Fantastic as always!! Dark red color. Cedar, earth, and cherries on the nose. Lovely texture with a subtle sweetness I haven’t experienced before but was nice. Complex and high quality. Loved it!
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Very consistent wine! PnP. Medium red color. Barnyard nose, which is this wine’s distinguishing characteristic. Good depth and medium plus finish. Nice texture and very complex on the palate. More tannic than I remember. Love it!
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Dark ruby garnet. My first impression of this wine is how shy and retiring it is. Dark salty fruit on the palate with a strong acid frame, strong tannins, smooth with underlying grittiness. Then the nose begins to emerge with red and dark berries, coffee, roses, and dry heath. In the end such a beautiful balanced wine with great density and character.
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Clear medium red. Medium intense nose, showing some development, berry, cassis, some earthiness and a bit of leather. Delicious dry berry and cherry flavours and a nice balanced finish.
Probably too soon to really enjoy, needs 5 more years.
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Dark garnet. Shy aromas of dark fruit, earth, roses. Bright red cherries on the palate, sweet aromatic back notes, delicious acids descending onto a firm well-integrated' tannic base. Like a Cezanne in its blocky arrangement of elements on the palate. Balanced, cheerful, expressive of a late summer afternoon under the Mediterranean sun. Evocative. 92+
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Young, bridging between primary and secondary, but quite beautiful. The nose explodes with bramble, smoke, and stunningly clear notes of lavender. The palate is a kaleidoscope, brooding dark and black-fruited at first, then exploding with juicy, tart cranberry, tight red fruits, and finishing with salty, powerful, tooth coating tannins and minerality. It is juicy and welcoming enough at first, but after spending an evening studying it, there is no doubt, it is at least a decade away if not more.
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Clear, light ruby. Light green tones. Medium weight. Juicy blueberry and licorice with excellent acidity and a strong mineral element. Cleaner than I recall. Terrific basic Tempier that may be just shy of full maturity.
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Even better than the last time a few years back. Super lovely stuff here. Good balance, length and acidity. Nice level of tannin. Wet forest floor, cedar and berry.
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Opened this two days ahead of drinking, which was a good idea. Still v. young, but enjoyable: deep and rich, with good balance and structure. A wine of substance.
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A blend of mainly Mourvèdre (75%), some Cinsaut and Grenache and small amounts of Carignan and Syrah. Fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in concrete tanks. Macerated with the skins for 3-4 weeks. Aged for 18 months in large oak foudres. 14,5% alcohol.
Somewhat translucent dried-blood color with a little bit of developed rusty hue and a pale, pinkish rim. The nose feels big, vibrant and brooding yet perfumed with sweet-toned aromas of ripe plums, some salmiac powder, a little bit of sweet blueberry, light leathery tones, a floral hint of violets and a smoky touch of roasted game. The wine is dense, powerful and savory on the palate with rich, intense flavors of meaty umami, juicy blackberries, some fresh boysenberries, a little bit of savory, earthy spices and garrigue, funky hints of leather and farmyard and a touch of sweet bilberries. Lots of everything. The wine is impressively structured with its high acidity and ripe, firm and textural tannins that slowly pile up on the gums. Very harmonious overall feel. The long finish is avory, slightly warm and gently yet firmly tannic with rather powerful flavors of ripe dark fruits, gamey meat, some gravelly minerality, a little bit of astringent chokeberry, light umami tones, a hint of salty liquorice and a touch of brambly blackberry.
Holy moly what a Bandol. Although there were lots of great, aged Bandols in this tasting, this wine managed to hit the spot of my WotN. Lost of everything, yet nothing in excess. The intensity here is wonderful, yet not over-the-top. Layers upon layers of flavors and impeccably balanced, still quite tightly-knit structure. Very textural, savory and complex overall feel with a rather dominant umami character. Drinking beautifully now, but I have no doubts this will continue to improve years more. Managed to eclipse even Tempier Cabassaou 2008 that was tasted alongside this wine. Not cheap at 34,50€, but delivers for the price and more. Very highly recommended.
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Merry Christmas!! 45+ minute decant. Medium purple color. Cedar, oak, aluminum, and pencil shavings on a great nose! Thick wine with dark fruit. Flavors that match the nose with some added earthy tones. Medium plus finish. Classic French wine and one of my all time favorites!!
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Some wines taste a little better the next day. Maybe a few points better. The difference with this bottle was amazing. We almost poured this out two nights ago. Opened something else last night because we had guests. Tonight, this same (two day opened) bottle of bandol is exceptional considering our first impression. Fruity, raspberry, blackberry, dry finish. Just what I was expecting the first night. Unsure how to rate it point wise. So no rating.
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Consistent with previous notes from last summer, only more accessible. Blueberries, plums, moldy cheese, and garrigue are sorting themselves out on the palate. Smooth, balanced, and textured. This will gain complexity for many years to come. Drink now-2030. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 92.
