Andy Rodker

Andy Rodker deceased

Posted: 16 Apr 2023


Taken: 16 Apr 2023

13 favorites     25 comments    71 visits

See also...

Tolerance Tolerance


50-100 Views 50-100 Views


See more...

Keywords

1998
bottle
decanter
Bordeaux
Médoc
St Julien
claret
Léoville Las Cases


Authorizations, license

Visible by: Everyone
Attribution + non Commercial + no derivative

71 visits


What I opened today

What I opened today
A special wine and one I'd been looking forward to for quite a while. Glad I was patient! After 25 years, it was still fruity and was perfectly in balance with a fairly hefty thwack of tannin, but the latter wasn't too aggressive. I reckon this would still be enjoyable in 50 years time! As it was only my mum and me (my dad would have loved to have drunk this but can't drink alcohol these days), we have enough in the decanter for a glass and a half each with tomorrow's meal. Even though it is 25 years old, I have no doubt that it will be just as good tomorrow having been opened 30 hours previously. I know the light wasn't great so I'll write what it says on the label: Léoville Las Cases, St Julien 1998. A second class grand cru, generally referred to as a 'super-second' and commanding prices up near the first class grand cru claret level (in other words into the stratosphere!). My excuse is that I bought it before the explosion of classed growth claret prices when the market was skewed by the Chinese putting pressure on demand ... and that it was my 65th birthday!
Maybe I should have thought to give the table a quick wipe with a cloth first!
In summary what was so astonishing to me was that this wine was like a classic from the early 2010s, At a blind tasting I would have guessed the year as 2015 or thereabouts. Only 17 years out!

John Sheldon, Paulo Moreira, Heide, Jenny McIntyre and 9 other people have particularly liked this photo


25 comments - The latest ones
 William Sutherland
William Sutherland club
Superb shot and nothing better than a vintage wine for a Sunday evening! Stay well!

Admired in: www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance
12 months ago.
Andy Rodker club has replied to William Sutherland club
Thank you, William! I chose well for my 65th birthday meal!
12 months ago.
 WiePet
WiePet club
Ein sehr schönes Stillleben mit diesem edlen Tropfen!
Und nachträglich herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag!
12 months ago.
Andy Rodker club has replied to WiePet club
That's very kind, Wiebke!
An even more belated thanks!
10 months ago. Edited 10 months ago.
 Jaap van 't Veen
Jaap van 't Veen club
Cheers !!
12 months ago.
 Nouchetdu38
Nouchetdu38 club
Beautiful photo of this bottle of a wine that has aged well!
happy tasting my friend! It's part of the pleasures of life!
Cheers******
12 months ago.
Andy Rodker club has replied to Nouchetdu38 club
It was enjoyed over two days, first with a roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings:bacon, chipolatas, home made stuffing, home made gravy, roast potatoes 'à point', and seasonal vegetables. Then the next day had with a chicken casserole (using the meat from the unused chicken joint the day before).
And the wine was again superb!
12 months ago.
Nouchetdu38 club has replied to Andy Rodker club
Yum! Your comment is a good meal on its own!!!!
have a nice day Andy******
12 months ago.
Andy Rodker club has replied to Nouchetdu38 club
Kind of you to say so, Nouchet! I enjoy cooking, as well as a fine wine.
I did various jobs in French restaurants, bistros and cafes at different times in my late teens and early twenties and combining what I learnt there (It wasn't always 'faire la plonge!') with what I learnt from my mother (who was cooking indian, chinese, thai, italian, Spanish, French and most of all traditional English farmhouse food long before these became fashionable), it set me up pretty well on the kitchen front! My girlfriend really enjoys my traditional English Sunday roast, even if it never quite tastes the same as I'm using Spanish ingredients, etc!
12 months ago.
 Rosalyn Hilborne
Rosalyn Hilborne club
You have a good knowledge of these things Andy. Such a shame your father was not able to enjoy it with you.
12 months ago.
Andy Rodker club has replied to Rosalyn Hilborne club
I was lucky in that this wine had been in my Dad's cellar since about 2009 so no temperature variations and no movement of the bottle from one place to another. That certainly does help prolong the life of these famous clarets! At least my father remembered drinking a 1950s vintage of this wine and so it wasn't as if he'd never had it which would have made me feel a tad guilty, although there is no reason why it should!
12 months ago. Edited 12 months ago.
 cammino
cammino club
Oft ist der Wein dieses Alter schon abgebaut ...
12 months ago.
Andy Rodker club has replied to cammino club
Indeed that can be so, but I was fairly certain I was onto a winner here as Léoville Las Cases has a deserved reputation for being a long stayer!
12 months ago.
 Ulrich John
Ulrich John club
Zum Wohle !
12 months ago.
 Annemarie
Annemarie club
So cheers!
12 months ago.
 Michelle Chouchou
Michelle Chouchou club
Très original !!!!!!!!!!!
12 months ago.
 Andy Rodker
Andy Rodker club
***Thank you everyone and 'Cheers!'***
12 months ago.
 sea-herdorf
sea-herdorf club
Ein guter Wein ist des Geburtstages würdig, Andy.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag
Erich
12 months ago.
Andy Rodker club has replied to sea-herdorf club
As one gets older, Erich, the opportunities to share a precious bottle become rarer and rarer, more's the pity!
12 months ago. Edited 12 months ago.
 Jenny McIntyre
Jenny McIntyre club
Well happy belated birthday Andy. For some reason I'd always assumed you were in your 30's, certainly not in your 60's!! You seem very young in your outlook and also the amount of climbing and walking that you do - especially in Spain. I like that tiled table - very colourful. I'm glad you enjoyed your wine - I always thought that wine was always better when it was a little old.
12 months ago.
Andy Rodker club has replied to Jenny McIntyre club
I'm flattered, Jenny! (and I will continue to take the monkey glands!)
12 months ago.
 slgwv
slgwv club
Happy belated, Andy! I hit the big 7-0 last month!
12 months ago.
Andy Rodker club has replied to slgwv club
Mine will come round all too soon, if i'm lucky even!
11 months ago.
 Heide
Heide club
Happy belated birthday, Andy.
I wish you all the best and good health with all the things that make you pleased and happy.
12 months ago.
 Andy Rodker
Andy Rodker club
Steve,
Heide,
Many thanks for your birthday wishes!
12 months ago.

Sign-in to write a comment.