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The Comedown: Bordeaux 2011 Ten-Years-On (Apr 2022)

The 2011 Pavillon Rouge de Château Margaux has a lovely, open nose with more red than black fruit, cedar and undergrowth, touches of black pepper. Good vigour here. The palate is well balanced with sappy red fruit, though because of the vintage, it feels a little monotone and slightly underripe on the finish, doesn’t quite…

2011 Bordeaux from the Bottle (Jul 2014)

Bright inky purple. Red cherry, dark berries, pepper, licorice and minerals on the almost Burgundian nose, lifted by a floral topnote. Lovely inner-mouth perfume and precision to the pure raspberry, dark cherry and crushed violet flavors. The long, bright, rising finish features spicy, smooth tannins and lingering floral perfume, but a pyrazine (bell pepper) note…

The Comedown: Bordeaux 2011 Ten-Years-On (Apr 2022)

The 2011 Pavie-Macquin has a powerful nose with mulberry and red cherries, camphor and fennel emerging with time. Lacks finesse, but it is not unattractive. The palate is high-toned with sweet red cherry, cough candy and orange zest. Good substance on the finish, modern in style but well crafted. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On…

Six Decades of Pavie-Macquin: 1928-2018 (May 2020)

In so many vintages, Pavie-Macquin is a wine of total seduction. Not in 2011. Readers will find a powerful, tightly wound Saint-Émilion. Smoke, licorice, spice and dark fruit add to the wine's virile, imposing personality. I would prefer to cellar the 2011 for at least another few years, as it still needs time. Hot, dry…

The 2009 Clarets (Jul 2012)

Bright red-ruby. Sexy aromas of currant, chocolate and flowers, plus hints of cedar, smoky oak. Plump, lush and fine-grained, showing a remarkably seamless texture for a second wine. Very ripe flavors of currant, mocha, beefsteak tomato and chocolate turn a bit roasted in the glass. Finishes with a smooth dusting of tannins and ripe, chocolatey…

Bordeaux 2009: The Best Ever? (May 2010)

(69% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 1% petit verdot; 14.5% alcohol; 50% new oak) Very dark ruby. Flattering nose offers ripe blackberry, minty minerals, licorice and dry herbs. Enters fresh and sweet, then turns a little rigid due to drying tannins, but with plenty of ripe black fruit flavors and lively acids. A pretty floral note…