kirk wallace
kirk wallace
1993 Troplong Mondot -- don't recall buying it, but there it was in the cellar. I did buy Lafite and Margaux and La Mission at release at bargain prices (whatever that means for '93 (??!!)) and they all drank very well in the late '90s. (Lafite was especially nice.) But I really don't recall buying Troplong. In any event, opened this week for some non-wine crazed friends (i.e., most didn't even try the wine and stuck to beer) over cards along side '89 Clerc Milon. Left to open only about 15 minutes before pouring (no decanting) and ... what a lovely surprise: very pleasant nose of fresh, clean dark fruit, touch of fresh leather. No noticeable over-oaking. The wine is soft on the palate but not overly sweet or dead; tannins fully resolved but the wine is not dried out; medium complexity. I wouldn't go out looking to buy this, but its perfectly nice mature bottle of Merlot dominated Bordeaux. The '89 Clerc Milon (left open for 30-40 minutes before we tasted it) was just odd; very closed and woody; more depth and complexity (and --surprise -- alcohol) than the TP, but not a charming or compelling wine that night; a bit better the next day, but not rocking. I don't know much about Clerc Milon (or why i bought it way back then), but I don't have high hopes for this wine's development.
1997 Ambroise Corton "Le Rognet" 13.5% alc. (Bobby Kacher import) -- beautiful dark garnet in the glass; a bit lighter at the rim, but no noticeable browning or cracking. Nose is very clean -- cassis, and dark cherries with a whiff of seasoned wood (something like cedar -- but not very strong or disjointed) -- although if I tasted this blind, I probably would guess that it was an older bordeaux. It does not smell over-extracted, and on the tongue, it is silky and not at all heavy, nor does it have the hole in the middle that so many '97's do (did?); on the tail end it is has a bit more astringency (oakiness, I think) than I would prefer, but on the whole, it is a nice, mouth-filling drink with adequate complexity (leather and dark berries with some brambly stuff). I'll try to edit this to report how it goes with dinner (heritage navy and red bean, hamhock & ham stew).
About an hour later, with the stew, and also some left over roast chicken, the Corton is OK; astringency and wood dominate, but there is still some pleasure here -- sort of reminds me of some of the high alcohol Pisoni PNs, but without the extra degree and half of alchohol and with more (duh) finesse; maybe with a duck liver mousse or some other very smooth and rich foodstuff.... but otherwise, I would go out of my way for this.
1997 Ambroise Corton "Le Rognet" 13.5% alc. (Bobby Kacher import) -- beautiful dark garnet in the glass; a bit lighter at the rim, but no noticeable browning or cracking. Nose is very clean -- cassis, and dark cherries with a whiff of seasoned wood (something like cedar -- but not very strong or disjointed) -- although if I tasted this blind, I probably would guess that it was an older bordeaux. It does not smell over-extracted, and on the tongue, it is silky and not at all heavy, nor does it have the hole in the middle that so many '97's do (did?); on the tail end it is has a bit more astringency (oakiness, I think) than I would prefer, but on the whole, it is a nice, mouth-filling drink with adequate complexity (leather and dark berries with some brambly stuff). I'll try to edit this to report how it goes with dinner (heritage navy and red bean, hamhock & ham stew).
About an hour later, with the stew, and also some left over roast chicken, the Corton is OK; astringency and wood dominate, but there is still some pleasure here -- sort of reminds me of some of the high alcohol Pisoni PNs, but without the extra degree and half of alchohol and with more (duh) finesse; maybe with a duck liver mousse or some other very smooth and rich foodstuff.... but otherwise, I would go out of my way for this.