“A 100% Merlot is for me a simple wine, but in a in a positive way. A blended wine is multidimensional, instead of a monovarietal wine which is mono dimensional as it is the case even for Burgundian Pinot Noir.”
2013 Bordeaux did not get off to a good start. 2013 Bordeaux could be one of the coldest, wet, diifficult start to a growing season in more than 40 years.
“I think I need a drink… Almost everybody does only they don’t know it.” Charles Bukowski was not thinking about wine when he wrote that. But I was thinking about wine when I read it.
Troplong Mondot was over 15.5% in both 2009 and 2010. I accept these were vintages when sugars and alcohols, were bound to be higher.. But 15.5% is a stylistic choice, not a true reflection of climate and vintage. Today it lunges at the consumer with a hammer in its hand.
This year was our latest start date ever to being the picking as we started September 23. But the latest finish for Domaine de Chevalier was last year with the 2012 vintage. We did not complete picking until October 5!
The juice for the white wines shows a very good level of acidity with freshness for the aromas. The wines are elegant too. So perhaps 2013 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc will be similar to 2007 or 2011.
Stephen Carrier on 2013 Bordeaux… “I never compare one vintage to another, just like I would not compare my children!”