April 10, 2024 - This is one of my favorite vintages of this wine. It has shown so many faces in the last few years and each time blows me away. Dark fruit, tobacco, cigar box, graphite, and Coco are all very present in this rich example of this wine. it is striking to taste this side-by-side with the 2017 which is also a lovely wine but so far different in character.
April 8, 2024 - -- decanted approx. 1 hr before initial taste --
-- tasted non-blind over 2 - 3 hrs --
NOSE: medium-light aromatics, with noticeable pyrazine.
BODY: medium-light bodied.
TASTE: a bit medicinal -- camphor, and medicinal cherry; noticeable pyrazine; a touch stony; finish is light -- not much there. On the whole, I think this is better than the bottle I had last year, so some moderate optimism this is moving in the right direction.
February 28, 2024 - A tug of war going on between the slightly bitter tannins and the slightly sweet fruit. At present, the tannins are winning, though I think with time this will change. I’d recommend against opening now, but if you must, be sure to give it plenty of air.
February 6, 2024 - Darker and denser than the 2015, this shows dark red and black fruit on the nose with hints of mineral, earth and that typical Chinon herbal character. Again, riper and more fruit-forward than the 2015, but still has a nice balance between fruit, herbs and acid. 92 now, with good potential for another point or so down the road.
November 17, 2023 - Clear pale ruby; clean medium plus nose of preserved red cherries, barnyard, yeast, soil and vegetal; dry; medium plus acidity; medium tannins; medium plus alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus flavour intensity; palate is tarter with addition of tar, leather and cocoa; long finish; drink now or in 5 years; definitely a funky, grown up wine - reminds me of Pearl Morissette; difficult to drink without food
September 26, 2023 - Revisited this recently as part of quite a good lineup and it was wine of the night. Needed an hour+ of air to really shine, but then lovely red fruit, balanced but quite present pyrazines, just starting to show some umami tertiary flavors. Delicate but with pleasant grip. Years and years of life left, I'm sure, but already a pleasure.
September 23, 2023 - .
August 25, 2023 - This was a nice follow-up to the Sociando. I served it at cellar temp initially since the temperature has yet to go down here. I really like the 2016. I’ve seen some positive and negative reviews but gosh darn it, every bottle I have opened hit the spot for me. We’re on the savory spectrum once again: green, earth, leather and some pepperiness. The fruit is there with notes of plums and a tad of red berries. Medium-minus / Light-plus body, fine tannins showing up and hitting the gums, Medium-minus acidity and decent finish with some crushed stones/salinity showing up and inviting lip-smack. I’m really liking those 2016 as the jack-of-all-trades. I can see pairing this with a bunch of foods.
June 4, 2023 - Burgundian smooth subtle lovely Cab Franc.
April 28, 2023 - Seems to want a bit more time in the bottle as the wine is rough even after a few hrs of decanting, missing some of those pretty floral notes. Still, great to have with some steak frites after the decant. Black and red fruited, peppers, earth, some green pyrazine notes. I'd love to see this in 5+ years.