Medium-full ruby without bricking; moderately aromatic nose with slight bell pepper, cherry, mostly red fruits; palate is full bodied, tannins are medium density and still a bit too youthful, some red fruit but it fades completely by the midpalate; short finish. Simple, serviceable, but there is little reason to buy this for $20-25 when there are cheaper and better cabernet franc in france. 84
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
(8/5/2016)
Coravin 8/5/16: Deep clear ruby with very minimal bricking less than expected for its age; nose is aromatic, dusty leather, blackberry, clove spice, slightly herbal; palate is full bodied, tannins are still youthful though approachable, black fruit; medium finish. Chateau is 80% merlot, 20% cab franc and made by the same team as Chateau Ausone. Overall a very good St. Emilion, traditionally made, not too much new oak and showing some secondary complexity but still excellent youthful fruit, for the price on release this is silly value. Drinking well now and will continue to drink well for years. 91 Finished the rest a week later (Coravin so well preserved) and it was just stunning. Aromatic, complex nose and the clear standout in a lineup of 4 wines. 91-93
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
(8/11/2016)
Coravin 8/11/16: Deep ruby-purple color with minimal bricking; nose is moderately aromatic with slight bell pepper, some earthy funk, nutmeg spice; palate is medium bodied, smooth fully integrated tannins, ripe but not jammy black fruit, sweet oak, slight heat (14.9% alcohol), slight bitterness that either I get used to or blows off with time; medium finish. Not a bad drink, and probably worth ~$20-30, but it straddles a line between new world and pretending to be old world without really being either. Ready now and I'll drink mine up in the next year or two, but not one to search out at its price ($40). 89
Coravin 8/17/16: deep ruby with appropriate bricking; nose is aromatic, blackberry, black currant, mature slight cedar; palate is full bodied, well integrated tannins, lovely Californian fruit; medium-long finish. As before, this is a superb balanced mature California Cabernet, drink from now to the next 5 years. 91-92 Finished 9/5/16: Similar to first note with a bit of bitterness that blew off after about 15 minutes of decanting. Very nice.
2013 Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc 84 Points
USA, California, North Coast
(8/17/2016)
Medium-full ruby without bricking; moderately aromatic nose with slight bell pepper, cherry, mostly red fruits; palate is full bodied, tannins are medium density and still a bit too youthful, some red fruit but it fades completely by the midpalate; short finish. Simple, serviceable, but there is little reason to buy this for $20-25 when there are cheaper and better cabernet franc in france. 84
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2000 Château Moulin Saint-Georges 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
(8/5/2016)
Coravin 8/5/16: Deep clear ruby with very minimal bricking less than expected for its age; nose is aromatic, dusty leather, blackberry, clove spice, slightly herbal; palate is full bodied, tannins are still youthful though approachable, black fruit; medium finish. Chateau is 80% merlot, 20% cab franc and made by the same team as Chateau Ausone. Overall a very good St. Emilion, traditionally made, not too much new oak and showing some secondary complexity but still excellent youthful fruit, for the price on release this is silly value. Drinking well now and will continue to drink well for years. 91
Finished the rest a week later (Coravin so well preserved) and it was just stunning. Aromatic, complex nose and the clear standout in a lineup of 4 wines. 91-93
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2005 Dehlinger Claret 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
(8/11/2016)
Coravin 8/11/16: Deep ruby-purple color with minimal bricking; nose is moderately aromatic with slight bell pepper, some earthy funk, nutmeg spice; palate is medium bodied, smooth fully integrated tannins, ripe but not jammy black fruit, sweet oak, slight heat (14.9% alcohol), slight bitterness that either I get used to or blows off with time; medium finish. Not a bad drink, and probably worth ~$20-30, but it straddles a line between new world and pretending to be old world without really being either. Ready now and I'll drink mine up in the next year or two, but not one to search out at its price ($40). 89
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1995 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(8/17/2016)
Coravin 8/17/16: deep ruby with appropriate bricking; nose is aromatic, blackberry, black currant, mature slight cedar; palate is full bodied, well integrated tannins, lovely Californian fruit; medium-long finish. As before, this is a superb balanced mature California Cabernet, drink from now to the next 5 years. 91-92
Finished 9/5/16: Similar to first note with a bit of bitterness that blew off after about 15 minutes of decanting. Very nice.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue