Hey folks: I received a shipment of wine last night, including two bottles of 1996 Bel-Air Marquis d’Aligre. Oddly enough, both labels were lopsided and one even fell off after unpackaging. I also noticed that the capsules differ from those I’ve seen on other 1996s.
Does anyone have any insight as to why this might be? I don’t want to assume they are fakes. I understand that Mr. Boyer is peculiar in his storage and bottling habits, so it may simply be a case of unique bottling. But this is my first experience with this importer and I want to ensure it’s all above-board (the 2000 Bramaterras I bought are incredible, which is a good sign).
I coravin’ed a small glass from one of the bottles. It smelled and tasted like mature claret, but nothing exceptional. Clearly I did not decant for the recommended four to six hours, however.
Not sure if it would have any bearing on the 1996 bottling, but my 2010s all arrived from Wine Exchange with the labels falling off/peeling back on the same side.
*Edit - That does look like a crazy low fill level on one of the bottles in the first photo. Not sure if inconsistent fill level is to be expected, or if that could be a cork issue… The cork on the 1996 I brought home from Bordeaux didn’t fare too well, but I didn’t get any (noticeable) seepage.
Coincidence, we opened a 1986 on Friday, at first very uninspiring, needed about 10 hours to start showing its potential. Boyer told us to open five days in advance, today on the third day, very floral, violets.
I have never understood the fetishization of long decants/opening times for BAMA, but if Boyer is/was actually advising this, it makes more sense.
For me, the wines are pretty polished, which is no surprise given the very long élevage, absence of oak tannin and lack of exaggerated extraction, and I have typically found that 1h30 in a decanter is just fine.
1986 from my cellar is pretty great with very brief air time, though I prefer 82 by some margin.
Have a magnum of 1961 lined up for some time soon, just need to make more friends
I’m not sure about the fetishization, but I have found on many vintages of his wines that they actually taste better the next day. Granted, that is me opening a bottle, drinking half of it, putting half in the fridge, and enjoying the remainder of it the next evening. I’m not sure I would ever do a six, 12 or overnight decant, if that is what some people are recommending, but I would not ordinarily do that to any wine.
This was our lallocation this year, 12 is the last vintage. we did not take 1969, 1970 was sold out. It was a shame, there was no 1985 as that was really good. It is funny doing business with him, one places the order, he sends the invoice, one sends the cheque. Two or three months later the order arrives, never any warning, and then four or five months later he cashes the check.
We took the 1969 to a tasting with Leclpart and some other natural producers, they could not beleive this was Bordeaux.
Boyer is very difficult to understand, a very thick bordelaise accent, my french colleague does not even really understand him. He always gives advice what to drink and when. He told us his preference is to open five days in advance, this we have followed and the evolution is amazing.
Boyer advised us to drink the 2011 now, the 11 one can pop and pour, it is a light wieght BAMA, has all the aromatics. 12 in contrast is a monster.
CHT BEL AIR MARQUIS ALIGRE 05 MARGAU
CHT BEL AIR MARQUIS ALIGRE 09 MARGAU
CHT BEL AIR MARQUIS ALIGRE 10 MARGAU
CHT BEL AIR MARQUIS ALIGRE 12 MARGAU
CHT BEL AIR MARQUIS ALIGRE 86 MARGAU
CHT BEL AIR MARQUIS ALIGRE 11 MARGAU
According to Neal Martin’s report a few years back, he did make some 2015, which Neal tasted from vat, but it has never been released. Probably never will. It is sad indeed but not exactly a surprise and now’s the time to buy what you can, I would say.
