Recent Arrivals

Tasting Notes for Patache d'Aux, 2005:
I have been following this estate since their beautiful 1982, and again, the Cabernet-dominated 2005 exhibits smoky, roasted herb, and black currant notes, medium body, a pleasant spicy character, and plenty of fruit as well as length. Drink it over the next 5-10 years. Wine Advocate # 176 Apr 2008
Parker Points: 87
Drinking Period: 2008-2018

Tasting Notes for Batailley, 2003:
Dark ruby/purple with hints of melted licorice, underbrush, black currants, and cedar, this is a surprisingly elegant, mid-weight Medoc with relatively high tannins, old-style, classic austerity, and the need for some bottle age. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 15-16 years. Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 88
Drinking Period: 2009-2025

Tasting Notes for Pavie Macquin, 2003:
This tremendous terroir has been brought back to life over the last 15 years by Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt. Its 37-acre vineyard, planted in deep clay and limestone soils, is composed of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pavie-Macquin is not far from Gerard PerseÕs little treasure, Pavie-Decesse. The 2003 Pavie-Macquin turned out brilliantly, no doubt because its soils supported the summerÕs torrid heat and drought. Tipping the scales at 13.8% alcohol, it boasts an opaque purple color along with a gorgeous nose of blackberries, smoked meats, licorice, incense, and barbecue spices. Huge fruit on the attack is followed by a powerful, masculine wine with huge extract, high tannin, low acidity, and formidable power. Despite its low acidity, this is a wine to forget for 3-4 years, and drink over the following 20-25 years. When fully mature, this brilliant effort should rival the 2000 and 1998. Wine Advocate # 164 Apr 2006
Parker Points: 95
Drinking Period: 2009-2034

Tasting Notes for Pichon Lalande, Magnums, 2003:
The brilliant, opulent, fleshy 2003 Pichon Lalande (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot) possesses a high pH of 3.8 as well as 13% alcohol. Reminiscent of the 1982 Pichon Lalande (which never shut down and continues to go from strength to strength), the dense plum/purple-colored 2003 offers gorgeous aromas of blackberries, plum liqueur, sweet cherries, smoke, and melted licorice. Fleshy, full-bodied, and intense, displaying a seamless integration of wood, acidity, tannin, and alcohol, this beauty can be drunk now or cellared for 20 years or more. Wine Advocate # 164 Apr 2006
Parker Points: 95
Drinking Period: 2006-2026

Tasting Notes for Sociando Mallet, 2003:
Sociando-Mallet is the poster child for what cru bourgeois estates can achieve. This is a wine that is consistently of classified-growth quality and also one of the longest lived wines made in the Medoc. An exceptional vintage for Sociando-Mallet, 2003 has produced a spectacularly concentrated, inky blue/purple-colored wine with an extraordinary nose of blackberries, raspberries, some white flowers, and a hint of lead pencil shavings. The wine is powerful, extremely full-bodied, quite tannic, and seriously endowed. This is stunning wine that is rich, layered, and in need of 5-6 years of bottle-age. It should keep for 30+ years. It is certainly a riveting effort for the vintage and, as I wrote last year, probably a modern-day version of a hypothetical blend of a 1970 and a 1982.
Parker Points: 94
Drinking Period: 2011-2036

Tasting Notes for Lafite Rothschild, 2002:
A brilliant offering and a candidate for wine of the vintage, this is classic Lafite that reminded me somewhat of the 1976, although the vintage conditions were completely different. This is a medium-weight, quintessentially elegant style of Lafite with notes of lead pencil shavings/graphite along with black currants, plums, and crushed rocks/mineral. Wonderfully pure, dense, with a deep ruby/purple color and loads of fruit, definition, and a long finish, this is a brilliant, elegant Lafite Rothschild that builds incrementally in the mouth and has more power and density than it initially seems. Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 94
Drinking Period: 2008-2025

Tasting Notes for Lynch Bages, 2000:
An utterly profound Lynch-Bages, this wine continues to remind me of a hypothetical blend of the 1990 and 1989. Interestingly, when I asked Jean-Michel Cazes to rank his top four vintages of Lynch-Bages, he ranked the 1989 first, followed by three vintages that he said were essentially equivalent in quality - 1990, 1996, and 2000. The 2000 Lynch-Bages exhibits a dense purple color, loads of glycerin and extract, big, muscular, sweet creme de cassis notes, with hints of new saddle leather, earth, and tobacco leaf. The 2000 is forceful yet plush, with a thick, juicy, succulent mid-palate, ripe tannin, and a long, layered finish. I know it will be tempting to pull corks on this wine in its youth, but it really will not hit its stride for 7-10 years and will last for at least 25. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025. The Wine Advocate, #146 Apr-03.
Parker Points: 95
Drinking Period: 2008-2025

