Top 100 wines for the first half of calendar year 2015

100. Musar 1989
99. Musar 1988
98. Musar 1974
97. Musar 1979
96. Musar Blanc 1975
95. Musar 1991
94. Ausone 1997
93. Chateau D'Issan 1999
92. Mascarello Barolo Villero 2007
91. Ceretto Barolo Bricco Rocche 2000
90. Pol Roger Cuvée Winston Churchill 1996
89. Cos D'Estournel 2008
88. Michel Colin Deleger Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru En Remilly 2012
87. Calon Segur 2008
86. Baron De Thenard Montrachet 2004
85. Leoville Barton 1999
84. Mouton Rothschild 1988
83. Sesti Brunello Di Montalcino 2007
82. Dominique Laurent Vosne Romanee Vieilles Vignes 1990
81. Pontet Canet 1962
80. Humbert Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Poissenot 1999
79. Ducru Beaucaillou 1999
78. Castello Di Nieve Barbaresco Santo Stefano Riserva Abesani 2007
77. Pichon Lalande 2004
76. La Mission Haut-Brion 2007
75. Haut-Brion 2007
74. Daniel Rion Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes 1999
73. Ducru Beaucaillou 1996
72. Leoville Barton 1996
71. Chateau Petrus 1934
70. Marchese Di Gresy Barbaresco Camp Gros 2001
69. Querciabella Camartina 2010
68. Camille Giroud Chambertin 2007
67. Giscours 1970
66. Chateau D'Yquem 2011
65. Ducru Beaucaillou 1978
64. Volnay La Bousse D'Or Clos De La Bousse D'Or 1996
63. Comtes Lafon Meursault Clos De La Barre 2011
62. Sociando Mallet 2005
61. Tua Rita 2012
60. Sorrel Hermitage (Blanc) Les Recoules 2001
59. La Lagune 1981
58. Pichon Baron 1988
57. Branaire Ducru 2005
56. Pichon Baron 2009
55. Pichon Lalande 1995
54. Ausone 1995
53. Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 2012
52. Sorrel Hermitage 2004
51. Rauzan Segla 2005
50. Pontet Canet 2012
49. Tertre Roteboeuf 1998
48. Pichon Lalande 2001
47. Cheval Blanc 1995
46. Le Gay 1989
45. Pontet Canet 2000
44. Pavie 1989
43. Pichon Lalande 2008
42. Haut Bailly 2008
41. Figeac 2011
40. Pontet Canet 2005
39. Montrose 2005
38. Dujac Morey St-Denis 1999
37. Jean Lionnet Cornas Ropertuis 1998
36. Montrose 1989
35. La Conseillante 2012
34. Cheval Blanc 1989
33. Le Gay 1985
32. La Conseillante 2009
31. Chateau Montrose 2010
30. Chateau Palmer 1985
29. Lamarche Clos De Vougeot 2002
28. Gruaud Larose 1996
27. Montrose 1996
26. Pommard, Chateau De Pommard 1978
25. Pichon Lalande 2010
24. Gaja Costa Russi 2011
23. Chateau D'Yquem 1995
22. Tertre Roteboeuf 2011
21. Cheval Blanc 1999
20. La Conseillante 2005
19. Chateau Figeac 1998
18. Chateau D'Yquem 1988
17. Pontet Canet 2011
16. Chateau Latour 1988
15. Leoville Lascases 1988
14. Pichon Lalande 1996
13. Chateau Palmer 2006
12. Pavillon Rouge 2004
11. Ducru Beaucaillou 2009
10. Smith Haut Lafitte 2009
9. L'Evangile 2009
8. Beychevelle 2005
7. Chateau D'Yquem 1998
6. Mouton Rothschild 1989
5. Pichon Baron 2010
4. Chateau Margaux 2004
3. Haut-Bailly 2009
2. Leoville Lascases 2012
1. Cheval Blanc 1975

Top 100 wines for 2014

Top 100 wines for 2014
Apologies for taking so long to get this list out, but 2014 was another fabulous year for wine drinking.

