5/9/2018 - Riezin Likes this wine:

This is drinking beautifully - classic and classy, perfumed, and tasty. Not unlike a well aged claret, but with something a bit more wild. The '93 Migoua tasted along-side was even a bit brighter but both were treats.

5/9/2018 - Riezin Likes this wine:

This is drinking beautifully - classic and classy, perfumed, and tasty. Not unlike a well aged claret, but with something a bit more wild. The '93 Tourtine was great as well, but the Migoua might have edged it out by a bit.

5/31/2015 - Riezin Likes this wine:

Pretty, assertive nose. Sappy, concentrated, fruity - drinking quite young. Could pass for Sonoma coast at this point. Fairly big, full bodied, but not quite hot. Cola, dark fruited finish which lingers for quite a long time. Give these time.

9/29/2013 - Riezin wrote:

Lots of lemon, lots of mineral - chablis or even muscadet like, slightly oxidized character as well. Drinking better than a couple years ago, but not sure how much is to be gained from further patience.

8/2/2013 - Riezin wrote:

This was absolutely delicious stuff. Entire group loved it. If you have some, you are happy.

6/28/2013 - Riezin Likes this wine:

Nat cork. This wine showed wonderfully in a line up of half a dozen other savignys. The nose was gorgeous, just beautiful. The wine itself was very tasty as well, but gave the sense that it will get even better with time and that it was just coming into its own. Great value and great example of what SLB can deliver.

1/1/2013 - Riezin Does not like this wine:

I was very surprised and disappointed with a woody, bitter green note i found persistent in this wine. Surprised no one else experienced it, wasnt subtle. But def a watch out with this wine - and not something i would think would be unique to a bottle.

1/1/2013 - Riezin Likes this wine:

Nat cork. A floral and cherry accented nose. Came across as tight and youthful, became more accessible and expressive with time and air. Gave up flavors of sour cherry, graphite, and earth.

1/1/2013 - Riezin Likes this wine:

Nat cork. A restrained, dark centered red fading a bit now. A faint but attractive nose of red and black fruits and a bit of cedar. On the palate very classic bordeaux profile - blackberry, lots of graphite, nice minerality on a medium frame. This is classy and tasty but will be so much better with a few more years, it still comes across as young. Try again at the ten year from vintage point.

12/25/2012 - Riezin Likes this wine:

Screwcap. A very light, pale, clear red. Pretty, lithe nose of strawberry, flowers, and gingerbread. Pretty on the palate as well, but gets a bit aggressive as the fruit has faded back a bit. Full bodied and still structured well. Nice finish with slight hint of heat. Overall i think drinking quite well.

12/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Still quite dark and saturated in color, more purple than red but not in a juicy/concetrated way. Nose of purple fruits and a fairly strong wave of heat. The alochol has become disappointingly dominant, the spices are there but more integrated. Fruit has recessed as well. Full bodied and still well structured. Not this wines best showing over time.

12/25/2012 - Riezin Likes this wine:

Nat cork. A dull, plummy purple. Earthy nose with a bit of heat but its inviting with its pleasant mix of red and black fruits. Still well structured but dirnking very nicely. If a bit rustic, its only in the most friendly and genuine way. Drinks much like it smells but with even finer balance. Flavorful and tasty, drank lovely with a roast chicken. Very much enjoyed and great QPR. No hurry to drink these but coming into a very good place right now (in 375)

12/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Still youthfully tannic, but approachable. Earthy, savory - almost dirty but in a good way, very traditional in style. Certainly not fruit driven. Great acidity, lip smacking. Overall was left yearning for more flavors, depth, etc.

12/25/2012 - Riezin Likes this wine:

Nat cork. A thin, bright, but cloudy ruby - pretty in the glass. A beautiful nose with a pine or resin note under strawberry fruit. Pretty acidic on first opening, smoothed out to a slightly sour cherry (reminiscent of a gueze) a bit of pepper, light with lovely balance, not heavy at all but substantial in flavor and with a finish that hangs around for quite a while. Acidity became less aggressive and merely lip smacking. Delicious and probably even better in a years time if a bit more complexity gets layered in.

