2002 Bordeaux wine review, horizontal tasting, tastings comments


2002 POTENSAC Medoc - Bordeaux France Straight forward and tempting nose of soft spices and creamy blackberry. The structure is marked by the quality or the fruit, but tannins are a bit aggressive at this stage. A little more patience is required to see how it evolves. 84/100.		2002 D'AGASSAC Haut-Medoc - Bordeaux France Deep crimson hue. After decanting, the initial wooded notes disappear and are replaced by red berries, liquorice, coffee and mint. Classic fruity texture (morello cherry) with granulous but elegant tannins. The finish is marked by a slightly disturbing acidity just after the opening, but the balance soon returns as the wine's temperature warms up. Good persistence with some roasted notes. A very good d'Agassac, far from some other Medoc properties who sometimes have an astringent mouth. Excellent Price/Quality ratio. Has the potential to age well (2008 - 2018). 88/100

2002 LA CLARE Haut-Medoc - Bordeaux France Rustic green pepper and spicy aromas. The toughness of the Cabernet is noticeable on the palate. Nice fruit and good finish. A very interesting Price/Quality ratio for an "everyday's" wine (approx. 6 - 7 Euro / less than 10 US$). Drink 2007 - 2012. 84/100.		2002 TOUR SERAN Haut-Medoc - Bordeaux France Oriental fleshy flavours and plums. The body is firm and fruity, although the tannins are a little bit green. Will probably be better in 2 - 3 years. 85/100.

2002 ROLLAN DE BY Haut-Medoc - Bordeaux France Tempting cherry, red berries and cedarwood flavours. The structure is quite tannic with a small hint of greenness, but the fruit is very nice and velvety. Good length and a beautiful spheric width. 87/100.		2002 HAUT CONDISSAS Haut-Medoc - Bordeaux France Dark hue with velvety aromas of vanilla, nutmeg and red fruits. Dense and silky body with elegant tannins that are in the course of integrating well. Persistent and fresh. A modern styled wine that shows well the potential of the Medoc's area for producing quality wines. 89/100

2002 MONTFOLLET Cotes de Blaye - Bordeaux France Tempting red fruit and soft spice flavours. Round and balanced body with quality tannins. For such a mild price (approx. 12-13 Euro / 15-16 $US), one gets real good pleasure for his money. 85/100.

2002 DEFI DE FONTENIL Fronsac, Bordeaux France Slightly roasted cherry notes, smoked bacon and green pepper. Medium-bodied with prominent tannins that dominates a very ripe fruit. Somewhat flat and broad due to missing acidity. Currently lacks of freshness and balance. 83/100		2002 VEYRY Cotes de Castillon, Bordeaux France Nose characterized by Oriental spices and black berries. Very structured body with a beautiful quality of ripe fruit. In spite of very noticeable tannins at this stage, the wine remains elegant with a pleasant minerality on the finish. Wait another 3 - 4 years to appreciate at its best. 86/100
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2002 CLOS FOURTET Saint Emilion - Bordeaux France Red fruits, coffee, light green pepper and roasted meat flavours. Smoky palate and fine tannins. Well balanced. A modern styled wine with a hint of torrefied wood that covers the wine's apparent intrinsic qualities for the moment. Currently seems a bit closed. 87/100 - potentially 89/100		2002 PAVIE MACQUIN Saint Emilion - Bordeaux France Smooth and elegant nose with red fruits, subtle vanilla and truffle scents. Sharp and fleshy on the palate. The finish is dominated by fresh tannins that should integrate better in 3-5 years. Great potential. 89/100 Other article "DERENONCOURT'S REVOLUTION"

2002 TERTRE ROTEBOEUF Saint Emilion - Bordeaux France Smooth fruit, cherry, chocolate and a little acidic hint. The palate is fleshy, with soft tannins and a rounded body. Light alcoholic touch on the finish. A fat wine that's almost ready to enjoy now! 88/100		2002 NENIN Pomerol - Bordeaux France Fruity and straight forward nose. Passed the initial peppered sensation, the palate is mainly marked by greenish tannins and excessive astringency that makes the wine look disjointed at this point. To re-examine in 3-4 years. 84/100

2002 EGLISE CLINET Pomerol - Bordeaux France Complex nose with red berries, thyme and flowers. Fleshy and powerful body with well marked tannins. acidity still covers the fruit for the while. Austere structure but vibrant fruit. Eglise Clinet is usually difficult to assess so young but 2002 realy looks very promising with a great ageing potential. 89/100		2002 MISSION HAUT BRION Pessac-Leognan-Graves - Bordeaux France The nose is a bit closed but displays blackcurrant and raspberries flavours. Chewy tannins and lead pencil. Not very spectacular at this stage but it's quite easy to assess the wine's potential. No doubt that it needs to age another 5 - 10 years to show its potentialities. 90/100

2002 HAUT BRION Pessac-Leognan-Graves - Bordeaux France Remarkable soft spiced flavours, mild tobacco, peony, chocolate. Elegant and well balanced body with a very pure fruit. The finish is dominated by tannins that need to round up. Elegant hint of sweetness on the finish. Desserves a lot more patience to reveal its class. 90/100		2002 PAPE CLEMENT Pessac-Leognan-Graves - Bordeaux France The color is dark ruby. Beautiful floral nose, cedarwood, blackcurrant, vanilla and black chocolate. Very sharp on the palate with an elegant balanced roundness. Dense body and very expressive finish with a beautiful width. Expressive and flattering. 91/100

