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Château Margaux Grand Vin Premier Grand Cru Classé 1990

Château Margaux Grand Vin Premier Grand Cru Classé 1990

Tasted with awe and much contemplation, the 1990 Margaux was one of the crowning jewels at my last tasting in Carmel, a parting gift opened the evening before my move to Portland. Garnet-robed with no bricking, this bottle was delightfully fresh and vibrant with pronounced aromas of forest floor, leather, earth, plums, black cherries, sandalwood, […]

The Winemakers’ Collection Michel Rolland Cuvée No. 1 Château d’Arsac

The Winemakers' Collection Michel Rolland Cuvée No. 1 Château d'Arsac

Conjured by Michel Rolland himself—the man behind the curtain—the label touts “He currently offers advice to a hundred wine growing estates in 13 countries, on three continents. Considered the ultimate modern winemaker.” Cuvée No. 1 is big-boned with saturating aromas of raspberry jam, caramel popcorn, and buttered rum ball. Sweet on the palate, like plum […]

Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge 2000

Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge 2000

Pavillon Rouge is the second label of Château Margaux, and the 2000 is a perfumed, silken blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Freshly tilled, loamy soil, leather, forest floor, seedy berries, and black currents evokes the memory of some distant springtime, under cloudy skies. I’m especially struck […]

Château Margaux du Margaux 2009

Château Margaux du Margaux 2009

Tasted at Pebble Beach Food & Wine, I was quite pleased to happen upon the third label of Château Margaux, 2009 is the inaugural vintage. Youthful and fresh, it’s a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. The nose is on the quiet side, with delicate aromas of black currant and blueberries, violets and […]

Château Phélan Ségur Saint-Estèphe 2007

Château Phélan Ségur Saint-Estèphe 2007

If my research is correct, the 2007 vintage of Phélan Ségur is pre-consultation with Michel Rolland. Parker routinely scored these wines in the mid-to-lower 80s, clearly he didn’t care for them. The 2007 is old-school Saint-Estèphe, with brooding aromas of coffee grounds, black currents, barnyard funk and freshly overturned soil. Fine tannins on the attack, […]

Château d’Issan 1996

Château d'Issan 1996

One of the oldest winemaking properties in the Medoc, Château d’Issan has been turning out wine since the late 1,400s. But never mind that, 1996 was an excellent vintage for the Left Bank, and this bottle seems to support that fact. The nose is charming, with aromas of black currant, cassis, anise and lavender sachet. […]

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse 2006

Château Grand-Puy Ducasse 2006

I didn’t have time to take notes on this wine. We drank it in the home of Daniel della Cruz, one of Manila’s most prominent artists. Within the sanctuary of his walls, where tropical plants served as an organic backdrop to every sculpture and painting—the wine blended effortlessly into that rare and sacred space and […]

Château Léoville Las Cases 1990

Château Léoville Las Cases 1990

The 1990 Léoville Las Cases opens with primary aromas of Iodine, blood, minerals, graphite and black cherry. After sitting open for 2-3 hours it exhibits perceptibly sweet tertiary notes of orange peel, roses and baking spice. This is a dark, powerful Saint-Julien with impressive concentration and grip on the attack followed by notes pencil lead, […]

Château Léoville Las Cases 1997

Château Léoville Las Cases 1997

Appreciating a great estate like Leoville-Las Cases is like appreciating a great work of art. It’s done slowly, thoughtfully and with profound pleasure. While 1997 wasn’t a profound vintage in and of itself, Cab-dominant Leoville sings. It’s still fresh and elegant with notes of steeped blackberry, black currant, graphite and violets. Medium-bodied with well-integrated, caressing […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com