Haut-Brion Vertical tasting last year.

2001 Château Haut-Brion blanc
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, honey, detailed, light tropical note, scented and light floral note nose. Intense. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, fleshy, somewhat sweet tropical note, ripe and fruity, quite intense, long. Ads and ads with air. 95

1989 Château Laville Haut-Brion
Served blind. Towards golden. Wax, peach, minerals, almonds, honey, floral, light apricots note, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe, fruity, refreshing, detailed, balances between sweet tropical notes and salty minerals, elegant and refined, long. With answer in hand a good but not perfect bottle. 94

1918 Château Haut-Brion
Upper shoulder fill, château bottled. Bright ruby, orange rim. Figs, leather, minerals, terracotta, earthy, prunes, layered nose. Superb nose, magic. Fresh acidity, few tannins, fresh, detailed, prunes, leaner palate, mulberries and raspberries, elegant, almost Corton like feel to it today, long. 94 100 on pleasure.

1945 Château Haut-Brion
Upper shoulder fill. Ruby, thin orange rim. Intense chocolate nose, red berries, minerals, pepper, spices, floral, prunes, terracotta nose, layered. Cherries and leather. More and more intense with air, more and more layers. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, cinamon, chocolate, tea, figs, cassis, detailed, refreshing, sweet and sour, power, long, very long. 98

1947 Château Haut-Brion
Top shoulder fill, deep ruby, thin brick rim. Intense, scented, plums, figs, highly scented, floral, jasmin, mint, dried dark fruits, rich nose, raspberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, rich and rounded, intense, tannic with loads of fruit to back it still, refreshing and detailed finish, very long. 99

1948 Château Haut-Brion
Upper shoulder fill, deep ruby with thin orange rim. Scented, leaner, figs, minerals, terracotta, smoky, prunes, quite intense. Stacks up well after the others. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, sweet and sour, detailed, lots of cherrirs, anise and raspberries, leather and prunes finish, slightly drying finish to be picky. 95

1959 Château Haut-Brion
Top shoulder fill, ruby, brick rim. Scented, cigars, cedar, minerals, jasmin, mulberries, figs, prunes, detailed and intense and seductive nose. Layered and complex. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity, lively, detailed, rich, intense and fruity, ripe fruits, figs, leather, spices, exotic, long finish. 98

1961 Château Haut-Brion
In neck fill, deep ruby, thin brick rim. Tight nose, dark chocolate, black tea, intense and heavy nose, almost alcohol on the nose, Port like nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich and fruity but lacks nuances, lacks details, somewhat off bottle, maybe not the best storage. After ten minutes it deteriorates quickly.

1966 Château Haut-Brion
Low neck fill, deep ruby, thin garnet rim. Dark fruits but also some glue notes, dry and short, off bottle.

1970 Château Haut-Brion
Top shoulder fill, ruby with slight orange hue. Intense, dark fruits, scented, liquorice, leather and figs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, fresh but leaner, slightly dry tobacco, cherries and figs finish. 88

1975 Château Haut-Brion
Slightly cloudy dark ruby, thin orange rim. Tobacco, rose hips, tired nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate, slight iodine.

1978 Château Haut-Brion
In neck fill, pale ruby, orange rim. Oxidised.

1979 Château Haut-Brion
In neck fill, ruby, thin garnet rim. Scented, red berries, cassis, elegant nose, some blueberries and minerals. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity if leaner and towards thin, the fruit is more cherries and figs, good length. 89

1981 Château Haut-Brion
In neck fill, bright ruby, brick rim. Scented, red and darker berries, figs, leather nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate, some would say hollow, leather and figs, bit short. 87

1982 Château Haut-Brion
Ruby. Ripe, rich, scented, plums, leather, tobacco, intense, layered, detailed and complex, lovely nose, flirting, very mineral with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rich, fresh, detailed, ripe, plums, still structured, quite youthful, long finish. 97

1983 Château Haut-Brion
Ruby, garnet rim. Cassis, leather, slight fig note, red berries, detailed and nuanced, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, fruity, nuanced and detailed, elegant and refreshing, little bit short in this company. 91

