March 17, 2008 - Tasting Notes - Joanne, Bottles Desired - Jack The yearly West Coast trade tasting for 2008 was held in Los Angeles. But, K&L convinced this group to come to San Francisco the next day so that consumers could taste these wines. It was an excellent tasting and clearly showed that 2005 is a very strong Bordeaux vintage. (Note, we tasted about half of the wines being poured. It was our second tasting that day.)

Château Angélus, Château La Conseillante, Château Pavie Macquin and Château Rauzan-Ségla were the standouts amongst the reds.

(# of Bottles Desired = number Jack would like in his cellar; a score of 3 or better is a wine worth purchasing.)

# of Btls Desired	Bordeaux Rouge	Tasting Notes
3+	2005 Château Haut-Bailly	Flowers and berries on the nose. Tart, flowery center with bright red fruit. There is a creamy element. Tart, biting acids on finish.
2-3+	2005 Château La Louvière	Notes of herbs. A lighter style. Dry fruit. Pleasant.
3+	2005 Château Pape Clément	55% Merlot/45% Cab. Notes of wood and menthol. Slightly watery finish.
3-6	2005 Château Angélus	Red/black fruit. Tannic. Very dusty finish.
3	2005 Château Beauséjour Bécot	Lots of fruit. Tight and dry. Dusty finish.
3+	2005 Château Figeac	Dry black cherry. Balanced. Slight bitterness on finish.
2-3+	2005 Clos Fourtet	Aromatic incense on nose. Really deep center. Dry and complex. Cherries on finish. Finish has a saline element.
3-4+	2005 Château Grand Mayne	Nose of brown sugar. Good fruit and nice finish. Unique.
2-3+	2005 Château La Tour Figeac	Attractive nose of fruit and incense. Dried fig. Good value.
4-5	2005 Château Pavie Macquin	Nose of deep concentrated fruit.
2-3+	2005 Château Troplong Mondot	Hint of aromatics and eucalyptus on nose. Very tannic and hard.
3-4	2005 Château Clinet	Nose of incense, flowers and exotic wood (cedar, sandalwood). Long incense-y finish.
6+	2005 Château La Conseillante	Expressive nose of spice and fruit. Sexy center of spice and sandalwood.
2-3+	2005 Château La Pointe	Perfumey nose. Red raspberry fruit. Good fruit/acid balance. Attractive fruit on finish.
2+	2005 Château Chasse-Spleen	Very perfumey nose. Very raspberry center. Country style. Rustic elements.
3+	2005 Château Greysac	Velvety soft fruit on nose. Expressive nose. Center of tea and red flowers. Can drink now. Dry, fruity finish.
3?	2005 Château Brane-Cantenac	Light wood and soft red fruit on nose. Great acids. Meaty irony element in center. Good.
2-3+	2005 Château Dauzac	Aromatic nose. Good jammy fruit. Pleasant incense-y finish.
2-3+	2005 Château Giscours	Meaty nose. Very, very dry and tannic center. Hard finish.
2+	2005 Château Kirwan	Closed nose. Tight. Lighter style. (Served cold.)
3+	2005 Château Lascombes	Soft nose of ash and fruit. Nicely balanced. Soft, dry finish. Pleasant.
4-5	2005 Château Rauzan-Ségla	Slightly stinky cherry and shale on the nose. Hard, tight center with lots of fruit. Lighter style.
4	2005 Château Beychevelle	Crushed black cherry on nose. Black cherry center. Lighter style.
3-4	2005 Château Branaire-Ducru	Nose of fruit and acid. Bitter center. Dark black fruit. A lot of acid. Nicely integrated acids.
3	2005 Château Gruaud Larose	Very jammy fruity nose. Bright fruit and acids.
2+	2005 Château Lagrange St. Julien	Aromatic nose. Herbal center. Tannic fruity finish.
?	2005 Château Langoa Barton	Meaty nose. Iron-y tight but fruit forward center. Fruit and acids on finish. Some wood/vanilla on finish.
2-3+	2005 Château Léoville Barton	Wood and hint of coffee on nose. Slightly jammy fruit. Wood shows on finish.
2	2005 Château Léoville Poyferré	Dark fruit on the nose. Hard, bitter fruit on center.
3-4+	2005 Château Talbot	Slight menthol on the nose. Lighter style. Center has harder fruit with good acids.
4	2005 Château Clerc Milon	Stinky, warm bloody nose. Red plums and jammy fruit with good acids. Lots of everything.
2+	2005 Château d'Armailhac	Close nose. Watery center. Lighter style.
2-3	2005 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse	Interesting nose - herbs? Almond skin and vanilla with fruit in center. Raw almonds on finish.
2-3	2005 Château Lynch-Bages	Too much acid and not enough fruit. Berries and menthol on nose. Jammy fruit in center but tons of acids. Dry finish.
3	2005 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron	Nose of berries and menthol. Hard fruit. Lots of acids. Dry finish.
3+	2005 Château Pontet-Canet	Shellfish and lobster element. Very balanced with great acids. Good.
3	2005 Château Phélan Ségur	Dried cherry and a touch of menthol.
# of Btls Desired	Sauternes/Barsac	Tasting Notes
3	2005 Château Climens	Flowers and ripe fragrant pear on nose. Needs more acids. Lots of pear.
3-4	2005 Château de Fargues	Spice and allspice on nose. Clean yellow ripe fruit in center. Pleasant nutmeg custard finish.
3-4	2005 Château Doisy-Daëne	Nose of honey and white flowers. Sexy center of nutmeg and honey. Clean finish.
3-5	2005 Château Guiraud	Needs a lot of time. Better acidity and more complexity. Hints of cream and nutmeg on nose. Custardy center of peach and nutmeg and thicker honey. Honey on finish.
4-6	2005 Château Suduiraut	Nose of honey and warm spice. Liquid sugary center. Good acids. Slightly bitter finish.

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