Travelling over to Manchester to meet up with some friends.

Looks like it should be a good afternoon !!

Champagne Raymond Boulard Millesime 2000

Château Lagrange St. Julien Les Arums de Lagrange 2009
Ch de Fieuzal Blanc Pessac Leognan 2000

Chateau Dauzac, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2002
Château Bernadotte Haut Médoc 2000
Chateau Pontet-Canet Pauillac 1999
Chateau Larrivet-Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan 1999
Chateau Lilian Ladouys, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 1996
Château Lagrange Grand Cru Classé Saint-Julien 1996
Clos du Marquis, St Julien 1996
Chateau La Lagune, Haut-Medoc 1990
Chateau Bélair, St Emilion 2004
Chateau Larcis Ducasse St. Emilion 2003
Chateau Bourgneuf, Pomerol 1995

Sauternes tba
Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sauternes1988

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Yeah, I got one too.
Morrison's Xmas dozen with free bottle of champers. £79 all in with free delivery.

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

Château Lagrange Grand Cru Classé Saint-Julien 1996

Richard, the above wine would be a very expensive classed growth by now. 1996 was reported to be a very sought after and very structured and firm vintage for Saint Julien. How did that St Julien drink ? I haven't looked up cellar tracker, but you will know if the wine was opened.

Just in case you didn't know...Also La Rioja Alta's Vina Ardanza 2004 is on offer at Majestic, £10 off a pair, I know you follow this wine. I may treat myself to a pair.

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Duncan

Dunc,

She was singing and on top form, saying that I enjoyed all three 96 vintages the best.
Good fruit and decent length, typical LB CAB nose !! I think my other bottle will be fine for at least another 3-4 years on this showing.
Their white wine which we had was more your cup of tea as it was SB there might be a second grape / blend but it was really smelling / tasting as a pure SB.
I enjoyed it but will drink my other bottle in the next year or so. We bought these on our visit in 2011.

Was going to buy some Ardanza 2004 but the reviews are not very good if my memory is correct.
Have you had a test bottle ?? any info would be most welcome indeed.

Regards
Richard

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

... And what is a 26 yo Sauternes like?

Should be Semillon in those I reckon.

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

The Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sauternes1988 was stunning and I am not a massive fan of sweeties.

Not sure if the Lagrange white was a blend would have to google I guess to find out.

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

I can respond to all three posts in one hit

The Lagrange blanc (never tried it, as this is a recent development) and the De Fieuzal of course, are both Semillion, SB and light oak. When the SB ripening didn't quite make it, this was before global warming and massive investment, and before 1988, a tiny amount of Muscat blanc ( muscatel) 5% was added to the cuvee to achieve what we call tropical notes today. Smith Haut Lafite is very similar in style, and even more expensive now. The last time I had a bottle of Chat SHL was before the massive investment and the huge price tag.

I am lucky to have tried some of these wines before the Middle East, China, and Robert Parker started to get very interested.

The 1996 vintage for the top wines in St Estephe, Pauillac and St Julien, is only eclipsed by 1990. No one really knows how the 2000's & 2005's and 2010's will turn out. The '96 wines were tannic, strong and very structured on release, people who bought got a very good deal indeed, as the wine was not an easy and immediate hit as in 2009. Most professionals are now giving the top wines another ten years of potential improvement to 2022. Suntori own Lagrange, I believe.


Of the Sauternes only the affordable Ch Filhot and a few * Doisey Dayenne (*spelling) and one Climens (Barsac) have I drunk at 20 years plus. 1983, 1988 Filhot and 1989 & 1990 DD & Climens, before the massive price hikes. They were heavenly and beautiful. I have never tried the very sweet Sauternes styles, from top and unaffordable properties. Only the cheap ones bought in France.

Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey1988
Richard,
1988 was / has been assessed as a top vintage in the last 4 decades for BEST sauternes, was that wine opened as well ?

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Duncan

Ahh Richard,...... my post has crossed yours on the web. The Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey was stunning, well that figures, I would've loved to have tried that wine.

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Duncan

Ardanza '04 is not ready yet. I dont think we shall ever experience another 2001 Especial in my lifetime, because that extra herbal complexity may have been a trick of fate. How the cards fall after a super vintage is not very predictable. 2004 was an outstanding vintage for top rioja, but is siad to be earlier maturing. Ardanza spent it's 1st 3 year in oak, so I dare say the wine is still a bit disjointed. I love mature rioja and will wait for this to come good. I will take a pair, as I think great rioja can only go up in price from where we are now. The ingredients are all there, so now it is wait till 2018. I dont think we would be getting £10 off a pair had this been the 2001 Ardanza in October 2010.

Even after years and years of tasting older riojas, U never quite know..........AND, at least this has been cellared properly so far.

On Saturday 16th November, I shared one of these, the 1994 Conde Valdemar rioja grand reserva on the black and gold lettered label, it was super lovely, lighter than some on the plate, but still dark magenta to the core, and as fresh as wild Alpine strawberries. Very Lovely indeed, I was careful with the sediment

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Duncan

Dunc, many thanks for the info.
The white Lagrange really seemed to be more SB than Sem but I am not a regular drinker of SB to be sure.

Yes the 88 was a cracker !! I should buy some sweeties to lay down but never seem to know what to buy and if the prices are good etc.

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Nor do I, and the ones I want to try, I can't afford -

Yep, I am sure you're right. I am comparing this style, and perhaps that St Julien blanc to best Pessac next door. You don't favour 100% SB that much even if on the left bank with beautiful oak. If in France and you want to buy a beautiful white in a similar style for your Misses or friends, - Chateau Clos Floridene may be found in Carrefour etcetera. It has probably shot-up-in-price though - even in France

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Duncan

Wine Society does the Floridene at £14

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

A good price for a lovely wine - thanks Ba, thank for looking it up. Cheers.

Ah, I checked, not quite right unfortunately - that price is for the rouge, and excl VAT

Floridene blanc quote One of the most individual wines in Bordeaux and a star of the Graves appellation from Denis Dubourdieu and his sons (who make Doisy Daene *correct spelling this time) . Around 40% old-vine semillon brings class, complexity and longevity is on vintage 2011 for £18. Also most unfortunate is that the 2010 is all sold out .

I'm fairly certain that the '10 would be the princess in recent years, Perhaps the '10 never made it over to the UK ?

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Duncan

Dunc,

You have unlocked my wallet again will have a look on Majestic for a mixed case to include 2 or 4 Ardanza.
As you say time will be King on these.

Regards
Richard

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.