3/9/2024 - matage Does not like this wine:

Alka-Selzer, iodine and citric acid.
Bone dry and fhe fruit has no chance of carrying the wine without the dosage. Would not have marked this as a champagne blind.
Bordeline unpleasant (but then again - I am not a non-dosage-enthusiast in general)

Deg March 2023 (2019 base vintage) so who knows if this will come around after a few years but I am not holding my breath for it.

Tried the dosage version in parallel which was way more accessible and the BdN 2018 was the clear winner in the flight looking at drinkability within the next 5+ years.

2/18/2024 - matage Likes this wine:

Dark red with slight violet hue.
Very elegant on the nose - arctic blueberry, garrique, touch of pine/juniper wood, oak and leather with oriental spice and wet autumn leaves.
Silky mouthfeel with undeniable power but gentle and refined.
VERY nice and it will be interesting to see what some more time/air might bring.

Coravin sample - Glass: Riedel Veloce Syrah

1/12/2024 - matage Likes this wine:

Fairly translucent in a garnet, slightly cloudy hue.
Cherries, cranberry, brushed leather, spice and dust. Fairly dry with high acidity and long leathery tannins. Paired well with coffee roasted duck and pan jus.

Fully mature but kept evolving so no rush to open if you are holding.

Glass: Riedel Veritas Merlot

1/12/2024 - matage Likes this wine:

Purchased this bottle (disgorged 2012) almost exactly 11 years ago back in the day when they were readily available.

My fist experience with Substance and a bottle that really performed on top. White fruit with a yeasty madeira/sherry note and an oxidative buttery whiff.

A marvellous match with flame grilled A5 wagyu skewers with oscetra where the fatty charred wagyu brought out brown butter and caramel notes of the champagne.

I'd wager this is not for everyone but three of us had this as the winner over the Bollinger GA -02 and one person preferred the brighter GA.

Glass: Riedel Veloce Syrah

12/31/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

An odd beast... Quite fruit forward still with an almost meaty butchershop, syrah-like vibe. Very faint Bdx markers after 2h of decant and blind - I would likely have gone New World (SA?)..

With time, leather, brushed leather, bramberry, fresh tobacco/sweet liqorice and pine. Still powerful and meaty with a slight smoky touch..

Tasty but not what I expected...

12/31/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Came across as a tad weak without the body I expected. Might be my palate for the day though - having stressed around in the kitchen for a good 7h...

12/31/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

still comes across as a bit young. Time in glass and a bit of temperature makes wonders

1/2/2024 - matage Likes this wine:

Nothing spectacular but nice enough for the price point

11/19/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Straightforward but not without complexity. Raisin, nuts, toasted almonds and burnt sugar. Quality at a steal cost

11/27/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Time is your friend - improvement after last year and keeps improving in the glass. Not a great wine per se but a solid Bgn for a better weekday meal. Pair it with food with some acidity/salinity.
Glass: Zalto Bgn

11/19/2023 - matage wrote:

This bottle seemed a bit off or it might need LOADS of more time in the decanter than the hour we gave it.
Much lighter and "older" than expected with the feeling of slightly dried out fruit/midline and heavy on the oxidized notes.
Not defect or flawed, just... off character...

10/15/2023 - matage wrote:

This did not meet my expectations... maybe they were too high_

Bramberry/figs, meat (smoked?) with prunes and beetroot. Some menthol notes and garrique and rough tannins.
Already showing tertiary notes which was a surprise leading to a slightly hollow mid-palate where this bottle does not warrant any further aging.

It's not defective, just much further gone than expected... could it be mild heat damage?
Next bottle will tell..
Glass: Riedel Veloce Syrah

11/12/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Cloudy in the glass with a garnet rim.
Raspberry, red cherry, violet/rose and pine nuts on the nose.
Raspberry and cranberry on the palate with a green herbal/bell pepper note - almost pulling towards a Loire Cab Franc in expression.
High tingling acidity (lactate style?) and smooth tannins in the long after taste.

In a very good spot showing maturity but still with intact fruit.

11/5/2023 - matage Does not like this wine:

Drack over three days.
Day 1 on opening it was tight, watery/bland with no body or complexity to speak of. Some pepper, cranberry and flint on the nose with noticeable alcohol and some cherry pit tannins.
Day 2-3 - did not improve... Same bland, anemic, generic wine...
Not defect but just... meh..

