4/23/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Fabulous wine. This bottle had obviously been kept very well. It took about 3 hours to open up.

4/21/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Still on the young side, this wine really opened up after about 10 hours of air in the decanter.

4/12/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Wonderful example of a great Chateau in a not so great year. Decanted and seemed at its best after 4 hours. Really very lovely and delicious. I don’t think it will improve further but it will go on for a good few years.

4/6/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Purchased from local retail. Must have been kept very well. Still young. Decanted for a total of 10 hours and it really needed it. I think this wine needs another 10 years to show its true colours.

3/23/2024 - Oliverl1 wrote:

Not entirely sure on this one. Decanted for a good few hours and the wine was good, but not very complex. Waited a total of 12 hours in the decanter and it still was rather boring. Perhaps it is too young to be enjoyed properly.

3/10/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Truly excellent value for $12.99! After about 3 hours of air this is a perfect example of how such good value wines from La Rioja are! Drinks like a $30 wine.

3/7/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

An all-round excellent value for money wine. Cost $20. On the young side and you absolutely must decant for a minimum of 8 hours to fully appreciate this wine now. Seemed its best after about 10 hours.

3/1/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Still extremely young and primary. The colour was purple/red. Decanted for 10 hours and was more enjoyable. I would wait at least 5 more years. I wonder how much time the grand vin needs!

2/16/2024 - Oliverl1 wrote:

My palate is much, much more geared towards the Médoc but I have had some nice Pomerols over the years which I enjoyed. This was offered for $79 at my local retailer which I thought was a good price, given the Chateau and the outstanding vintage.

It was, unfortunately, a big disappointment. A big wine at 14.5% and still young, so I gave it several hours of air which it needed. Too fruity and more like a big Californian wine. Also, tannins were too soft for my liking! I think it would benefit from 10 more years of cellaring. The same store has several other 2009s from the Médoc at a similar price which knock the socks off this wine! I guess it’s just my preference!

2/15/2024 - Oliverl1 Does not like this wine:

It tastes like a mass produced unsophisticated wine with sugar and flavours added chemically. Yuck. Glad I only paid $20 for a bottle.

2/7/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Purchased from local retail at only $25 a bottle. Excellent QPR. It seemed its best after about 6 hours of air in the decanter. Lots of sediment. I will buy some more very soon and write some more detailed notes.

2/1/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Won half a case at a local retailer auction. $18 per bottle. An absolute steal. Classic St Estèphe! Big, bold and tannic. Still with a lot of fruit intact. Needed about 6 hours of decanting. Plenty of life remaining. Drink now through 2030.

1/30/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Phenomenal value at $15 a bottle. Still relatively young, but after 8 hours in the decanter, this is really ready to drink. I don't think I could get more enjoyment for a wine of this price. A wonderful “week night” wine if you like Bordeaux. I wish I could find some more. Drink now until 2030.

1/25/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Purchased half a case recently at local retail. Decanted for 12 hours. Lots of tannins present and still tastes on the young side but has definitely started drinking! Classic Médoc and typical characteristics of the 2005 vintage of course. This such a tremendous wine for $29. I wish I had more. Drink now or hold for up to 10 more years.

1/18/2024 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Purchased at local retail for $49, which, to be honest, was a steal. Fully mature classic Médoc. Gave it about 4-5 hours of air. Very enjoyable but it will not improve further. Drink now and enjoy.

1/1/2024 - Oliverl1 Does not like this wine:

rarely purchase USA Cabernets as they are really not my style. My palate is more akin to old world wines from the Médoc and La Rioja in Spain. My local liquor store had been bought out and they were selling high price US wines heavily discounted. I saw this for $39 and I thought I would give it a go.

Decanted for 8 hours and wow it was still overwhelmingly powerful! Too much alcohol and too fruity “sweet”! I enjoy wines from the Rhône and Toros & Ribera del Dueros from Spain which have the same 15% alcohol content, but this is just a very un-sophisticated wine lacking complexity. I don’t understand why people pay three or four times what I paid.

I can see why some people like it, but it is just not my jam (it actually tastes like jam! ;😉)

12/31/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Still too young! Typical characteristics of the 2005 vintage. Backwards and tannic! Despite being 18 years old, it seems like it is only a few years old! Decanted for 12 hours. I think it still needs 5-10 years further aging to be at its plateau.

Anticipated maturity 2026 to 2032.

12/29/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

This time I decanted even longer. 14 hours. It really is excellent QPR. What a fabulous finish. This will go on for 10 more years. Amazing how this wine changes after many hours of air. Classic tannic 2005 vintage!

12/28/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Being a St Estèphe and the 2005 vintage I suspected it would still be on the young side. Upon opening, I realized it was.

Decanted 12 hours.

A very lovely wine. Intense, concentrated and still rather tannic. A lot of berry fruit with graphity undertones. Good finish, but still on the young side and I think this will be in its prime in about 5 years or so. Good QPR.

12/24/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Had this wine again after about two years. It is a very big and bold big wine (15%), but after about 10 hours in the decanter it was just perfect. What a lovely long finish. Wonderful stuff and excellent value for c. $60. I suspect many people don’t give it enough air that it needs.

12/24/2023 - Oliverl1 wrote:

Still on the young side and will be better in about 5+ years. Decanted 12 hours which helped, but it didn't seem a very complex wine. A little basic. I have had very similar experiences from other wines of the Médoc for the 2006 vintage.

12/22/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

I really think this is a lovely wine with a fabulously long finish… providing you decant for a good 6+ hours! Plenty of life left and excellent QPR!

12/17/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Second time trying this wine after 8 months. This time I decanted 10 hours, but still too young. I recommend holding for at least 5 more years.

12/15/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Needed some air and decanted a total of 5 hours. Classic St Estèphe of course. Big, bold, tannic and very savoury. A spicy lingering finish. Overall there was not too much complexity, most likely given it is a second wine and 20 years old and slightly past its peak. Still very enjoyable. Drink up.

12/10/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

A very good, well made wine! Decanted 12 hours and it really opened up into something delightful. Plenty of life left from this excellent vintage. Fantastic value at $29.

11/25/2023 - Oliverl1 wrote:

Opened and realised it was still very young and needed plenty of air.

Decanted a total of 12 hours and it really did not change the wine that much. Still mostly primary. Very tannic and young.

It is a good, well made wine but it is just too young to fully appreciate right now. Wait ten more years.

11/11/2023 - Oliverl1 Does not like this wine:

I rarely drink US wines, but they were serving this at a wedding. What a pile of rubbish! Why would anyone spend $20 to $25 on this wine? You can get a decent entry level Cotes Du Rhône for half the price which will knock the socks off this wine. Or a $18 Rioja Reserva or a Cru Bourgeois from the Médoc… The list could go on and on… I can’t believe people actually buy this wine. Thankfully I didnt.

11/10/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

A good, well made wine as per usual from this good bodega.

Even at 10 years, this wine is very young. Opened half the bottle and corked the rest. Decanted the first half for 6 hours and it made virtually no difference. 24 hours later, the half that had been left in the bottle was finally open. Although mostly primary. Definitely hold this wine for at least five more years, or decant the night before.

11/5/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Opened the coravined bottle from a few days ago. 2/3 remaining and decanted for five hours. Same notes as before, but the extra few hours of air made a big difference! A 3 point improvement! This was from 1.5L and still had some life left in it. I suspect a normal 750 bottle would not be the same.

11/2/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Decanted for about six hours and tried it and realized it needed some more time. After about 10 hours the tannins had softened and it was definitely a lot more enjoyable and interesting from when I first opened the bottle. It was at its best at about 12 hours. Obviously this wine is still on the young side and it will be at its best in about 5 years time.

It really is a good wine as one would expect. Top Bordeaux Chateau and top vintage.

Typically, this wine is available at my local wine store for $89 but there is a sale going on and it is at $59. I think at $59 it is about right. I wouldn’t pay $89 for this wine.

I wonder what the Grand Vin is like…!

11/1/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

I thought I would revisit this wine after about six months. This wine just does not need decanting. It is absolutely at its best immediately after you take out the cork. This is very much a pop and pour wine and I am ALL ABOUT decanting for hours and hours (just read my notes) but it just doesn’t need it!

It is a lovely wine and good value, but I wonder why it declines so quickly after an hour or so of air. Most likely due to 2012 being a very forward vintage and the fact this is a second wine.

10/31/2023 - Oliverl1 wrote:

From magnum. Coravinned a third of the bottle and decanted two hours.

To sum it up, a simple and pleasant aged Médoc. Notes of berry, graphite and coffee. A rather short finish and a little thin. I wouldn’t say it is "over the hill" quite yet (although this is from magnum), but it is lacking complexity, depth and is really nothing special.

Next time, I will leave it in the decanter for a few more hours to see if it develops. Not convinced it will though...

10/27/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

From magnum. Decanted 6 hours.

A “textbook” well made Médoc. The nose and the colour suggested it was still on the early side of its plateau. Obviously due to it being in 1.5L.

A little barnyard funk, classic aged left bank on the nose.

On the palate, a good amount of berry fruit, spice and a little bit of tobacco. Medium finish.

A very, very nice all-round Médoc. A joy to drink a 28 year old very good wine, but the 1996 vintage of this wine is a little better!

10/27/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Definitely on the younger side of its plateau. It needed a 8 hour decant for it to really open up. A very good wine for the price, but I would suggest holding for at least five more years. If not, decant for a good time!

10/21/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Decanted for six hours was about right. Nice complexity with a lingering finish. It has definitely entered its plateau will be very good for probably the next five years or so. A very nice wine for the price.

10/20/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

A lovely Pauillac! Powerful and complex. Decanted 5 hours which was just about right. Lovely nose and still very fresh. I would say it’s just entering its plateau and will be at its best for the next 3-5 years. Great lingering finish. No need to wait much more. Open now, give it some air and enjoy!

