So I'm going to a Bordeaux Tasting tomorrrow night

[Jenise]

And I'm going to choose four bottles from the list below. Could use some advice about what's drinking well. This group is very inexperienced with Bordeaux and I'm not inclined to go too high end--a smattering across ranges would be better--and I'm probably most interested in the vintages 94 - 01, and especially 98 where I'm strong. But still, need advice and here's what I have to choose from. All opinions welcome!

1966 Giscours Margaux
1966 Leoville Las Cases St. Julien
1966 Pichon Baron Paulliac
1976 Grand Puy Lacoste Paulliac
1981 Grand Puy Lacoste Paulliac
1981 Montrose St. Estephe
1983 de Courlat Lussac Bordeaux
1986 Gruaud Larose St. Julien
1986 Gruaud Larose St. Julien
1986 Gruaud Larose St. Julien
1986 Meyney St. Estephe
1986 Mouton Rothschild Paulliac
1986 Pontet Canet Paulliac
1986 Smith Haut Lafite Bordeaux
1988 Lafite Rothschild Paulliac
1988 Latour Paulliac
1988 Margaux Margaux
1990 Cos D'Estournel St. Estephe
1994 Canon St. Emilion
1994 Grand Puy Lacoste Paulliac
1994 Leoville Las Cases St. Julien
1994 Margaux Margaux
1994 Pavie Macquin St. Emilion
1994 Pichon Baron St. Julien
1994 Rochebrune St. Emilion
1995 Canon St. Emilion
1995 Gazin Pomerol
1995 Giscours Margaux
1995 Haut Marbuzet St. Estephe
1995 Malescot St. Exupery Margaux
1995 Margaux Margaux
1995 Montrose St. Estephe
1995 Montrose St. Estephe
1995 Pavillon Rouge Bordeaux
1996 Beau-Sejour Becot St. Emilion
1996 Branaire St. Julien
1996 Gruaud Larose St. Julien
1996 L'Angelus St. Emilion
1996 Larmande Bordeaux
1996 Le Haut Smith Wh Bordeaux
1996 Monbousquet St. Emilion
1996 Monbousquet St. Emilion
1996 Sociando Mallet Haut Medoc
1997 Bernadotte Paulliac
1997 Cantenac Brown Margaux
1997 Cos D'Estournel St. Estephe
1997 La Mission Haut Brion Graves
1997 Leoville Barton Magnum St. Julien
1997 Montrose St. Estephe
1997 Pavie St. Emilion
1997 Pontet Canet Paulliac
1998 Carraudes de Lafite Paulliac
1998 Clinet Pomerol
1998 Ducru Beaucaillou St. Julien
1998 Ducru Beaucaillou St. Julien
1998 Fleur de Gay Pomerol
1998 Grand Puy Lacoste Paulliac
1998 Haut Bailly Graves
1998 Haut Bailly Graves
1998 Haut Brion Graves
1998 La Cardonne Medoc
1998 La Lagune Margaux
1998 La Louviere Graves
1998 La Mission Haut Brion Graves
1998 La Petite Cheval Pomerol
1998 Lafon Rochet St. Estephe
1998 Le Conseillante Pomerol
1998 Le Haut Smith Wh Bordeaux
1998 Leoville Poyferre St. Julien
1998 Margaux Magnum Margaux
1998 Moulin de Duhart Paulliac