1985 Château Haut-Brion
Ruby, garnet rim. Dark fruits, opening up, quite shut first but gets scented and flirting, but the tightest '85 HB I've tasted. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity, intense, detailed, refreshing, red berries, scented and elegant, lovely balance, needs time to open, long. A bottle going back and forth between marvellous and tight and astringent. 95

1986 Château Haut-Brion
Corked

1988 Château Haut-Brion
Deep ruby. Cassis, figs, leather, ever so slight bell peppers note, quite rich '88 nose, cooler fruits. Spicy and chocolate with air. More and more scented with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, firm, structured, leaner cassis fruits, leather, detailed, fresh, elegant, long. 93

1989 Château Haut-Brion
Deepish ruby, garnet rim. Highly scented and massive intensity, rich, ripe, layered, red and darker fruits, detailed, leather, plums, tobacco, superb nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, sweet ripe red fruits, darker berries, layered, detailed, nuanced, superb and hedonistic, impossible to describe, stunning length. 100

1990 Château Haut-Brion
Ruby. Scented, red and darker berries, nuanced, floral, intense and layered, leaping out of the glass. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity, lively and detailed, nuanced, elegant and long. 97

1995 Château Haut-Brion
Deep ruby. Scented, ripe, cassis, blueberries, anise, slight tobacco note, layered and detailed, intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich and fruity, layered, intense, plums and blueberries, but a bit lean finish, long. 94

1996 Château Haut-Brion
Deep ruby. Coffee, dark chocolate, cassis, blueberries, plums and tobacco nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, if tight and somewhat rustic, slightly edgy, bit dry finish. Falls apart with air. Faulty bottle.

1998 Château Haut-Brion
Deep ruby. Scented, ripe fruits, detailed, nuanced, fruity, plums, floral and minerals underneath. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and fruity, nuanced, detailed and refreshing, fleshy, long. 96

1999 Château Haut-Brion
Deep ruby. Rich, jammy and fruity, ripe and intense, vanilla, very youthful beside it's one year older bottle. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich, fruity and ripe, red-and blueberries finish. Smooth. 93


1978 Domaine de La Passion Haut-Brion
Ruby with orange rim. Cassis, rose hips, cherries, wood polish and bell peppers nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, bit dry and sweet and sour, good length. 88

Excellent Old Alsace wines tasting

1990 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile
Pale golden. Slight petroleum, nuts and apples, grapefruit and beeswax and a slight honey note nose. Fresh acidity, lively and fruity, elegant, brighter palate, rounded, fresh and layered, long. 93

1985 Léon Beyer Riesling Comtes d'Eguisheim
Towards lemon yellow. Apples, floral, something reminding me of the car shampoo I use, spicy, detailed and layered nose. Fresh acidity, mint note, apples and almonds, detailed, minerals, almost salty touch, youthful and long. 93

1945 Schlumberger Riesling Kitterlé
Amber. Fairly light nose, almonds, elderflower, apricots, minerals, increasing intensity with air, slight burnt coffee beans and dried fruits. Fresh acidity, lively, detailed, light sweetness, apricots and cinamon again, apple cake, quite and experience, long. 94

1996 Albert Boxler Tokay Pinot Gris Sommerberg Grand Cru
Towards golden. Intense, scented, fruity, raisins, rich nose, bit warm note. Fresh acidity, lively, fresh and detailed, sweet notes, ripe and rich, alcohol shows in tje finish. Long. 91

1996 Ostertag Tokay Pinot Gris Muenchberg Grand Cru
Towards golden. Rich, fruity, nuts, smoky note, grapes, intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe, fruity, intense, salty, nuts, bread, apricots, detailed and long. 90

1994 Weinbach Gewuztraminer Furstentum Grand Cru Cuvée Laurence Vendange Tardives
Amber. Rich nose, roses, iris, white lilies, exotic fruits, apricots and cardamum, intense. Medium acidity, fruity, intense, rounded and creamy texture, detailed, superb Gewurz. 93

