February seems both long ago, yet only recent, with both the rhythm of seasons and life partly frozen and confused by lockdowns. This tasting took place in Napa in February 2020. Writing in September 2020, in Melbourne, we remain in lockdown. In our city, this means being permitted only to travel up to 5 kilometres…Continue readingBordeaux 2015 in bottle tasting in Napa
Tag: Margaux
Last weekend, the annual Institute of Masters of Wine Bordeaux tasting in bottle of the 2014 vintage took place in Sydney. I expected this to be a much more popular event than the previous year’s tasting of the 2013s (you can read my reviews of that tasting here) which was a poor vintage. But in…Continue readingInstitute of Masters of Wine Bordeaux 2014 in bottle Sydney tasting
Held in Sydney by the Institute of Masters of Wine on the weekend, this was a first close local look at the 2013 vintage of Bordeaux. The 2013 vintage in Bordeaux was, of course, rather dire. It saw a dismal spring, an early summer and catastrophic flowering. The vintage culminated with tropical weather at the…Continue readingIMW Annual Bordeaux tasting – 2013 vintage
This is a bit of a curio that found its way to here, I think, via a French supermarket. Labelled under a French label of “Club des Sommeliers” it’s a Margaux seemingly produced by Château Durfort-Vivens. A combination then: part cleanskin, part branded wine. It proves quite good drinking a decade later. Cigar box, blackcurrants…Continue readingClub des Sommeliers Margaux 2007 par Château Durfort-Vivens
This wine from Chateau Monbrison has been perfectly stored, and was frankly a joy to drink at thirteen years of age. 2004 is a well regarded left bank Bordeaux vintage, but in the shadow of the great 2005s. Nonetheless, this wine displays all the charms of well made left bank Bordeaux, with a classically pinpoint…Continue readingChâteau Monbrison Cru Bourgeois Margaux 2004
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Château Rauzan-Ségla 1996
The first of two impressive wines to round things out pre-Christmas. Rauzan-Ségla is a second growth estate from Margaux in Bordeaux’s left bank and has been since 1994 under the ownership of the family that owns Chanel in France. Tasted out of magnum, the 1996 vintage is an impressive wine. There are licorice, blackcurrant, cigar…Continue readingChâteau Rauzan-Ségla 1996
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Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine 2009
The second label of the Margaux classed growth Chateau Prieuré-Lichine, the Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine presented very well as almost all ’09s do. The wine is a merlot dominant blend, which shows with its aromatics reminding of chocolate, redcurrant, tinned peppercorns and tomato bush. The palate is satisfying with between medium and long length and notes of crunchy…Continue readingConfidences de Prieuré-Lichine 2009
This rather promising pair of cru classés from Margaux were tasted with the outstanding Cos Labory 2000 vintage, the review for which I posted mid week here. Both wines are relatively affordable – for cru classé Bordeaux, that is. This tasting more or less confirmed to me that 2000 is a great vintage (perhaps just slightly…Continue readingA couple more Bordeaux 2000s: Château du Tertre 2000 and Château Marquis de Terme 2000
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Château Labégorce Zédé 1995
I am still a little upset that Château Labégorce Zédé in Margaux disappeared into Chateau Labégorce from the 2009 vintage. First tasted in the rarefied surrounds of a London 2 star restaurant many years ago now, it is a label that I have searched out over the years, buying here and there, to recapture a…Continue readingChâteau Labégorce Zédé 1995
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La Sirène de Giscours Margaux 2010
La Sirène de Giscours is the second wine of Chateau Giscours in Margaux, and comes in it roughly half the price of its big brother. My standard tip is to look closely at the second wines such as these of the classified wines of Bordeaux, particularly in strong vintages like 2010. In this case, for…Continue readingLa Sirène de Giscours Margaux 2010
My interest in wine began with the wines of Bordeaux, and Margaux was one of the first wine regions that I firmly bonded with. It is one of the largest appellations on the left bank in Bordeaux, and therefore its wines are often quite varied, depending on the site. The best Margaux for me have…Continue readingVivens par Château Durfort-Vivens 2007