12/25/2012 - Riezin Likes this wine:

Nat cork. A juicy purple with dark red highlights. A fruity, jammy nose with violet, leather, and blackberry creating an inviting aroma. A hint of heat but not enough to be off-putting. Tasted of juicy concentrated fruit - dark tangy zing and a rush of pepper on the finish. Delicious mouthfeel. Long, long finish is impressive. Bit of a jammy pie character seems sweet but it has enough restraint to seem indulgent without ever crossing the line to simple, cloying, or new world. Deliciously likable stuff.

12/25/2012 - Riezin Likes this wine:

Nat cork. Red with plummy tones. Intriguing nose, carries a bit of heat, has herbal notes too. Palate starts sweet, fruity, even jammy but then gets very complex and deep with herbs, earth, nice structure. Really like it, even if its heft and alcohol means theres nothing subtle or shy about it.

12/25/2012 - Riezin Likes this wine:

I think it was far too early to drink this wine. Decanting wasnt enough to allow this bottle to come together and drink at its best. Its a big, assertive wine with many pronounced components that need time to smooth out and come together. I wouldnt even revisit for several years.

8/27/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Recall this being very sweet, tasty, and a bit more simple than hoped.

8/26/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Rather lite and thin in the glass, already faded into secondary shades - get brown/orange glints along the rim. High toned, fragrant nose with rose and tar predominant, floral and pretty. Incredibly tannic and astringent upon opening, the tannins seeming more from wood than fruit. Very dry, very traditional, rather unapproachable. Decanting a mandatory. An hour or two of air helped - some. Wine put on some weight, got a hint of fruit, but still dominated by rose, tar, and tobacco notes. Still very structured. This wine needs time in bottle and time open to come together still i think. Very old school.

8/26/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Bright saturated gold, but clean and clear in the glass. Aromatic yellow fruits like golden raisins, wintergreen, some slate. Petrol notes join the slate and some sweet ripe orange fruit. Full bodied but lively on the palate and very tasty. Nice lingering finish stick around a long time. Not super complex but very tasty, refreshing, and well made w good balance.

8/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Cloudy, a dull purple-red. A forward nose of sweet fruit - candied cherries, with some fresh earth hiding underneath. Medium bodied with candied fruit - skittely but not too bad, earth, cigar box and woodsy spice, and the slightest, pleasant hint of heat at end. Not a shy wine, deeply concetrated and 'serious' but well balanced. Long finish. bet even better in another year.

8/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Black with a purple rim. Fairly mute nose, hints of dark fruits like raisin and prune - but not smelling cooked. Big and full bodied with alc to match but very little tannic presence until the finish. The little remnant of sweet, jammy fruit takes a back seat to the alc, particularly on what is a fiery finish.

8/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. A pretty, dark ruby color. Blackberry and rhubarb on a pretty nose, ever so slightly candied, almost a birch beer note, high toned and a bit of glycerin but not offputting. Some peppery spice as well. A lovely tasting wine with ripe fruit - slightly skitteled but fun, the alc is perceptible but not overpowering, nice pepper note builds through the palate.

8/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Purple verging on black, rich and juicy looking in the glass. An initial rush of heat on the nose joins earth, grapey, and spicebox aromas. Also an intriguing herbal or floral thing underneath which is enticing. Maybe it was even root beer like. Med to full bodied, the cab component was easily recognized by both body and flavors - lots of cassis, vanilla, dark fruit like currants and dark berries. A bit bordeaux-like in fact, even more so with time in the glass. Lots of lip smacking acid, still a bit of prickly tannin, heat persists here too a bit unfortunately. The combo means this wine currently packs a punch - i suspect its above the 14% ABV listed. A modern wine, it tastes expensive, i got some pleasure from it but didnt think it was that well knit together or balanced, at least not at the moment.

8/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Very old world in style. Dirty, earthier, less fruit. Got more and more interesting with more time open and kept intriguing me, bringing back for another taste. Def food wine, def for fans of the style.

8/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. A dull and lightly clouded purple-red in the glass. A nose of cherry, earth, and an herbal sasparilla note, almost minty. On the palate clear beam of cherries and earth, lovely balance, great for food - tangy more than fruity.Well structured but the tannin is gentle and largely integrated. Medium bodied with a long, lingering finish. Overall, a bit sappier and simpler than a great burgundy would be but quite close. Burg would prob be my guess tasting blind.

