Reserve de la Comtesse Pauillac 1996

[Colt45]

I wasn't sure what this would be like at this point in time - thinking perhaps it would be on the downhill side.

I won't go into details, but I was amazed at how stunningly vibrant it still was. Fully integrated, complex, and flavorful.

I don't know if it would gain anything with more time, but it seems to have the legs for a couple more years.

Fantastic.

[Ken Gargett]

» I wasn't sure what this would be like at this point in time - thinking

» perhaps it would be on the downhill side.

» I won't go into details, but I was amazed at how stunningly vibrant it

» still was. Fully integrated, complex, and flavorful.

» I don't know if it would gain anything with more time, but it seems to

» have the legs for a couple more years.

» Fantastic.

top vintage, terrific maker, even if not their very best wine, shoul be wonderful and one would expect have a good few years. lalande long one of my very fave bordeaux producers.

[Colt45]

» top vintage, terrific maker, even if not their very best wine, shoul be

» wonderful and one would expect have a good few years. lalande long one of

» my very fave bordeaux producers.

Sadly, my last bottle of the '96. i do have a couple bottles of '00, and a few bottles of the '96

Pichon Lalande. I'll be waiting a few years before I consider trying a bottle.

[Ken Gargett]

» » top vintage, terrific maker, even if not their very best wine, shoul be

» » wonderful and one would expect have a good few years. lalande long one

» of

» » my very fave bordeaux producers.

»

» Sadly, my last bottle of the '96. i do have a couple bottles of '00, and a

» few bottles of the '96

» Pichon Lalande. I'll be waiting a few years before I consider trying a

» bottle.

should be errific. must say i am mush more of a burg drinker, when peference permits, but i do like lalande.

[havanaclub7]

» should be errific. must say i am mush more of a burg drinker, when

» peference permits, but i do like lalande.

Ken,

Since you're more of a Burgundy fan, I have a question for you. A friend of mine gave me a bottle of 1997 Domaine Dujac Charmes Chambertin for my birthday awhile back (and by awhile I mean probably about 5 years ago). I've kept it in my wine cellar and I kind of forgot about it. Should I keep it lying down for awhile yet or is the wine getting past its peak?

[Ken Gargett]

»

» Ken,

»

» Since you're more of a Burgundy fan, I have a question for you. A friend

» of mine gave me a bottle of 1997 Domaine Dujac Charmes Chambertin for my

» birthday awhile back (and by awhile I mean probably about 5 years ago).

» I've kept it in my wine cellar and I kind of forgot about it. Should I

» keep it lying down for awhile yet or is the wine getting past its peak?

if your wine cellar is a good one (i mean keeps the wine in optimum conditions) then it should be singing about now. 97 definitely not one of the greatest vintages but certainly some nice wines. charmes is grand cru, though again not the greatest of the grand crus (still often sensational) and dujac is a top producer whose wines often age very well. so i'd say your timing is nigh on perfect and, cork and cellaring conditions allowing, have a teriffic drink. another year or two won't kill it but i'd be geting into it soon.

[havanaclub7]

» if your wine cellar is a good one (i mean keeps the wine in optimum

» conditions) then it should be singing about now. 97 definitely not one of

» the greatest vintages but certainly some nice wines. charmes is grand cru,

» though again not the greatest of the grand crus (still often sensational)

» and dujac is a top producer whose wines often age very well. so i'd say

» your timing is nigh on perfect and, cork and cellaring conditions

» allowing, have a teriffic drink. another year or two won't kill it but i'd

» be geting into it soon.

Thanks for your insights Ken. I have a wine refrigerator that keeps my bottles at around 50-55 degrees. I appreciate the info about Dujac and the grand cru designation. I'll definitely have to get into that bottle soon. I know it was pretty expensive (probably $150 or more U.S.) so I hope to have an occasion to enjoy it before it goes past its peak. I think Robert Parker really liked that particular Burgundy which was why my friend picked it out for me. Otherwise, I've never really had too many outstanding Burgundies as I tend to be more of a bordeaux fan and especially a California Cabernet Sauvignon fan.

[shortsqueeze]

Speaking of Pauillac 1996, Pichon Baron is firing on all cylinders now. I bought a half case on release a number of years ago, way WAY too few. Such a good price too at the time.

[Ken Gargett]

» Speaking of Pauillac 1996, Pichon Baron is firing on all cylinders now. I

» bought a half case on release a number of years ago, way WAY too few.

» Such a good price too at the time.

prices for things like 96s now look silly compared with what they want for the 2005s. must confess, even though they are supposedly spectacular, i have not bought a single bottle of 05 bordeaux. a few burgs tho.