Gereiftes Bordeauxrot. In der Nase voll da, offen, Gewürze, schwarze Johannisbeeren, Tabak. Im Gaumen zugänglich, feine Tannine, perfekt gereift, milde Säure, baut aus, zeigt Würze, etwas Alkohol bei steigender Wärme, gute Länge. Jetzt bis 2030 geniessen.
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Very youthful looking crimson purple in color. Lovely and classic aromas of cassis, dark florals, barnyard and woodfire. Well integrated palate shows sweet and savory reddish black fruits, dark cocoa, smoke, good acidity, fine tannins and an earthy and hint of tobacco in the finish.
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First day was not a good experience. Muted nose. Greenish oak/cedar notes on the palate. Air didn’t help much. Revisited on day 3, with significant improvement. Much smoother. Green notes resolved. Pure, even palate of dark fruit. I will hold my last few bottles.
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Enjoyed at Flemings Steakhouse. Acquired in 2010. Didn't take notes - dark red color with a nice clear meniscus. Cassis, dried black cherry, blackberry and tobacco. Palate was similar. Medium body, medium acidity, integrated tannins and nice long finish. Paired well with a NY Strip. Has aged beautifully. 92+
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Give it a couple hours of air. Tannins still rough and burly, but this bottle was much less tight than the last, and opened up eventually into a really nice balance of fruit and earth. No signs of decline, should continue to drink well for at least another 5+. 2005 is such a good vintage.
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2nd bottle out of 12. Rather bigger than the first one, with slightly more apparent acid & tannin. Still powerfully fruit driven and youngish. I’ll leave the rest for a year or two to see whether they develop more complexity to balance the huge body. Very much a “Parker” wine now.
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I keep hoping for more out of this. I'm not sure if it's too young or it just isn't there. A very decent wine but a bit stern and ungiving. Maybe it will improve with a few more years but I keep just drinking them because I forget not to drink them!
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First bottle of a case bought en primeur. Darkish red, little sign of ageing. Nose took a while to develop but came through with good dark fruit. Savoury character on the palate, fair power rather than elegance, no tertiary flavours yet so probably still developing. Merlot more evident than the Cabernet. Tannins hidden by savoury fruit. Certainly a good wine now, with promise of complexity. Should decant an hour or two before drinking next time.
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Some good black plum fruit, but at 18 still showing some burnt coffee charred oak notes. Also a little clipped and hard. Maybe just a phase, but not too hopeful. C+/B-
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The 2005 Haut Bergay was truly the most disappointing wine I have had in a minute. After purchasing based on several positive reviews, I noticed that bottle variation seemed to be rife on cellar tracker. Unfortunately, I believe I had a dud. Tannins are not well integrated, and it had a very overpowering green note on the finish. Fruits were muted, and no oak was present that I could get past the tannins. I am reticent to give bulleted notes as there was so much out of wack here. 86
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Maybe there was a lot of bottle variation but this esteemed vintage offering from Haut-Bergey has been a dud for me. Everything was stored perfectly but can't think of one bottle from six that was enjoyable.
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drying out maybe? took a few hours to open up, before which it was just tight and rough and bitter. could it turn the corner? only one way to find out ...
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Drank over two days. Re-corked and stored in cool dark place. Nose of musty black fruit and smoke, same on the palate along with good amount of barnyard - particularly on day one. Barnyard subsided on day two leaving the musty fruit and a little burnt wood. Daily drinker, IMHO.
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Friday Group Brown Bag Tasting (J&J's): Double blind. Similar to wine F with mixed red and black fruit and a nice herbal quality, though this isn't as prominent here. Deep color. Mixed fruit, vanilla and dill qualities on the palate. Adds an earthy element as it opens. While very good, this didn't strike me as Bordeaux. Still quite youthful, perhaps a few more years in the cellar will allow it to develop and show its true character. 91+ pts. (J&J)
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From a case bought on release. Double decanted two hours before service. Very dark red with no color loss. Lots of tannins and acid initially. Started to open in the glass, with black fruits coming on the palate. Still very young. This wine needs another few years to start to open up. It's probably 7-10 years at least until maturity, possibly more. This wine will drink well for decades.
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Medium ruby. Young mature. Earthy nose of forest loam. Drinking nicely with a long finish. Very nice at 17 years. I doubt this will improve but in no danger of going over the hill soon.
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This really isn’t working for me tonight. Spoofilated and modern. Slick and silky smooth It’s good red wine that is totally generic. Oak, camp fire and big berry fruit. Boring. Glad this style is losing favor. (86)
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A little green and herbal for my taste. Grippy tannins too. Better on 2nd day, with more red fruit, some wood shavings, and florals, but still a bit of a disappointment. Oh well.
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Second time with this wine. A bit tannic on opening, but this evolved nicely in the glass with black olives, leather, blackberry, and dark fruit on a medium length finish. Really pleasant wine drinking at peak with a few years still left.
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No outward signs of aging at all - no browning, bricking, old smell, etc. - and the flavors were better integrated with an aeration spout. This clearly has some years left. Popping the cork immediately filled the air with the smell of blackberries, the flavor had plenty of classic Bordeaux sawdust, pencil lead, and hints of minerals. The fruit was hidden behind those but still present, and it was incredibly smooth.
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Enough scorched earth and graphite to justify the heavy, supple, black plum, black currant, and blackberry. The firm of Savory, Leather, Masculine & Cedar. Acid a little low, finish a little short, but still overtly Old World
Subtle iron fades, soap nose, acidity and length increase on the 3rd day's almost sauve dénouement
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Great wine for very fair price. One of these many great examples, that excellent Bordeaux doesn’t have to be expensive. There’s enormous value in Bordeaux left and right of the famous lables.
This wine is in the second half of it’s prime drinking window. To be enjoyed probably within the next 5-6 years.
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Gaumen: trocken, mittlere Säure, mittlerer Alkohol, mittel (+) Tannine, voller Körper mit mittleren Aromen wie in der Nase, langer Abgang.
Sehr gute Qualität. Jetzt trinken, kein Lagerpotential.
Gesamturteil. Sehr guter Bordeaux am Ende seiner Trinkreife. Kaum noch Primäraromen. Mittlere aromatische Komplexität, aber sehr ausgewogen und mit perfekten integrierten Tanninen. Ein Genuss.
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Note from night 1 (second part to follow)- This is still very tight. I hope it softens tomorrow. Good nose, medium body, but a bit of bite at the end. This bottle just isn't as giving as I would like. At 17 years of age I don't think it's unusual to have bottle variation. Let's see what tomorrow brings.
Day 2- It opened up quite a bit, the fruit is lovely but there is still a bite at the end. Worthy of another point, up to 89.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, anise, cedar, graphite and forest floor. Black and red fruit, graphite, licorice, cedar and forest floor on the palate. Good persistence. Medium to full bodied. Served with black bean burgers and garlic aioli.
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Decanted for an hour; consumed over two evenings. This is drinking very well, with lively fruit and fairly well-integrated oak. A very satisfying middleweight Bdx, if an unremarkable one. The mid-palate is fleshy enough, and the finish is long enough. Could improve over the next few years.
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One-hour decant through a screened and aerating funnel. Some sediment in the screen and blackberry aromas during decant. After resting, wine was a dark crimson in bowl lightening to a cranberry pink. No amber and a small halo. Nose was pleasant: earth, blackberry and some violets. In the mouth: deep fruit but the tannins have not yet surrendered. Plenty of dark fruit: cassis and plum supported by the Pessac minerality. A little low on acid, but still very nice. Moderate finish of bamboo. Excellent QPR and a lovely match with lamb chops.
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1/18/2008, (See more on RJonWine.com...) 90 points (Château Haut-Bergey) Dark red violet; blackberry and violet nose; good cassis, plum palate with nice acidity and minerality; medium finish 90+ pts. (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot)
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Gave this a 3hr slow ox in Riedel Vinum BDX glasses & btl. Semi opaque ruby / garnet color. Classic Pessac aroma of tobacco & expresso along with background fruit notes. The flavors include dark fruit, cedar infused scorched earth & herbs. Overall, this could use a bit more lift for my liking. A smidge low acid for BDX.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, tobacco, graphite and dried herbs. Black fruit, graphite, tobacco, leather and dried herbs on the palate. Medium to long, dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Served with grilled portobello mushroom and Asiago burgers.
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Medium-red color. Chocolate and cassis bouquet. Tannic, blunt and closed right now. Difficult to provide an accurate numerical score. Cork pulled 2 hours before tasting.
From Mark’s 2005 Bordeaux Vintage Tasting: Attended a 36 wine ‘05 Bordeaux tasting recently. The wine above is one of those wines. Served single-blind. All wines were tasted over a 2 day period, 18 per day. The wines served on the 1st day had their corks pulled two hours prior. The second day’s wines were served “ double-decanted”, 2 hours before the first flight. The overall tasting experience was quite different, as one would expect. Day 2 wines were softer, displaying more ripe fruit, and less harsh tannins. Kudos to Mark for both a fantastic experience as well as providing an instructive opportunity on how the 2005 Bordeaux vintage is showing at this stage.
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Gorgeous fruit aroma on open. A bit tannic still. Amazing. Heavy and needed a one hour decant. Mellowed slightly but still a huge wine for an '05 at this stage. Very solid effort and sadly my last bottle.
Drank from a magnum that was opened 2-3 hour. Approachable and more ripe than I was expecting. Juicy plums, damp soil, tobacco, mineral and some warm oak. Likely peaking now and for the next few years.
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This has been in the glass for just 30 minutes, but it has already softened and is drinking beautifully. The aromas reveal it's middle age phase, which is to say, it's offering beautifully resolved fruit flavors while still demonstrating some exuberance. The notes are fruity, and include some briar, lots of spice, acidic cranberries but also some darker fruit... perhaps a plum skin. There's bits of gravel poking through as well... when you stop and really get in, the aromas are very revealing and quite evocative. Palate entry shows some more of those plum skins, and overall, here the notes are on the dark side of the fruit scale, with lots of those plum skin notes. It's fairly hefty in the mouth, showing lusciously soft and thick palate texture. The acid and tannins do build as you hold it there. The finish hits with acidity at first, and then a blossoming of spicy fruit tones, and tons of soil notes. Gritty tannins still kick you after a few seconds. This has Pessac-Léognan written all over it. At 15 years on, I think this wine is in its prime drinking window. Don't get me wrong; it's also not going anywhere anytime soon. However, I do think it's likely plateauing. If I had one bottle left I'd be happy to have consumed it now. However, being that I have 8, I think I'll plan to keep drinking 1 a year or so until it notifies me that I need to pick up, or slow the pace. There is just the slightest hints that the fruit is softening, and I certainly wouldn't want it to soften too much... right now it's still lively in all regard, but that fruit is on the border... to me, that means drink. I love that it's offering me a maturing Bordeaux sensation at a fantastic price without too much wait time. I partially bought this wine to be a bellwether for some of the higher rung 2005 Bordeaux I bought... this is implying that perhaps the vintage can start drinking soon.
Tasted this two years ago almost exactly to the day. Two years later it hasn’t budged. On night #2, it is much better and softens. This won’t ever measure up to the 2000 vintage of this wine.
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Ripe, still some structure, black plum and a little rocky gravel, still a bit of oak gloss, a bit more modern than my preference but very popular at tables. B
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No formal notes, but this was a lot softer than I had expected. My bottle four years ago still didn’t seem ready to go, and had very tight massive tannins. This bottle showed hardly any tannins, and the fruit profile was very soft and supple. I will have to dig into my next bottle and write a further detailed note, but I suspect that these are full blown ready to go… Perhaps even a little past prime.
This is drinking very well. The bouquet evokes roasted chestnuts. The palate is dark and penetrating with just appropriate supporting tannins now. Pliant mouthfeel. Easy finish, no heat. This wine, which was atypically light and tight on release for the vintage, is very enjoyable now.
Started off as a good and continued to improve. 65% Cab Sauv and 35% Merlot. Smooth, well integrated tannins. leather, tobacco, black raspberry, licorice , espresso. Delightful.
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Color: Wine beautiful ruby color. Taste: The wine has a complex, rounded, balanced taste with a good layered structure. Aroma: Wine with a stunningly rich aroma with hints of exciting fruit, black currant, wild raspberries, strawberries and chocolate.
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Light nose, with dark berries and leather prominent. Tannins integrated and alcohol is soft. Plenty of pencil and graphite. Some dark roast coffee notes. All in all a solid claret with good drinkability, albeit not the longest finish nor most complex.
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A great value for the $35 USD I paid for this 2015 which was considered a good vintage for this wine. Rounded tannins, dry, sweet blackberries and black raspberries, graphite, light oak.
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This one is right at peak with a lot of olive, earth, and dark fruit notes. Firm, but integrated tannins. This has a few more years, but is a near term drinker.
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Palate: dry, high tannin, medium+ acid, medium alcohol (13%), medium+ body, medium finish, tad bitterness, black cherry, red plum, black plum, blackcurrant, wet soil, crushed gravel, pencil shavings, sage, licorice, toast, chocolate, cedar, tobacco, dried sour cherry, dried black plum, baked cherry.
Overall: A nicely developed Bordeaux with a good balance of fruit, earth, and oak, even if the nose isn't immediately expressive (a good amount of air helps coax out all the aromas). The wine still has lots of tannins, but they are starting to resolve. Despite having fruit leaning a bit into the riper end of the spectrum, the alcohol is in check and the acid is sufficient to keep this convincingly in the style of the old world. For the price, I would want a little more complexity and a longer finish, but overall this is a solid, middle-aged Bordeaux that ticks all the boxes.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, pencil lead and dried herbs. Black and red fruit, tobacco leaf, leather, graphite and spice on the palate. Finishes with good length. Medium to full bodied. Served with strip steaks and a cognac cream sauce.
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Pulled from 13C cellar and let sit for 24h. Opened bottle and let sit ("slow oxidation) for a further 2 hours. Typical Bordeaux characteristics, medium-full bodied, tannins are well integrated, this wine is drinking very well now but has the stuffing to last many more years.
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Lovely bottle of Pessac. Medium garnet. Medium clear/orange rim. Barnyard, leather, and blueberries on the nose. Resolved tannins. Balanced acidity. Dark cherries. Medium finish. Solid wine. Served nicely as a pre-Christmas dinner beverage.
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Eucalyptus, cedar, violet, dried fruit, leather, pine sap, ripe crushed raspberries , crushed ripe cherries - nose. Very nice mature Bordeaux nose. Drinking just ok. Slightly bitter, drying, a bit hollow, oak, sour cherries, alcohol even comes through with its 13%. Drink right now if you got them, with friends so you can finish the bottle in 30 min. Update: The wine opened up nicely over the 1.5 hours after I wrote the initial note and lost some of it bitter and drying quality and drank smoother but also lost some of it fruit. This was my last one, if I had more I’d drink ‘em now.
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PnP. Ripe. Pencil lead. Tannins are mostly resolved. Mid palate is a bit weak. There is a slight bell pepper note. Persistent finish. These should be consumed over the next 3-5 years.
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Retailer tasting. Stewed fruit, raisiny notes, Christmas spice and flower water on the nose and palate, with some bitterness and moderate length. The wine had an unpleasant, earthy, slightly drying and furry aftertaste. Very evolved. I doubt that this bottle was stored under ideal conditions. NR
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nice; a little thin but has that graphite-pencil thing going on. last bottle, and I regret not being able to watch this over the next 5 years, though this might be the top
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In a lovely spot right now showing early maturity. Secondary elements are starting to emerge including a damp earth thing while the generous fruit of the vintage still present. This was my last bottle and I wish I had a few more. Drink now but no rush.
