This has really just hit prime time for drinking. I know it seems counter-intuitive to hold a $15 wine for ten years, but here is your perfect example of when it works. The tannins have finally mellowed into the overall mix, creating a nice plush delivery of the fruit that's been in hiding all this time. Kudos to those that have had the patience to hold these. I probably spent more on storage fees for these bottles than they actually cost, but it was worth the wait. 5+10+16+8= 89
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I opened a bottle a few years back, and it was great, so I was looking forward to the next bottle. Finally had a chance to dig into it, and it was wonderful.
Deep, dark currants with hints of leather. It still was lightly tannic. It was one of the two hits for the night out of 5 wines.
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Still needs a few hours of air for the fruit to really show, but this has just gotten better with each bottle opened. Just now hitting its prime drinking window, despite what the CT average says.
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The question is whether the tannins will resolve before the fruit dies
Lovely nose with huge oak impact. Dark fruit, astringent permeating tannins. Split bottle between glass and coq au vin. Much more successful in coq au vin
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Better than the first bottle and it didn't take as long to open up. A simple and pleasant Bordeaux with a mild bouquet, still holding some firm tannins and generous acidity. Probably just entering its peak window. 4+9+16+7= 86
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Very dark plum color, almost fully opaque with slow, lightly-tinted legs and modest sediment. Light aroma that includes dark berry compote, simple florals, and a little earthy rubber eraser and lacquer. Very tart, almost bitter, on the palate for the first several hours open. Second day was much rounder and balanced. It is what it is: a decent, basic $14 Bdx that does much better with food than on its own. Today, after a day open, it is a great match to my pastrami sandwich and fries. 4+9+14+7= 84
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The 5th of 6 bottles, I have liked them all, this bottle was maybe less taut and acidic, but the primary flavors of graphite and cool blue fruits were well balanced, the tannins were very fine-grained, and this is very enjoyable. As Pinotage-Weetree says, will go great with steak/beef.
If only all wines were this consistent bottle to bottle.
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Much better than my first bottle 3 years ago. All the rough edges gone. Smooth cherry/berry flavors mesh around a nicely medium body. Very well balanced. Nothing out of place. Good extraction. Decent length. This baby is peaking and goes great with steak. Also tastes delicious alone. A fantastic $14 bottle of Bordeaux. Bottoms up!
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A little unbalanced on the first day. Too acidic and the tannins were too forward. On the second day the traditional Cabernet profile started showing. Would probably be best on the third day but it didn't last that long.
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I opened this last night based on the notes here. I love how understated this wine is. And that is high compliment. Low alcohol, nice integrated tannins and fruit that takes a side seat to the terroir of Classic Bordeaux. After an hour of prep (and breathing) - chicken tagine, over Sardinian cous cous - I was impressed by how a seemingly "pedestrian" Bordeaux tied the dinner together. At this price it's hard to beat but I don't know how much age is in the bottle. Very very good.
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Dark but bright fruit and medium bodied, this has a good bit of acidity, smooth dry tannins and some cab franc green to keep it interesting. Probably best with food.
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Really nice for the price. Better than most stuff twice the price. Decanted 3-4 hours and served at 60 degrees. Tannins modest but there. Some acidity, more than typical Bordeaux. Fruit increasingly evident as approach the finish. I like this more than most 2009 Bordeaux which I have generally not enjoyed.
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Really nice for the price, PnP and initially it showed good acidity and overall balance, I wondered whether it had much exposure to oak at all, the tannins were there but they were quite subtle, initially the fruit was a bit muted but over the next 2 hours it did open up and show some restrained black fruits.
I would decant for 1-2 hours to drink this at its best, but it is ready to drink now IMO, tannins are already so subdued that this is only going to go soft and flabby with more time.
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Opened this bottle at the end of a long evening after several great bottles. Crisp and tight initially, but opened up slightly over the next hour. Floral with darker fruits. Bitter chocolate. Appreciable acids. Just why I like Garagiste.
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Glass decanted about 2 hours. Cherry and raspberry on the nose, along with chocolate and leather, and some spice at the end. Raspberry and chocolate on the palate, plus some cherry and leather on the mid-palate, and some spice on the finish.
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Fairly deep red. Red fruit, mineral on the nose. Medium mouthfeel with some oak/tannins (smooth) and stone on the palate. Complexities - spice, something else. Rather drying in the mouth and long dusty finish.
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Delicious, subdued wine. Silky mouthfeel. Deep garnet in color. Red fruit, great minerality, fine tannins, and whiff of menthol. A little bit of creamy chocolate in the finish.
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An enjoyable wine, although the fruit does remain somewhat hidden. What emerges is tobacco, a hint of chocolate, pepper, and some still-raspy tannins. Could use some time still, but good with food now.
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This wine benefited from airing...it was much better on Day 3 than on Day 1. Plenty of structure and acidity, but not much fruit ever emerged, though it evolved and was much better over time. We drank this as a stand-alone, but its a better fit with food. Most of the fruit could be hiding, it may not be present...time will tell.
