One of the conditions most insisted on by wine experts when we consulted about changes to make in this series of tastings was that the Bordeaux wines must each have an internationally respected source recommending that the particular wine is within its "Drinking window".

To that end:

WINE                                               Comments

2001 Ch Lafite (1st growth)           Parker 94 score, drink 2007-2020
2001 Ch Margaux (1st)                 Wine Spectator Suckling 92 score, Drink after 2006

1998 Ch Leoville-Barton (2nd)         Wine Spectator Suckling 90 score, Drink after 2005
1999 Ch Durfort-Vivens (2nd)          Jancis Robinson Drink 2005-2012
1999 Ch Gruaud Larose (2nd)           Decanter, 1855.com, WS Suckling all drinkable now
2001 Ch Leoville-Poyferre (2nd)       Parker 90 score, drink 2004-2016
2001 Ch Pichon (Lalonde) (2nd)        Parker 91 score, drink 2007-2018
2002 Ch Brane-Cantenac (2nd)          1855.com 2006 on, others say 2008 BACKUP WINE # 2

1995 Ch Langoa Barton (3rd)           in its 12th year, ready according to most sources
2001 Ch D’Issan (3rd)                 1855.com 2006 on, others say later BACKUP WINE # 1

1996 Ch Duhart-Milon (4th)            Parker 90 score, ready according to multiple sources
1998 Ch Lafon-Rochet (4th)            Parker 88 score, drink 2003-2016
2001 Ch Pouget (4th)                  1855.com 2006 on

1996 Ch Pedesclaux (5th)              in its 11th year, ready according to multiple sources

1999 Ch Trotanoy (right bank)         Parker 89 score, drink 2002-2014
2000 Ch LaTour du pin Figeac          now drinking according to Ontario agents
2001 Clos Beauregard                  now drinking according to Ontario agents
I’ve put in two tasting notes for the Mouiex wines which were donated to this tasting by Ontario representative Rod Davidson, as it is tough to find tasting notes for these wines. They are by Neil Martin of Wine Journal.com (who is now working with Parker).

2000 Ch La Tour du Pin Figeac score 93-95 from Wine Journal.com

First tasted at UGC in Nov-02: deep garnet. Massive nose: green pepper, burnt toast and minerals. Gorgeous. Lovely balance and intensity. Massive extraction but balanced with layers of sweet fruit. Truffly finish. Fantastic - much better than the last few vintages. Then at Wine Magazine blind tasting: deep ruby colour. Green pepper, blackberry, minerals and quite noticeable wood. Very smooth entry, very well-integrated with a dense core of black fruit and tobacco. Good grip. Tannic. Long blackcurrant finish. Long-term wine. Excellent.

2001 Clos Beauregard score 91-93 from Wine Journal.com

A "surly" nose of mulberry and hedgrow. The palate is well defined and very elegant: this displays fine concentration and verve. Notes of plum and bitter chocolate on the masculine mid-palate - in many ways this reminds me of the 2000 but is even more impressive: this has more finesse. Another very fine 2001 that might be overlooked by the 2000. Drink over 10 years.

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