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Two more years and this has come together nicey. Black cherry cola, anise, some herbal notes that were enjoyable. Clean balanced finish. Still should go another decade with ease.
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Tartrates on the cork bottom. Dark plum color with little bricking. Very dried out on the palate with tart plums and sour cherry. Not very elegant, though the finish has some length. I have consumed many bottles of this, and found this bottle indicative of a wine whose best years have passed.
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Nose of black and red fruit, spice and earth. Medium bodied and nicely balanced - somewhat modern style with pretty sweet tannins. Still on a nice plateau. 91 points.
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Had this decanted over two nights - it was very tight, tannic and closed on the 1st night. 2nd night it was better fruit came forward a bit - redcurrant apricot a little strawberry maybe fig touch cloves - I think it will be fine but needs age. Still quite tannic although reasonably well integrated drinking 88 but has potential for 2-3 more points if it works out. This wasn't my wine but I have lots of 05 and I am not touching any of it for quite a while.
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Nose- earthy, forest floor, red fruits. Palate- Just flabby.. no acidity left whatsoever. Short finis and sharp tannins. Totally out of balance. It’s best years are behind it .
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Surprisingly earthy (as in moist soil) on both nose and palate. After some air, some dark fruit and graphite notes. Interesting bot not a favorite among several other Bdx on the table including the 2004 La Confession.
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Dry earth on the nose with strong red fruit on the palate. Didn't detect many signs of new oak, though it doesn't mean it wasn't there. I struggled with this wine and would like to come back to it.
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K&L Bordeaux Tasting (San Francisco): Ruby core with gentle gradation outwards. Gentle herbal aromatics. Nice, spicy fruit entry with very good acidity, but a significantly grainy, tannic finish that just clings to the palate. Probably worth holding onto to see if the tannin relents a bit.
As with prior bottles, very dark fruit, earth, charcoal, a lean, silky texture and firm structure. It has mellowed over the past few years and lost the harshness I experienced previously. You can sense some age as dried fruit flavors are beginning to emerge.
Surprisingly deep garnet color. Mix of dark and red fruits along with camphor and tobacco. Silky and modern without the heaviness and weight of some examples. A bit generic - yes - but a nice wine nonetheless. (89)
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Popped and poured into glasses. Just didn’t feel like a fancy decant on what is supposed to be a fairly straightforward wine with some age.
Wine is surprisingly purple and youthful in appearance. Don’t even see any evidence of bricking.
On the nose: mint, anise, bay leaf, olives, cherries, hint of green.
On palate: wine is sound, definitely has some age to it. Medium alcohol, softened tannins, low-medium alcohol, short finish, medium body. Taste is less compelling than smell, as the complexity is subdued. But pretty nice and a good change of pace to have something with some bottle age this weekend.
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1st of 12. Decanted and poured right away. Initially a grapey nose with some mineral herbal notes. Complex. Layered. Elderberry. Leather. Wormwood. Acids are softening. A bit of bitter on the finish. I plan to drink these over the next 4-5 years.
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The fill was into the neck and the cork was sound; popped, poured and consumed over the course of 3 hours. A dark ruby core, with some hints of pink at the rim. A bit straight-laced and reserved on the nose, with some notes of high-toned red fruits. Medium bodied, lacking in terms of texture and depth. I didn't really enjoy this wine, and I was paying particular attention as I recently received an offering at a good price. Given how little pleasure I derived from this bottle, it is an easy pass.
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Deep color and rich aroma. Lots of fruit on the nose for a 13 year old Bordeaux, kind of expected from this vintage. This wine was excellent even at P&P . After 1.5 hour decant and re-bottling for tasting event, it opened up with even more fruit on the nose and palate. A great bottle from a private cellar at only $38 .
13 years old from a half bottle — I can’t help but think if this were a 1985 being consumed in 1998, it would be a lot different. The move toward riper fruit and toastier oak produces a different wine at this stage. Not a lot of aromatic complexity here — a bit of cigar box, chocolate from the oak and nicely ripe cassis fruit. It’s round with really fine grained tannins. Really nice balance and a moderate finish. While it’s tasty and hard not to like, it could be more interesting.
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A solid effort for the price, but not as good as the 2000 vintage. It might be because it is not yet aged as long as the 2000 vintage, but my gut tells me this won't ever rise to the same level even with more time in the bottle. Nevertheless, I am not going to open anymore of the 2005 vintage for at least a few more years in hopes it gets even better.
boy do I love 2005. This is developing very nicely. Initial pour super funky and flat but it blow off. Tannins still firm and drying, but all the pieces seem to be there. Still some room for improvement - no rush, 2022+
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Popped and poured; consumed over the course of two hours. Notes of cigar box, currants, blackberry and plum. Medium bodied, with a round texture, good depth, and nice finish.
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Igen manglede det tydelige Bordeaux præg. Men denne gang var rygraden tydelig. Frugten mere afdæmpet. Nok mere flaskevariation end tegn på udvikling siden sidst. Haster ikke, men tror ikke det bliver bedre.
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This one drank very well. Still room to improve, but the fruit is strong, the tannin is balanced and there is nothing harsh on the finish. Ready now, but no rush.
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This is drinking really well now. Could serve as a PnP, but much better after an hour or two in the decanter. Drink either by itself or with food. Solid Brdx all the way through.
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Medium red color. Cassis, cherry, tobacco and plum on the nose. On palate, similar flavor profile with medium body, medium acidity, smooth tannins and medium+ finish. Fruit on palate was "drier" than the nose suggested. 91+/-
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K&L Wines of Bordeaux Tasting (K&L Wines, Redwood City, CA): 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot. Complex and expressive aromas of espresso, dark cherry, black currant, olives, black tea and just a hint of toast. Smooth and balanced on the palate, with red and black fruit shining through, velvety texture, and fine-grained tannins. A slightly limited finish disappoints, but lots of quality on show here.
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Still really drinking well. Second day a bit better. Maybe a hint of cherry on the finish. No need to rush, this wine has many years in front of it. The next 10 year's should serve this wine well. Enjoy!
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Big wine with nice aromatics and good fruit but it's still pretty tight with a bit of a bitter finish. Day 2 was better, less bitter, still strong fruit. It's not far from ready.
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Double decanted for about an hour. Good amount of fine grain sediment. Paired with rack of lamb. Nose is sweet and pleasant. Palate is smooth, pleasant and fruity. Classic Bordeaux that went well with strong flavor of the meat. Easy to drink, great QPR, glad I acquired a few more bottles.
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This was quite pleasant. Not as young as I expected, but could use quite a few more years before at what I prefer as peak. Not crazy about the QPR, but with age my opinion on this will most likely change.
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Deep color and rich aroma. Lots of fruit on the nose. Just love this much fruit in a 13 year old bottle. Reinforces the 2005 Bordeaux vintage was excellent. This wine was excellent even at tasting before a decant. After 1.5 hour decant, it showed to be rich but balanced and retained an excellent fruit profile. A great bottle and at only $38 on original purchase, its a crazy good deal of a wine!!
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Aromas of blackberry, cherry, currant, graphite and dried herbs. Red fruit, coffee, graphite, leather and spice on the palate. Long soft, dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Fruit forward style and well balanced. Good QPR.
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Opened our third bottle of the case last night. Not sure I can add much to the 200+ notes already contributed, but I can agreed with most of them. Absolutely hitting the drink window, and will likely improve a little more. I actually prefer the 2005 over the 2000. Smooth, great balance, integrated flavor across a range tastes. I agree with the need for a decant or a little time to get some air. Really outstanding!
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no formal notes brought to dinner party, PnP, I think this one needed some decanting. Initially it came across a little austere and closed, it started to come together in the last glass about 1 1/2 after opening. No rating.
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Really good and in a great spot right now. Classic Bordeaux characteristics and at 13 years of age I think this is close to maturity. A few more years in the cellar would be good, too. Would be interesting to see if it develops further. Love being able to start tasting the 05 vintage. 88-90
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20 minute decant. Medium red ruby. A laid back nose of cherry, spice (black pepper), black currant, forest floor; on the palate cherry upfront and slightly herbaceous and a little spice on the back; medium acidity; nice fine tannins. Understated, reserved and elegant.
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Interesting nose, loaded with creosote and charred wood. A dark minerality as well. Black currant. Delicious, minty palate. This is perfectly mature and shows a broader array of flavors than aromas. Sweet black currants, spices, new wood, forest floor and some oak as well as a refreshing mineral character. Hints of chocolate. This is absolutely fresh and inviting and at peak maturity! Drink 2017-2023. 91
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An elegant Bordeaux, oak and tobacco on the nose; some black fruit, but mostly savory notes to the taste. Served shortly after opening; showed improved during the first 30 minutes after opening. Smooth finish of medium length.
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Young but open for business. Quite ripe with plenty of fruit, a touch glossy showing a modern hand. Tons of oak on the nose right now, showing all anise and licorice, a bit too much for me. The palate is less woody, and on the simple, ripe end of things. This could improve some more in the cellar, but no foul opening one now with a decant.
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We let it breath and hour or so and aerated on serving. It has sweet dark fruit with a little dust or oak on the nose. Dusty tannins on the palate with balanced dark fruit and maybe some tobacco on the back. Decent length. Drinkable right now. It was good on Day 1. Notes are from Day 3. The bottom of the bottle on Day 4 was still drinkable but a little chewy and tannic. Nice wine - I hope I still have some more in storage.
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This wine evolved nicely throughout the night. Nose had some syrupy fruit at first and the tobacco and spice later on. The palate was spice and tobacco with some cherry notes with a medium finish. It was pretty tannic at first and that mellowed after 3 or 4 hours.
This was a pleasure to drink and it's in a good place now but I imagine this will be good for years to come.
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I really wonder what happened to this wine. I bought a case each of 2005,2009,2010 expecting great things. I have not touched the 09 or 10 yet. However, the 2005 has been a disaster. I have had 6 bottles and they have been drinkable. That's the best I can say. I normally don't post notes but last night. Well.... I opened the 2005, decanted for an hour and served the wine with dinner. My wife has a discriminating sense of taste. She won't drink inferior wine. After 1 glass, she passed her to me and said (without comment) glass and said you can finish my wine. My analysis: absolutely no fruit, no smokiness and the wine was bitter. The wine was not defective it was simply poor quality. I have 6 more of the 2005. I will try the 2009 soon.
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Enjoyed this very much, especially for the price point. Aromas of leather, spice, and a bit of barnyard-- not bretty, though. Fine, well-resolved tannins. Cherries and savory notes on the palate. Medium-length finish. Great wine to serve with a meal. Wish I had some more of this one.
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From Magnum. Took about 2 hours to fully open. Not as good as the 2000 but still a very nice Bordeaux at a very reasonable price. Black, blue and red fruits layered. Some dried herbs and hints of tobacco.
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Fairly tight with first pour but opened up and proceeded to improve over a few hours. Plums, black tea, embers and cherry are some of the flavors and smells that become apparent. It is a medium bodied wine with good length and a clean, smooth finish. Great now but there is no hurry to drink up. Would like to find more for consuming over the next five years.
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Depending on where you look there are wildly varying opinions on the current state and future promise of this wine. After opening a bottle to pair with dinner (beef stew) I think it is in a transition phase, where the showy, up-front fruit and oak has faded, but the aged elements have not yet fully developed.
The first small pour was quite austere. I could have seen someone thinking the wine had gone over the hill. As time went on it opened up. It never became fruity, but it gained depth. It showed a core of substance that was equal to the core of structure - matter and anti-matter in balance.
I would advise putting this wine away to allow more aged character to emerge. It will never be showy or hedonistic, but it seems (benefit of the doubt here) to have sufficient stuffing to allow for it to be a more interesting older wine than it is as an "adolescent" wine.
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Well this bottle is denser, more full bodied. Somewhat more closed than previous bottles. Not as good, won't rate it since I had such good experience with the previous bottles. Maybe in a closed stage. My last bottle though.
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Almost precisely 5 years since my last bottle, which is the start of the window I suggested to dive into the next (5-10 years). Opened due to all the recent good notes, so thanks community! Pop and poured. Quite dark in color. Huge fruit on the nose, rich licorice, dark blackberries, graphite and sweet soil. Really rich, lovely and confident aromas. Smells very well integrated and pretty; the best aspect of this wine today. Palate is immediately hitting with acid and puckering tannin, but there's also plenty of really well integrated soft, pure pretty dark red fruits and slight spice. Creamy finish and quite large tannins pounding on the finish. A few moments after swallowing though the tannins do recede a bit and you're left with more nice pure milk chocolate and creamy red berry notes. Reading my note from 5 years ago, it does appear some of the tannins have integrated a bit, and there's certainly more fruit expressing. That said, I still think this wine needs at least 5 years to actually start an ideal drinking window, but it's certainly drinking decently today. After a few more hours open this began shutting down more. I came back to this wine after 24 hours and it was basically all structure and drinking more at 88 points. After 48 hours it was already going off, which was a bit surprising.
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This is not a profound wine but it is lovely. It is distinctively Pessac. It will never be La Mission, but these wines are going for $20-35 and they are well-crafted, "pure", smoky, with black cherries, under control alcohol levels, 10-20 year age-worthiness. They are a slight notch below their right bank relatives at Barde-Haut, but they are a few dollars lower in price as well. As delicious and seductive as the 2005 Haut Bergey and 2005 Barde Haut are, I think I give the 2012 versions of each even an extra point or two. These are lovely, well-crafted, well-priced Bordeaux wines. This 2005 Haut Bergey is still youthful but showing evolution and will drink well for at least another 5-10 years. The 2012 Haut Bergey goes for $23, which is a no brainer. 91 points.
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Ruby with lightening on edges. Subtle nose of plum and a bit of cherry and mint and flour. Fine sweetness on the attack, very fresh, with svelte, silky smooth texture and good acidity. Palate of wild strawberries, ripe plums, sweet raspberry, flour, thyme, a touch of blackberry paste. Nice smaller wine that is at least 3 years into its mature phase.
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Decanted about 2 hours. Paired with grilled filet mignon. Dark fruit on the nose and great earthy taste on the pallet. Nice smokey flavor, maybe a hint of mint? Certainly some spice notes as well. A very nice wine for the money.
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Pretty nice stuff for $25, and completely wide open. Seems merlot heavy, it is fairly soft and round, but not OTT or oaky. Definitely on the modern end of things and built to drink young (by Bordeaux standards). Wonder if this will develop any complexity with more age? I have 6 more so I'll probably find out. Overall, a satisfying quaff.
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 2 hours. Nose of blackberry, currant, forest floor, leather, dried herbs and graphite. Black and red fruit, coffee, leather, forest floor, graphite, spice and firm tannins on the palate. Leads to a medium to long, soft, dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Paired with grilled cognac, chive cheeseburgers.
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Dark fruit on the nose & palate. Still very tannic after 2 hour decant. Nice wine, but I agree with some of the other recent posts... Will hold the last bottle for about 2 years or so.
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in a great spot right now. Opened and decanted for 5+ hours. This shows no signs of slowing down. Deep dark color all the way to the rim. dark fruits, earth and maybe just a very touch of leather coming through. Med-Full bodied on the palate and very tasty. Tannins were most definitely present but starting to integrate just a little. Acidity interplaying well on the back end with the fruit and tannins to make this bottle wonderfully balanced. Should age really well for a long time.
