Was rooting around in the cellar in search of some '89 Bordeaux for an upcoming tasting and I came across this bottle, which I probably hadn’t tried since shortly after my initial purchase.
The color is still an opaque reddish purple in the glass, with minimal lightening as you move out towards the rim. Pronounced nose that I can only describe as either blackberry brandy and/or liquer - not a bad nose, if somewhat one-dimensional at this stage.
Very smooth on the palate, with sweet, ripe black fruits, seemingly low acidity and a hint of alcoholic heat on the finish, plus maybe just a touch of bitterness. I honestly can’t recall my recollections of the wine at release, but this is not bad, and certainly not over-the-top, albeit also not showing much in the way of complexity or nuance. Still, if it hasn’t blossomed since release, it’s certainly maintained it’s fruit & structure, and while not necessarily what I look for in a red, would probably be a nice wine to pair up with some ribs or a grilled strip steak. No discernible oak on the palate, and 15% alcohol according to the label.