First bottle opened from a solid case, and first bottle consumed in 11 years. Wine was completely and horribly oxidized. I suspect a one off flawed bottle. Will open another very soon and expect a better showing. Weird.
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At peak. PNP and paired with grilled Arctic Char - Light red color with strong gradient from rim to center. On nose, strawberry, wet rocks, tart cherry and earth/mushrooms. Palate was more fruit oriented (strawberry, cranberry) with some nice minerality. Medium body, medium acidity, integrated tannins (still there) and medium finish. Enjoyable if in the mood for a lighter bodied wine. Excellent QPR. 90+/-
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Bright, crunchy red fruit and dark cola bean. Tastes much younger than its 10 years. This is quite good but not sure it is/was worth cellaring. It was good out of the gate and hasn’t really developed much in the nuances age can bring. Still a buyer of the wine though. An agreeable and versatile table wine.
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Nice texture and flavor profile, with cranberries and dried strawberries and some wood. But very clean and bright, not weak or sour at all. Very good over two nights, but best on second.
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A serious tart, cranberry and granite infused wine, but the tannins are still quite prominent. Perhaps I should have decanted more. This could definitely evolve in the bottle as it was still quite youthful and fresh.
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PNP. Color dark ruby. Nose has sappy cranberry fruit. Palate on the light side with prominent structure. I don't think that the fruit will outlive the structure and don't intend to find out. Will drink remainder soon.
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This is just an excellent food wine with good acid and fresh fruit that can pair well with a wide variety of foods, including unusual or acidic foods, like corned beef.
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Drinking very well right now. There is some minor notes of earth that you get from an aged wine now. This is an absolutely fantastic QPR. The fruit is still present, but it is well balanced. This was my last bottle, and I wish I had more. These wines are great with a few years on them.
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needs time to open up but the nose, once open, is wondrous indeed. on the palate it never quite lives up to the soaring nose but i could spend all night with that nose...
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Lots of crunchy fruits and soil tones. Definitely needed a lot of air for the palate to open up. Filled up with raspberries, cranberries, and floral notes, this was a delightful Beaujolais.
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Went great with a whole chicken on the Big Green Egg. Very bright and high-toned, crisp red fruit. I liked this from release, but it has really hit its stride.
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Ambassades is always good, and is always an excellent of what it means to speak of place. And, always a QPR. The minerality in the 2010 is striking. Almost as if the wine was stored in a quartz barrel.. stony red fruit, dusty in a way, great acidity. Years to go, but could drink this daily.
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Less taut than a year ago, but still has great energy, and it has taken on some flesh that is supple but still close to the bone. I really couldn't ask for more out of a wine of this style, medium bodied, pleasantly acidic, brightly fruited, than this one delivers.
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Very nice, this wine seems to have tamed the beast a bit since my last bottle in Jan '12. Still really juicy for this cuvee, the raspberry soda I thought then too outgoing has nicely melded with the stones hiding in the background. Tonight, this was an excellent bottle, much preferred over the 09 I had a couple nights ago.
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Delicious. Brilliant acid, great flavour. Raspberry, herb, wet rock, incredible minerality. Been doing great and holding steady for a couple hours since opening. This should last a very long time if the acid is any indicator.
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LC guessed Burgundy, and not a bad guess. Gamay nose, medium light weight, a good food wine, but died by day 2. The remains will be added to the vinegar jar.
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nose - raspberry, light red fruit mouth - light red fruity, mainly sour cranberry, followed by good minerality and surprsingly present tannins on the finish. i agree with other reviewers that this is a very nice food wine
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This appears rather reticent, with mostly mineral, rock, and some sour berry flavors. The finish is long, like a trek up a craggy clifff kind of long. Certainly tasty, but too taut to relax into a completely pleasurable drink. I remember the 2005 version of this as my epiphany "Oh my god, Gamay can be amazing!" experience, and the 2009 was simply delicious. (The 2007 was mighty fine,too). In case you can't tell, this is one of my favorite wines of all time.
I think the 2010 may flesh out some, but I don't expect it to recreate past vintages. Its just a different beast, made almost entirely of granite. And that's OK with me.
