Archive for January, 2008
1996 Reignac, Still Going Strong
Sunday, January 27th, 2008Bordeaux Superior typically isn’t designed to last more than a few years, but what a pleasant surprise it was to taste the 1996 Reignac, which continues to age like a more prestigious growth. I am a big fan of Yves and Stefanie Vatelot and what they’ve done with this small estate since buying it in […]
2003 Petit Bocq
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008Petit Bocq is a relative newcomer to Bordeaux. It is in the appellation of St. Estephe, near the Gironde, and the primary plot of Merlot is not too far from Cos d’Estournel and the ditch that separates St. Estephe from Paulliac. St. Estephe is pretty flat, and there just isn’t much gravel here…certainly not the […]
2004 Fleur Cardinale. Wow!
Saturday, January 5th, 2008I suppose that we should be used to ‘fruit bombs’ coming of St. Emilion by now, but wow! We opened a bottle of 2004 Fleur Cardinale last night for dinner, and it is simply remarkable. The wine is still a little young. Even though it is primarily Merlot, there’s enough Cabernet Sauvignon to give it […]
First 2005 Bordeaux: Presidial
Thursday, January 3rd, 2008I’ve enjoyed several vintages of Jean-Luc Thunevin’s Presidial over the years. If you don’t know Thunevin’s wines, you should. His Valendraud started the ‘garagiste’ movement back in 1989…for good or for not, depending on whether you prefer Bordeaux with lots of extraction and a full, jammy flavor. Some say that this is an American influence, […]