Wine Words & Video Tape

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Bordeaux 2007 four years on: Pessac-Léognan

Written by JW. Posted in Bordeaux

Pessac-Leognan: Best overall commune in Bordeaux 2007?

Pessac-Léognan has a good claim to being the most successful Bordeaux commune in 2007 outside of Sauternes and Barsac. The quality of its dry white wines, not shown at the MW Institute’s tasting, are excellent and the reds seem, Pauillac notwithstanding, to be the most consistent and attractive in the vintage. Chateau Haut-Brion, Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion are very good as you would expect, and Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte and Chateau Pape-Clément very much up there too.

Chateau Bouscaut

Mid red; some earthy tones; some cream, mineral and solidity; not fantastic and alluring; sofitsh; easy palate, not huge character; some spice and earth but pretty light 84/100

Domaine de Chevalier

Deepish colour; tight to edge; earthy, mineral tones; some meaty, malty tones; quite full, seemingly; some red fruits on the palate; some chew and depth; not that bad, though feels a tad extracted on the finish with rather angular tannin and some tartness 87/100

Chateau de Fieuzal

Mid depth; reasonable colour; some stalky, leafy blackcurrant; not unattractive though a bit green; sweet entry on the palate, some herbs, spices with some grip here and extraction though overall feels pretty harmonious. Good, earthy wine with some harmony. 88/100

Chateau Haut-Bailly

Deepish colour; very animally and lifted; almost sweet and peaty with a mineral fatness beneath; some sour notes at the edge of the palate and feels a bit mean. Hmm – disappointing effort on this tasting even in the context of the vintage. 86/100

Chateau Haut-Brion

Mid red; depth; attractive nose; some gravel and herbal notes; menthol, earth and tapenade notes on the nose; clean and full on the palate; density and pretty big with a lot of grip to the tannin. Good length, just that dryness to the tannins. 92/100

Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion

Mid depth, dark core; lovely nose; nicely balanced between the earth, the tobacco notes and the blackcurrants; deep and very polished; seemingly lots of layers; density on the palate with earthy blackcurrants and grip; some dry-ish tannin, some acid and a little sourness at the very edge but overall very good. 92/100

Chateau Malartic-Lagravière

Deep colour, red at edge; very lifted red fruits, some very ripe qualities; mineral tones beneath; not that complex, some oak resin and also a vegetal streak; red fruits and chew on the palate; quite dense but still that vintage tartness and sourness at the edge. 87/100

Chateau Pape-Clément

Deep, saturated colour; earthy, deep but round – blackcurrants, undergrowth and cassis; leafy tones too; some coffee/espresso from the oak; layered and plush palate, very flattering [as usual] quite open; dry tannin but it works because there’s plenty of fruit. Very effort for the vintage and nice length. 92+/100

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte

Deep and dense; red at edge; leaf, tobacco, blackcurrants and earth; some peat and reductive notes too; thick-ish; earthy palate, some polish, inky and lots of earthy, blackcurrant fruit; chewy finish and some bite. Again very good for the vintage. 92+/100

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