Wow best Grange aux Belles I’ve tasted, ever. Superbly balanced. Medium Dark violet purple. Spicy, black raspberry meets black driveway asphalt in a really good way. Finish falls off but I enjoyed this bottle a lot.
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Super tasty 11 years in. Pencil lead, black tar macerated blackberries. But savory aromas and flavors far outweighing fruity flavors but in no manner a bad way. Tannins integrated but present. Alcohol is saying hello. Very happy with choosing to pull the cork tonight.
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Not much to say except that it's drinking well is very pleasurable. Had the other bottle nearly two years ago and this does not seem faded. Fully ripe fruit for Anjou.
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Good value. Opens with blue flowers, earthy, and mixed wild berry nose. This wine has a masculine feel. Darker in on the palate then I expected, possibly due to the unresolved alcohol notes. The finish is a bit short and just seems incomplete in a way. That being said I still like this wine and am always a big fan of the Loire.
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Classic Garagiste. Sappy, earthy, cherry, raspberry, and a streak of mineral tension to complete it. Not complex or with a hugely long finish, but a delicious honest wine that certainly has the yummy factor.
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No notes taken. Had with a group with lightly spiced citrus grilled chicken and it worked well. Pretty typical Cab Franc profile but fully ripe fruit for sure; nicely balances that ripe red fruit with acid and dusty tannins.
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Very pretty bright, dark purple. Nose is alcohol, cherries. Initial palate is sweet black cherry, with some very mild tannins. Eileen; "flowery". To me it is simply too sweet, with a short finish on opening. With a bit of time starts to open up with acidity developing, some red berry, dust, and mineral elements.
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In glass for 30 minutes. Aromas are gorgeous and juicy, much like the 2009 was shortly after release. I get tons of absolutely stunning slightly under ripe, fresh wild strawberries mixed with a sweet red bell pepper, thyme, crystalline honey, ash and minerality. Decadent and delicious, and the aromas are powerful and intoxicating (in a psychological sense) as the glass approaches the nose for a sip. I want my deserts to taste like this smells. The palate attacks with the red/green bell pepper, slight minerality, hints of that slightly green strawberry, and plenty of acid. Light bodied and dancing on the palate. Fresh acid and minerality on the finish, with fairly grippy, gritty tannins with consecutive sips. In 2010 this wine is like a combination of the juicy Cru Beaujolais and the greenness of a light Loire Cab Franc. Delicious stuff. The 2009 went down hill quickly, so I intend to drink my 9 bottles of the 2010 within a year or two, though I don't think it will improve at all in this time; it's peaking now, and likely to start a slow decline. 90-91 points.
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Barnyard and cherry on the nose, with some spice and crushed rock at the end. Soft and smooth on the palate, with lots of barnyard and minerals, some cherry on the mid-palate, and a nice spice finish.
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On first opening the nose has character of creamy currants, mineral and woodsy dry underbrush. The palate shows medium red notes of cranberry and woody brambles with a dry finish.
One hour later the nose is showing creamy vinegar, cranberry and brambles with a palate that is also showing cranberry along with notes of tobacco and a tart cedar finish.
One day later nose has character of cranberry and earthy brambles. The palate is also showing cranberry tartness and tobacco with a tart cedar dry finish that has the tobacco coming back again at the end.
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11/7/2022 - BillyOsh Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wow best Grange aux Belles I’ve tasted, ever. Superbly balanced. Medium Dark violet purple. Spicy, black raspberry meets black driveway asphalt in a really good way. Finish falls off but I enjoyed this bottle a lot.
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12/16/2021 - BillyOsh Likes this wine: 88 Points
Super tasty 11 years in. Pencil lead, black tar macerated blackberries. But savory aromas and flavors far outweighing fruity flavors but in no manner a bad way. Tannins integrated but present. Alcohol is saying hello. Very happy with choosing to pull the cork tonight.