My top 100 for H12015 will be published I hope within the next couple of weeks. It was a half of two quarters: not a lot of exciting stuff in Q1m but  a ton of great wines in Q2. I am so lucky to drink so well, but balance this with a fanatical devotion to cycling....

100. Chateau Latour 1973
99. Ogier Cote-Rotie 1999
98. Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala 2001
97. Ornellaia 1990
96. Daniel Rion Vosne-Romanee Les Beaux Monts 1er Cru 2007
95. Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60 2001
94. Hohe Domkirche Tier Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese Nr. 4 1964
93. Gangloff Cote-Rotie La Sereine Noir 2000
92. Raveneau Chablis Valmur 2007
91. Coteau De Vernon Condrieu 2007
90. John Abreu Cabernet Sauvignon 1994
89. Andre Perret Condrieu Chery 2011
88. Roagna Barbaresco Paje 2003
87. Jamet Cote-Rotie 1991
86. Biondi Santi Brunello Di Montalcino 1997
85. Arcadian Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir 2000
84. Joh. Jos Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Lay Riesling Auslese 1964
83. Chateau Leoville-Barton 1999
82. Chateau Rauzan-Segla 2011
81. Chateau Belair 1995
80. Mascarello Barolo Monprivato 2004
79. Chateau Leoville-Barton 1996
78. Chateau Vieux Chateau Certan 1998
77. Michele Chiarlo Barolo Riserva Cerequio 2006
76. Faiveley Chambertin Clos De Beze 2007
75. Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2000
74. Chateau Magdelaine 1988
73. Chateau Leoville-Barton 2008
72. Cavallotto Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis 2001
71. Louis Jadot Corton Pougeots 1982
70. Dominus 1996
69. Bindi Composition Chardonnay 2011
68. Clape Cornas 1991
67. Chateau Rieussec 2001
66. Antinori Masseto 1994
65. Chave Hermitage 1989
64. Maume Charmes Chambertin 1997
63. Chateau Rauzan-Segla 2012
62. Rhys Skyline Pinot Noir 2008
61. Raveneau Valmur Chablis Grand Cru 2002
60. Chateau Leoville-Barton 2004
59. Humbert Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Poissonet 1999
58. Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 1996
57. Marchese Di Gresy Barbaresco Martinenga 2001
56. Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 2000
55. Chateau Pichon Lalande 1996
54. Chateau Figeac 1998
53. Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1990
52. Canonica Barolo Paiagallo 2009
51. Comte Armand Pommard Les Epenots 2002
50. Coche Dury Puligny Montrachet Les Enseigneres 2006
49. Dominus 1989
48. Caparzo Brunello Di Montalcino La Casa 1993
47. Ceritas Porter Bass Chardonnay 2009
46. Antinori Solaia 1988
45. Gilles Barges Cote-Rotie Cuvée Du Plessis 1991
44. Chateau Leoville Barton 1989
43. Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 1998
42. Ceretto Barbaresco Bernadotte 2000
41. Chateau Haut Brion 1975
40. Jean Lionnet Cornas Domaine De Rochepertuis 1998
39. Jasmin Cote Rotie 1985
38. Hermitage Les Dionnieres Fayolle 1998
37. Fonseca 1963
36. Chateau Montrose 1989
35. Roberto Voerzio Barolo Riserva Fossati Case Nere 2004
34. Jasmin Cote Rotie 1984
33. Chateau Rauzan Segla 2010
32. Chateau Lynch Bages 1989
31. Ceretto Barolo Prapo 1990
30. Penfolds Grange 1983
29. Roberto Voerzio Barolo La Serra 2010
28. Ceretto Barolo Cannubi San Lorenzo 2004
27. Chateau Pape Clement Blanc 1996
26. Noel Verset Cornas 1995
25. Chateau Calon Segur 2010
24. Chateau Haut Brion 1964
23. Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 1999
22. Chateau Montrose 1985
21. Penfolds Grange 1975
20. Chateau Latour 1986
19. DRC Richebourg 1964
18. Chateau Cos D'Estournel 1989
17. Noel Verset Cornas 1990
16. Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 1999
15. Penfolds Grange 1992
14. A&F Gros Richebourg 2000
13. Chateau Leoville Lascases 1985
12. Chateau D'Yquem 1988
11. DRC La Tache 2008
10. Penfolds Grange 1982
9. Coche Dury Meursault 2007
8. Coche Dury Meursault Genevrieres 2009
7. Jamet Cotie Rotie 2010
6. Louis Jadot Chambolle Musigny Les Amoureuses 1985
5. Penfolds Grange 1985
4. Chateau Leoville Lascases 2010
3. Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva 1996
2. Chateau La Conseillante 1990
1. Penfolds Bin 90A

The leaders debate - who won?