1998 Mouton Rothschild Paulliac
1998 Patris St. Emilion
1998 Potensac Medoc
1998 Prieure-Lichine 1.5 Ltr Margaux
1999 Cantemerle Margaux
1999 Chambrun Lalande-de-Pomerol
1999 Gloria St. Julien
1999 La Chenade St. Emilion
1999 Leoville Barton St. Julien
1999 Leoville Barton St. Julien
1999 Leoville Las Cases St. Julien
1999 Monbousquet St. Emilion
1999 Pavie St. Emilion
1999 Pontet Canet Paulliac
2000 Bel Air Lalande de Pomerol
2000 Belgrave (375) Haut Medoc
2000 Bellegrave Bordeaux
2000 Bois Noir God only knows
2000 Branaire St. Julien
2000 Brane-Cantenac Margaux
2000 Brown Bordeaux
2000 Cambon le Pelouse St. Estephe
2000 Cantemerle Margaux
2000 Cantemerle Margaux
2000 Chasse Spleen Moulis
2000 du Tertre Margaux
2000 Faizeau Bordeaux
2000 George Bordeaux
2000 Giscours Margaux
2000 Karolus Garagiste
2000 Lascombes Margaux
2000 Mayne Veil Canon-Fronsac
2000 Petite Bocq Bordeaux
2000 Pontet Canet Paulliac
2000 Reserve de la Comtesse Bordeaux
2000 Riou de Thaillas Bordeaux
2000 Terrefort-Quancard Bordeaux
2000 Yon Figeac St. Emilion
2001 Barde Haut St. Emilion
2001 Beau-Sejour Becot St. Emilion
2001 Bellisle-Mondotte Bordeaux
2001 Calon Segur St. Estephe
2001 Carraudes de Lafite Paulliac
2001 Clos du Marquis St. Julien
2001 Clos l'Eglise Castillon
2001 du Tertre Margaux
2001 Ducru Beaucaillou St. Julien
2001 Grand Puy Lacoste Paulliac
2001 Guittot Fellonneau Haut-Medoc
2001 Haut Brion Graves
2001 Latour Paulliac
2001 Le Pin Beausoleil St. Emilion
2001 Leoville Barton St. Julien
2001 Monbousquet St. Emilion
2001 Moulin de Duhart Paulliac
2001 Pontet Canet Paulliac
2001 Rolland de By Medoc
2001 Sanctus St. Emilion
2001 Tertre Rotebouef St. Emilion
2002 Canon La Gaffeliere St. Emilion
2002 Clos Badon-Thunevin St. Emilion
2002 Haut Bages Liberal Paulliac
2002 La Confession St. Emilion
2002 Lafite Rothschild Paulliac
2002 Leoville Las Cases St. Julien
2002 Montrose St. Estephe
2003 Du Tertre Margaux
2003 Mouton Rothschild Paulliac
2003 Pontet Canet Paulliac
2004 Clerc Milon Paulliac
2004 Clerc Milon Paulliac
2004 Lynch Bages Blanc Paulliac
2004 Palmer Margaux
2004 Palmer Alter Ego Margaux
2004 Picque Caillou Bordeaux
2004 Pontet Canet Paulliac
2004 Pontet Canet Paulliac
2004 Vieux Chevrol Lalande de Pomerol Pomerol
2005 Cos d'Estournel St. Estephe
2005 Graves d'Arronneau Cuvee Prestige Cotes de Blaye
2005 Lagrange St. Julien
2005 Les Bertrands VV Cotes de Blaye
2005 Mylord Cuvee Milady Bordeaux
2005 Pibran Paulliac
2005 Pontet Canet

