2001 Haut-Bergey
Immediately after opening the 2001 Haut-Bergey last night, a delicate scent of marzipan, herbs, spices, and vanilla spreads around the table. On the palate, it offers Morello cherry, blackberry, blueberry, leather, oriental spices, and a nice hint of forest floor, followed by a long, complex, and mineral finish.
The fine grained tannins are well integrated, and there is enough acidity to keep the palate fresh. This is a seductive, perfectly balanced wine with admirable complexity and absolutely no heat at 13% alcohol. A delicious Péssac-Léognan to enjoy over the next decade.
2006 Croix de Labrie
Only a few hundred cases of this ‘garage wine’, 100% Merlot, are produced per vintage. Nearly as low in acidity as the Haut-Bergey, but even a bit more complex, this medium-bodied, flamboyantly styled Saint-Emilion is wonderfully balanced, with layers of red and black fruits, especially black cherry, tobacco, cedar, a hint of dark chocolate, leather, and well integrated, spicy oak. The long, lush finish is impressive. 13,5% alcohol. Certainly more on the modern side, but nothing is overdone.