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Drank this over the weekend. Phenomenal. In a really good place right now. Still some tannins but as a previous note mentions they add to the overall taste -- they give the wine a sense of vibrancy. Nose is very clearly aged, extremely earthy. Balanced yet concentrated dark fruits with some notes of iron on the palate. Still decent acidity. Delicious.
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Decanted 2 hrs. I found this quite tight and tannic to start with, even after the decant it hadn't opened up much. Saved half the bottle for the next day and it was much better, the nose in particular was much more intense. Smooth on the palate and lots of dark berry fruit. If I had any more of this I wouldn't be in a rush to drink it personally.
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Bought this as futures some seven years ago. PnP, a bit tight at the beginning, but continued to improve throughout the night reaching its stride after an hour or so. Agree with previous User, I believe this wine has reached its drinking plateau. Pairs very well with meats and drinks very well on its own. Classic Bordeaux wine, overall very smooth, with some slight hard edges remain that add to its complexity more than taking away from the wine's pleasure. It is nuanced due to its age but remains vibrant. Great QPR at the $27 price I paid. Solid 91 pts. Enjoy!
Nose of black and red fruit, spice and earth. Medium bodied and nicely balanced - somewhat modern style with pretty sweet tannins. I think this has reached a nice plateau where it should remain for at least 5 years. 91 points.
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Fantastic! Deep red color, wonderful aroma, luscious fruit yet tannins that were alive. Good acidic balance to match. Overall a worthy effort and at <$40, an incredible QPR. Highly recommend this estate.
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Interesting that this bottle had a different character than the one drank in Oct. Full body, very dark deep purple black color with strong showing of right bank merlot and cab franc profile. Quite smooth, fresh but with restrained spice/acidity, dark fruit mix of black cherry, currants and blackberry with a much milder rose tone that is barely discernible compared to last bottle. Very nice but a bit deep and heavy so would do better pared with food. Mild tannins and long finish. I wonder what character the last bottle in the cellar will show.
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PnVnD, and trying now after an hour. Deep fuchsia color that is fairly opaque. Animal, graphite, blackberry, and oak aromas. Very juicy fruit flavors. You can really taste the 65% Cab Franc and the smokiness. Tannins are surprisingly integrated--based on the last one tasted a year and half ago, I would not have expected this wine to be this mature. Tannins are still prominent, though. Good mid-palate and medium finish. Probably another ten years for this juice given where it is now, so I don't think that there's any hurry. I can't say that this is a favorite style of wine for me, but it's very good nonetheless.
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Dark blood red color. Earthy on the nose with rich, dark fruit, mushroom, oak, dust. Full bodied and very dry. Smokey, forest floor, currant. tannins are there. If you like wines from this area of Bordeaux, you will not be disappointed. This one is true to form and very, very good.
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First bottle of a bunch purchased EP and stored in my 55 degree cellar since arrival in U.S. Checked in because a couple of the recent notes suggest that this has peaked and should be consumed in the next couple of years. That was not my impression. Not suggesting this will be a 50-year wine, but IMO it will drink well for another 5 years and perhaps 10 or more.
Dark purple color, with deep purple at rim. Nice, moderately complex nose of mostly black but also red fruit. No mushrooms, leather or secondary notes I could detect.
A bit modern in style, but not at all over the top to my tastes. I enjoyed the slightly sweet note, traditionalists might disagree. Medium body, pleasant though not especially long finish.
Overall a modern Bordeaux in an enjoyable, crowd-pleasing style with enough complexity to hold my interest. Drinking well now, but will still be enjoyable over the next several years, I'd guess.
Drinking very nicely now. Middle to full body but more on the mid weight side. Expressive flavours of red and black fruits, very nice balance of flavours and light acidity/spice. Finishes with some mild and soft tannins. Probably peaking at this time. Suggest drinking over the next year or two. Did not find it at all at a dumb stage as others have but may depend on how it's stored. Had stored in a cooling cabinet at 58 degrees for 5 + years. Decanted and aerated before drinking. Of 3 solid wines, including a highly rated Ribera and a Barolo, friends ranked this first for drinkability.
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PnP. This has reached full maturity with secondary flavors being predominant at this point. Not much fruit as this is primarily composed of cedar, dried herbs, and tobacco. Somewhat drying tannins remain. The first bottle of a case, I left these too long.
Day 2 - I hope the comments about this being in a dumb phase hold true, but I have my doubts. This was flat as can be after storage in the refrigerator. Secondary notes remain but the fruit is lacking and there is no finish on this at all. Score 85.
As I noted with the 2009, I don't think that wine will go beyond 12-15 years and I'm starting to think that about this wine.
Displaying a lightness in color, there is a mature, softness to the dark berries, with a perfume of earth, cherries, espresso and fresh herbs that feel round and soft in the berry, filled finish. This is not a wine to hold for further aging.
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Dark, dry. Black current, tar, forest floor. A bit closed down at the moment, finish is relatively short; tannins still present. Mellowed out after being open for a while; needs at least a couple of hours to breathe. Best days still ahead.
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PNP - big fruit driven nose on opening. Dense, opaque color. Medium to full bodied, big fruit flavors. Ready to drink but can age for years. Excellent!
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Very enjoyable bottle. Ditto on previous notes, but definitely seems ready to me, with a short decant, and should continue to improve. If this is any indication, the 2005 vintage from these parts will be really something.
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PnP. This continues to improve. Tannins are softening and the wine is getting more complex. It's still a little rough around the edges and ideally needs food. Good through 2020. 2025?
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Massive, smokey, earthy, rustic, chewy, brambly, dark, thick and rich. Opaque black/purple color; medium weight; big, firm structure, velvety texture, nice depth of flavor and a medium-long finish. Nothing elegant- it is a bit of a brute, but an enjoyable one. This has taken on body and depth, and lost some of the sharp edges of prior bottles over the past year, and I think it is as good as it is going to get.
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Popped and poured. Consistent with previous bottle. Notes of plum, black cherry and cedar dominated the nose with a bit of menthol and bitter dark chocolate joining on the palate. Medium acidity and medium tannins but slightly tighter than last time. Once again, the best sips were those toward the end after being open for about an hour. If I had any bottles left, I would probably hold for a bit longer.
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Decanted at 1:30 pm; poured back into the bottle at 5:00 pm; taken to the restaurant and then drank from 7:15 to 9:30 pm. This is the first bottle from a case I bought in 2007. Still rustic but with nine years and a long decant, it is starting to show very well. Red fruit, spice and some mocha. a very masculine wine. There are still some stringent tannins but not so much as to make the mouthy implode. I estimate another five years at least until it plateaus, perhaps even more, and will probably then last until I am too old to appreciate it. This was an interesting contrast with the 2008 Pino di Biserno we had along side it with the same decant regimen. The Haut Bergey is 55% Cab/ 45% Merlot. The Biserno is 40% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. The Biserno was smoother, much less rustic and a bit more expressive fruit. More approachable despite being three years younger. However, I am projecting VERY good things for the Haut Bergey in the future.
Tested bottle. Exceeded expectations. This is entering its perfect drinking window - all the hard edges have gone from c.2 years ago. Smooth & satisfyingly complex, typical Grave notes with a ripe fruity slant. Great value for a Tuesday eve ! (stored in cellar temps 12-18 degrees C).
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Tons of fruit, tons of structure. It's still so tightly wound, I hope it loosens up before the fruit caves in. It needs at least another 5 years, but probably more like 10!
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Dark brick red in color. Nose of cassis, black berries, brown spice, tobacco. Medium to full body, has velvety texture. Black fruit with spice is lush on the palate. Tannins restrained but firm. Medium length finish.
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Still with big, fresh, juicy dark fruits that taste like they were picked yesterday. All the black fruit flavors remind me more of a Howell Mountain than a typical bordeaux - black fruits, a bit of tar, charcoal and perhaps some tea. Soft edges, lean texture and sharp acidity makes for a somewhat unusual profile. Enjoyable, but lacks the concentration, depth and complexity needed to be anything special.
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 2 hours. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, tobacco leaf, graphite, vanilla and spice. Flavors of black cherry and blackberry fruit integrated with tobacco leaf, barrel spice, vanilla and smooth, fine tannins. Leads to a medium length finish. Medium bodied, smooth texture, with soft mineral notes. Paired with Greek Tenderloin.
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Third out of a case, and the last one two years ago. Black fruits, vanilla, a little oak, and flowers on the nose, after being open in the decanter for 1-1/2 hours. Very soft on the palate. Cocoa. Nicely balanced with a long finish. This will still improve a point or two.
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Decanted for around 1 hour. Initially not much on the nose other than some dark red currant and woody notes but eventually opened up nicely to reveal some graphite, savory herbs and a bit of menthol to go along with some spicy red fruits. Similar flavors on the palate joined by a little cedar cigar box and cherry cough drop. Medium acid and tannins with a nice mouthfeel and finish. The best sips were the last ones after being decanted for around 1.5 hours. Very enjoyable Bordeaux and will likely continue to develop.
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Initially quite closed. Best with a 2 hour decant: really not ready to drink. Improved with double Vinturi but best with the decant, that brought out dark fruit and minerality. Needs a few years. Best with roast chicken. (with Pamela Z and celebrating)
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Very refined and elegant, this has no hard edges at all. Lovely pencil shavings, dark cherries, plums, and tobacco show up with a good balance. This has enough deliciousness without austerity so it may appeal to some new world cab drinkers. 13% alc.
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Decanted for 1.5 hours before serving with grilled NY strips. My wife guesed a Bordeaux style Napa cab. No sign of age in colork, tobacco, black currants, coffee grinds on nose - medium+ body, with black cherry, tobacco, mocha on palate. Nice acids and Medium+ length with with nice drying tannins - great with the steaks. 91-92 range.
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Soft, supple, bright fruit. A modern Bordeaux style. Popped the bottle, tasted it upon opening, at one hour and then two. One hour is ideal at this point in maturity. Should drink well through 2017. Not going to improve much more from here.
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This wine is coming into its own. While still opaque crimson in color, the aromas and flavors have become more harmonious since my last tasting 10/29/10. Cassis, rye, fennel, dark chocolate and loamy earth reside within a frame of fresh acidity, generous polished tannins and seamless alcohol (listed as 13%). Silky in texture but solid in backbone, there is no paucity of fruit on this wine. The smooth finish goes on and on. While this was not a blinded taste, I suspect that anyone tasting this wine in blinded fashion would confuse it for an elegant Napa Cabernet blend. It is absolutely delicious and has the stuffing to provide enjoyment for many more years. Drink now-2025.
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Decanted for one hour and drank over two. 13% alcohol good. This is outstanding wine. Developed over the two hours. Best with spicy food. Worth double the $30 I paid on futures.
Hélène Garcin-Lévêque Dinner (Boarding House, Chicago): Tasted with a variety of wines from the estates of Helene Garcin-Leveque. This was poured alongside the 2005 Barde-Haut, and the comparison favored the Barde-Haut (but only for now). Dark, opaque crimson color. Ripe cherries on the nose, with pine resin, oil and gravel notes. Smooth up front but a little vegetal towards the back of the palate, with tannins still a bit tart. This blend is 70% Cabernet and is built to last, so another 5 years is required at least, with 10-15 years likely necessary for this to show its stuff. Though the Barde-Haut is more accessible now, this will inevitably surpass its sibling with time.
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Had the 2005 and 2008 together. The 2005 was smoother and had a little more weight but not much on the palate and a little sweet. I believe the wine is closed down right now and I will wait a few years before opening the next bottle.
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it has probably a good potential, but this bottle was quite "closed". I have decanted the wine for 2 hours, but it looked as a wine which was too young and not in a good period. I will wait one more year to open the next one. I have tasted this bottle from the same year 2005, which was very good, but I could not recognized it today. sorry for my english ;-)
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Cork perfect. Four hours in the decanter. Minerals with perfume of black and red fruit on the nose. Firm tannins, but a beautiful full-bodied wine. Rich in fruit, currant and acidity, but balanced. Long finish. This is a wine I could drink all evening. One of those wines I wish I'd bought more of upon release.
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Opened and decanted for 1 hour. Deep red. This is a very earthy wine. Slate,wet stone with a very deep dark cherry. The tannins were quite subdued but the finish left a scorched earth taste lingering in the mouth. I liked this wine but you have to be in the mood...then it is 92
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Really nice core of fruit but still pretty tight. The tannins don't hurt, but they shelter the fruit pretty well. Reading over my last night I get the sense that this has developed a little. Probably 3-5 more years until it starts to strut. Hopefully will benchmark again in another 2 years or so.
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My first bottle of this wine. Almost black in color with dark berry & cherry aromas. I expected to get hit with a 2x4 of oak, but the wine was surprisingly sweet, ripe and rich with a smooth, velvety texture. Flavors match the nose along with a hint of licorice and tar. Nicely balanced with smooth tannins and a plush mouthfeel. Nice, medium, fruity finish. Overall a pleasant, fruity wine with just enough backbone to balance all the ripe flavors and the soft texture. Unlike others, I think I will drink up over the next 2-3 years. 90+
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Initially, decanted for 2 hours. Second bottle from a case; first one drank about a year and a half ago. The flavors have filled in nicely, as I had hoped from the first bottle. Black cherry and cassis, with some licorice. Very dry tannins initially, but by the time I finish my last glass of the evening (in the decanter for 7 hours), they were very mellow. Drinking after 2-3 hours, I was ready to give this a 90, but by the end of the night, I was thinking maybe 91. This bodes well for the future evolution of this wine, given that it's only been in bottle for 6 years at this point. This may not be a 20 year wine, but it will be a good drinker for the next 10 years at least. It will be hard, but I'll try to wait another 2 years before popping another one.
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Medium bright purple color. Earth driven nose with some woodsy, cedar notes along with dark red fruit and a bit of heat coming through. Dark red fruit on the palate with firm tannins, medium acid and a dry finish. Mouthfeel was somewhat dry and chalky but overall, I enjoyed this wine and it certainly drank better with food. Will try another bottle in 2 years.
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Though not exuberant, the nose was nevertheless very fragrant with aromas of red fruits. On the palate, the wine was flawless with a well integrated structure highlighted by the dominant taste of delicious red fruits. Smooth tannins indicate the wine is ready for consumption. Finish was medium long & nicely lingering. At $50 this left bank Bordeaux is a bargain.
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Aroma: musk, tobacco, raisons, charcoal Palate: stern, tannic, cedar, After 45 Minutes tasted sour cherries, licorice, chalk, chocolate. It was an extremely nice wine, and it kept me off-balance as it changed over 2 hours and made it difficult for me to rate. I said 89 and my husband said 90.
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I don't think this is ready yet - it's somewhat approachable, but for now you would be better off drinking the '07 or even '08 vs. this. Quite racey and Flamboyant.
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Big improvement in these. Popped one open last night and had half. The nose is better the the taste which is medium weight cherry, but these are real nice now. I'd say the window is open at this point and will continue for many years. Enjoy!
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Clear dark garnet. Expressive nose of dark fruit, licorice, vanilla, and a little cherry. Medium to full palate of ripe blackberry, cassis, minerals, and spice. Velvety texture. Excellent length. Pleasant acidity. Sweet tannins. Superb QPR Bordeaux.
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33rd Austin Wine Salon - Bordeaux (Max's Underground): Very primary, juicy, black currant tar and coffee. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to scoff at either. At the going rate of $40/bottle, this would be a pass in my book.
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Decanted two hours. Impressive nose of black currants, cedar and graphite. More graphite notes on the palate along with a slightly bitter earthiness. Tannins are noticeable but smooth and round. Terrific balance and freshness.
