Not pruney or raisined but quite dark-fruited with a sensation of grittiness to the fruit (not from sediment). Some tobacco family notes but they're pushed to the brown/dried end of the spectrum, not a trace of anything green here (alas). Soft tannins that enhance the mouthfeel but are no longer gripping or astringent. Hard to judge where this unusual vintage of Croix Boissée goes from here; it feels perhaps just slightly past peak, but will likely keep cruising for a long time and could surprise. I enjoyed this and was glad to experience it, but definitely okay that it was my only bottle; cooler vintage Grez is more my jam.
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Remarkable freshness and energy for very warm year. A success because they picked the fruit a bit later than others to insure that it was fully ripe and because of the limestone it wasn’t overly stressed unlike other cuvées. On the dark fruit spectrum, a bit of mushroom. After being open for an hour starts to show a touch of prune and to flatten out.
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CdV Malgré son millésime caniculaire, il est resté très chinon, très CF de garde, alliant maturité et fraicheur! Le nez très net, poivronnant, sur la fraise, les épices, le sous-bois et la mousse de chêne, évoque indéniablement plus Chinon que 2003: une gageure! Aucune trace de fatigue sur cette bouteille, il est dynamique, il a du peps et de la carrure!
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Totally clean, no Brett. Really shows the ripeness of the hot year, with its rich dark fruit and soft tannins and only a hint of green. There's good depth to the fruit overlying some niece earthy bite and a dark woodsiness. This is much more Bordeaux than Chinon in style, with less pyraziney funk, but I quite like it. Held up well over two days.
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My first Croix Boissée and somewhat disappointing. The initial impression is excellent, with a fresh, fruity attack of crushed strawberry that lingers and tickles the tongue, but there's no follow-up and no depth. The freshness of the fruit is very positive - I would never have guessed this was a 2003 - but it's a fairly simple wine which never moves out of second gear.
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Indianapolis III; 9/15/2017-9/17/2017 (Indianapolis, IN): To its credit, this wine shows none of the roastedness of the 2003 vintage at all, but instead shows a lushness of fruit that you just don't tend to find in Chinon. The fruit here is indeed quite nice, but I am not a very big fan of a somewhat tobacco-like harshness on the nose and palate. Fairly silky, but the ash on the back end adds a somewhat undesirable taste.
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This comes across a bit muddy and inarticulate, out of focus. Particularly on the nose. The palate shows some bright fruit and good acidity, and some pungency on the finish, but even still it is not a harmonious package. It is possible this bottle experienced a bit of heat damage?
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Still has a beautiful ruby robe. The palate has really come around in the last few years. This was never large scaled or over ripe in the manner of some 2003s, the terroir of Croix Boissée insured that, but it was a bit rough and tumble for a while. The fruit is joined by a whole melange of savory and herb notes, none too large or aggressive. The real signature is that chalky mineral red fruited finish. The fine grained tannin mixed with the minerals has a mouth watering effect. Sad that I'm down to just a couple of bottles. Great now but will surely hold and even improve for 5-10 more years.
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$14 Auction Bottles of 10 year old Chinon (Basement): This is drinking very young compared to the others of this vintage I've tried. Fruit is plush but very clean, secondaries in the form of ashy earth. Less rustic, more polished than most 2003 Chinon, but not quite elegant.
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richly fruited, restrained and focused which is no small feat, given the vintage, and not yet articulating itself clearly. i'd hold off for a few years more.
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Deep ruby core, medium pale ruby rim. Rich, pungent, intense nose showing ripe red cherry fruit, soil and a hint of chocolate. Full bodied on the palate, ripe rich red cherry fruit, spice, hints of soil and pencil shavings, very concentrated, rich and full yet with bright, crisp contrasting acidity. Very tannic though, and the tannins are still somewhat chewy especially on the good length finish, but this potentially has the fruit concentration to absorb over time. Remains a bit of a bruiser right now though. Leave at least 2-3 years before next bottle
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first night was a rather subdued nose with a mixture of deep dark fruit and vegetable garden.
2nd half of bottle, stored overnight in cellar. What a transformation! the nose sings with plums, currants, blueberry, tar and the vegetal aspects have taken a back seat. Bold, slightly fermented plums take center stage on the attack and this continued through the mid-palate and to the finish. I was totally taken aback by the metamorphosis of this wine. Enjoyed with lamb burgers, a good pairing.
VERY GOOD
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Drinking very nicely now. I know these wines aren't supposed to improve with age but it does seem to have gotten better in my cellar over the past two years.
