Some more notes from wines drunk on Sunday evening. Three from Bordeaux, in fact. The two reds were served with butterfly leg of lamb, grilled on the barbie.

It turned out to be quite a traditional evening, kicking off with fizz and then turning to Bordeaux. Nothing wrong with that.

The surprise here was Le Dôme, which when young would have probably been quite a sleek modern wine, but which has aged pretty elegantly. Just 13% alcohol, which is low by the standards of today. The Gruaud Larose tasted a bit bretty to me, and won’t get any better, but it is so tasty now. The Yquem was lovely: not supposedly a great vintage of this wine, but it’s a lovely wine indeed.

Château Le Dôme 1996 Saint Emilion, Bordeaux
13% alcohol. Beautifully aromatic with sweet black cherry, plum, blackberry and spice notes. The palate has a lovely savoury, mineral quality with some earthy notes. Hints of undergrowth and herbs. Drinking very well now. 94/100

Château Gruaud Larose 2000 Saint Julien, Bordeaux
12.5% alcohol. Meaty, spicy and intense with a nice savoury, gravelly, smoky, spicy edge to the dark fruits. A bit tarry, animal and spicy, with some cedary notes. Drinking well now, so I wouldn’t keep it much longer. 93/100

Château d’Yquem 1998 Sauternes, Bordeaux
13.5% alcohol. Rich gold colour. Lovely nose of toast, apricot, peach and nuts. The palate is rich, sweet, honeyed and viscous with peach, spice and tangerine notes. Intense with lovely weight, Fabulous stuff. 95/100