8/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Very light, a pale red - bordering on an orange/brown hue. Dull. A fresher, floral nose of strawberry, rose, rhubarb. High toned with a hint of pepper and very classic nebbiolo character. On the palate, lots of acid, fresh pink and red fruit, very savory with crackling flavor. Delicious but subdued fruit profile. Light bodied, tannin providing structure but quite approachable. Theres a browner, earthier note too - feels like a hint of secondary characteristics from age. Really good overall.

8/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Screwcap. A dull, slightly cloudy garnet. Pretty cherry, some warmth, a bit of damp earth on a lively fresh nose.Med bodied with pretty dark cherry, hints of tanginess, nice mouthfeel and a lingering finish. Tasty wine.

8/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. A dull, dark but fairly clear red. Fragrant red fruit, almost sappy smelling after some air, nearly burgundian in its aroma. Originally tannic and in need of a decant, it was instantly recognizable as quality juice. Lots of tannic structure even after decant, and while a bit prickly, certainly still enjoyable. Initially red fruited but darker flavors emerged over time as well. Hint of a medicinal note too. Medium bodied but deep in flavors with a lingering finish. I like this a lot.

8/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Na cork. A fairly thin red, duller but with some red saturation. A nose of tart red fruit - clear cranberry, watermelon, and a not unpleasant almost minty green note. Light bodied, tart and intense with red berries and earth. Something wintergreen-like is in here too. Puts on some weight with time in the glass. Will definitely benefit from some more time in bottle for structure and other components to integrate more seamlessly. Overall: tasty, great with food, lively and fresh with good acidity.

8/25/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. A dull, dark red with darker core. Nice nose of sweet cherries. On the palate reminded of a bordeaux from a riper vintage - dark plummy fruit under cigar box spice, with nice secondary characteristics and complexity. Has a chocolatey note and the smokey/bacon note you find so often in S.African wines, but more subtle than from a pinotage. Helps deliver a nice sense of place. Fairly full bodied. Still well structured but tannins are fairly round and smooth.Theres a hint of heat on the finish but not enough to offend. Close to peak drinking in terms of balance id guess, drink em.

5/29/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Drink em if you've got them, this is a wine/style that rewards enjoyment over cellaring in my opinion

5/29/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Drink em if you've got them, this is a wine/style that rewards enjoyment over cellaring in my opinion

5/28/2012 - Riezin wrote:

This wine has a distinctive note that stretches thought vintages. Its a lovely, purple fruited essence that makes this delicious. And the depth and body make this a serious wine thats no regular barbera. Always great.

4/15/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. A bright, clear gold. Ripe yellow fruit on nose - stone fruits plus a stony note of its own. Quite full bodied with a slight hint of sweetness.

4/15/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. A very pale yellow, not golden, with an almost green tint. Pretty nose with honeycomb, wintergreen, spearmint, slate and a bit fo yellow fruit - a very fresh and crisp nose. The palate is a bit riper than suggested by the nose, but leads with slate. The sweetness is there but subtle. Has a lavender note you taste. Maybe some pineapple. Its very lively and fresh with great acidity, med to fulll bodied - just beautifully balanced. Easily a food wine, easy drinking too, but not simple.

4/15/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Nose of dark juicy fruits, fairly simple but appealing. Palate follows the nose but with a tartness and liveliness to it. Medium bodied, bit of tannic bite suggests its got a good couple years left ahead. Crowd pleasing.

4/15/2012 - Riezin wrote:

A pretty red with a dark center and lighter rim going orange. Pretty nose thats floral with sandalwood and cognac-soaked cigar notes. Palate offers up a fair amount of vanilla, dark fruits, cigar box and spice. The dark fruit is secondary and a bit muddled. Full bodied and well structured still but the tannins were largely smoothed out with just a touch of prickliness on the finish. Very long lasting finish with a nice mouth feel. Threw lots of sediment. On the second night this wine was rocking though, just delicious. A chocolate note emerged and it just sang. Couldnt stop drinking it, everything just harmonized beautifully.