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Another excellent bottle. Again, this is the best young example of this wine ever. Might not hit the heights of vintages before or after, but shows really well now.
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Wow, best young Croix Boisee I've ever had. Lots of fruit, minerals, a touch of wood spice and a long finish that gives the impression of a lot of depth. I'v enever had one show so well so young. I need to get some more of this.
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Deep ruby core, purple tints, narrow pale ruby rim. Intense nose with plum and red fruit notes. Showing some development with pencil shavings. On the palate this is medium + bodied with plenty of ripe tannins. There is very good depth here with plums and red cherries and mineral notes emerging on a long finish with lovely fresh acidity. Rich and powerful, but very well balanced. Still on the young side this should develop very nicely over at least the next 5-7 years. (Leave the next bottle at least 18 mths).
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Bought direct from the domaine, couldn't resist cracking the first bottle with a mixed barbecue whilst out there on holiday! This has a medium/deep ruby core and a narrow light ruby rim. Some signs of early development with medium + intense ripe blackcurrant and plums with some spice and vanilla. On the palate it is medium/full bodied with evident chalky tannins and medium + acidity. Good depth with plenty of blackcurrant and plums, with some spice and vanilla on a good length, slightly drying finish. This is an excellent wine with attractive fruit, already good complexity and lovely balance. Probably a bit too young to broach it will definitely improve over 5+ years as those tannins resolve and it becomes more complex.
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9/10/2023 - 5laton wrote:
Not pruney or raisined but quite dark-fruited with a sensation of grittiness to the fruit (not from sediment). Some tobacco family notes but they're pushed to the brown/dried end of the spectrum, not a trace of anything green here (alas). Soft tannins that enhance the mouthfeel but are no longer gripping or astringent. Hard to judge where this unusual vintage of Croix Boissée goes from here; it feels perhaps just slightly past peak, but will likely keep cruising for a long time and could surprise. I enjoyed this and was glad to experience it, but definitely okay that it was my only bottle; cooler vintage Grez is more my jam.
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4/1/2019 - LW31 Likes this wine:
Remarkable freshness and energy for very warm year. A success because they picked the fruit a bit later than others to insure that it was fully ripe and because of the limestone it wasn’t overly stressed unlike other cuvées. On the dark fruit spectrum, a bit of mushroom. After being open for an hour starts to show a touch of prune and to flatten out.
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12/7/2018 - coremill wrote: 91 Points
Another very good, clean bottle. Similar to my previous note.
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8/29/2018 - Raage Likes this wine: 92 Points
CdV
Malgré son millésime caniculaire, il est resté très chinon, très CF de garde, alliant maturité et fraicheur! Le nez très net, poivronnant, sur la fraise, les épices, le sous-bois et la mousse de chêne, évoque indéniablement plus Chinon que 2003: une gageure! Aucune trace de fatigue sur cette bouteille, il est dynamique, il a du peps et de la carrure!
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7/4/2018 - coremill wrote: 90 Points
Totally clean, no Brett. Really shows the ripeness of the hot year, with its rich dark fruit and soft tannins and only a hint of green. There's good depth to the fruit overlying some niece earthy bite and a dark woodsiness. This is much more Bordeaux than Chinon in style, with less pyraziney funk, but I quite like it. Held up well over two days.
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4/2/2018 - Julian Marshall wrote: 85 Points
My first Croix Boissée and somewhat disappointing. The initial impression is excellent, with a fresh, fruity attack of crushed strawberry that lingers and tickles the tongue, but there's no follow-up and no depth. The freshness of the fruit is very positive - I would never have guessed this was a 2003 - but it's a fairly simple wine which never moves out of second gear.
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9/15/2017 - acyso wrote: 85 Points
Indianapolis III; 9/15/2017-9/17/2017 (Indianapolis, IN): To its credit, this wine shows none of the roastedness of the 2003 vintage at all, but instead shows a lushness of fruit that you just don't tend to find in Chinon. The fruit here is indeed quite nice, but I am not a very big fan of a somewhat tobacco-like harshness on the nose and palate. Fairly silky, but the ash on the back end adds a somewhat undesirable taste.
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4/22/2016 - brooklynguy wrote:
This comes across a bit muddy and inarticulate, out of focus. Particularly on the nose. The palate shows some bright fruit and good acidity, and some pungency on the finish, but even still it is not a harmonious package. It is possible this bottle experienced a bit of heat damage?
