Small Beychevelle (1952-2009) vertical and more

1981 Château La Louviere Blanc
Towards lemon yellow. Apricots, nuts, grapefruit, minerals, very youthful nose for it's age. Fresh acidity, fruity, minerals, lemons, grapefruit, quite intense, good length. Surprisingly youthful. 89

2004 Château Batailley
Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, intense, minerals, lightly scented nose, some spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe, intense, spicy, somewhat dry texture, long. 90

2004 Domaine de Chevalier
Ruby. Red and darker berries, fruity, cassis, blueberries, some vanilla and spices. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, fresh, lively, structured, long, needs time. 91

1996 Domaine de Chevalier
(Magnum) Ruby. Cassis, dark fruits, intense, layered, leather and tobacco on the nose. Scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, intense, detailed, minerals, figs and cassis, long. 93

1996 Château Pontet-Canet
Ruby. Scented, intense, cassis, leather, some vanilla, little bit tight even after four hours in decanter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, fruity, structured, red berries, long. 92

1983 Château Talbot
Ruby, garnet rim. Figs, leather, bit tired. Lean and dusty.

1983 Château Figeac
Ruby, garnet rim, lots of sediments. Figs, leather, scented, chocolate, raisins. Fresh acidity, few tannins, somewhat fruity, rounded, leaner finish, tiering. 85

1983 Château Beychevelle
Ruby, garnet rim. Red berries, figs, leather, some anise. Fresh acidity, ripe and few tannins, leaner palate, soft texture, little bit short. 86

2009 Château Beychevelle
Ruby. Dark berries, vanilla, spicey, tight nose, not as open as some. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, cassis and blueberries, rounded, long. 92

1986 Château Beychevelle
Ruby, thin garnet rim. Scented, red berries, some floral notes, detailed, lovely nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe, detailed, red and darker fruits, fairly youthful expression for its age, holding up well. Long. 92

1982 Château Beychevelle
Ruby, garnet rim. Scented, red berries and darker fruits, floral, elegant nose, some ripe notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cassis, figs, red berries, detailed, lovely balance. 93

1979 Château Beychevelle
Ruby, garnet rim. Dusty nose. Tired palate.

1975 Château Beychevelle
Ruby, brick rim. Leather, some prunes and figs, not the most intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, some red berries, thin finish. 84

1952 Château Beychevelle
Ruby, orange rim, lots of sediments. Coffee, prunes, figs, drying nose. Fresh acidity, few tannins, somewhat softer texture mid palate, leaner and drying finish. 85

1990 Leon Beyer Comtes d'Eguisheim Gewürztraminer
Golden. Floral, some roses, ligtly spicy apples. Almost flabby acidity, fruity, holding up, but lacks details and complexity. 87

1982 Château Suduiraut
Deep golden. Some apricots, bit dried fruits and apricot stone, some mushrooms. Fresh acidity, fruity if leaner, apricots, more acidic bottle, little bit off bottle. 88

1947 Giacomo Borgogno Barolo Canubbi
Dead.

Excellent Talbot 86, Clos Fourtet 88, Hudelot-Noellat VR Suchots, Lanson Gold label 96 and more

2000 Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs
Pale lemon yellow, small bubbles. Apples, lemons, some yellow fruits and light minerals. Fresh acidity, elegant mousse, fresh and fairly fruity, some yellow apples, long if a bit lean finish. 90

1996 Lanson Gold Label
Towards lemon yellow, small bubbles. Apples, minerals, slightly flinty, intense nose. Fresh acidity, lively mousse, fresh, lively, intense, apples, citrus, minerals, very long finish. 94

2008 Hudelot-Noellat Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots
Pale bright ruby. Lovely red berries and faintly scented nose, delicate and detailed, more intense with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant and light texture and palate, more intense fruit, lovely balance, quite mouthwatering, long. 93

2002 Château Pichon-Longueville
Ruby. Cassis, starting cedar notes, some tobacco and leather, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, youthful and fresh palate, bit lean and slightly raw texture without air, long. 91