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Two bottles at Thanksgiving dinner with dad, Kim and Dave and the family. I love the tension in this wine. Bright mouthwatering acidity highlights tart strawberry and cranberry, which mellow with some time in the glass. Very definitely a wine that needs food to be at its best.
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Ugh. I had high hopes for this wine. When I opened it, it seemed to deliver, with bright strawberry and cherry scents. But the pallet was very unimpressive. The wine was thin and lacking in fruit. My wife also gave it a "meh." As the wine got more air, the fruit seemed to come and go. Maybe the wine is just in an awkward or dull stage right now. I guess I can wait and see on the other two bottles.
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Tart cranberry mixed with ripe cherry and a chalky, stone dusted finish. High-toned, cool and quite poised. Very nice, but this is still a bit tightly coiled. I can see this improving with some time in the bottle.
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3/18/13 - another bottle, opened a day ago - taste: like licking tart strawberry essence from a (very clean) rock, to paraphrase a previous review, and followed by a medium-length vegetal flinty finish; overall: while I respect that this pour may please other palates, it's not a style I favor
8/6/2012 - 86 points - color: bright raspberry x light purple -- nice! nose: faint floral and candy; taste: lean mouth feel, cranberry taste, medium-length finish consisting of tart apple and chalk; overall: balanced Old World pour, probably better served with food (smoked salmon or cheese?) than by itself -- but, ultimately, neither my style nor a great value ($19).
Initially very closed aroma, but then the earth and raspberry became apparent. The palate was limestone, something vegetal (bell pepper?), and a hint of fruit. Seems to be the Garagiste style. The acid is brilliant. At one point I thought I caught a whiff of rose. This should last a long time.
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Cherry and meat juice on the nose, with leather and pepper in the middle, and some raspberry and floral notes. Cherry and meat on the palate, with raspberry and pepper on the mid-palate, and a nice leather finish.
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This is a fantastic wine, and you cannot beat the value at $20. I have tried this wine twice now, and I like it more each time. There's smoked meat and cherry on the nose. The palate is ripe fruit with good structure on the tannins. I am very happy I have two bottles left. I think there is definitely a few years left in this wine.
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Very grapey with a forward, frooty 2009-like nose and some diacetyl notes. More taut and mineral on the palate, but I found this to be a bit too much for what I want from CdB. Hopefully it will calm down with another 6 months in bottle.
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This is my favorite of the last three vintages of this wine. It has very fruit forward core that makes it wide appealing, yet retains all the stony minerality that gives it a ton of character. This is also the most Pinot like this cuvée has tasted to me, which also get a thumbs up. There is a lot of structure and some really fine tannins on the back end, which combined with excellent mid palate concentration should let this age for a long time.
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Mmm, not sure why it tasted so different from previous bottle. This time, it was a Brouilly in its simplest way. Fruity, but no backbone, devoid of any material.
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Killer high tones of crushed stone, pomegranate seed, sod mixed with blueberries, and pearlite. Really stunning aromas that are graceful, tactful, and classy. If this wine tasted like this it'd be 94 points. The palate is medium bodied with a lovely soft texture. Initially it's quite shut, but after 10 seconds in the mouth it begins expressing some brighter red fruits, crushed gravel, and tannins begin gripping. The finish is very tart, with high acid and deep diving minerality, showing hints of bright, light red fruits. The texture and creaminess here are even more intense than the 2009. A wonderful wine, on par with the previous vintage but a different expression for sure. This improved in the glass going on 15 minutes and approached 92, but then began to shut down after an hour or two and got closer 89. A very promising future is ahead of this one. Check in at 5 years.
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Pretty sure I am not tasting the same wine as everyone else. Popped and poured. Acids were bracing, so decanted thru vinturi, then again then a third time. Color purplish ruby. Nose promises raspberry and a bit of meat. On palate there is the briefest glimpse of fruit on entry then the acids take over and overwhelm. like a sweet tart w/o the sweet. i am a beaujolais fan and really enjoyed the 09 but not so much the '10. Probably just me but this seems out of balance and light.
