I popped one of these young strapping lads open tonight to get a grasp on where it is and where it's going. Had the '95 about a month ago, and I wanted to compare. I totally agree with Parker on this wine....I'd give it 96+ pts. Phenomenal Bordeaux, and once again I find that the '96 medoc is more to my liking than the '95's. The '95 Ducru was Very young and closed in...super tightly wound, and needs time. The fruit barely showed through. This is where I would disagree with Parker. He suspects the '95 will drink better younger compared to the '96 due to it's larger percentage of Merlot. I would disagree. While this would seem to be the logical thing, the '95 won't be ready for many more years (IMHO), and while it's a great wine it's not as palatable as the '96. The '96 has plenty of time ahead of it too, but because it is more concentrated and intense, the fruit is able to shine through it's sturdy backbone of tannin. It's the showing of the fruit in the '96 that makes it a more palatable young wine than the '95. I also like this wine better. It's more dense, chewy, and concentrated. Deep flavors of currant, blackberry, lead pencil, tobacco, and ripe plum. Firm tannins coat the palate, and the finish is quite lingering. Needs time, but the goods are all there! I won't touch another one for 5-10 years.
-DRAB
So much wine.....so little time!!!
Posts: 6824 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: Jun 20, 2002
I've planned to drink this over the next few days to see how it evolves. Here's some notes from tonight (day 2)....
A bit more rugged and harsh tonight. The bouquet is still lovely....strong, young, wild, French Cab! Lead Pencil, bright dark red cherry, and wet earth waft up the nostrils. The palate is showing more acid and tannin today, and compared to last night tastes shut down. Cherry, acid, and tannin is about all I'm getting today? We'll see about tomorrow....
-DRAB
So much wine.....so little time!!!
Posts: 6824 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: Jun 20, 2002
I have several of these babies laying down next to some Cos, Las Cases, and Lalande (all from 96). They all need some more sleep before they come out to play. I have been mighty tempted..by the Pichon Lalande especially. I must wait...patience is rewarded, then again there is always extended decanting
Posts: 1203 | Location: Sutton, MA, USA | Registered: Jan 15, 2003
Poured myself a little bit more again tonight (day 3). This has finally settled down. The tannin has blown off considerably and the acid is much more subdued. This tastes like a well rounded mellow Bordeaux. It has a juicy mid section filled with plum flavors. Cherry, Lead pencil, and wet earth are back on the nose, as well as some of the juicy plum. It has a nice sweetness on the palate, and a medium finish. I look forward to tomorrow!
-DRAB
So much wine.....so little time!!!
Posts: 6824 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: Jun 20, 2002
Thanks for sacrificing the youngster and giving us a snapshot look at this fine wine's evolution and journey to Bordeaux excellence (someday). Do you think it still could close down or will it integrate and evolve of the next several years? I plan on trying one in 2006 to check on how it is doing. Glad to see you were not shut out by a dumb wine. You got to experience the character of the wine and now have some notes to compare in later tastings
Posts: 1203 | Location: Sutton, MA, USA | Registered: Jan 15, 2003
If I had to guess I would say this could go through a dumb phase. My notes from day 2 were just that. Day 2 was like an 89 pt. unbalanced wine. No fruit, and all backbone. That's just a guess though....
-DRAB
So much wine.....so little time!!!
Posts: 6824 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: Jun 20, 2002
