Tasting Notes 1,397 found

Very light color, very clear rim, red in color. On the nose low intensity, very simple light cherry aroma equal to slightly vegetal notes with a very distant whiff of barrique spice. On the palate moderate + acidity, a somewhat narrow midpalate with a quick transition into a very short, low tannin intensity finish... low alcohol. Well balanced, low intensity and complexity, short length. Decent finesse and texture, didn't really say Chambolle to me. For me 04 is an interesting vintage at the very good PC/GC range where the wines are very vivid/clear... the vintage really has some weak village and below wines... this is one of them... the kind of Burgundy at about $60 retail that has no real QPR IMHO. (2336 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Purple hued rim, minimally extracted, light depth of color. Very aromatic on the nose with very primary, raspberry and strawberry aromas... a hint of metallic minerality, and no obvious new oak influence. On the palate very high acidity, a taut midpalate of low + breadth that tapers smoothly into a low tannin finish... low alcohol. Good balance and intensity, moderate - length and complexity. A wine of moderate finesse and texture that expresses its terroir admirably... very limited ageability. Gamay for me is like rose, pleasant enough but even the best terroirs and winemakers struggle to achieve the complexity, length, finesse, texture, and ageability (the seriousness) I believe a wine needs to be considered "excellent." Hard to argue this particular wine isn't a very good to excellent, pleasurable though nicely structured, example of Beaujolais though. (1840 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Yellow straw rim, light color. Highly aromatic nose with high intensity lime fruit being exceeding by tons of slate-like minerality, subtle nut aromas... no huge SO2. Very clean (not Loosen clean) fruit for a Spatlese with only the slightest whiff of honey. No oak aromas, no signs of malo. On the palate off dry with very high acidity. Low to moderate phenolics on the finish which has significant weight both because of the residual sugar but also because of extract... very low alcohol, no creamy notes. High balance, moderate + length, high intensity, moderate complexity. Moderate finesse and texture, textbook expression of place. Not my favorite Graacher Domprobst and not my favorite Selbach wine, but wow is this thing a little powerhouse... drink now, hold for 5-10 more years, hold for 20 years... plenty of options. (1591 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Very wide, clearing rim, red-brown... very light color, lots of sediment. On the nose muted and a bit flat in the glass... in the decanter the wine was singing with rich red, slightly dried cherry fruits less than powerful tertiary earth notes and strong cigar box/spice. On the palate the wine has medium acidity, a wide and fleshy midpalate that transitions quite seamlessly into a smoothly tapered finish with completely integrated low to moderate tannins... low to moderate alcohol. Nice balance, average + length, average - intensity in the glass, high complexity... great finesse, fine texture, good expression of place. A very elegant rather than blockbuster Beaucastel drinking at or slightly past its prime (depending on how it was stored). (7824 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Red to brick rim, moderate depth of color. On the nose very rich, slightly muddled, slightly stewy, dark cherry aromas equal to a wet, forest floor kind of minerality, integrate oak spice. On the palate the wine still has ample acidity, the midpalate is low to moderate in width and breadth, the wine tapers off rather quickly and awkwardly with still unintegrated, slightly coarse/rustic tannins. Average at best balance, short length, moderate + intensity and complexity. The wine doesn't have a ton of finesse and the texture is not fine. Not great expression of place... would be hard to put this in Volnay if tasted blind based on ripeness of fruit and coarse/clunky texture. For producer and terroir quality, average at best... maybe not best bottle? Nice note by Paul D below. (1862 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Red-purple rim... very light color. On the nose good intensity of very light cherry/raspberry Pinot aromas, a hint of vegetalness, and a slight note of spice. On the palate very high acidity, a fleshy Pinot midpalate, a low to moderate amount of very fine, moderately ripe tannins that are very well integrated. Very good balance, average length and complexity, moderate + intensity. Certainly has finesse, a fine texture, and sense of place. I don't think Pinot from this appelation can be much better... there is a ton that is a lot worse. (2196 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Red rim, very dark color. Slightly stewed red > dark, slightly muddled fruits... plums... has a savory horse saddle earth thing, noticeable new oak barrique influence. Dry, low acidity, very broad and lush midpalate, moderate, completely integrated tannins, moderate alcohol. A little out of balance on the soft side, moderate length and intensity, low complexity. Lacks finesse and texture. To be completely honest I'm not so sure Tempranillo is the best grape there, it is awfully hot and the wines always tend to be too soft IMO... this guy was past its prime to boot. (1048 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Distinctive reddish hue, moderate + depth of color. Moderate amount of moderately fine mousse. Deep, rich cherry fruit dominant nose, moderate stone-like minerality, no notable oak influence, moderate + toast and no oxidation. Very dry, high acidity, highly effervescent, minimal creaminess, very rich and broad mouthfeel. Good balance, length, and intensity. Average complexity. Wine has a great sense of place and screams Ambonnay with its power and aromatics... texturally I find the wine to be too powerful and rich in its reduced, non-malo, firm package... it drinks much better if you leave it in the fridge uncorked overnight... very decantable, very good. (3557 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Yellow-straw rim, moderate amount of