Wine Raconteur

1) Chateau Montlisse - Grand Cru Classé - 2003


Score: 14.25/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting notes.

Great density. Blackberries with a mélange of rustic currants & peppercorn. Consider it has some depth, enough of vibrant elements such as minerals, it however still a bit one dimensional to me. Finish falls a bit short.
Cépage: 85% Merlot, 7.5% Cabernet, 7.5% Cabernet Franc.
The wine aged in 100% new oak barrels for 18-22months.
7 hectare of Vineyard situated on a southwest exposure with clay & limestone soil.

2) Chateau Pavie-Macquin - St. Emilion Grand Cru 2006
Note: This wine was once promoted to a Premiere Grand Cru status in 2006 however, due to a chaotic system disputing, it reminds as Grand Cru. Arguement & dispute are still going on, this Chateau may gain its status back in the near future.

Score: 17.5/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

On & off , it’s tight. When it loses up a Top note of bright spices like pink peppercorn. trace of raspberry on the nose. Well built structure in the palate with a grip of cassis & smoke meat, like a exotic belly dancer. Rich velvety finish but disappear sooner than I expected. Impeccable balance. Looking for more nuances.
Cepage: Merlot (70%), with 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
The wines come from a 15 hectare of Vineyard , with typical clay/limestone soil. Aged in barrel for 20months.
One of the most improved wineries in St.Emilion.

3) Chateau Figeac - St. Emilion - Premier Grand Cru 2006


Score: 17.5/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting notes

a tough call to the Macquin ! Completely well balance all the way. Striking aromas of bell pepper & spearmint. Tannins lay a good foundation for the velvety fruits like black currant & mulberries. Quite some obvious oak, I believe its gonna blend in really well in few years. Finish is gracious & long.
Cepage: 70% Cabernet Franc , 30% Merlot

4) Clos Fourtet - St. Emilion - Premier Grand Cru 2006


Score: 18.25/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

Hiding massive complexity behind the admirable purity. Supple & compressed Tannins. Looking for 6-8 years for flavors to be unzipped and to develop. Deep rock earth, blackberries , mineral and whiff of licorice with a multi-berry spectrum finish but has not truly show its gracious yet. Great luster in the colour.
Cépage: 85% Merlot 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cab. Franc
One of the oldest vineyard in Bordeaux, dated back to Middle Ages.
The vineyard situated on the limestone plateau with 19 hectares planted vines. Around 5000 cases produced annually. Average of 30 year old vines.

1) Chateau Chantegrive - Rouge - Pessac-Leognan 2005


Score: 17/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

Full of viscosity. Layers of licorice, wood spice, subtleties of minerals. Has a firm tannins with bright acidity. Guarantee a bright future.
This is a 42 hectare estate, very mineral rich soil with sand & clay.
Wines are aged 18 months in oak.
Cépage: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Cab. Franc

2) Chateau Latour-Martillac - Blanc - Pessac-Leognan 2006


Score: 15.75/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting note.

Fruits of pineapple in the front. Demonstrate some vegetable notes in the nose. Hint of tropical fruits on the core, coconut & toasty oak driven all the way. Decent length.
The wine aged in oak barrel for 15 months.
Cépage: 55% Semillon 40% Sauvignon 5% Muscadelle
Mostly on gravel soil, Vines are 40 yrs old.

1) Chateau Cantemerle - les Allée de Cantemerle 2005

Score: 16/20 Concluded by my 5element tasting method

Expressive earth, underbrush and violet. Warm dried herbs fill in the mid palate with the support of spiciness. Hay & fresh mushroom mingling. Finish off with some exotic asian spice and minerals. Uplifting nuances. A good tannin foundation. Overall it lacks of oomph.
Reminiscence: a mellow guy taking his time. Californian attitude.

2) Chateau Pichon Langueville Comtesse de Lalande - Pauillac 2002


Score: 16.25/20 Concluded by my 5elements tasting method

A close call. both the wines has there course.
This one has more richness. Nose of hickory smoke. Deep blackcurrant in its core. expands to the classic mouth feel of Pauillac. Tangibly chewy black fruit with whispers of mineral. Finish is engaging and classic. Overall , this one has more complexity.

Petit Cheval - 2nd label - Cheval Blanc - St. Emilion - Bordeaux 2001


Score: 14.5/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Immense of concentration, uplifting black currant, toffee pudding, with undertone of mushroom.
Palate: (attack) a bit tight at first, but has some weight to it (mid-palate) Blackberry tartness, peppery, a lttle restraint on the power. Good to locate some acidity, along with Tannins. Building up backbone on top of my palate.
Texture: Grainy tannin, very silky at the end.
Finish: Medium to long, enjoy the minerals the most.

Cheval Blanc - St. Emilion - Bordeaux 2004


Score: 18/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: it reached out & said hello, pronouncing, friendly. very focus black currant. Whiff of dried herbs.
Palate: (attack) rich, expanding cassis (mid-palate) Black tea & minerals, has some herbs hiding behind.
Texture: herbecious velvety.
Finish: Long & solid finish.

Cheval Blanc 2003

Score: 17.75/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: a bit leaner compare to the 04′. Pomelo & grassy on the nose.
Palate: (attack) Big fruit unexpectedly exploded. (mid-palate) Good deal of tannins hold up the fruits, well structured. Hint of raspberry & violet. bright acidity.Requires sometimes to develop
Texture: sandy tannins, good mouth feel.
Finish: Elegant, very engaging finish with trace of orange peel.

