I know the cognoscenti here are well onto 2022 Bordeaux at this point, but this country poke is still sampling through the 2019s and figuring out what else and how much to buy. I have to admit that I already doubled-down on this Domaine, ordering more, despite not trying first. When folks like Keith L and WK - and even Leve - in addition to a local Berserker whose taste in Bordeaux I admire immensely, @Pat_Martin a/k/a Blanquito, raves about this wine, just buy it. And fortunately, but not surprisingly, it happens to be gorgeous.
I wonāt get drawn into that debate that I often do, but respect what Mark G has been saying about the direction of this estate. Admittedly, I also had not been buying it much. I think in recent years, I only have 2014 in my fridges - maybe 2016, need to go look - but this 2019 just sounded down-right delish.
Lovely smoky nose of campfire, dark fruits with hints of spice, quite earth-driven aromatically. Even a bit of tar tucked down there. Palate is warm and silky with some round dark fruits giving scale and a vein of reds for lift. Love the tangy kick that I am getting from the red fruit acids (blood orange for sure). This is decidedly contemporary Bordeaux - note that I am not using āmodernā terminology here - but gives some nods to classic, earthy Graves. I made a mental note that I had a classic 1990 La Louviere just a week ago, this wine is not that. But it is excellent. Really nothing out of place in this wine, the balance is impeccable. This is a wine to buy by the case and follow it over the next 25 or so years.
I feel like I should buy more 19 but just not sure when Iād be able to drink it. Like 19 mouton seems like it would be a good wine to buy but when could you drink it?
We were able to back-fill a couple more at $75 a few weeks ago at K&L. K&L has poured the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019 DdC during various tastings there in the last few months and the 2019 is my favorite, followed by the 2016. Unfortunately, they sold out of the 2019ās. Nice note and glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome and encouraging note. Iāve gotten about a case of these over the last year or two for silly cheap (shout-out the wine.com deals thread) but havenāt popped one yet. That most recent note/rave that Keith L posted on CT has made me super-curious, so now Iām thinking I might have to. How much air did you give it?
Opened one last weekend, Robert. It is delicious, and evolving at a glacial pace; still entirely youthful. I think that was the fourth or fifth bottle Iāve opened so far ā ā ā if I donāt have them at my offsite, they are constantly in danger.
It was a whimsical decision to pop, so maybe 30 minutes in the decanter. Will finish the remaining 1/3 bottle tonight. No qualms about having popped it, Iām in an exploratory phase with 2019, and this wine was quite enjoyable despite its youth. Still showing that glimpse before perhaps shutting down for a while. Iāll circle back in 10+ years now that I have tried and decided to buy more.
PS. The other Pessac I bought in 2019 is Les Carmes Haut Brion. Have not taken delivery yet, but at those price points, they go straight to the ācellarā. That said, the 2016 on release was a wowser.
I pretty much agree with Brian on the 2014, Robert. It was poured next to the 2018, and the vintage differences were evident. The 2018 was more fuller-bodied and you could tell it was from a much warmer year. I think you will really like the 2014 if you decide to open one.
Itās probably not the best approach, but I buy 6 bottles every vintage. Itās hard for me to remember a vintage where I was disappointed that I owned a few.
Unlike the reviews, the 2019 I tried was not nearly as enjoyable a year after release as 2016 was, like it wanted a fair amount of time. So I am a little envious that itās still showing well for you. Leoville Barton though was killing it recently, enough so that I bought '20, which was rather more typical and like go the heck away.
According to William Kelley, no. He said that the wines in the 1980s became thinned out as newer plantings came online, and the domaine over-compensated in the earlier 2000s by over-extracting to gain more concentration. He said the newer vintages (he was referring to the 2019, but I expect the same could be said of the 2020 and 2022) more resemble the wines of the 1970s and earlier (presumably, even more traditional, albeit under prior ownership).
I agree on the contemporary label for this ā19 ddc. So much raspberry and high toned flavor I almost didnāt know it was recent bordeaux. Still tasty.
I havenāt had the '19, but had the pleasure of tasting at the Estate back in January '20. I absolutely LOVED it there. The Aligote was by far one of my favorite wines of the entire trip. I only regret not bringing back more with me!
I think you might be talking about Domaine Chevalier in Burgundy?