4/15/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. This wine was a bit disjointed, but there was something that kept me coming back for another sip. It was even better the second night, although still not quite all put together. Enjoyed it though.

3/9/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. A dull color merging elements of red, purple, and brown. Nose is pretty with an interesting almost burnt note complimenting floral and an almost soapy, but not unpleasant note. Also oddly a distinct tinge of watermelon. Full bodied and tasty, an earthy and woodsy note quickly dominates some vague red fruit flavors of rhubarb and strawberry. This bottle had more tannin than i recalled but still silky. A tasty wine and going strong but well into its secondary characteristics and prob for drinking in the relative short-term.

2/29/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Dark and murky, a muddled purple with reddish rims. A high toned violet note sings from the glass along with a sanguine, meaty note and a hint of pepper. Floral and pretty. The pepper really comes through on the palate though in a rush. This wine really blossomed with a bit of time in the glass becoming more dimensional, more delicate, and more delicious. The pepper is very present throughout and the blue and purple fruits take a back seat. Its lively and fresh, a real success in the vintage with little heat and no overripeness at al. Tangy, savory, brings you back for more. Drinking very nicely, a bit of prickly tannin suggests even better in a year or two and then cruising just fine for several more beyond that im sure. Wish i had more than i do.

2/28/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Screwcap. Bright clear gold. Subtle earthy nose of apple and some herb. Soft and full bodied, screams malo. Tastes much as nose would suggest, but with a bit of tartnes. Lively, tangy finish which hangs in there. Clean, simple, tasty enough. More than fair for sub-20 burgundy.

2/15/2012 - Riezin wrote:

Delicious bubbly. Doughy nose, but fresh and subtle. Hint of citrus. Full bodied, rich, and lively with long finish that keeps you coming back for me. Nice acidity too. Classy stuff.

1/1/2012 - Riezin wrote:

This was delicious. A wonderful way to start the festivities to usher in 2012. Universally enjoyed by the group, it's complexity and flavor crushed the basic Nv bottling that followed.

12/27/2011 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. A dull garnet, seemingly faded with hints of brown hues. Stewed notes on the nose and a bit carmelized, a bit reminiscent of an amarone. This wine has aged pretty fast and I suspect its best days are behind it. Fruit hasnt held up, seems slightly cooked, and is dominated anyway by alc and a bit of oak. Structure is still there but the fruit is not. There is still a hint of true tuscan salinity and earth. Not well balanced and the finish is a bit astringent. Hasnt turned out as Id hoped, my best experiences with this wine were when it was youngest and fresh.

12/27/2011 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Enjoyed this - typical gamay notes and fruit with a nice pepper and spice dimension underneath. Very tasty, great picnic or antipasto wine or lighter food. Good stuff with character.

12/22/2011 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. A pale, clear, bright gold. Nose is pretty but not aggressive - wintergreen, ripe yellow fruits, wet rocks. On the palate is a delicious ripe and savory mouthful that keeps you coming back for more even as the finish lingers on and on. Mouth coating flavor but not one element is dominant. The wine is sweet but the acid is there too. wintergreen underneath all that luscious fruit, it comes out near the end as does the minerality. Youthful, savory and rich. Serious stuff but tons of fun to drink.

12/18/2011 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Pure, pretty nose of strawberry and cherry fruit. Palate pays it off beautifully with a bit of a chalky texture. Nice squirt of acidity, finishes leaves an impression of some darker fruit too. Fair amount of structure still, its best years may still be a bit ahead. Nice QPR and good example of food friendly pinot.

12/18/2011 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. A dark fruited and still quite tannic wine with a charred note - perhaps mesquite, as well as herbs, tar, and herbs de provence. Showed better the later in the night it got. A big wine its quite burly and a bit rustic. Almost a bit bitter. If you search for it you can find the red grenache fruit under all the bramble and brawn. Finished with an interesting, more medicinal note.

12/18/2011 - Riezin wrote:

Nat cork. Didnt show great. Perhaps past its prime already? Bit flabby - oak, green apple, vanilla on the palate. Full bodied. Detected hand of wine maker more than any place. Decent finish that lingerer though. This note is off a bottle open many hours and a bit warm so perhaps next tasting will be kinder.