The leaders debate: who won?
When you read post-mortems of the debate between the seven party leaders broadcast on Thursday 2nd April, it makes you wonder if these people watched the same debate.
Similar to someone bringing their own wine along to an offline which turns out to be a dud/crap/knackered/dead. You are polite about it and he or she is raving about it, and crowns it wine of the night.
Of course these matters are down to opinions to an important extent. But I am going to start from the bottom up: from the worst to the best.
Leanne Wood: she was useless, trite, parochial, weak or had nothing to say on encompassing issues. You would never have to worry about getting your ankles wet in her deepest thoughts. She should have been kicked off the set Ann Robinson style. 1/10
Nick Clegg - he came across as a lightweight. His best moment was when he challenged Miliband to apologise to the British people for crashing the economy. But overall a lacklustre performance. 4/10
Ed Miliband - he had obviously been rehearsing in front of his mirror. And you have to give the boy Ed credit for giving it his best shot. We were rooting for him...Grrr! Tige! Go on my son! But he falls well short of being acceptable prime ministerial material. He has negative gravitas. Also in the debate he peaked too early and then started to flounder. Even worse he then came across as a hypothetical mix between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. 4/10
David Cameron - he came across as being elitist and miffed that he had to share the platform with six other plebs. Some of the mud thrown by Miliband and the others stuck too but they could have done a much better job of skewering Cameron on issues like hedge fund tax evasion. He just about got through this without too much collateral damage, but no better than that. But as he matures he gains gravitas, and he is so much more credible than Miliband. 5/10
Nigel Farage - although he is a bit of a one trick pony he made his points effectively if not controversially, and also scored points on other issues as well. Came across as a bit of a clown/court jester, and will probably be irrelevant in this election; anyway. Still 6/10.
Nicola Sturgeon - canny and bright as a button, she came across very well, scoring points easily against her other male protagonists. Her problem is that she can't stand Ed Miliband - she understands that he is not acceptable prime ministerial material - and has a secret crush on David Cameron. 8/10
Natalie Bennett - Natalie Bennett was the star of the debate. Stylistically she may have been a tad nervous and her delivery was not as smooth as some of the others, but substantively she was cogent, consistent, thoughtful, knowledgable on a range of issues outside the environment. Head and shoulders above the others on substance. And the clear winner. 9/10.

The leaders debate - who won?

The leaders debate: who won?
When you read post-mortems of the debate between the seven party leaders broadcast on Thursday 2nd April, it makes you wonder if these people watched the same debate.
Similar to someone bringing their own wine along to an offline which turns out to be a dud/crap/knackered/dead. You are polite about it and he or she is raving about it, and crowns it wine of the night.
Of course these matters are down to opinions to an important extent. But I am going to start from the bottom up: from the worst to the best.
Leanne Wood: she was useless, trite, parochial, weak or had nothing to say on encompassing issues. You would never have to worry about getting your ankles wet in her deepest thoughts. She should have been kicked off the set Ann Robinson style. 1/10
Nick Clegg - he came across as a lightweight. His best moment was when he challenged Miliband to apologise to the British people for crashing the economy. But overall a lacklustre performance. 4/10
Ed Miliband - he had obviously been rehearsing in front of his mirror. And you have to give the boy Ed credit for giving it his best shot. We were rooting for him...Grrr! Tige! Go on my son! But he falls well short of being acceptable prime ministerial material. He has negative gravitas. Also in the debate he peaked too early and then started to flounder. Even worse he then came across as a hypothetical mix between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. 4/10
David Cameron - he came across as being elitist and miffed that he had to share the platform with six other plebs. Some of the mud thrown by Miliband and the others stuck too but they could have done a much better job of skewering Cameron on issues like hedge fund tax evasion. He just about got through this without too much collateral damage, but no better than that. But as he matures he gains gravitas, and he is so much more credible than Miliband. 5/10
Nigel Farage - although he is a bit of a one trick pony he made his points effectively if not controversially, and also scored points on other issues as well. Came across as a bit of a clown/court jester, and will probably be irrelevant in this election; anyway. Still 6/10.
Nicola Sturgeon - canny and bright as a button, she came across very well, scoring points easily against her other male protagonists. Her problem is that she can't stand Ed Miliband - she understands that he is not acceptable prime ministerial material - and has a secret crush on David Cameron. 8/10
Natalie Bennett - Natalie Bennett was the star of the debate. Stylistically she may have been a tad nervous and her delivery was not as smooth as some of the others, but substantively she was cogent, consistent, thoughtful, knowledgable on a range of issues outside the environment. Head and shoulders above the others on substance. And the clear winner. 9/10.