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I love this wine! Probably my favorite for so many reasons! Barnyard, mud, cow shit, and French oak on the nose. Tobacco, smoke, tar, and dirt on the palate. If I had to nitpick, the finish could be longer. I now agree with something I read in a book today. Your favorite wine doesn't have to be the one with your highest rating!
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Deep ruby. Exuberant blueberry and some Mourvèdre funk. Rich, lush, and chocolatey. Just beautiful depth of fruit with spice, excellent balance, and early complexity. Very enjoyable now.
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Accessible but took a few hours to fully open up and reveal the depth of fruit on the mid-palate. Candied cherries and garrigue on the nose with ripe blueberries, tar, blackberries, plums, and herbs into the finish. The tail is still very tight and tannic. Overall, compact, but showing enough flesh and fruit to be enjoyable. Drink through 2030. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 91.
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Deep almost opaque ruby. Assertive, wild nose of garrigue, blueberry, and some animal scents. Medium weight, quite structured and tannic, but excellent blue/black fruit and minerality. This hasn't really budged in a couple of years. Patience still required.
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Wow! This wine was great without age and decanting, but with it is insane! Great nose that puts you in the heart of French wine country, with the perfect balance of dark cherry, blackberry, tar, tobacco, and earth! The finish seems to never end. This wine is so special and refined!!
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Light ruby red. Hints of field greens and spices. On the palate very light and refreshing with a nice tasty tartiness. Finish is easy and smooth. Unlike anything I have drank before - my first Bandol. Really enjoyable, great crisp fruit and easy to drink will be food friendly with chicken fajitas.
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No notes but a welcome partner to my wife's beef bourguignon dish (actually, it's Julia Child's recipe). Dark fruit, herbs and light spice, earthy, drying. I would decant longer (at least three hours) or keep on the shelf a couple more years.
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Nose: Leather, blackberry, plum, cherries, and clove. Classic Mourvedre nose. Palate: Vibrant and energetic. Dust, cinnamon, leather, and plum give way to herbs, coffee, and underbrush. Beautiful mouth drying tannins are countered by acidity. Well structured, but drinking so well right now.
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On the nose, violets, cherries, river rock, and iron. Deeply penetrating concentration of dark fruit on the palate, with a perfectly aligned acid frame, aromatic back notes with a long emotional finish. Gorgeous, luscious, perfect companion to a rich beef bourgignon. 50 + 17 + 17 + 8.
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One of my favorites, well, Bandol in general. However, I really enjoyed this wine yesterday afternoon with some "stinky" cheese and some fatty sliced meats. A lovely deep purple color with nice legs. Immediate deep aroma that is quintessential Mourvedre along with meat, tobacco, smoke, mocha, earth, floral notes.
I let it open (in bottle) for a good hour because it was still a bit tight and tannic. A classy, old-school wine to be sure.
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Pop and poured. From half bottle. In Presidential Apartments. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purple colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of smoked meat, leather, earth, garrigue, freshly cracked white pepper, sweet spices. Developing. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), rich grippy tongue-coating high tannins, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet ripe dark red plums, black cherries, meat, leather, earth, garrigue, white pepper spice. Long finish. Very good quality. Not integrated yet but definitely not a sin to drink now! Half bottle so may have been a bit more accessible. So delightful. Upside for the future. Re-explore again in 4-5 years. Tempier single-handedly makes me want to put down Bandol as one of my favourite regions beside Barolo & Burgundy. And this is only the entry level basic Bandol!
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Balancing out nicely since my last bottle a few years ago, especially the finish. Otherwise, consistent with my previous tasting, except more dark plums and even blackberries emerge. Took about an hour to open up and paired nicely with roasted chicken on a hot summer evening.
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London lunch 34: Elegance and balance not found in other southern wines Wood spice dominating some but all else balanced behind; dark fruits alive and wild within limits. I assume the other cuvees are more complete but this one is a great wine as well.
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Trop jeune, mais j'ai laissé mon père fouiller dans le cellier. Carafe 1hre. Première expérience pour moi. Robe très sombre violacée. Nez plus discret que mes attentes sur le cuir, le café, fruits noirs. Bouche de texture très soyeuse, fruits noirs surtout. Bois présent mais bien intégré. Tous ont aimé, mais trop jeune à mon avis. Besoin encore minimum 3-6 ans.
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Med+ intensity on the nose, notes of smoke, black pepper, meaty. Palate is dry, med+ acid, high tannin, full body, high alcohol, med+ intensity. Notes of black fruits, blueberry, blackberry. Smoke, meat, earthy, cinnamon, herbaceous. Very good, balanced structure, good concentration, complexity.
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Wow. Really lovely color (purplish) and legs, with a wonderful deep and seductive nose of dark fruit. I agree with other reviewers who note blackberry / black currant / rhubarb tart or cobbler (sweet) both on nose and palate. Would decant 30 mins minimum because it seems still tight and tannic. Could age more. Nice finish. Lovely, classy stuff. Needs some firm food to go with it. Grade: A-.