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Gouleyant definition: Fresh, nice to drink, light. I would add that goes well down the throat. That definition fits well this wine. Nice brouilly expression, a wine that you would want to share with friends, in a Paris bar.
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Wow, very different Ambassades this year. Was very fun to drink but, believe it or not for this normally taut bottling, too much raspberry soda on the front end. There is nice aciditiy in there but I do miss the normal dance of austerity and juice across the palate. I'll have another in 6 months or so and see what's happened.
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Seems to be a great vintage for Ambassades. Richly fruited by the standards of this cuvée, comparable to the 2009, which seems rare for the vintage. But it still has its usual fresh, crunchy mouthfeel and sprightly energy.
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I love this! Classic Cru Beaujolais with no hard edges and not too big or over ripe either. Classic! I like this better than the 08s and the 09s individually. Has the best combo of both vintages. More like 05 for me. Structured yet silky with great purity and balance. Cherry and minerally flavors.
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Didn't really know what to expect from this as I haven't had many French wines and my last Beaujolais was Nouveau more than 10 years ago...but...this was very nice.
Day one was pop and pour. Nose had a little funk that blew off only slightly, but it didn't affect the taste or enjoyment. Very light in weight and color. Cranberry and cherries, gravel, dirt and fresh rain on the nose and the taste. Very smooth on the palate and throat. Enjoyed with pot pie soup and cheddar biscuits. Corked and left on the counter overnight. Day two was more of the same, but smoother and overall better. Really nice wine.
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Popped and poured. A light, lovely, gravelly, soily and cranberry-laced wine. Not quite the flesh of the 2009, a bit leaner and structured. This should be decanted longer or cellared for 4-5 years. On day 2 this did show a bit better; more integrated and giving.
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Really nice, if not a little tight. Bright cranberry fruit, a little mineral and grip in the middle. It was very refreshing, too. This could use a year in the bottle or a good decant.
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Garigiste Test Drive - Fall 2011 (With Winex and WB add-ons): Pop/pour. This is a serious Beaujolais. On the nose, a bit of perfumed soap (Ivory) that is in no way meant as a negative. That fades relatively quickly and morphs into something more floral, in some ways similar to the Le Vilain P'tit also open. On the palate, surprising depth and complexity. A bit of meat/bacon in the background. Good balance/structure, both in terms of acidity and tannins, the latter of which are fairly forward at this point. Revisit remaining bottles starting 2013. I suspect this will improve considerably by then. Score based on current drinking, but I enjoy this wine more than that score might suggest.
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Just brought home; shaken up, but still quite drinkable. Grape-y, mineral-y, undertone of smokiness. Will add more when it opens up, if we make it that far....
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Wow. This was really an impressive, well balanced and complex wine. In the glass it reeked of minerals. I know that's vague and cliche but that's what stood out, along with black plum and some cherry. In my mouth the flavors were really all over the board, in a good way. Bright, fresh black and red berries, a big earthy component typical of gamay, but also an iodine, ash and saline component really filled this wine out. Tannins are smooth but pretty evident, and could soften a bit more. Great acid, too. A really great wine.
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I have tried this several times, with one previous tasting note. Initially, in late spring, I had real doubts, but this stuff is growing on me. Give it a couple hours to breathe, and it turns from having an almost goofy quality to something increasing in complexity, with plenty of smoky spiciness, then moving on to a profund taste-sensation. It is a true quaffer; if you're not careful, the whole bottle will be gone before you realize it. This is definitely age-worthy; drink now or keep it for years.
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Needs at least 2 hours to open... Tasted over 12 hours... Dusty, ripe strawberry, soil, tobacco, dried flowers/grass/hay, mineral, and pepper on the nose... rather complex.. with a good balance of red fruit and earth notes... medium bodied, with juicy acid and apparent tannins showing through the medium-medium-plus finish.. structured to age... more open then 1 month ago... considering adding a couple more to my stash..