Not a isolated incident it seems as I have had others report the same for this vintage. Quite odd..

Did not finish the bottle but the rest goes into cooking.
Glass. Riedel Veloce Syrah

10/22/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Finally starting to come around. Showing maturity but given how much it keeps evolving in the glass, I would say that there's no hurry to drink up.
Black and red berries, and with time strawberries and liqourice/salmiak. Well integrated fruit and stringent tannins. Best with food.

10/21/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

A simply beautiful bottle - and not just the bottle itself!
Copper hue with aromas of a full british Afternoon Tea with freshly baked brioche/scone, clotted cream and crushed strawberries leading in to a red grapefruit acidity.

Over time, I'm getting blood orange, a tad of cherries, roasted nuts, a dash of madeira and mushrooms - still with that amazing creamy notes and some rhubarb in the acidity.

Smooth mousse that held up well with no signs of fading fast.

I have a hard time imagining it can get much better unless you want to explore further tertriary notes.
No doubt one of the best rose champagnes I've tasted!

10/16/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Two and a half years since my last bottle and boy - has this wine ever grown up during this time!!
Yellow plum, white peach, canned pineapple and white clover/honeysuckle, roasted pine/hazelnuts, fennel dill, grilled sweet lime and "Jellybean buttered popcorn" (in a good way)!
Long fresh but mouthcoating finish of sweet lemondrops with a saline touch of coconut. Mouthwatering!

This wine is truly an example of the ugly duckling as it bears litte resemblance of its younger days.
It is in a VERY good place right now!
Glass: Zalto Bgn

10/16/2023 - matage Does not like this wine:

I can't wrap my head around this wine...
Sure, its young but still.. Feels very disjointed.
Very austere with high acidity and a thin body with no signs of the expected oak/vanilla notes. With the bouillabaisse (fennel, garlic, dill seeds and some spice) I had a few sips where the wine more or less tasted of citric oyster juice...
Had over three days but no improvement so I'm hoping this was an off bottle..
Glass: Zalto Bgn

10/10/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Straightforward NW PN. Fairly light but lacking a bit of nerve for my palate

9/30/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Good fruit forward but will get better with a year or three of rest to let the fruit settle and the wine to be more balanced. Good steak wine though

9/30/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

This checks all boxes for what I am looking for in a US Bdx-blend.
Still youthful with a watery purple rim in the glass.
On the nose, the wine gives me predominantly notes of bramberry, herbs/garrique with a touch of eucalyptus and white peppercorn.
On the palate, I get sloe/plum, lozenges, pine & polished mahogany, tobacco (pipe/chewing?) and sweet liqorice. Finishing with green pepper/tulip notes with a long refreshing acidity.

The alcohol is noticeable but not it a bad way.
This wine screams Power Dining..

Served with a surf'n'turf-ish dish of grilled sirloin, a lobster choron sauce and confit potatos and it was a great match!

No rush to open but it drinks wonderfully right now.

Glass: Veloce Syrah

8/28/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Cherries, fig leaf, tobacco and a pinch of eucalyptus on the nose.
On the palate - very smooth and velvety. Figs, cherries with a touch of lozenges/aromatics (Dr Pepper in a good way?!?).
Polished tannins.

Good, smooth WA Red but I would have preferred a bit more funk/personality. Does not reach its big brother Dead Horse.
Glass: Riedel Veritas Merlot

8/10/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Cork was fused shut so ending upp making a mess opening the bottle leading to a double decant through sieves.
Almost no aromas from the glass and slightly funky/dusty at first sip.

Just a few minutes later the funk aired out and replaced by notes of figs/dates, freshly ground coffee, leather and sweet tobacco.
I can also detect a light touch of raspberry and liqourice and potentially some grilled red peppers.

Fully mature and potentially starting to fade ever so slightly but in a very good place now. For sure in a tertiary state with fruit on the dryer side but a very civilized and proper wine.
Glass: Riedel Veritas Merlot

8/6/2023 - matage wrote:

Day one - chilled to around 10c.
Fresh and acidic with some tropical fruits (lychee?) but somewhat lacking. Felt very lean with weak midsection and body.

