Ratings By Robert Parker (85-87) Tasting Notes After years of mostly mediocre performances, this property has begun to show signs of life with a very good 1995. The dark purple-colored 1995 is one of the finest wines made at Rauzan-Gassies in decades. It exhibits plenty of pure, ripe, blackcurrant fruit, and high quality toasty oak.… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes This is often looked at as the second wine of Leoville Barton, but it is actually a separate estate, producing wines that are slightly softer than the more formidably endowed and broodingly backward Leoville Bartons. The outstanding 2003, a softer version of the Leoville Barton, exhibits a deep… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 87 Tasting Notes A seductive style of Palmer, the 1997 will have many admirers (assuming they can afford it). It boasts a dark ruby/plum/purple color in addition to a seductive bouquet of sweet berry fruit, and an elegant, medium-bodied, fruit-driven, easy-going, fleshy personality. While there is little weight and density, the… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 92+ Tasting Notes A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the totally closed 2005 Calon Segur is one of those traditionally made, backstrapping, uncompromising Bordeaux that will last 30-40 or more years. Its dense ruby color with purple nuances is followed by a nose that reluctantly offers up scents… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 89 Tasting Notes The 1999 Branaire is from an under-rated estate. This is a beautifully perfumed effort revealing scents of graphite, lead pencil shavings, blueberries, raspberries, and black currants. The wine is rich, layered, medium-bodied, pure, and elegant. It is a complex St.-Julien with good flavor depth, soft tannin, and unobtrusive… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes With the highly respected Right Bank consultant Stephane Derenoncourt providing advice, Prieure-Lichine has moved to a complete, savory, and for lack of a better description, broad, lush, sexy style. This has always been a wine that was drinkable at an early age, but I think they are building… Read More »
Ratings by Robert Parker 97 Tasting Notes Beginning to open magnificently, the still dense purple-colored 2000 reveals a blossoming bouquet of blackberries, cassis, graphite and pen ink. Full-bodied with velvety tannins that have resolved themselves beautifully over the last eleven years, this wine is still an adolescent, but it exhibits admirable purity, texture, mouthfeel and… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes A sleeper of the vintage, this muscular, concentrated, full-bodied wine is atypically backward and dense for a 2008. It exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color along with notes of licorice, truffles, graphite and black currants. Intense and powerful, it will benefit from 2-4 years of cellaring and should keep… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker (87-88) Tasting Notes This is a solid effort from one of the least-known classified growths of the Medoc. The proprietor, the Dourthe firm, has been making slow but persistent progress in upgrading the quality of this estate. The 2002 exhibits a deep ruby/plum color as well as aromas of cherries, cassis,… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 87 Tasting Notes I had hoped this wine would turn out closer to outstanding, but it is an excellent Cantemerle, if not quite as stunning as I had expected. The wine offers a dark ruby color, and a sweet nose of black raspberries, subtle new oak, and acacia smells. There is… Read More »