3/4/2024 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Drinking well already.

Not giving much on the nose immediately after opening but the palate is full of dark, savoury fruit, moderate tannins and a sense of freshness that is partly down to the acidity and partly down to being bottled at below 14%ABV.

Compares well in terms of quality to a decent Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux. Very good value indeed. I'll be happy to drink the rest of the six pack over the next 5+ years.

10/29/2023 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

This is lovely right now. The oak has melted away completely and what you get is cool, red fruit, (some) fine, chalky tannins and a fresh acidity. Unshowy, in a good way.

7/1/2023 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Red fruit, nice acidity, oak barely noticeable, medium plus intensity. Very enjoyable.

5/20/2023 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

In a great place now - drinking beautifully with minimal breathing.
Going straight to the palate, there's delicious strawberry conserve, maybe a touch of overripe banana? Medium weight, gentle tannins and balanced acidity.
Not overly complex but very satisfying.

3/21/2023 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

I wanted to like this more. It's pretty pale and translucent, certainly not jammy and held together by acidity rather than (any) tannin. Maybe it's unfair to judge it so young but it's clearly meant for early consumption. I just don't get much sense of more to come.

3/13/2023 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Second bottle of this, showing better than last time. My overall impression is of fine quality fruit struggling to escape from the vice-like grip of the oak - a delicious mid-palate marred by slightly bitter tannins on the finish.
Will the fruit blossom with more age, or will it fade leaving the oak intact? Who knows?

2/28/2023 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Re other reviewer's notes, can report no sign of premox on this bottle. Also, strong citrus (preserved lemon) and a concentrated, textured core. I can see how some might find the acidity on the high side but there's a lot going on behind it.

2/18/2023 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Slight pyrazine notes on first opening, red fruit, light to medium body. Given time, the green notes disappeared, tannins asserted themselves and the fluidity of the fruit showed through. Has some stuffing beneath the surface.
Probably 2 or 3 years off its best.

1/28/2023 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

You often hear old-school wine critics refer to luncheon claret but for me this is a luncheon Burgundy! By which I mean, what it lacks in richness and density it makes up for in charm and great purity of fruit.
I thought it was dangerously drinkable and would have happily cracked open a second bottle (between two). Another five bottles to go, so I'll enjoy this in the near to medium term.

10/3/2022 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Sweet fruit, soft tannins. Ready to go now but should hold for five or more years. Very enjoyable.

6/26/2022 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Drinking now. Limpid and fairly pale in the glass, aromas of sweet red fruit maybe a bit of the expected rose petal, more delicious red fruit on the palate, moderate acidity and gently extracted tannins. Very enjoyable but no real X factor.

4/30/2022 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Same as last time ... lovely, fun, fruity wine, but with that little bit of mineral structure that non-Burg. Pinots rarely have. Not serious by Burgundy standards but still delicious.

4/19/2022 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

I've decided to not to give an overall points rating for this wine because it wouldn't adequately reflect the enjoyment the bottle gave me.
What I found here (perhaps due to the less than stellar vintage) was a medium-weight, medium intensity wine possessed of a lovely freshness to go along with the savoury, red fruit on the palate.
No need to wait for this - it's drinking beautifully now. In fact, I was sorely tempted to open a second bottle.

3/6/2022 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Showing a little more heat and overripeness than my first bottle - reserving my judgement. Less convincing than a Coursodon St Jo of the same vintage, consumed a few days later.

3/6/2022 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

So much to like about this - open, fleshy, bags of dark fruit. Complex? Not really. Ageing potential? Maybe, but it's already delicious. Mouthfilling and very satisfying.

3/6/2022 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Really joyful, exuberant Burg. Fleshy but still exhibiting that aerial lightness one hopes for in Pinot Noir. May well improve but very nice already.

3/6/2022 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Plush and berryish on first opening this evolved with air, tightening and showing fine-grained tannins. Really good.

1/1/2022 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Lovely stuff.

