02 upper-end Bordeauxs: window now wide open?

[Jenise]

Bill Spohn reports in a tasting note about the 02 Cos D'Estournel: "Dark wine still with purple edges, very nice nose...gobs of fruit but the tannins are quite soft now, so while it will age well, it is delightful right now."

Those identical words also describe the 02 Palmer we tasted last weekend at Marc D's birthday party. About the Palmer I'd add that I cannot remember EVER tasting a young Bordeaux of that peerage that was so beguilingly open at this early stage of life. Though we drank 61 Cos, 66 Pichon Baron and 86 Leoville Barton at that party along with a lot of other truly stunning wines, it was that beautifully perfumed 02 Palmer that stayed with me.

Any other recent 02 experiences?

[David M. Bueker]

Nothing recent here, though I was considering digging out a bottle of '02 Barton some time soon.

I really enjoyed '02 Mouton and Branaire-Ducru a few months ago. The Mouton was a bit tight at first, but fleshed out really nicely with about an hour of air and was a real pleasure.

Of the 2002 1st growth reds, I've only had the Haut Brion (18th November 2010). My notes are as follows:

I had some of my 2002 Château Haut Brion with the cheese (drinking most of it by itself) - except for the bleu which I reserved for the following Barsac. In Bordeaux, rouges are typically served with pungent, creamy cheeses such as epoisses, reblochon and even chèvre. Personally, I've never gotten into that kind of pairing - much preferring having white Burgundy instead, Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé with chèvre - but I do "as the Romans do" when there.

The subject wine was actually quite nice though young - by far the best 2002 Bordeaux I have had thus far (not that I've had many from 2002). With a deep, somber, serious but comfortably mellow character, it showed good, firm structure, cedary plum, some black cherry, blackcurrant, raspberry and dried herb highlights, slight tobacco and violets that trail with the cedar in the finish. Just a few notches over medium-bodied, it is possessed of proper reserve. Quite nice. I wondered if it would grow up to be like the 1994.

Another noteworthy 2002 Bdx rouge I can recall offhand is that of Domaine de Chevalier. Of the 2002 Sauternes/Barsac wines, I recall liking the 2002 d'Yquem and de Fargues quite well.

Best,

N

Bill Spohn reports in a tasting note about the 02 Cos D'Estournel: "Dark wine still with purple edges, very nice nose...gobs of fruit but the tannins are quite soft now, so while it will age well, it is delightful right now."

Those identical words also describe the 02 Palmer we tasted last weekend at Marc D's birthday party. About the Palmer I'd add that I cannot remember EVER tasting a young Bordeaux of that peerage that was so beguilingly open at this early stage of life. Though we drank 61 Cos, 66 Pichon Baron and 86 Leoville Barton at that party along with a lot of other truly stunning wines, it was that beautifully perfumed 02 Palmer that stayed with me.

Any other recent 02 experiences?

By the time I tried that 02 Palmer (several hours after it had been opened) it wasn't showing much aromatically and the mouth was mostly massive tannin.
I am sorry I missed the beautiful window.

I had the 2002 Branaire recently, and it was wide open... pretty close to peak drinking.

Also tried the 2001 GPL (from half-bottle) recently, and it was ready to drink (and probably shouldn't be held much longer in that format)...

surprised by all these comments, I always thought 2002 was rather lean and structured , good wines but that would need a lot of time. Though I did think the Cos (which I quite enjoyed) as quite modern, and would drink earlier than most. I guess I'll have to dig out some '02s.

[Jenise]

Any other recent 02 experiences?

By the time I tried that 02 Palmer (several hours after it had been opened) it wasn't showing much aromatically and the mouth was mostly massive tannin. I am sorry I missed the beautiful window.[/quote]

Oh gosh, I'm sorry you did, too. It was so exquitely perfumed and voluptuously rich on the palate. Truly spectacular, and eye-opening: that experience will inform every Palmer I'm lucky enough to taste from here on out. And my own 04's whenever they come around.

[Jenise]

surprised by all these comments, I always thought 2002 was rather lean and structured , good wines but that would need a lot of time. Though I did think the Cos (which I quite enjoyed) as quite modern, and would drink earlier than most. I guess I'll have to dig out some '02s.

I have a case of Montrose. Should I open one for the cause? Yes, she said, answering her own question.

Loaded up on the 2002 Left Banks right after Matt's release tasting, and I recall both Palmer and Cos standing out for me. This thread is enabling me to have some 2002s pulled from my offsite.

Prices for 02 Bordeaux were relatively reasonable on release due to the timing of the war and Parker not reviewing them in advance, in addition to the good-not-great vintage itself. Cos at 60, Leo Barton at 37, Pichon Lalande and Baron at 40, Pontet Canet at 30, Lafite at 110 (!) are not prices I'd expect to ever see again.

At the time I thought there were some good left bank wines, although the right bank seemed a little too lean and stiff.

Interesting to hear they are opening up, I would have guessed another 5 years at least (based on our tasting at the time). I'll be interested to hear more reports, I'll see if I have anything easily available to open.

[Jenise]

Loaded up on the 2002 Left Banks right after Matt's release tasting, and I recall both Palmer and Cos standing out for me. This thread is enabling me to have some 2002s pulled from my offsite.

Hmmm...okay, this forced me to look at what I have in 02's. I'm shocked that I have so few. However, though I have no set buyign program per se and just pick up stuff I like when I see them at good prices, the 02's came out while our home was under construction and I was majorly distracted. Sauternes and three unexalted St. Emilions aside, I have only Lafite, Leoville LC and Montrose.

Of the 2002 Bdx rouges I've had, it seems to me that Pessac-Léognan performed quite well. I just had lunch today with a couple of wino friends, one of whom is a Margaux producer - the topic came up and even he admitted that, in his opinion, Pessac-Léognan did well in 2002.

[David M. Bueker]

Hmmm...okay, this forced me to look at what I have in 02's. I'm shocked that I have so few. However, though I have no set buyign program per se and just pick up stuff I like when I see them at good prices, the 02's came out while our home was under construction and I was majorly distracted. Sauternes and three unexalted St. Emilions aside, I have only Lafite, Leoville LC and Montrose.

Sell the Lafite & buy everything else with the proceeds.

Looking at my own holdings, I have a moderate range of wines, but only bought 2 of them in quantity: Leoville Barton and Sociando Mallet. Everything else is 3s and 2s.

Prices for 02 Bordeaux were relatively reasonable on release due to the timing of the war and Parker not reviewing them in advance, in addition to the good-not-great vintage itself. Cos at 60, Leo Barton at 37, Pichon Lalande and Baron at 40, Pontet Canet at 30, Lafite at 110 (!) are not prices I'd expect to ever see again.

My take is that release prices of Bordeaux up until the 02 vintage were relatively reasonable then. The release price curve steeply shifted upwards starting 2003. But, in addtition to the low prices, I like the 2002 vintage as it appears to have that throwback Bordeaux kind-of thing to it.

Had Pontet-Canet last summer. Needs another 5 years, or about 3 hours in the decanter.