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This has everything it needs, but its not ready yet! Very fruity (cherry), but uncharacteristic lead and graphite. Very dense. Don't touch for at least a few years.
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The first of a case. Opened last night, put the whole bottle through a Vinturi into a decanter, served, and had one full glass left that I covered overnight. This shows very heavy, thick aromas, including chocolate sauce, vanilla wafer candy, and berry pie. This smells like a dessert cafe. Very tight palate, with some graphite, but definitely showing some heavy oak tannin influence. Quite grippy and tight, not really showing much in the way of fruit; just mostly structure, though along with the oak tannins are some sweeter fruit tannins. The finish is fairly spicy, with good acid persistence, but again, it's completely structure at this point. There's just a bit of rocky soiliness on the finish, but I certainly wish for more. Easily needs 5-10 years to even start in on these.
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90+ This may be turning a corner. Popped one open last night and had 2 glasses. Nose was real nice with a primary dark cherry flavor. Second half tonight, but this was its best showing to date for me. I really enjoyed last night. Enjoy!!!
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Very dark color, notes of black fruits, scorched earth, some grill, floral and herbs. From the nose and color, this wine seems like it is going to be huge, but in fact it is very light on it's feet and tannins are so soft and silky. This is almost impossible not to like.
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Deep purple color. A very good Pessac-Leognan, with a solid structure, and firm tannins. Offers layers of sweet cherries, earth, smoke, ink, licorice and plums, both on the nose and palate. Long and sweet finish. To drink now, with roast lamb, or to keep for several years.
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Not where I want them yet but getting there. They are a nice wine, I just don't know if I would buy 2 cases of this if I could do it all over. 1 case would have been enough. Enjoy!
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Opened four hours ahead. Nose not that strong until the end of the bottle... stone,a bit of oak, a touch of cardamon. The wine is subtle with a good balance. Tannins are there. Finish is Bordeaux for sure. In the drinking window now with air time and Venturi.
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I was a little letdown, given my high expectations. Still a really nice bottle though. It needed a good amount of time to open up (better the second day), so use a airator, decanter, etc. for now. Good nose of black currants, a little cedar and leather. Similar on the palate but with some cherries added, and a slightly stony flavor as well. It lost me on the midpalate, with less body than I was expecting, and a shorter finish than I had hoped.
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This came in 11th of 12 wines at our Judgment of Ballston blind tasting of reds from France and the US. I originally scored it 9/20, but upgraded it to 10/20 after futher tasting. I liked the light, floral nose better than the acidic palate.
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A familiar nose of warm berry, barnyard earth, anise and meat fats. Medium bodied, dominated by earthy berry. Moderate length finish showing licorice tannin, herb, hickory smoke. Nicely detailed, airy, burgundy lightness. Needs another 5-7 years to fill-out.
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This wine has developed over the last year much better than I expected. It now shows good cassis and graphite and a pleasant dose of oak. Full bodied and soft but also firm tannin. Will be definitely nice over the next 5 - 7 years and possibly much longer.
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This is a nice wine now -- and will be even nicer, with a little more time. I got 2 e-mails from retailers selling more of this wine (we got our on futures) -- and saying it was a decent drink now (with a long decant) -- so I had to pop a bottle and check it out. Initially very tight, closely-wound and tannic. Some went in a glass, some went through the venturi (twice), some went in the decanter and the rest went back in the fridge.
I liked it best after a 90-minute decant. Then I got lovely red currant, cherries. mineral and some earth. the nose was particularly lovely, and it was a very good pairing with the roast chicken [yes, graves was made for chicken], which brought out more of the red and black fruit, graphite and mineral.
The rest of the bottle was pretty good the next night -- although not as good as the 1/2 decanted.
Better with 2+ years of bottle age, but an enjoyable drink now with a long decant. We paid $27. Decent QPR for that price.
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Lessons learned. - Read first. Don't know why I didn't look at the other notes first but I didn't. Guess it was because I had it in my hand so I just brought it upstairs and opened it up.
Right now, this is in a sleepy place. Not giving up much on taste, while the nose gives a bit more. Tannins at first were light but built as time went by. I had half a bottle last night and may give this 48 hours to try the other half.
I don't know when they'll be ready, but I do know they need more time. If you're reading this, pay attention and let them sleep.
Enjoy...later!!!
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This wine has shed a lot of 2005 tannins, but seems to be sleeping a bit.... its that time of evolution for Bordeaux. However, its still a great wine, just very tight nit, even after trying the second half 24 hours later.
Great, earthy aromas, and dark cherry. Very well balanced, deep and rich... can't wait for it to come out of its shell.
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The first of a case I bought on futures in 2006. Dark ruby in color. Nose of cedar, meat notes, minerality, graphite, and a hint of dark fruits with a mint edge. Medium-full body with still gripping tannins needing a few more years to resolve. The wine has shut down since release and could benefit with a more time in the cellar. Open another in a year.
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No decant but drank over a few hours; some notes of black fruit, some leather, and hints of graphite on the nose. Medium acidity and tannins. Mocha and currant flavors. Pleasant drinking with no overpowering flavors and a nice balance which provided for a nice food wine. Drank with roasted chicken. Drink up but still can improve if the fruits open up more.
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Tasted in single-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. (Graves theme tasting). The bottle was kindly provided by Dan Ballard. Opaque black/purple robe with violet rim. Clean, moderately intense nose of black currants, black cherries, anise, mocha and rye. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity, big ripe tannins and black fruit/mineral-driven flavors. The middle palate is solid and the medium finish is fairly smooth. The oak is fairly well-integrated. This wine is still a baby, but has the elements to become something special. It may ultimately merit a higher score. The fruit-forward nature of the wine led to several tasters to suspect that it was a new-world Cab/Merlot blend "ringer". Drink 1/15-12/25.
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My first bottle from a case. Vinturi'd into decanter for two hours. Sweet licorice, black cherries, and cigar box aromas. Nice sweet tannins and good acidity that gives this Bord a luscious mouthfeel. Flavors fade a little on the finish, but there is good length. If this wine's middle fills in a little more, it could improve markedly.
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Really progressing from my first bottle. The tannins have smoothed out and this was drinking nice right out of the gate.The nose was a 92, just beautiful and made the taste that much better. A medium bodied wine, with dark cherry and choc pencil. Really happy with this. Afterall, it's under 30. Enjoy!! Update, over the next 4 hours the tannins came through and this was not as good as the initial PNP.
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Solid wine. Still quite young. Shows classic Bordeaux characteristics. Dark cherries, mocha, leather black tea and cigar box. Palate is smooth and shows excellent promise. Some rustic qualities on the finish. Good, not great.
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Decanted thru Venturi 3 times and waited one hour. Might be closed down. Will not drink again for one year. Light nose. Finish somewhat bitter and very tannin.
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Opened 2 hours prior to drinking. A straight up Graves. Spectacular? no. Not worthy of a 92 and a 20 yr drinking window but, still, a delicious wine ready to drink now and should last another good 5-7 years.
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Addition to my note of 5/13/2010: There were about two grams of sediment in the bottle. I drank this wine over 48 hours and the body did not improve. It looks like “jordanj” had it right back on 7/10/2008: “I don’t think this bottle is cellar worthy either as it was tannic but not enough stuffing to outlive the tannins.” The tannins are beginning to polymerize and precipitate out of the wine, but what’s left is rather hollow, unbalanced wine lacking the fruit/flavor to make it great.
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Deep purple. Decanted for one hour, but better after four. Promising nose of cherry, jammy black fruit, and vanilla (oak). Dry with medium acidity on a medium body that seems lighter due to lightness of fruit. Flavor is a diminished version of the nose with some white pepper, eclipsed by moderately high tannins that are smooth with dense structure. Medium, somewhat hollow tannic finish, with lingering tannins.
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Opened on a sad day. This is very nice wine, but to my palate it is several years away from being in a good phase for drinking. Not closed down IMO but the tannins dominate - even though they are not particularly ragged, the mouth still puckers. I think this will be lovely between 2015 and 2025. As long as the pricing stays where it is, I will continue to buy the Bergey.
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Definite infanticide. Initially tight and structured, this softened and opened after 3-4 hours of air. Savory, meaty nose mixes dark fruit and olives. Great concentration and structure. Looking forward to seeing what this does.
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I opened this wine with some trepidation for two reasons: (1) it's a "new-wave" darling which I often have mixed feelings about or worse and I found the 2001 too oaky, and (2) I bought a fair amount of this as futures (for $27), despite reason #1. So I guess I worried this wine would be too oaky, too sweet, too generic. Well, my fears were unwarranted, but I was a tad disappointed with this wine for totally different reasons... A dark garnet color (not purple ooze), very traditional for a young Bordeaux. The aromas are expressive and very classy, with sweet cherry, gentle herbs, and primary minerality. On the palate, the wine verged on light-bodied, tasting much like a good Burgundy with red cherry and sour acids; the tannins were very much in hiding. I know it sounds impossible, but this is wide-open right now and it's hard to imagine it closing down (I'll find out, see reason #2). Yes, it's primary, but drink or hold. No where near as good as Barde Haut 2005, which is also part of the Garcin stable. Surprisingly light and soft for a 2005.
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No score now as its just not fair for me to rate this one. No question some nice ingrediants are here though. Med/full body of pure dark fruit. The huge structure here just does let this one show much of anything right now though. Lots of tannin, but as a whole the wine is pretty much closed off. Probably needs 5 yrs + ? I consider this one a lesson....
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Lovely nose of hot gravel, black currents and a tarry smokiness. Quite lean and tannic at this point with a lovely smoky flavor but needs time to come around. I love the gravel/tar flavors but the finish is like a steel trap and it's hard to enjoy this right now. I'm guessing it would taste better with food. 87+
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2005 Haut-Bergey shows toast, cherry, and black current on the nose quite nicely even in its youth. Typical for its vintage, its concentration is excellent; also, there is enough structure here to render a wine that will last 10-15 years easily. It's a superb wine at this price point and another great success for the 2005s.
Day 2: Holding beautifully. This wine has great balance; very nice acidity with plenty of fruit to back it up. This an absolute steal.
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Solid effort - Not disappointed. As with most of the 05's this one likely needs to rest for several years. I will enjoy watching this evolve. Tannins are high like virtually all the Bordeaux I've tried, but not as gripping, making this one of the more approachable for me at this time. A good 3-6 hour decant helps.
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Bordeaux Today (2005s) (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Dark ruby purple throughout with a nose completely open for business offering notes of plum, licorice, and inky minerals. The palate begins with a sweet entry and leads into flavors that mirror the aromas. This wine has superb structure with sweet seductive tannins and tremendous minerality throughout. Excellent.
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Disappointed. Hard as nails. After about 8 hours of opening the nose started to give off a typical high quality Graves bouquet but the wine was just too unpleasant in the mouth. It lacked balance and fruit. This is not what I expected from a 2005. I don’t think this bottle is cellar worthy either as it was tannic but not enough stuffing to outlive the tannins.
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Fennel, chocolate, dark berry and fresh oak scents make up the prefume, This has a soft, supple entry with no hard edges. It finishes with sweet blackberry and black raspberry flavors. This is one of the best buys in 2005.,
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Very dense and concentrated wine. It needs some years to work out its firm tannins, but I don't find anything particularly wrong with this wine. 5 years should help.
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2005 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting (Drake Hotel, Chicago, Illinois): 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. An impressive wine. I wish I had tried the 2000 vintage to compare it to this wine. Moderately tannic at this stage. Notes of black cherry and cassis. Not as dry as many of the other wines at the UGC. Round texture. 90-91 points.
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This opulently styled wine will really start shining when the oak calms down, allowing the fleshy dark fruit to come to the front. This is one of the top values from the vintage and especially Pessac Leognan.
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3/1/2024 - vvWine.ch wrote: 90 Points
Gereiftes Bordeauxrot. In der Nase voll da, offen, Gewürze, schwarze Johannisbeeren, Tabak. Im Gaumen zugänglich, feine Tannine, perfekt gereift, milde Säure, baut aus, zeigt Würze, etwas Alkohol bei steigender Wärme, gute Länge. Jetzt bis 2030 geniessen.
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2/3/2024 - LarsernAskim Likes this wine: 91 Points
Perfect paired with steak, bearnaise, broccoli and baked potato
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12/1/2023 - devraj Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very youthful looking crimson purple in color. Lovely and classic aromas of cassis, dark florals, barnyard and woodfire. Well integrated palate shows sweet and savory reddish black fruits, dark cocoa, smoke, good acidity, fine tannins and an earthy and hint of tobacco in the finish.
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11/13/2023 - Jerseyjudge wrote: 89 Points
First day was not a good experience. Muted nose. Greenish oak/cedar notes on the palate. Air didn’t help much. Revisited on day 3, with significant improvement. Much smoother. Green notes resolved. Pure, even palate of dark fruit. I will hold my last few bottles.
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11/9/2023 - CWilliam wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed at Flemings Steakhouse. Acquired in 2010. Didn't take notes - dark red color with a nice clear meniscus. Cassis, dried black cherry, blackberry and tobacco. Palate was similar. Medium body, medium acidity, integrated tannins and nice long finish. Paired well with a NY Strip. Has aged beautifully. 92+
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9/3/2023 - mtaczak Likes this wine: 92 Points
Give it a couple hours of air. Tannins still rough and burly, but this bottle was much less tight than the last, and opened up eventually into a really nice balance of fruit and earth. No signs of decline, should continue to drink well for at least another 5+. 2005 is such a good vintage.
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8/22/2023 - swiftr Likes this wine: 91 Points
2nd bottle out of 12. Rather bigger than the first one, with slightly more apparent acid & tannin. Still powerfully fruit driven and youngish. I’ll leave the rest for a year or two to see whether they develop more complexity to balance the huge body. Very much a “Parker” wine now.
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8/17/2023 - grossie Likes this wine: 88 Points
I keep hoping for more out of this. I'm not sure if it's too young or it just isn't there. A very decent wine but a bit stern and ungiving. Maybe it will improve with a few more years but I keep just drinking them because I forget not to drink them!
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8/10/2023 - swiftr Likes this wine: 89 Points
First bottle of a case bought en primeur. Darkish red, little sign of ageing. Nose took a while to develop but came through with good dark fruit. Savoury character on the palate, fair power rather than elegance, no tertiary flavours yet so probably still developing. Merlot more evident than the Cabernet. Tannins hidden by savoury fruit. Certainly a good wine now, with promise of complexity. Should decant an hour or two before drinking next time.
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6/13/2023 - DaleW wrote:
Some good black plum fruit, but at 18 still showing some burnt coffee charred oak notes. Also a little clipped and hard. Maybe just a phase, but not too hopeful. C+/B-
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5/12/2023 - VinDeVie_1 Does not like this wine: 86 Points
The 2005 Haut Bergay was truly the most disappointing wine I have had in a minute. After purchasing based on several positive reviews, I noticed that bottle variation seemed to be rife on cellar tracker. Unfortunately, I believe I had a dud. Tannins are not well integrated, and it had a very overpowering green note on the finish. Fruits were muted, and no oak was present that I could get past the tannins. I am reticent to give bulleted notes as there was so much out of wack here. 86
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4/29/2023 - ljl203 wrote:
Maybe there was a lot of bottle variation but this esteemed vintage offering from Haut-Bergey has been a dud for me. Everything was stored perfectly but can't think of one bottle from six that was enjoyable.