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Light reddish-purple color. Leather, dirt, and dust appear first. Then comes a certain savory spiciness. Some fruit appears after a longer while; raspberries and cherries come to mind. It is lighter and leaner than the '09, not necessarily in a good way. But...giving it 2 hours + to decant, the wine really begins to bring the joy. I think the '09's have more aging potential (I'm betting four bottles on this), but nonetheless this wine is really enjoyable now, in the summertime lightly chilled. Considering how the '09 keeps evolving, this might not be the last word on this wine.
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Long decant. Refreshing, perfectly ripe strawberries mix with subtle notes of rose petal and a hint of something deeper and darker lurking under the surface... on the palate, iron and a chalky mineral flavors/textures mix with bright, red strawberry skin flavors and floral nuances of red and white roses... the finish is long and elegant, echoing the initial flavors... yet there is still something more intriguing... a dusting of powdery tannins stays on the tongue.. with pleasant, not searing acidity... refreshing, yet soft and friendly.. not overly complex, yet it draws me back for more... more expressive and focused on day 2... and of coarse, the last glass was the best!
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12/25/2023 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: flawed
First bottle opened from a solid case, and first bottle consumed in 11 years. Wine was completely and horribly oxidized. I suspect a one off flawed bottle. Will open another very soon and expect a better showing. Weird.
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1/3/2023 - bhouk wrote:
Pretty little wine, juicy, with raspberries, violets, and flaky minerality. A joy to drink and in a very appealing state.
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12/31/2022 - chcook Likes this wine:
Last bottle. Structure softening but so is the fruit. Drank alongside the ‘20 which was sooo fruit laden. Drink up I think.
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4/11/2021 - nicefish Likes this wine: 90 Points
Surprisingly fresh, but a little muted. Cherry and cranberry on the palate.
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1/27/2021 - bg3034 wrote: 87 Points
PnP through Nuance Wine Finer. Thin and tart. May be past its age at this point. 87-pts. Aloha!
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1/9/2021 - bmisamore@comcast.net wrote: 85 Points
Definitely showing its age and not at all unique. It opened up after a while, but still nothing to write home about.
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12/10/2020 - CWilliam wrote: 90 Points
At peak. PNP and paired with grilled Arctic Char - Light red color with strong gradient from rim to center. On nose, strawberry, wet rocks, tart cherry and earth/mushrooms. Palate was more fruit oriented (strawberry, cranberry) with some nice minerality. Medium body, medium acidity, integrated tannins (still there) and medium finish. Enjoyable if in the mood for a lighter bodied wine. Excellent QPR. 90+/-
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12/9/2020 - sababa1022 Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Some typicality but thin, tart and not worth the effort.
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6/30/2020 - bhouk wrote:
Bright, crunchy red fruit and dark cola bean. Tastes much younger than its 10 years. This is quite good but not sure it is/was worth cellaring. It was good out of the gate and hasn’t really developed much in the nuances age can bring. Still a buyer of the wine though. An agreeable and versatile table wine.
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5/29/2020 - Quarked wrote: 90 Points
Nice texture and flavor profile, with cranberries and dried strawberries and some wood. But very clean and bright, not weak or sour at all. Very good over two nights, but best on second.
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12/4/2018 - SoundinBetween wrote:
delicious, probably close to peak from trying several other vintages just a bit older than this. no detailed notes taken.
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10/15/2018 - TowerCellar Does not like this wine: 80 Points
There was nothing overtly bad with the wine, except that it lacked flavor and was extremely weak. I suspect this is fast past its prime.
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12/13/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote:
Not specifically faulted, but not good. Weedy, thin, acerbic, underripe, weak. Unpleasant. Poured it out. Damn.
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6/4/2017 - mdefreitas wrote: 88 Points
A serious tart, cranberry and granite infused wine, but the tannins are still quite prominent. Perhaps I should have decanted more. This could definitely evolve in the bottle as it was still quite youthful and fresh.
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4/28/2017 - ChrisWagner Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice.
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9/3/2016 - chcook Likes this wine:
PNP. Color dark ruby. Nose has sappy cranberry fruit. Palate on the light side with prominent structure. I don't think that the fruit will outlive the structure and don't intend to find out. Will drink remainder soon.
