9/14/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

Robust, easy-to-enjoy wine with moderate level of finesse. Predominant taste of Cabernet with held-back tannins. An enjoyable drink that might be better with time but probably will not develop into something spectacular. A good bordeaux.

9/30/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Traditional Burgundy colour with plum elements and tearing glass. Smell is of dew, fermented blackberry jam, leather and slight hint of burnt rubber/sulphites. Upon airing (3 hours), the wine gets a less accute character. Taste is healthy Bordeaux and reminds me of French bistrots around the world - neither more nor less. Merlot keeps the tannins of the Cabernet honest. A better than average wine and fair drink. Window is 2009-2012 - fair now...

5/24/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Nice Cabernet without being outstanding. Deep ruby with chocolate rim and mid high viscosity. Traditional nose with no surprises, perhaps slightly oaky. Berry and cherry promise by vintner kept and the tannins have been dutifully toned off. This wine is hitting some type of midlife peak and is probably enjoyable until 2014

1/8/2013 - carlkallen Likes this wine:

Dark Ink faded hue with moderately high tearnig. Smell is earthy tones and wet soil, quaffing slightly of alcohol and Chocolate. The taste is inviting, with medium to weak tannins. An uncomplicated red and uncharacteristic for Cabernet Sauvignon thanks to its age profile and maturity.

8/23/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

Dark colour with some tearing thanks to viscocity and alcohol content. Bold aroma full of energy and muskiness, pugnancy and fleshiness. Taste notes include berries and small elements of coffee and tea thanks to strong tannins for a 10-year-old Merlot. This wine is still in its teens and can develop further, peaking in 2020.

9/16/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Thick, Maroon Java-like colour and hue wuth medium tearing. Powerful scent of fruit, marshland and alcohol. Rather forward 13.5% good structure and lingering taste although choclaty with fragmentation. Could the recycling icon get any bigger??

11/29/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Regrettably this wine had gone too long and was spoiled. Merlot is a delicate thing....

2/21/2013 - carlkallen wrote:

A bit tiered but still drinkable. Should have had in 2005

11/20/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

Maroonish semitransparent hue with good viscosity. Vey strong strawberry aroma mixed with hints of vanilla and slight cinamon. Taste magifies the aroma with sweet strawberry jam taste without any hints of tannin. The taste lingers for a good minute of delight. A wine that punches over its weight and delightful drink that is in its drinking sweetspot. Surprisingly good value for money despite its unorthodox approach to Pinot Noir

10/23/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Rusted red with some moderate tearing. A nice Pinot Noir aroma of the usual strawberry jam, flint and greenery. Taste is quite sweet, unchallenging and drinkable a good testament to a 13-year old Pinot from Napa although on its very last legs. Drink up!

1/25/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Fairly straightforward. Lacks dpeth and can be attributable to grape and age. Mild floral scent and aroma, followed by slight raisiny taste and dextrose undertone

11/11/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Deep color, chocolaty taste and lovely overall tannins - the wine will keep well and be at peak in 2013.

2/17/2013 - carlkallen wrote:

true, dark cherry with medium viscosity. Smell of cellar (mold) and curling aroma of . Tannins light and the wine is a tiny bit faded but perfectly drinkable. The vanilla extract taste is ever-present thanks to the usual French Oak taste of Rioja. The wine should be consumed before 2013

9/11/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

This wine defines Rioja - not only a Pomal but their top of the range, lucious, oaky with abundant aromas and structure. The hue was plum with some rusty edge, aroma of oaky vanilla with taste going over to mature strawberries, raspberries and finishing with tea-like tannins. THis wine will drink well until 2020

5/10/2013 - carlkallen wrote:

Wine is a bit faded but still a nice Friday evening companion. Drink up!

12/12/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Brown-tinted maroon hue with below-average tearing. Faint and fading smell of grape-raisin and slight balsamic character. Surprisingly light and seemingly a Pinot Noir relation - mild to weak tannin and rounded flavor of Rioja character. This wine has passed it prime but is in an interesting decline-area in 2012. Consumer now - hard to see it evolving in any positive direction.