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3/10/2023 - mlawren1 wrote: 92 Points
Dark and chewy. Currants, pluns and berries over leather and earth.
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1/23/2023 - Barsacpinci Likes this wine:
Nice, but rustic. Blackberry and dark fruits. A bit of a musty nose. It is ready to drink
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1/22/2023 - mtaczak Likes this wine: 91 Points
drying out maybe? took a few hours to open up, before which it was just tight and rough and bitter. could it turn the corner? only one way to find out ...
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12/13/2022 - ChristoBretts Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank over two days. Re-corked and stored in cool dark place. Nose of musty black fruit and smoke, same on the palate along with good amount of barnyard - particularly on day one. Barnyard subsided on day two leaving the musty fruit and a little burnt wood. Daily drinker, IMHO.
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11/18/2022 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Friday Group Brown Bag Tasting (J&J's): Double blind. Similar to wine F with mixed red and black fruit and a nice herbal quality, though this isn't as prominent here. Deep color. Mixed fruit, vanilla and dill qualities on the palate. Adds an earthy element as it opens. While very good, this didn't strike me as Bordeaux. Still quite youthful, perhaps a few more years in the cellar will allow it to develop and show its true character. 91+ pts. (J&J)
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11/18/2022 - Border Boss Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a case bought on release. Double decanted two hours before service. Very dark red with no color loss. Lots of tannins and acid initially. Started to open in the glass, with black fruits coming on the palate. Still very young. This wine needs another few years to start to open up. It's probably 7-10 years at least until maturity, possibly more. This wine will drink well for decades.
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11/6/2022 - Sonoma Duck Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium ruby. Young mature. Earthy nose of forest loam. Drinking nicely with a long finish. Very nice at 17 years. I doubt this will improve but in no danger of going over the hill soon.
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11/3/2022 - dbkitc wrote: 86 Points
This really isn’t working for me tonight. Spoofilated and modern. Slick and silky smooth It’s good red wine that is totally generic. Oak, camp fire and big berry fruit. Boring. Glad this style is losing favor. (86)
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10/8/2022 - DTK Rockstar Likes this wine: 87 Points
Austere. Soft tannins. Barnyard which I like.
But overall I was a bit disappointed considering my expectations about this wine.
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9/26/2022 - Doug Fir wrote: 87 Points
A little green and herbal for my taste. Grippy tannins too. Better on 2nd day, with more red fruit, some wood shavings, and florals, but still a bit of a disappointment. Oh well.
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9/24/2022 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 93 Points
I love me a mature Bordeaux, this was great.
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9/1/2022 - Matt T wrote: 93 Points
Second time with this wine. A bit tannic on opening, but this evolved nicely in the glass with black olives, leather, blackberry, and dark fruit on a medium length finish. Really pleasant wine drinking at peak with a few years still left.
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7/29/2022 - cobystilp wrote: 89 Points
So we'll aged! Maybe a little behind it's prime but happy I had a bunch of these over the years. One to go.
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7/26/2022 - Dan & Krista Stockman Likes this wine: 92 Points
No outward signs of aging at all - no browning, bricking, old smell, etc. - and the flavors were better integrated with an aeration spout. This clearly has some years left. Popping the cork immediately filled the air with the smell of blackberries, the flavor had plenty of classic Bordeaux sawdust, pencil lead, and hints of minerals. The fruit was hidden behind those but still present, and it was incredibly smooth.
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7/16/2022 - paulst Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tannic and austere; textured; round blackberry.
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6/9/2022 - Buff Tannen, USXFel Presidente Likes this wine: 89 Points
Enough scorched earth and graphite to justify the heavy, supple, black plum, black currant, and blackberry. The firm of Savory, Leather, Masculine & Cedar. Acid a little low, finish a little short, but still overtly Old World
Subtle iron fades, soap nose, acidity and length increase on the 3rd day's almost sauve dénouement
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5/28/2022 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully, with classic Bordeaux flavors of pencil lead, earth, restrained dark fruit and mineral flavors.
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4/17/2022 - LIE-user Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great wine for very fair price. One of these many great examples, that excellent Bordeaux doesn’t have to be expensive. There’s enormous value in Bordeaux left and right of the famous lables.
This wine is in the second half of it’s prime drinking window. To be enjoyed probably within the next 5-6 years.
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4/4/2022 - kidsmurf2000 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Incredible, perfect and ready to do
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3/13/2022 - natap Likes this wine: 89 Points
Optik: intensives granatrot
Nase: mittlere Aromen von rotbeering, Pflaumen, Schokolade, marmeladig, Vanille. Voll gereift.
Gaumen: trocken, mittlere Säure, mittlerer Alkohol, mittel (+) Tannine, voller Körper mit mittleren Aromen wie in der Nase, langer Abgang.
Sehr gute Qualität. Jetzt trinken, kein Lagerpotential.
Gesamturteil. Sehr guter Bordeaux am Ende seiner Trinkreife. Kaum noch Primäraromen. Mittlere aromatische Komplexität, aber sehr ausgewogen und mit perfekten integrierten Tanninen. Ein Genuss.
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2/28/2022 - grossie Likes this wine: 88 Points
Note from night 1 (second part to follow)- This is still very tight. I hope it softens tomorrow. Good nose, medium body, but a bit of bite at the end. This bottle just isn't as giving as I would like. At 17 years of age I don't think it's unusual to have bottle variation. Let's see what tomorrow brings.
Day 2- It opened up quite a bit, the fruit is lovely but there is still a bite at the end. Worthy of another point, up to 89.
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2/4/2022 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, anise, cedar, graphite and forest floor. Black and red fruit, graphite, licorice, cedar and forest floor on the palate. Good persistence. Medium to full bodied. Served with black bean burgers and garlic aioli.
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1/1/2022 - prism wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour; consumed over two evenings. This is drinking very well, with lively fruit and fairly well-integrated oak. A very satisfying middleweight Bdx, if an unremarkable one. The mid-palate is fleshy enough, and the finish is long enough. Could improve over the next few years.
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12/24/2021 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 94 Points
Never seems to disappoint. A great aged Bordeaux, great QPR
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11/22/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 89 Points
One-hour decant through a screened and aerating funnel. Some sediment in the screen and blackberry aromas during decant. After resting, wine was a dark crimson in bowl lightening to a cranberry pink. No amber and a small halo. Nose was pleasant: earth, blackberry and some violets. In the mouth: deep fruit but the tannins have not yet surrendered. Plenty of dark fruit: cassis and plum supported by the Pessac minerality. A little low on acid, but still very nice. Moderate finish of bamboo. Excellent QPR and a lovely match with lamb chops.
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11/21/2021 - GuanYu wrote: 91 Points
Full bodied, blackcurrant, tannic. Much better after 4 hours of breathing. Robust wine but lacks imagination.
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10/30/2021 - kidsmurf2000 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Incredible QPR drinking Perfectly now
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10/27/2021 - GuanYu wrote: 90 Points
Wine still tannic, good acidity, but fruits start to dissipate. 2005 was an outstanding vintage in Bordeaux. I wonder how well it would develop.
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9/20/2021 - Mi Pisco Likes this wine: 93 Points
By Richard Jennings (original source)
1/18/2008, (See more on RJonWine.com...) 90 points
(Château Haut-Bergey) Dark red violet; blackberry and violet nose; good cassis, plum palate with nice acidity and minerality; medium finish 90+ pts. (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot)
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9/7/2021 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
Gave this a 3hr slow ox in Riedel Vinum BDX glasses & btl. Semi opaque ruby / garnet color. Classic Pessac aroma of tobacco & expresso along with background fruit notes. The flavors include dark fruit, cedar infused scorched earth & herbs. Overall, this could use a bit more lift for my liking. A smidge low acid for BDX.
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8/31/2021 - grossie Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking well. Structure holding up, fruit is maturing. It's probably in the prime drinking window now and for the next few years.
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8/5/2021 - mpsocal Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent wine. Tannins fully resolved and just has a nice balance between fruit and earth. Well worth the wait.
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7/9/2021 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, tobacco, graphite and dried herbs. Black fruit, graphite, tobacco, leather and dried herbs on the palate. Medium to long, dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Served with grilled portobello mushroom and Asiago burgers.
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7/6/2021 - VinhoVerde wrote:
Medium-red color. Chocolate and cassis bouquet. Tannic, blunt and closed right now. Difficult to provide an accurate numerical score.
Cork pulled 2 hours before tasting.
From Mark’s 2005 Bordeaux Vintage Tasting:
Attended a 36 wine ‘05 Bordeaux tasting recently. The wine above is one of those wines. Served single-blind.
All wines were tasted over a 2 day period, 18 per day. The wines served on the 1st day had their corks pulled two hours prior. The second day’s wines were served “ double-decanted”, 2 hours before the first flight. The overall tasting experience was quite different, as one would expect. Day 2 wines were softer, displaying more ripe fruit, and less harsh tannins.
Kudos to Mark for both a fantastic experience as well as providing an instructive opportunity on how the 2005 Bordeaux vintage is showing at this stage.
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6/26/2021 - Eric wrote:
2005 Bordeaux at 16 years courtesy of Mark Taylor; 6/26/2021-6/27/2021 (Atlanta, GA): Cherry, stem, VA, seems right bank. Never would have guessed Graves. Quite tannic, but it eventually opened a bit. My #5 and the clear group #6. I guessed Grand-Pontet.
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4/14/2021 - Chris Likes this wine: 93 Points
Gorgeous fruit aroma on open. A bit tannic still. Amazing. Heavy and needed a one hour decant. Mellowed slightly but still a huge wine for an '05 at this stage. Very solid effort and sadly my last bottle.
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4/14/2021 - Eugenedinapoli wrote:
Day 2. Still simmering and went great with grilled leg of lamb.
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3/28/2021 - dbkitc wrote: 88 Points
Ok. Similar to past bottle. Kind of generic. (88)
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3/22/2021 - pmk wrote: 92 Points
Love this wine - drink now. Popped and poured - lots of terroir, smoke leather up front, well resolved tannins, smooths out to finish.
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3/11/2021 - Mads Eriksen wrote: 92 Points
Stadig en flot vin der ikke haster.
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2/28/2021 - pmk wrote: 90 Points
poured thru venturi, dry, little fruit forward, lots of terroir, smoke, leather.
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12/13/2020 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 92 Points
Drank from a magnum that was opened 2-3 hour. Approachable and more ripe than I was expecting. Juicy plums, damp soil, tobacco, mineral and some warm oak. Likely peaking now and for the next few years.
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12/10/2020 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 91 Points
This has been in the glass for just 30 minutes, but it has already softened and is drinking beautifully. The aromas reveal it's middle age phase, which is to say, it's offering beautifully resolved fruit flavors while still demonstrating some exuberance. The notes are fruity, and include some briar, lots of spice, acidic cranberries but also some darker fruit... perhaps a plum skin. There's bits of gravel poking through as well... when you stop and really get in, the aromas are very revealing and quite evocative. Palate entry shows some more of those plum skins, and overall, here the notes are on the dark side of the fruit scale, with lots of those plum skin notes. It's fairly hefty in the mouth, showing lusciously soft and thick palate texture. The acid and tannins do build as you hold it there. The finish hits with acidity at first, and then a blossoming of spicy fruit tones, and tons of soil notes. Gritty tannins still kick you after a few seconds. This has Pessac-Léognan written all over it. At 15 years on, I think this wine is in its prime drinking window. Don't get me wrong; it's also not going anywhere anytime soon. However, I do think it's likely plateauing. If I had one bottle left I'd be happy to have consumed it now. However, being that I have 8, I think I'll plan to keep drinking 1 a year or so until it notifies me that I need to pick up, or slow the pace. There is just the slightest hints that the fruit is softening, and I certainly wouldn't want it to soften too much... right now it's still lively in all regard, but that fruit is on the border... to me, that means drink. I love that it's offering me a maturing Bordeaux sensation at a fantastic price without too much wait time. I partially bought this wine to be a bellwether for some of the higher rung 2005 Bordeaux I bought... this is implying that perhaps the vintage can start drinking soon.
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10/22/2020 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasted this two years ago almost exactly to the day. Two years later it hasn’t budged. On night #2, it is much better and softens. This won’t ever measure up to the 2000 vintage of this wine.
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10/16/2020 - BordeauxNut Likes this wine: 87 Points
Couple years since the last bottle. Chocolate, some smoke, ripe plums. Fruit is fading a bit. Oakiness isn’t. If you got ‘em, drink ‘em.
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10/13/2020 - DaleW wrote:
Ripe, still some structure, black plum and a little rocky gravel, still a bit of oak gloss, a bit more modern than my preference but very popular at tables. B
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10/12/2020 - gcarl wrote: 92 Points
NO sediment whatsoever. Still as good as my reviews of 2018-19.
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8/28/2020 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
Black fruit, mineral, earth and smoke flavors. Smooth texture, long finish. Delicious.
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6/12/2020 - David Paris (dbp) wrote:
No formal notes, but this was a lot softer than I had expected. My bottle four years ago still didn’t seem ready to go, and had very tight massive tannins. This bottle showed hardly any tannins, and the fruit profile was very soft and supple. I will have to dig into my next bottle and write a further detailed note, but I suspect that these are full blown ready to go… Perhaps even a little past prime.
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6/4/2020 - RightBankKane Likes this wine:
This is drinking very well. The bouquet evokes roasted chestnuts. The palate is dark and penetrating with just appropriate supporting tannins now. Pliant mouthfeel. Easy finish, no heat. This wine, which was atypically light and tight on release for the vintage, is very enjoyable now.
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5/31/2020 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 91 Points
Started off as a good and continued to improve. 65% Cab Sauv and 35% Merlot. Smooth, well integrated tannins. leather, tobacco, black raspberry, licorice , espresso. Delightful.
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5/31/2020 - stevegpg Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drinking very well now. Smokey flavors, a bit earthy, dark fruit. Probably good for another 5 years or so.
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5/8/2020 - Khon Kaen Likes this wine: 90 Points
Color:
Wine beautiful ruby color.
Taste:
The wine has a complex, rounded, balanced taste with a good layered structure.
Aroma:
Wine with a stunningly rich aroma with hints of exciting fruit, black currant, wild raspberries, strawberries and chocolate.
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5/3/2020 - RHaz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Magnum - 2 hour decant
Light nose, with dark berries and leather prominent. Tannins integrated and alcohol is soft. Plenty of pencil and graphite. Some dark roast coffee notes. All in all a solid claret with good drinkability, albeit not the longest finish nor most complex.
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3/22/2020 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 89 Points
A great value for the $35 USD I paid for this 2015 which was considered a good vintage for this wine. Rounded tannins, dry, sweet blackberries and black raspberries, graphite, light oak.
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3/17/2020 - Matt T wrote: 92 Points
This one is right at peak with a lot of olive, earth, and dark fruit notes. Firm, but integrated tannins. This has a few more years, but is a near term drinker.
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2/11/2020 - bvivio Likes this wine: 91 Points
Appearance: deep garnet, just starting to show a little bit of rim variation, medium tearing, very light staining, some fine sediment.
Nose: clean, medium+ intensity, developing, black cherry, red plum, blackcurrant, wet soil, crushed gravel, pencil shavings, sage, licorice, toast, chocolate, cedar, tobacco, soy sauce, dried sour cherry, baked cherry.
Palate: dry, high tannin, medium+ acid, medium alcohol (13%), medium+ body, medium finish, tad bitterness, black cherry, red plum, black plum, blackcurrant, wet soil, crushed gravel, pencil shavings, sage, licorice, toast, chocolate, cedar, tobacco, dried sour cherry, dried black plum, baked cherry.