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5/25/2016 - thebonnydooner wrote: 88 Points
Bright and fresh still with nice acidity and nice medium weight cherry fruit.
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1/21/2016 - Sijan Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is just an excellent food wine with good acid and fresh fruit that can pair well with a wide variety of foods, including unusual or acidic foods, like corned beef.
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11/11/2015 - BenPL wrote: 85 Points
Good avec la raclette
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10/2/2015 - Troon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking very well right now. There is some minor notes of earth that you get from an aged wine now. This is an absolutely fantastic QPR. The fruit is still present, but it is well balanced. This was my last bottle, and I wish I had more. These wines are great with a few years on them.
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5/15/2015 - Brian Love wrote: 88 Points
Just meh. Not bad, not memorable. Presumably decent for the price.
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4/12/2015 - cse Likes this wine: 90 Points
needs time to open up but the nose, once open, is wondrous indeed. on the palate it never quite lives up to the soaring nose but i could spend all night with that nose...
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3/27/2015 - Surfdoc wrote: 89 Points
Bright cranberry flavor with a streak of minerality.
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1/24/2015 - tooch wrote: 90 Points
Lots of crunchy fruits and soil tones. Definitely needed a lot of air for the palate to open up. Filled up with raspberries, cranberries, and floral notes, this was a delightful Beaujolais.
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7/5/2014 - bhouk wrote:
Went great with a whole chicken on the Big Green Egg. Very bright and high-toned, crisp red fruit. I liked this from release, but it has really hit its stride.
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6/11/2014 - WestbyGod Likes this wine: 89 Points
Night 1 - PnP. Nice nose of crushed rose petals, red fruits and some earthiness. Same on palate with nice acid. Medium finish.
Night 2 after storing in fridge - Nose and palate substantially consistent to night 1. A bit shorter finish.
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5/15/2014 - MWes wrote:
Seems like it is in a bit of a muted phase; not really young and not really much 2ndary characteristics.
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2/3/2014 - cadamson Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ambassades is always good, and is always an excellent of what it means to speak of place. And, always a QPR. The minerality in the 2010 is striking. Almost as if the wine was stored in a quartz barrel.. stony red fruit, dusty in a way, great acidity. Years to go, but could drink this daily.
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12/7/2013 - bhouk wrote:
Less taut than a year ago, but still has great energy, and it has taken on some flesh that is supple but still close to the bone. I really couldn't ask for more out of a wine of this style, medium bodied, pleasantly acidic, brightly fruited, than this one delivers.
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10/13/2013 - cadamson Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice, though a few years too young, Dusty red raspberry fruit, lots of mineral character, lots of acidity. An excellent food wine.
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9/26/2013 - Squirreljam wrote:
Very nice, this wine seems to have tamed the beast a bit since my last bottle in Jan '12. Still really juicy for this cuvee, the raspberry soda I thought then too outgoing has nicely melded with the stones hiding in the background. Tonight, this was an excellent bottle, much preferred over the 09 I had a couple nights ago.
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9/2/2013 - linserge wrote:
whoa: acidic, tannic, cool, fruitless, and altogether undrinkable!
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7/21/2013 - klezman wrote:
Delicious. Brilliant acid, great flavour. Raspberry, herb, wet rock, incredible minerality. Been doing great and holding steady for a couple hours since opening. This should last a very long time if the acid is any indicator.
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2/19/2013 - marcp wrote: 75 Points
drank in early 2012 and was much better balanced. Most fruit has now faded in 2013. Wine is no longer balanced, fairly acidic.
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2/17/2013 - tarheel17 Likes this wine:
very crisp and mineralled, as expected.
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12/25/2012 - Colima74 wrote: 88 Points
LC guessed Burgundy, and not a bad guess. Gamay nose, medium light weight, a good food wine, but died by day 2. The remains will be added to the vinegar jar.
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12/12/2012 - eolesh wrote: 91 Points
Stony concrete and rasberrys. Very fresh with an acidity that pairs nicely with cheeses and other fatty foods.
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12/11/2012 - soyhead wrote: 89 Points
nose - raspberry, light red fruit
mouth - light red fruity, mainly sour cranberry, followed by good minerality and surprsingly present tannins on the finish. i agree with other reviewers that this is a very nice food wine
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12/4/2012 - tarheel17 Likes this wine: 88 Points
This appears rather reticent, with mostly mineral, rock, and some sour berry flavors. The finish is long, like a trek up a craggy clifff kind of long.
Certainly tasty, but too taut to relax into a completely pleasurable drink. I remember the 2005 version of this as my epiphany "Oh my god, Gamay can be amazing!" experience, and the 2009 was simply delicious. (The 2007 was mighty fine,too). In case you can't tell, this is one of my favorite wines of all time.
I think the 2010 may flesh out some, but I don't expect it to recreate past vintages. Its just a different beast, made almost entirely of granite. And that's OK with me.
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12/3/2012 - MWes Likes this wine: 88 Points
Not as enjoyable as the last bottle. I think it is in a bit of a muted phase right now.
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11/25/2012 - bhouk wrote:
Two bottles at Thanksgiving dinner with dad, Kim and Dave and the family. I love the tension in this wine. Bright mouthwatering acidity highlights tart strawberry and cranberry, which mellow with some time in the glass. Very definitely a wine that needs food to be at its best.
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10/24/2012 - MichaelMA wrote: 83 Points
Ugh. I had high hopes for this wine. When I opened it, it seemed to deliver, with bright strawberry and cherry scents. But the pallet was very unimpressive. The wine was thin and lacking in fruit. My wife also gave it a "meh." As the wine got more air, the fruit seemed to come and go. Maybe the wine is just in an awkward or dull stage right now. I guess I can wait and see on the other two bottles.
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8/31/2012 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
Tart cranberry mixed with ripe cherry and a chalky, stone dusted finish. High-toned, cool and quite poised. Very nice, but this is still a bit tightly coiled. I can see this improving with some time in the bottle.
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8/25/2012 - Sijan wrote:
Good fruit, high acid, light bodied. Best with food.
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8/6/2012 - Epic Tale wrote: 83 Points
3/18/13 - another bottle, opened a day ago - taste: like licking tart strawberry essence from a (very clean) rock, to paraphrase a previous review, and followed by a medium-length vegetal flinty finish; overall: while I respect that this pour may please other palates, it's not a style I favor
8/6/2012 - 86 points - color: bright raspberry x light purple -- nice! nose: faint floral and candy; taste: lean mouth feel, cranberry taste, medium-length finish consisting of tart apple and chalk; overall: balanced Old World pour, probably better served with food (smoked salmon or cheese?) than by itself -- but, ultimately, neither my style nor a great value ($19).
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8/1/2012 - bhouk wrote:
Very bright and primal, good lift, peach pit bitterness, a little wildness. Count me a fan.
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7/31/2012 - klezman Likes this wine:
Initially very closed aroma, but then the earth and raspberry became apparent. The palate was limestone, something vegetal (bell pepper?), and a hint of fruit. Seems to be the Garagiste style. The acid is brilliant. At one point I thought I caught a whiff of rose. This should last a long time.
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7/8/2012 - mmurry Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cherry and meat juice on the nose, with leather and pepper in the middle, and some raspberry and floral notes. Cherry and meat on the palate, with raspberry and pepper on the mid-palate, and a nice leather finish.
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7/7/2012 - Troon Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a fantastic wine, and you cannot beat the value at $20. I have tried this wine twice now, and I like it more each time. There's smoked meat and cherry on the nose. The palate is ripe fruit with good structure on the tannins. I am very happy I have two bottles left. I think there is definitely a few years left in this wine.
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7/6/2012 - 5laton wrote:
Very grapey with a forward, frooty 2009-like nose and some diacetyl notes. More taut and mineral on the palate, but I found this to be a bit too much for what I want from CdB. Hopefully it will calm down with another 6 months in bottle.
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6/15/2012 - tcufletch wrote: 91 Points
Similar to previous notes but more enjoyable. Previously, it took until day 2 to really evolve; tonight only a few hours open made this really nice.