2002 LEOVILLE BARTON Saint-Julien - Bordeaux France Complex nose with ripe and solar fruit, lilac. Powerful body with fine coating tannins. Flattering structure and long finish. Slight herbaceous note. More expansive than Léoville Barton 2001 at the same stage. This wine is an absolute pleasure now.. and for the next few years. 91/100		2002 CLOS DU MARQUIS Saint-Julien - Bordeaux France Smooth fruit and light torrefied wood, liquorice and smokey notes. Elegant and balanced body, characterized by a beautiful sweetness of the fruit. Round tannins and freshness on the finish. A very nice wine, perhaps just lacking a bit of density. 86/100
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2002 LEOVILLE LAS CASES Saint-Julien - Bordeaux France Deep purple hue. Complex and sensual red fruit flavours, slightly roasted, mild tobacco. Dense on the palate with a wonderful definition of the fruit, tight but not aggressive tannins. Remarkable balance. Long aftertaste. Great elegance and an indisputable ageing potential. A classic Las Cases, close to the quality of the 2000 according to the estate's cellar master, Bruno Rolland! 91/100

2002 PHELAN SEGUR Saint Estephe - Bordeaux France Deep purple hue. At the opening, the nose is rather closed showing peppery flavours and torrefied wood. After airing the wine has completely changed! Now more complex with black cherries, blackberries and nutmeg. In mouth the wine expands progressively, well marked by delicate tannins. Fresh and juicy fruit. Little bitterness with a shortish, but pleasant finish. This is a delicate and elegant Saint-Estephe (tasted blind I would have probably mistaken it with a Margaux). 88/100		2002 CALON SEGUR Saint Estephe - Bordeaux France Initially reticent but gradually expanding nose of spices and wet earth. Mineral sensations (stones and gravel). Square, powerful and quite astringent structure. A classic Saint-Estèphe with a beautiful quality of fruit. 89/100

		2002 COS D'ESTOURNEL Saint Estephe - Bordeaux France Enjoyable nose with cedarwood, anise, leather, chocolate, tobacco, liquorice. Very extracted and massive. Ripe tannins but the wine manages overall to keep a splendid freshness. Great balance in spite of the wine's density. Really excellent! 92/100

2002 PALMER Margaux - Bordeaux France Crimson hue, deep and luminous. Prominent flavours of bilberry, cherry, cocoa, vanilla, black chocolate and toasted bread. Splendid density on the palate with a silky fruit. Elegant tannins well balanced by a very fresh fruit. Throughout the mouth, the body remains compact, fat, well balanced and concentrated. Very elegant and long finish. Beautiful! One of my favorite this year. 93/100		2002 MARGAUX Margaux - Bordeaux France Smooth and elegant nose of black cherries, peony, wild strawberry, graphite. Juicy and opulent mouth full of fresh fruit. The body tightens with the appearance of classy tannins that last all along the impressive finish. Long and very promising! 92/100

2002 PICHON COMTESSE DE LALANDE Pauillac - Bordeaux, France Smooth fruity nose of fresh black currant syrup, a bit oaky, banana, chocolate and light green pepper. The body seems relatively austere with elegant and slightly mentholated tannins. Freshness and silky fruit. As often with the Countess, elegance and aristocracy are subtly combined here to form a very beautiful wine that should improve wonderfully in a decade. 91/100		2002 PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON Pauillac - Bordeaux, France Changing and delicate flavours of cigar box, blackberry and blackcurrant. Great density with a magnificiently extracted fruit. The texture holds a perfect grip throughout the mouth. The tannins are beautifully smooth, perfectly leveled to the fruit's outstanding quality. Long balanced and suave finale. One can only love the Baron this year! Very different in style but probably as good as Pichon Comtesse de Lalande. 91/100
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2002 LAFITE ROTHSCHILD Pauillac - Bordeaux, France Astonishing and delicate minty flavours, chocolate and orange peel. Delicate tannins. The body is marvellously engraved with a mineral touch that shows through the density of the matter. Perfect mid palate with a long and streamlined structure. Brilliant! 93/100		2002 LATOUR Pauillac - Bordeaux, France Deep and complex nose with cedar wood, slightly caramelized, expresso coffee. The volume increases gradually on the palate. In spite of impressive tannins, the body remains smooth and dense. The taste ends on a certain austerity that is perfectly normal at this stage of evolution. A great, noble and complex wine. 92/100

2002 MOUTON ROTHSCHILD Pauillac - Bordeaux, France Very elegant, but the bouquet was simply extraordinary. Remarkable prominent flavours of cigar box, spices, nutmeg and red fruit. Beautiful viscosity in the mouth, chewy and delicate. Sappy tannins wonderfully balanced by an elegant smoothness. Long, dense and juicy finish. My favorite 2002! 95/100		2002 SIGALAS RABAUD Sauternes - Barsac, Bordeaux, France Pale yellow with a greenish glint on the edge. Delicate floral aromas with quince paste, mocha and a caramelized flavours. Well balanced and finely engraved body. The wood is a bit dominant at this stage. Interesting freshness and beautiful persistence on the finish. I would wait a couple of years to open the next one. 89/100

EPILOGUE Where cellar masters and oenologists have done a good job the wines are surprisingly approachable and juicy with an indisputable potential for aging 15 to 20 years. Finally, the general quality of the successful wines is unquestionably better than some "off" years of the previous decade - thinking of 1993 or 1994. Clearly 2002 belongs to a superior league! Alain Bringolf - for ccvo-bg.org

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