I opened another bottle of the 2005 Chateau Caronne St. Gemme (Haut Medoc) since my dad left 9 bottles in the cellar, and the prior one I had opened seemed rather advanced. This one shows quite well, and still has fruit left for development. Definitely not dead, and I will drag several bottles home where they will slowly deteriorate before I ever get to them!
Don’t ask me why my dad still had six bottles of 1998 Chateau Grand Pontet (St. Emilion) in his cellar, but then I ask a similar question every time I go down to pull something. “What are these doing here?!?!” echoes through my mom’s house on a regular basis. Anyway, this one is holding well thanks to the strength of the 1998 vintage on the right bank. Dark red fruit is slightly faded, but holding. Tannins are not out of balance, and it has a pleasing fruit and dusty leather finish. It’s a touch drying, but some food would help with that. I will gladly bring the rest of these home and might even remember to open some of them!