The Auswine Forum

A couple of years ago, during a period of largesse, a night at the Grange Restaurant was accompanied by a bottle of Le Forts de Latour 1996. Naturally, my wife was totally enraptured and immediately fell in love with Bordeaux and its wines. Since then, where possible, I have picked up a bottle here and a bottle there of Bordeaux to pull out when I'm in the dog house and need to suck up in a major fashion.

As such, I'm wondering if any forumites have had any of the following and/or have any tasting notes:

Chateau L'Enclos 1994
Chateau Marquis de Terme 1995
Chateau La Lagune 1996
La Reserve de Leoville Barton 1996
Chateau Kirwan 1997
Chateau D'Armailhac 1998
Carruades de Lafite 1998
Le Forts de Latour 2000
Chateau La Louviere 2000
Chateau Rausan Gassies 2000

Feedback much appreciated.

-- George Krashos

Well, hopefully a belated and incomplete reply is better than none at all? ..am no Francophile but here's my take on three of them:

- The 2000 Les Forts de Latour is a stunner and a better wine than many vintages of the Grand Vin. Probably complex enough that you could get away with drinking it now, given a good breathing
- The 2000 Rauzan Gassies is, again, a brilliant vintage and beats out Segla for this year. I wouldn't touch it for at least 5-10 years
- The 1996 La Lagune I haven't actually tried, but having had the comparable (in terms of vintage quality) 1989 a few times as late as a couple of days ago, I'd say you can safely keep it stashed away for a while. The 1989 is drinking very well, with loads of tobacco over red and black fruits, quite tannic still and has a fair way to go. It's really very, very good.

Assuming you haven't killed the Les Forts already, you might consider trying to get into the sin-bin some time soon?

If my memory served me correctly, Chateau L'Enclos 1994 wasn't a very exciting wine(drank 1998) Supple in texture and a very elegant Pomerol.

George

I have a La Reserve de Leoville Barton 1996 I am planning on trying fairly soon, so I will let you know. (Also want to check if I should get more!)
The bloke at Berry Bros & Rudd said that the standard Leoville Barton 1996 and Gruaud Larose 96 shouldn't really be looked at for a few years yet, so I too guess that the La Lagune should also be left alone for the time being.

Cheers

You can drink the 97 Kirwan now. Nothing special I am afraid, but not bad, if a bit thin. Still not a bad result for the vintage.

The 96 La Lagune is also well and truly there, amy improve a little, but ready to go.

The reserve de Leoville should be drunk now. This is just OK, I have seen it several times, and unfoirtunately it bears no resemblance to its big brother, which will be superb.

You might want to have a look here:

http://bordeauxwine.org/tn.php

Adair

1994 Chateau L'Enclos , Pomerol : A couple of years ago I noticed this wine about at what seemed to be a cheap price for a Pomerol. Given it was from the 1994 vintage I was quite sceptical. However I was reassured by some nice comments about the 1994 in Broadbent's Vintage Wine Book. So I bought some bottles - and I was even a bit undercharged due to a error by the chap who served me ( nice for a change - normally is the other way around ! ).

Anyway Broadbent states " Beautiful , honeyed , mellow nose evolving sweetly , like wholemeal biscuits: shapely , elegant , no harsh edges until its teeth gripping tannic finale. drink 2005-2010. "

I don't disagree with the above although I would caution that you need to like Bordeaux - which it sounds like your Mrs does ! - and perhaps try a bottle before buying multiple bottles.

Regards , Pelican

Thanks very much for the replies gentlesirs - looks like we might drink some Bordeaux at Xmas!

-- George Krashos