Elegant and more Pinot Noir like than I would have guessed. The Syrah dominates the blend on the palate. Good food wine from a leaner vintage, but I don't think this comes across as tart or astringent as some have suggested. Probably just a matter of preference.
No need to wait on this as it is very open today.
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Chapoutier's Bila-Haut L’Esquerda is from a high-quality subregion of the Cotes du Roussillon Villages area in the extreme south of France (near the border with Spain). It comes from a single vineyard in the Cotes du Roussillon Village Lesquerde subregion, located slightly further inland from the Mediterranean Sea. This wine is predominantly Syrah, with lesser amounts of Grenache and Carignan. Deep ruby in color, it flaunts aromas of dark bramble fruits, garrigue, smoke and licorice. Full-bodied, tart, seamlessly alcoholic (13.5%) and with medium-weight, rustic tannins, it delivers flavors mirroring the nose and has good mid-palate density. The finish is medium in length, but tart and astringent. While another year in the cellar might be helpful, I doubt that this is one for long-term aging, as it is lacking charm that it likely will never acquire. Drink 2017-2020.
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Full-bodied, really tight on the palate though a classy nose of coffee, leather, orange rind and hint of incipient blood. Needs a few years but it should be a pretty nice, characterful wine for just over 20usd
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We came at the wine smelling only sugar and granite. It was sweet in the mouth, but having a very deep minerality to its taste. It made our mouths pucker, and it wasn't worth going through a whole bottle. The next day, the wine's sugars stretched flat, and the wine's character was more present. It was dark with a razor edge across the tongue. You would never mistake it as a prize fighter, but let it air out, and it has some life to it. Worthy.
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S'est bien ouvert depuis la dernière fois. Un profil sudiste affirmé, avec un beau caractère aromatique. Une réelle buvabilité cependant, qui le rend agréable à boire et pas fatigant. Boire ou attendre
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A bit young right now. Concentrated blackberry, blueberry, and spice, with underpinnings of soil, coffee and leather. But, the tannins are a bit drying and the finish is short and hot. I'm optimistic this will evolve well given a few more years.
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8/2/2020 - tannictongue Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not a big Laguedoc but my wife likes it. Improves a lot after an hour open.
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9/1/2016 - calodo2011 Likes this wine: 87 Points
A bit of VA isn't helping.
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2/7/2016 - khmark7 wrote: 88 Points
Elegant and more Pinot Noir like than I would have guessed. The Syrah dominates the blend on the palate. Good food wine from a leaner vintage, but I don't think this comes across as tart or astringent as some have suggested. Probably just a matter of preference.
No need to wait on this as it is very open today.
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2/6/2016 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 87 Points
Chapoutier's Bila-Haut L’Esquerda is from a high-quality subregion of the Cotes du Roussillon Villages area in the extreme south of France (near the border with Spain). It comes from a single vineyard in the Cotes du Roussillon Village Lesquerde subregion, located slightly further inland from the Mediterranean Sea. This wine is predominantly Syrah, with lesser amounts of Grenache and Carignan. Deep ruby in color, it flaunts aromas of dark bramble fruits, garrigue, smoke and licorice. Full-bodied, tart, seamlessly alcoholic (13.5%) and with medium-weight, rustic tannins, it delivers flavors mirroring the nose and has good mid-palate density. The finish is medium in length, but tart and astringent. While another year in the cellar might be helpful, I doubt that this is one for long-term aging, as it is lacking charm that it likely will never acquire. Drink 2017-2020.
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12/13/2015 - redknife wrote: 88 Points
Not my cup of tea; drank my last of 6 bottles; maybe I should've waited longer.....never really enjoyed it
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3/13/2015 - vinum bonum wrote:
Beaucoup de rondeur, de fruits noirs. Pas mal, aucune trace d'évolution, donne ce que l'on attend de lui, mais pas vraiment plus.
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11/9/2014 - Raja wrote: 88 Points
Musty, moldy taste upon opening. A few minutes did wonders. But the next day was better.
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10/20/2014 - yofog wrote:
Full-bodied, really tight on the palate though a classy nose of coffee, leather, orange rind and hint of incipient blood. Needs a few years but it should be a pretty nice, characterful wine for just over 20usd
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7/11/2014 - vinum bonum wrote:
Vraiment sympa : souple, rond, facile, un vin très bien fait qui donne ce qu'on attend de lui. Relativement ouvert à ce stade.
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5/23/2014 - FrugalGlug Likes this wine: 88 Points
We came at the wine smelling only sugar and granite.
It was sweet in the mouth, but having a very deep minerality to its taste. It made our mouths pucker, and it wasn't worth going through a whole bottle.
The next day, the wine's sugars stretched flat, and the wine's character was more present. It was dark with a razor edge across the tongue. You would never mistake it as a prize fighter, but let it air out, and it has some life to it.
Worthy.
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4/26/2014 - redknife Likes this wine: 90 Points
Elegant for a daily drinker, needs some time
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4/17/2014 - vinum bonum wrote:
S'est bien ouvert depuis la dernière fois. Un profil sudiste affirmé, avec un beau caractère aromatique. Une réelle buvabilité cependant, qui le rend agréable à boire et pas fatigant. Boire ou attendre
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3/5/2014 - professordoktor wrote:
A bit young right now. Concentrated blackberry, blueberry, and spice, with underpinnings of soil, coffee and leather. But, the tannins are a bit drying and the finish is short and hot. I'm optimistic this will evolve well given a few more years.
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1/18/2014 - redknife wrote: 88 Points
A good mid weeker wine and qpr
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