Fête de la Fleur 2013

 Traffic jam at the entrance caused by to much rain, so the parking lot could not be used.

2010 Château de Fieuzal Blanc:
Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, citrus, floral and spicy nose. Fresh acidity, lively, quite elegant, rounded but also refreshing, a bit oak smoky now, long. 92

2003 Château Lafon-Rochet:
Deep ruby. Scented, floral, cassis and elegant nose, layered and fruity. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins fruity, lively for the vintage, slight herbal touch on the finish. Maybe not full phenolic ripeness, but that is probably what made it so refreshing for the vintage. Long. 90

1995 Château Lagrange:
(Magnum, ex-châteaux) Deep ruby. Scented, fruity, cassis, leather and tobacco nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, elegant, fruity and refreshing, lovely balance, long. This has really smartened up lately. 92

At the table of Smith Haut Lafitte and the Cathiard's, together with Wine Spectator's Editor Thomas Matthews and his wife.

1990 Château Lafite Rothschild:
(Magnum, ex-château) Ruby, garnet rim. Layered, scented, fruity, cassis, leather, tobacco, complex, nuanced, astonishing nose but needed time in the glass to fully open. Gorgeous. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, elegant, refined texture and structure, subtle but intense, seductive, refreshing, very long indeed. 97

2001 Château Suduiraut:
Golden. Quite a bit darker than the more pale golden bottle a year back, pineapples, apricots and tropical notes. Apples, pure, refined and elegant nose, layered and complex. Fresh acidity, again refined, playful and pure, nuanced, gorgeous texture, incredible length, all about finesse, nuances and balance. Superb. 98