Lovely St. Julien. I find the bottle variation in Bordeaux

Oct 02, 2021,02:31 AM
 

in the 1980’s is pretty high with a few superb exceptions like 1982 Mouton Rothschild (still possible just haven’t experienced it yet). Personally I find Leoville Las Cases hit and miss. Their 1995 and 1996 vintages are drinking wonderfully now. The 1996 can be enjoyed now but still has 20 years of life left and needs at least 3 hours decanted before the first sip  The 1995’s have less longevity and can be sipped after a couple hours in the decanter, but I found last year they were in their prime drinking window. I tried some younger “great” vintages recently like 2000 and 2005 and was quite disappointed. Sweet, slightly tangy and lacking backbone, but I think they will both show better in the future as I have had positive experiences at least with the 2005 in the past. Wine is such a funny thing and it’s rare to drink it in its prime windows. Sometimes in my experience a Bordeaux may drink amazing for 2-3 different time windows. For example year 15, 25 and then 30-35 with dumb or muted phases between. 


Hope your next bottle is more enjoyable. 

Kindest regards,

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Had this tonight with braised chicken...

 
 By: halkcb : October 1st, 2021-13:12
....a wee bit disappointed as the bouquet was a bit reticent despite an hour's decanting. there was lots of red fruit with a hint of liqourice on the palate , hardly any tertiary notes. Fairly lively with no hints of tannins and a fairly reasonable length...  

I have been hearing mixed messages on 1989.

 
 By: Bill : October 1st, 2021-14:41
I have quite a few so I am hoping it is not the case. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Have a great weekend. Bill ...  

Not much to worry about Bill,

 
 By: halkcb : October 1st, 2021-23:51
the '89s are generally very good from an excellent vintage,especially the pauillacs. However,they are into their drinking window with most tannins gone or seamlessly interwoven into the wine. I've have had quite a few '89s and they were all very good to g... 

You are the expert!

 
 By: amanico : October 2nd, 2021-07:38

Wow. What an amazing bottle...

 
 By: patrick_y : October 1st, 2021-17:34
And an impressive decanter/carafe. A reticent wine... Maybe needed to be decanted a little longer? Hard to say, some wines do go stale after being decanted too long too.

Thanks for your comments.

 
 By: halkcb : October 1st, 2021-23:57
Yes, it might improve with longer decanting ---perhaps i was too impatient. However,i noticed over the next three hours in a commodious glass,the bouquet remained fairly anonymous. The palate ,replete with red fruits,was easy to consume,but didn't evolve ... 

But many wines don't improve neither...

 
 By: patrick_y : October 2nd, 2021-01:11
Wines are an enigma sometimes.

Lovely St. Julien. I find the bottle variation in Bordeaux

 
 By: emcquillan : October 2nd, 2021-02:31
in the 1980’s is pretty high with a few superb exceptions like 1982 Mouton Rothschild (still possible just haven’t experienced it yet). Personally I find Leoville Las Cases hit and miss. Their 1995 and 1996 vintages are drinking wonderfully now. The 1996 ... 

Thanks for your feedback.

 
 By: halkcb : October 2nd, 2021-04:11
Yes,bottle variation is a bane for wine enjoyment,as well as hitting the correct window for drinking,although i have been very lucky in that respect. I generally have little problems with Chateau Leoville las Cases, and the '85 few years ago was simply st...