Day two, warmer temp - around 14.
Fruit starting to show, a whiff of oak and slightly fatter but I'm still hesitant... felt quite simple and linear - especially considering the price..

Perhaps it just needs a few more years.

8/2/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

The wine pours a cloudy brick/reddish brown color
Cherry pits, dirt/brett, resin/burnt pine and raisin on the nose combined with animalic raw meat and slightly minty phenolic notes.
On the palate - Cherry/bramberry, leather, sandalwood and oriental spice - all wrapped in an animalic meaty/cooked vegetable veil and a touch of tar. Fruit is quite dry but not without lending structure.
Sandy polished tannins with hints of brushed suede and spice.

Undeniably a great wine but even for my palate this is on the decline - though still correct (which I wager many would contest unless you have the experience of older reds).
I do love the old school rough appearance of Pegau but I would have loved to try this in its more vital years.
Glass: Riedel Veloce Syrah

7/13/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Deg 21 so fairly young but still an outstanding bottle!
Depth, complexity and elegance. Red berries, burgundian undertones, almost a saline oxidative notes in the finish.
Spectacular!
Tasted in Zalto Bgn, Gabriel Gold and in the winner - Riedel Veritas NW Pinot Noir

7/13/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Very mature with a deep golden hue. Tropical fruits, honeysuckle in spades, some resin and salinity with an almost oily long finish of well integrated oak and vanilla/spice.
Quite low acidity at this age but without cloying notes.

I would say it is time to drink up though..

7/7/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Dark fruit, nice brett and a refreshing acidity.

6/6/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Good rosé with food - paired well with grilled pork skewers with chimichurri.
Still vibrant despite its age!

5/30/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Not the ideal tasting situation (outdoor-ish) but a very nice accessible champagne in a fuller style. Peach, apples, toast and white flowers.
Should age nicely but surely tasty now already.

5/28/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Brambleberry, cherry, cassis and cedar with some tobacco and green herbs. Fully mature so very polished/smooth tannins.
A slightly unexpected peppery note in the finish.
Quite pleasant! Probably at peak or on a slight decline.
Glass: Riedel Veritas Merlot

5/20/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Garnet color and meaty on the nose.
Very polished with smooth tannins, dark fruit and a touch of spice.
Quite mature and while it's not on the decline, I prefer this wine slightly younger and more vibrant.
Glass: Open Up Mature Red

5/7/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Not mature my any means but finally starting to come around and drinking very well now after a longer (3h+) decant.
Starting to show early signs of maturity but still with vibrant fruit.
Black fruit/Plums, roses and violet, brushed leather finishing with hints of coffee, minty chocolate and sandy tannins.
Medium body and intensity.
Will for sure keep maturing for years to come but the wine is in a very nice place right now.

5/5/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Black fruit/plum/blackberry & sweet tobacco. Low tannins but not without structure.
Decent everyday drink - preferably with grilled meat?

5/1/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Fairly light but not without depth and complexity (increases with some air).
Blood orange, red cherries and spice with a touch of brett.
Nice in a lighter style than the Fereolo Dogliani (blue/yellow label) but I think I prefer the latter.

5/1/2023 - matage wrote:

Very honey/beeswax-note driven on the palate.
Way better after the bottle had been open for a few hours and the wine warmed up but still... Blind I'd say a decent everyday Riesling but it did not really do it for me at this price point.
One bottle left and I do think it could benefit from 5+ years of age so let's see if I will eat my words..

3/19/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

A simply beautiful wine but I could see it being slightly divisive.

High viscosity with saline notes, grilled citrus, pine nuts/nuts, herbs.
Made in an oxidative style but it is not an oxidized wine per se.
Very elegant barrels, giving me associations more towards polished mahogany than brazen oak.

Decanted for 2hours and served in a burgundy glass to get more space to develop.
I would treat this more like a light red as it grew significantly with more air and a slightly higher temperature.
Worked great with both the deer tartar with charred onion and vendace roe and the dish of cod with grilled cabbage and beurre blanc.