Fairly light and delicate on first opening but gained in weight and structure with air, as I have found with previous vintages of this wine. Gorgeous interplay between fruit, acidity and the textural quality of the tannins.

Sinuous, like a beautiful, moorland river, babbling over rocks on the surface but with sudden, and surprising depths.

Would score higher based on potential.

12/23/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Fairly tight initially but opened up, at least partially, in the glass. This is several steps up from a village wine with real substance and a promising life ahead of it.
Dense core of fruit starting to take on some secondary character, oak, acidity and tannins all in balance. Perhaps more of a decant would have made the nose more forthcoming but proper wine nonetheless.
Shame I only had the one bottle but I have another '15 1er Cru from the same producer, so lesson learned - give it a little more time.

10/24/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

This is seems ready to go now - the hard corners of the tannins seem to be falling way leaving a still firm but flowing fruited wine. Limestone terroir shows through in the cool, mineral quality of the finish.

10/24/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Tremendously enjoyable with deep, rich, brambly fruit, hint of bacon fat and black pepper. Mouthfilling with fine, ripe tannins. Ready to drink but certainly no hurry.

10/24/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Night 1: This was wound pretty tightly on the nose and palate. Left in preference for basic Chanson Bourgogne Rouge '18.

Night 2: Wow, what a difference! Still quite firm but the fruit started to unfurl beautifully with refreshing acidity.

Conclusion: lots of air needed, maybe due to relatively high level of whole bunches, but worth it in the end.

7/17/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Really hitting its stride now - this is a really grown-up "vin de soif". Drink now and in the next year for delectable strawberry and redcurrant flavours, but with some depth, and that underlying freshness and savoury edge you rarely find outside France.

6/27/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

First of 6. I was surprised just how forward this is. It has full open black-fruits flavours on the palate and, at least initially, a plush texture. Eventually the tannins and acidity start to show a little, but overall I get the impression this is for drinking over the next 3 to 5 years max. It doesn't suggest great potential for evolution so best to enjoy soonish.

6/6/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

First time I have tried the '16. Seemingly, quite lightly-built at first, this took on extra weight and structure with air. The fruit is quite reticent compared to the 2015, but it's beautifully balanced even now. I expect it will show more complexity in 2 or 3 years.

5/18/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Forward and relatively simple at this stage. Not as lush as a Pic St Loup from the same vintage, drunk recently, nor especially "big" in frame. In fact, the fairly light tannic structure suggests drinking within the next 3 years, although it might surprise and acquire some more savoury notes with age.

5/3/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Not overly complex, but delicious, dark-fruited, velvety tannins. Drink now or hold for 2 to 3 years.

4/24/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Offers easy pleasures - black fruit, soft tannins, bit of pepper. Really enjoyable now. Worth a 90 on pleasure alone.

4/11/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Very elegant, mid-weight, slightly unexpressive at the moment. Feels like 2 or 3 years extra cellar age would really make a difference to this.

4/4/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Young, but surprisingly approachable. Lovely balance, with really fresh acidity. Doesn't display any excessive alcoholic heat that I worried might come from this warm vintage. Will hold for at least two years before trying again.

4/2/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Consistent with last bottle, perhaps a little better. Everything working well together - ripe (but not overripe) red fruit, fresh acidity and really fine, powdery tannins. Depth without weight ... the flavours ripple over the palate like water over rocks. Very enjoyable.

3/14/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Nothing particularly complex, but this provides a whoosh of spicy, palate-coating, black fruit and fine tannins. Great value, tremendously satisfying.

3/7/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

What I like about this wine is that you would never mistake it for anything other than Bordeaux - 100% Merlot it may be, but this is still a stern, structured wine.
Oak is still present, so worth giving it some air. Fruit is ripe but restrained, with a seem of strong acidity running through it. There is freshness despite the 14.5% abv.
Hold for a couple more years I think.

3/4/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

A little more reticent than the previous bottles, suggesting that it is shutting down slightly (or just a slightly less good bottle?). More chiseled and less flamboyantly fruity than before, but still offering a lot of wine for the money. Tannin is relatively light and powdery, so not a keeper ... will revisit in 6 months.