Tasting Notes for Margaux, 2000:
Bottled in late November, 2002, the 2000 has turned out to be a colossal example of Chateau Margaux that is tasting even better from bottle than it was from cask. Only 40% of the crop made it into this 2000 Margaux, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. Stylistically, it is somewhat of a hybrid between the succulent, opulent, fleshy 1990, and the more delineated, structured, cooler climate-tasting 1996. The 2000 possesses a saturated ruby/purple color to the rim as well as an extraordinarily promising nose of creme de cassis intermixed with white flowers, licorice, and hints of espresso and toasty oak. There is great intensity, compelling purity, a multi-layered, full-bodied palate, and a finish that goes on for nearly 70+ seconds. Bottled naturally, with no filtration, it is a monumental example of the elegance and power that symbolize this extraordinary vineyard. A tour de force in winemaking, many of my colleagues predicted, far earlier than me, that it would be the "wine of the vintage." It is certainly one of the wines of the vintage, but there is plenty of competition, even at this lofty level of quality. Absolutely awesome!
Parker Points: 100
Drinking Period: 2012-2050

Tasting Notes for La Mission Haut Brion, 1996:
The 1996 La Mission-Haut-Brion was closed and backward when I tasted it in January. The wine was bottled in summer, 1998, and should have had sufficient time to overcome any suppression from going from wood to glass. It possesses considerable potential, and I would not be surprised to see it merit an outstanding score after 2-4 years of cellaring. The color is a healthy plum/purple, and the wine exhibits some of the black fruit, smoky mineral character of La Mission, but it is medium-bodied and moderately high in tannin, with notes of cedar. The finish was totally closed, with the tannin in danger of dominating the wine's fruit. This muscular, structured La Mission will take longer to come around than I originally predicted. Wine Advocate #122 April 1999
Parker Points: 89
Drinking Period: 2007-2020

Tasting Notes for Latour, 1996:
97 points. Fifty-six percent of the 1996 production made it into the Grand Vin, a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. It is a massive, backward wine that comes close to being a monster. The 1996 appears to be a modern day version of 1966 or 1970, rather than the sweeter, more sumptuous, fatter styles of 1982 or 1990. The wine reveals an opaque ruby/purple colour, as well as reticent but emerging aromas of roasted nuts, blackberry fruit, tobacco and coffee with hints of pain grille in the background. massive and full-bodied in the mouth, it possesses extremely high tannin, fabulous concentration and purity and an impeccably long finish. This wine, bottled in July 1998, will require at least a decade of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2012 - 2040. Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate 4/99.
Parker Points: 99
Drinking Period: 2015-2050

Tasting Notes for Cos d'Estournel, 1990:
95 points. In contrast to the 1989, the 1990 is a spectacular wine, and, along with the 1986, 1982, and 1953, one of the four finest Cos d'Estournels made in the post-World War II era. Bruno Prats believes it is the finest wine he has ever made. In the most recent tasting, the 1990 was even better than in the past, charming me as well as other tasters with its flashy display of opulent Merlot (about 40% of the blend) mixed with ripe Cabernet Sauvignon. It was one of the more forward 1990s in the tasting, which no doubt accounted for its precocious showing. This super-concentrated wine possesses a roasted herb, sweet, jammy black fruit-scented nose, with noteworthy opulence and succulence. Pure and full-bodied, this concentrated wine conceals more tannin than it is presently revealing. The wine is open, flattering, and impossible to resist. It will continue to mature for 15-20 years. Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate 2/97.
Parker Points: 0
Drinking Period: 

Tasting Notes for Branaire Ducru, 1989:
The 1989 was exhibiting far more power and intensity than I expected. It has always been an impressively crafted, elegant, seamless wine with cassis fruit nicely dosed by high quality oak. The wine is currently revealing more expansiveness, fuller body, and plenty of lusty richness, a sure-fire formula for producing a crowd pleaser. There are no hard edges to this opulently-textured, rich, ripe, complex, savory style of wine. Drink it over the next 12-15 years. Last tasted 11/96.Bordeaux Book, 3rd Edition # B1 Jan 1998
Parker Points: 92
Drinking Period: 1996-2011

Tasting Notes for Cheval Blanc, 1989:
Since its bottling, the 1989 has frequently been disappointing. In this tasting, it showed better than it has over the last several years. The 1989 is not a great effort for this chateau. The color is already revealing an amber edge, and the lead pencil, cedar, spicy, black fruit, and vanillin-scented nose is more reminiscent of a young Lafite, than the exotic style associated with Cheval Blanc in a hot, dry, ripe year. This medium weight, lightly tannic wine is very approachable. I have rated the 1989 Cheval Blanc consistently between 87 and 89, which is indicative of an excellent wine, but given the vintage terroir, this is not one of the star's of the 1989 vintage. It should continue to drink well for 10-15+ years, as there is moderate tannin in the wine's elegant framework, but readers should not expect any miracles. Robert Parker- Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 89
Drinking Period: 1997-2012

