We drank one of these from a case in January of 2022 ... it was just okay (88-89 pts). We drank the second one on 3/10/24 ... it was really good ... a head turner. I know 92 points sounds high for a $40 wine (En Premier), but I think that is a fair score for this showing of a nice wine. I'm looking forward to cracking open the case of it's Big Brother, the L'Eglise Clinet !!
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Solid pomerol . In a perfect place, needs 2-3 hours in a decanter to blossom. Not the best wine in the best vintage, but a lot of value when bought en primeur. Should hold for the next couple of years but I don’t see any upside
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Double decanted for 90 minutes. It is not a show wine, but a perfectly balanced Pomerol for a fine dinner; no sediment too. A great nose, with tertiary flavour is just showing. Will be a 92+ when fully mature. Drink and HOLD.
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Decanted 1hr30. Ripe intense nose with plenty of black cherries, lavender & some gentle forest floor. Palate is rich, unctuous with great freshness, gentle fine tannins (well integrated) with lots of cherries & some thyme. Good persistence, good balance. Drinking very well now but no rush. Drink now-2027.
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Decanted 2 hours. Medium intense nose with black cherries & a light acidity. Palate is medium+ intensity with medium fine tannins, light-medium acidity & good black cherries - a light fresh herbiness to the wine as well with a little spice. Shows good persistence and depth but very much in the lighter style of wine. Still has some grip with the tannins and good balance. Starting to drink now. Drink now-2025.
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Fresh open and savoury nose. Some licorice / aniseed with the fruit. Follows through nicely on palate but with quite a bit of sweetness. Enough favour complexity to keep it interesting but bordering towards easy drinking. A pleasant drink and seems built to age for a while yet.
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After a short decant this was very good. Tannins nice and soft, good concentration. A good result bearing in mind the vintage. Might be an idea to get some 2015 which is only a few quid more than on release.
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Decanted 45 minutes. No signs of ageing on rim. A ripe, intense nose with clear black fruits (berries, cherries), violets, some light vanilla. Palate is intense and firm - good acidity and firm, fine but still clear tannins. Palate showing plenty of black fruits and ripe flavours. Still feels quite young but more integration of the components required. Should become a very fine wine. Drink 2020-2028.
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6th and last bottle. Nice old world style with enough extraction to keep drinkers attuned to Cali happy. Still primary with dark fruit, cinammon, and a woody finish with much of the oak coming through if at times too much. Nicely balanced and easy to drink. Medium finish. A bit more complexity and concentration would merit a higher score but a great second wine. 91+ don't see this improving much, drink up or hold for another 3-5 years.
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Agree with the other tasters - a bit tannic but creamy, mint, dark fruit with a touch of alcoholic heat. Very concentrated. You definitely feel the terroir, what with the minty chocolate, but it comes and goes, still seems young or in need of a decant. Drank 1/3, Coravined the rest, let's see in a week or two...
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Update 03/2018 This wine is just fantastic. It continues to be a standout wine whose quality far exceeds the price. Buy it where you can and drink now or hold. Given how good this is I am raising the score - and it is well deserved.
Well all I can say is this is a fantastic bottle of wine and incredibly cheap for what you get. While it may get better with age it is drinking fantastically well now - so well my wife has drunk most of it and I am ordering more. Smooth, rich, not overly tannic - fruits are well developed. I suspect this will not have the longevity of some vintages or wines but should be good for another 5-7 years? If it last that long! Don't miss this one, I think 2012 is turning out to be a nice early drinking vintage.
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Stupidly tannic of course, but the tannins are sweet and complementary to grass-fed beef. This tastes as good as the '09 (tho of course not nearly as developed) - really a lovely drinking wine as it opens up over the course of a couple hours. Smooth (duh!) on day two, but not particularly complex. Could be a (delightful) short term ager.
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3/11/2024 - Napa Jeff Likes this wine: 92 Points
We drank one of these from a case in January of 2022 ... it was just okay (88-89 pts).
We drank the second one on 3/10/24 ... it was really good ... a head turner.
I know 92 points sounds high for a $40 wine (En Premier), but I think that is a fair score for this showing of a nice wine.
I'm looking forward to cracking open the case of it's Big Brother, the L'Eglise Clinet !!
