Prelude a Grand-Puy Ducasse, Pauillac

Amazing value - found this at Costco for less than $25 and let it sit in my cellar for a couple of years before opening. Drinking well now and should hold up for a few more years due to its structure.

Perfume (lavender) and greeniness in the scent. Taste of red berries, cedar with hint of stable and oak. Not a typical Bordeaux and is more elegant. Medium+ acidity, medium+ tannins and medium+ body

My first impression of this wine was that there must have been something wrong with the fruit to have overshadowed this with so much cooperage char. But, as I drank more, which might be the case with most any wine, I started to not mind that tarry overbalance, but rather enjoyed it and became endeared to it. Sure it had delicious berries that were drowned in a black tarry mess, but darn it, it was quite good. I would not …

Deep in color, with spicy ripe black cherries on the nose and palate. A little tight at first. After 15 minutes this wine starts to unfurl and reveal its layers over the next hour. Very Pauillac in character. There are some fine tannins that countered nicely by the red fruits. Textbook Pauillac graphite/pencil comes through in spades. Good structure and length. More appealing fruits arrive with aeration. For a second wine this is fairly complete. Not hollow nor too light …

Au Jelly Fish. Un vin dur et austère, qui m'est paru dénué de charme, sec, plutôt poussiéreux. Pas plaisant du tout, ce qui est difficilement acceptable pour un 2e vin. 83 pts

Firm but not overpowering tannins. Cocoa, raspberry, currant on the palate. Long finish. Great qpr.

Wild blackberries with forest twigs and a touch of cassis. Palate is fleshy with blackberry liqueur with a short medium finish and drier wood. It’s got all the goods of a bold wine except it’s not heavy at all. This surprises una good way.