4/1/2023 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

From Magnum.

2/17/2023 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

This aged beautifully and surprisingly long. Prominent on the nose was a distinctive candied anise seed. Delicate and balanced...cherries and plums. Stunning overall.

1/19/2023 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

Opened and poured. Plums, blueberries, raisins, and meat on opening. After 75-90 mins, it opened up beautifully and was more delicate and minerally, with hints of strawberry emerging.

6/7/2020 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

This wine is shining right now. I wish I had 6 more. It's balanced and complex, with the typical strawberry-forward flavors now complemented with darker fruits, a hint of smoke, and shake or two of pepper.

6/28/2020 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

Surely past its prime (my bad) and lacked bite, but the fruit and nut flavors are still lovely. This was a syrupy treat.

4/21/2020 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

This is drinking very well straight after opening. Lovely balance of acidity, fruit, and earth.

12/27/2014 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

Earthy, with good brightness and acidity. Drank well across multiple courses (veg, fish, duck).

10/1/2013 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

Great structure and acidity. Drinking very well now. New world style.

4/18/2013 - jblack323 wrote:

Dark fruit, smoke, meat, long finish, smooth and nicely structured. Will hold but it's drinking perfectly right now.

2/9/2013 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

Drunk alongside a 2009 Chassagne-Montrachet and, although similar, this Santenay was clearly the more interesting, more complex, and more delicious of the two. Fun to try now, will hold the other for 7-9 yrs.

1/31/2013 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

The QPR are on this is ridiculous. Crimson colored, slow legs. Black currant, blueberry, petrol, vanilla, and meat on the nose. Black currant, forest floor, vanilla, well done toast, some burnt tones, and ethanol in the mouth on open; after 2 hrs cherry and chocolate flavors emerged. The body is medium/full with a fleshy texture. The finish is medium.

1/12/2013 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Blueberry, Raspberry, Black currant (cassis), Orange, Strawberry Jam, Cherry, Smokey Bacon, Cinnamon, and Meaty. It tastes like Strawberry, Blackberry, Black currant (cassis), Orange, Strawberry Jam, Cherry, Plum, Smokey Bacon, Violet, Meaty, and Barnyard. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Fleshy texture. The wine finishes Medium.

1/5/2013 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

Appl
The wine looks Light gold colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Lemon, Apricot, Pineapple, Honeysuckle, and Violet. It tastes like Grapefruit, Lemon, Apple, and Pear. The body is Medium/Full. The wine finishes Long.

12/15/2012 - jblack323 Likes this wine:

Typical cab franc subtlety and elegance but with great complexity and fewer vegetal notes. Aromas of tobacco, violets, and a hint of menthol. Tastes of plum and fig.

11/20/2012 - jblack323 wrote:

Nicely honeyed. We preferred it a little more chilled than usual for us.

7/4/2012 - jblack323 wrote:

Pepper, tobacco, cherry, and strawberry nose. Blood orange, meat, dark fruits, pepper mouth. Very dynamic - evolves rapidly. 1 hr decant minimum. Nice game pairing.

6/9/2012 - jblack323 wrote:

Very interesting experience, this wine. Lacked integration at first - wonderful aromas of plums, currant, spice - but mostly alcohol in the mouth. Like grappa with a little wine added. After an hour or so it was more integrated - some earthiness and meatiness came through as well. It ultimately paired well with a radichio and calamari salad AND a chevre ravioli.

3/26/2011 - jblack323 wrote:

Still stellar!

1/20/2011 - jblack323 wrote:

This wine continues to delight.

12/8/2010 - jblack323 wrote:

With roasted lamb, no decant. Smell: Leather was more distinct relative to recent bottles. Woft of violets to boot...really very nice. Taste: Meatier than recent bottles, strawberry (some cherry too) and strong mineral components remain. An elegant expression of earthiness - downright delicious. Unlike the last bottle, this held up perfectly over the hour we drank it. Some of these '01s clearly have some life left, but they're singing now.

12/1/2010 - jblack323 wrote:

What an elegant Rhone blend! Like riverbed rocks drenched in strawberry jam. Left in bottle, was great for the first 30-45 mins but faded with the main course, which seemed to overpower.

11/23/2010 - jblack323 wrote:

Hold. Do not drink.

11/10/2010 - jblack323 wrote:

With black bass, sauteed mushrooms & carrots. Strawberry and mineral notes dominate the taste. No decant - sung from the first glass. Acidity was perfect for a light but flavorful meal.

10/30/2010 - jblack323 wrote:

Better with a 30-60 min decant. Similar profile as before, picked up roasted red peppers in on the nose this time.

10/23/2010 - jblack323 wrote:

Buttery and bright up front with acid to back it up. Very good wine - this bottle was less integrated than another I had recently - will try a decant on the next.

