This 89 showed more high-toned aromas and a little herb too versus the 1999. Less full on the palate and more secondary flavours coming through. Ripe, and brings a feeling of warmth, perhaps needing an edge more of acidity to give it sparkle but another tasty wine.
Medium, medium-minus colour – some amber at the rim. The nose starts with fungus and undergrowth to be replaced in short-order by dense, chocolate coated red fruits. The acidity starts a little pronounced, but also that slightly discordant note quickly fades. It’s fresh with a lovely burst of flavour in the mid-palate and still a rasp of tannin too. Good length. It has a hint of the rustic, but was devoured – a super bottle.
Medium colour. The nose starts wide, high-toned and mineral with a hint of damp cellar – given time there is a red, plummy fruit aspect and eventually it soars from the glass, showing faint stemmy notes – super. The palate has slightly prickly acidity, reasonable width and considerable length – but needs leaving in the glass a little longer for pleasure. The prickly edge softens and the palate becomes quite complex. Pretty good on the palate, super aromatics.
A treat! Medium ruby-red. The nose is a lovely blend of confiture over soil – and that’s while the wine is still cold. Gorgeous, soft texture, real concentration and an almost caramel aspect. The tannins are still evident but they’re well to the background. A sneaky length that just builds with time. Jean-Marc bought these vines in 1988, and Hugues says that the ’88 was quite tanninc when young and is still a little hard – this, however, is just perfect now and there’s no rush.
Old style label. Quite deep ruby with brick edge. The nose still has some woody oak, but has sweetened. Slightly smokey/tobacco and ashes from the fire hints. Underneath that I’d say plum conserve. Really nice mouth-feel. Thick, silky and following an apparent mid-palate gap, suddenly very long. After 20 minutes the gap is plugged by quite high cherry fruit, but the acidity on the finish is starting to get a little harsh. Seems only a transient (or palate!) thing as it drinks well all evening. Not earth shattering, but very tasty. Definitely better today than the 1988 version.
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