Final bottle from a 6 pack, had one most recently about 2.5 yrs ago. This is likely the best showing, with maturing red fruits, ample soil, no overt manure scents...just an earthiness that is interwoven beautifully. Softening tannins, very solid acidity, the wine has a hint of astringency that is both pleasurable and necessary. Drink this pretty wine over the next 5+ years, lovely.
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PnP, that in retrospect, would have benefited from an hour or two of aeration in decanter. The garnet>ruby core shows some age. Aromas are earthy at first...and second, and with air, tend toward pine forest, red berries, some tobacco, etc. The body is medium, at most, with acids ever so slightly overwhelming the modest fruit component. I enjoyed this with a delicious, grilled pork chop, and brussel sprouts flecked with goat cheese. If this is representative of where it's at, in general, I'd advise to drink sooner than later; more enjoyable in its youth. recommended
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5th bottle of 6; last tasted 8 mos ago. Plums and blackberries, old manure and bell peppers. This earthy and complex wine shows alot of pedigree for $30 USD. Fine tannins and tangy acidity. Not for the faint of heart, but I love it. Drink through 2024+.
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4th of 6 bottles, last tasted 1 yr ago. Delicious and refreshing, enjoyed with a sloppy pepperoni pizza this evening. Crisp cranberry and raspberry fruit, a few dollops of plum, plenty of moist earth and peppery kick. A refreshing a bright red wine, love this appelation. Drink now through 2022+.
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Very nice. The notes below are largely spot on, if a bit more enthusiastic than I might be. This is good, but it won’t be replacing my Baudry any time soon.
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This was absolutely everything you could want in a Loire red. Earthy, long flavor, terrific with food, great on day #2. A fair amount of sediment. Only a couple of bottles left, wish there was more!
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Cellar must and sharp red fruit on the nose. Needed 30 minutes to begin to open up in the glass; red fruit, grass, olive brine, graphite, fine tannins and moderate acidity. Still feels restrained. While I enjoyed the bottle, I do feel it's not one really I want more of so the remaining eight bottles are being sold to a local wine purveyor.
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Bottle 2 of 6. Last time I had a bottle was 2 yrs ago. Took this one to GA for Thanksgiving, no formal TN. Red fruit and barnyard, old leather, tobacco leaf. Gritty, chewy tannins with a med+ finish of bright red fruits and soil notes. Drink now through 2024+.
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Very tight and tannic first day; more approachable on the second. Red fruit, cranberry most notably. Sour disposition. Some earth and herbs. In spite of my first tasting note for this wine, I think I'm not a fan. Will look to sell my remaining bottles if possible.
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I am just loving Cab Franc from the Loire. This wine was so barnyard funky upon opening, but the aromas and flavors really integrated over an hour in the decanter. Moist earth, funky shrooms, tobacco leaf, some mild green pepper, and tart red raspberry or cherry fruit in there somewhere. Nice medium bodied wine (13% abv), with beautifully tart, just-right acidity, and firmly present tannins. Everything is just right in this wine, and the interest level for old-skool aficionados is off the charts. Drink now through 2024. It is soooo gooood right now, tho...
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Fabulous wine. From the deep garnet>ruby color, to the aromas of freshly turned earth and just-picked red and black fruits, to the deeply satisfying finish, this wine has it all. Perfectly ripe fruits, loads of earthy character, sweet tobacco, and structure to spare; this is what I want to drink every week. Forever. And as good as it was on day 1 (with 2hr audoze), it was even better on day 2; surely this would have lasted a few more days, as well. Medium-bodied, with a layered silkiness defining the textures. An excellent example of the variety and region of S-C. Thru 2028. 13,0% abv. is resolved. highly recommended
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Had to open a bottle to try. Decanted for 2 hours before sampling. Bright, somewhat tart cherry fruit with nice concentration; herbs and some minerality. Nothing overdone. Good acidity, nice medium-length finish. Won't open another for awhile.
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Eye-opening, delicious, lots of leather and flowers on top of blue fruits. A bit of band-aid funk makes it very interesting. Still rocking and days 2 and 3. Again, all about place, and is amazingly good for a tariff of $30.
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Lots of green but with very floral overtones. Violets and leather. This is why I like the Loire. Great acids with strong tannins. Needs some time in the glass to open up.
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3/10/2024 - drrobvino wrote: 92 Points
Final bottle from a 6 pack, had one most recently about 2.5 yrs ago.
This is likely the best showing, with maturing red fruits, ample soil, no overt manure scents...just an earthiness that is interwoven beautifully.
Softening tannins, very solid acidity, the wine has a hint of astringency that is both pleasurable and necessary.
Drink this pretty wine over the next 5+ years, lovely.
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7/24/2023 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
PnP, that in retrospect, would have benefited from an hour or two of aeration in decanter. The garnet>ruby core shows some age. Aromas are earthy at first...and second, and with air, tend toward pine forest, red berries, some tobacco, etc. The body is medium, at most, with acids ever so slightly overwhelming the modest fruit component. I enjoyed this with a delicious, grilled pork chop, and brussel sprouts flecked with goat cheese. If this is representative of where it's at, in general, I'd advise to drink sooner than later; more enjoyable in its youth. recommended
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11/13/2021 - drrobvino wrote: 90 Points
5th bottle of 6; last tasted 8 mos ago.