Cheval Blanc 1999

Score: 18.5/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Earthy, hint of cedar, seems just starting to blossom.
Palate: (attack) Tannins mingling with plum, figs (mid-palate)Fruits carries on with impeccable balance of freshness, acidity, layers of coffee, cedar, truffles, chinese 5 spice underspinning. A touch of mineral. Harmonious all the way.
Texture: Velvety tannins, vivacious.
Finish: Admirable definition, the earthy fruits gliding along the finish. It will be interesting to see how well this wine will hold up for another 5 years.

Cheval Blanc 1995

Score: 17/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Very supple, lively. rich black currants, coffee bean, cigar box overtones.
Palate: (attack) toasty, cedar, spicy red currant (mid-palate) great foundation of minerals & tannins, body not as forceful as the bouquet. Raspberry, very bright & fresh in tones.
Texture: Transparent, yet chewy minerals
Finish: Hint of fresh peppercorn with bergamot, bright acidity in the long finish.

1) Chateau Prieuré Marquet - Bordeaux Superieur

Score: 10/20 Concluded by my actual tasting notes.

Enough of fruits like cherry, core of blackberry. Mid palate has nothing more to give, kind of hollow. Finish is short, lack complexity overall.

100% Merlot. AOC is Cotes de Bordeaux

2) Chateau Clarke - Listrac - Medoc 2006

Score: 17.25/20 Concluded by my actual tasting notes.

There is something I like about this wine even though it is a bit unsettled and wild. Unlike many other wine, this is at least saying something. The Tannins of this wine is monsterous, way too soon to be out of the barrel for tasting some people might think. I honestly don’t think it is necessarily a bad thing. I love it, Tannins is the skeleton of a wine. Young age without it, I wouldn’t call it a fine wine.
Anyway, I like this wine, it has a bright future. Take sometimes to mellow out the anger. It will blossom, be patient. Lets say 8-10 yrs.
The texture in my mouth felt like being sucked into a vacuum cleaner, the Dyson one :->

Alter Ego 2001


Score: 12/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Lots of force with creme de casis, tosty oak, undertone of cedar, faint of smoking tar.
Palate: (attack) Opulent black fruits (mid-palate) powerful ripe fruits with good deal of acidity. Lacks of grip, not much tannins. Disappointing from mid palate onward. Start to show weakness.
Texture: good mouth feel but lacks backbone.
Finish: short

Alter Ego 2004

Score: 15.25/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Quite earthy, cedar, dried plum & clove.
Palate: (attack) surprisingly well balance, vibrant fruits (mid-palate) good amount of Tannins & well tuned acidity. Blackberries and minerals mingle around. Looking for more depth, though.
Texture: well integrated Tannins. elegant.
Finish: excellent balance with decent finish. I couldn’t expect more since its a 2nd label.

Atler Ego 2005

Score: 14.5/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: spice , ripe red berries with layer of violet, hints of oak, intriguing nutty aroma
Palate: (attack) concentrated berries, (mid-palate) bright tone of citrus, orange yet supple. sign of tannins show a good support. although the alcohol a bit high. Requires sometimes to develop
Texture: Still some rough edges need to be smoothened.
Finish: Minerals on the finish, subtle bright fruits, good length.

Chateau Palmer 1998


Score: 15/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: very complex nose, sign of terroir, wet stone, cedar wood, nice core of earths.
Palate: (attack) flavors of tar, wild berries. (mid-palate) well balance of acidity/sugar, roses mixed with mocha
Texture: velvety tannins.
Finish: Elegant,mid to long length.

Chateau Palmer 1996

Score: 17.5/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: ultra complex, very floral , warm opulent berries.
Palate: (attack) ripe fresh boysenberries, touch of pepper (mid-palate) great subtleties of earth, tabacco, dried leaves. deceptively well developed
Texture: Sleek & silky tannins. good balance.
Finish: lingering with elements of mineral, earth, root vegetable, gracefully.

Chateau Palmer 1995

Score: 17.5/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: layers of cassis and prunes. very engaging.
Palate: (attack) brightness of acidity wasn’t expected but in came in a well manner. colorful tone of berries. (mid-palate) mélange of prunes, star anise, plum with core of roasted black tea.
Texture: after 14 yrs it still got the tannins, incredible! I would imagine it must have been an angry wine at the beginning.
Finish: Expect more but didn’t happen. mid - long finish, quite one dimensional.

Chateau Palmer 2005

Score: 13/20 concluded by my actual tasting notes.
Nose: Mmmm… Sugarly bamboo & raisins reminds me of the ultra ripe new world Cab.
Palate: (attack) Big multi berry spectrum (mid-palate) cocoa, immense concentration of blackcurrant & cherries. Toffee candied ripe berries. Lack nuances. I couldn’t recognize it was a Margaux.
Texture: Thick, dense over ripped fruits dominate everything, I thought I was imbibing Port
Finish: It was indeed a big powerful one dimensional finish. Shall I save it for dessert ?
Reminiscence: It like watching the Beijin Olympic fireworks on TV. Eye candied but lacks of substance. Shall the Chinese spend more interests in the hygiene & environment, cleanliness on the streets than throwing hundreds of millions of dollars on Fireworks in order to look good to rest of the World temporarily ? Would it justify your image of the over-lead toys, the health threaten dry walls ? Shallow…