12/11/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

Dark Ruby and medium legs and lower-than-expected viscocity. The cassis aroma was accentuated by the taste of licorise and hints of vanilla. Tannins are rather pronounced despite it's age. The taste is lasting and shows the potential of this wine. It is a wine for 2015-2016.

5/5/2013 - carlkallen wrote:

Getting a bit tedious - still high quality although does not justify price, not even close. Marketing-suckers....

9/28/2013 - carlkallen wrote:

The best rose champagne around. Smooth, perfectly balanced, nice effervescence with clear hints of strawberry intertwined with a dash of kir. Too expensive for what it is but clear market-maker and category -leader. You just can't go wrong.

12/27/2013 - carlkallen wrote:

Solid and nice as always

5/4/2013 - carlkallen wrote:

Yellowish and Brassy colour with some tearing. Smell of flowers and citrusy. Dill-ish taste. okay but not getting better. Fading

11/24/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

Colour reminiscent of thin limoncello and with good layering/viscosity. Aroma citrusy with small hints of grassyness. Taste is pleasant, medium dry with a fair level of acidity without being tart - the bouquet is pleasant and reveals a few nuances of petroleum and lime. A very good wine with at least another 5 years - drink until 2016.

11/4/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Very sophisticated with frothy bubbles, delightful aroma and lingering palate of cheer excitement and joy. A lovely vintage effort by Bollinger - drinking at its absolute right now and could last into 2016

9/2/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Very pale yellow with impressive tearing. Peach and pineapple hints. Round and lusch with second level of acidity not lingering too much and straightforward - a solid Aligoté and interesting object. Drink before the end of 2013 for optimal effect

12/7/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Quintessential colour with below average Viscosity. standard jammy aroma and taste that is rather square and unidimensional. Solid table wine without impressing. Best with food. Probably now to 2015

9/6/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Not memorable - average drinker and a bit disappointing provided the higher expectations

10/6/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Dense and foggy with deep garnet colour/half brandy tearing. Concentrated smell of forest berries, leather and hint of natural rubber Wellington Boots.The taste is deep of jammy blueberry pie, chocolate with plums and figs with a melange of viscous delight, peppered with a hint of nutmeg and vanilla. This is a quintessential Napa Red with all the density grade you could expect - including evolved light-feather tannins thanks to keen cellaring. Keep drinking until 2018 for optimal enjoyment.

4/23/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Interesting object - clearly past its prime and yet a curious opportunity to taste Rioja from the 1970's. Quite a faint hue and colour browning with some speckled sediment. Taste a bit 'corked' without too much finness - faded aroma and not enough structure to hold on. This wine should have been enjoyed in 1990, latest. With a better wine-producer, possible that the 1976 could have lasted longer

10/15/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

The Cantemrele is starting to develop nicely. Dark Ruby coloured with mid- tearing. Perfume of forest berries and slight moss. Taste is deep and intensely dense with strong rasperry and blakcbery with tannin-structure, leathery and tea-like. Wine opening up nicely and should be peaking in 2013-2015

12/11/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

Tears in a dark garnet colour are moderate. Deep berry taste/aroma with hints of vanilla with strands of medium tannis and coffee rinds. The bouquet is long and lingers well. A great wine that is close to ready - expect good things in 2015

1/9/2013 - carlkallen Likes this wine:

A much improved effort. We have held on to this case for over 5 years since buying it and as time has evolved, so has the wine, rather nicely!
Dark garnet with intense tearing. A strong aroma of earth, berries, leather-sack, with a hint of clove-spice alongside a miniscule toast hint. The taste evolves nicely in the mouth with some added peppered undertone, a 20-second lingering bouquet of jam and floral berries (contributed by the Cabernet Franc). Impressive!

