Soft plum, red cherry, leather, and some cedar. Thin and lithe on the attack, with a watery mid-palate. Finishes fairly flaccid, with the muddled plum note repeating on the back end.
A tense and nervy showing, even after 3 hours in the decanter. Linear and primary, but pure and fresh, the delivery on this youngster is lock-jawed at the moment. Red berry notes dominate, with…
Black and red currant, black and red cherry, chalk, tobacco leaf, espresso powder, plain 'ol dirt, smoked beef bark, and raspberry seed. The alcohol keeps it from fully expanding its flavors, with a…
Packed and stacked, locked and loaded, 5 by 5, and whatever other militaristic colloquialism you want to use to describe a wine that is party-ready for a suave shindig, but not until 2030. Red…
A purple-crimson hued stallion, with upfront class and sophistication from the very first sip. Red currant, red and black cherry and raspberry, red plum skin, cassis, tobacco spice, and the slightest…
Plum, red and black cherry, kirsch, cassis, limestone, and blood orange. Red and purple plum and plum skin notes ride throughout the delivery, finishing youthfully fuzzy and a bit clipped on the back…
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…
Perhaps a slightly better Margaux than the disappointing 2015 Baron de Brane, but not by much. The initial push of red currant, strawberry, rhubarb, and red cherry seemed promising, but then it all…
Simple and short from start to finish. This managed to push out some tobacco and earth-laced red currant and red cherry (with some slight black cherry and strawberry) notes, but was otherwise linear…
The '16 Chantegrive and the '15 Baron de Brane served beside it were my least favorites of the day. This was watery and thin from the word go. Barely flavorful, with some strawberry juice, red and…
"Ok, I guess" was the standard mumblings around the table on this one. I've had Le Thils of the past that have also been "ok," as in "fine" and "does the job." I even have a memory of the 2010 being…
The best in the lineup. Blackberry, plum, black (and some red) currant, and some earth. More of a black fruited profile. Medium all the way around. Not especially fascinating or…
CT'er BRADA mentioned "thin and lacking depth" here; I couldn't agree more. This showed some lithe flavoring of plum, blackberry seed, and white pepper, but it instantly went into dustbowl mode and…
I didn't hate this wine, so it had that going for it. Blackberry, black currant, earth, hamster shavings, and a hint of violets. A little bit of an awkward delivery of flavors initially, but air…
This punches way above its price point. Blackberry, plum, black currant, cedar, roast beef bark, and some spice. A bit of alcohol rises up just enough to remind you this is a young wine in need of…
Muddled plum, black cherry syrup, and old-school red and black currant flavors dominate. A seamless balance and delivery in conjunction with a familiar, traditional earth and cedar-inflected profile…
Blackberry, ripe black plum, bitter chocolate, and cloves lead the way here, with a notably solid mid-palate and a drive that carries the finish on for 30+ seconds. A little alcohol on the tail, but…
Black and red currant, blackberry, cedar, applewood wood chips, blood orange, earth, and some embers. Delivers the cedar and charred wood notes throughout. Finishes dry with a hint of spice, with…
Red currant, red and black cherry, cedar, dust, and some dry soil. Surprisingly open and balanced, with an even-keeled delivery straddling flavor and grip. Drink now and over the next 5+ years.
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.
A lovely and enticing wine, with beautifully delineated and layered flavors of saturated plum, red/black currant, soft black cherry, tobacco/unsmoked cigar, earth, dusty/dry leather, and dried mint.…
Honeysuckle, ripe peach and lemon, Apple Jacks, dried apricot, olive oil and some subtle candied nuts. Not too cloying, but certainly presenting itself with an up-front viscosity that skirts a syrupy…
Racy and energetic flavors of electric purple plum skin, red raspberry, red licorice, blackberry seed, wet limestone, pumice, and red and purple Skittles. More expressive in terms of drive and verve…
Previous notes apply. Finished the bottle. Likely in that 92 point arena for me right now. There are some potentially fascinating flavors lurking deep within the bowels of this coiled-up snake, but…
