David, i think you would like Ferriere. They are turning out excellent wines right now, especially 2016, 2019 and 2020. And if you ever wanna do some backfilling, occasionally the 2000s and the 1995 pop up, they’re worth grabbing.
I’m with you on Pessac. It was what got me down the path of Bordeaux way back in the mid 1990s. And one of the greatest wines I’ve ever had was the 1989 Haut Brion.
I have to admit as I’ve gotten older, and perhaps a little bit of my naughty side has come out, Pomerol is my thing. And in particular, those with a healthy cut of Cabernet Franc.
I searched my CT notes to find there are ten or so I haven’t had, but I drank a lot more Bordeaux before Eric left Microsoft. So Belgrave. Pedesclaux and the really obscure ones I have probably missed. Croizet Bages 1976 was my first Bordeaux purchase and I tried the 21 recently. Things like Boyd Cantenac and Rauzan Gassies show up occasionally at blind tastings.
I think we are both right! It was “originally” Marquis d’Alesme, if originally means from the point that wine was made at that location, but it appears that is was “originally” Becker, if originally means what it was called in 1855. BUT Becker was not Irish, so on that one my recollection of what I learned at the International Museum of Wine in Kinsale was faulty, although perhaps the Museum was wrong. The name is a mis-spelling of the surname of a Dutchman who purchased the property in the early 1800s.
Fun thread to revisit. I too do not think I’ve had Croizet Bages still. Nor Belgrave, which actually tends to be on the shelves of my local TW, for $40ish.
For all the hate on Rauzan Gassies or Cos Labory, if one buys them in the fat ripe years, when machine harvesting can suffice, the wines are very solid e.g 2000 and 2005 for the former or 2003 for the latter.
I started to buy a bit Bordeaux again, but not young, only with 20+ years age. Prices are low, that is nice. Recently found a source with mature demi bottles - will be fun trying those after the summer heat.
Do you know if they still use machine harvesting at Croizet-Bages? I’ve always assumed that it was one of the reasons for the wine’s mediocrity, in spite of the new cellars which I spotted driving past last year. I have had the occasional good bottle, and when it’s good, it’s really quite tasty, but I gave up because all the bad ones. I have actually tasted recent vintages, the 20, 21 and 22, none of which impressed me much (each to their own).
Your own stuff confirms that Becker bought the property in 1809, which was well before the 1855 classification.
Chateau Marquis d’Alesme changed hands during the French revolution. In 1809. the Medoc chateau was sold to a Dutch wine merchant, Jean Bekker Terrlink, who changed the name of the property to include his middle name, and Chateau Marquis d’Alesme Becker was born.
Read more at:Learn about Chateau Marquis d'Alesme Margaux, Complete Guide
Croizet Bages has really stepped up their game. Had a lot of their older vintages (they were dirt cheap) and all were overcropped, thin, marginal wines. Pedesclaux is another that’s really kicked it into high gear. Recent vintages are just beautiful wines. The 2015 is already in a sweet spot.