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8/25/2017 - jmcmchi wrote: 86 Points
Quite a lot of sediment
Heavier than normal Loire cab f, high alcohol, unsubtle but still enjoyable food wine
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6/22/2015 - thebottleneck wrote:
Cuddly tannins
Big ole fruit - cheap lollipop in unmarked wrapper?
Very dry finish
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4/23/2015 - tward Likes this wine:
Not much to say except that it's drinking well is very pleasurable. Had the other bottle nearly two years ago and this does not seem faded. Fully ripe fruit for Anjou.
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11/18/2014 - brooklynwine wrote: 87 Points
Good value. Opens with blue flowers, earthy, and mixed wild berry nose. This wine has a masculine feel. Darker in on the palate then I expected, possibly due to the unresolved alcohol notes. The finish is a bit short and just seems incomplete in a way. That being said I still like this wine and am always a big fan of the Loire.
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10/14/2014 - klezman wrote:
Classic Garagiste. Sappy, earthy, cherry, raspberry, and a streak of mineral tension to complete it. Not complex or with a hugely long finish, but a delicious honest wine that certainly has the yummy factor.
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5/27/2014 - davidspieker wrote: 85 Points
Dark purple color. Cherry aroma and flavors with some mineral components. Fruit forward with some good acidity. Short finish.
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9/12/2013 - davidspieker wrote:
Served at a party and didn't get to taste it. Guests like it however, and drank it up.
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6/25/2013 - tward wrote:
No notes taken. Had with a group with lightly spiced citrus grilled chicken and it worked well. Pretty typical Cab Franc profile but fully ripe fruit for sure; nicely balances that ripe red fruit with acid and dusty tannins.
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3/2/2013 - klezman wrote:
Light, mineral, a bit of bright red fruit, and very nice to drink. Didn't go well with spicy sausage but did hang nicely with a few cheeses.
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7/29/2012 - Atwellian wrote: 84 Points
Very pretty bright, dark purple. Nose is alcohol, cherries. Initial palate is sweet black cherry, with some very mild tannins. Eileen; "flowery". To me it is simply too sweet, with a short finish on opening. With a bit of time starts to open up with acidity developing, some red berry, dust, and mineral elements.
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7/10/2012 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 90 Points
In glass for 30 minutes. Aromas are gorgeous and juicy, much like the 2009 was shortly after release. I get tons of absolutely stunning slightly under ripe, fresh wild strawberries mixed with a sweet red bell pepper, thyme, crystalline honey, ash and minerality. Decadent and delicious, and the aromas are powerful and intoxicating (in a psychological sense) as the glass approaches the nose for a sip. I want my deserts to taste like this smells. The palate attacks with the red/green bell pepper, slight minerality, hints of that slightly green strawberry, and plenty of acid. Light bodied and dancing on the palate. Fresh acid and minerality on the finish, with fairly grippy, gritty tannins with consecutive sips. In 2010 this wine is like a combination of the juicy Cru Beaujolais and the greenness of a light Loire Cab Franc. Delicious stuff. The 2009 went down hill quickly, so I intend to drink my 9 bottles of the 2010 within a year or two, though I don't think it will improve at all in this time; it's peaking now, and likely to start a slow decline. 90-91 points.
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6/24/2012 - mmurry Likes this wine: 88 Points
Barnyard and cherry on the nose, with some spice and crushed rock at the end. Soft and smooth on the palate, with lots of barnyard and minerals, some cherry on the mid-palate, and a nice spice finish.
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3/10/2012 - luchavino wrote: 85 Points
On first opening the nose has character of creamy currants, mineral and woodsy dry underbrush. The palate shows medium red notes of cranberry and woody brambles with a dry finish.
One hour later the nose is showing creamy vinegar, cranberry and brambles with a palate that is also showing cranberry along with notes of tobacco and a tart cedar finish.
One day later nose has character of cranberry and earthy brambles. The palate is also showing cranberry tartness and tobacco with a tart cedar dry finish that has the tobacco coming back again at the end.
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