With Hart at August, after our pre-wedding photoshoot.

The recent 1995 Cos d’Estournel was the greatest wine that I have tasted. So imagine my excitement when I saw the second wine.

In the glass: highly concentrated. Bright deep red with a inky dark core and the tiniest tinge of purple.

On the nose: this was dark berries, mostly black currant and an aromatic lift of blue berries. This was much more concentrated fruit, nearly none of the cedar, but yet having a certain savory and herbal spice note. With the benefit of hindset, I could simultaneously see how this was from the same winemaker, but also that this was not the grand vin. This was much simpler, much more fruit forward. and didn’t have that mindblowing balance of delicate but distinct notes. Unfortunately, the biggest flaw of the wine was how offensively sharp and poorly integrated the alcohol was, even at just 13%. What a surprising disappointment.

On the palate: mid+ acidity; mid tannins, mid finish. Again, the alcohol was too much.

I’m leaving this unrated because…. It confused me. Most second wines drink fairly well 9 years in, but this just tasted so painfully young? I could see this aging for another 5-10 years easily. This has the intensity of fruit, acidity and structure, and certainly needs time to round off the alcohol, and develop some complexity

Edit: oh shit, MUCH nicer after sitting in the fridge overnight (with the cork on)!!!