Purchased last year from Chambers Street. There’s a Christie’s sticker on the side, so this wine has been traded around a little bit. But it looks to be in good shape with a fill into the base of the neck.
Cork soaked through. Pours a healthy dark garnet, just the tiniest touch of bricking at the rim.
The nose is surprisingly tight upon opening; I get green notes, a bit of char, that’s about it. Clearly needs a little time.
Opens up into a Bordeaux of the sort that just isn’t (can’t be?) produced anymore. On the nose; loads of green tobacco, blackberries, black cherries, dried flowers, dark potting soil, a distinct note of Japanese sumi ink, and a bit of manure-y notes in the background.
In the mouth, it is medium bodied, medium in acidity, tannins are mostly gone. The flavors are dark, driven by earth and tobacco. Any cherry/blackberry fruit is an afterthought. There is a moderate amount of complexity, and the finish is respectable, but this wine is just missing that extra oomph to make it great. Nonetheless, a pleasant drinking experience and always special to drink a First Growth.