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5/23/2012 - pifcho wrote: 92 Points
This is my favorite of the last three vintages of this wine. It has very fruit forward core that makes it wide appealing, yet retains all the stony minerality that gives it a ton of character. This is also the most Pinot like this cuvée has tasted to me, which also get a thumbs up. There is a lot of structure and some really fine tannins on the back end, which combined with excellent mid palate concentration should let this age for a long time.
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5/21/2012 - Pierre-Yves wrote: 83 Points
Mmm, not sure why it tasted so different from previous bottle. This time, it was a Brouilly in its simplest way. Fruity, but no backbone, devoid of any material.
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5/14/2012 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 91 Points
Killer high tones of crushed stone, pomegranate seed, sod mixed with blueberries, and pearlite. Really stunning aromas that are graceful, tactful, and classy. If this wine tasted like this it'd be 94 points. The palate is medium bodied with a lovely soft texture. Initially it's quite shut, but after 10 seconds in the mouth it begins expressing some brighter red fruits, crushed gravel, and tannins begin gripping. The finish is very tart, with high acid and deep diving minerality, showing hints of bright, light red fruits. The texture and creaminess here are even more intense than the 2009. A wonderful wine, on par with the previous vintage but a different expression for sure. This improved in the glass going on 15 minutes and approached 92, but then began to shut down after an hour or two and got closer 89. A very promising future is ahead of this one. Check in at 5 years.
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3/11/2012 - chcook wrote: 83 Points
Pretty sure I am not tasting the same wine as everyone else. Popped and poured. Acids were bracing, so decanted thru vinturi, then again then a third time. Color purplish ruby. Nose promises raspberry and a bit of meat. On palate there is the briefest glimpse of fruit on entry then the acids take over and overwhelm. like a sweet tart w/o the sweet. i am a beaujolais fan and really enjoyed the 09 but not so much the '10. Probably just me but this seems out of balance and light.
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2/20/2012 - Pierre-Yves wrote: 89 Points
Gouleyant definition: Fresh, nice to drink, light. I would add that goes well down the throat. That definition fits well this wine. Nice brouilly expression, a wine that you would want to share with friends, in a Paris bar.
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1/24/2012 - Squirreljam wrote: 89 Points
Wow, very different Ambassades this year. Was very fun to drink but, believe it or not for this normally taut bottling, too much raspberry soda on the front end. There is nice aciditiy in there but I do miss the normal dance of austerity and juice across the palate. I'll have another in 6 months or so and see what's happened.
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1/19/2012 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 93 Points
Seems to be a great vintage for Ambassades. Richly fruited by the standards of this cuvée, comparable to the 2009, which seems rare for the vintage. But it still has its usual fresh, crunchy mouthfeel and sprightly energy.
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1/16/2012 - Sennma wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Laser clear fruit with great acidity. Low abv 12.4 made this so easy to drink. Loved this wine.
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1/16/2012 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
I love this! Classic Cru Beaujolais with no hard edges and not too big or over ripe either. Classic! I like this better than the 08s and the 09s individually. Has the best combo of both vintages. More like 05 for me. Structured yet silky with great purity and balance. Cherry and minerally flavors.
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1/11/2012 - tcufletch wrote: 88 Points
Didn't really know what to expect from this as I haven't had many French wines and my last Beaujolais was Nouveau more than 10 years ago...but...this was very nice.
Day one was pop and pour. Nose had a little funk that blew off only slightly, but it didn't affect the taste or enjoyment. Very light in weight and color. Cranberry and cherries, gravel, dirt and fresh rain on the nose and the taste. Very smooth on the palate and throat. Enjoyed with pot pie soup and cheddar biscuits. Corked and left on the counter overnight. Day two was more of the same, but smoother and overall better. Really nice wine.
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1/9/2012 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. A light, lovely, gravelly, soily and cranberry-laced wine. Not quite the flesh of the 2009, a bit leaner and structured. This should be decanted longer or cellared for 4-5 years. On day 2 this did show a bit better; more integrated and giving.