Tony Blair nominated for Nobel peace prize

Former British Prime-Minister Tony Blair has been nominated for the Nobel Peace prize in recognition of his ‘tireless efforts in working for peace and promoting democracy in the Middle East’ in his capacity as the region’s peace envoy, and representative of the Quartet of the UN, the US, the EU and Russia. Mr Blair’s name was put forward to the Norwegian Nobel Committee by former US President George W. Bush who also cited his role in liberating Iraq, helping to overthrow Saddam Hussein and for providing crucial evidence uncovering Saddam’s WMD programme. Blair’s nomination has been endorsed by other current and former world leaders including Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who was also short-listed for the award, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt and former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi.

His nomination also received enthusiastic backing from other high profile figures including Peter Mandelson, Max Clifford, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Alex Ferguson, Roman Abramovich, Rebekah Brooks and Wendy Murdoch, the ex-wife of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. According to his close aide and long-time confidante Alistair Campbell, ‘Tony feels that receiving the Nobel Prize would be an overdue recognition of his achievements as the Quartet’s representative, and would be a fitting high note on which to bow out of the role to pursue his other philanthropic interests.’

For Blair it would be a crowning achievement after winning the Save the Children Legacy Award last November and the GQ magazine’s Philanthropist of the Year in September.  If successful he would join the ranks of other august Nobel laureates including Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, The Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama.  Previous awards Blair has received include the Liberty Medal in 2010 and the Thomas J. Dodd Prize in International Justice and Human Rights in 2003.

Top 100 wines in Q4 2014

100. Gangloff Condrieu 2001
99. Dominus 1991
98. Ridge Santa Cruz Chardonnay 2006
97. Mark Haisma Bourgogne Rouge 2009
96. Caparzo Brunello Di Montalcino 1997
95. Chateau Langoa Barton 2004
94. Louis Jadot Beaune Clos De Ursules 2001
93. Blain Gagnard Chassagne Montrachet Morgeots 2012
92. Bachelet-Monnot Puligny Montrachet Les Folatieres 2009
91. Chateau Pape Clement 1990
90. Chateau Clerc Milon 1998
89. Alain Voges Cornas "Les Vieilles Fontaines"1999
88. Prunotto Barolo Colonnello Riserva Bussia 2008
87. Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato 2010
86. Rossignol-Trapet Beaune 1er Cru Teurons 2002
85. Chateau Couvent Des Jacobins 2004
84. Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 1995
83. Vietti Barolo Lazzarito 2010
82. Chateau Langoa-Barton 2000
81. Gilles Barges Cote-Rotie Cuvée Du Plessy 2001
80. Chateau Leoville-Barton 2006
79. Chateau Poujeaux 2010
78. Chateau Grand-Mayne 1998
77. Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2010
76. Raveneau Chablis Butteaux 1999
75. Chateau Duhart-Milon 1996
74. Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto 1997
73. Chateau Haut-Bailly 1998
72. Chateau Leoville-Barton 1999
71. Ornellaia 1990
70. Chateau Figeac 1995
69. Giacomo Fernecchio Barolo Bussia 2009/10
68. TWS Exhibition Hermitage Blanc Chave 2009
67. Roagna Barbaresco Paje 2003
66. Chateau Cheval Blanc 2001
65. Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2002
64. Gangloff Cote Rotie Sereine Noir 2000
63. Coteau De Vernon Condrieu 2007
62. Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2000
61. Chateau Leoville-Barton 2008
60. Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60, 2001
59. Chateau Certan De May 1998
58. Chateau Belair 1995
57. Humbert Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Les Poissonets 1999
56. Hohe Domkirche-Tier Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese Nr. 4 1964
55. Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Lay Riesling Auslese 1964.
54. Chateau Leoville-Barton 2004
53. Noel Verset Cornas 1990
52. Dominus 1996
51. Arcadian Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2000
50. Chateau Pape-Clement 1964
49. Giovanni Corino Barolo Aborino 1999
48. Chateau Leoville-Barton 1996
47. Michele Chiarlo Barolo Riserva Cerequio 2006
46. Faiveley Chambertin Clos De Beze 2007
45. Canonica Barolo Paiagallo 2009
44. Chateau Beychevelle 2010
43. Raveneau Chablis Valmur 2007
42. Marchesi Di Gresy Barbaresco Martinenga 2001
41. Marchesi Di Gresy Barbaresco Camp Gros 2001
40. Dominus 1989
39. Caparzo Brunello Di Montalcino La Casa 1993
38. Chateau Vieux Chateau Certan 1998
37. Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 1998
36. Chateau Leoville Barton 2010
35. Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron 2010
34. Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1990
33. Chateau Figeac 1998
32. Clape Cornas 1991
31. Bindi Composition Chardonnay 2011
30. Jamet Cote-Rotie 1991
29. Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 1996
28. Coche-Dury Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseigneres 2006
27. Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 2000
26. Hermitage Les Dionnieres Fayolle 1998
25. Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 2001
24. Chateau Margaux 2001
23. Chateau La Conseillante 2010
22. Chateau D'Yquem 2010
21. Chateau Pichon Longeville Comtesse De Lalande 2010
20. Chateau D'Yquem 1988
19. Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2010
18. Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 2001
17. Chateau Rausan Segla 2010
16. Chateau Calon Segur 2010
15. Chateau Cheval Blanc 2010
14. Chateau Haut-Brion 1964
13. DRC Richebourg 1964
12. Noel Verset Cornas 1995
11. Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 1999
10. Chateau Montrose 2010
9. Chateau Lafite-Rothschild 2010
8. Chateau Haut-Brion 2010
7. Jasmin Cote Rotie 1984
6. Chateau Leoville Las Lascases 2010
5. Chateau Margaux 2010
4. A&F Gros Richebourg 2000
3. Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili Riserva 1996
2. Coche Dury Meursault-Genevrieres 1er Cru 2009
1. Chateau La Conseillante 1990

Bordeaux 2010 revisited

2010 revisited

Almost exactly two years after my first encounter I revisited the 2010 Bordeaux at the Institute of a Masters of Wine in London. The wines are generally much more shut down now and therefore difficult to decipher. These wines aged 4-5 years are in their most shut down phase. Most of the wines on my first encounter were left banks. This time it was a more balanced representation.

The year 2010 is brilliant in St-Estephe, Pauillac and St-Julien, better than any other vintage I have encountered. It is more mixed in Graves, and patchy in St-Emilion, with some awkward wines there. In Margaux in is generally good but not as consistent as the other Medoc communes. in Pomerol very good indeed in contrast to St-Emilion.

The most disturbing aspect I detected is the trend - that some producers can't resist - is toward making more souped up wines...and I don't think that is a problem which is unique to the 2010 vintage, though there are one or two wines which are refreshingly better in 2011 or 2012.

I will give a rundown of wines I tasted with scores, which are hardly objective or consistent, and whether the wine was a hit or a miss relative to my generally very high expectations.

Wines not shown include Pape Clement, Ducru Beaucaillou, Latour, Pavie.