2000 Château Montus Cuvée Prestige
Ruby. Blackberries and raspberries with tobacco and coffee on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, slight drying texture, could have more fruit mid palate, mulberry note, long finish. 90

2008 Pignan Chateauneuf-du-Pape Réservé
Light ruby, brick rim. Ripe plums, figs and blackberries nose, quite seductive nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich and fruity, slightly warm with delicate fruit behind, long. 91

1967 Fontanafredda Barolo Vigna La Rosa
In neck fill. Pale orange, oxidative and earthy, thin and dry palate

1967 Fontanafredda Barolo Vigna La Villa
In neck fill. Pale ruby with brick rim and lots of sediments. Earthy, touch of prunes, very oxidized. Acidic and lean palate, drying finish.

1964 Mirafiore Barolo
In neck fill. Cloudy brick. Dry and dusty nose, some earth and wet mud nose, slight tar and roses note fat back. Lean and thin, dry.

1952 Fontanafredda Barbaresco
Almost in neck fill. Watery red with orange rim and lots of sediments. Tar, roses and dusty nose, some cherries. Fresh acidity, few tannins, leaner palate, still balanced if lacking in complexity, good length. Must have been very good. 86

1990 Produttori del Barbaresco Riserva Pora
Ruby, broad orange rim. Oxidative nose of tar and roses, very mature, slightly figgy and sherry notes. Fresh acidity, lean and dry.

1988 Clos Fourtet
Bottom neck fill. Ruby. Lovely and elegant floral nose, detailed, layered, seductive nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate but playful and detailed, lovely freshness, not the most complex but very charming indeed, long. 92

1986 Château Talbot
Very top shoulder fill. Ruby, very thin brick rim. Youthful, fresh and detailed nose, layered, complex, leather, cassis, superb nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, some sweet and ripe notes and still fresh and vigorous, detailed again, layered, superb, refined, superb bottle. Very long. 96

1988 Château Suduiraut
Golden. Apricots, light caramel note, especially light for producer and vintage, tropical and some fried pineapples nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, fresh and rounded mid palate, bit more edgy finish, long. 92

1991 Hutcheson Vintage Port
Slightly cloudy ruby with garnet rim. Some figs, dark berries and alcohol note nose. Fresh acidity, some figs and fairly fruity palate overshadowed by a bit obvious alcohol. Good length. 89

1977 Dow's Vintage Port
Very pale brick. Plums, figs, dades, some dark notes. Fresh acidity, tannins gone, bit alcoholic, dried fruits, not to complex, long. 90

Château Latour vertical, 1934-2001

2001 Château Latour:
Ruby. Cassis, leather, vanilla, tobacco nose, starting to mature. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, refreshing, cool fruit, ads with a few hours in decanter, almost sweet cassis and spicy palate, long finish. 94

1997 Château Latour:
Bright ruby, garnet rim. Cedar, cassis, starting prunes, scented and floral nose, lovely, ads with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate, refreshing if a bit easy going, fairly fruity, coffee finish. Good length. 89

1995 Château Latour:
Ruby, garnet rim. Scented, fruity, cassis, leather, starting figs, superb nose. Coffee and a faint bell peppers touch that dissapears with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, stil has it's grip on the palate, textured and youthful, needs ten years to settle still, long. 95

1993 Château Latour:
Ruby, garnet rim. Some leather, cassis, leaner nose, subdued cassis. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lean and a bit dry, good length. Touch of cork after twenty minutes in decanter.

