First impression was that this wine was kind of funky. There was some funkiness both on the nose and on the palate. In particular, there was some forest floor for sure, maybe some leather as well, and some mushrooms (especially on the palate). I decided to decant this wine because there seemed to be a fair amount of sediment (as expected). After about an hour in the decanter, this wine truly was shining! The funkiness had more or less gone away and given way to some typical Bordeaux (or should I say Pessac) characteristics. The nose and palate on this wine were very similar. There was a good amount of graphite (pencil shavings), some leather (a bit faint), and some ripe dark fruits (mostly cassis, blackberry, and maybe a bit of blueberries). The finish was quite long. I think that it is quite a good representation of the 2004 vintage in Bordeaux. It is not as opulent as other riper vintages but for those who prefer a more classic Bordeaux style (or maybe an in-between) this should be in your wheelhouse. There is a good amount of acidity. The tannins are now very soft. This really is a beautiful wine. I can understand why this is such a prized producer. I would definitely buy more if I could find it! If you have some, you could probably hold on to it for another year or two but I am not sure what is to be gained by keeping it in the cellar longer.
Anthony SanfordWine has become a passion. Join me as I develop my understanding and love for wine. Archives
January 2016
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