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11/13/2023 - Roughl wrote: 91 Points
Solid pomerol . In a perfect place, needs 2-3 hours in a decanter to blossom. Not the best wine in the best vintage, but a lot of value when bought en primeur. Should hold for the next couple of years but I don’t see any upside
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10/2/2021 - Song103 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Double decanted for 90 minutes. It is not a show wine, but a perfectly balanced Pomerol for a fine dinner; no sediment too. A great nose, with tertiary flavour is just showing. Will be a 92+ when fully mature. Drink and HOLD.
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12/29/2020 - GNBB wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1hr30. Ripe intense nose with plenty of black cherries, lavender & some gentle forest floor. Palate is rich, unctuous with great freshness, gentle fine tannins (well integrated) with lots of cherries & some thyme. Good persistence, good balance. Drinking very well now but no rush. Drink now-2027.
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11/13/2020 - Papies wrote: 89 Points
A good and well made wine albeit on the straight forward and easier side for a lack of a better word. It is good enough but not very memorable. 89
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1/3/2020 - GNBB wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Medium intense nose with black cherries & a light acidity. Palate is medium+ intensity with medium fine tannins, light-medium acidity & good black cherries - a light fresh herbiness to the wine as well with a little spice. Shows good persistence and depth but very much in the lighter style of wine. Still has some grip with the tannins and good balance. Starting to drink now. Drink now-2025.
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4/27/2019 - MattGeneve Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fresh open and savoury nose. Some licorice / aniseed with the fruit. Follows through nicely on palate but with quite a bit of sweetness. Enough favour complexity to keep it interesting but bordering towards easy drinking. A pleasant drink and seems built to age for a while yet.
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7/8/2018 - Roger Davison wrote: 91 Points
After a short decant this was very good. Tannins nice and soft, good concentration. A good result bearing in mind the vintage. Might be an idea to get some 2015 which is only a few quid more than on release.
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4/5/2018 - GNBB wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 45 minutes. No signs of ageing on rim. A ripe, intense nose with clear black fruits (berries, cherries), violets, some light vanilla. Palate is intense and firm - good acidity and firm, fine but still clear tannins. Palate showing plenty of black fruits and ripe flavours. Still feels quite young but more integration of the components required. Should become a very fine wine. Drink 2020-2028.
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7/30/2017 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 91 Points
6th and last bottle. Nice old world style with enough extraction to keep drinkers attuned to Cali happy. Still primary with dark fruit, cinammon, and a woody finish with much of the oak coming through if at times too much. Nicely balanced and easy to drink. Medium finish. A bit more complexity and concentration would merit a higher score but a great second wine. 91+ don't see this improving much, drink up or hold for another 3-5 years.
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12/22/2016 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 90 Points
Similar notes to last time if a bit more closed.
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10/23/2016 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Agree with the other tasters - a bit tannic but creamy, mint, dark fruit with a touch of alcoholic heat. Very concentrated. You definitely feel the terroir, what with the minty chocolate, but it comes and goes, still seems young or in need of a decant. Drank 1/3, Coravined the rest, let's see in a week or two...
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7/19/2016 - Baltap Likes this wine: 94 Points
Update 03/2018 This wine is just fantastic. It continues to be a standout wine whose quality far exceeds the price. Buy it where you can and drink now or hold. Given how good this is I am raising the score - and it is well deserved.
Well all I can say is this is a fantastic bottle of wine and incredibly cheap for what you get. While it may get better with age it is drinking fantastically well now - so well my wife has drunk most of it and I am ordering more. Smooth, rich, not overly tannic - fruits are well developed. I suspect this will not have the longevity of some vintages or wines but should be good for another 5-7 years? If it last that long! Don't miss this one, I think 2012 is turning out to be a nice early drinking vintage.
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8/4/2015 - ledocq Likes this wine: 91 Points
Stupidly tannic of course, but the tannins are sweet and complementary to grass-fed beef. This tastes as good as the '09 (tho of course not nearly as developed) - really a lovely drinking wine as it opens up over the course of a couple hours. Smooth (duh!) on day two, but not particularly complex. Could be a (delightful) short term ager.
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4/26/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
Fleshy black and red cherries with licorice and spice. 88-90 Pts
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