Three 1995 bordeaux

Wine List
1995 Sociando Mallet
1995 Pavie Macquin
1995 Clos du Marquis




1995 Pavie-Macquin
Pavie-Macquin
St Emilion, Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux Blend (a dry red table wine)

Wine Advocate #115 (Feb 1998) Robert Parker 89 points Drink 2008-2025 $35.00
Made in a style similar to the 1996, the 1995 reveals copious quantities of black fruits, obvious old vine intensity (note the minerals and deep mid-palate), but mouthsearing levels of tannin will only be enjoyed by masochists. There are many good things about this wine, but the elevated tannin level is cause for concern. If the tannin melts away and the fruit holds, this will be an outstanding effort. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.

I don't think you have to be a gambler to purchase this wine, but the question mark does suggest a level of aggressive tannin that makes forecasting fraught with peril. This is an exceptionally powerful, uncompromising, classic, old style Bordeaux that should age for three decades or more. The only questions are: (1) to what degree will the tannin melt away, and (2) how much fruit will remain? No one can doubt the seriousness or concentration of this wine, but its tannin level is cause for concern.

Nice nose with the hint of cherry, not very much oak detected. Most of the tannins were soften, medium bodied and ok finish. Nice but not great.

1995 Sociando-Mallet
Sociando-Mallet
Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux Blend (a dry red table wine)
Wine Advocate #115 (Feb 1998) Robert Parker 90 points Drink 2006-2025 $25.00
This accessible, yet tannic example of Sociando-Mallet possesses a deep ruby/purple color, and excellent aromatics consisting of jammy black cherries, blackberries, and cassis, as well as subtle notes of minerals, earth, and new oak. This is a deep, long, muscular, tannic wine that is structurally similar to the 1996. Patience will be required from purchasers of this high class wine. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.

The best wine out of three 1995. Very elegant nose, no bret detected, clean and nice finish. Medium bodied and with good fruit to balance the structure. very good.

1995 Clos du Marquis
Clos du Marquis
St Julien, Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux Blend (a dry red table wine)
Wine Advocate #115 (Feb 1998) Robert Parker 90 points Drink 1998-2013
As I have indicated numerous times in this journal, the second wine of Las Cases, Clos du Marquis, is one of the finest second wines being made in Bordeaux. Over recent years, it has become a wine of classified growth quality. The 1996 may turn out to be even better than the outstanding 1995. Both are exceptional wines, with the 1996 slightly thicker and more viscous, with more noticeable new oak, as well as more massive body, and a blockbuster finish. In contrast, the 1995 is the quintessentially elegant style of Las Cases, with copious quantities of sweet fruit, outstanding depth, ripeness, and overall equilibrium, but no sense of heaviness. Like so many of this estate's great wines, everything is in proper proportion, with the acidity, alcohol, and tannin well-integrated. The 1995 is slightly more up-front and precocious than the 1996; it can be drunk now as well as over the next 15 years.

Very nice 2nd wine but it's behind the quality of 1996 version. Medium bodied and with nose of blackcurrant. Clean nose but not much oak, a little bit simple but very easy going.