1992 Château Latour:
Ruby, thin brick rim. Scented, leather, anise, cassis and figs, bit lean nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate, slight cherries and stone from stone fruit touch,  bit more fruit with air, good length. 87

1991 Château Latour:
Ruby. Elegant red berries nose, scented, fruity and nuanced, not that complex. After a short decanting it's a little bot more scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate, refreshing, gives less than last bottle, good length. 88

1990 Château Latour:
Fill 4mm below cork. Ruby, thin garnet rim. Scented, fruity, cassis, leather, layered and complex, astonishingly youthful nose, ads with air, gorgeous! Floral notes, seductive. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, refreshing, intense, focused, fruity, superb texture, bit tight knit still, long indeed. 96

1989 Château Latour:
Ruby, garnet rim. Fruity, nuanced, cassis, leather, floral, bit tight nose. Scented, gorgeous nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rounded and fruity palate, bit tight, needs air to open, refreshing and long. 96

1988 Château Latour:
Ruby, scented, floral, quite seductive nose. Fruity, cassis, leather, elegant and nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh and lively, fruity, intense and playful, lovely, long, another fantastic '88 Latour bottle. 94

1986 Château Latour:
From Bruun Rasmussen Auctions. Top shoulder fill, soaked cork. Ruby, garnet rim. Corked.

1986 Château Latour:
New bottle fetched, low neck fill. Deep ruby, thin garnet rim. Tight, some vanilla, cassis, leather, burnt rubber and herbs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, intensely structured, lacks fruit, not the best bottle I've had, must be warm storage. 87

1986 Les Forts de Latour:
Ruby, garnet rim. Intense, coffee, cassis, tea notes, bit warm touch, herbs. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, drying and not very elegant, warm storage bottle. 86

1985 Château Latour:
Top shoulder fill, soaked cork. Ruby, garnet rim. Layered, nuanced, elegant and refreshing nose, scented and aristocrathic, superb. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate, refreshing, playful and nuanced, lovely indeed, long. 95

1984 Château Latour:
In neck fill. Ruby, brick rim. Fresh, lean and redcurrants and raspberries nose. Touch of tobacco, more scented after twenty minutes in decanter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner palate, crisp feel to it, some lovely red berries notes, not that complex, good length. 87

1983 Château Latour:
Bottom neck fill. Ruby, garnet rim. Scented, bit tight, cassis and red berries nose. Touch of tobacco, ads with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant, fruity and nuanced, refreshing, lovely balance, could have more intensity, long. 93

1982 Château Latour:
Bottom neck fill. Ruby, garnet rim. Corked.

1978 Château Latour:
Very top shoulder fill, soaked cork. Ruby, brick rim. Red berries, faint hint of leather and tobacco, quite a pure nose. Ads body with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, bit easy going, refreshing, leaner and nuanced, again unripe red berries palate, long finish. 90

1976 Les Forts de Latour:
Ruby, garnet rim. Warm, dry, dusty and a bit cooked nose, some herbal notes behind. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresher palate, some red and darker berries, good length, probably somewhat warm storage. 85

1975 Château Latour:
Top shoulder fill, soaked cork crumbling to pieces when opened. Ruby, thin orange rim. Oxidized and off bottle

1971 Château Latour:
In neck fill. Ruby, orange rim. Scented, lean, cherries, anise and tobacco nose. Fresh acidity, ripe and few tannins, lean and easy going, iodine finish, short. Bit more fruit with air. 82

1970 Château Latour:
In neck fill. Decanted for three hours. Deep ruby, garnet rim. Tight, closed, shutt, red berries far behind. Finally some scented touch and floral notes starting to evolve, getting more intense, slowly, took five hours, layered, nuanced, violets, pure cassis, refreshing nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, massive, textured, a cathedral of a wine, massive mountain of tannins, takes time to open, long, nuanced, fresh. 98

1970 Château Latour:
Bottom neck fill. Decanted thirty minutes. Deep ruby, garnet rim. Tight, cassis, some black tea, scented, ads with more air, very slow to evolve in the glass. coffee eventualy, then red berries. Incredibly slow. Fresh acidity, ripe and massive tannins, tight as a athletes butt, firm, long and focused. Refreshing, lively and starting to really give with lots of air, but never top. 96

1969 Château Latour:
Upper shoulder fill, soaked cork. Garnet with orange rim. Lean and dry nose, touch of figs and wood polish, nuts and leather. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lean and drying. 78

1966 Château Latour:
Upper shoulder fill. Redcurrants red with thin brick rim. Bit lean nose, red berries, cherries, anise and leather, some tobacco and a slight floral note. Fuller and fruitier with air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, refreshing and fruity, leaner palate, lovely texture, lively and elegant, long if a bit lean finish. 93

