Eight high-end Bordeaux wines  

No comments, just some tasting notes

Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge 1996 Pessac Léognan, Bordeaux
Lovely open nose with a spectacularly chalky, mineralic edge to the herbaceous fruit. Broad palate with spicy character and bold fruit. Nice savoury, minerally structure. Very good/excellent 92/100

Château Figeac 1986 St Emilion Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux
Quite an evolved leathery, earthy spicy nose which is complex and full. The palate shows dense, spicy, firm minerally character. Quite full and structured this is drinking very well now. Very good/excellent 93/100

Château Pontet Canet 1996 Pauillac, Bordeaux
Very nicely structured with good acidity and a ripe, tarry, spicy edge to the fruit. Great balance here. Very good/excellent 91/100

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2001 Pauillac, Bordeaux
Lovely nose is spicy, rich and firm. Lots of black fruits with just a hint of greenness and some smoky, spicy oak. The palate is concentrated with lovely structure: there’s a bit of greenness but this is backing up the rich spicy, chocolatey fruit. Tannic finish. A lovely young wine. Very good/excellent 93/100

Château Pichon Longueville Baron 1996 Pauillac, Bordeaux
Delicious open nose: spicy and tarry with some savoury minerality. The palate is quite structured with firm tannins but also a good depth of fruit. Lovely structure.  Still quite youthful, but opening out a bit; quite a big, structured wine. Very good/excellent 93/100

Château Cos d’Estournel 1997 St Estèphe, Bordeaux
Quite an open, mineralic, chalky nose. The palate is structured and minerally, savoury and spicy. Drinking well now. Very good+ 89/100

Château Mouton Rothschild 1996 Pauillac, Bordeaux
Deep, intense, structured nose is tight, spicy and smoky. The palate is structured, bold and a little closed at the moment. Lovely minerality and structure: this is clearly a wine for the future. Very good/excellent 93/100

Château Pavillion Rouge de Margaux 1996 Margaux, Bordeaux
Earthy, spicy, slightly musty nose. Firm, structured palate is quite elegant. Very good+ 88/100

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