What a great surprise. Picked these up as wedding year wines back in 2000ish. Drinking fantastic. Mushroom on the nose, no decant. I would say at peak. Served with turkey patties with eggplant and fennel. This wine is probably about to enter slow decline, but would be interesting to follow over next 5.
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Last bottle of this, and it proves the old saying, "There are no good wines, just good bottles." The last two were somewhat disappointing, but this one was excellent! Perfectly aged with complex nose of forest floor, wood smoke and spice box. Long finish, plenty of fruit left to tantalize the palate. Just a joy to drink! Wish I had more.
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Medium (-) garnet. A smooth melange of red currant, spice and tomato leaf. Side of the tongue tannins holding it all together. What a treat. Lost cellar strikes again
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1998 a very good year for the right bank . 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon I believe, and this relatively high proportion of Cabernet gives this a slightly more classical style than you might expect from St Emilion. Still full coloured but right in its drinking window. An 87 because it was jut at the dilute side of lean and elegant and the finish was shorter than I might have hoped.
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Brought this last bottle from my cellar to a high end local restaurant as a corkage bottle for a dinner celebration. Had it with roast lamb and it did not disappoint! Lot of interesting notes on the nose - dark cherries, damp earth, powdered cocoa, leather, cassis. Mouthfilling, plenty of fruit, good structure, paired extremely well with the lamp. Long finish and just an overall impression of a very well put together wine. Wish I had more!
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This one is coming into its own. Complex, earthy, wonderful nose, rich fruit and well integrated tannins in the mouth, excellent lengthy finish. Well worth the wait!
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Begins with heavy caramel notes on the nose, which is heavy and ponderous with dark fruit, sweet oak and a bit of bottle stink. The palate at first is thick with blue/black fruit, dark oak notes and tannins that are soft and plush. As the wine airs, it loses its thickness and bulk and gains some poise; however, by now the lack of underlying richness and midpalate thinness become apparent. Even the fruit wanes amidst the oak and cigar notes. The wine begins thick and oaky and then its underlying weaknesses become apparent. Was probably better and had a richer midpalate a few years ago, although I suspect it would have been quite an oakbomb. Overall, disappointing stylistically and really a weak wine for what's supposed to be a great vintage. Update: half the bottle remained in the fridge in a sealed .375, and it showed much better on the second night. Tighter, less volume, more condensed and more in balance. The oak was not as assertive and the wine was more streamlined. Much improved overnight, actually not bad at all.
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Rich perfume of Bordeaux that was generous in the glass. Bright color of deep reds, mouth filling forward flavors. A bit of carmel with red berries of medium but full depth. Tight, structured finish.
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This wine seemed to be just past its peak. Still a wonderul wine, but not deserving of a score of 90 or higher. Fine black-fruit notes with tannins now nicely balanced. Fruit was still there, but begining to fade a bit.
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opaque purple strong nose of oak, black currant, earth. Very lush mouth. Strong red berry.rhasberries and underlying currant. Lots of wood oak. firm tannins that get your cheek. THis is a fine drinking wine. Horray! Beautiful bottle label.
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I had been a little disappointed in this before, so had expectations well in check. This bottle showed much better than previous ones. Nose of flowers and cassis with a little vanilla; the palate is more red-fruited, raspberry and plum with some earth. Flinty minerals on the reasonably long finish. First of these I've thought were actually a deal at the low$20s price
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7/7/2023 - winchester-xi wrote:
Well into tertiary-land, with all the hallmarks of old merlot. But holding on, at least for the moment, and kind of fun if paired appropriately.
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5/7/2023 - MikeCW wrote: 93 Points
What a great surprise. Picked these up as wedding year wines back in 2000ish. Drinking fantastic. Mushroom on the nose, no decant. I would say at peak. Served with turkey patties with eggplant and fennel. This wine is probably about to enter slow decline, but would be interesting to follow over next 5.
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12/24/2021 - LeChapeau wrote: 93 Points
Last bottle of this, and it proves the old saying, "There are no good wines, just good bottles." The last two were somewhat disappointing, but this one was excellent! Perfectly aged with complex nose of forest floor, wood smoke and spice box. Long finish, plenty of fruit left to tantalize the palate. Just a joy to drink! Wish I had more.
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3/7/2020 - Eugenedinapoli Likes this wine:
Medium (-) garnet. A smooth melange of red currant, spice and tomato leaf. Side of the tongue tannins holding it all together. What a treat. Lost cellar strikes again
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8/6/2018 - LeChapeau wrote: 89 Points
Still good, but slightly past prime. I need to drink up what I have left.
