Ratings By Robert Parker 95 Tasting Notes Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux, president of Unions des Grands Crus Classes, is pulling out all the stops to make Branaire as alluring as several of the Leovilles and Ducru Beaucaillou. 2003 and 2004 may be the finest back-to-back vintages ever produced at Branaire. Even better than the 1982, the… Read More »
Ratings by Robert Parker 89 Tasting Notes Proprietor Xavier Borie has turned out a beautiful silky-textured Pauillac revealing classic creme de cassis, licorice, and tar-like characteristics interwoven with cedar and roasted herb notes. Medium-bodied and elegant, it is more St.-Julien-like in personality than Pauillac. But who??s complaining? This 2005 will provide lovely drinking in its… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 88 Tasting Notes This is one of the finest Dauzacs to date. The 1999’s opaque purple color is followed by aromas and flavors of black currant and blueberry fruit, Asian spices, minerals, smoke, and toasty new oak. It is powerful and extracted, with low acidity. It will be at its best… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 78 Tasting Notes More disappointing from bottle than it was from cask, the 2001 Croizet-Bages reveals notes of toasty new oak, but little fruit. The herbaceous aromatics are followed by a clipped, lean, austere mid-palate, and a dry, angular finish. After the successful 2000, I had hoped this chateau was going… Read More »
Grape 100% Shiraz Tasting Notes Bouquet: Aromas of lifted spicy dark fruits of cherry and plum. Palate: Great depth of flavour with loads of vibrant juicy black currant and plum. 2010 gave us wonderful natural structure with an abundance of silky tannins complemented with nicely integrated oak resulting in a lingering flavour. The colour is… Read More »
Region Eden Valley Grape Shiraz Tasting Notes Tremendously seductive, this is a towering masterpiece of gorgeous flavors, supple texture and pinpoint balance. Offers a superstructure of plum, blackberry, green olive, exotic spice, tobacco and molasses flavors that swirl around a refined structure, wrapping a light veil of tannins over it all. The finish lasts and… Read More »
Region: Pessac Leognan Grapes: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon 40% Merlot 5% Cabernet Franc Robert Parker called the 2009 Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte, The finest wine ever made by proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard, and rated it a perfect 100 Points. The second wine was produced with the same care and attention as the grand vin. This is an… Read More »