WTN:Tardieu-Laurent, Les Becs Fins, CdR 2005

* 2005 Tardieu-Laurent Côtes du Rhône Villages Les Becs Fins - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages (4/16/2008)

Very dark opaque purple colour. The nose was extremely closed, offering a hint a peppery leather and some masked fruit. The real hope came on the palate, with a very chewy, meaty mouthful, followed by a good acidic counterbalance before the tannins took over, shutting everything down for a while. Once my teeth had recovered I was left with a lovely long aftertaste, somewhat reminiscent of dark berries on a stormy night. I think, with a year or two of sleep, this will be definitely worth waking up again.

This wine actually started to open up after 3 days!
I am hesitant to put a note on this wine as I think (hope) it is temporarily dumbing down.

Simon

Posted from CellarTracker

[Jenise]

I am hesitant to put a note on this wine as I think (hope) it is temporarily dumbing down.

Simon

Posted from CellarTracker

Never hesitate; you offer a data point to someone else who might be considering opening that bottle but after reading your note, decide to put it aside for awhile. No sense killing TWO infants!

Never hesitate; you offer a data point to someone else who might be considering opening that bottle but after reading your note, decide to put it aside for awhile. No sense killing TWO infants!

Which is precisely why I don't want to give a note. Here I find myself torn between the giving of a note right now when the wine is not showing well and giving a note on its potential, the two of which are different. If I was quickly looking at other people's tasting notes (scores)and saw a wine was rated with 'B' or 85 or three stars or whatever short cut that is used to rate a wine, then I may be less inclined to buy it. That would be a pity if the wine infact had amazing potential with some time on its side. Also, when it comes to other websites where the cumulation of scores gives a definative score, then a 'bad' note would bring the score down, possibly misrepresenting the wine at its best.

The real question is, should I score a wine on how it presents itself now or on its potential? I imagine that a bottle of good Bdx drunk at release would not necessarily taste as good as it can potentialy get, and yet the scores I have seen often reflect its potential, not the 'here and now'.On the other hand it is important that infantiside is not committed, which is why I mentioned the potential without rating it.

Gosh, looking back at what I have written, it looks as if I just go around trying to find the highest score. Sometimes they do help, but it isn't the first thing I go for. It really depends on who is writting the note.

Gotta run.....the music beckons...and the rehearsal is starting up again.
Bye

Hi Jenise,

I just looked over your reply and realized that I was imprecise in my first posting. When I said 'note' I actually meant 'score' which I hope explains my first reply to you, above. I totally agree with you that notes should be posted. I am not so sure about scores......

Simon

[Jenise]

Hi Jenise,

I just looked over your reply and realized that I was imprecise in my first posting. When I said 'note' I actually meant 'score' which I hope explains my first reply to you, above. I totally agree with you that notes should be posted. I am not so sure about scores......

Simon

You saved me from having to explain. Yeah, I agree, would be unfair to score.

Hope the rehearsal went well!

[David M. Bueker]

I'm not sure that scores ever make sense.

Well...

Ok, scores never make sense.