1985 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen Grand Cru Vendange Tardives
(Magnum) Bright golden. Tight, minerals, smoky, floral behind, more towards roses with air, lychee, cucumber and spices. Medium minus acidity, smokey, leaner, dry and spicy palate, different Gewurz. Long. 90

1945 Schlumberger Riesling Kitterlé
Amber. Little less intense than last bottle, dried fruits, floral, peach, cardamum, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, lively and fresh, detailed, rounded, elegant and lovely balance, long. 93

1945 Schlumberger Riesling Kitterlé
Amber. More dried fruits than the other two bottles, detailed, nuanced, richer, apple cake. Fresh acidity, lively, elegant and fruity, richer, more rounded, purer, long. 94

1945-1998 Las Cases, twenty vintages

An excellent evening of twenty vintages of Château Léoville Las Cases. Rarely have there been more bottles in excellent condition at a vertical tasting. The wines of the 70's although very good in many cases, seems to be of a different style with more acidity, a leaner and more cherries and sweet and sour style, than the very fruit forward and rounder style, of both the 60's and older, and again from 1982 and younger. The 1945 was not decanted, but should have been, for about half an hour. The 59 and 61 was briefly decanted and would both have liked 45 minutes to an hour. The 82 and 86 got four to five hours, and would not have been harmed by even more, and the same goes for the younger ones. The 94 was the only one that could actually have had less (about five hours). Wines tasted from old to young.


1998 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Deep ruby. Cassis, some coffee, leather. Complex and layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruit forward and up front now. Needs ten years to come around, feels very young. 92

1995 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Ruby. Scented, cassis, leather, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, balanced and ripe feel, fruity and long, way to young. Forget it for ten years or more. 93

1994 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Ruby. Young 94. Scented. Licorice, cassis. Vanilla and oak. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, oak up front and has problems to balance. Drying. 87

1990 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Ruby, thin garnet rim. Scented and quite up front. Licorice, cassis and a quite rich nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins,  a bit sweet, sweeter than 89. Lovely and long, but lacks a bit of nuance for me. Needs ten years to shed some fat. 93

1989 Château Léoville Las Cases:

In neck fill. Ruby, very thin garnet rim. Cassis, somewhat scented, ever so slightly gamey and a touch of licorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, warmer fruit and feels ripe. Touch of coffee and plum compot. Long. 94

1986 Château Léoville Las Cases:

In neck fill. Ruby. Scented, deep and intense. So youthful and more open than the last few bottles, but also more air. Five hours in decanter, and could still have more. Layered and nuanced, very refined. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, superb texture and structure, still very youthful, superb bottle and incredibly long. 99

1985 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Very top shoulder fill. Ruby, garnet rim. Layered, slightly spicy, cassis, leather, scented and very nuanced. Excellent nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, very long, if ever so slightly lean. 95

1983 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Very top shoulder fill. Deep ruby, garnet rim. Off bottle. Warm storage.

1982 Château Léoville Las Cases:

One cm below cork fill. Ruby, thin garnet rim. Fresh nose, very nuanced for 82, layered, some cassis, some cedar, some scented notes, floral, not that ripe, very complex. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, layered and nuanced, refreshing and mouthwatering. Lacks that heaviness of some, superb. Very long. A stunning 82. 97

1981  Château Léoville Las Cases:

Top shoulder fill. Ruby, thin brick rim. Slightly scented nose. Flat palate, easy and short. 85

1979 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Lower top shoulder fill. Bright ruby, garnet rim. A bit dry and somewhat warm nose, slightly dusty. Fresh acidity and more fruity palate. Ripe and few tannins, not top bottle, but good enough. 89

1978 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Top shoulder fill. Ruby, garnet rim. Very tight, with air rose hips, leather, some bell peppers, almost spicy, pepper and cool blackcurrants. Fresh acidity, polished tannins, almost creamy, very fresh feel. Lovely bottle. Long. 92

1976 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Top shoulder fill. Ruby, garnet rim. Some bell peppers, blackcurrants, black tea, leather and cedar. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lovely freshness, playful and elegant, some would say sour, but for me refreshing. Lovely and refreshing finish. 92

1975 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Bottom neck fill. Slightly corked.