Wines of the vintage (excluding whites)

Pape Clement (based on my last tasting, not tasted here)
Rauzan-Segla
Calon-Segur
Montrose
Leoville-Barton
Leoville-Lascases
Pichon Lalande
La Conseillante
Cheval Blanc
Haut-Brion
Lafite
Mouton
Margaux

Pessac-Leognan/ Graves
Haut-Bailly: Miss, 90. Too easy, obvious and dumbed-down especially in the context of what this estate can achieve. An estate that has wandered off to the dark side in the quest for points.
La Mission Haut Brion: Miss, 95. I know that sounds like a contradiction. A mammoth wine which is alas blighted by its colossal alcohol...through the charcoal and blueberry it always lurks. Maybe that will not turn out to be a problem and this will be a legend for our grandchildren to enjoy if they can afford it.
Smith Haut Lafitte: Miss, 90. What happened to the fabulous wines from 2002-06? Another estate that has gone onto the dark side with dumbed down wines. It's nice, but too oaky, and too low in acidity.
DDC: Miss, 91...nice enough wine but still too loose...too much fatness, alcohol, not enough nervosity, the 11 and 12 are better.
Margaux
Cantermerle: 91. Miss. I was expecting better (my expectations were high)... good wine but a bit over-extracted.
Cantenac Brown and Brane Cantenac, both hits, modern but classy ~92 for both.
La Lagune: Hit, 92 really shut down hard but definitely a wine that has what it takes, which will emerge into a beautiful swan on day.
Duforts-Vivens: Hit 93 lovely, restrained, balanced and classy wine.one to consider buying.
Ferriere: Hit 92, rougher and more rustic, but lovely stuff, grippy
Giscours: Hit 91 cool fruits, good potential
D'Issan, Kirwan, Lascomes both misses...over extracted, vanilla oak, out of kilter... ~ 88
Palmer: Miss 91...too obvious and easy, where is the grip and gravitas? Very different to other young Palmers like the ferociously backward 2000. What is going on here? The cynic in me suspects this has been fashioned to please well heeled and unsophisticated far eastern palates.
Rauzan-Segla: Hit 97...the quality of wine that Palmer should have produced and then some...this Rausan is svelte, beautifully pitched and a peach of a wine. One of the wines of the vintage.
Prieure-Lichine: Hit 93... A revelation, and a beautiful wine showing admiral restraint.
Du Tertre: Hit 93...similarly impressive, retrained and thrilling.
St-Estephe
Calon-Segur: Hit 97...minerals, earth, cool fruit, one of the great successes of the vintage. This is astonishly good.
Cos D'Estournel: Miss 91....Not as spoofulated as the 2009 but the accent is on easy for this estate's well-heeled clientele.
Cos Labory: Hit 90... A creditable effort for this estate
Lafon Rochet: Hit 92... You would expect this to be good and it is
Montrose: Hit 99...fabulous entry, balance and persistence...one of the wines of the vintage.
St-Julien
Beychevelle: Hit 96...shut down but a brilliant Beychevelle with a lot of class...when it emerges from its shell it will be thrilling
Branaire-Ducru: Hit 94...this has shut down hard compared to two years ago. The score will probably go up a couple of points when it emerges from its deep sleep. Very happy to own this.
Lagrange: Hit 92... Better than the last sample I tried a couple of weeks ago.
Langoa: Hit 92... Solid, like Lagrange, but outclassed by its more esteemed sibling.
Leoville-Barton: Hit 96...shut down, but a very complete wine. The best Leoville-Barton, it will probably merit a higher score in a few years.
Leoville-Lascases: Hit 98...it's quite closed but a glorious, elegant wine. I have not tried Ducru Beaucaillou, but this is the best St-J I have tried, which is a bit unfair on Leoville-Barton. LLC is also one of the wines of the vintage.
Leoville-Poyferre: Hit 93.. A little glossier, but a very good wine, with ferocious tannins.
Saint-Pierre: Hit 92...an estate which has been accused of going to the dark side...the oak is a bit more obvious but I did not find it obtrusive. And a very good wine to boot.
Talbot: Hit 92...perhaps the most restrained and shy St-Julien, but it lacks for nothing, which bodes well for the future when it comes out of its shell.
Pauillac