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5/28/2023 - chifred wrote:
a little past prime, not bad
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2/19/2021 - sababa1022 Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Sour. Yuck. Waited too long.
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9/20/2020 - nicefish Likes this wine: 86 Points
Past it’s prime.
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1/2/2020 - peter_cellars Likes this wine: 88 Points
Simple, but good QPR. Let open for 45 minutes to an hour. Baked fruit, a little menthol and leather. Should be good for a few more years.
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7/5/2019 - fingers wrote: 88 Points
Very good again. Though I was wanting for a little more depth and concentration out of this bottle compared to two months ago. 5+10+15+8= 88
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5/8/2019 - fingers Likes this wine: 89 Points
This has really just hit prime time for drinking. I know it seems counter-intuitive to hold a $15 wine for ten years, but here is your perfect example of when it works. The tannins have finally mellowed into the overall mix, creating a nice plush delivery of the fruit that's been in hiding all this time. Kudos to those that have had the patience to hold these. I probably spent more on storage fees for these bottles than they actually cost, but it was worth the wait. 5+10+16+8= 89
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10/15/2018 - TowerCellar Likes this wine: 89 Points
I opened a bottle a few years back, and it was great, so I was looking forward to the next bottle. Finally had a chance to dig into it, and it was wonderful.
Deep, dark currants with hints of leather. It still was lightly tannic. It was one of the two hits for the night out of 5 wines.
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12/29/2017 - fingers Likes this wine:
Still needs a few hours of air for the fruit to really show, but this has just gotten better with each bottle opened. Just now hitting its prime drinking window, despite what the CT average says.
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10/30/2017 - BHP1994 wrote: 87 Points
Last bottle. On the decline now, but for $14 this was more than decent stuff.
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8/5/2017 - jmcmchi wrote: 84 Points
The question is whether the tannins will resolve before the fruit dies
Lovely nose with huge oak impact. Dark fruit, astringent permeating tannins.
Split bottle between glass and coq au vin. Much more successful in coq au vin
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5/13/2017 - OldwineinVT Likes this wine: 86 Points
Garagiste selection
Color: dark purple with great legs
Nose: medium intensity; somewhat closed initially, but opened with decanting. Attractive aromas of red fruits and berries, especially raspberries.
Body/flavor; medium body; nice rounded flavors but nothing distinguished.
Aftertaste: short finish
Enjoyable everyday drinking wine. Important to decant -- considerable sediment.
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1/20/2017 - fingers Likes this wine: 86 Points
Better than the first bottle and it didn't take as long to open up.
A simple and pleasant Bordeaux with a mild bouquet, still holding some firm tannins and generous acidity. Probably just entering its peak window. 4+9+16+7= 86
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1/8/2017 - mwkoehler Does not like this wine:
Either it was never good or its past it's prime years
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12/29/2016 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nicely balanced and smooth
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8/31/2016 - fingers wrote: 84 Points
Very dark plum color, almost fully opaque with slow, lightly-tinted legs and modest sediment. Light aroma that includes dark berry compote, simple florals, and a little earthy rubber eraser and lacquer. Very tart, almost bitter, on the palate for the first several hours open. Second day was much rounder and balanced. It is what it is: a decent, basic $14 Bdx that does much better with food than on its own. Today, after a day open, it is a great match to my pastrami sandwich and fries. 4+9+14+7= 84
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4/6/2016 - thebonnydooner wrote: 88 Points
Very tasty mid week wine. Nice fresh earthy fruit with a long smooth finish. Not hugely complex or concentrated, but very nice food wine.
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10/26/2015 - corkcork wrote: 89 Points
very pleasant
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10/14/2015 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice balance, with reasonable fruit and not too many tannins
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8/2/2015 - thebonnydooner wrote: 88 Points
Very tasty for a $14 bordeaux, nicely full bodied with ripe tannins and nice eathy character.
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7/18/2015 - tward Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tannins are smooth at this point, just enough fruit, balanced, pairs well with beef, a flat out delight to drink that is clearly Bordeaux on the nose.
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5/26/2015 - Pdxwinegeek Likes this wine: 89 Points
The 5th of 6 bottles, I have liked them all, this bottle was maybe less taut and acidic, but the primary flavors of graphite and cool blue fruits were well balanced, the tannins were very fine-grained, and this is very enjoyable. As Pinotage-Weetree says, will go great with steak/beef.
If only all wines were this consistent bottle to bottle.
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3/28/2015 - PinotAge-Weetree Likes this wine: 91 Points
Much better than my first bottle 3 years ago. All the rough edges gone. Smooth cherry/berry flavors mesh around a nicely medium body. Very well balanced. Nothing out of place. Good extraction. Decent length. This baby is peaking and goes great with steak. Also tastes delicious alone. A fantastic $14 bottle of Bordeaux. Bottoms up!
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1/6/2015 - burr Likes this wine: 89 Points
relatively linear, but tasty. currant, graphite, moderate tannins. A good choice for a tuesday night wine.
