Raspberry seed, leather, earthy funk, and a bit of haunted house closet dust make for a Las Cases that seems a bit older than its vintage would indicate. The initial pull was a bit balled up, but it…
I just could not get a feel for this wine at all. I wouldn't even know how to score it. It really just offered next to nothing in the fruit department and was overly linear and strict. It wasn't…
Linear, primary, tannic, and a little annoyed (or maybe that was me being annoyed at it), the 2015 was a wine I had Coravin'd the day prior to sample it to see just where it was at. Peeved was where…
This was drinking rather beautifully, perhaps much in part to its handler's decanting protocols prior to arrival. Bravo for that! Medium bodied flavors of red raspberries, cedar, earth, old cinnamon…
Much more expressive than the 2016, the 2018 Ducru wasn't the belle of the ball for me necessarily, but it was certainly not in booboo mood the way its 2-year-older brother was behaving. That said,…
This was wound a bit tight tonight in my opinion, never fully expanding or offering up the goods. The 2018 Ducru served next to it was by far more expressive and giving, especially on the front end…
As soon as Napa-acclimated tasters (a category into which I likely fall) hear the word "classical" attributed to a wine's profile, they typically dismiss it as an overly lithe, red-currant and…
This was one of a couple of pirates thrown into the mix (as the original plan was to blindly taste reds ranging from the 2012 vintage to present releases). This wine was CLEARLY not within those…
Dark black cherry, black raspberry, licorice, plum, embers, and some bitter chocolate and soft wet cedar. Medium bodied, with a balanced push of young but budding luscious fruit. Holding back its…
A fairly typical young St Julien, with higher register red and black fruit, sour crunchy cherry, red currant, dried cranberry, and cedar. Acidity takes the stage currently, with an inability to truly…
It's a young pup, so best left alone for another 7-10 years. Sour cherry, red and black cherry, red currant, cranberry, wet cave, spicebox, cedar, and mulchy earth notes. More of a classical style,…
Plum, black currant, leather, macerated black cherry, and wet cedar soil. Medium and graceful, but with a beautiful wrapping of subtle acidity that gently grips the dark fruit with a politely…
Strawberry water, rhubarb, red currant, citrus rind, tobacco leaf, leather, and cedar notes fill out the delicate profile of this well-balanced and finessed Ducru. An effortless delivery, landing…
Light red and black cherry water, tobacco, cigar box, soil, orange peel, and some green peppercorn. Held up nicely over the course of the evening considering its age. Hold for another 40 years.
Diluted red currant, sandalwood, cedar, mulch, and dry dirt. Some interesting flavors that carried themselves in a balanced and ultra-feminine capacity. Elegance taken to the next level - fragility…
