January 12, 2022 - Cherry, licorice, raspberry. A bit weak on the finish. Light tannins. Has held up well for a $15 wine.
May 8, 2015 - Dull red color. Plain red table wine taste with no complexity or distance tones. For a blend we expected much more. Did not improve with age. Drank half a glass and got bored. Poured out the rest.
May 2, 2015 - Nice enough nose of French-smelling merlot, French oak, herbs and spices, a touch of minerality, and soil. With air the '09 Gassac Grande Reserve becomes a touch more perfumed with a whisper of tapenade making an appearance. Overall not a very expressive nose. Where this wine suffers is the palate with its short, ineffective finish. You'd be doing it a favor to even call it medium bodied. Just a bland, boring palate here. I'm sad.
February 27, 2012 - A surprisingly nice bottle of wine. Good blend of varietals. Medium acid, good aftertaste, solid performer. Definitely a "medium" red wine all the way around, but certainly a nice drinker. Light oaking comes across as a touch of butter, nicely balanced.
July 1, 2011 - Too long ago since now to score, but I do remember this being semi-enjoyable. Nothing special but it was decent for sure.
June 4, 2011 - See my notes from 2/7/11.
February 7, 2011 - Good concentration and intensity of fruit in an excellent vintage. Is very young and could stand to be cellared for a few years to smooth out the tannins and acidity. However, this wine packs a punch and will hold up very well to any hearty meals of steak, beef stew or any meat with a powerful sauce. Can only get better with age, and I have a feeling that you can lay this bottle down and forget about it for 3-5 years and be pleasantly surprised when you bring it out and uncork it. Should not disappoint!