1971 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Very top shoulder fill. Ruby, thin brick rim. Some cassis,  vanilla and butter scotch.  Way more fragrant and scented after an hour. Fresh acidity, lively and ripe tannins. Fruit leaves the acidity halfway and even if quite lovely palate, it's to short. Lovely while it lasts.89

1966 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Bottom neck fill. Ruby, thin garnet rim. Cedar, almost "rough" cassis, tea and asparagus. Fuller with even more air. Fresh acidity, tannins polishes off, somewhat sweet and sour, long. More scented and rounder after an hour. 93

1961 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Very top shoulder fill. Bright ruby, thin orange rim. Extremelly closed, even after an hour in decanter, it's tight. Like last excellent bottle, surprisingly youthful. Etheral, somewhat minty and cool, cassis, touch of prunes, leather. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and still youthful, layered palate, very long. 97

1959 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Top shoulder fill. Bright ruby, thin orange rim. Rich, cassis, cedar, leather, touch of sweet tobacco. Floral and scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, mellow but rich, lovely palate. Very refreshing and long. 98

1955 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Danish bottling (Carl Reffs) Mid shoulder fill. Ruby with orange rim. Prunes, somewhat scented, some dust. Lovely acidity, somewhat maderized on the palate, lacks some fruit, dries a bit. Better than last bottle. 84

1945 Château Léoville Las Cases:

Mid shoulder fill. Bright ruby, thin orange rim. Stunning nose, scented, layered, somewhat rich. Subdued yet intense, floral, cedar, superb. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, mellow and polished, but still there, the slightly warm and sweet fruit of the vintage is somewhat subdued. Extreme length. 98

 

1945-1990 Cheval-Blanc, 10 vintages

1945 Château Cheval Blanc:
Echenauer bottling. Top shoulder fill. Bright garnet with orange rim. Rich nose, sweet lilies, exotic, spices, layers upon layers and very complex. Fresh acidity, tannins polished and more or less gone, or at least extremelly integrated into the texture. Lively, balanced, fresh and long. Broadbent: ' A total contrast to the uniquely mammoth '47. A more typical Cheval Blanc in its fragrance, deft touch and elegance'. 95


1949 Château Cheval Blanc:
Vandermeulen bottle, half rotten, old cork stating Vandermeulen Ostende. Deep ruby, orange rim. Dusty nose first, quickly blowing over to plums, figs, slightly of VA, cassis and perfumed. Fresh acidity, high even, mouthwatering, full bodied. Ripe tannins, intense, fragrant and lifted, savory, very long. Broadbent: 'Another wonderful wine which along with the Ch Mouton Rothschild and Ch Margaux, having the most perfect expression of the vintage'. 98


1955 Château Cheval Blanc:
Not much left of the label, but Berry Bros bottling seems to be confirmed by the cork and capsule. Top shoulder fill, bright ruby, brick rim. Exotic and floral notes over pure blueberries and figs. Fresh acidity, coffe and fuller palate, ripe tannins, elegant, long and cassis hint. Broadbent: 'Still being shipped in hogsheads to English wine merchants, some excellent Berry Bros' bottlings drinking beautifully at 30 years of age: rich, soft, earthy, completely rounded.' It continues to deliver at nearly 60. 94


1959 Château Cheval Blanc:
Mid shoulder fill. Deep ruby, orange rim. Nose feels unfocused, lacks a lot, feels tired and almost dry. On the other hand, the very last sip I had, seemed to have gained some fruit and had aquired some length. Either it was just my hope, or it would have needed a few hours of decanting. According to Broadbent '...deliciously lively...rich, glorious with perfect tannin and acidity.' , this one was never even close to that. Tired bottle.