2/28/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

My partner actively disliked this wine - personally, I felt it had sufficient acidity to counter the ripe, yellow fruit, and the oak contributed more to its structure than flavour. In terms of flavour and texture It has real impact

Overall, I was really impressed, but I didn't love it - I can see how its sheer concentration could be considered a tad overpowering.

2/24/2021 - Richard Holmes wrote:

Golden in colour, suggesting some evolution, but on the palate this bottle showed no sign of oxidation (unlike on the previous occasion).
Nice mouthfeel, with flavours of warm vanilla fudge and a cool, minerally finish. Really, very good on this showing. Hope my last bottle is as good!

2/15/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Lovely stuff. Popped and poured this was all limpid fruit and minerals before gradually tightening up with air to show a firm tannic core. Drinking beautifully now but will surely improve.

2/15/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Better than last time - the fruit is showing through above the oak and acidity now. Nicely-textured and very drinkable. Just a hint of toasty oak.

1/31/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

More mature than expected. Pretty stinky tbh. Open on nose and palate, but tightened up (in a good way) with some air. Just the one bottle - might have preferred it a year or two younger, more "on the fruit".

1/6/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Inky and opaque. Not especially expressive on opening, but with some air this really opened up. The fruit is deep, with plush tannins. Will undoubtedly improve but already delicious.

1/2/2021 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

My feelings about this wine are consistent with experiences of other 2012 vintage claret - essentially, very correct, enjoyable, but slightly underwhelming.

I could have quite happily drunk a second bottle as it's beautifully balanced with lovely savoury notes, acid and fine-grained tannin holding things together nicely ... but, ultimately, the wine lacks in drive and intensity. For me this is not the fault of the winemaker, but the character of the vintage.

Conclusion? Drink, enjoy, but don't expect fireworks.

11/27/2020 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Great now - fruit really expressive and lovely fine-grained tannins. This has exemplary poise and balance, mid-weight, serious yet gulpable.

11/23/2020 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

My last bottle. I'll be more patient next time because this was just great - nice open fruit, fine tannin and moderate acidity all in balance. Not your average Bourgogne Rouge.

11/22/2020 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

This seems to be settling down now, showing slightly less heat. Sweet, almost balsamic fruit, fine tannins. A real mouthful. Not one for the long term but looking forward to drinking the remaining bottles over the next year or two.

11/20/2020 - Richard Holmes wrote:

Not really ticking many Pinot boxes, even at a relatively modest price point - would have been okay at £7 or £8, but not at £13. No freshness or fruit vitality, or on the other hand any textural interest. Just a totally "blah" wine. Maybe it's just tired out?

11/15/2020 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Big, dark, curranty and still quite primary. Some tannin but not exactly what you'd call structured, but held together by the alcohol and acidity. Nice enough but less brains, more brawn.

11/2/2020 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Quite approachable. Absolutely no surprises here (which is a good thing) - the kind of reliable, well-balanced wine that Bordeaux does so well, even in an average vintage like 2014. This delivers dark, savoury fruit with powdery tannins and moderate acidity.One for the next 3 to 5 years.

10/18/2020 - Richard Holmes wrote:

I expected to enjoy this more based on other comments. I'm not sure whether it's the character of the vintage, which was high tannin, low-yield, if I remember correctly, but this lacks charm for me. I've had a few different 2012s and found most of them a little foursquare.
It may also be something to do with my own preference for the lift contributed by whole-bunch fermentation, which I don't find here.
Maybe I should have drunk it sooner?

10/6/2020 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Beautiful stuff. Concentration, texture, precision. I preferred this to La Rocca, which I found a little bloated in comparison.

10/4/2020 - Richard Holmes Likes this wine:

Slightly reductive on the nose (still), but this soon blows off - will decant next time. But the fruit, the fruit ... this is so pure! For "basic" Bourgogne this is quite beautiful.