Past Issues: Tasting Bordeaux --
Saint Julien Tasting Notes

Seems like with every tasting we’ve done in this Bordeaux series, we find something new to like. These St.-Juliens were wonderful – warm and rich and slightly mysterious, with a sort of earthy lustiness that lingered behind the elegance. And maybe we’re just getting used to swimming in the Bordeaux waters, because some of these prices are starting to look kind of reasonable-ish. Kind of…

Chateau Leoville-Las Cases 1999 St.-Julien ($102). A few hours after decanting, this wine offered voluptuous black cherry and cassis fruit, laced with clove, earth, leather and smoke. Full-bodied. Generous, elegant finish. Integrated tannins. Drink now (decant first!) and over the next ten years.

Chateau Leoville-Poyferre 1997 St.-Julien ($55). Medium-bodied, showing smooth red fruit, accented with smoke, vanilla, and a light spiciness. Ready to drink now.

Chateau Leoville-Barton 1997 St.-Julien ($60). Medium-bodied, with red cherry and berry fruit, tobacco, chocolate and toasty oak. Gains complexity through finish. Ready to drink now.

Chateau Gruaud-Larose 1998 St.-Julien ($58). Rich red cherry and plum fruit is concentrated and accented with mineral, earth and vanilla. Ready to drink now and over the next five years.

Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou 1999 St.-Julien ($66). Delicious! Featuring waves of red berry and cherry fruit, clove, cinnamon, tobacco, vanilla, and mineral notes. Nice body and structure. Generous finish. Ready to drink now and over the next five years.

Chateau Lagrange 1996 St.-Julien ($49). Rich and balanced, with red cherry and currant fruit, accented with chocolate, smoke, and slight herbal notes. Stays focused through lingering finish. Ready to drink now and over the next couple of years.

Chateau Langoa-Barton 1997 St.-Julien ($48). Probably our least favorite wine of the tasting. Slightly simple, with berry fruit, spice and vanilla oak. Not completely unappealing by any stretch, but certainly not worth the money. Ready to drink now.

We also had the opportunity to taste the 2000 vintage for Splurge Wine! Chateau Langoa Barton 2000 St.-Julien ($50). Full-bodied and rich, with deeply flavored and scented black currant and berry fruit laced with smoke, earth and mineral notes. Needs plenty of time in the bottle to really come into its own, but will be well worth the wait. Drink in about ten years!

Chateau Beychevelle 2000 St.-Julien ($32, 375 ml). Elegant and delicious, full-bodied and focused, offering rich black cherry and cassis fruit, tobacco, mineral, cinnamon and toasty oak. Generous finish. Wonderful now and over the next ten years.

Chateau Hortevie 2000 St.-Julien ($22). Straightforward, with pleasing blackberry and cherry fruit that offer some concentration and stay focused through finish. Accents include earth, smoke and mocha. Ready to drink now and over the next few years. Good value.

Now, just when we thought we couldn't top Margaux and Saint Julien, we're off to Pauillac!