1961 Château Cheval Blanc:
Top shoulder fill. Ruby, orange rim. Plums, warm fruit and exotic feel, some herbs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, not as rich, opulent, complex, actually miles from my last bottle (TN glued in below for comparison). Even so. 92

1961 Chateau Cheval- Blanc;
Bottled by Kjær & Sommerfeldt, Copenhagen. Opaque, brick rim. Intens nose of mocca, chocolate, red plums, dried fruits, almost like mature Colheita Port, some dust and forest floor, fantastic intensity and complexity. Intense mouthfeel, fantastic acidity which is almost packed into the fruit, fantastic long finish, coctail berries and dark chocolate, lasts for minutes. Really powerfull wine. 98


1966 Château Cheval Blanc:
Bottom neck fill. Pale ruby, orange rim. Perfumed, floral and figs. Lacks that overwhelming nose and seductiveness of my last bottle. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant, mouthwatering even so, fruit-driven and exotic finish. Broadbent: 'I have always preferred the 66 to the great 47 for though the latter is hugely impressive the 66 is the epitome of elegance. Apart from a cask sample in 67, with an understandable touch of greenness an tannins, evolving splendidly through the 80's, 5 star appearing several times......... This is what claret is all about. ***** '94


1971 Château Cheval Blanc:
Bottom neck fill. Pale ruby, brick rim. Tobacco, exotic, floral and perfumed. Nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant if lean body, nose gives more than palate, good length. 91


1975 Château Cheval Blanc:
Bottom neck fill. Ruby, garnet rim. Pure blueberries, cassis, leather end exotic spices and flowers. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, nice body and balance, but lacks a bit of its regular excitement. Long, and maybe I'm hard with it. 92


1978 Château Cheval Blanc:
Bottom neck fill. Ruby, orange rim. Perfumed, floral, touch of bell peppers that will probably scare off a few fans, anise and fine leather. Slightly exotic, spiced figs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, mouthwatering, elegant and fruit driven. Long. 94


1990 Château Cheval Blanc:
Bright ruby, garnet rim. Nose has everything one want's from Cheval, rich, exotic, spicy, perfumed and even some floral high-notes. Perfect body, fresh acidity, ripe tannins. Superb balance, complex and long. 98

1945, 52 and 82 La Conseillante

1945 Château La Conseillante:
Mid shoulder fill. Wyns Père & Fils bottle. Rotten cork. Buby with brownish hue, brick rim. Sweet & sour nose, oxidized apples, blowing of after ten minutes or so, and some floral notes and figs, leather and fine tobacco shows up. Fresh acidity, tannins gone, fruit stone, cherries, leanish fruit, good length. Not quite like the magnum at the estate last year in quality, lacks the wealth of aromas, but similar in body and structure. Broadbent is on 'faboulous fruit, perfect balance and complete', which fits better with the big format than this bottle. 92


1952 Château La Conseillante:
Top shoulder fill. Bright garnet. Blueberries, violets, perfumed, stunning nose. Fresh acidity, a bit dry mid-palate as the remaining tannins are a bit rustic, but more elegant finish when the tannins lets the fruit keep going. Gets more body and fruit with air. Broadbent states 'Always dependable'. 90


1982 Château La Conseillante:
Bottom neck fill. Ruby, garnet rim. Elegant nose, fruit-driven, ever more floral and perfumed with air, but never reached the niveau of layers that the last bottle had (that was decanted for three hours, this was not). Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, mouthwatering, elegant and fruitdriven body, more intense than last bottle though. Very long. Love it!. 95

1945 and 1947 Clos-Fourtet

1945 Clos-Fourtet:
Château bottled. Bottom neck fill. Perfect cork (soaked). Bottle came directly from the cellars of a British Lord and has layed in his cellar since release. Bright ruby, thin brick rim. Blueberries, rich, intense, gorgeous purity, leather, figs and tobacco behind. Elegant palate and fresh acidity. Some tannins still, delicate, layered, mouthwatering, very harmonious. Long and refreshing. In the 1983 Great Vintage Wine Book by Broadbent, 'Fine colour, nicely made but austere, Médoc-like. Long finish ***. Last tasted at Berry Bros in 1972. Drink now-1990'. This is exactly how I feel younger Clos-Fourtet's have behaved, even if the latest vintages have been less austere with more fruit. Still manages to make elegant Saint-Emilion.  95