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Overall excellent! Nose: licorice, blackberry or blueberry cobbler; taste: consistent woth the nose, licorice, blackberry /blueberry cobbler, some tannins, oak is there but not overdone. Took a little time to open, probably has several years left, a very nice wine. We paired at a restaurant with pan seared duck breast (with shaved fennel and a mustard sauce) and grilled lamb steak and worked with both.
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- Ruby color with slow forming legs and aromas of coffee, smokey, cherry, blackberry and tobacco. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry, blackberry and black currant with a medium/full body. Round texture with a long finish - Decanted 2 hours. blueberry pie finish.
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At Petit Louis with duck leg confit. A perfect match for the greasy and delicious dish. Dark in color and with unctuous dark roasted fruit. Could use several years of aging but drinks well now. A little closed in the nose.
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Bandols (Trent's): This also had a slight Mourvedre stink on the nose especially with air. Dried cherries on the nose. The palate seems surprisingly accessible to me. Juicy acidity. Cherry fruit. Nice finish. This is drinking well right now. I liked it far more than the group though.
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Decanted and poured this bottle gave another excellent showing. On this occasion the wine begins somewhat reserved and required airing to give its best showing.
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Pre-Holiday Magnum Celebration (Dig Wines, San Francisco): Magnum. Dark ruby. More barnyard than I recall. Deep blackberry confit and licorice. Generous, lush feel and full body without overripeness. Moderately tannic. More closed than last time.
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WSET Level 4 Course - WSET School; 9/6/2014-5/23/2015 (WSET School, Bermondsey): Appearance: The wine is Clear with a Deep ruby colour. It is edging purple Nose: The nose is Clean and Youthful, showing Pronounced intensity primary aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry, black plum, violet, liquorice, black pepper , secondary aromas of smoke and tertiary aromas of meaty. Palate: The wine is Dry in the mouth with a Medium(+) level of acidity. It has High Ripe/Soft tannins and a High Level of alcohol (14.50%). It has Full body and Pronounced intensity primary flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry, black plum, black pepper , liquorice, secondary flavours of smoke and tertiary flavours of meaty. The finish is Long Overall: Good concentration and structure. Tannins a bit overwhelming. Good typicity. Good potential to age. Conclusion: It is a Very Good quality wine. Too Young This needs another 5 years for the tannins to integrate.; Premium priced (£24.25)
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dark and dense without feeling, "massive." will improve, but drinkable now.
tangy black fruit and plum complements richer earth and mineral notes. game, leather, charred oak, bitter chocolate, and chalk. faintest hint of anise.
youthful acidity and savory grippy tannin are present but not overbearing. would love to return to this in a few years.
the wine is meaty, rich, and overall, "dark," in flavor profile but not heavy. highly recommended.
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Big brooding full bodied wine. Dark purple. Strong tannins. Earthy dark fruit nose. Cassis, plum, ginger, clove and a touch of gaminess. Great stuff, but needs time. Would just put it away for another 5years or more.
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Dark purple color of the night. Nose of a bit syrah. A warm and comfortable nose. Slight alcohol. Contains violet, floral notes. A bit of woodchippings. This nose is one of my first mourvedre-noses.
Palate is intense and powerful. Dark and brooding. Soft and gentle tannins. Sweet and balanced taste. Very good.
50+5+12+15+8 (90p)
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tried this along with the 2011 la tourtine and the la migoua...all had amazing roundedness and layers and layers of soft crayon, paper mache texure....but this was the standout in terms of flavor, balance, depth and drinkability....just amazing beautiful, soft and a velvety, silky medium-bodied plush structure
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Nose of herbs, flowers, cherry, and a slight earthiness. Meat, tobacco, mocha, earth, floral notes with a cherry red fruit. With air, it develops just a hint of feral funk to remind you it's mourvedre.
For a DT, rather elegant and very balanced. Medium plus body. Medium acid. Tannin is certainly there, but fine and not over powering in any way but precise. Actually a touch lithe compared to prior vintages. You can drink anytime over the next decade.
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Dark ruby. Rich complex nose with aromas of cocoa, spice, and briar, subtle fruit emerging after the first few minutes. On the palate, mouth puckering tannins, penetrating fruit, bracing acid, and a long finish. A powerful wine with all elements pulling together.
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Very young, but wanted to try it to see how this vintage was landing. Decanted 5+ hours before dinner of seared NY Strips, baked sweet potatoes, and asparagus. Glowing, neon violet color. Nose brings fresh cut flowers, dried herbs, black manhattan cherries, tar and smoke. The palate is medium-to-full, with the mid-palate a little thin and the finish filling out and lasting 45-60 seconds, as usual. Getting a lot of candied raspberries and licorice, certainly more red fruit (the Grenache?) than black fruit or garrigue. Tannins are a dust storm and the acidity seems more restrained, but it's there. I'd drink this 2017-2027. Letting the rest of mine sleep.
