Gang of 4 in Covid19 times; Bordeaux, St. Estephe (@ RW): Beautiful and deep bouquet with some stable and barnyard smells, dark berries and cigar box. On the palate dark berries, chocolate, tobacco, bell pepper and pleasant bitterness in the finish. Good acidity and the tannin still has a bite and is a bit drying.
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Fully mature, this is clearly a cabinet dominant wine. It is savoury and dark fruited with a touch of animale. With some time in the glass there is something herbaceous coming through, thyme I think. Palate is not the longest. More red fruits here maybe some cherry, also texturally less polished than an '01 I enjoyed a few weeks ago. Suspect will hold on for few years but in gentle decline.
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Wine is definitely past it’s peak however it showed remarkable beauty for its age in the first hour or so out of the bottle. Afterwards, the wine began to fade. In the feature I would just pour this wine out of the bottle and not decant it.
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good long cork, perfect level, colour still relatively youthful, very little brown at rim, nose fresh, lifted, mid-weight, cabernet dominant, quite fine, very nice, clearly northern left-bank, palate also of mid-weight, “lean and mean” but not in a negative sense, very dry, good length, spiciness to upper back palate, well made, good wine for the limitations of the vintage, true to its character, not what one would serve to convince a beginner in Bordeaux but for those who love the style, character and structure of Bordeaux and St Estephe in particular this is still a real pleasure to drink, enjoyed this and have no regrets I have a few more, good QPR
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Weekly tasting group #146; Bordeaux: Right bank or Left bank? (@ RW): Beautiful bouquet with cassis and other dark forest fruits and good oak. On the palate good cassis, some chocolate, vanilla and good acidity and tannin with still a pleasant bite. Ready now and no real hurry. Not one of the greatest, but certainly a very good effort for this off vintage. 89 - 90
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I don't know if it is really the wine or a very special memory I had with this one some years ago, when I drank it in a great moment I'll never forget.
However, good stuff. Very perfumed, a little bit aggressive, but at the same moment very silky with nice tannins. In the end perhaps a little light.
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This wine has not moved on that far since my last note nearly 3 years ago. 02's in general will hold a lot longer in my view than some reckon, and in the process should gain a gentle, old school warmth. Riper than most 1988's which have lasted pretty well. Expect delicacy and precision rather than power.
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Earthy, forest floor aroma at first. Opens to mild herb and dusty, cherryish Cabernet aromas. Some brick tones but wasn't over the hill. Lighter, elegant palate with very drinkable, moderately complex favors. Bought to drink Bordeaux now and thoroughly enjoyable. A bargain and arriving at its peak.
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Great berry nose. Good;, bright taste of berries and cocoa, slightly tannic but not to be bothersome. I prefer the 2000 or 2005, but this wasn't bad at alll. (and it didn't cost what a 2000 of 2005 costs, either.
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I'm not sure I get the St Estephe terroir on this yet, but only open 1/2 hour. I do get acceptably ripe cabernet nose, still primary to accompany the still almost bright to the rim, though not overly deep colour. It's lean and the acidity is there but it isn't scrawny. These 02's are so slow to develop and destination unknown, in my view. Certainly of the old school, in a clean rendition, rather than a "wow" wine.
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Dark color. Slight barnyard aromatic interest mixed with spice. Lack of body and short. Taste: mentholated cherries, blackberry, mixed with peppers and spice. Should be much better for a vineyard between Cos and Montrose. As it is, the 2nd wine of Cos is better than this. Why can't the Tesseron family work the same wonders they have worked at Pontet Canet here?
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St. Estèphe has been a favorite region of mine for quite some time. I find that the wines from that region have a distinct bit of funk on the nose that adds an extra level of complexity. This 02 Lafon-Rochet was no exception as it showed a big nose of cassis and that funky earthy element I love. Deep and dark in color, this wine seems to still be in it's early stages of development but has a nice amount of fruit and firm tannins that should carry well into the next decade.
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Light in weight and structure, but lovely ripe fruit, open nose; gets softness of 40% Merlot and depth from the Cabernets (bay leaf, lead pencil, minerals), good juicy fruit and velvety tannins; cherry finish.
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Decanted 2 hours, delicous cassis and easter lilly nose. Nice acidic balance that paired well with rouladen, dumplings and braised red cabbage. Wish I had more!
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1/4/2022 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Gang of 4 in Covid19 times; Bordeaux, St. Estephe (@ RW): Beautiful and deep bouquet with some stable and barnyard smells, dark berries and cigar box. On the palate dark berries, chocolate, tobacco, bell pepper and pleasant bitterness in the finish. Good acidity and the tannin still has a bite and is a bit drying.
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12/25/2021 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fully mature, this is clearly a cabinet dominant wine. It is savoury and dark fruited with a touch of animale. With some time in the glass there is something herbaceous coming through, thyme I think. Palate is not the longest. More red fruits here maybe some cherry, also texturally less polished than an '01 I enjoyed a few weeks ago. Suspect will hold on for few years but in gentle decline.
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12/5/2021 - WillRepstad Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wine is definitely past it’s peak however it showed remarkable beauty for its age in the first hour or so out of the bottle. Afterwards, the wine began to fade. In the feature I would just pour this wine out of the bottle and not decant it.
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6/8/2019 - red_man wrote: 87 Points
good long cork, perfect level, colour still relatively youthful, very little brown at rim, nose fresh, lifted, mid-weight, cabernet dominant, quite fine, very nice, clearly northern left-bank, palate also of mid-weight, “lean and mean” but not in a negative sense, very dry, good length, spiciness to upper back palate, well made, good wine for the limitations of the vintage, true to its character, not what one would serve to convince a beginner in Bordeaux but for those who love the style, character and structure of Bordeaux and St Estephe in particular this is still a real pleasure to drink, enjoyed this and have no regrets I have a few more, good QPR
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3/3/2019 - H.H. Likes this wine:
Zie boven.