10/13/2010 - jblack323 wrote:

Very good and extraordinarily interesting. Bright fruit, good acidity, an awesome earthiness funk. Just fell short on integration and alcohol balance (same thing?). Maybe with some more cellar time...but maybe not.

10/1/2010 - jblack323 wrote:

1 hr decant. Like a sexy, red-haired, Latin olympic athlete...spicy, full-bodied, with bright fruit, all very well integrated. After four days in bottle with the cap on, some very pleasant, deep aged-Barolo-like raisin characteristics emerged. Wish I had a few more of these.

9/23/2010 - jblack323 wrote:

Agree with wineglas. Although I think it could use a year or two, or a good decant. Drank over 3 days, developed well throughout.

9/24/2010 - jblack323 wrote:

This is going to be a treat in 7-10 yrs. Drank over 4 days, no decant.

8/25/2010 - jblack323 wrote:

Delicious. Nice balance of crispness and bright flavors. Tastes like there is serious aging potential, but not sure how the bottle-top closure affects aging. Anyone?? Keep it cold. Held up surprisingly well over two days with a basic stopper in the kitchen fridge.

10/13/2009 - jblack323 wrote:

Clean and crisp with light fruit and nut complements.

2/14/2009 - jblack323 wrote:

I have to strongly disagree with BarrelMonkey. This is anything but dull and uninspiring. Raspberry is the principal fruit - and it comes through elegantly and light, but not faint and weak. Med to high tannins complement the elegant fruit nicely, and forest floor flavors add character. Love this wine.

1/25/2009 - jblack323 wrote:

Simple, easy, good, only 6$.

1/1/2009 - jblack323 wrote:

Solid Cava. Outstanding QPR. Served for New Year's Eve toast, big crowd pleaser.

12/19/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

Spicy, round, and bright - exactly what it should be. Addition of expressive earthiness makes it outstanding. This bottle was not quite at peak, but some aerating got it open after 2-3 hrs.

12/19/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

This is beginning to round out, not quite at peak, but outstanding in its complexity, earthiness, and power. Recommend aerating.

12/2/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

Outstanding for the price!

12/12/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

Berry and chocolate aromas. Smooth texture. Rose-water at first in the mouth, with deep berry and chocolate flavors emerging on the rather long finish. Outstanding, probably at peak.

11/29/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

Enjoyed the darker-than-usual berry flavors on this solid Cigare. Opened almost fully after about 4 hours in decanter, but it would probably develop further over a day or two.

11/29/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

This was really flat at first. After an hour in glass, however, the acidity came into balance and rich berry flavors emerged. The final glass, after 3 hours in the bottle, was excellent.

11/3/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

(Magnum) Clean and smooth but with surprising depth and complexity. My new favorite Prosecco.

8/15/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

I love Huber's Zweigelt as a quaffer. It's smooth but not flimsy, a beautiful expression of a "light" Austrian red. Just try it.

10/25/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

Nose was very pleasant, but overall very one-dimensional and oak-heavy.

4/29/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

Apricot, kiwi, and honey nose. Typical, nice Spatlese flavors with a caramel apple mid-palate, sweet citrus, apricot, and some smokiness. Honeyed for sure, but integrated. Would have rated lower but I know my bias for more dry Riesling, so compensating 2 pts because this is certainly a sweeter (but not totally sweet) expression of the grape, it being Spatlese and all. Despite my preference for a drier Riesling, the sweetness was well integrated here.

As an aside: for demonstration purposes, we compared this to a Spatlese Trocken in order to "prove" to our friends that the Trocken is indeed a dry wine despite being a Riesling - it worked!

4/29/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

Minerals, stone fruits, INTENSE floral notes on the nose, and the slightest hint of honey as the wine warms in the glass - all that complexity yet it remains harmonious, so much so that the individual perfumes are masked in "the dance" - one could easily ignore the individual components and just enjoy the experience of the mixed perfumes. The mouth carries the perfume and adds lemon, emphasizes the minerality (especially flint), and leaves a pleasant hint of grassy bitterness lingering, just enough to egg you on to the next glass. The acidity is such here that this wine could age eons (20 yrs?) - there are hints of smokiness that no doubt will develop over time.

4/21/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

Hazelnut, honey, high acidity - very complex, very tasty!

3/22/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

The only notes I kept were "beautifully smooth and balanced" - I recall this an excellent wine, one I'd drink again for sure, but not one that changed my perspective in any way...

3/6/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

A very nice, dry Chablis; flint and hint of lemon on the nose; a pear skin and mineral in the mouth and finish.

3/4/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

A lovely Sangiovese, with cherries as the dominant flavor component.

3/4/2008 - jblack323 wrote:

Did not take notes, but recall absolutely loving this inky gem. Recall chocolate-covered strawberries and soft tannins. Surely there was more to report, but have since forgotten...