1995 & 1996 Ch, St. Jean Cinq Cepages

[winoweenie]

Both of these bottlings are outstanding wines but side-by-side my preference by an eyelash is the 95. Both have solid aromatics, with red fruits, flowers, spice and currants that all come across on the palate. The 95 gives an undercutrrent of earth and bakers cocoa that the 96 didn't have. Both have good entrys, solid centers and almost identical 4+ lapper finishes. Nice way to start a sabbatical. 95-a solid 93, the 96-a solid 91. Happy new year guys. I'll be drinking coffee. WW

[Drew]

We also popped a '95 CSJ CC on Christmas Eve. Wonderful cab with very pronounced currant, cocoa and black fruit...grreat minds think alike.

Drew

[winoweenie]

Opened another 96 last nite. IMHO this wine is about at its' peak. Mite improve slighly in another 1-2 but can't imagine it getting much better. A really fine bottling but still I find it hard to imagine it as WOTY. No change in scoring. WW

[winoweenie]

Absolutely at the top of its' game IMHO. Aromatics and taste are completely in sync. No sign of tannins. Lovely balance and should hold for another 5-7. WW

[winoweenie]

Opened the last of the 95s for lunch today. Killer nose and there's no loss of the fruits so dominate in the previous bottles but the flowers and spices are more subtle. Silky is the word for the entry, center, and finish. Cant find anything that's not outstanding on this bottle. No change in scoring. WW