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10/5/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 86 Points
Mature, medium bodied and showing a distinctive, olive, leaf, herb and cedar accent to the bright red berries, the wine is ready to go.
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12/24/2015 - SeedfamilyD Likes this wine: 84 Points
아직도 단단하다는 느낌, 향은 은은한 과일향, 색은 검붉지만 옅었으며, 팔럿에서 니끼는 타린감은 시간이 흐를수록 입안가득 조여주는, 늦은 가을 오래도록 읽지않은 감을 오래도록 씹었을 때와 같은 니낌. 셀러의 2012는 오래도록 묵혀야겠다는 생각
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12/9/2015 - ProfByron Likes this wine:
Nice cigar box and leather character, just what I was hoping for.
Very dry, touch green, in line with the vintage.
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11/15/2015 - winelover20 Likes this wine: 88 Points
A really beautiful nose with black berries as cassis. On the palate ready to drink, tannins are soft, but not really complex and rather short.
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10/30/2015 - twavering wrote:
Opened up after 15 minutes. Not a complex wines. Hints of cigar.a bit musty.
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12/8/2014 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Weekly tasting group #146; Bordeaux: Right bank or Left bank? (@ RW): Beautiful bouquet with cassis and other dark forest fruits and good oak. On the palate good cassis, some chocolate, vanilla and good acidity and tannin with still a pleasant bite. Ready now and no real hurry. Not one of the greatest, but certainly a very good effort for this off vintage. 89 - 90
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7/13/2014 - LIE-user wrote: 89 Points
I don't know if it is really the wine or a very special memory I had with this one some years ago, when I drank it in a great moment I'll never forget.
However, good stuff. Very perfumed, a little bit aggressive, but at the same moment very silky with nice tannins. In the end perhaps a little light.
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3/8/2014 - Whitelion Likes this wine: 89 Points
Full classic nose of horse stable with old prunes.... tight body.. lack of fruit... dried coffee/ choco after taste... nice full, dusty wine
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6/7/2013 - rwpalmer wrote: 88 Points
This wine has not moved on that far since my last note nearly 3 years ago. 02's in general will hold a lot longer in my view than some reckon, and in the process should gain a gentle, old school warmth. Riper than most 1988's which have lasted pretty well. Expect delicacy and precision rather than power.
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12/3/2012 - Winemaker51 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Earthy, forest floor aroma at first. Opens to mild herb and dusty, cherryish Cabernet aromas. Some brick tones but wasn't over the hill. Lighter, elegant palate with very drinkable, moderately complex favors. Bought to drink Bordeaux now and thoroughly enjoyable. A bargain and arriving at its peak.
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3/17/2012 - henkvanl wrote: 85 Points
Food nose, berries and wood. Spicy. Still a lot of tannins, sticks to the teeth. Not much on aftertaste.
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6/26/2011 - franco rosso wrote: 90 Points
Great berry nose. Good;, bright taste of berries and cocoa, slightly tannic but not to be bothersome. I prefer the 2000 or 2005, but this wasn't bad at alll. (and it didn't cost what a 2000 of 2005 costs, either.
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3/5/2011 - Sbolger wrote: 88 Points
Peaking. Good depth and structure. Fruit a bit muted but perfect with the braised lamb it was served up with at dinner.
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12/26/2010 - EGunderson wrote: 84 Points
Not a ton going on with this wine, decent daily drinker, that's about it.
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10/8/2010 - rwpalmer wrote: 88 Points
I'm not sure I get the St Estephe terroir on this yet, but only open 1/2 hour. I do get acceptably ripe cabernet nose, still primary to accompany the still almost bright to the rim, though not overly deep colour. It's lean and the acidity is there but it isn't scrawny. These 02's are so slow to develop and destination unknown, in my view. Certainly of the old school, in a clean rendition, rather than a "wow" wine.
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7/29/2010 - slaughterer wrote: 87 Points
Dark color. Slight barnyard aromatic interest mixed with spice. Lack of body and short. Taste: mentholated cherries, blackberry, mixed with peppers and spice. Should be much better for a vineyard between Cos and Montrose. As it is, the 2nd wine of Cos is better than this. Why can't the Tesseron family work the same wonders they have worked at Pontet Canet here?
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7/3/2010 - Rob MacKay wrote: 89 Points
St. Estèphe has been a favorite region of mine for quite some time. I find that the wines from that region have a distinct bit of funk on the nose that adds an extra level of complexity. This 02 Lafon-Rochet was no exception as it showed a big nose of cassis and that funky earthy element I love. Deep and dark in color, this wine seems to still be in it's early stages of development but has a nice amount of fruit and firm tannins that should carry well into the next decade.
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1/15/2010 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 89 Points
Light in weight and structure, but lovely ripe fruit, open nose; gets softness of 40% Merlot and depth from the Cabernets (bay leaf, lead pencil, minerals), good juicy fruit and velvety tannins; cherry finish.
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12/25/2009 - Wolfgang wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 2 hours, delicous cassis and easter lilly nose. Nice acidic balance that paired well with rouladen, dumplings and braised red cabbage. Wish I had more!
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3/3/2009 - Gob wrote: 89 Points
Very dark and concentrated, lots of fruit, although quick to finish, perfectly functional wine with food, good value
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6/1/2007 - DavidK wrote: 86 Points
Closed, all the way. Still, it's pretty clear there's a LOT of Bordeaux hiding in this one. 16,5/20 for now, with some good upward potential.
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