9/15/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Deep forest fruits. Earthy, meaty, heady and strong character aroma. Taste is divine with lamb brings out the fruit and some vanilla. Meaty and would be amazing with mushroom, earthy dish - a quintesential Bordeaux

11/4/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

Great tearing and viscocity in a dark ganet hue. Pounding smell of berries and fennel. The taste accentuates the berry aroma with sharp cranberry, almost bovine-like with medium level tannins and a 30 second level of lingering taste. Bottle decanted for 30 minutes and showed clear signs of sediments. A great drink and should be drunk by end of 2012

6/6/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Another solid performance. Good vintage and classic Burgundy

10/8/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

Straw-colored complexion without tearing. Nose is cellary and slightly carmex. Taste-wise, it is of medium acitidty, slight caramel hints with Paprika. Quite refreshing and fairly enjoyable yet not a top-notch wine by any stretch

9/2/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

Straw-coloured with low tearing. 'Cellary', slightly musky aroma with a hint of sea-breeze. Light palate with fresh tones of chalk, citus with undertones of moss and mold. Suspect the vintage is over its peak and an average drink at best in 2011.

2/10/2013 - carlkallen wrote:

Beautiful, Somewhat opaque dark ruby with strong tearing. Slightly faint and closed approach on the aroma due to low tempeature and lack of time for proper airation. When open quite fruity with forest berries and mildew. Taste develops into a cornucopia of cassis, coffee grinds, graphite, pepper and a bit faint again. Medium tannnis show up late as well. Wine is great although fading slightly at this age.

12/25/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

Garnet colour with brick rim and structured tearing, legs. Aroma of cigar-box, coupled with earthy tones, coffee grinds and bourbon. Taste mixes aromatic notes with youthful fennel, jam, wildberries and polite tannins. Well-kept 25-year-old where the texture remains for 20 seconds, showing wine is close to peak or slightly over its maximum. Rejoice until 2015

8/2/2013 - carlkallen wrote:

Brownish hue. Musky, cellar-like smell. Taste a bit meaty and slightly faint and lackluster but some small remnants of tannin remaining, with accompanying forest berry hints. A good wine that deserves drinking quite immediately. Latest 2015

4/27/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Dense, dark garnet with significant viscosity /tearing. Forest fruit with slight vanilla hints, uncovering a light tobacco aroma. Taste permeates with black cherry, cassis, cigar box, with good acidity,significant tannins and a 30-second long bouquet. Quintessential Bordeaux, quality to lasr until 2020, possibly beyond.

6/30/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Straw-colored with minimal tearing. Slight citrus aroma with little or no noticeable notes. Straightforward flowery and flint, complementing lemongrass with structured tartness that lasts for 20 seconds. A worthy effort and solid Chablis drinking until 2015 and in its primr just now.

11/9/2013 - carlkallen wrote:

Ink

9/23/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Beautiful coloring - medium yellow with restrained tearing. Smell of light oak with citrus perfume. Stable yet delicate acidity combined with Maleactic aromas and some oak vanilla hints. A stellar effort and perhaps drunk a few years past its prime. If in you possession, drink now!

5/23/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Powerful, maleactic with strong oaky aromas, long palate and fairly high acidity. A better wine in 2008 but still worthy

12/10/2011 - carlkallen wrote:

A hint over-exposed and past its prime. Clear and evident oaked Chardonnay taste that is fading and going over to caramelized without conviction. Expect the wine was at full ptential in 2007-2008

11/4/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Nice wine yet not 100% convincing. Could it have to do with the Blagny rock curse? A more detailed report in next tasting event

1/18/2014 - carlkallen wrote:

A bit rusty and brown at first. Initial whiff a bit like manure and wild. Taste is improving - with customary strawberry jam but a bt challenging with some tannins (mid Pinot). A nice wine to serve with food or have as accompaniment (in) coq au vin.
A farily good Burgundy - not a star, however

12/27/2013 - carlkallen wrote:

A wonderful Pinot Noir drinking at its peak right now. Lovely, deep and with exceptional balance.

4/6/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

First experience with a pure-bred Cabernet Franc. Good texture and legs in a dark purpura colour. Aromas of mulch and slight smoke followed by a good mouthful of taste and low levels of tannins. This wine is still strucutred and could last to 2014

10/19/2012 - carlkallen wrote:

Deep red with a hint of browning fairly opaque and structured viscosity - pleasantly appealing look. Healthy and hearty aroma in glass, full of notes of green, veneer and saddle-leather. A bit peppery, rounded with ripe currants and notes of cloves, cinnamon, earth and cellar-must. Tannins benign and adding some character to a wine that overall is very enjoyable. Decanting adds worth.