Bordeaux blends

Happy hour.

2007 Pichon Lalande - sweet fruit and almost a little overripe on the nose.  Served too warm.  Showing a little smoke and almost a hint of burnt rubber.

2011 L'If - served too warm.  Fruity, with smoke and forest notes.  Sweet on the palate, with some tannins.

2008 La Tour de Pin - lean, smoky, almost green pepper.  Slightly sweet on the palate.

Dinner at Kiangsu Cheking and Shanghai Residents Association.

1997 Ornellaia - double-decanted for 1½ hours.  Really smooth, with good acidity balance along with sweetness.  A little smoky on the nose.

2010 Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 1 - opened 1 hour earlier.  Sweet and smooth on the palate.

2003 La Mission Haut-Brion - fruity, minty, smoky.