January 9, 2023 - OK, this is actually a review of the three that i have consumed over the past 3 years. This is a highly rated "boutique" wine that was being dumped when Covid hit and cruise ships dumped their inventory. While rich and complex, the first two bottles were also unrefined, tight and pretty tannic. The 3rd which i opened just the other evening, was beginning to learn refinement, with richer notes in the aroma (tar, some flowers, dark fruits, ..) and silkier body/tannin. Note that i always open a wine for a while, and if possible decant. Since i drank this over two evenings it remained in the bottle, but was open before drinking. 2nd day it was removed from fridge early and then in a ban-marie to gently bring it up to room temp. I suspect i wasted several bottles too early. I have since seen a recommendation (whcih conflicts with the original) to drink > 2023. Sigh.
May 27, 2022 - Label says 65% syrah, bits of grenache, mourvedre and cairanne. 14.5% alcohol. Also a sticker saying Wine Advocate rated this at 95, which I have verified - Joe Czerwinski wrote the note.
Day 1, after 2hr decant, the tannins were a bit rough and unintegrated, and the whilst there's a lot there, it's all rather closed in. A few bitter elements in the background which is perhaps the mourvedre doing its bitter not-ready-yet mourvedre thing.
Day 2, tannins are more integrated, but with a rather clearer syrah dumb period closed in, hollow where's the taste gone, sense.
Day 3, the syrah was a opening a little, and showing a little bit of smoothness.
Day 4, it was better on Day 3. It slipped down OK, but still wasn't exciting or showing any more.
So I have no sense of the "elegant silky" that Czerwinski talks about, quite the opposite just now. For a 5-yr-old majority syrah blend of some substance, that's no big surprise. It's very difficult to judge such wines at this stage in their development, which is why I'll hold off from marking. Maybe it will be somewhere quite different in a few years, but it clearly needs a few years. You can tell there's a lot there. Maybe this ugly duckling stage in its development is why I could buy this fashionable artisanal wine for just £17 in a supermarket. Maybe at this price it's a fair gamble to buy a few and keep them for a while, and see if Joe was not too far off the mark in the long run.
January 30, 2022 - Lechón lunch
January 23, 2022 - Just over a year since my last bottle and this has certainly emerged from its closed phase. The nose is wonderfully pure and seductive with cherry, dark plum, some floral notes, peppery spice, herbs and fresh earth all wafting up. Amazing minerality, depth and balance define the excellent palate before the long and tantalising finish that just lingers. This is an elegant, classy Roussillon from an almost off-grid producer that demands more attention.
January 5, 2022 - This is kind of rugged wine I adore. Lots of intense black fruit, some awkward tannins, ok imperfect balance, but real depth and heft. Nothing elegant or gentle here, just yum and fun. Needs food.
October 30, 2021 - Very nice bottle of wine. Fuller in body and flavor than expected. Went very well with Chinese.
October 3, 2021 - Remembered this being better on the first four bottles. Laying down two may have been a mistake. Perfectly average. Good 84.
June 21, 2021 - A nose of some dark fruit and spice, ruby in color. A medium to full bodied Rhone Blend, with blueberry, plum some licorice and spice on finish, good not great. www.winelx.com
May 19, 2021 - I’ve now had several bottles and come to the conclusion that this is just a very average wine. It just doesn’t have the balance or tension that is needed to be interesting. Too flabby. Would not repurchase.
March 23, 2021 - Medium body with a silky mouthfeel. Soft red berry, subtle spice and toast with a mineral driven background. Well made.