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Excellent, really ripe but controlled with plenty of mineral and herb stuffed inside. Maybe could use a little more acidity for my taste but it's certainly delicious nonetheless.
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Wine very closed at the beginning. Much more aromatic and fruity after one day : grenadine griottes jam, sap and light tobacco. Quite young but so enjoyable now. Grenache seems predominant, mourverdre at the background. No oak felt. Nice balance on the crunchy side. Well done for this very poor vintage. Drink now through 2015. A wine from my region.
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Can't add much to what has already been said about this wine in the last 4 months. PnP, not sure it needs a decant but I might next time just for curiosity. The nose was floral but a bit reserved. This is remarkably clean, pure and balanced. All looks promising for a nice wine to age. Very accessible now but also a bit youthfully primary with much left to reveal down the road. A recent 2004 shows just how great these can get with some btl age. I need to buy a few more. 90+ right now.
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Once again, beautiful purple robe. Great feel and clarity of fruit buttressed by perfect acidity. As opposed to the first time I tasted this, there was just a smidgen of funk at the far edge of the wine to remind you that this is Tempier, after all. Highly successful base cuvee.
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Young Tempier-White, Rose, and Red (SF Wine Trading Company): Clear purple color. Gorgeously pure blueberry>blackberry fruit, medium weight, chocolatey. Fresh acidity, perfectly ripe tannins. From having tasted many regular Tempiers, I'd say this is a fabulous example, with the concentration and superb balance to last and age gracefully. It is still a shock to taste such a clean young wine from this producer given their style until about a decade ago.
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Decanted and poured, this wine gave an excellent showing. The wine begins with aromatics of youthful dark red fruits with some floral, spice and herb elements. The bouquet gives an accessible and forward showing. The color is a dark ruby to purple. The medium to full bodied palate shows less structure and firmness then the previous vintage. The palate displays generous, youthful fruit with excellent overall balance. The wine gives a medium length finish with firm but unobtrusive tannins and a fair amount of acidity. This drinks well now for it youthful fruit and should benefit from a couple of years of additional bottle age. This is the second experience with this wine and both bottle gave a similar showing.
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First taste of the 2011. Medium purple. Forward nose, more floral than normal. A bit lighter body than recent vintages. Delicious flavors, with the fruit leaning more to the red side. Very pronounced acidity. On the finish the fruit takes on an candied red sweetness as the dusty tannins coat the mouth. Long finish that has a pleasant bitter note. I love this wine.
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11/11/2023 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic as always!! Dark red color. Cedar, earth, and cherries on the nose. Lovely texture with a subtle sweetness I haven’t experienced before but was nice. Complex and high quality. Loved it!
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6/4/2023 - Kaizah Likes this wine: 93 Points
Early drinking window but still lovely. Decant as it was really starting to show after several hours of air.
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1/7/2023 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very consistent wine! PnP. Medium red color. Barnyard nose, which is this wine’s distinguishing characteristic. Good depth and medium plus finish. Nice texture and very complex on the palate. More tannic than I remember. Love it!
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8/1/2022 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby garnet. My first impression of this wine is how shy and retiring it is. Dark salty fruit on the palate with a strong acid frame, strong tannins, smooth with underlying grittiness. Then the nose begins to emerge with red and dark berries, coffee, roses, and dry heath. In the end such a beautiful balanced wine with great density and character.
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6/26/2022 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with past notes. Paired beautifully with seared pork loin. Drink 2022-2028. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 92.
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11/13/2021 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Scrumptious Bandol. At a great point in its evolution. Perfect balance of earthiness, structure, tannin and Provençal aromatics. Top notch wine.
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10/10/2021 - David J Cooper wrote: 91 Points
Clear medium red. Medium intense nose, showing some development, berry, cassis, some earthiness and a bit of leather. Delicious dry berry and cherry flavours and a nice balanced finish.
Probably too soon to really enjoy, needs 5 more years.
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9/17/2021 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark garnet. Shy aromas of dark fruit, earth, roses. Bright red cherries on the palate, sweet aromatic back notes, delicious acids descending onto a firm well-integrated' tannic base. Like a Cezanne in its blocky arrangement of elements on the palate. Balanced, cheerful, expressive of a late summer afternoon under the Mediterranean sun. Evocative. 92+
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4/24/2021 - Eric wrote: 92 Points
Young, bridging between primary and secondary, but quite beautiful. The nose explodes with bramble, smoke, and stunningly clear notes of lavender. The palate is a kaleidoscope, brooding dark and black-fruited at first, then exploding with juicy, tart cranberry, tight red fruits, and finishing with salty, powerful, tooth coating tannins and minerality. It is juicy and welcoming enough at first, but after spending an evening studying it, there is no doubt, it is at least a decade away if not more.