86 Meyney ought to be lovely.

94 Pichon Baron's drinking nicely right now (I wish I had a couple more bottles).

98 Haut Bailly should be pretty awesome.

01 Monbousquet may be interesting just for the stylistic/age contrast (plus it's Monbousquet, so better drunk young than older )

If I may ask, who is sponsoring such a fantabulous tasting?

Some quick thoughts:

I'd throw in one mature Bdx to show them what can happen. '76 GPL probably needs to be drunk up, '81 GPL and Montrose both drink well. 1983 de Courlat is a real shot shot at this stage. '86 Gruaud and Meyney are old faves, drinking well, though former has long life ahead. 1986 Mouton needs ages, and probably not what you want to serve to a big crowd of newbies- save for intimate dinner in 2020. .

1994 Pavie Macquin should probably be drunk. Never heard of Rochebrune. I think most 94s are as good as they'll get, they're always going to be burly.

1996 St Emilions are still mostly hard, not sure where they'll ever go. 97 Bernadotte should be fully ready (btw not a Pauillac, and La Lagune isn't Marguax), actually all the '97s should be good to go, though LMHB and mag of Barton could probably wait.

1998 Haut Bailly and La Louviere are both very nice now. 1999 Chambrun is ready (modern but good). '99 Gloria is good to go.

Monbousquet is really charred (all modern vintages)
2000 du Tertre is one I'm holding, but its never really shut down, and probably drinking nicely.
Faizeau is ready- I'd assume most of the satellite and regional 2000 and 2001s are ready or getting there.

[Jenise]

If I may ask, who is sponsoring such a fantabulous tasting?

Uh, me? I wasn't clear, but that list is the contents of my Bordeaux cellar, hence "what I have to choose from". I'll be choosing four bottles to take to one of my tasting groups, where the other guys are all ITB and rather innocent about Bordeaux except for brash, young lower end wines of the type that get sold around here at retail.

For a broad spectrum, I would suggest the following (as I wouldn't want to "waste" a First Growth on those that would not appreciate it at this stage):

1986 Gruaud Larose
1990 Cos
1998 Leoville Poyferre or 1998 Le Conseillante
2003 Pontet Canet (with six hours of decant time)

[Jenise]

Some quick thoughts:

I'd throw in one mature Bdx to show them what can happen. '76 GPL probably needs to be drunk up, '81 GPL and Montrose both drink well. 1983 de Courlat is a real shot shot at this stage. '86 Gruaud and Meyney are old faves, drinking well, though former has long life ahead. 1986 Mouton needs ages, and probably not what you want to serve to a big crowd of newbies- save for intimate dinner in 2020. .

1994 Pavie Macquin should probably be drunk. Never heard of Rochebrune. I think most 94s are as good as they'll get, they're always going to be burly.

1996 St Emilions are still mostly hard, not sure where they'll ever go. 97 Bernadotte should be fully ready (btw not a Pauillac, and La Lagune isn't Marguax), actually all the '97s should be good to go, though LMHB and mag of Barton could probably wait.

1998 Haut Bailly and La Louviere are both very nice now. 1999 Chambrun is ready (modern but good). '99 Gloria is good to go.

Monbousquet is really charred (all modern vintages)
2000 du Tertre is one I'm holding, but its never really shut down, and probably drinking nicely.
Faizeau is ready- I'd assume most of the satellite and regional 2000 and 2001s are ready or getting there.

I'll take the '81 Montrose--could be interesting to also take a 2002 since I have a case of the latter. That 02 Palmer I had a few weeks ago is still haunting me! I had my eye on the 94 Pavie Macquin, too, but it might be better to just put that one in my personal drinking queue than take it along--making a good impression is important to me. None of these guys are in love with Bordeaux (and in fact Gabe has stated unequivocally that he doesn't like it) because their retail experience with young, iffy Bordeaux Superior etc has discouraged them from understanding what's great about these wines, though Gabe told me this morning that in the last month tastes of 2000 Cheval Blanc and Gruard Larose have caused him to suspect the extent to which he's been duped. I might also throw in the 66 Giscours--I don't expect much from that, but for these guys just to taste a wine that aged will be special. The Chambrun and Haut Bailly are good ideas too (more HBs than Louvieres, so that's why one vs the other.)

The Rochebrune is junk.

[Jenise]

86 Meyney ought to be lovely.

94 Pichon Baron's drinking nicely right now (I wish I had a couple more bottles).

98 Haut Bailly should be pretty awesome.

01 Monbousquet may be interesting just for the stylistic/age contrast (plus it's Monbousquet, so better drunk young than older )

I like the idea of the '94 Pichon, and the '98 Haut Bailly will go. I'm going to sell one of the guys a bottle from my cellar for his entry in this tasting, and I think it will be that. Great bang for the buck--money's real tight for him and I got those for peanuts.

Monbousquet--man I loved the 96 when it was young. Yeah I know it's modern but it was good. Then it just walked off a cliff, and several bottles were the same. Crazy--didn't taste like a problem it could come back from. Have been nervous about trying the 01. But should.

