Here's a nicely evolved left bank Bordeaux with complexity well above the mean. The palate is firm and savoury, with...

Elegant cherry-laced nose. Black plum skin, a touch of char, bitter chocolate, minerality and cedary notes. A...

The 2005s continue to impress, although numbers are now dwindling on shelf. This is sitting in prime time, a...

Simple fruit, with plum and tobacco character, a medium body and a fruity finish. A bit austere, but very claretlike....

It started with a slight whiff of sewage, which was fixed with a good decanting. Very smooth, classic Bordeaux, but not great complexity or a long finish. Is it worth thirty bucks? I have a soft spot for Bordeaux, so I think so. A very pleasant wine.

This is a very nice Bordeaux a la Szabo's review. I don't sense any smokiness or much earthiness on the nose, so in that sense it's not very strong. Instead the nose is fruity. The palate, however, is typical Bordeaux: earthy, meaty, and just enough dark cherry intensity with a good finish. $25 for a six to seven year old Bordeaux that is quite typical, is a great value. Tasted February 2012.