Kay Bixler
Kay Bixler
A few notes for the board. Hope they are of use to someone.
2004 Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Rioja Reserva - This wine is all about dried herbs and fruits with beautiful balance and delicacy in the mouth. Just wonderful stuff and a tremendous value. Drink and hold. 94 pts.
1996 Clos de la Roilette Cuvee Tardive Fleurie - from my own cellar, purchased on release and stored quite well, thank you. The cork is in perfect shape with barely a millimeter of staining but the wine is quite tired. Coming back to it on day three it has improved some, looking deep there is earthy, raspberry fruit and rays of deep mineral but mostly there is iron and blood and the taste of old wine. We had a good run and the bulk of the case was drunk up at around age fifteen so no regrets if these last couple of bottles are fading. 93 pts.
1995 Leoville Barton Saint Julien - again from my stash, purchased on release and lovingly cellared. The cork on this one is also in astonishingly good condition and will probably last another twenty years. And it will need to as this stuff is just starting to come around. The tannins are resolving and it is quite fine in the mouth. The aromas and flavors are all about secondary Bordeaux with cedar and plum. Quite light on the palate actually and elegant. Hold and drink. 94 pts.
2012 Haut Batailley Pauillac - just to see what newer Bordeaux is like. Surprisingly smooth tannin for such a young wine but overall it did not grab me. Not sure what '12 was like in Pauillac but this bottle was not so memorable. Perhaps it is closed up? 93 pts.
* Edited today, forgot to include point scores.
2004 Lopez de Heredia Vina Bosconia Rioja Reserva - This wine is all about dried herbs and fruits with beautiful balance and delicacy in the mouth. Just wonderful stuff and a tremendous value. Drink and hold. 94 pts.
1996 Clos de la Roilette Cuvee Tardive Fleurie - from my own cellar, purchased on release and stored quite well, thank you. The cork is in perfect shape with barely a millimeter of staining but the wine is quite tired. Coming back to it on day three it has improved some, looking deep there is earthy, raspberry fruit and rays of deep mineral but mostly there is iron and blood and the taste of old wine. We had a good run and the bulk of the case was drunk up at around age fifteen so no regrets if these last couple of bottles are fading. 93 pts.
1995 Leoville Barton Saint Julien - again from my stash, purchased on release and lovingly cellared. The cork on this one is also in astonishingly good condition and will probably last another twenty years. And it will need to as this stuff is just starting to come around. The tannins are resolving and it is quite fine in the mouth. The aromas and flavors are all about secondary Bordeaux with cedar and plum. Quite light on the palate actually and elegant. Hold and drink. 94 pts.
2012 Haut Batailley Pauillac - just to see what newer Bordeaux is like. Surprisingly smooth tannin for such a young wine but overall it did not grab me. Not sure what '12 was like in Pauillac but this bottle was not so memorable. Perhaps it is closed up? 93 pts.
* Edited today, forgot to include point scores.