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10/4/2014 - pdxwineguy wrote: 85 Points
A little unbalanced on the first day. Too acidic and the tannins were too forward. On the second day the traditional Cabernet profile started showing. Would probably be best on the third day but it didn't last that long.
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9/19/2014 - Ideasthatstick Likes this wine:
I opened this last night based on the notes here. I love how understated this wine is. And that is high compliment. Low alcohol, nice integrated tannins and fruit that takes a side seat to the terroir of Classic Bordeaux. After an hour of prep (and breathing) - chicken tagine, over Sardinian cous cous - I was impressed by how a seemingly "pedestrian" Bordeaux tied the dinner together. At this price it's hard to beat but I don't know how much age is in the bottle. Very very good.
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9/8/2014 - paulf992 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Enjoyable wine. Well balanced tannins medium body.
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1/5/2014 - jrlitt Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very nice wine for the price. Not too complex, but smooth tannins and very drinkable.
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12/1/2013 - Francophile Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice balance
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6/17/2013 - krmcgrath wrote: 88 Points
Dark but bright fruit and medium bodied, this has a good bit of acidity, smooth dry tannins and some cab franc green to keep it interesting. Probably best with food.
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5/9/2013 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 81 Points
Meh. Garagiste.
3 on the AF scale.
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4/23/2013 - Pdxwinegeek wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with prior note. When served at cellar temp as a PnP, this is actually refreshing with the dark fruit, acids and tannins all in balance.
Balance is the key word. It even has some sense of extract and length, although you will not mistake it for the better of the Classed growths.
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4/13/2013 - fournet wrote: 87 Points
Really nice for the price. Better than most stuff twice the price. Decanted 3-4 hours and served at 60 degrees. Tannins modest but there. Some acidity, more than typical Bordeaux. Fruit increasingly evident as approach the finish. I like this more than most 2009 Bordeaux which I have generally not enjoyed.
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3/23/2013 - BHP1994 wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with previous notes.
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3/5/2013 - Pdxwinegeek wrote: 89 Points
Really nice for the price, PnP and initially it showed good acidity and overall balance, I wondered whether it had much exposure to oak at all, the tannins were there but they were quite subtle, initially the fruit was a bit muted but over the next 2 hours it did open up and show some restrained black fruits.
I would decant for 1-2 hours to drink this at its best, but it is ready to drink now IMO, tannins are already so subdued that this is only going to go soft and flabby with more time.
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2/1/2013 - Easter Everywhere wrote:
red fruit, flowers, gritty tannins, firm acid, bright simple
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12/28/2012 - BHP1994 wrote: 88 Points
Opened this bottle at the end of a long evening after several great bottles. Crisp and tight initially, but opened up slightly over the next hour. Floral with darker fruits. Bitter chocolate. Appreciable acids. Just why I like Garagiste.
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11/15/2012 - Ron Felthoven wrote:
drank over 3 days. Still pretty tight but a nice, honest wine. Just what I was craving. Decant for sure.
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11/2/2012 - urbanfarmer9@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
Drinking better. Still not what one expects from 2009 B/x.
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9/10/2012 - urbanfarmer9@gmail.com wrote: 85 Points
Very tight. Decanted 1 hr.; probably not enough
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5/14/2012 - mmurry Likes this wine: 90 Points
Glass decanted about 2 hours. Cherry and raspberry on the nose, along with chocolate and leather, and some spice at the end. Raspberry and chocolate on the palate, plus some cherry and leather on the mid-palate, and some spice on the finish.
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4/21/2012 - maxmanx wrote:
Need significant decanting. 1 hour was not enough.
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4/14/2012 - chifred wrote: 89 Points
Fairly deep red. Red fruit, mineral on the nose. Medium mouthfeel with some oak/tannins (smooth) and stone on the palate. Complexities - spice, something else. Rather drying in the mouth and long dusty finish.
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4/7/2012 - chifred wrote: 88 Points
(from memory 1 week ago) I liked it. Nice pleasing classic Bordeaux. Will take notes on the next bottle!
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4/1/2012 - Easter Everywhere wrote:
Primary, simple, decent
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2/28/2012 - burr wrote: 92 Points
Delicious, subdued wine. Silky mouthfeel. Deep garnet in color. Red fruit, great minerality, fine tannins, and whiff of menthol. A little bit of creamy chocolate in the finish.
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2/12/2012 - thirstygecko wrote: 88 Points
An enjoyable wine, although the fruit does remain somewhat hidden. What emerges is tobacco, a hint of chocolate, pepper, and some still-raspy tannins. Could use some time still, but good with food now.
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11/3/2011 - pizzler wrote: 85 Points
This wine benefited from airing...it was much better on Day 3 than on Day 1. Plenty of structure and acidity, but not much fruit ever emerged, though it evolved and was much better over time. We drank this as a stand-alone, but its a better fit with food. Most of the fruit could be hiding, it may not be present...time will tell.
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