Ratings By Robert Parker 91 Tasting Notes The 1998 Margaux’s color is a dense ruby/purple. The wine is tannic and austere, but elegant, with notes of asphalt, blackberries, acacia flowers, and sweet, toasty oak. Subtle, rich, nicely-textured, and medium-bodied, it is built for the long haul. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2030. (Wine Advocate #134 Apr 2001) By… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 84 Tasting Notes The significant rainfall during late September clearly had a noticeable impact on this 2006, which perhaps lacks ????selection?? as the French say. There is an element of dilution in this cuvee, and I would never recognize it as a Gruaud Larose except for the label. Dark ruby with… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 95+ Tasting Notes Originally rated 96, this wine confirmed its early rating, although again, the backwardness and still very obvious tannins suggest another 7- to 8-year wait. Dense ruby/purple, with a bouquet of blueberry, crushed rock, and some floral notes, the wine is medium to full-bodied , rich, powerful, but again… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90+ Tasting Notes The 2008 Rauzan-Segla (62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot) was made from 45% of the production. It is a beautiful wine in this vintage, not nearly as powerful and structured as the 2010, but it has complex notes of sweet red and black fruits, unsmoked cigar tobacco, spice… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes The saturated ruby/plum-tinged 2002 reveals a tight but promising nose of underbrush, new saddle leather, damp earth, black currants and cherries. It is a strongly structured, potent effort with medium to full body, and impressive purity, but loads of tannin presented in a frightfully backward style. Anticipated maturity:… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 91 Tasting Notes This wine, a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, is performing well after its July, 1998 bottling. It boasts an impressively saturated purple color, in addition to a backward yet intense nose of black plums, currants, licorice, and smoke. Following terrific fruit on… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 89 Tasting Notes This classically-styled claret did not merit an outstanding rating because it lacks sufficient concentration to compete with the estate??s top vintages. However, it offers a dark ruby/plum color, nicely evolved notes of roasted herbs, sweet cherries and currants, and loamy earth, medium-weight, light to moderate tannin, and an… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 89 Tasting Notes A dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by an attractive bouquet of lead pencil, graphite, black currants, raspberries, and spice. Medium-bodied, with beautifully knit flavors revealing excellent definition, this subtle, restrained yet persuasive 1998 displays a distinctive style. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2016. (Wine Advocate #134 Apr 2001) By Robert Parker
A property that seems to be awakening, this St.-Julien leans toward more of a Margaux style. The attractive earthy, floral, red currant, and raspberry notes are impressively intense and complex in the aromatics. This dark ruby/purple-tinged wine displays elegance, finesse, and a beautiful mouthfeel in a restrained, moderately intense, but still classic style with sweet… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes One of the finest Haut-Batailleys ever made (it certainly rivals the 1996), this deep ruby/purple-colored wine is a beauty. Notes of raspberries, liquified minerals, cassis, and tobacco jump from the glass of this attractive, velvety-textured wine. Some tannin is there, but it is abundantly fruity, low in acidity,… Read More »