Overall: A nicely developed Bordeaux with a good balance of fruit, earth, and oak, even if the nose isn't immediately expressive (a good amount of air helps coax out all the aromas). The wine still has lots of tannins, but they are starting to resolve. Despite having fruit leaning a bit into the riper end of the spectrum, the alcohol is in check and the acid is sufficient to keep this convincingly in the style of the old world. For the price, I would want a little more complexity and a longer finish, but overall this is a solid, middle-aged Bordeaux that ticks all the boxes.
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1/11/2020 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, pencil lead and dried herbs. Black and red fruit, tobacco leaf, leather, graphite and spice on the palate. Finishes with good length. Medium to full bodied. Served with strip steaks and a cognac cream sauce.
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1/1/2020 - stjames Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Disappointing choice with New Year’s eve dinner. Austere, little fruit to taste as well as bouquet
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12/27/2019 - Stevey wrote: 92 Points
Pulled from 13C cellar and let sit for 24h. Opened bottle and let sit ("slow oxidation) for a further 2 hours. Typical Bordeaux characteristics, medium-full bodied, tannins are well integrated, this wine is drinking very well now but has the stuffing to last many more years.
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12/25/2019 - Jonny d Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely bottle of Pessac. Medium garnet. Medium clear/orange rim. Barnyard, leather, and blueberries on the nose. Resolved tannins. Balanced acidity. Dark cherries. Medium finish. Solid wine. Served nicely as a pre-Christmas dinner beverage.
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12/11/2019 - Golf_Wine Likes this wine: 85 Points
Eucalyptus, cedar, violet, dried fruit, leather, pine sap, ripe crushed raspberries , crushed ripe cherries - nose. Very nice mature Bordeaux nose. Drinking just ok. Slightly bitter, drying, a bit hollow, oak, sour cherries, alcohol even comes through with its 13%. Drink right now if you got them, with friends so you can finish the bottle in 30 min. Update: The wine opened up nicely over the 1.5 hours after I wrote the initial note and lost some of it bitter and drying quality and drank smoother but also lost some of it fruit. This was my last one, if I had more I’d drink ‘em now.
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11/29/2019 - winemaker Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP. Ripe. Pencil lead. Tannins are mostly resolved. Mid palate is a bit weak. There is a slight bell pepper note. Persistent finish. These should be consumed over the next 3-5 years.
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11/27/2019 - PSPatrick wrote:
Retailer tasting. Stewed fruit, raisiny notes, Christmas spice and flower water on the nose and palate, with some bitterness and moderate length. The wine had an unpleasant, earthy, slightly drying and furry aftertaste. Very evolved. I doubt that this bottle was stored under ideal conditions. NR
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11/14/2019 - bags wrote:
nice; a little thin but has that graphite-pencil thing going on. last bottle, and I regret not being able to watch this over the next 5 years, though this might be the top
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11/12/2019 - EhrlichDY wrote:
In a lovely spot right now showing early maturity. Secondary elements are starting to emerge including a damp earth thing while the generous fruit of the vintage still present. This was my last bottle and I wish I had a few more. Drink now but no rush.
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11/3/2019 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
Two more years and this has come together nicey.
Black cherry cola, anise, some herbal notes that were enjoyable.
Clean balanced finish. Still should go another decade with ease.
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11/1/2019 - COWineLover wrote: 86 Points
Tartrates on the cork bottom. Dark plum color with little bricking. Very dried out on the palate with tart plums and sour cherry. Not very elegant, though the finish has some length. I have consumed many bottles of this, and found this bottle indicative of a wine whose best years have passed.
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10/26/2019 - ljl203 wrote: 89 Points
Earthy, green bell pepper, strawberry, clipped finish and woody (too much tannin).
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9/30/2019 - lolo66 wrote: 89 Points
this is soft but has a fine grained tannic structure that makes it a nice mid bordeaux with some age. drink up.
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9/25/2019 - sastewart wrote: 91 Points
Nose of black and red fruit, spice and earth. Medium bodied and nicely balanced - somewhat modern style with pretty sweet tannins. Still on a nice plateau. 91 points.
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9/8/2019 - greenbe33 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Had this decanted over two nights - it was very tight, tannic and closed on the 1st night. 2nd night it was better fruit came forward a bit - redcurrant apricot a little strawberry maybe fig touch cloves - I think it will be fine but needs age. Still quite tannic although reasonably well integrated drinking 88 but has potential for 2-3 more points if it works out. This wasn't my wine but I have lots of 05 and I am not touching any of it for quite a while.
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9/6/2019 - bags wrote:
drink now or use for cooking. this must have been a bad bottle. next one is very nice.
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7/21/2019 - havana4 🍾🍇 Does not like this wine: 83 Points
Nose- earthy, forest floor, red fruits.
Palate- Just flabby.. no acidity left whatsoever. Short finis and sharp tannins. Totally out of balance. It’s best years are behind it .
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6/7/2019 - IlonaN wrote: 88 Points
Surprisingly earthy (as in moist soil) on both nose and palate. After some air, some dark fruit and graphite notes. Interesting bot not a favorite among several other Bdx on the table including
the 2004 La Confession.
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6/4/2019 - gbauer wrote:
Good fruit, but short and tannic on the finish. Not sure if these will get better or worse.
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5/19/2019 - OaktownRush wrote:
Dry earth on the nose with strong red fruit on the palate. Didn't detect many signs of new oak, though it doesn't mean it wasn't there. I struggled with this wine and would like to come back to it.
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5/18/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
K&L Bordeaux Tasting (San Francisco): Ruby core with gentle gradation outwards. Gentle herbal aromatics. Nice, spicy fruit entry with very good acidity, but a significantly grainy, tannic finish that just clings to the palate. Probably worth holding onto to see if the tannin relents a bit.
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5/8/2019 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
As with prior bottles, very dark fruit, earth, charcoal, a lean, silky texture and firm structure. It has mellowed over the past few years and lost the harshness I experienced previously. You can sense some age as dried fruit flavors are beginning to emerge.
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5/4/2019 - tak4 wrote:
Consistent with prior tasting note. Nothing special but nicely aged and a neat excursion into oldish Bordeaux
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3/29/2019 - dbkitc wrote: 89 Points
Surprisingly deep garnet color. Mix of dark and red fruits along with camphor and tobacco. Silky and modern without the heaviness and weight of some examples. A bit generic - yes - but a nice wine nonetheless. (89)
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3/24/2019 - gcarl wrote: 92 Points
Nothing has changed in my opinion since December 2018. Still a darned fine wine at a great price.
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3/3/2019 - tak4 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Popped and poured into glasses. Just didn’t feel like a fancy decant on what is supposed to be a fairly straightforward wine with some age.
Wine is surprisingly purple and youthful in appearance. Don’t even see any evidence of bricking.
On the nose: mint, anise, bay leaf, olives, cherries, hint of green.
On palate: wine is sound, definitely has some age to it. Medium alcohol, softened tannins, low-medium alcohol, short finish, medium body. Taste is less compelling than smell, as the complexity is subdued. But pretty nice and a good change of pace to have something with some bottle age this weekend.
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2/28/2019 - winemaker Likes this wine: 91 Points
1st of 12. Decanted and poured right away. Initially a grapey nose with some mineral herbal notes. Complex. Layered. Elderberry. Leather. Wormwood. Acids are softening. A bit of bitter on the finish. I plan to drink these over the next 4-5 years.
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2/18/2019 - tbabes wrote: 88 Points
The fill was into the neck and the cork was sound; popped, poured and consumed over the course of 3 hours. A dark ruby core, with some hints of pink at the rim. A bit straight-laced and reserved on the nose, with some notes of high-toned red fruits. Medium bodied, lacking in terms of texture and depth. I didn't really enjoy this wine, and I was paying particular attention as I recently received an offering at a good price. Given how little pleasure I derived from this bottle, it is an easy pass.
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12/31/2018 - colorflavorlocking Likes this wine: 88 Points
basic bordeaux + a decade = very satisfying wine
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12/31/2018 - gcarl wrote: 92 Points
Same impressions as those I wrote on 12/18/18. A solid wine after some aeration.
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12/25/2018 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 91 Points
From magnum. Dark and rich but somewhat muted despite a double decant. May have some future ahead but feel these may be as good as they will get.
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12/18/2018 - gcarl wrote: 92 Points
Deep color and rich aroma. Lots of fruit on the nose for a 13 year old Bordeaux, kind of expected from this vintage. This wine was excellent even at P&P . After 1.5 hour decant and re-bottling for tasting event, it opened up with even more fruit on the nose and palate. A great bottle from a private cellar at only $38 .
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11/21/2018 - BordeauxNut wrote: 90 Points
13 years old from a half bottle — I can’t help but think if this were a 1985 being consumed in 1998, it would be a lot different. The move toward riper fruit and toastier oak produces a different wine at this stage. Not a lot of aromatic complexity here — a bit of cigar box, chocolate from the oak and nicely ripe cassis fruit. It’s round with really fine grained tannins. Really nice balance and a moderate finish. While it’s tasty and hard not to like, it could be more interesting.
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10/20/2018 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A solid effort for the price, but not as good as the 2000 vintage. It might be because it is not yet aged as long as the 2000 vintage, but my gut tells me this won't ever rise to the same level even with more time in the bottle. Nevertheless, I am not going to open anymore of the 2005 vintage for at least a few more years in hopes it gets even better.
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10/2/2018 - gordoyflaca Likes this wine:
Drank over two days, they never really came quite together. I think still needs more time.
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9/28/2018 - BlancdeBlanc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose: forest floor. After three hour decant taste: rich, dense, dark chocolate, dark berries, pencil lead
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9/9/2018 - mtaczak wrote: 92 Points
boy do I love 2005. This is developing very nicely. Initial pour super funky and flat but it blow off. Tannins still firm and drying, but all the pieces seem to be there. Still some room for improvement - no rush, 2022+
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8/26/2018 - NickP Likes this wine: 88 Points
REally nice Bordeaux especially for price
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8/24/2018 - tbabes wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured; consumed over the course of two hours. Notes of cigar box, currants, blackberry and plum. Medium bodied, with a round texture, good depth, and nice finish.
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8/15/2018 - prism wrote: 90 Points
I had a glass and remember liking it; drink or hold.
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7/21/2018 - Mads Eriksen wrote: 92 Points
Igen manglede det tydelige Bordeaux præg. Men denne gang var rygraden tydelig. Frugten mere afdæmpet. Nok mere flaskevariation end tegn på udvikling siden sidst. Haster ikke, men tror ikke det bliver bedre.
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7/16/2018 - grossie Likes this wine: 91 Points
This one drank very well. Still room to improve, but the fruit is strong, the tannin is balanced and there is nothing harsh on the finish. Ready now, but no rush.
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7/7/2018 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is drinking really well now. Could serve as a PnP, but much better after an hour or two in the decanter. Drink either by itself or with food. Solid Brdx all the way through.
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5/30/2018 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 1 hour.
Medium red color. Cassis, cherry, tobacco and plum on the nose. On palate, similar flavor profile with medium body, medium acidity, smooth tannins and medium+ finish. Fruit on palate was "drier" than the nose suggested. 91+/-
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5/26/2018 - daveyk39 Likes this wine:
K&L Wines of Bordeaux Tasting (K&L Wines, Redwood City, CA): 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot. Complex and expressive aromas of espresso, dark cherry, black currant, olives, black tea and just a hint of toast. Smooth and balanced on the palate, with red and black fruit shining through, velvety texture, and fine-grained tannins. A slightly limited finish disappoints, but lots of quality on show here.
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5/23/2018 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still really drinking well. Second day a bit better. Maybe a hint of cherry on the finish. No need to rush, this wine has many years in front of it. The next 10 year's should serve this wine well. Enjoy!
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5/20/2018 - grossie Likes this wine: 89 Points
Big wine with nice aromatics and good fruit but it's still pretty tight with a bit of a bitter finish. Day 2 was better, less bitter, still strong fruit. It's not far from ready.
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5/2/2018 - sastewart wrote: flawed
Corked!
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4/28/2018 - HeavyPourWine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Double decanted for about an hour. Good amount of fine grain sediment. Paired with rack of lamb. Nose is sweet and pleasant. Palate is smooth, pleasant and fruity. Classic Bordeaux that went well with strong flavor of the meat. Easy to drink, great QPR, glad I acquired a few more bottles.
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4/21/2018 - LJD wrote: 90 Points
This was quite pleasant. Not as young as I expected, but could use quite a few more years before at what I prefer as peak. Not crazy about the QPR, but with age my opinion on this will most likely change.
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3/25/2018 - Chris Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep color and rich aroma. Lots of fruit on the nose. Just love this much fruit in a 13 year old bottle. Reinforces the 2005 Bordeaux vintage was excellent. This wine was excellent even at tasting before a decant. After 1.5 hour decant, it showed to be rich but balanced and retained an excellent fruit profile. A great bottle and at only $38 on original purchase, its a crazy good deal of a wine!!
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2/18/2018 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Aromas of blackberry, cherry, currant, graphite and dried herbs. Red fruit, coffee, graphite, leather and spice on the palate. Long soft, dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Fruit forward style and well balanced. Good QPR.
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1/28/2018 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened our third bottle of the case last night. Not sure I can add much to the 200+ notes already contributed, but I can agreed with most of them. Absolutely hitting the drink window, and will likely improve a little more. I actually prefer the 2005 over the 2000. Smooth, great balance, integrated flavor across a range tastes. I agree with the need for a decant or a little time to get some air. Really outstanding!
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1/12/2018 - vinomex wrote:
no formal notes brought to dinner party, PnP, I think this one needed some decanting. Initially it came across a little austere and closed, it started to come together in the last glass about 1 1/2 after opening. No rating.
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1/1/2018 - bordeaux456 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Really good and in a great spot right now. Classic Bordeaux characteristics and at 13 years of age I think this is close to maturity. A few more years in the cellar would be good, too. Would be interesting to see if it develops further. Love being able to start tasting the 05 vintage. 88-90
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12/10/2017 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Drinking great! Served at our Christmas party. no details.
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12/3/2017 - Eugenedinapoli Likes this wine:
20 minute decant. Medium red ruby. A laid back nose of cherry, spice (black pepper), black currant, forest floor; on the palate cherry upfront and slightly herbaceous and a little spice on the back; medium acidity; nice fine tannins. Understated, reserved and elegant.
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11/30/2017 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 91 Points
Interesting nose, loaded with creosote and charred wood. A dark minerality as well. Black currant. Delicious, minty palate. This is perfectly mature and shows a broader array of flavors than aromas. Sweet black currants, spices, new wood, forest floor and some oak as well as a refreshing mineral character. Hints of chocolate. This is absolutely fresh and inviting and at peak maturity! Drink 2017-2023. 91
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11/12/2017 - yasgurdj wrote: 90 Points
Delish
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9/22/2017 - nschmidt wrote: 89 Points
Good solid bordeaux but nothing exciting.
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9/11/2017 - dthompson wrote: 90 Points
The previous bottle must have been flawed. This one was very good. Fully ready to drink and well balanced.
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9/7/2017 - wine4lux Likes this wine: 90 Points
An elegant Bordeaux, oak and tobacco on the nose; some black fruit, but mostly savory notes to the taste. Served shortly after opening; showed improved during the first 30 minutes after opening. Smooth finish of medium length.
