Chateau de Fieuzal Blanc (Pessac-Léognan) 1994: A fairly rich golden colour. It has a very mature and secondary nose now, with notes of nuts, mushrooms, honey and perhaps just a little volatility that I haven't noted before. Mirroring my previous experiences, there are little notes of lime oil. On the palate it is quite firm, still holding together well, with lots of mature nutty character. There is firm acidity, a full, dry texture and a lot of peppery spice on the finish. This bottle isn't showing so well as some of the others, and certainly seems to be more tired than the last, which was barely a year ago, but it is a minuscule point. It has a lovely style, but as a note of caution there is some heat on the finish. On the basis of this bottle I think this is probably at peak and I would keep to five years rather than eight. 17/20

Chateau La Louvière (Pessac-Léognan) 1994: Only a year or two since I last had a bottle, but this wine was beginning to drink well then. Today it has a deep red colour, still showing just some early maturity, and lots of maturing style on the nose. There are some fresh red fruits, deep, ripe and yet crisp and fresh, alongside aromas of tobacco leaves, the gentlest touch of undergrowth, and little notes of dark, smoky coffee grounds too. Fresh yet rounded, still quite firm and grippy through the midpalate, but with plenty of deliciously slightly bitter flavours, more tobacco and red fruits. A firm, warming finish. This is very pleasing to drink, shows great typicité, and should improve over some years yet. 17+/20

Chateau Haut-Bailly (Pessac-Léognan) 1994: From a half-bottle. This wine has a dark, maturing hue, although it still has plenty of pigment. There are notes of classic, maturing, claretty fruit on the nose, with a rather solid, violet-tinged perfume. It is firm rather than delicate, on the nose as well as the palate, where it demonstrates a full, spicy, peppery grip. Ageing nicely, with a nice broad flavour, but overall a little stolid, with little of the delicate perfume that makes Graves so appealing. But I think this wine has plenty to offer yet. 17+/20

Chateau Cos d'Estournel (St Estèphe) 1994: Little sediment. Decanted and drank over the course of the evening. An appealing, dark hue. A glorious nose though, so typical of Cos. At first it gives just a little claretty blackcurrant, laced with nuances of green peppercorn and liquorice, before opening out to give a full blast of gravelly and violet-infused perfume, with the spicy complexity of cumin, backed by lifted fruit freshness. This is lovely, and simply dripping with style. Beautifully fresh from the outset, with a very complete, balanced composition that glides effortlessly across the palate, with only the bumping around of some ripe but unresolved tannins to prevent absolute maximal pleasure right now. But on the positive side these are ripe and sweet, and give a fine bite to it. Lovely rounded, wholesome finish. This is just delicious. I am so sorry that I have only one more bottle of this. 18.5+/20

Chateau Haut-Bages-Libéral (Pauillac) 1994: Fine moderately deep colour, pink-claret rim, little age apparent, rather like my last note which was a few years ago now. Cedary, open, peppery, sweet smoky cherry fruit, plump warm and welcoming. Full, mouthfilling, broad and warm on entry. Harder midpalate, still some slightly angular structure, but much more balanced and approachable than last time. Much more rounded, more composed wine. Really nice with food. Lovely freshness throughout. As previously noted it lacks a little flesh and substance, but this is a nice drinker's claret. 16+/20

Chateau Pontet-Canet (Pauillac) 1994: Decanted, but a surprisingly small amount of sediment here. The nose is warm, open and very nicely scented, and is certainly less reticent than my last bottle which was over a year ago now. It has some beautiful aromas, with violets the most prominent feature, followed by a gentle, iron and mineral note in the background. Fresh, moderately expansive, with a nicely rounded but well delineated texture on the palate, still a little grippy towards the finish, with just a little, slightly bitter, tannic note which suggests this wine has more to offer for the future. Quite vigorous, a finely balanced composition, and very much alive. Fine potential, but approachable now. 18+/20

Chateau Léoville-Barton (St Julien) 1994: A lovely colour in the decanter, showing some maturity but still with depth and vibrancy. Quite a classic, reserved yet stylish nose, with aromas of iron and claretty, charred meat, with a violet perfume too. Fresh style on the palate, rich in character, but a touch of austerity that comes with the vintage I think. It has sufficient flesh on its bones though, a firm texture that matches nicely the backbone of well integrating tannin, which is certainly further gone than my last tasting in 2005. Firm acidity. Very upright and correct. Very good drinking from an occasionally under-rated vintage. 18+/20

Chateau Coutet (Barsac) 1994: A pale golden hue, belying the vintage. An appealing nose, offering up some scents of quince and oranges presented in a very sweet and bright style, although there is some volatility too. The initial impression is of a sweet, creamy wine with a decent substance, although through the midpalate and on subsequent tastes it is clear that this wine is a touch simple and straightforward. It is delicate, with a rather floral, chalky character. Not a bad wine, but a lightweight with a short finish. But this is all within the context of a weak vintage for Sauternes & Barsac. A good effort, I suppose. 15.5/20