A friend who is looking to better understand french wines asked me about an email from K&L with these wines. I said I thought for the price they would be worth a taste and he paid so we could drink. No better friend than that. We both agreed the 1996 was the best "deal" price to taste. The great thing about a french chateaux is that you can count on the wine being the same wine year after year. Tasting three of four vintages, each vintage with quite a bit of variation gives a very clear indication. Each of the wines had a classic Margaux nose, soft, flowery, perfume flavors. The taste of each was similar, but with distinct differences across the three. The 1996 was the most robust, even today, more fruit, more tannins, nicely sweetened. Very good structure, good to drink now, just as good in five years would be my guess. The 1997 was more subtle. The fruit came up more slowly, but was smooth. The 1999 was between the two, but had more tannin and bit less fruit. In each case it was blackberry flavored with earth/dirt type flavor. I know that does not sound great, who after all likes the flavor of dirt, but the blend is pleasing.
I would/will definitely buy more of the 1996 for the price, $40. The 97 is $30, which is a pretty good price for a ready to drink ten year old Bordeaux.
Back in awhile.
leh