1964 Château Latour:
Upper shoulder fill, soaked cork. Bright ruby, thin brick rim. Redcurrants, rose hips, leather, anise, leaner and focused nose, opens up tighter than last good bottle. Scented with more air. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, surprisingly biting texture, lovely balance, refreshing, long. Falling a bit apart with air. 91

1959 Château Latour:
Bonhams auction buy. Towards mid shoulder fill, soaked cork. Ruby, orange rim, sediments, not fully clear. Leather and prunes nose, lightly floral, not that intense. After half an hour of air, scented, violets, nuanced and elegant, aristocratic. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lean and narrow, first, fruity and of not intense, way more rounded. Lovely texture and structure, almost sweet, touch of prunes and figs, ripe blueberries, long. 96

1952 Château Latour:
Upper shoulder fill, soaked cork. Ruby with brownish hue, orange rim. Leather, tobacco, drying and tired nose. Fresh acidity, lean and metallic. Tired and the shortest Latour I've tasted. 72

1951 Château Latour:
Upper shoulder fill. Ruby, orange rim. Leather, nuts, drying and a bit dusty, some figs. Fresh acidity, ripe and few tannins, lean, drying properly, short. 78

1947 Château Latour:
Upper shoulder fill. Bright ruby, orange rim. Slightly floral, scented, some spices, red berries nose. With air, leather, black tea, nuanced scented and anise. Lean and dry palate, drying. With air, (two hours open and about twenty minutes in a narrow caraffe), more cherries and plum stones, red berries, fuller body, if never full, long. 95

1934 Château Latour:
Mid shoulder fill, soaked cork. Cloudy orange, gone.

2001 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey:
Served blind. Golden. Honey, wax, apricots, vanilla, botrytis, rich nose. Fresh acidity, lively and fruity, elegant palate, refreshing, slight bitter note, lively and long. Lovely indeed. Nailed producer, missed the vintage with good margin, evolved for it's age. 92

1967 Château de Fargues:
Golden, amber hue. Rich nose, dried apricots, orange peel and marmalade, almonds, vanilla, layered nose. Fresh acidity, refreshing and fruity, bit lean palate, refreshing, bit bitter finish. Long. Could be more together. 93

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

1952 Beychevelle

1952 Château Beychevelle:
Deep ruby, thin garnet rim! Lots of sediments. Layered and complex nose, floral, cedar and cassis. Fresh acidity, ripe and superbly elegant tannins. A bit lean body and therefore not a style for everyone, but just adorable in my world. Very long finish. 92

1952 Climens

1952 Château Climens;

Top shoulder fill. Amber, pure honey, some polish and wax, very mature and not that complex nose. Quite fresh acidity, not that sweet any more, gives more on the palate, getting more complex with air, very long finish. 90

Broadbent: A so-so sample in 1954, and at the château, tasted ex-cask it was good but I preferred Coutet. Nine far more complimentary notes between 1959 and 1982 and different bottling's. Good but not great, though without much room for improvement. 1982 ****

1952 Pontet-Canet

1952 Château Pontet-Canet;

Cruse bottling, very top shoulder fill, garnet with brick/ orange rim. Leather, coffee, tea, chocolate, earthy, cherries and red berries. Good acidity, ripe tannins, some metallic touches, bark and cherry tree wood (think when you were young and climbing in the cherry trees) and figs. More expressive on the nose than on the palate. 89

Broadbent has no notes on this one, but rates 1952 as a **-**** star vintage. The growing season was very satisfactory up until September which was cold and unsettled. The harvest was fairly early and I suspect the the unripeness of some of the crop is responsible for its variability. Best in Graves and on the Right Bank, harder, more unyielding in the Médoc.

1952 Cappelano

1952 Cappelano Barolo;
Brick, watery rim, tar, roses, anis, slightly iodine, fresh acidity, blood, ripe tannins, some cherries behind, tiering. 84