Loves
Interesting, and surprised, if correct. Will need to move them forward in the que.
Just checked out the TN in CT…thanks. Personally, I prefer more tertiary aromas in my vino. Will need to revisit one of these soon, as I’m still sitting on 2+ cases. As far as the OP, haven’t touched anything but the petites. I have 375’s of all of my classified growths and I’ll probably wait another couple of years before popping some of those.
My last note is in agreement with you:
I liked it, but it definitely had more funk than the previous bottles - nothing offensive for a fan of Bordeaux like me, but it didn’t have the bright fruit that other bottles had
Interesting, perhaps like Jeff C., the LVC is just getting into that spot where I prefer my Bdx. Gimme the funk!
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Jeff… You cannot extrapolate the findings on how Vieille Cure is developing and compare them to upper level classified growths. In the wines of Fronsac, I prefer them in the more sensuous fruit stage. As you know from tasting together and chatting over the years, we might not always like the same wines, but we like them at similar stages of development. If you are interested I have a fair amount of 2005 tasting notes written over the past year or two in my site.
Each to his own - unless you like gobs of young fruit there’s no need to worry. The Crus Bourgeois I’ve tried recently were a lot more forward and open than I expected, but none are on the decline. They won’t be fully mature for another three years at least.
I’ve only tried LVC 05 once so far, last year, when the fruit tasted very primary and the oak was a bit “in yer face”, so I doubt very much it’ll be on the wane. I prefer LVC when the wood fades and the fruit goes into the secondary phase, so for me, like the CBs, it needs another three years and will probably improve further over five or more. But each to his own.
All this chatter got me to pull a few '05 Fronsacs out of storage today.
Sitting here on the second glass of an '05 LVC. I’m with Julian on this wine, it’s not in a good place. As the yummy ripe fruits have started to pull back from that very primary phase, the oak, char and some heat have become too dominant. Jeff could be right that these modern Fronsacs are better on release, except that this LVC was quite tannic then.
I have to admit, I’m not sure this wine will develop along the profile that I prefer in a Bordeaux. I found it quite seductive on release, but the wood and alcohol is unbalanced right now.
I’ll pop the La Dauphine in a couple of days. I have at least a case of each of these wines, which were $20 each on release, they were sort of no-brainers.
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That may be the case, but having tasted with you and reading your notes on a plethora of wines I’ve already drank. I feel that I know your palate pretty well. You are very consistent. Hence, your notes can be extrapolated to my palate. I agree, Fronsac’s will never age like the big boys, but at $20 per, I’m willing to roll the dice on the L’VC to see what happens. I’m very interested to follow this wine over the next 17-20 years.
I purchased a stack of 2005 Bordeaux- all classified growths.
I haven’t opened any recently. Might try a few ‘lesser’ growths at the 10 year mark.
We had a 2005 Monbousquet a few months ago and it was open for business, and delicious.
Thanks,
Ed
Hmmm, I must be drinking the wrong 05 Bordeaux.
I had the Faizeau VV and Fonbel not too long ago, and both were far from ready and not really pleasurable yet. Neither were pricey and both are right bankers.
I guess one could argue that they’ll never be good as the fruit has already given up the fight to the tannin, but we’ve heard that so many times about Bordeaux that eventually blossom, I’m willing to give these 05s more time and the benefit of the doubt.
I did not buy classified growths, but Vrai Canon Bouche and Cap de Faugeres were nowhere near a point of fading. In fact they need more time at least based on tasting out of 375s.
2005 Chateau de la Dauphine, Fronsac
Just checked in on this baby after pulling a few '05s in light of this thread. I don’t think this delicious Fronsac has ever shut down. A really appealing, modern-style wine but very well made, alcohol and oak in check. Modern aside, you will not mistake this wine for anything but Bordeaux. A striking value.
Here is my note from almost 2 years ago:
Checked in on another one of these last night. I bought a case on release. They have been firing since. I really enjoy this estate on the young side. Modern in characteristic, but starting to show some earth textures, black olives and a little muskiness. Nice red berries. The chocolate notes from prior bottles have receded, and the oak is less pronounced. Overall a very solid wine (B+) and a wonderful QPR at all of the $19.99 I paid. I do not think this wine is built for the long haul, but I’m gonna hang on to one past 10 years just to see.
I would not even consider popping a 2005 now except for an experiment to confirm what I already know. Even low level.
So, I checked and I have 11 bottles of the 2005 LVC in the cellar. Any reason to try one now (beyond the urge to participate in an impromptu VLT) or is it really just a waste right now?
FWIW, I had a 2003 LVC not too long along that was drinking very nicely indeed (no signs of decline in my book), but that wine really never shut down for business.
I tried an 05 LVC last week. It was nice, but not ready. The only way to enjoy this wine now is with a fatty steak… And they is nothing wrong with that.
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I tried an 05 LVC last week. It was nice, but not ready. The only way to enjoy this wine now is with a fatty steak… And there is nothing wrong with that.
My last bottle of 05 Valrose cuvee Alienor was singing a few months ago.
As I commented in the Pontet-Canet vertical thread, the 2005 was very shut down (excellent though), needs 5-10 years. Very much like the 2000.