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8/4/2016 - LeChapeau wrote: 89 Points
This one showed weakly. Definitely some bottle variation here. A bit thin and tart, complex nose, but a let down in the mouth.
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5/16/2016 - DaleW wrote:
Midbodied (on lighter side for a '98 RB), black plum and black currant, some cedar. Tannins mostly resolved, easy drinking St Emilion. B
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4/24/2016 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 87 Points
1998 a very good year for the right bank . 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon I believe, and this relatively high proportion of Cabernet gives this a slightly more classical style than you might expect from St Emilion. Still full coloured but right in its drinking window. An 87 because it was jut at the dilute side of lean and elegant and the finish was shorter than I might have hoped.
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10/25/2015 - LeChapeau wrote: 91 Points
This is an excellent bordeaux, but depending on your tastes, it's either at its peak or slightly beyond. If you've got it, it's time to drink up!
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10/12/2013 - MikeCW wrote: 91 Points
Nice wine. Great nose, slightly shortish finish. Ready to go and no need to wait.
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3/3/2013 - LeChapeau wrote: 93 Points
Brought this last bottle from my cellar to a high end local restaurant as a corkage bottle for a dinner celebration. Had it with roast lamb and it did not disappoint! Lot of interesting notes on the nose - dark cherries, damp earth, powdered cocoa, leather, cassis. Mouthfilling, plenty of fruit, good structure, paired extremely well with the lamp. Long finish and just an overall impression of a very well put together wine. Wish I had more!
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7/10/2012 - LeChapeau wrote: 92 Points
This one is coming into its own. Complex, earthy, wonderful nose, rich fruit and well integrated tannins in the mouth, excellent lengthy finish. Well worth the wait!
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6/11/2011 - Old Course 72 wrote: 90 Points
Dark deep color, light nose with up front crisp fruit and rich flavor. Enjoyable
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12/31/2010 - Old Course 72 wrote: 89 Points
Still drinking well
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6/30/2010 - Pknut wrote:
Begins with heavy caramel notes on the nose, which is heavy and ponderous with dark fruit, sweet oak and a bit of bottle stink. The palate at first is thick with blue/black fruit, dark oak notes and tannins that are soft and plush. As the wine airs, it loses its thickness and bulk and gains some poise; however, by now the lack of underlying richness and midpalate thinness become apparent. Even the fruit wanes amidst the oak and cigar notes. The wine begins thick and oaky and then its underlying weaknesses become apparent. Was probably better and had a richer midpalate a few years ago, although I suspect it would have been quite an oakbomb. Overall, disappointing stylistically and really a weak wine for what's supposed to be a great vintage. Update: half the bottle remained in the fridge in a sealed .375, and it showed much better on the second night. Tighter, less volume, more condensed and more in balance. The oak was not as assertive and the wine was more streamlined. Much improved overnight, actually not bad at all.
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4/3/2010 - Old Course 72 wrote: 89 Points
Rich perfume of Bordeaux that was generous in the glass. Bright color of deep reds, mouth filling forward flavors. A bit of carmel with red berries of medium but full depth. Tight, structured finish.
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7/12/2009 - foneil wrote: 88 Points
This wine seemed to be just past its peak. Still a wonderul wine, but not deserving of a score of 90 or higher. Fine black-fruit notes with tannins now nicely balanced. Fruit was still there, but begining to fade a bit.
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12/2/2008 - pilot360 wrote: 92 Points
opaque purple strong nose of oak, black currant, earth. Very lush mouth. Strong red berry.rhasberries and underlying currant. Lots of wood oak. firm tannins that get your cheek.
THis is a fine drinking wine.
Horray!
Beautiful bottle label.
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11/3/2006 - DaleW wrote: 90 Points
I had been a little disappointed in this before, so had expectations well in check. This bottle showed
much better than previous ones. Nose of flowers and cassis with a little vanilla; the palate is more red-fruited, raspberry and plum with some earth. Flinty minerals on the reasonably long finish. First of these I've thought were actually a deal at the low$20s price
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2/12/2005 - mdstenner wrote: 91 Points
TWC does St.-Émilion and satellite communes (Central Park Clubhouse (Tulsa)): A nose of earth and concentrated black fruits. A chalky mouth-feel with raspberry, toast, currant, and strawberry preserve. Sweet tannins but overall a dry finish.
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