1947 Clos-Fourtet:
Château bottle, mid-shoulder fill. Deep ruby, brick rim, floral, blueberries and some leather. A bit more fine tuned than the last bottle from same cellar and similar fill, not as intense, more fragrant. Fresh acidity, tannins gone, lively, fresh, elegant, feels quite pure. No notes from Broadbent. 94

1945 and 1949 Château Figeac

Château Figeac originates from an ancient estate that traces its roots back to the 2nd century, when a Gallo-Roman villa was built on the estate and named after a Figeacus. In the late 18th century, the property was close to 200 hectares (490 acres) in size, but was sold and subdivided several times in the 19th century until 1892, when Henri de Chevremont bought it. Henriette, the daughter of de Chevremont, married André Villepigue and became the owner of Figeac. The estate was managed by Alfred Maquin, as the Villepigues lived in Paris. In 1905, their son Robert Villepigue took over the running of the estate. After Henriette's death in 1942, it was unclear if Robert Villepigue or his sister Ada Elizabeth (who had married Antoine Manoncourt) would inherit the estate, but in 1946 it passed to Ada Elizabeth Manoncourt. In January 1947, Thierry Manoncourt (son of Antoine and Ada Elizabeth Manoncourt) took over the running of Château Figeac, and it was under his leadership that the estate rose to the front ranks of Saint-Émilion estates. He continued to run or be actively involved with the estate until his death in 2010, although his son-in-law Comte Eric d'Aramon took over the daily running of the estate in the 1980s. From Wikipedia.


1945 Château Figeac:
Mis en bouteille par R. Villepigue proprietaire. Top shoulder fill, old mouldy cork. Deep ruby, thin brick rim. Dark berries, leather, figs, floral hints, almost spicy. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, nice texture, nose far greater than palate that lacks fruit. Short would be to exagerate it, but not that long either, a bit dry and rustic. Already in 1989 Broadbent states the following: 'extraordinarily sweet, almost Mouton-like power and fragrance. Overtaken by tannins'. Spot on for me, the nose excites and had the palate followed suit, this could have been towards perfect. Can it come around? The lacking fruit at 65+ years now indicates not. 89


1949 Château Figeac:
Mid-shoulder fill. My third bottle, and finally! Deep ruby, orange rim. Rich, heavy nose, difficult to see the nuances on this one, its like a ball. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, intense fruit. Powerful if mature. Blueberries, cherries, figs, almost massive. Rich palate as well, but nuanced. Very long. 'A particular feature is its extravagant fruitiness and glorious fragrance' in september 1998 from Broadbent. Spot on for the fruit, not quite on the fragrance. But I imagine this wine (bottle) should have been decanted for a few hours, and it would probably have been a few points higher. 95

1945 Château Pavie

1945 Château Pavie:
Château bottled, mid shoulder fill. Cork rotten. Deep ruby, thin orange rim. Dry, earthy, dusty and leafy. For me tired and drying out, but some would probably love even this. This bottle was just too old, otherwise no faults. Another wine without tasting notes from Broadbent.

