2002 tasting notes of disappointing red wines

French best red wines? Unfortunately no. The reputations or the prices of the wines reviewed below had me expect much tasting pleasure, which I did not get. The wines appeared pretentious or boring. In other words, I am more interested in the multitude of characterful wines you can get for half the price. Featured crus include six Bordeaux.
 

The below wines were tasted in France, in 2002 (between April and December).
 

 Coteaux du languedoc - Abbaye de Valmagne - Cuvée de Turenne

1996 - USD 18 - this wine is basically a solution of oak chips (which is not only unpleasurable but also not allowed for an AOC) - a nose of tar, sawdust, and roastiness - a disgusting taste

 Haut médoc - - Le Moulin de Citran

1999 - USD 18 - the nose is dominated by tyre - the palate carries a plant note - the aftertaste is short, with tyre again

 Montagne saint émilion - Château des Tours

1995 - USD 19 - notes of leather and of sulphur - tannins are dry, the wine is rough and light on the palate - something is shining in the aftertaste

 Bellet - Domaine de Teasc

2000 - USD 24 - the wine is in a complete reducted state - a nose of rotten egg (mercaptan in French) which marks reduction - a foul taste

 Saint julien - Château Gruaud-Larose - Sarget de Gruaud-Larose

1999 - USD 27 - a nose with chocolate and a burnt note - the wine is juicier than the Gloria, fleshier too - an oaky finale

 Saint julien - Château Gloria

1999 - USD 30 - this is standard modern Bordeaux, technically correct but overbuilt, with the oenologist playing the prominent role (using reverse osmosis notably), very difficult for me to drink - a nose dominated by plank - a plant palate, oaky, hard, less juicy than the Sarget de Gruaud-Larose, with fruit barely showing - a clumsy, creamy aftertaste

 Saint émilion grand cru - Château Fonplégade

1998 - USD 35 - oaky nose - balanced palate - green/unripe aftertaste

 Clos de la roche - Ponsot - Vieilles Vignes

1995 - USD 153 - a delicate and meager flower - the nose is dull, with hints of beef and leaf - the palate lacks stuff, it is lean yet juicy and smooth, with a note of raspberry

 Pessac léognan - Château Haut-Brion

1973 - USD 192 - difficult on day 1, no pleasure here - an oxydized nose with tyre, toffee, and plum - hollow on the palate - an aftertaste dominated by tyre -
- on day 2: pleasant - a bouquet of chocolate and toffee - onctuous, old wood, a note of plant, lacks acidity and structure - no interest on the finish

This article is completed by a primer on organizing wine tasting parties.