10/20/2023 - Oliverl1 wrote:

Purchased two at my local online auction at only $55 per bottle. Decided to open the one with the lower fill level. Very top shoulder fill (slightly below base neck). Cork was completely soaked all the way, but still firm. Thankfully, the wine was not majorly affected, although it tasted a little more mature than I thought it should be. Most likely not ideal storage conditions over the past 20 years.

An hour decant was sufficient. Tannins fully resolved. Notes of earth, graphite and fresh berry. The finish did not linger at all. Slightly high acidity. This bottle was definitely past its peak. I wonder what the other bottle with the higher fill level will be like.

10/7/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Purchased a few bottles from retail at $59 per bottle. On paper it seemed like a good price, but in reality, that’s what they were worth. A little disappointed. 2004 wasn’t a great vintage but I expected a little more from this very good chateau. I recently bought half a case of their 2002 and that was much better… And 2002 was not as good as 2004. Interesting. Wine isn’t an exact science, but I was disappointed.

An all-round good wine, but noting to write home about. It seemed its best after about 8 hours in the decanter.

10/5/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

A classic well-made second wine Médoc from an excellent year. It is very enjoyable if you have the patience. Patience to either wait another 5 to 8 years, OR decant for 10+ hours and enjoy now! IGNORE some of the previous notes about this wine and give it a thorough 10+ hour decant and you will not be disappointed. Great value at $18 per bottle!

9/29/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Tannic and young, but after a 12-hour decant, it was a really fabulous wine. It will be much better in 10 years time. If you patiently wait, it will be worth the money. If you decide to drink now, I recommend 10+ hours of decanting.

9/17/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Decanted 9 hours and it really needs it! Deep, powerful and intense and lingers on the palate. Mostly primary with a little hint of secondary. It kind of reminds me of a Toro! A very complex wine, but it needs another 10 years to be enjoyed at its best.

Drinking now if you decant for half a day but preferably hold for at least 5 more years.

9/16/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Purchased in 2021 at retail and fill level was at base of neck. Stored in the same conditions at 55° for the past two years. Fill level still the same thankfully.

Upon opening, the cork broke in half and was soaked halfway. However, it had not affected the wine at all.

Decanted. Lots and lots of sediment.

Had small amounts every hour or so after the 6-hour mark and it seemed to be at its best after a total of 9 hours… so that’s when I got stuck in. In one of Robert Parker’s early reviews he stated it was “palate staining” and yes, that is certainly an excellent way to describe one of the characteristics of this wine.

I don’t think I could say it was the best wine I have ever had, but it is definitely up there.

I think this wine has just started drinking properly and will most likely be at its absolute best in about 5 years time.

Drink now with a good 6+ hour decant or hold for up to another 20 years.

9/20/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Terrific value at c. $20 a bottle.

Given that it is Merlot dominated coupled with being a 2012 vintage, it can be had right out of the bottle, but really benefits from a decant of about 4 hours.

Drinking very nicely now and will for another 5 years or so. An all-round excellent wine!

9/2/2023 - Oliverl1 wrote:

Decanted 3 hours. Nose a little muted and a little stewed fruit showing that it was past its prime, but not by a long way. On the palate, classic, fully mature left bank stuff with some tannins still intact. I think this bottle was about 5 years past its peak but still enjoyable.

I expected a little more from this, but most likely storage conditions were not ideal. DRINK UP!

8/19/2023 - Oliverl1 wrote:

I think the bottle wasn't quite right. Recent purchase at retail. Bottle must have been stored extremely well due to fill level. Upon opening, the wine tasted quite tight and tannic, with a distinct saltiness. Deduced it would need some good time to breathe in a decanter.

After 6 hours, the Wine had softened but there was still that "saltiness". Little improvement after another couple of hours. Disappointing. I think it must have been that particular bottle.

8/31/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Classic Haut Médoc cru bourgeois which needs a good 6+ hours in the decanter and is then silky smooth. Good value at £35. Make sure you decant for a good time

8/9/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Excellent value. Purchased a few bottles from local retail. The bottles were in great condition with perfect fill levels. Typical characteristics of the 2005 vintage, backwards and tannic! However, after about 10 to 12 hours, this wine really opened up. Still on the young side, I think it will be a good few more years before this wine reaches its peak. At least another 10 years of life left in these bottles.

7/30/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Decanted 10 hours which it really needed. A very good wine but tannic and backward, so it needs at least five more years to open up… maybe even 10…

7/27/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

2002 was not a great year and this not a great Chateau, but I thought I would give it a go as my local retailer is offering a few bottles at only $25 each. Well, this bottle had obviously been stored perfectly! Decanted for 3 hours. This is a nice fully mature wine from the Pessac that will not improve further. Really enjoyable and truly excellent QPR. If I had tasted it blind and someone told me it was a $50 or $60 bottle, I would have believed them.

7/15/2023 - Oliverl1 Likes this wine:

Decanted for 12 hours, and like most vintages from Sociando Mallet, it needed it! Good complexity, very concentrated but still rather tannic and on the young side. Can be had now provided you give it a 10+ hour decant. Try again in 5 years. 2008 was not a great vintage in the Médoc, by SM got it right!