Plums and blackberries, old manure and bell peppers.
This earthy and complex wine shows alot of pedigree for $30 USD.
Fine tannins and tangy acidity. Not for the faint of heart, but I love it.
Drink through 2024+.
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3/22/2021 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
4th of 6 bottles, last tasted 1 yr ago.
Delicious and refreshing, enjoyed with a sloppy pepperoni pizza this evening.
Crisp cranberry and raspberry fruit, a few dollops of plum, plenty of moist earth and peppery kick.
A refreshing a bright red wine, love this appelation. Drink now through 2022+.
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2/23/2021 - Enfant sauvage Likes this wine:
Very nice. The notes below are largely spot on, if a bit more enthusiastic than I might be. This is good, but it won’t be replacing my Baudry any time soon.
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11/21/2020 - celestialmundane Likes this wine: 92 Points
A little funk with mushrooms and earth, fruit. Sage and maybe a little mint. Really lovely. Medium body. Soft tannins. Long finish. Wish I had more.
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5/17/2020 - mdanyc Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was absolutely everything you could want in a Loire red. Earthy, long flavor, terrific with food, great on day #2. A fair amount of sediment. Only a couple of bottles left, wish there was more!
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3/25/2020 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
Bottle #3 of 6. Delicious and varietally correct Cab Franc, showing upfront barnyard, red fruits, sage, and wet rocks.
Drink now through 2022+.
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11/3/2019 - Leomania wrote: 90 Points
Cellar must and sharp red fruit on the nose. Needed 30 minutes to begin to open up in the glass; red fruit, grass, olive brine, graphite, fine tannins and moderate acidity. Still feels restrained. While I enjoyed the bottle, I do feel it's not one really I want more of so the remaining eight bottles are being sold to a local wine purveyor.
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10/27/2019 - cse Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is singing. Gorgeous nose--like a cinnamon-licorice barnyard. Energetic and long on the palate. Generous but no excess fat. What a bottle!
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11/21/2018 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
Bottle 2 of 6. Last time I had a bottle was 2 yrs ago.
Took this one to GA for Thanksgiving, no formal TN.
Red fruit and barnyard, old leather, tobacco leaf.
Gritty, chewy tannins with a med+ finish of bright red fruits and soil notes.
Drink now through 2024+.
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9/23/2017 - Hikupp Likes this wine: 91 Points
Needs about 90 minutes to open up.
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8/22/2017 - Leomania wrote: 89 Points
Very tight and tannic first day; more approachable on the second. Red fruit, cranberry most notably. Sour disposition. Some earth and herbs. In spite of my first tasting note for this wine, I think I'm not a fan. Will look to sell my remaining bottles if possible.
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9/18/2016 - drrobvino wrote: 92 Points
I am just loving Cab Franc from the Loire.
This wine was so barnyard funky upon opening, but the aromas and flavors really integrated over an hour in the decanter.
Moist earth, funky shrooms, tobacco leaf, some mild green pepper, and tart red raspberry or cherry fruit in there somewhere.
Nice medium bodied wine (13% abv), with beautifully tart, just-right acidity, and firmly present tannins.
Everything is just right in this wine, and the interest level for old-skool aficionados is off the charts.
Drink now through 2024. It is soooo gooood right now, tho...
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8/26/2016 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Fabulous wine. From the deep garnet>ruby color, to the aromas of freshly turned earth and just-picked red and black fruits, to the deeply satisfying finish, this wine has it all. Perfectly ripe fruits, loads of earthy character, sweet tobacco, and structure to spare; this is what I want to drink every week. Forever. And as good as it was on day 1 (with 2hr audoze), it was even better on day 2; surely this would have lasted a few more days, as well. Medium-bodied, with a layered silkiness defining the textures. An excellent example of the variety and region of S-C. Thru 2028. 13,0% abv. is resolved. highly recommended
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6/9/2016 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good balance and pretty smooth
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5/30/2016 - Francophile Likes this wine: 92 Points
A really lovely well balanced and tasty wine
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2/21/2016 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
Smooth, a little acidic
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4/23/2015 - BHP1994 wrote: 90 Points
Similar notes to my last bottle. On day 2 it was even better.
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2/10/2015 - celestialmundane Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dense inky purple. Earthy fruity nose. Leather. Medium finish. Nice.
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7/25/2014 - Leomania Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had to open a bottle to try. Decanted for 2 hours before sampling. Bright, somewhat tart cherry fruit with nice concentration; herbs and some minerality. Nothing overdone. Good acidity, nice medium-length finish. Won't open another for awhile.
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3/3/2014 - paulziemba Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fantastic cab franc. Deep fruit and earth. Wish I'd bought a case.
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1/19/2014 - cadamson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Eye-opening, delicious, lots of leather and flowers on top of blue fruits. A bit of band-aid funk makes it very interesting. Still rocking and days 2 and 3. Again, all about place, and is amazingly good for a tariff of $30.
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1/5/2014 - BHP1994 wrote: 89 Points
Lots of green but with very floral overtones. Violets and leather. This is why I like the Loire. Great acids with strong tannins. Needs some time in the glass to open up.
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