moderate + size mousse. On the nose moderate + aromatics with light red fruits and some floral citrus notes... equal amounts of minerality. No strong oak aromas, significant toast and moderate oxidative notes. Very dry, very high acidity, high effervescence, creamy and full mouthfeel. Very good balance, average length and complexity, moderate + intensity. The weight of Vertus Chard, touch of Pinot, touch of oak aging in a full malo style might seem heavy to some, but I think the very high acidity and dryness work with this style... quite nice. (3869 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Reddish/purple tinged rim, dark color. On the nose moderately intense notes of red > dark fruits which are equaled by slightly vegetal, stony aromas... no perceptible new barrique influence. On the palate the wine has high acidity, a moderate amount of breadth in the midpalate, firm, chalky tannins of moderate ripeness which aren't yet integrated... low alcohol. Good balance, moderate length, above average intensity, average complexity. This wine had a coarseness to it that hurt its wine's finesse and texture a bit... there is an unmistakable Lorie Cab Franc expression of place. This bottle did not drink as well as others I have had of this wine (less clarity of aroma and texturally much coarser) and I don't know if it is going through a phase or was just an off bottle. Perfectly grilled lamb chops took care of the textural issues I had with this wine... ummm. Lack of representativeness makes maturity conclusions difficult. (1777 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Light red rim, very light color. On the nose very floral and pretty red > dark fruits that are equaled in intensity by light baking spice... minimal minerality. On the palate, moderate + acidity, fleshy and supple Pinot midpalate, low, mostly oak and mostly integrated tannin structure... finishes with a perceptible bit of heat from seemingly moderate + to high alcohol level. I like the balance between the fruit intensity and oak use and the fruit intensity/alcohol level and acidity/tannin structure... adequate length, moderate + intensity, average - complexity. Good finesse, good sense of place, unfortunately the alcohol detracts from the textural qualities of this wine a bit. Overall there is a lot to like here... hard to say if this will get additional depth without losing balance with another year or two in the bottle... doubt it would fall apart though. (4520 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Beautiful, light pink hue, moderate amount of moderately sized mousse. On the nose strongly fruit dominated with strawberry and light, floral red cherry... minimal earth notes, no signs oak aging, minimal toast and no oxidative notes. On the palate quite dry, moderate acidity, effervescence consistent with bottle fermentation, no creaminess, firm mouthfeel, low alcohol. Overall good balance, short length, average intensity, low on complexity. A solid option for a relatively inexpensive, pretty in the glass, simple, delicate-fruit dominated, dry and firm sparkler. (1913 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Purple at the rim, very dark color. On the nose very Cabernet Franc with red greater than dark fruits, vegetal notes, and wet stones... very perfumed wine without any obvious new oak influence. On the palate very high acidity, firm midpalate of short to medium breadth with a little dip that transitions nicely into a moderate + to high tannin (of moderate ripeness) finish... low alcohol. A little out of balance with the acids and tannins a little too much for the fruit intensity, good intensity, moderate + complexity, moderate length. Even though the wine tended towards the hard side of the balance spectrum, the wine had a fine texture and very good finesse and a crytsal clear sense of place. The next day the palate had hardened a bit more and the fruit intensity continued to lag. For me, not nearly as good of a wine as his 04 La Croix Boisee (shows the power of old vines) though impossible to argue that this isn't very good Cab Franc. (2917 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Purple at the rim which is extremely light, very light color. On the nose very reduced with loads of simple strawberry, light cherry fruit, a little hint of vegetalness, wet stones, and no noticeable new oak. On the palate super fresh with high acidity, a very light in weight midpalate that was pretty narrow, low tannins that are of average ripeness. Certainly a well balanced wine with good intensity, low on length and complexity. Obviously designed for early consumption. This was tasted blind and I had it as Poulsard from the Jura... familiar with some of Breton's wines but not this one... surprised to see it was Cab Franc with carbonic maceration though I liked the Poulsard call... interesting wine and something hipsters and grandmas might like if chilled... for the rest of us more intellectual in interest than anything else I suspect. (2221 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Red, clear rim and moderate + color. On the nose simple red fruits > dark greater than moderate amount of new French oak barrique spices... on the palate the wine had moderate + acidity, what to me was a very Cabernet midpalate (moderate width with a firm peak followed by a short lessening of intensity) which fades into a finish with a high amount of firm tannins of average at best ripeness. A little out of balance on the "firm" side, low to moderate length, intensity, and complexity. This wine was served blind and I had a hard time finding the Merlot in it, even after I knew what it was... seemed a little too red in the fruit, a little to firm and skinny in the middle, and a little too coarse with the tannins... though I did get a C- on the MW red wine paper last year... The wine, in its defense, drank better the next day so I think there is hope in holding this for a year or two to allow structural elements of the wine to integrate though I don't think it has the fruit quality/concentration to turn into anything grand. More proof that so-so vintages in Bordeaux aren't real kind to so-so terroirs. (1605 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $