Château Loudenne 1995

Bright blackberry and plum aromas and flavors with caressing, ripe tannins. Medium body. Ripe fruit aftertaste. Not a long-ager, but delicious. Drink now.

97: Deep purple with ruby highlights. Intense cherry bouquet, coffee, very dense and showing a lot of concentration, but here too an unclean note on the bouquet. Firm, full palate, lots of substance and extract. The potential is there, but the wine remains below, unclean and not marketable. The potential would almost warrant 17/20. No rating! 98: Tasted again. The dull taste fades a little, but a wet mushroom note remains; otherwise rather delicate. Decant for two hours. Potential rating: 16/20 2002–2008

Sound but a little thin in the middle, with drying tannins. A touch too much sweet oak for the light fruit. The red-fruit core holds together fairly well, and the finish is strong and solid. Time probably isn't on its side. Drink now with food for a pleasant experience.