Had another bottle of this the other night and it basically ran circles around some leftovers of the 05 Duhart and the 05 Brane Cantenac. So expressive on the bouquet, zesty-smoky-piney, filled with capsicum, fresh herbs and braised greens. Really the only quibble was a touch of dilution on the midpalate but otherwise it was en fuego and probably at its putative peak. 93-94 pts
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First bottle, first impressions: surprisingly friendly even without a decant, glorious nose of dark soil, basalt, fresh thyme and mint, and some sweet notes of cherry reduction. Cool climate profile with something leafy like chard, yet not austere with plenty of body and good fruit, maybe since the tannins are friendlier than the other vin garde vintages of Magdelaine I know best. Its dark, almost smoky profile is a surprise in a "light" vintage. The balance is exceptional. Tightens up a bit after some air time, so I expect this will improve for another decade or more, but delicious already. Completely true to the house style, a quintessential Magdelaine.
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Excitement grows as an 01 Prum is pulled from the cellar and placed in the fridge to chill. It does not disappoint, so full of energy and joy as it is, it’s like a honey drizzled bowl of limes with ginger zest and petrol highlights. Still shows youthful, stacked with body and brightness to balance the fruit and sweetness. Only its seamlessness reveals its 20+ years of maturation. Hard to find any fault here, true to the vintage but truer to the house style. Terrific.
Day 3: This is now really singing! The bouquet has come to life with richness and spice, redolent of honey, ginger, chamomile tea, and pomelo zest. The palate is more overtly sweet as well but with the requisite acidity to balance sugar. Delicious, long finish with a hint of bitterness like an apple skin.
Clearly, not ‘ready’ for peak drinking on the pop and pour. Will probably liquid joy for decades to come.
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1995 Château Sociando-Mallet
5/15/2024 - blanquito wrote:
Had another bottle of this the other night and it basically ran circles around some leftovers of the 05 Duhart and the 05 Brane Cantenac. So expressive on the bouquet, zesty-smoky-piney, filled with capsicum, fresh herbs and braised greens. Really the only quibble was a touch of dilution on the midpalate but otherwise it was en fuego and probably at its putative peak. 93-94 pts
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2011 Château Magdelaine
5/5/2024 - blanquito wrote:
First bottle, first impressions: surprisingly friendly even without a decant, glorious nose of dark soil, basalt, fresh thyme and mint, and some sweet notes of cherry reduction. Cool climate profile with something leafy like chard, yet not austere with plenty of body and good fruit, maybe since the tannins are friendlier than the other vin garde vintages of Magdelaine I know best. Its dark, almost smoky profile is a surprise in a "light" vintage. The balance is exceptional. Tightens up a bit after some air time, so I expect this will improve for another decade or more, but delicious already. Completely true to the house style, a quintessential Magdelaine.
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2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese
4/15/2024 - blanquito wrote:
Excitement grows as an 01 Prum is pulled from the cellar and placed in the fridge to chill. It does not disappoint, so full of energy and joy as it is, it’s like a honey drizzled bowl of limes with ginger zest and petrol highlights. Still shows youthful, stacked with body and brightness to balance the fruit and sweetness. Only its seamlessness reveals its 20+ years of maturation. Hard to find any fault here, true to the vintage but truer to the house style. Terrific.
Day 3: This is now really singing! The bouquet has come to life with richness and spice, redolent of honey, ginger, chamomile tea, and pomelo zest. The palate is more overtly sweet as well but with the requisite acidity to balance sugar. Delicious, long finish with a hint of bitterness like an apple skin.
Clearly, not ‘ready’ for peak drinking on the pop and pour. Will probably liquid joy for decades to come.
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