1945 Château Pontet-Canet

1945 Château Pontet-Canet;
Opened in a rush after I discovered it had started to leak.... Somewhat cloudy dark ruby with orange rim. Actually fruity on the nose, plums, prunes, raisins and a faint cassis, leather and floral, sweet anise. Sweet fruits, almost unripe strawberries on the palate, quite high acidity, tannins far gone, refreshing, feels like very old Barolo on the acidity and playfullness, RR would have gone over to Bordeaux on this one, really surprising that it's keeping up so strongly, evolving quickly in the glass, giving a memory glimpse of the 45 Clos Lambrays, getting ever more floral, roses, violets, adding body, mouthwatering, getting raspberries as well, intermixed with coffee, you have to understand and like old bottles to enjoy this, it's quite special, intriguing even. All the time it ads on, all aromas are not quite as lovely, after about fifteen minutes sweaty socks, rubber touch, then eucalyptus, and a first for me in a wine, aloe vera. Body gets fuller and fuller, acidity is just amazingly playful, what a shame I paniced, this is not the wine to be drunk by one self, remarkable wine indeed. After further ten minutes, furnish polish, wet forest floor and rotting wood, always with plums behind, and almost massive floral notes, lillies, almost sickeningly sweet lillies. Now also cassis on the palate, a huge amount of things going on in this one, aftertaste is never that long, but acidity goes on like crazy carrying a string of unripe wild strawberries, those sour ones you could not help but pick when you were a child. Black tea coming in, I have never felt such an array of specters and layers in any wine I think, at least not as easy to describe. Mr Paul Pontallier of Château Margaux talks about how nothing jumps out, here everything jumps out, right in your face. It has the acidity of the best 45 Ausone bottle, but far more nuanced, after thirty minutes the socks are starting to let go, and it seems to turn into a flower garden, oozes of violets, caprifolium, lavender, almost too much, almost too sweet. Ever more perfumed. After fourty minutes, figs and prunes are setting in, and after 45!, it seems to settle down, the race is over, its just holding out. It held it there for about ten minutes, then slowly fading, still higly enjoyable for about an hour and a half, but the nuances fell apart, ever so slowly, but the last glass died off fairly quickly. The grapes looked over to Mouton Rothschild, one of the most legendary wines ever made, but I have only found one more tasting note on this wine on the net. If more people had tasted it, would it have been another legend? On quality, 96, on experience, 100+. And I'm sure that with the now D level fill on this bottle, there are even better bottles out there. Cork was absolutely soaked, and more or less fell out of the bottle by itself, after loosening it with the cork screw.

TN below was posted by Jeff Leeve on cellar-tracker.

1945 Château Pontet-Canet (France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac)	6/16/2009	Jeff Leve	96
Ruby with brick tints, this wine did not look 63 years old. Its held up better than Raquel Welch. The perfume as a complicated melange of coconut, smoke, caramel, coffee and tobacco with hints of earth. Very concentrated and still young. Your palated was soothed with a gentle bath of fresh strawberry, cassis, and ripe, black cherry. The sublime wine finished with a compelling sweet, syrupy texture that seemed to remain in your taste receptors for ages. The wine continued improving in the glass for over two hours. This is what great wines are all about. Now, if only I can find some of this magic elixir when I get home. I imagine 05, with its selection and better wine making skills will be this good or better at 60 years of age. I wonder if anyone reading this will be around to find out?

Magnum 1945 Château Conseillante

1945 Château La Conseillante;

(Magnum) Ruby, brick rim, quite some sediments. leaping out of the glass, raspberries, leather, fine herbs, red berries, chocolate, some dry leafy notes, very complex. Fresh acidity, perfect texture, mouthwatering, gorgeous balance, Burgundy elegance with Bordeaux' refined complexity, tannins almost gone, superb length. 97

Tasted at the chateau, very generous!

Peace year Ch Margaux, 1945

1945 Château Margaux;

It's always very special to try a wine from 1945. Again, a bit worried about the mid shoulder fill. Ruby, with brick rim, very mature, leather, apples, plums, takes about ten to fifteen minutes before the floral and violet notes arrive, figs, fine black tea, think the tea department at Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly, some volatile high-notes in the back, not quite the 61 but a beauty. Minerals. Fresh acidity, elegant texture, ripe tannins, elegant body as well, not too intense on the palate, all about layers and elegance, not power and fruit, long finish. 93

Broadbent: A magnificent wine. Nothing fragile and feminine about this 45, at least not in its early years. From start, very deep in colour with a beautiful richness and intensity; in the 1970s with Latour-like massiveness and tannin. Its fragrance, the hallmark of Margaux, being variously described as ripe mulberry, crystallized violets, cedar, cigar box, creamy- and always glorious. On the palate its initial tannins ameliorating, now soft and velvety. 2000 *****

Some change during the last ten years it seems in the style, but I have a feeling that our bottle was not a perfect one.

