Ian Fitzsimmons
Ian Fitzsimmons
2005 Chateau du Hureau Saumur-Champigny Lisagathe
The wine has shed its rich overlay of comforting fruit and texture; it's showing much leaner now and more elemental, still with great acidity, but not so well-balanced as in past years by other flavor and textural elements.
Second night this wine opened substantially and became rather gorgeous, revealing good depth and complexity, striking intensity, and raspberry fruit overlain with Cabernet cedar. A big step up in refinement and focus from its previous comfort wine-teddy bear persona, very impressive. So hold or open the day before.
2005 Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Clos Sénéchal
Showing great finesse and purity, with razor-sharp acidity, this wine retains the inky-black coloring it's had since release. It's put on quite a bit of weight since its early days, plumping out to medium body, acquiring more flavor depth, and a bit of cabernet france fur on the tongue. Pleasant cabernet aromas and flavors of cedar and a bit of plum. Showed best, imo, the second night, though was still developing on the third. I'd venture opening one now, if you have a few, but there can be no harm in continuing to hold these for a while.
Both purchased at release from CSW.
The wine has shed its rich overlay of comforting fruit and texture; it's showing much leaner now and more elemental, still with great acidity, but not so well-balanced as in past years by other flavor and textural elements.
Second night this wine opened substantially and became rather gorgeous, revealing good depth and complexity, striking intensity, and raspberry fruit overlain with Cabernet cedar. A big step up in refinement and focus from its previous comfort wine-teddy bear persona, very impressive. So hold or open the day before.
2005 Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Clos Sénéchal
Showing great finesse and purity, with razor-sharp acidity, this wine retains the inky-black coloring it's had since release. It's put on quite a bit of weight since its early days, plumping out to medium body, acquiring more flavor depth, and a bit of cabernet france fur on the tongue. Pleasant cabernet aromas and flavors of cedar and a bit of plum. Showed best, imo, the second night, though was still developing on the third. I'd venture opening one now, if you have a few, but there can be no harm in continuing to hold these for a while.
Both purchased at release from CSW.