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4/4/2021 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Happy Easter!! I’m on a great wine streak!! This one was great as usual. See previous notes!
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9/22/2020 - drwine2001 wrote:
Clear, light ruby. Light green tones. Medium weight. Juicy blueberry and licorice with excellent acidity and a strong mineral element. Cleaner than I recall. Terrific basic Tempier that may be just shy of full maturity.
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4/19/2020 - ChopperWine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Even better than the last time a few years back. Super lovely stuff here. Good balance, length and acidity. Nice level of tannin. Wet forest floor, cedar and berry.
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2/9/2020 - ctbob wrote:
Opened this two days ahead of drinking, which was a good idea. Still v. young, but enjoyable: deep and rich, with good balance and structure. A wine of substance.
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1/18/2020 - forceberry wrote: 96 Points
A blend of mainly Mourvèdre (75%), some Cinsaut and Grenache and small amounts of Carignan and Syrah. Fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in concrete tanks. Macerated with the skins for 3-4 weeks. Aged for 18 months in large oak foudres. 14,5% alcohol.
Somewhat translucent dried-blood color with a little bit of developed rusty hue and a pale, pinkish rim. The nose feels big, vibrant and brooding yet perfumed with sweet-toned aromas of ripe plums, some salmiac powder, a little bit of sweet blueberry, light leathery tones, a floral hint of violets and a smoky touch of roasted game. The wine is dense, powerful and savory on the palate with rich, intense flavors of meaty umami, juicy blackberries, some fresh boysenberries, a little bit of savory, earthy spices and garrigue, funky hints of leather and farmyard and a touch of sweet bilberries. Lots of everything. The wine is impressively structured with its high acidity and ripe, firm and textural tannins that slowly pile up on the gums. Very harmonious overall feel. The long finish is avory, slightly warm and gently yet firmly tannic with rather powerful flavors of ripe dark fruits, gamey meat, some gravelly minerality, a little bit of astringent chokeberry, light umami tones, a hint of salty liquorice and a touch of brambly blackberry.
Holy moly what a Bandol. Although there were lots of great, aged Bandols in this tasting, this wine managed to hit the spot of my WotN. Lost of everything, yet nothing in excess. The intensity here is wonderful, yet not over-the-top. Layers upon layers of flavors and impeccably balanced, still quite tightly-knit structure. Very textural, savory and complex overall feel with a rather dominant umami character. Drinking beautifully now, but I have no doubts this will continue to improve years more. Managed to eclipse even Tempier Cabassaou 2008 that was tasted alongside this wine. Not cheap at 34,50€, but delivers for the price and more. Very highly recommended.
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10/4/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
Recent Releases from Domaine Tempier (Dig Wines, San Francisco): Light ruby. Richer, rounder, and more earthy funk than the 2017. Showing very well.
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1/25/2019 - winemaker Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good, but will be better with more age. Savory. Balanced.
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12/25/2018 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Merry Christmas!! 45+ minute decant. Medium purple color. Cedar, oak, aluminum, and pencil shavings on a great nose! Thick wine with dark fruit. Flavors that match the nose with some added earthy tones. Medium plus finish. Classic French wine and one of my all time favorites!!
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11/29/2018 - wino from way back Likes this wine:
Some wines taste a little better the next day. Maybe a few points better. The difference with this bottle was amazing. We almost poured this out two nights ago. Opened something else last night because we had guests. Tonight, this same (two day opened) bottle of bandol is exceptional considering our first impression. Fruity, raspberry, blackberry, dry finish. Just what I was expecting the first night. Unsure how to rate it point wise. So no rating.
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5/31/2018 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with previous notes from last summer, only more accessible. Blueberries, plums, moldy cheese, and garrigue are sorting themselves out on the palate. Smooth, balanced, and textured. This will gain complexity for many years to come. Drink now-2030. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 92.
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3/14/2018 - d'Artagnan wrote:
Domaine Tempier au salon des Tontons Trinqueurs (Domaine Chantale Lescure, Nuits Saint-Georges.): Un vin austère, intéressant et agréable quand même. Encore jeune mais un peu assagi.
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3/10/2018 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 95 Points
I love this wine! Probably my favorite for so many reasons! Barnyard, mud, cow shit, and French oak on the nose. Tobacco, smoke, tar, and dirt on the palate. If I had to nitpick, the finish could be longer. I now agree with something I read in a book today. Your favorite wine doesn't have to be the one with your highest rating!
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12/30/2017 - drwine2001 wrote:
Deep ruby. Exuberant blueberry and some Mourvèdre funk. Rich, lush, and chocolatey. Just beautiful depth of fruit with spice, excellent balance, and early complexity. Very enjoyable now.
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12/20/2017 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great wine that showcases the beautiful region of Bandol! Smokey, rustic, refined all describe this wine from start to finish. Love it!
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9/30/2017 - Dima Angert wrote:
Tasted side by side with Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2011. More depth and midpalate, less evolved, but very enjoyable. Very good winemaking.