And a few words from Ch Margaux:

1945 Château Margaux

1945 is a legendary year! In symbolic fashion, a great vintage came along to celebrate the end of the Second World War… Château Margaux 1945 is a very powerful, concentrated, mature wine, with a fine, complex bouquet, which is more elegant than the 1947 and 1949, which seem to have been more affected by the extreme heat of the summer. This wine possesses all the attributes of an outstandingly great vintage of its generation. The tannic freshness remains present on the palate and will very probably enable it to age even longer. (September 2002)

1945 Clos des Lambrays

1945 Domaine des Lambrays, Clos des Lambrays;
B/C level fill, about 5 cm below cork. Ruby with brick rim, lots of sediments for a Burgundy. Earthy, touch of strawberries, leather, tyme and lavendal, even anis. Gorgeous texture, perfect balance even if a touch of metal first. Later adding more and more body and fruits, silky mouthfeel as I have never had before, absolutely fantastic, cherries, red berries and darker fruits, more intense, leather, plums, tannins gone, after about 20 minutes it really peaks, good acidity but the silk hides it, increadible length. Then dying off getting more coffe and dry. Way beyond expectations, what a fantastic memory I will have of this wine! 98 (100 for a few minutes....)

1945 Chateau Ausone

1945 Chateau Ausone;

Expedie en Barrique par Eschenauer & Co, Bordeaux. Fill B-B/C, cork soaked and very wet when pulled. Deep ruby, brick rim, orange hue. Almost leaps out of the glass, fine leather, cedar, cigars, prunes, lacquer, cherries, leafy and some blackcurrants, chocolate. Fresh acidity, sweet and sour, great balance, a bit lean body, elegant in it's transparent way, some dry tannins still, quite shorter finish than the other two bottles I have tasted, falling a bit together after 25 minutes, then then minutes later somehow recovers and gets even more intence, this is my first for that, getting some darker fruits, plums and blackberries, after two hours very floral and roses, then last sip after about four hours, very pruny and blackberries, longer finish. 93

1945 Chateau Ausone, Trondheim fine wine encounter, Nidelven, part 1

1945 Chateau Ausone;
Expedie en barriques par Eschenauer & Co, Bordeaux. Deep ruby, brick rim, cork soaked and splitt in two, B-level fill. Mature, much prunes first, some meat and blood, minerals and some iodine, then hints of coffee and chocolate, then blackberries, hints of tobacco, hay and liquorice, subtle yet complex, needed some minutes in the glass. Fresh acidity, tannins gone, a bit lean, slightly rustic on the mid palate, acidity starts out fresh, then goes slightly metallic, then prunes and plum stones, changing all the time, Aromas flushes back and forth and changes like Aurora Borealis (northern light), now earthy and leafy, ads and ads while other aromas dissapear, black tea, then leather, then sour cherries, good balance, complex yet fragile and tender, transparent and layered, quite velvety texture after 45 minutes, never gives in, lasts for minutes. 95

This wine flowered during the war, and was picked during peace!!

This bottle was more developed than the last one, more fragile even, but this exceptionaly fragile finish that cuts through everything they have in common. This also showed such an array of aromas, and now, some days after, going through some extraordinary tasting notes, it is almost like seeing a movie, I'm shure it will be remembered as even better.

3 shortnotes from Bruun Rassmussen tasting last year, war time Sauternes

1942 Chateau Doisy-Däene;
Deep golden, gunpowder!, minerals, flint, some dried fruits, great acidity, not too sweet, dried apricots and raisins, good balance, long finish. 93

1945 Chateau Doisy-Däene;
Deep golden, again fresh acidity, some dried fruits again, unfortunately lacks complexity and length. 82

1942 Chateau Climens;
Golden colour, canned mushrooms, not too pleasant. 65

1945 Chateau Ausone

1945 Chateau Ausone;
Expedite en Barrique, Bordeaux by Eschenauer & Co. Fill top shoulders (B), cork soaked and shattered to pices while opening the bottle. Ruby colour, thin brick rim. Mature nose, some truffles, cedar, leather, liquorice, wood polish and mahogany, more and more intence with air, develops into an almost massively intence nose of black tea, blackcurrants leather and cedar. Complex yet fragile. Great acidity, some tannins still, and ripe ones, unbelievable fruit, cherry stones, mature and still youthfull freshness, great balance, complexity and elegance, fantastic long finish with fresh berries, lasts for minutes in its own carefull way. Mindblowing wine in it's brilliant combination of power, finesse and transparancy. 96

1945 Château Ausone