A huge bargain for current retail at $29.99, I consumed half of the bottle about two weeks ago and poured the rest to the top of a 375ml and stuck it in the cellar.
The first half was good to go on pop and pour, with velvety tannin and dense layers of plum and red currant. Not a rustic wine at all but the fruit had a nice briary aspect that I often find in Savigny Les Beaune. I finished the second half last night with ribeye, it displayed more acidity in the mid palate making it a nice pairing with the steak.
I have three more bottles and if I held them to maturity, I’d say well-stored bottles are at minimum 5 years off if not longer. Just enough complexity to make it a thoughtful drink in addition to being a tasty one.
Lanessan is one of the most consistent CB’s and a great QPR. I picked up a case of 2000 for £14 a bottle ($22) a year or so ago which is 5 years off being ready. A bottle of 82 was a real treat 5 years ago.
I just bought a six pack of 03s for $10@ at K&L, looking forward to opening one. I’ve bought a bunch of 09, 10 and 11 bottles. I’ve only opened an 09, but it was a really nice wine.
Prices have gone up. I was a bit surprised at $30 for the 99 but it looks like the lowest is $25 now. A few years ago K&L had 96, 00, 01 and they were all pretty cheap.
Robert I was surprised, too. I poured half immediately into a screw cap 375ml, literally up to the very top of the bottle beyond where a ‘full’ 375ml btl would be filled. So there was no air space, or a minuscule amount, and I stored the bottle in my basement, both of which I’m sure helped retard oxidation.
I just bought 4 of the 03 375s. I like Clyde’s line: “old school plus hot vintage equals delicious”.
For some time I’ve also been picking up magnums on PA. So far my only 2014 Bordeaux purchase has been magnums of Lanessan for $29.99!
I can’t remember which bodega it is, but one reason why Rioja has some Bordeaux influences was that way back when, a bunch of Lanessan winemakers ended up migrating to Rioja, and making the wines in the style that they had grown accustomed to.
So there is some DNA connection between the old school Riojas and Lanessan.
Old school plus cold vintage may equal not so awesome.
I think the other side of the adage applies as well. Modernist producers do much better, to my tastes, in cool vintages like 02 and 04. Monbousquet, Lascombes, Smith Haut Lafitte, and producers like that do really well in off vintages. But I think they may go over the line in vintages like 03, 05 and 09?
They were less tannic, and approachable young. They have held up well, although I wonder if people who bought them early saved them. If I had to think of other vintages to compare them to maybe 83, 88, or 01.
I agree with Chris’s observation - a typical weather year, and traditional vinification/elevage etc. may not be so exciting.
I had a 375 of 2003 Lanessan last night, and it was really good. Nice ripeness to the red fruit, but not baked or overripe at all, and nice tobacco and earthy complexity to it. Just very easy to drink and to enjoy, right out of the (half) bottle without decanting.