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8/9/2017 - jlhkiss wrote: 92 Points
Accessible but took a few hours to fully open up and reveal the depth of fruit on the mid-palate. Candied cherries and garrigue on the nose with ripe blueberries, tar, blackberries, plums, and herbs into the finish. The tail is still very tight and tannic. Overall, compact, but showing enough flesh and fruit to be enjoyable. Drink through 2030. Technical score: 92. Enjoyment score: 91.
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7/19/2017 - drwine2001 wrote:
Deep almost opaque ruby. Assertive, wild nose of garrigue, blueberry, and some animal scents. Medium weight, quite structured and tannic, but excellent blue/black fruit and minerality. This hasn't really budged in a couple of years. Patience still required.
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7/8/2017 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wow! This wine was great without age and decanting, but with it is insane! Great nose that puts you in the heart of French wine country, with the perfect balance of dark cherry, blackberry, tar, tobacco, and earth! The finish seems to never end. This wine is so special and refined!!
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4/9/2017 - jnocera wrote: 91 Points
Light ruby red. Hints of field greens and spices. On the palate very light and refreshing with a nice tasty tartiness. Finish is easy and smooth. Unlike anything I have drank before - my first Bandol. Really enjoyable, great crisp fruit and easy to drink will be food friendly with chicken fajitas.
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1/22/2017 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
No notes but a welcome partner to my wife's beef bourguignon dish (actually, it's Julia Child's recipe). Dark fruit, herbs and light spice, earthy, drying. I would decant longer (at least three hours) or keep on the shelf a couple more years.
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1/13/2017 - ElGreco Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose: Leather, blackberry, plum, cherries, and clove. Classic Mourvedre nose.
Palate: Vibrant and energetic. Dust, cinnamon, leather, and plum give way to herbs, coffee, and underbrush. Beautiful mouth drying tannins are countered by acidity. Well structured, but drinking so well right now.
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12/18/2016 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 92 Points
On the nose, violets, cherries, river rock, and iron. Deeply penetrating concentration of dark fruit on the palate, with a perfectly aligned acid frame, aromatic back notes with a long emotional finish. Gorgeous, luscious, perfect companion to a rich beef bourgignon. 50 + 17 + 17 + 8.
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11/13/2016 - ChopperWine Likes this wine: 91 Points
One of my favorites, well, Bandol in general. However, I really enjoyed this wine yesterday afternoon with some "stinky" cheese and some fatty sliced meats. A lovely deep purple color with nice legs. Immediate deep aroma that is quintessential Mourvedre along with meat, tobacco, smoke, mocha, earth, floral notes.
I let it open (in bottle) for a good hour because it was still a bit tight and tannic. A classy, old-school wine to be sure.
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8/3/2016 - Derek Darth Taster Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pop and poured. From half bottle. In Presidential Apartments.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, purple colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of smoked meat, leather, earth, garrigue, freshly cracked white pepper, sweet spices. Developing.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), rich grippy tongue-coating high tannins, full body. Pronounced flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet ripe dark red plums, black cherries, meat, leather, earth, garrigue, white pepper spice. Long finish.
Very good quality. Not integrated yet but definitely not a sin to drink now! Half bottle so may have been a bit more accessible. So delightful. Upside for the future. Re-explore again in 4-5 years.
Tempier single-handedly makes me want to put down Bandol as one of my favourite regions beside Barolo & Burgundy. And this is only the entry level basic Bandol!
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7/29/2016 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Balancing out nicely since my last bottle a few years ago, especially the finish. Otherwise, consistent with my previous tasting, except more dark plums and even blackberries emerge. Took about an hour to open up and paired nicely with roasted chicken on a hot summer evening.
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7/9/2016 - CieloVista wrote: 87 Points
Dark red with a purple center; aromas and flavors of dark fruit, earth, oak, spices; full bodied, rich tannins, some alcohol, smooth; nice dry finish.
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3/9/2016 - Levantine Likes this wine:
London lunch 34:
Elegance and balance not found in other southern wines
Wood spice dominating some but all else balanced behind; dark fruits alive and wild within limits.
I assume the other cuvees are more complete but this one is a great wine as well.
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1/20/2016 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: flawed
A private dinner (Restaurant Kaagman & Kortekaas, Amsterdam, NL): Continued malolactic in bottle.
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10/24/2015 - Avicenne Likes this wine: 91 Points
Trop jeune, mais j'ai laissé mon père fouiller dans le cellier.
Carafe 1hre. Première expérience pour moi.
Robe très sombre violacée.
Nez plus discret que mes attentes sur le cuir, le café, fruits noirs.
Bouche de texture très soyeuse, fruits noirs surtout. Bois présent mais bien intégré.
Tous ont aimé, mais trop jeune à mon avis. Besoin encore minimum 3-6 ans.
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8/6/2015 - PT insurgent wrote:
Med+ intensity on the nose, notes of smoke, black pepper, meaty.
