At today’s Richards Walford annual portfolio tasting there were a few mini-verticals to investigate. The most impressive of these was a six-vintage vertical of Château Léoville-Poyferré 2007–1996.
It is difficult to concentrate and write extensively at such a busy tasting so my notes are by necessity pithy.
2007
Earthy fruit, some oak still there. Pleasant but underwhelming. Drink 2015–20+?
2006
Quite hard oak tannins. Rather charmless. 2015–20+?
2005
Quite closed on the nose. Sumptuous palate, far smoother and richer than 2007 or 2006. 2015–25?
2004
Earthy nose, some cigar – starting to mature. Quite a nice texture, fairly smooth but lacks the power of 2005.
2001
A bit closed, some cigar again. Not quite ready, with some tannin to lose, though these are good. Finishes a bit shorter than some of the other wines. 2012–18?
1996
Cigar nose. Palate just about ready, smooth and supple. Now to 2015?
The lunch at Baltic Restaurant was as delicious and the waitresses as pretty as ever, of course!
