Good cork, bad cork. . .

Chateau Montrose 2001
St Estephe. Bordeaux. France.
Bordeaux.
12.5% alcohol.
Cost: Arm.

Excellent wine. Excellent cork (blemish free, no staining along the side and just a deep purple rim at the wine interface). Deep red, lovely nose - complex and changing. Violets, black olive, faintly herbal and something earthy and mineral. There is also a whiff of savouriness. In the mouth, it is complete, balanced and poised. Slight in frame but generous in spirit. Gentle, fine and drying tannins. Flavour packed and satisfying.

Excellent.
Drink now - 2016.
18.3/20 (94/100)

. . . . .


Domaine Bertagna Clos Saint Denis 1999
St Denis. Burgundy.
13.5% alcohol.
Cost: Arm and leg.

Less accomplished wine and an almost fully stained (? failing) cork which does not auger well for future longevity (if this is a representative bottle). Medium red. Faint though gradually growing nose. Strawberry and with time mercaptan. Unremarkable in the mouth. Pleasing, but less than expected. The tannins are quite firm and abrupt. Overall the performance is more in keeping with a generic AC Bourgogne than a Grand cru wine.

Drink now - 2008
16.2/20 (86/100).

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