Palate is dry, med+ acid, high tannin, full body, high alcohol, med+ intensity. Notes of black fruits, blueberry, blackberry. Smoke, meat, earthy, cinnamon, herbaceous.
Very good, balanced structure, good concentration, complexity.
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7/12/2015 - Brendel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow. Really lovely color (purplish) and legs, with a wonderful deep and seductive nose of dark fruit. I agree with other reviewers who note blackberry / black currant / rhubarb tart or cobbler (sweet) both on nose and palate. Would decant 30 mins minimum because it seems still tight and tannic. Could age more. Nice finish. Lovely, classy stuff. Needs some firm food to go with it. Grade: A-.
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5/15/2015 - mdkraft99 wrote: 91 Points
Overall excellent! Nose: licorice, blackberry or blueberry cobbler; taste: consistent woth the nose, licorice, blackberry /blueberry cobbler, some tannins, oak is there but not overdone. Took a little time to open, probably has several years left, a very nice wine. We paired at a restaurant with pan seared duck breast (with shaved fennel and a mustard sauce) and grilled lamb steak and worked with both.
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4/27/2015 - ey1294 wrote: 92 Points
- Ruby color with slow forming legs and aromas of coffee, smokey, cherry, blackberry and tobacco. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry, blackberry and black currant with a medium/full body. Round texture with a long finish - Decanted 2 hours. blueberry pie finish.
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4/10/2015 - WinoRick Likes this wine: 92 Points
At Petit Louis with duck leg confit. A perfect match for the greasy and delicious dish. Dark in color and with unctuous dark roasted fruit. Could use several years of aging but drinks well now. A little closed in the nose.
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1/28/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Bandols (Trent's): This also had a slight Mourvedre stink on the nose especially with air. Dried cherries on the nose. The palate seems surprisingly accessible to me. Juicy acidity. Cherry fruit. Nice finish. This is drinking well right now. I liked it far more than the group though.
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1/14/2015 - sehill Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted and poured this bottle gave another excellent showing. On this occasion the wine begins somewhat reserved and required airing to give its best showing.
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12/14/2014 - drwine2001 wrote:
Pre-Holiday Magnum Celebration (Dig Wines, San Francisco): Magnum. Dark ruby. More barnyard than I recall. Deep blackberry confit and licorice. Generous, lush feel and full body without overripeness. Moderately tannic. More closed than last time.
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12/13/2014 - HStaal wrote: 90 Points
WSET Level 4 Course - WSET School; 9/6/2014-5/23/2015 (WSET School, Bermondsey): Appearance: The wine is Clear with a Deep ruby colour. It is edging purple
Nose: The nose is Clean and Youthful, showing Pronounced intensity primary aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry, black plum, violet, liquorice, black pepper , secondary aromas of smoke and tertiary aromas of meaty.
Palate: The wine is Dry in the mouth with a Medium(+) level of acidity. It has High Ripe/Soft tannins and a High Level of alcohol (14.50%). It has Full body and Pronounced intensity primary flavours of blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry, black plum, black pepper , liquorice, secondary flavours of smoke and tertiary flavours of meaty. The finish is Long
Overall: Good concentration and structure. Tannins a bit overwhelming. Good typicity. Good potential to age.
Conclusion: It is a Very Good quality wine. Too Young This needs another 5 years for the tannins to integrate.; Premium priced (£24.25)
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12/8/2014 - Merky_Waters Likes this wine: 91 Points
dark and dense without feeling, "massive." will improve, but drinkable now.
tangy black fruit and plum complements richer earth and mineral notes. game, leather, charred oak, bitter chocolate, and chalk. faintest hint of anise.
youthful acidity and savory grippy tannin are present but not overbearing. would love to return to this in a few years.
the wine is meaty, rich, and overall, "dark," in flavor profile but not heavy. highly recommended.
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10/18/2014 - djarcara Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big brooding full bodied wine. Dark purple. Strong tannins. Earthy dark fruit nose. Cassis, plum, ginger, clove and a touch of gaminess. Great stuff, but needs time. Would just put it away for another 5years or more.
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9/13/2014 - Shiaxonna wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple color of the night. Nose of a bit syrah. A warm and comfortable nose. Slight alcohol. Contains violet, floral notes. A bit of woodchippings. This nose is one of my first mourvedre-noses.
Palate is intense and powerful. Dark and brooding. Soft and gentle tannins. Sweet and balanced taste. Very good.
50+5+12+15+8 (90p)
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9/12/2014 - sehill Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted and poured, this bottle gave another excellent showing inline with previous experiences with this wine.
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7/21/2014 - richshoes Likes this wine: 97 Points
tried this along with the 2011 la tourtine and the la migoua...all had amazing roundedness and layers and layers of soft crayon, paper mache texure....but this was the standout in terms of flavor, balance, depth and drinkability....just amazing beautiful, soft and a velvety, silky medium-bodied plush structure
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6/26/2014 - yossarian.livez wrote: 91 Points
Nose of herbs, flowers, cherry, and a slight earthiness. Meat, tobacco, mocha, earth, floral notes with a cherry red fruit. With air, it develops just a hint of feral funk to remind you it's mourvedre.