[Jenise]

For a broad spectrum, I would suggest the following (as I wouldn't want to "waste" a First Growth on those that would not appreciate it at this stage):

1986 Gruaud Larose
1990 Cos
1998 Leoville Poyferre or 1998 Le Conseillante
2003 Pontet Canet (with six hours of decant time)

I once wasted one of those 86 Moutons on my L.A. group--nobody got it as there were Cal Cabs in the tasting too and they got all the love. That taught me to be more careful about where I put my generosity. The '86 Gruauds are fantastic, I know, and the 90 Cos as well but it's the only bottle I have so I'm inclined to hold onto it. The '98 Conseillante is an oops; we've drunk all those (they were so good!). The 03 Pontet Canet is an interesting suggestion I'd not considered. Had thought more toward the 02 Montrose for a young example of greatness, but the PC might be the better, showier wine--except if I take the Montrose to contrast with the '81, as I mentioned to Dale.

If that is your last bottle of '90 Cos, then hold onto it for something special as it isn't going anywhere fast.

That Pontet Canet will show how many BDX Chateaus have turned the corner toward a more modern (Parkerized) style.

'66 Giscours might surprise you. Estate that seemed to truly stumble in 80s and 90s, but made some good wine in 60s and 70s. Don't know that I've ever had any '66 Margaux, but have had really good wines from both Graves and Northern Medoc, so no intrinsic reason Margaux couldn't have done well.

I think '98 Poyferre is nice, and maybe a bit more ready than its' rightbank classmates
I didn't notice the 04 Picque Caillou (Pessac-Leognan) before- if you wanted to show them that inexpensive Bordeaux can be good (I got for $9).

[Jenise]

'66 Giscours might surprise you. Estate that seemed to truly stumble in 80s and 90s, but made some good wine in 60s and 70s. Don't know that I've ever had any '66 Margaux, but have had really good wines from both Graves and Northern Medoc, so no intrinsic reason Margaux couldn't have done well.

I think '98 Poyferre is nice, and maybe a bit more ready than its' rightbank classmates
I didn't notice the 04 Picque Caillou (Pessac-Leognan) before- if you wanted to show them that inexpensive Bordeaux can be good (I got for $9).

I hope it does surprise. I bought a whole bunch of old Bdx's for relatively nothing on Winebid over the years, and honestly very few have been out and out disappointments though someone more seasoned and reasoned than I might have stayed away. 66 was one of the vintages I had great luck with, hence me owning the Giscours.

'98 Poyferre IS a good choice--haven't opened one of those yet, and I have about six. It's about time to collect a data point there, and I like your suggestion of the Pique for an inexpensive example. I believe I paid slightly more than you, around $14, but still.

On the subject of 1966 Margaux, I opened a very good 1966 Malescot St Exupery in February. I'm holding off on a final bottle that I think has a few more good years left in it.

[Jenise]

On the subject of 1966 Margaux, I opened a very good 1966 Malescot St Exupery in February. I'm holding off on a final bottle that I think has a few more good years left in it.

That's encouraging. I might want to save the '66 for a slightly more special occasion. These guys are all europhiles but perhaps it's an experience to save for sharing with those with more Bordeaux experience, it would be more meaningful.

But, what I have standing up are: 98 Haut Bailly and Leo Poyferre, 81 GPL and Montrose, 02 Montrose, 04 Pique Caillou and a 99 Leoville Barton. I'll choose tomorrow!

I haven't had the 99 LB for a couple of years (I may have bought my first stash with you in Newport!!), but I have had it 6-7 times, and it has been ready to drink from the get-go. I think it would be a great example for wine people who are not necessarily Bdx drinkers.

And I'm going to choose four bottles from the list below. Could use some advice about what's drinking well. This group is very inexperienced with Bordeaux and I'm not inclined to go too high end--a smattering across ranges would be better--and I'm probably most interested in the vintages 94 - 01, and especially 98 where I'm strong. But still, need advice and here's what I have to choose from. All opinions welcome!

