Potent, heady aromas of hot asphalt. I can understand some of the hype for this wine because it has an imposing presence, thick and muscular, in the weight class of a Monfortino. But it's also quite tight and bound up right now, more about future potential than anything you might get by way of a preview now.
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This is better than it's ever been. If you've ever doubted the old chestnut of a wine "putting on weight" with age this will disabuse you of any skepticism. The fruit here is as black and dense as road tar, still youthful, succulent, and sweet - except when this was *actually* in its youth it was nowhere nearly so rich and dense. But the accompanying flavors are the stuff that only comes out with bottle age, loads of smoldering tobacco and a scorched, singed character that's almost Pessac-like. This is still climbing up its slope, possibly with even more room for improvement, but at the very least a long ways to go before it tastes like something you'd call mature. Perhaps a successor to the underrated 1985?
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Second time with this wine. The first bottle shortly after it shipped was good but too monolithic to get a handle on. This one is still monolithic and hard to get a handle on, but it's starting to settle in to a more comfortable place. It's rich but not gloppy like the old style, dark-fruited and laced with gravel sensations and a touch of cedary toast.
7/8/2018 10:15:00 PM - Mr. Levenberg is also a regular contributor to the London, U.K.-based The World of Fine Wine, which published his article “Fraud accusations provide a rude awakening for fine-wine lovers” in June 2012, about the federal criminal investigation into counterfeiters of collectible wine.
6/1/2013 8:51:00 PM - Hey I am moving to DC area.. am big fan of your notes..
Are there any winebars and stores there that lean more towards "Natural" style wine makers.. for instance I am a Clos Saron and Donkey and Goat Guy when It comes to Cali.. and a Dressner/Jenny and Francois import drinker.. of course I also like great commercial wine.. I just cant seem to see anything like that there.
2020 Château Figeac
5/11/2024 - Keith Levenberg wrote:
Potent, heady aromas of hot asphalt. I can understand some of the hype for this wine because it has an imposing presence, thick and muscular, in the weight class of a Monfortino. But it's also quite tight and bound up right now, more about future potential than anything you might get by way of a preview now.
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2001 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
5/4/2024 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine: 96 Points
This is better than it's ever been. If you've ever doubted the old chestnut of a wine "putting on weight" with age this will disabuse you of any skepticism. The fruit here is as black and dense as road tar, still youthful, succulent, and sweet - except when this was *actually* in its youth it was nowhere nearly so rich and dense. But the accompanying flavors are the stuff that only comes out with bottle age, loads of smoldering tobacco and a scorched, singed character that's almost Pessac-like. This is still climbing up its slope, possibly with even more room for improvement, but at the very least a long ways to go before it tastes like something you'd call mature. Perhaps a successor to the underrated 1985?
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2020 Château Troplong Mondot
5/4/2024 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine:
Second time with this wine. The first bottle shortly after it shipped was good but too monolithic to get a handle on. This one is still monolithic and hard to get a handle on, but it's starting to settle in to a more comfortable place. It's rich but not gloppy like the old style, dark-fruited and laced with gravel sensations and a touch of cedary toast.
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