For a DT, rather elegant and very balanced. Medium plus body. Medium acid. Tannin is certainly there, but fine and not over powering in any way but precise. Actually a touch lithe compared to prior vintages. You can drink anytime over the next decade.
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6/20/2014 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby. Rich complex nose with aromas of cocoa, spice, and briar, subtle fruit emerging after the first few minutes. On the palate, mouth puckering tannins, penetrating fruit, bracing acid, and a long finish. A powerful wine with all elements pulling together.
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6/4/2014 - tendring Likes this wine: 93 Points
Domaine Tempier (Winery): Maturity on the nose, delicious, fruity, a wonderful wine.
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6/4/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Apparently in 2000 Tempier went out of family hands? Or rather just went to a non-family wine maker. And the "wines have never been better".
Sweet meats, power, richness, lots of tannin and body. Feels really good after a bunch of red burgundy.
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5/9/2014 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very young, but wanted to try it to see how this vintage was landing. Decanted 5+ hours before dinner of seared NY Strips, baked sweet potatoes, and asparagus. Glowing, neon violet color. Nose brings fresh cut flowers, dried herbs, black manhattan cherries, tar and smoke. The palate is medium-to-full, with the mid-palate a little thin and the finish filling out and lasting 45-60 seconds, as usual. Getting a lot of candied raspberries and licorice, certainly more red fruit (the Grenache?) than black fruit or garrigue. Tannins are a dust storm and the acidity seems more restrained, but it's there. I'd drink this 2017-2027. Letting the rest of mine sleep.
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5/2/2014 - yofog wrote: 91 Points
Excellent, really ripe but controlled with plenty of mineral and herb stuffed inside. Maybe could use a little more acidity for my taste but it's certainly delicious nonetheless.
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3/29/2014 - dead puddle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wine very closed at the beginning. Much more aromatic and fruity after one day : grenadine griottes jam, sap and light tobacco. Quite young but so enjoyable now. Grenache seems predominant, mourverdre at the background. No oak felt. Nice balance on the crunchy side. Well done for this very poor vintage. Drink now through 2015. A wine from my region.
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3/22/2014 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
Can't add much to what has already been said about this wine in the last 4 months. PnP, not sure it needs a decant but I might next time just for curiosity. The nose was floral but a bit reserved. This is remarkably clean, pure and balanced. All looks promising for a nice wine to age. Very accessible now but also a bit youthfully primary with much left to reveal down the road. A recent 2004 shows just how great these can get with some btl age. I need to buy a few more. 90+ right now.
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2/21/2014 - sehill Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another excellent showing for this wine. This bottle gives a similar impression to previously tasted bottles.
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2/7/2014 - drwine2001 wrote:
Once again, beautiful purple robe. Great feel and clarity of fruit buttressed by perfect acidity. As opposed to the first time I tasted this, there was just a smidgen of funk at the far edge of the wine to remind you that this is Tempier, after all. Highly successful base cuvee.
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1/11/2014 - drwine2001 wrote:
Young Tempier-White, Rose, and Red (SF Wine Trading Company): Clear purple color. Gorgeously pure blueberry>blackberry fruit, medium weight, chocolatey. Fresh acidity, perfectly ripe tannins. From having tasted many regular Tempiers, I'd say this is a fabulous example, with the concentration and superb balance to last and age gracefully. It is still a shock to taste such a clean young wine from this producer given their style until about a decade ago.
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1/8/2014 - sehill Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted and poured, this bottle gave a similar showing to previous experiences with this wine.
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12/24/2013 - sehill Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another excellent showing for this wine. This has wine has been tasted a few times since its release and shown consistent notes on each occasion.
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12/8/2013 - sehill Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted and poured, this wine gave an excellent showing. The wine begins with aromatics of youthful dark red fruits with some floral, spice and herb elements. The bouquet gives an accessible and forward showing. The color is a dark ruby to purple. The medium to full bodied palate shows less structure and firmness then the previous vintage. The palate displays generous, youthful fruit with excellent overall balance. The wine gives a medium length finish with firm but unobtrusive tannins and a fair amount of acidity. This drinks well now for it youthful fruit and should benefit from a couple of years of additional bottle age. This is the second experience with this wine and both bottle gave a similar showing.
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11/21/2013 - BobJohnson1 Likes this wine:
First taste of the 2011. Medium purple. Forward nose, more floral than normal. A bit lighter body than recent vintages. Delicious flavors, with the fruit leaning more to the red side. Very pronounced acidity. On the finish the fruit takes on an candied red sweetness as the dusty tannins coat the mouth. Long finish that has a pleasant bitter note. I love this wine.
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