I was invited by Divine to a extraordinary tasting of wines from Bond. Max Kast from the estate conducted the tasting with humour, flair and knowledge.
All the cru´s from 2019 had some characteristics in common - perfectly ripe Cabernet Sauvignon fruit, perfectly polished tannins, a suave character and a lovely balance. Below I have written down their individual traits, as I saw them.
2019 Melbury, Bond
Melbury is a 2,8 ha large vineyard which was planted in 1989. The nose shows of notes of cigar smoke and moist earth. A bit more "common people" than the rest.
The taste is generous albeit silky and pure with notes of plums and tobacco. Lovely. 6+ years.
94p (tasted 2023/04)
2019 Quella, Bond
The warmest of the cru´s with an area of 3.5 ha. Lots of dark flowers on the nose alongside minerals, iron and fir wood. Very, very deep.
The taste is racy and refined with the same dark flowers as on the nose. Stunning. 8+ years.
96p (tasted 2023/04)
2019 St. Eden, Bond
4,3 ha, pure volcanic rock that shows of the nose with that smoky, volcanic scent. Some fresh herbs.
The taste is very tight with notes of dark coffee, sun warm cement and damsons. Looong. 10+ years.
96p (tasted 2023/04)
2019 Vecina, Bond
My favourite in the line up. From a 4,3 ha large, east facing vineyard. A restrained, aristocratic nose with notes of black olives, minerals and violets.
The taste is, for the exception of maturity, perfect. Every knot and bolt are in the perfect place. 8+ years away from perfection.
98p (tasted 2023/04)
2019 Pluribus, Bond
The most backward on the cru´s. The most intense with the most tannins and structure. Lots of chrushed rocks, minerals and violets. Will require 12+ years in the cellar. Impressive.
97p (tasted 2023/04)
2014 St. Eden, Bond
We were then privileged to get the opportunity to taste two bottles with some age. The 2014 St. Eden offers up a bottomless deep nose with notes of plums, tapenade, moist earth, wet stone and perfectly ripe black currants. Just stunning.
The taste is still tight and with some broad tannins but the velvety fruit offers a glimpse of maturity. Gorgeous notes of ripe black currants, cold coffee, minerals and plums. Elegance and power. 4+ years.
97p (tasted 2023/04)
2011 Quella, Bond
I always know that I am in the presence of greatness when I start to write profanity in my tasting book. These kind of wines are hard to describe. Some other scribblings are violets en masse, dried herbs, dried plums, tiles and smoke. The balance is perfect, the maturity is spot on and the lenght is counted in minutes. Almost perfect. Wish I had some...
99p (tasted 2023/04)
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| Great vegetarian dish at Rutabaga |
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