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7/21/2015 - vulgar little monkey wrote: 94 Points
Still has a beautiful ruby robe. The palate has really come around in the last few years. This was never large scaled or over ripe in the manner of some 2003s, the terroir of Croix Boissée insured that, but it was a bit rough and tumble for a while. The fruit is joined by a whole melange of savory and herb notes, none too large or aggressive. The real signature is that chalky mineral red fruited finish. The fine grained tannin mixed with the minerals has a mouth watering effect. Sad that I'm down to just a couple of bottles. Great now but will surely hold and even improve for 5-10 more years.
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11/4/2012 - ianinvirginia wrote: 92 Points
$14 Auction Bottles of 10 year old Chinon (Basement): This is drinking very young compared to the others of this vintage I've tried. Fruit is plush but very clean, secondaries in the form of ashy earth. Less rustic, more polished than most 2003 Chinon, but not quite elegant.
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1/21/2011 - brooklynguy wrote:
richly fruited, restrained and focused which is no small feat, given the vintage, and not yet articulating itself clearly. i'd hold off for a few years more.
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5/1/2010 - Paul D wrote: 88 Points
Deep ruby core, medium pale ruby rim. Rich, pungent, intense nose showing ripe red cherry fruit, soil and a hint of chocolate. Full bodied on the palate, ripe rich red cherry fruit, spice, hints of soil and pencil shavings, very concentrated, rich and full yet with bright, crisp contrasting acidity. Very tannic though, and the tannins are still somewhat chewy especially on the good length finish, but this potentially has the fruit concentration to absorb over time. Remains a bit of a bruiser right now though. Leave at least 2-3 years before next bottle
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11/4/2009 - HenryW wrote: 88 Points
Reserved dark-fruited nose. Palate is earthy and tannic. Some stemmy qualities on the palate. Much better with food.
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5/10/2009 - chapel hill wino wrote:
first night was a rather subdued nose with a mixture of deep dark fruit and vegetable garden.
2nd half of bottle, stored overnight in cellar. What a transformation! the nose sings with plums, currants, blueberry, tar and the vegetal aspects have taken a back seat. Bold, slightly fermented plums take center stage on the attack and this continued through the mid-palate and to the finish. I was totally taken aback by the metamorphosis of this wine. Enjoyed with lamb burgers, a good pairing.
VERY GOOD
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4/19/2009 - Haggis wrote: 89 Points
Wonderful...medium-bodied with cherry, rhubarb, mineral, and just enough spice to pair nicely with some grilled steaks.
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2/13/2008 - rmpoole1 wrote: 88 Points
Drinking very nicely now. I know these wines aren't supposed to improve with age but it does seem to have gotten better in my cellar over the past two years.
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6/7/2007 - vulgar little monkey wrote: flawed
Corked.
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1/26/2007 - vulgar little monkey wrote:
Another great bottle. Really extraodinarily good for such a young wine.
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1/10/2007 - vulgar little monkey wrote:
Another excellent bottle. Again, this is the best young example of this wine ever. Might not hit the heights of vintages before or after, but shows really well now.
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9/19/2006 - vulgar little monkey wrote:
Wow, best young Croix Boisee I've ever had. Lots of fruit, minerals, a touch of wood spice and a long finish that gives the impression of a lot of depth. I'v enever had one show so well so young. I need to get some more of this.
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9/19/2006 - Paul D wrote: 89 Points
Deep ruby core, purple tints, narrow pale ruby rim.
Intense nose with plum and red fruit notes. Showing some development with pencil shavings.
On the palate this is medium + bodied with plenty of ripe tannins. There is very good depth here with plums and red cherries and mineral notes emerging on a long finish with lovely fresh acidity. Rich and powerful, but very well balanced.
Still on the young side this should develop very nicely over at least the next 5-7 years. (Leave the next bottle at least 18 mths).
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8/21/2005 - Paul D wrote: 89 Points
Bought direct from the domaine, couldn't resist cracking the first bottle with a mixed barbecue whilst out there on holiday! This has a medium/deep ruby core and a narrow light ruby rim. Some signs of early development with medium + intense ripe blackcurrant and plums with some spice and vanilla. On the palate it is medium/full bodied with evident chalky tannins and medium + acidity. Good depth with plenty of blackcurrant and plums, with some spice and vanilla on a good length, slightly drying finish.
This is an excellent wine with attractive fruit, already good complexity and lovely balance. Probably a bit too young to broach it will definitely improve over 5+ years as those tannins resolve and it becomes more complex.
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