Duhart-Milon: Hit 93...lots of moving parts here, which are not all fully integrated, but lots of potential. Difficult to fathom aged four. If my score is off it is probably too low.
Grand-Puy Lacoste: Hit 95... More classic and restrained than the opulent kinky 2009, and a better wine for it...very GPL and will evolve the same way the 1995, 1996 and 2000 have.
Lynch-Bages: Hit 93...a chunky Lynch, with a lot of density and stuffing, tannic and brooding...maybe lacks elegance...no problem with this evolving into a great Lynch, but I think it may be decades away from its apogee.
Lynch-Moussas: Hit 93... I really loved this...it had a wonderful restraint and minerality, and it contrasted with the power and density of the Bages. This has elegance and finesse.
Pichon-Baron: Hit 96...titanic wine, with power and gravitas, a great wine to rival the 2000 and 2005 but very closed and tannic now.
Pichon-Lalande: Hit 97...this has that extra degree of finesse and class...a really gorgeous Comtessa.
Pontet-Canet: Hit 94...a big wine (in a big bottle) it is expressive and grippy, big and bold. I somehow struggle with the notion that this is a 100 point wine...the Pichons, Montrose and LLC are better wines.
St-Emilion
Beausejour-Becot: Miss 86 ..clumsy and awkward...the 2011 and 2012 are a lot better.
Belair-Monange: Miss 88...Oh the pity! What did they do to my beloved Belair? More extracted, but so wooden.
Berliquet: Hit...90...modern, but well made and pleasing.
Canon: Miss...85?...and 15% ABV. Lionel (that's Cockney rhyming slang)
La Dominique: Hit...91...lush but good wine, no horrors here...under-rated producer.
Figeac: Hit...93...complicated wine. My first impression was that this is unfocused and a miss. My second take is completely different. That this is a very good Figeac, true to the style and that this is a very good effort in a somewhat challenging vintage.
Pavie-Macquin: Miss...87...overcooked, much better in 11and 12.
Troplong-Mondot: Miss...87...sumo wine, lush and seductive but hot on the back with its 16% alcohol.
Clos Fourtet: Hit...92...proper St-Emilion but modern at the same time, very competent effort.
Pomerol
Bon Pasteur: Miss...87...contrived, easy, not at all interesting.
Clinet: Hit...92...minerally, grippy, (refreshingly) a bit old school
La Conseillante: Hit...97...a structured as well fleshy and complex wine with mineral overtones, and a stern tannic backbone, this is top drawers Pomerol, will challenge the 1989 and 1990 (neither of which ever closed down like this has).
La Fleur Petrus: Hit...95...a really complete and luscious Pomerol...I reckon the 2012 is as good perhaps even better, but this is lovely.
Gazin: Hit...94....a fabulous Gazin.
Petit-Village: Hot...93...another delicious wine
Trotanoy: Hit...93...structured and grippy, very good.
First growths:
Angelus: Miss...93...an interloper and a porn star among the first growth aristocracy. Smooth and silky like melted milk chocolate, you can see how some people could love this, and even buy it. Even I enjoyed the experience but I doubt I could drink more than a glass with its 15.5% alcohol. Not bad for what is really a cru bourgeois.
Cheval Blanc: hit...98...If the vintage was problematic in St-Emilion, there is no sign here because this is a near-perfect Cheval Blanc, which is beautifully balanced and precise, lush and silky as it fans out across the palate.
Haut-Brion: hit....99...a near perfect extraordinary and compelling wine. The most riveting attack of any of the first growths.
Lafite: hit...98...it is rich and powerful, but fresh, racy and superbly balanced, cool and aristocratic.
Mouton: hit...97...the most closed of all the firsts. Powerful, brooding, intense, rich and opulent.
Margaux: hit...99...a bit less accessible that a year and a half ago when it rose head and shoulders above the 2009. It is a brilliant wine and would be my pick of the firsts. Of course we did not try Latour. This has superb mouthfeel, perfect balance, elegance and presence.
D'Yquem: hit...98...rich layered and exotic with a very long luxurious finish. I tasted Climens straight after, and while the Climens was pleasant it was uninspiring and a bit flaccid in comparison.