Wine Words & Video Tape

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Posts Tagged ‘Chateau Bouscaut’

Bordeaux 2008 at four years

Written by JW. Posted in Bordeaux

The much speculated upon Lafite ’08

The MW Institute’s Annual Claret Tasting is almost too much of a good thing. Tasting all one hundred and twenty wines from Bordeaux’s finest districts requires steely determination, nifty footwork and a healthy dollop of over-ambition. You’ll also need to keep an eye on your watch as you’ve only a few hours. Then, just as you think you’ve licked it, tasting St Estèphe, Pauillac, St Julien, Margaux, Haut-Médoc and Pessac-Léognan back-to-back in the grand Vintners Hall, up come the wines of St Emilion and Pomerol, lying in wait in an adjoining room. Talk about kicking a man when he’s down. Fortunately, since last year, you can perk up with some fine Sauternes and Barsac at the very end before hailing a taxi cab and finding somewhere to lie down.

Bordeaux 2011 Primeurs: Pessac-Léognan

Written by JW. Posted in Bordeaux

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In 2011 Pessac-Léognan is a game of two halves. The whites are very attractive, the reds completely irregular. In tricky wet vintages, Pessac-Léognan, with generally well drained gravelly soils, succeeds. Look at 2007 when the region produced some good wines compared with other districts. Drought vintages seem to be more hazardous here and 2011 is in reality a vintage of considerable drought and with other fluctuation for good measure too.

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.

Bordeaux 2009 in bottle: Pessac-Léognan

Written by JW. Posted in Bordeaux

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in Pessac-Léognan made great red in ’09

Graves and Pessac-Léognan looked strong in 2009 at the primeurs tastings and the wines look extremely composed now they are in bottle. The white wines are big, not delicate or especially aromatic, but powerful certainly. Chateau Pape Clément, Chateau de Fieuzal, Domaine de Chevalier, Chateau  Malartic-Lagravière and Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte are super but Chateaux Carbonnieux, Bouscaut, Olivier, La Louvière and Latour Martillac were also very good. Overall the reds have moved on very well indeed and Chateau Pape Clément and Chateau Haut Bailly are remarkable and of first growth quality. Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte and Chateau Malartic-Lagravière are close behind. The truth is that there are excellent wines all over the appellation and I was also impressed with Larrivet Haut-Brion, Olivier, La Louvière. At the value end Chateau Pique Caillou also looked a good buy.  I only had time to taste the Graves whites and de Chantegrive and Rahoul looked good.

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