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8/29/2017 - blanquito wrote: 87 Points
Young but open for business. Quite ripe with plenty of fruit, a touch glossy showing a modern hand. Tons of oak on the nose right now, showing all anise and licorice, a bit too much for me. The palate is less woody, and on the simple, ripe end of things. This could improve some more in the cellar, but no foul opening one now with a decant.
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7/2/2017 - Mtz Tom Likes this wine: 91 Points
We let it breath and hour or so and aerated on serving. It has sweet dark fruit with a little dust or oak on the nose. Dusty tannins on the palate with balanced dark fruit and maybe some tobacco on the back. Decent length. Drinkable right now.
It was good on Day 1. Notes are from Day 3. The bottom of the bottle on Day 4 was still drinkable but a little chewy and tannic. Nice wine - I hope I still have some more in storage.
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6/24/2017 - mpsocal Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine evolved nicely throughout the night. Nose had some syrupy fruit at first and the tobacco and spice later on. The palate was spice and tobacco with some cherry notes with a medium finish. It was pretty tannic at first and that mellowed after 3 or 4 hours.
This was a pleasure to drink and it's in a good place now but I imagine this will be good for years to come.
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6/20/2017 - DesMarteau wrote: 87 Points
Maybe too young? Texture is defined with clay and dusty tannins. Muted cherries and blueberries....watery mid palette and not much complexity
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6/18/2017 - pinoteer Likes this wine:
No formal tasting note, but this wine is clearly in its drinking window now.
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5/5/2017 - dthompson wrote: 83 Points
I really wonder what happened to this wine. I bought a case each of 2005,2009,2010 expecting great things. I have not touched the 09 or 10 yet. However, the 2005 has been a disaster. I have had 6 bottles and they have been drinkable. That's the best I can say. I normally don't post notes but last night. Well.... I opened the 2005, decanted for an hour and served the wine with dinner. My wife has a discriminating sense of taste. She won't drink inferior wine. After 1 glass, she passed her to me and said (without comment) glass and said you can finish my wine. My analysis: absolutely no fruit, no smokiness and the wine was bitter. The wine was not defective it was simply poor quality. I have 6 more of the 2005. I will try the 2009 soon.
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5/5/2017 - gtonn Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking well. Has hit its stride. Leather , licorice, dark fruit. Very nice!
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4/29/2017 - Jonny d Likes this wine: 92 Points
Enjoyed this very much, especially for the price point. Aromas of leather, spice, and a bit of barnyard-- not bretty, though. Fine, well-resolved tannins. Cherries and savory notes on the palate. Medium-length finish. Great wine to serve with a meal. Wish I had some more of this one.
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4/20/2017 - wine&roses wrote: 91 Points
Delicious claret, bursting with fresh fruit set off by nicely absorbed tannin. Still has more years of life.
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3/25/2017 - Mads Eriksen wrote: 90 Points
Meget frugt som skjuler lidt at der mangler lidt mere rygrad. Mangler lidt mere tydelig Bordeaux.
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3/16/2017 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 90 Points
From Magnum. Took about 2 hours to fully open. Not as good as the 2000 but still a very nice Bordeaux at a very reasonable price. Black, blue and red fruits layered. Some dried herbs and hints of tobacco.
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2/7/2017 - auhead Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fairly tight with first pour but opened up and proceeded to improve over a few hours. Plums, black tea, embers and cherry are some of the flavors and smells that become apparent. It is a medium bodied wine with good length and a clean, smooth finish. Great now but there is no hurry to drink up. Would like to find more for consuming over the next five years.
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2/5/2017 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Depending on where you look there are wildly varying opinions on the current state and future promise of this wine. After opening a bottle to pair with dinner (beef stew) I think it is in a transition phase, where the showy, up-front fruit and oak has faded, but the aged elements have not yet fully developed.
The first small pour was quite austere. I could have seen someone thinking the wine had gone over the hill. As time went on it opened up. It never became fruity, but it gained depth. It showed a core of substance that was equal to the core of structure - matter and anti-matter in balance.
I would advise putting this wine away to allow more aged character to emerge. It will never be showy or hedonistic, but it seems (benefit of the doubt here) to have sufficient stuffing to allow for it to be a more interesting older wine than it is as an "adolescent" wine.
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12/19/2016 - Kentw wrote:
Well this bottle is denser, more full bodied. Somewhat more closed than previous bottles. Not as good, won't rate it since I had such good experience with the previous bottles. Maybe in a closed stage. My last bottle though.
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10/9/2016 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 90 Points
Almost precisely 5 years since my last bottle, which is the start of the window I suggested to dive into the next (5-10 years). Opened due to all the recent good notes, so thanks community! Pop and poured. Quite dark in color. Huge fruit on the nose, rich licorice, dark blackberries, graphite and sweet soil. Really rich, lovely and confident aromas. Smells very well integrated and pretty; the best aspect of this wine today. Palate is immediately hitting with acid and puckering tannin, but there's also plenty of really well integrated soft, pure pretty dark red fruits and slight spice. Creamy finish and quite large tannins pounding on the finish. A few moments after swallowing though the tannins do recede a bit and you're left with more nice pure milk chocolate and creamy red berry notes. Reading my note from 5 years ago, it does appear some of the tannins have integrated a bit, and there's certainly more fruit expressing. That said, I still think this wine needs at least 5 years to actually start an ideal drinking window, but it's certainly drinking decently today. After a few more hours open this began shutting down more. I came back to this wine after 24 hours and it was basically all structure and drinking more at 88 points. After 48 hours it was already going off, which was a bit surprising.
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9/3/2016 - davidsm Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice for the price. Was perfect with a 1 hour decant. No reason to wait on this but likely in a nice spot for a few years.
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5/25/2016 - JimHow wrote: 91 Points
This is not a profound wine but it is lovely. It is distinctively Pessac. It will never be La Mission, but these wines are going for $20-35 and they are well-crafted, "pure", smoky, with black cherries, under control alcohol levels, 10-20 year age-worthiness. They are a slight notch below their right bank relatives at Barde-Haut, but they are a few dollars lower in price as well. As delicious and seductive as the 2005 Haut Bergey and 2005 Barde Haut are, I think I give the 2012 versions of each even an extra point or two. These are lovely, well-crafted, well-priced Bordeaux wines. This 2005 Haut Bergey is still youthful but showing evolution and will drink well for at least another 5-10 years. The 2012 Haut Bergey goes for $23, which is a no brainer. 91 points.
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5/16/2016 - slaughterer wrote: 92 Points
Ruby with lightening on edges. Subtle nose of plum and a bit of cherry and mint and flour. Fine sweetness on the attack, very fresh, with svelte, silky smooth texture and good acidity. Palate of wild strawberries, ripe plums, sweet raspberry, flour, thyme, a touch of blackberry paste. Nice smaller wine that is at least 3 years into its mature phase.
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5/15/2016 - stevegpg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted about 2 hours. Paired with grilled filet mignon. Dark fruit on the nose and great earthy taste on the pallet. Nice smokey flavor, maybe a hint of mint? Certainly some spice notes as well. A very nice wine for the money.
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5/6/2016 - blanquito wrote: 89 Points
Pretty nice stuff for $25, and completely wide open. Seems merlot heavy, it is fairly soft and round, but not OTT or oaky. Definitely on the modern end of things and built to drink young (by Bordeaux standards). Wonder if this will develop any complexity with more age? I have 6 more so I'll probably find out. Overall, a satisfying quaff.
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4/17/2016 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 2 hours. Nose of blackberry, currant, forest floor, leather, dried herbs and graphite. Black and red fruit, coffee, leather, forest floor, graphite, spice and firm tannins on the palate. Leads to a medium to long, soft, dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Paired with grilled cognac, chive cheeseburgers.
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4/16/2016 - Intellectual Sasquatch Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark fruit on the nose & palate. Still very tannic after 2 hour decant. Nice wine, but I agree with some of the other recent posts... Will hold the last bottle for about 2 years or so.
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4/12/2016 - stevenrcagle wrote: 92 Points
As with previous notes, quite earthy with strong tannins. Will try to hold onto the last bottle...
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4/9/2016 - Billiken wrote: 85 Points
Over the hill. Flat. No acidity at all left.
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3/31/2016 - Ibetian wrote:
Not much to add to my 10/31/15 note. Modern, crowd-pleasing style, but with good complexity. Drinking well, but no hurry. P thought 94.
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3/28/2016 - yonster24 wrote:
in a great spot right now. Opened and decanted for 5+ hours. This shows no signs of slowing down. Deep dark color all the way to the rim. dark fruits, earth and maybe just a very touch of leather coming through. Med-Full bodied on the palate and very tasty. Tannins were most definitely present but starting to integrate just a little. Acidity interplaying well on the back end with the fruit and tannins to make this bottle wonderfully balanced. Should age really well for a long time.
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3/23/2016 - defnefferson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank this over the weekend. Phenomenal. In a really good place right now. Still some tannins but as a previous note mentions they add to the overall taste -- they give the wine a sense of vibrancy. Nose is very clearly aged, extremely earthy. Balanced yet concentrated dark fruits with some notes of iron on the palate. Still decent acidity. Delicious.
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3/21/2016 - mikelikewine wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hrs. I found this quite tight and tannic to start with, even after the decant it hadn't opened up much. Saved half the bottle for the next day and it was much better, the nose in particular was much more intense. Smooth on the palate and lots of dark berry fruit. If I had any more of this I wouldn't be in a rush to drink it personally.
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3/3/2016 - vinomex wrote: 91 Points
Bought this as futures some seven years ago. PnP, a bit tight at the beginning, but continued to improve throughout the night reaching its stride after an hour or so. Agree with previous User, I believe this wine has reached its drinking plateau. Pairs very well with meats and drinks very well on its own. Classic Bordeaux wine, overall very smooth, with some slight hard edges remain that add to its complexity more than taking away from the wine's pleasure. It is nuanced due to its age but remains vibrant. Great QPR at the $27 price I paid. Solid 91 pts. Enjoy!
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2/18/2016 - sastewart wrote: 91 Points
Nose of black and red fruit, spice and earth. Medium bodied and nicely balanced - somewhat modern style with pretty sweet tannins. I think this has reached a nice plateau where it should remain for at least 5 years. 91 points.
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2/16/2016 - SteveVermeer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great color, nice nose. Needs a couple more years to smooth out.
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1/16/2016 - Chris Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic! Deep red color, wonderful aroma, luscious fruit yet tannins that were alive. Good acidic balance to match. Overall a worthy effort and at <$40, an incredible QPR. Highly recommend this estate.
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1/2/2016 - Kentw Likes this wine: 91 Points
Interesting that this bottle had a different character than the one drank in Oct. Full body, very dark deep purple black color with strong showing of right bank merlot and cab franc profile. Quite smooth, fresh but with restrained spice/acidity, dark fruit mix of black cherry, currants and blackberry with a much milder rose tone that is barely discernible compared to last bottle. Very nice but a bit deep and heavy so would do better pared with food. Mild tannins and long finish. I wonder what character the last bottle in the cellar will show.
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11/14/2015 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnVnD, and trying now after an hour. Deep fuchsia color that is fairly opaque. Animal, graphite, blackberry, and oak aromas. Very juicy fruit flavors. You can really taste the 65% Cab Franc and the smokiness. Tannins are surprisingly integrated--based on the last one tasted a year and half ago, I would not have expected this wine to be this mature. Tannins are still prominent, though. Good mid-palate and medium finish. Probably another ten years for this juice given where it is now, so I don't think that there's any hurry. I can't say that this is a favorite style of wine for me, but it's very good nonetheless.
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11/6/2015 - stevenrcagle Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark blood red color. Earthy on the nose with rich, dark fruit, mushroom, oak, dust. Full bodied and very dry. Smokey, forest floor, currant. tannins are there. If you like wines from this area of Bordeaux, you will not be disappointed. This one is true to form and very, very good.
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10/31/2015 - Ibetian wrote: 92 Points
First bottle of a bunch purchased EP and stored in my 55 degree cellar since arrival in U.S. Checked in because a couple of the recent notes suggest that this has peaked and should be consumed in the next couple of years. That was not my impression. Not suggesting this will be a 50-year wine, but IMO it will drink well for another 5 years and perhaps 10 or more.
Dark purple color, with deep purple at rim. Nice, moderately complex nose of mostly black but also red fruit. No mushrooms, leather or secondary notes I could detect.
A bit modern in style, but not at all over the top to my tastes. I enjoyed the slightly sweet note, traditionalists might disagree. Medium body, pleasant though not especially long finish.
Overall a modern Bordeaux in an enjoyable, crowd-pleasing style with enough complexity to hold my interest. Drinking well now, but will still be enjoyable over the next several years, I'd guess.
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10/30/2015 - Kentw Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking very nicely now. Middle to full body but more on the mid weight side. Expressive flavours of red and black fruits, very nice balance of flavours and light acidity/spice. Finishes with some mild and soft tannins. Probably peaking at this time. Suggest drinking over the next year or two. Did not find it at all at a dumb stage as others have but may depend on how it's stored. Had stored in a cooling cabinet at 58 degrees for 5 + years. Decanted and aerated before drinking. Of 3 solid wines, including a highly rated Ribera and a Barolo, friends ranked this first for drinkability.
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10/26/2015 - Vinmannen wrote: 88 Points
Fra 375 ml
Har lyst til å score den vinen høyere, men den mangler finesse og eleganse. Bra tyngde og lang og rik ettersmak. Men lite stil.
Føler at dette er som en litt fancy Ford eller Opel - fin bil, men det er ikke helt Mercedes.
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7/27/2015 - COWineLover wrote: 88 Points
PnP. This has reached full maturity with secondary flavors being predominant at this point. Not much fruit as this is primarily composed of cedar, dried herbs, and tobacco. Somewhat drying tannins remain. The first bottle of a case, I left these too long.
Day 2 - I hope the comments about this being in a dumb phase hold true, but I have my doubts. This was flat as can be after storage in the refrigerator. Secondary notes remain but the fruit is lacking and there is no finish on this at all. Score 85.
As I noted with the 2009, I don't think that wine will go beyond 12-15 years and I'm starting to think that about this wine.
This is not the 2000 Haut Bergey.
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6/28/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Displaying a lightness in color, there is a mature, softness to the dark berries, with a perfume of earth, cherries, espresso and fresh herbs that feel round and soft in the berry, filled finish. This is not a wine to hold for further aging.
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6/8/2015 - tendring Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wine Education Service - Bordeaux - Graves (LSE): Dense with a little age.
Some development and fruit on the nose.
Complex, fruit, spice, chocolate, delicious, smooth and very long.
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5/23/2015 - vinomex wrote: 89 Points
Good under $30 '05 Bordeaux. A bit austere, medium body, no formal notes. unsure where this wine is going.
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5/21/2015 - k-dubious Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark, dry. Black current, tar, forest floor. A bit closed down at the moment, finish is relatively short; tannins still present. Mellowed out after being open for a while; needs at least a couple of hours to breathe. Best days still ahead.
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5/2/2015 - EhrlichDY wrote: 90 Points
A bit dumb at the moment with a tannic edge. Better win food showing graves smokiness and some savory notes. Hands off for a few years.
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5/2/2015 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
PNP - big fruit driven nose on opening. Dense, opaque color. Medium to full bodied, big fruit flavors. Ready to drink but can age for years. Excellent!
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3/15/2015 - Old John Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very enjoyable bottle. Ditto on previous notes, but definitely seems ready to me, with a short decant, and should continue to improve. If this is any indication, the 2005 vintage from these parts will be really something.