3/4/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Spectacular bottle. Petroleum, solid acidity but above all bright shiny saffron notes wrapped in honey.
A testiment to what time can do for an everyday Sauternes!
Glass: Zalto White

3/11/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Fairly light in touch with a nice freshness. Though somewhat lacking body/stuffing for me.
(Might be contextual given that it was had in parallel with a Dopff Alsace Riesling).
Good enough in its style but not sure I will pick up more.

2/25/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

In a very good place right now.
Elegant, fully integrated with the bdx markers in place.
Colour starting to get that brick hue.
Red berries, rust, oriental spice, cedar/pencil shavings and a touch of brett and tobacco.
Smooth tannins (brushed leather/sandalwood) and a refreshing finish.

Drank in parallel w Guigal Brune et Blonde -12 where the Belair came out on top.

Decanted for 3h - Glass: Riedel Veritas Merlot

2/25/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Still very young.
Decanted for 3h and it did not open up until after another 2h in the glass.
Meaty with leather, earth, bramberry and wild strawberry/dark fruit.
Very polished tannins so not a powerhouse but rather elegant.

Drank in parallel with the Ch Belair -07 that kind of stole the show this time. Hold for another 3-5 years!

Glass: Riedel Veloce Syrah

2/25/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Purchased 3 years ago and still young.
Tasty enough end perfect with the pre-dinnes amuses, but I will try to hold on to my other large formats for another 3-5 years at least to allow it to flesh out.

From Magnum - Glass Zalto White Wine

1/29/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Garnet color with slight bricked rim.
Classical Bordeaux markers - pencil shavings, rust, leather/Tobacco, some blackcurrant with sandalwood and oriental spice in the long finish.

Complex palate but this bottle was on the decline with a slightly hollow fruit mid-palate and cranberry-like acidity that became quite pronounced sipping on its own.
Not for everyone and I think some might think it was too far gone to be enjoyed but for those found of tertiary notes and fully mature wines, it's a treat!

Great match with the lamb racks, potato gratin and concentrated lamb-just with Ras el Hanout - mounted with foie gras for good measure.

Cork was more or less fully soaked so I guess the content had taken some punishment due to that fact. One bottle left..

Decanted for 90 minutes.
Glass: Riedel Veritas Merlot

1/21/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Golden amber hue and fine mousse.
Strong wiff of canned mushrooms to start which thankfully aired out quickly and turned into a beautiful complex champagne. Red apples, grilled citrus, some toffee and brioche.

Glass: Gabriel Gold

1/21/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Garnet hue with a slightly purple glint.
Sweet cherries, red berries, tobacco leaf, leather.
Pretty tough tannins just after pulling the cork but mellowing into a beautiful wine with a definitive upside for those who wait.

Decanted for 3h, Glass: Riedel Veloce Syrah

1/6/2023 - matage Likes this wine:

Big, bold and Lush in an undeniable new world style.
Dark fruit/berries, some eucalyptus and juniper wood in the elegant polished oak on the nose.
Very dense, velvety coating mouthfeel. Dark fruit, sweet liqourice, arctic blueberry bush, pine nuts and some animalic backbone notes. Tannins are polished but fairly bright - leaning more towards grape seed/vegetal than leathery or woody.
15.1% ABV but nicely integrated so while the heat is there, it does not seem out of place.

Drinking very well now!
Better day 1 than Day 2 so perhaps time to drink up.

Decanted for 2h, Glass Riedel Veritas Merlot.

9/10/2022 - matage wrote:

Late registration but remembering that I felt it was thinner with less body and structure than expected.

9/3/2022 - matage Likes this wine:

Drinking well now with a bit of air.

1/6/2023 - matage wrote:

Very shy and austere - nothing like the last bottle I tried several years ago. Did evolve in the glass but never really expanded into potential.
Hold!

12/31/2022 - matage Likes this wine:

One additional year has certainly helped. Decanted for 5hours.
Juicy red berries on the nose (wild strawberry, raspberry, cherries), some kirsch, potpourri.
Red berries on the palate with some milk chocolate, turkish delight/rose petals, pine nuts and firm brushed leather tannins.
Similar as with previous bottles, this also went through a brief "boiled beet root" phase that thankfully aired out quickly.

Drinking very well (with food mind you - the tannin grip is very firm) but I suspect this is just starting to show its potential.
Glass: Zalto Bgn