Still on the young side and has more time to go. Reflecting, I would have decanted 1-2 hours before drinking, vs just the 30 minutes I gave it. Good stuff and gives promise to the '19 BdM.
I had the '20 RdM and thought it was better and the '20 BdM ratings for Le Chiuse likely confirm that. However, I was drinking it in Italy, so there might be some vacation-effect going on as well.
Those crystals look like rime ice, or its cousin hoar frost.
(just saw this, hence the late reply)
Opened up a nice finger lakes Blaufrankisch tonight. Have never had one before, but it seems like a grape with a lot of character. Pepper and spice are prominent, some tart blackberry, tannins are noticeable but not overbearing, and the high acidity keeps it drinking quite easy. Light mouthfeel but “heavy” taste profile with a quenching finish. Super enjoyable, this is part of a side/new project by a husband and wife who work at other FLX wineries and they’ve done a great job.
Nick and stinky, decaying ground cover, wild mushrooms, and red fruits. Excellent balance on this higher-acid red-fruited wine. Paired exceptionally well with a chicken thigh dish, asparagus. and sweet potato mash.
That sounds right up my alley.
2023 S + S Lenswood Chardonnay
Powerful and stacked with supporting oak notes. Lots of material, just needs a couple of years to fully knit. One for the cellar
2023 MMAD Grenache
S + Ss Blewitt Springs vineyard, cooler expression of McLaren Vale Grenache. This is top shelf, bright and pure expression of juicy, silken red currant Grenache fruit that flows across the palate. Outstanding.
Reliable anytime white wine if you’re looking for dry, crisp, and balanced. Citrus fruit, hint of gooseberry, chalky minerality with a bit of bitterness at finish. A Vin de Pays from a well known Sancerre producer. ~$15
A really outstanding 2000.
I’ve had the 1996 twice over the last two months. Both wonderful examples from this esteemed château. The 1996 is more classic, the 2000 it’s just more expressive. It’s really one of the more expressive LB’s that I have had other than the 1990. Hard to call which is better than the other, and of course, not sure that’s even necessary when they’re both so excellent, but I do love the more classic structure of the 96. I would serve the 2000 to a dinner party, however. Now that said, I’m drinking it solo while watching Taylor Fritz playing Berrettini, and enjoying this wind down to an evening.
The LB showed really well at a recent 2000 dinner, a notch above the other two Leoville estates. One of the first wines ai ever bought was a 1985 Leoville-Barton and I’ve loved the estate ever since.
I had 2005 Malescot a couple weeks ago and it was FANTASTIC.
On the second night of this one:
Still incredibly young. Anyone claiming this is mature either has the palate of a hippo or stored it above the fridge.
Yes it was great! Smooth and layered with a strawberry sniff in the middle. Wish I had more and ready to drink now and for the next 5-10
Staggs leap 2021, crisp and delicious.
1990 Bourgneuf. Just lovely.
This is not nearly as extreme as I was expecting. Not sure why dad bought it, as he never drank any, but OK.
This was from the recent Last Bottle Mystery. For that price, and if you want a Robert Parker squared-style wine, this was great.
People who drink swill like Burgundy would absolutely hate this. It was almost too much even for me, and I had it with a steak.
Dark opaque youthful purple, very viscous, very high extract. The staining legs stay at the edge of the glass for minutes. Very intense and complex nose, initially has very high alcohol burn, tons of French oak, ripe cassis, chocolate, dark fruits, bit of red fruit freshness, rhubarb, graphite pen, cedar. Palate is full bodied, ripe, Mike Tyson-esque with lots of brute force but very little finesse. Creme de cassis, blackberries, coffee grinds, chocolate. Finishes with very pronounced tannins and high alcohol.
The wine is huge, powerful, over the top, even the bottle weighs around 3000lbs. If elegance and finesse is what you’re looking at, look elsewhere. Robert Parker would give this a very high score.
