2003 Cliff Lede, Claret, Stags Leap District

Dark. Cherry, plum and spice aromas. Cherry, plums, and spices in the forward fruit, good acid, soft, round tannins, long fruit finish. The fruit on this wine developed more intensity on the finish, with hints of chocolate and nutmeg. This is a very appealing young Bordeaux blend wine. I’m not sure how it will age, but it is delicious right now. It is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec.. 1948 cases produced. List price $35. My rating 90.

2001 Ridge, Mazzoni, Home Ranch

Dark. Tight nose with some strawberry aromas. Big, tight wine with cherry and strawberry fruit flavors, moderate acid, high tannins, and a long fruity finish with a good dose of astringency. I think mostly harmless is the best description of this wine. Maybe it needs some more a few more years to open up. 45% Zinfandel, 50% Carignane, 5% Petite Sirah. My rating 80.

1997 Chateau Raymond-Lafon, Sauternes

Golden. Nose has aromas of honey, apricots and oranges. It is very sweet, rich and oily in the mouth, with flavors of oranges and honey, moderate acid, and a long sweet finish. This is a good, young Sauternes, but I am a little worried about the acid for long term aging. Perhaps it just has so much big, fat fruit now that the acid is not showing. My rating 89.

1982 Chateau Lynch-Bages

I had several bottle of this wine last year, here and here, and this one was very similar. It seems to have held up slightly better than the March 2005 bottle, even though the cork was stained all the way up the side and was not tightly seated. The cork broke into two large pieces while getting it out. The wine had earthy flavors with licorice and tobacco to add complexity to the cherry and chassis. My rating 91.

This was my Super Bowl wine. I thought it went well with the game. It definitely was not a wimpy wine.

2002 Savannah Chanelle, Pinot Noir, Armagh Vineyard

Medium garnet. Cheery and spicey oak nose. Cherry and raspberry fruit flavors, moderate acid, soft tannin, and a long fruity finish. A very nice Pinot Noir with lots of fruit and good structure. My rating 86.

2002 Testarossa, Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard

Medium garnet. Cherry and oak on the nose. Big forward fruit flavors of cherry, plums, and raspberry with hints of muskiness, moderate acid and a long fruit finish. A very good Pinot Noir that continued to improve with airing. My rating 88.

I recently tasted the 2004 Bien Nacido Pinot Noir from Testarossa at the winery. It is very good, perhaps slightly better than this 2002, but the 2004 is very young and tight and needs a couple of years to open up.

2004 Cline, Cashmere

Medium dark. Aromas of cherry and chocolate. Forward fruit has overripe flavors of chocolate and coffee, moderate acid, soft tannins and a long finish. The fruit has so much potential, but like the 2003 Cashmere, it tastes hopelessly overripe to me. The alcohol is 15.0%. Not rated.

1981 Chateau Margaux

Medium dark, brownish around the edges. Open nose with aromas of cherry, cedar and spices. As it aired, the nose developed smoky overtones. Cherry and chassis fruit flavors dominate, with smoke, leather and spices, moderate acid, soft tannins, and a long fruity finish. Margaux is all about fitness and elegance, and this bottle certainly showed plenty of that. It does not have the power or concentration of a Latour, but it is superbly balanced with rich, complex fruit flavors. Definitely ready to drink, and will probably hold for a few more years. My rating 92.

The 1981 vintage of Margaux was overshadowed by the 1982 and 1983 vintages, which at the time were considered powerhouse wines. I have some of the 1983 Margaux and hopefully will get around to trying a bottle of it this year.

1986 Chateau Raymond-Lafon, Sauternes

Golden. Rich nose with aromas of apricots and oranges. Big intense fruit flavors or caramel, honey, oranges and spices, high acid and a very long, fruity finish. A huge, balanced and very smooth, almost creamy, Sauternes. The best Sauternes I have had in a long time. It still seems very youthful, and shows no signs of decline. I expect it will continue to hold for a number of more years. I think this is clearly showing better than the 1983 Chateau Raymond-Lafon right now. My rating 91.

In the 1980s Parker speculated on how the 1983 and 1986 Chateau Raymond-Lafon would develop. Having tried both of these recently, it seems to me the 1986 is showing better right now, but the 1983 seems more youthful. The 1986 seems mature while the 1983 shows promise for further improvement.