Ratings By Robert Parker 95 Tasting Notes A wine of extraordinary intensity and accessibility, the 1995 Cos d’Estournel is a sexier, more hedonistic offering than the muscular, backward 1996. Opulent, with forward aromatics (gobs of black fruits intermixed with toasty pain grille scents and a boatload of spice), this terrific Cos possesses remarkable intensity, full… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 92 Tasting Notes In less than five years this property has emerged as one of the appellation??s up and coming stars thanks to the infusion of money from the American conglomerate, Colony Capital, as well as the braintrust that now oversees the winemaking, Yves Vatelot (of Reignac fame) and the internationally… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes 53% of the crop made it into this blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. An outstanding wine with a dark ruby/purple color and more power, richness, and concentration than its younger sibling, the 2002 reveals outstanding potential, exhibiting plenty of… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 86 Tasting Notes I consistently found this 1996 to be a hard wine. Despite its deep ruby/purple color, it is monolithic, with notes of earth and black currant fruit submerged beneath a tannic structure. Although medium-bodied, with some weight and extract, the wine is ferociously hard and backward. Give it 3-5… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 91 Tasting Notes A sensational effort for the vintage, Boyd-Cantenac??s 2004 should be on the shopping lists of all shrewd consumers looking for a terrific Margaux at a bargain basement price. Racy floral, black currant, and cherry notes soar from the glass of this complex wine. The evolved aromatics are followed… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 89 Tasting Notes Although austere tannin may keep this wine from obtaining an outstanding score, it exhibits plenty of complexity in its earthy, truffle, black cherry, currant, plum, and herb-scented bouquet as well as flavors. Moderately tannic, with good weight, it is a classically-styled 1998. Despite the fact that Calon-Segur tends… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 89 Tasting Notes This fruity, soft, somewhat commercial, mid-weight St.-Julien offers sweet black cherry and currant fruit intermixed with subtle herb, spice box, and smoke characteristics. While not particularly concentrated, it is a round, aromatic, soft, sensual 2006 to enjoy over the next 10-13 years.(Wine Advocate #181 Feb 2009) By Robert… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 91 Tasting Notes Deep ruby/purple in color, with a sweet nose of black currants, earth, licorice, and mineral, the 2000 is relatively powerful and dense for the normally restrained and elegant Beychevelle. Medium to full-bodied, dense, and chewy, it is showing even better out of bottle than it was from cask.… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes Wood spice, earth, black currant and sweet cherry characteristics are found in this elegant, medium to full-bodied, surprisingly rich, well-textured effort. From the bottle, it confirms the high quality I noted two years ago from barrel. More forward than usual for Batailley, it is a dark plum-hued wine… Read More »
Ratings by Robert Parker 81 Tasting Notes I had hoped for more based on cask tastings, but tasted twice from bottle, the 2002 comes across as a relatively one-dimensional Pauillac with pleasant currant flavors intermixed with tobacco leaf, cedar, and spice. It is medium-bodied but short and lacking persistence as well as depth. Drink it… Read More »