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12/26/2011 - silton wrote:
Christmas Run; 12/24/2011-12/26/2011 (Around the Bay): Tangy cranberry, mineral, cherry, bark, fennel, earth, what you were hoping from this, 89+
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11/18/2011 - MWes wrote: 91 Points
Think Stonehenge covered in raspberry jam. Really blown away by this wine and had a hard time not drinking the whole bottle in 1 sitting.
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11/18/2011 - drinkfunkyanddance wrote:
Really nice, if not a little tight. Bright cranberry fruit, a little mineral and grip in the middle. It was very refreshing, too. This could use a year in the bottle or a good decant.
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10/28/2011 - vanpe003 wrote: 87 Points
Garigiste Test Drive - Fall 2011 (With Winex and WB add-ons): Pop/pour. This is a serious Beaujolais. On the nose, a bit of perfumed soap (Ivory) that is in no way meant as a negative. That fades relatively quickly and morphs into something more floral, in some ways similar to the Le Vilain P'tit also open. On the palate, surprising depth and complexity. A bit of meat/bacon in the background. Good balance/structure, both in terms of acidity and tannins, the latter of which are fairly forward at this point. Revisit remaining bottles starting 2013. I suspect this will improve considerably by then. Score based on current drinking, but I enjoy this wine more than that score might suggest.
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9/27/2011 - monist wrote: 84 Points
Just brought home; shaken up, but still quite drinkable. Grape-y, mineral-y, undertone of smokiness. Will add more when it opens up, if we make it that far....
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9/23/2011 - Ron Felthoven wrote: 92 Points
Wow. This was really an impressive, well balanced and complex wine. In the glass it reeked of minerals. I know that's vague and cliche but that's what stood out, along with black plum and some cherry. In my mouth the flavors were really all over the board, in a good way. Bright, fresh black and red berries, a big earthy component typical of gamay, but also an iodine, ash and saline component really filled this wine out. Tannins are smooth but pretty evident, and could soften a bit more. Great acid, too. A really great wine.
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8/30/2011 - Mike Ritner Likes this wine:
I have tried this several times, with one previous tasting note. Initially, in late spring, I had real doubts, but this stuff is growing on me. Give it a couple hours to breathe, and it turns from having an almost goofy quality to something increasing in complexity, with plenty of smoky spiciness, then moving on to a profund taste-sensation. It is a true quaffer; if you're not careful, the whole bottle will be gone before you realize it. This is definitely age-worthy; drink now or keep it for years.
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8/2/2011 - Personal Opinion wrote:
Needs at least 2 hours to open... Tasted over 12 hours... Dusty, ripe strawberry, soil, tobacco, dried flowers/grass/hay, mineral, and pepper on the nose... rather complex.. with a good balance of red fruit and earth notes... medium bodied, with juicy acid and apparent tannins showing through the medium-medium-plus finish.. structured to age... more open then 1 month ago... considering adding a couple more to my stash..
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7/25/2011 - joshwoodward wrote: 89 Points
Vanguard (Columbus, OH): Classic, creamy, red, not candied. $20
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7/3/2011 - Mike Ritner Likes this wine:
Light reddish-purple color. Leather, dirt, and dust appear first. Then comes a certain savory spiciness. Some fruit appears after a longer while; raspberries and cherries come to mind. It is lighter and leaner than the '09, not necessarily in a good way. But...giving it 2 hours + to decant, the wine really begins to bring the joy. I think the '09's have more aging potential (I'm betting four bottles on this), but nonetheless this wine is really enjoyable now, in the summertime lightly chilled. Considering how the '09 keeps evolving, this might not be the last word on this wine.
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6/22/2011 - Personal Opinion wrote:
Long decant. Refreshing, perfectly ripe strawberries mix with subtle notes of rose petal and a hint of something deeper and darker lurking under the surface... on the palate, iron and a chalky mineral flavors/textures mix with bright, red strawberry skin flavors and floral nuances of red and white roses... the finish is long and elegant, echoing the initial flavors... yet there is still something more intriguing... a dusting of powdery tannins stays on the tongue.. with pleasant, not searing acidity... refreshing, yet soft and friendly.. not overly complex, yet it draws me back for more... more expressive and focused on day 2... and of coarse, the last glass was the best!
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