Hi Jenise, I would make sure not to miss 2004 Palmer (Margaux). Its quality is on Premier Grand Cru level.
Cheers, Rainer

On the subject of 1966 Margaux, I opened a very good 1966 Malescot St Exupery in February. I'm holding off on a final bottle that I think has a few more good years left in it.

Good to know. I actually seem to have a bottle of '66 Ch. du Tertre, but not especially high hopes- I don't think du Tertre was very strong in that period

why not take the opportunity to clean house? several are badly in need of drinking i would think - including the white haut de smith's. but also
de courlat
rochebrune
lamande
patris
chambrun
chenade

[Jenise]

why not take the opportunity to clean house? several are badly in need of drinking i would think - including the white haut de smith's. but also
de courlat
rochebrune
lamande
patris
chambrun
chenade

David, good idea. This morning I decided to go do a little inventory management as it is apparent that several of these wines are gone. Like the Chenade on your list. It was a delicious little rightie that outperformed whatever I paid for it, and we drank them up several years ago. That activity caused me to have a similar thought about cleaning house (love getting rid of orphans) and I pulled a white, the Patris and Chambrun. I've prepped/decanted the wines and the Chambrun and Patris are showing very well. The Pique Caillou is coated in vanilla-flavored baby fat and the 98 Leoville Poyferre shows very very well. I'd changed my mind about the 02 and 81 Montrose in favor of the 81 GPL, but after tasting those four went back and got the 02 Montrose hoping for some amazing youthful aromatics. Believe it or not based on first tastes, I probably liked the Chambrun best. Hopefully it doesn't head south in the next five hours. Unfortunately, none of the wines immediately show the qualities that makes me salivate over Bordeaux, so I might just open a few more. Anything I don't take, we can drink later in the week.

Jenise, you have more Bordeaux than I have wine.

[Jenise]

Kelly, it's Jim Dietz' fault. He made me go to this sale....

so they don't seem like the bordeaux you remember. i've been having the same problem. most of the older bordeaux i've opened recently - not overly old - have reeked of Bret and to me were undrinkable. has bret become more common in bordeaux or have i become more sensitive? doesn't matter, bordeaux doesn't satisfy the way it used to. too bad; its the biggest part of my cellar.

[Jenise]

And I'm going to choose four bottles from the list below. Could use some advice about what's drinking well. This group is very inexperienced with Bordeaux and I'm not inclined to go too high end--a smattering across ranges would be better--and I'm probably most interested in the vintages 94 - 01, and especially 98 where I'm strong. But still, need advice and here's what I have to choose from. All opinions welcome!

Hi Jenise, I would make sure not to miss 2004 Palmer (Margaux). Its quality is on Premier Grand Cru level.
Cheers, Rainer

So I understand. I look forward to opening one of my bottles; was lucky enough to taste the 02 a few weeks ago, and it was astonishing--both just lovely all by itself with that effusive perfume (where does that come from?) and quite grand for the vintage.

[Jenise]

so they don't seem like the bordeaux you remember. i've been having the same problem. most of the older bordeaux i've opened recently - not overly old - have reeked of Bret and to me were undrinkable. has bret become more common in bordeaux or have i become more sensitive? doesn't matter, bordeaux doesn't satisfy the way it used to. too bad; its the biggest part of my cellar.

Maybe we're just fickle. For a long time all I had was young wine and I craved older, now all I have is older and for some reason younger, fresher wines provide more delight than they used to. Too Rhone wines are increasingly attractive, and we drink more whites than we ever did before.

But yeah, I just kept pulling corks yesterday looking for a wine that would show my friends, "This is what you're missing, this is what I love." The wine that finally did that was the 99 Leoville Barton--much more than the Leoville Poyferre so I left that one at home. And which impressed them all the most? The white 96 Le Hauts Smith. Of the reds, the Patris and the Barton were way out in front.