Tasting Notes for Angelus, 1982:
L'Angelus and its quality-oriented proprietor, Hubert de Bouard de la Forest, did not begin to turn things around until the mid-eighties. Good wines in 1985 and 1986 were followed by brilliant efforts in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, and 1994. L'Angelus can now be counted on to produce one of the top four or five wines of the St.-Emilion appellation. That being said, readers should remember that in 1982 there was no selection process and a completely different wine-making style and philosophy were in place. The 1982, soft and ripe after bottling, has deteriorated quickly. It reveals considerable amber, orange, and rust colors, is diffuse and flabby, and while it still exhibits some sweet, jammy fruit, the wine exhibits an old, mushroomy, earthy note. It is clearly in decline and should be drunk immediately . Tasted 5 times after bottling with consistent tasting notes. Wine Advocate # 102 Dec 1995
Parker Points: 77
Drinking Period: 

Tasting Notes for Lynch Bages, 1979:
The muddled ruby color reveals significant orange at the edge. The nose exhibits aromas of stale vegetables, tea, and faded and/or diluted curranty fruit. Light, hollow, and in decline, this wine was made during an uneven period for this estate. Last tasted 6/93. Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Parker Points: 71
Drinking Period: 

Tasting Notes for Ducru Beaucaillou, 1970:
This wine has been fully mature and delicious for many years, so I was not surprised by how stunning this bottle was. It has always been an outstanding wine for the vintage - complex, rich, savory, and the quintessentially elegant Bordeaux. This beauty continues to reveal the fragrance and finesse that one expects from Lafite-Rothschild but so rarely finds. A fragrant, complex bouquet of cedar, herbs, vanillin, fruitcake, and coffee is followed by a soft, gentle, graciously-constructed wine with sweet layers of fruit. I am not sure how much longer the 1970 Ducru will keep, but from regular bottle, it is delicious and should be consumed. How nice it would be to have a stock of magnums of this wine in the cellar!
Parker Points: 92
Drinking Period: 2003-2006

Tasting Notes for La Tache - DRC, 1984:
PRODUCTION: Not available. The fully mature 1984 La Tache possesses the earthy, vegetal side of Pinot Noir, plenty of sweetness, but a cloying fruitiness and a diffuse personality. The wine's structure, tannin, fruit, and alcohol have never meshed. Drink it over the next 3-4 years Wine Advocate # 100 Aug 1995
Parker Points: 83
Drinking Period: 1995-1999

Tasting Notes for Ch de Beaucastel - Perrin, 2003:
The 2003 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape turned out as well as I could have hoped and is certainly an outstanding wine, deep ruby/purple with a tight but promising nose of black fruits, loamy, earthy notes intermixed with pepper, smoke, licorice, and dried herbs. The wine is somewhat closed in the mouth (but it had been bottled 30 days prior to my visit), has full bodied, moderately high, slightly rustic tannins, but big-impact flavors with plenty of texture, density, and purity. Give this wine 3-5 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 20 years. The Wine Advocate, #163 Feb-06.
Parker Points: 92
Drinking Period: 2009-2029

Tasting Notes for Ch de Beaucastel - Perrin, 2001:
Beaucastel has been on a terrific qualitative roll over the last four vintages, and the 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape (which Francois Perrin feels is similar to the 1990, although I donÕt see that as of yet) is a 15,000-case blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, and the balance split among the other permitted varietals of the appellation. This inky/ruby/purple-colored cuvee offers a classic Beaucastel bouquet of new saddle leather, cigar smoke, roasted herbs, black truffles, underbrush, and blackberry as well as cherry fruit. It is a superb, earthy expression of this Mourvedre-dominated cuvee. Full-bodied and powerful, it will undoubtedly close down over the next several years, not to re-emerge for 7-8 years. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025. The Wine Advocate, #151 Feb-04.
Parker Points: 96
Drinking Period: 2008-2025

Tasting Notes for Ch de Beaucastel - Perrin, 1998:
This wine performed even better than my high accolades in issue #131 suggested. The 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape is the greatest effort produced since Beaucastel's 1989 and 1990. It reveals more accessibility, no doubt because the final blend included more Grenache than normal. Its dense purple color is followed by sweet aromas of blackberries, licorice, new saddle leather, and earth. There is superb concentration, full body, low acidity, and high tannin, but it is surprisingly drinkable for such a young Beaucastel. Ideally, it needs another 3-4 years of cellaring, and should keep for 25-30 years. The Wine Advocate, #138 Dec-01.
Parker Points: 95
Drinking Period: 2004-2031

Tasting Notes for Ch de Beaucastel Blanc - Perrin, 2001:
The 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape blanc (80% Roussanne and 20% Grenache Blanc, Picardin, and Bourboulenc) is a buttery, smoky, rich example with a mineral-like intensity, full body, and lavishly rich flavors that coat the palate with honeysuckle, marmalade, and glycerin. It should drink well for 10-15 years. The Wine Advocate, #145 Feb-03.
Parker Points: 92
Drinking Period: 2003-2018

Tasting Notes for Graham - Graham, 1983:
5 stars and a Decanter Award. Fine, ripe nose, with a rich, caramel background. Full-bodied palate, with plenty of luscious black fruit flavours and a slightly hot finish. (NH) Beautiful nose, with rich hints of dark chocolate. Well-balanced, with well-structured flavours and a slightly earthy quality. (RM). Decanter Magazine February 2000.
Parker Points: 0
Drinking Period: