brion

Ruby. Blackberries, dark fruits, blueberries, nuanced, some herb notes nose. Medium acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, some herbs, leaner bodied, liquorice, long. Somewhat lazy. 90

 

2017 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, dark fruits, anise, liquorice, lifted, detailed nose, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, detailed, quite energetic, lighter bodied but long finish. 95

 

2016 Château Chasse-Spleen

 Corked.

 

2016 Château Chasse-Spleen

Ruby. Cassis, some vanilla and spices, blueberries, somewhat scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, blueberries, fruit forward, quite lively and playful, long. 91

 

2016 Pavillon de Léoville Poyferré 

Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, juicy, dark fruits, nuanced, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, long. 91

 

2019 Château Gruaud Larose

Ruby. Cassis, blackberrie,s vanilla, spices, fruit forward, tight but opened up nicely with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, layered, nuanced, quite intense, firm, long. 95

 

1980 Mas Amiel

Ruby core, broad brick rim. Dates, dried fruits, figs, nuanced, detailed, scented nose, quite intense. Fresh acidity, dried fruits, anise, nuanced, raisins, figs, dates, detailed and layered, long. 93

 

2022 Faiveley Puligny-Montrachet

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some citrus, pears and vanilla notes nose. Fresh acidity, rounded, fruit forward, full bodied for Puligny, and a bit on the lazy side. 87

 

2016 Ruinart Millesime 

Pale lemon yellow. Light nose of chalk, minerals, citrus, some brioche, tighter. Fresh acidity, lively, refreshing, leaner, fruit forward, tight, leaner, narrower, long. 89

A few dinner wines, including 1996 Canon-La-Gaffeliére

2012 Château Laroze

Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, some dates, fruit forward nose, touch of chocolate and floral notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, blackberries, blueberries, dark fruits, juicy, refreshing, long. 91

 

2016 Château Laroze

Ruby. Floral, blackberries, anise, minerals, nuanced, cassis, refined and detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, blackberries, dark fruits, liquorice, juicy, layered, minerals, intense, lovely stuff, long. 93

 

2009 Château Laroze

Ruby. Scented, tobacco, dates, figs, blackberries, blueberries, floral, layered and nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, blackberries, dark fruits, nuanced, layered, detailed and long. 93

 

2019 Château Laroze

Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, dark fruits, anise, liquorice, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, nuanced, juicy, long. Lovely energy beneath. 93

 

1996 Château Canon-La-Gaffelirere

Ruby, brick rim. Dates, figs, blackberries, cassis, scented, nuanced, floral and lifted nose, highly seductiveFresh acidity, soft tannins, detailed, nuanced, figs, dates, nuanced, so smooth and rounded, drinking absolutely superbly now, long. 95

 

2006 Château Haut-Marbuzet

Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, nuanced, scented, blackberries, detailed, tobacco notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, blueberries, anise, figs, maturing nicely, long finish. 93

Dinner wines, 2004 Branaire Ducru, 2006 Phèlan-Ségur and 2001 Guiraud

2004 Château Branaire Ducru

Ruby, thin brick rim. Dates, figs, anise, nuanced, tobacco, blackberries nose, but quite firm and tight. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dried fruits, cassis, nuanced, firm and tight, some herbs, long. 91

 

2006 Château Phélan Ségur

Ruby, thin brick rim. Scented, lifted, dates, figs, some tobacco, quite seductive maturing Left bank nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, figs, dates, nuanced, layered, detailed, just lovely at this stage. 93

 

2006 Château Phélan Ségur

Ruby, thin brick rim. Scented, lifted, even somewhat more seductive than last bottle. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, dates, figs, nuanced, layered, bright, seductive, a beauty now. 93

2001 Château Guiraud

Golden. Rich, apricots, peach, creme brulée, grilled pineapples, layered and nuanced, complex, stunning.Fresh acidity, intense, layered, detailed, rich, creamy, powerful, juicy, superb length. 97

3 from Gruaud Larose, back to 2005

2012 Sarget de Gruaud Larose 

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, cassis, starting figs, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, blackberries, dark fruits, anise, liquorice, long if narrower finish. 90

 

2014 Château Gruaud Larose

Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, some herbs notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, blackberries, dark fruits, nuanced, juicy, long finish. Vanilla and starting dates notes. 93

 

2005 Château Gruaud Larose

Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, dark fruits, anise, liquorice, fruit forward, minty notes, some iron notes nose.Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, figs, plums, dark fruits, nuanced and detailed, firm, tight and long. 95

6 from Pichon Baron

2019 Les Tourelles de Longueville

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruits, fruit forward nose, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, blackberries, detailed, nuanced, juicy, elegant texture, long. 90

 

2019 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, dark fruits, nuanced, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, detailed, dark fruits, liquorice, fairly intense, long. 93

 

2019 Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, dark fruits, liquorice, detailed, nuanced, fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, layered, nuanced, intense, juicy, intense, fruit forward, long. 97

 

2018 Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, dark fruits, nuanced, liquorice nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, minerals, nuanced, much more open than the bottle a week ago. 96

 

2017 Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, nuanced, dark fruits, liquorice, fruit forward, lifted. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, spices, juicy, blackberries, cassis, blueberries, juicy, nuanced, long. 94

 

2022 Les Griffons de Pichon Baron Blanc

Pale lemon yellow. 844 bottles made. Apples, some citrus, fruit forward, nuanced nose, grapefruits, some vanilla notes nose. Fresh acidity, apples, rounded, fruit driven, juicy, some peach, rounded, lovely, long. 90

 

3 from Cantenac Brown

2019 Brio de Cantenac Brown

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruits, blueberries notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, liquorice, juicy, good length. 89

 

2015 Château Cantenac Brown

Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, fruit forward nose, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, cassis, blackberries, juicy, leaner bodied, elegant texture, long. 94

 

2023 Alto de Cantenac Brown

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, citrus, some minerals, some grapefruits notes nose. Fresh acidity, apples, citrus, lemons, fruit forward, elegant texture, some citrusyy notes in the finish, lovely freshness. Saline. Really charming. 90

 

2017 LMHB and Haut-Brion

2017 Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Ruby. Blackberries, blueberries, some vanilla and spices, fruit forward and nuanced nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, dark fruits, juicy, spices, detailed, blackberries, touch of cherries, liquorice, long. 95 

2017 Château Haut-Brion

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, dark fruits, liquorice, deeper nose, cassis, blueberries, lifted and detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, detailed and fruit forward, minerals, layered, intense, nuanced, detailed, long. 96

A few from Issan and Château Margaux

2017 Blason d'Issan

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruits, liquorice nose, some herbs and spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red and darker fruits, spices, some herbs, good length. 89

 

2017 Château d'Issan

Ruby. Scented, red berries, dark fruits, blackberries, cassis and some vanilla notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, liquorice, fruit forward, juicy, detailed, long. 92

 

2015 Château d'Issan

Ruby. Cassis, dark fruits, vanilla, spices, fruit forward, nuanced nose, scented and violets notes on top. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, cassis, blackberries, darker fruits, liquorice, anilla, textured, structured, long. 95

 

2015 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux

Ruby. Oxidative notes on the nose, leaner, dates, some VA? Leaner and fairly flat body, short. Not an optimal bottle.

 

2011 Château Margaux

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, cassis, floal, bright, layered, detailed, intense, stunning nose, really opening up.Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, energetic, layered, has opened up a lot since last bottle, this was decanted for about two hours. Superb now, just showing secondary aromas now. 96

 

2015 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux

Ruby. Scented, floral, spices, blueberries, detailed, nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, layered, detailed, long. 92

2015 Couvent des Jacobins Calicem

2015 Couvent des Jacobins Calicem

Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, fruit forward, scented and detailed nose, spices and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, darker fuits, some vanilla and spices, nuanced, juicy, elegant texture, long. 100% Merlot. 93

2010 L'Extravagant and 2022 Doisy Daëne

2010 L'Extravagant de Doisy Daëne

Peach, pineapples, apricots, detailed, layered and complex nose, intense. Fresh acidity, intense, layered detailed, tropical fruits, peach, stunning balance and freshness, incredible length. Only some 3000 half bottles made. 100

 

2022 Château Doisy Daëne

Pale golden. Peach, youthful, canned pears, pineapples, leaner nose, bright. Fresh acidity, peach, pineapples, detailed, somewhat creamy, lighter bodied, elegant texture, nuanced, long. 93