TN: Tasting Notes from Some Wines Tasted in 2003:
1996 Camensac (Haut Medoc). Dark red/purple color. Dark fruit and earth on the nose, with a bit of leather(?). On the pallet, dry, roasted dark fruit. Still a bit young and tannic, you can drink it now with some decanting. An elegant claret that went very well with standing rib roast, but was not entirely thrilling on its own. A strong 88 points now, will likely garner another point in a year or two.
2000 Gourt de Mautens (Rasteau). The first night, initially hardly even worth drinking, dominated by a bretty, barnyard nose with vicious tannins masking the fruit. Deep and brooding, I can’t imagine what other, apparently even more brootish vintages of this wine are like if Mr. Parker finds the 2000 - comparably - accessible. On day two in a vacuvined bottle, it has begun to open more with typical southern rhone flavors, though on steroids and in a remarkably tannic finnish. This wine is brash and rich on day two, but I won’t open another bottle for 6 plus years as the tannins are fierce (especially for a southern rhone!!). Eventually, this wine will score at least 92-93 points. Put these in the back of the cellar and forget about them.
2000 Charvin, Cote de Rhone. Light, clear ruby red color. Garrique and cherry on the nose, stronger and richer on the pallet. Cannot compete with the better CDPs, but for $15, it delivers a quality, rich, but light on its feet cote de rhone. I’ll wait a year or so to try my last bottle, as there is a bit of room for further development. Would go particularly well with roast chicken. 89 points.
1997 Baumard, Quarts de Chaume. Light, pale yellow. Sweet, tropical fruit on the nose. Not too thick/syrupy/cloying on the pallet, but plenty of sweet, rich tropical fuit, including mango and bannana. This really needs time to blossom, but it is quite nice right now. 92+.
Decanted Roger Perrin’s 1998 Reserve des Vielles Vignes Chateauneuf du Pape for about 2 hours. A pure, pale red burgundy to the eye. Nose is somewhat muted at this point - though there was a bit of brett and some cherries. Reminded me more of a red burgundy on the nose, too. On the tonque, candied, rich red cherry fruit. Not overdone. Tannins still present, of course, and I suspect this will improve significantly with time. 91+ (the plus is pretty much assured with more time).
1996 Ch. Charmail, Haut Medoc. Dark ruby - dark, but not black like the 2000. A nose of smokey, smokey cedar and oak. Smoke, wood, and a little charcoal predominate on tasting, with very subdued raspberry in the background (stronger with more air). No-one will confuse this with an Aussie or Cali fruit bomb, though it certainly has a lot of vavoom. Tannin still evident, but drinking well now. A solid 90 points. Enjoy with steak.
2000 Aalto, Ribera del Duero. A dark, dark red. Blueberry and, more so, blackberry on the nose. Those flavors on the palate, as well, but the flavor profile is dominated by deep, rich black cherry and a nice burnt oak (interesting and not overdone) with slight vanilla. Dry, tannic finish. Needs time, but this is some wine! Strong 91 points now, probably higher with time in the bottle.
2000 Brisson, Cotes de Castillon. Nice dark ruby color. Light to medium body with a moderately tannic finish. Cedar with hints of cherry, perhaps strawberry. Nice now with a little air and a steak or something similar to offset the tannins in this young Bordeaux, but at its best in 2005. Not a long term ager, but I’m quite pleased with my case on future for $10 per. 86 now, 87+ in 2005.