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3/15/2015 - plitton wrote: 91 Points
PnP. This continues to improve. Tannins are softening and the wine is getting more complex. It's still a little rough around the edges and ideally needs food. Good through 2020. 2025?
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2/13/2015 - rickspicks wrote: 91 Points
Massive, smokey, earthy, rustic, chewy, brambly, dark, thick and rich. Opaque black/purple color; medium weight; big, firm structure, velvety texture, nice depth of flavor and a medium-long finish. Nothing elegant- it is a bit of a brute, but an enjoyable one. This has taken on body and depth, and lost some of the sharp edges of prior bottles over the past year, and I think it is as good as it is going to get.
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1/11/2015 - gtonn wrote:
too young!
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12/27/2014 - Rich S Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Consistent with previous bottle. Notes of plum, black cherry and cedar dominated the nose with a bit of menthol and bitter dark chocolate joining on the palate. Medium acidity and medium tannins but slightly tighter than last time. Once again, the best sips were those toward the end after being open for about an hour. If I had any bottles left, I would probably hold for a bit longer.
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10/18/2014 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted at 1:30 pm; poured back into the bottle at 5:00 pm; taken to the restaurant and then drank from 7:15 to 9:30 pm. This is the first bottle from a case I bought in 2007. Still rustic but with nine years and a long decant, it is starting to show very well. Red fruit, spice and some mocha. a very masculine wine. There are still some stringent tannins but not so much as to make the mouthy implode. I estimate another five years at least until it plateaus, perhaps even more, and will probably then last until I am too old to appreciate it. This was an interesting contrast with the 2008 Pino di Biserno we had along side it with the same decant regimen. The Haut Bergey is 55% Cab/ 45% Merlot. The Biserno is 40% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. The Biserno was smoother, much less rustic and a bit more expressive fruit. More approachable despite being three years younger. However, I am projecting VERY good things for the Haut Bergey in the future.
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10/8/2014 - RHLondon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tested bottle. Exceeded expectations. This is entering its perfect drinking window - all the hard edges have gone from c.2 years ago. Smooth & satisfyingly complex, typical Grave notes with a ripe fruity slant. Great value for a Tuesday eve ! (stored in cellar temps 12-18 degrees C).
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8/28/2014 - grossie wrote:
Tons of fruit, tons of structure. It's still so tightly wound, I hope it loosens up before the fruit caves in. It needs at least another 5 years, but probably more like 10!
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8/1/2014 - Mtz Tom Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light/medium body, fragrant, nice. Ready with slight tannin. A little spice, nice fruit. Breathed ~1 hr. Better towards end of dinner. Still has legs.
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7/15/2014 - jfarley3 wrote: 91 Points
Dark brick red in color. Nose of cassis, black berries, brown spice, tobacco. Medium to full body, has velvety texture. Black fruit with spice is lush on the palate. Tannins restrained but firm. Medium length finish.
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7/2/2014 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
Still with big, fresh, juicy dark fruits that taste like they were picked yesterday. All the black fruit flavors remind me more of a Howell Mountain than a typical bordeaux - black fruits, a bit of tar, charcoal and perhaps some tea. Soft edges, lean texture and sharp acidity makes for a somewhat unusual profile. Enjoyable, but lacks the concentration, depth and complexity needed to be anything special.
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6/28/2014 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 2 hours. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, tobacco leaf, graphite, vanilla and spice. Flavors of black cherry and blackberry fruit integrated with tobacco leaf, barrel spice, vanilla and smooth, fine tannins. Leads to a medium length finish. Medium bodied, smooth texture, with soft mineral notes. Paired with Greek Tenderloin.
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6/14/2014 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Third out of a case, and the last one two years ago. Black fruits, vanilla, a little oak, and flowers on the nose, after being open in the decanter for 1-1/2 hours. Very soft on the palate. Cocoa. Nicely balanced with a long finish. This will still improve a point or two.
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3/12/2014 - Will wrote:
Rather average. Nice nose and tannins, finish is ok, the rest is nothing to write home about. Lacks density and presence in the mouth.
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1/3/2014 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for around 1 hour. Initially not much on the nose other than some dark red currant and woody notes but eventually opened up nicely to reveal some graphite, savory herbs and a bit of menthol to go along with some spicy red fruits. Similar flavors on the palate joined by a little cedar cigar box and cherry cough drop. Medium acid and tannins with a nice mouthfeel and finish. The best sips were the last ones after being decanted for around 1.5 hours. Very enjoyable Bordeaux and will likely continue to develop.
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11/11/2013 - jdoakpark wrote: 91 Points
Excellent
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11/6/2013 - miadelt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really enjoyed this. Very smooth. Still a little closed but will get better.
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11/1/2013 - jdoakpark wrote: 91 Points
Excellent. Love it
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10/27/2013 - jdoakpark wrote: 92 Points
Loved it. Popped and poured. Great depth. Nice nose and great body and finish. Loved it. So glad I waited.
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10/26/2013 - dionysus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Super bouquet. Dark red color. Beautiful balance of dark fruit, tobacco, vanilla; great persistence, soft tannins.
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10/23/2013 - TashNYC wrote: 89 Points
Initially quite closed. Best with a 2 hour decant: really not ready to drink. Improved with double Vinturi but best with the decant, that brought out dark fruit and minerality. Needs a few years. Best with roast chicken. (with Pamela Z and celebrating)
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10/7/2013 - Number51 wrote: 91 Points
Very refined and elegant, this has no hard edges at all. Lovely pencil shavings, dark cherries, plums, and tobacco show up with a good balance. This has enough deliciousness without austerity so it may appeal to some new world cab drinkers. 13% alc.
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9/30/2013 - benny wrote: 92 Points
Now this is Outstanding wine.
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8/4/2013 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours before serving with grilled NY strips. My wife guesed a Bordeaux style Napa cab. No sign of age in colork, tobacco, black currants, coffee grinds on nose - medium+ body, with black cherry, tobacco, mocha on palate. Nice acids and Medium+ length with with nice drying tannins - great with the steaks. 91-92 range.
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7/16/2013 - plitton Likes this wine: 90 Points
Soft, supple, bright fruit. A modern Bordeaux style. Popped the bottle, tasted it upon opening, at one hour and then two. One hour is ideal at this point in maturity. Should drink well through 2017. Not going to improve much more from here.
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7/6/2013 - jdoakpark wrote: 90 Points
this is starting to get good. big wine.
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6/24/2013 - khmark7 wrote: 86 Points
Very soft, fruity and rustic with scents of bacon fat. Would have never guessed Bordeaux. Lacking structure at this point.
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6/21/2013 - MBannon Likes this wine: 89 Points
Far from regal, but a very nice wine and a good value.
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6/3/2013 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is coming into its own. While still opaque crimson in color, the aromas and flavors have become more harmonious since my last tasting 10/29/10. Cassis, rye, fennel, dark chocolate and loamy earth reside within a frame of fresh acidity, generous polished tannins and seamless alcohol (listed as 13%). Silky in texture but solid in backbone, there is no paucity of fruit on this wine. The smooth finish goes on and on. While this was not a blinded taste, I suspect that anyone tasting this wine in blinded fashion would confuse it for an elegant Napa Cabernet blend. It is absolutely delicious and has the stuffing to provide enjoyment for many more years. Drink now-2025.
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5/1/2013 - deltacop wrote: 90 Points
Took about an hour, maybe more to settle down. These still have a good life in front of them. Have about half a bottle left for tonight.
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4/30/2013 - benny wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour and drank over two. 13% alcohol good. This is outstanding wine. Developed over the two hours. Best with spicy food. Worth double the $30 I paid on futures.
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2/7/2013 - The Wine Guy wrote: 85 Points
Nice earthy notes on the nose, bitter but biting tannins, mineral notes mid pallet finish lacks balance of fruit
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1/22/2013 - NineteenEightyTwo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Hélène Garcin-Lévêque Dinner (Boarding House, Chicago): Tasted with a variety of wines from the estates of Helene Garcin-Leveque. This was poured alongside the 2005 Barde-Haut, and the comparison favored the Barde-Haut (but only for now). Dark, opaque crimson color. Ripe cherries on the nose, with pine resin, oil and gravel notes. Smooth up front but a little vegetal towards the back of the palate, with tannins still a bit tart. This blend is 70% Cabernet and is built to last, so another 5 years is required at least, with 10-15 years likely necessary for this to show its stuff. Though the Barde-Haut is more accessible now, this will inevitably surpass its sibling with time.
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12/15/2012 - miadelt wrote: 89 Points
Had the 2005 and 2008 together. The 2005 was smoother and had a little more weight but not much on the palate and a little sweet. I believe the wine is closed down right now and I will wait a few years before opening the next bottle.
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12/9/2012 - chichiricu wrote: 87 Points
it has probably a good potential, but this bottle was quite "closed". I have decanted the wine for 2 hours, but it looked as a wine which was too young and not in a good period. I will wait one more year to open the next one. I have tasted this bottle from the same year 2005, which was very good, but I could not recognized it today.
sorry for my english ;-)
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9/16/2012 - Grinder wrote: 92 Points
Cork perfect. Four hours in the decanter. Minerals with perfume of black and red fruit on the nose. Firm tannins, but a beautiful full-bodied wine. Rich in fruit, currant and acidity, but balanced. Long finish. This is a wine I could drink all evening. One of those wines I wish I'd bought more of upon release.
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9/9/2012 - benny wrote: 92 Points
Opened and decanted for 1 hour. Deep red. This is a very earthy wine. Slate,wet stone with a very deep dark cherry. The tannins were quite subdued but the finish left a scorched earth taste lingering in the mouth. I liked this wine but you have to be in the mood...then it is 92
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8/27/2012 - pilot360 wrote:
Excellent wine that needed about 4 hours to shine. Nose of leather,
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8/23/2012 - Michiel wrote: 89 Points
Nose dominated by very nice dark fruit, a bit of leather and barnyard; good balance - nice structure; leather more prominent in flavour; good length.
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7/9/2012 - grossie wrote: 90 Points
Really nice core of fruit but still pretty tight. The tannins don't hurt, but they shelter the fruit pretty well. Reading over my last night I get the sense that this has developed a little. Probably 3-5 more years until it starts to strut. Hopefully will benchmark again in another 2 years or so.
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7/2/2012 - rickspicks wrote: 90 Points
My first bottle of this wine. Almost black in color with dark berry & cherry aromas. I expected to get hit with a 2x4 of oak, but the wine was surprisingly sweet, ripe and rich with a smooth, velvety texture. Flavors match the nose along with a hint of licorice and tar. Nicely balanced with smooth tannins and a plush mouthfeel. Nice, medium, fruity finish. Overall a pleasant, fruity wine with just enough backbone to balance all the ripe flavors and the soft texture. Unlike others, I think I will drink up over the next 2-3 years. 90+
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6/17/2012 - pinoteer wrote: 91 Points
Initially, decanted for 2 hours. Second bottle from a case; first one drank about a year and a half ago. The flavors have filled in nicely, as I had hoped from the first bottle. Black cherry and cassis, with some licorice. Very dry tannins initially, but by the time I finish my last glass of the evening (in the decanter for 7 hours), they were very mellow. Drinking after 2-3 hours, I was ready to give this a 90, but by the end of the night, I was thinking maybe 91. This bodes well for the future evolution of this wine, given that it's only been in bottle for 6 years at this point. This may not be a 20 year wine, but it will be a good drinker for the next 10 years at least. It will be hard, but I'll try to wait another 2 years before popping another one.
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6/13/2012 - Rich S wrote: 90 Points
Medium bright purple color. Earth driven nose with some woodsy, cedar notes along with dark red fruit and a bit of heat coming through. Dark red fruit on the palate with firm tannins, medium acid and a dry finish. Mouthfeel was somewhat dry and chalky but overall, I enjoyed this wine and it certainly drank better with food. Will try another bottle in 2 years.
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6/2/2012 - bcannedy wrote: 91 Points
Thinking this wine will not get better. Good now, just dont see it improving
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5/5/2012 - benny wrote: 91 Points
Coming together well. Best with food. Great nose. A bit tannic at first. After open three hours most flavour gone.
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5/3/2012 - jsiegel wrote: 90 Points
Still aging, but a very fine drink.
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4/20/2012 - OldSpec Likes this wine: 92 Points
Though not exuberant, the nose was nevertheless very fragrant with aromas of red fruits. On the palate, the wine was flawless with a well integrated structure highlighted by the dominant taste of delicious red fruits. Smooth tannins indicate the wine is ready for consumption. Finish was medium long & nicely lingering. At $50 this left bank Bordeaux is a bargain.
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4/16/2012 - BlancdeBlanc Likes this wine: 89 Points
Aroma: musk, tobacco, raisons, charcoal Palate: stern, tannic, cedar, After 45 Minutes tasted sour cherries, licorice, chalk, chocolate. It was an extremely nice wine, and it kept me off-balance as it changed over 2 hours and made it difficult for me to rate. I said 89 and my husband said 90.
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4/12/2012 - AndrewR wrote: 90 Points
Shy and dark, how i like em.
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4/5/2012 - John McCabe wrote: 90 Points
I don't think this is ready yet - it's somewhat approachable, but for now you would be better off drinking the '07 or even '08 vs. this. Quite racey and Flamboyant.
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3/22/2012 - deltacop wrote: 91 Points
Big improvement in these. Popped one open last night and had half. The nose is better the the taste which is medium weight cherry, but these are real nice now. I'd say the window is open at this point and will continue for many years. Enjoy!
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3/16/2012 - Wink wrote: 91 Points
Clear dark garnet. Expressive nose of dark fruit, licorice, vanilla, and a little cherry. Medium to full palate of ripe blackberry, cassis, minerals, and spice. Velvety texture. Excellent length. Pleasant acidity. Sweet tannins. Superb QPR Bordeaux.
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3/4/2012 - steffenpelz wrote:
33rd Austin Wine Salon - Bordeaux (Max's Underground): Very primary, juicy, black currant tar and coffee. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to scoff at either. At the going rate of $40/bottle, this would be a pass in my book.
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3/3/2012 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 92 Points
Really great classic PL taste and smell. Decanted two hours, probably could have left open longer. Right up my alley.
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12/30/2011 - HenryW wrote: 93 Points
Decanted two hours. Impressive nose of black currants, cedar and graphite. More graphite notes on the palate along with a slightly bitter earthiness. Tannins are noticeable but smooth and round. Terrific balance and freshness.
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11/23/2011 - John McCabe wrote: 91 Points
A lot of earth and leather. I like this producer, but this was a bit disappointing for such a good vintage, vs the '08 and '07 I recently tried.
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11/11/2011 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 92 Points
This has everything it needs, but its not ready yet! Very fruity (cherry), but uncharacteristic lead and graphite. Very dense. Don't touch for at least a few years.
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10/1/2011 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 89 Points
The first of a case. Opened last night, put the whole bottle through a Vinturi into a decanter, served, and had one full glass left that I covered overnight. This shows very heavy, thick aromas, including chocolate sauce, vanilla wafer candy, and berry pie. This smells like a dessert cafe. Very tight palate, with some graphite, but definitely showing some heavy oak tannin influence. Quite grippy and tight, not really showing much in the way of fruit; just mostly structure, though along with the oak tannins are some sweeter fruit tannins. The finish is fairly spicy, with good acid persistence, but again, it's completely structure at this point. There's just a bit of rocky soiliness on the finish, but I certainly wish for more. Easily needs 5-10 years to even start in on these.
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9/29/2011 - nschmidt wrote: 89 Points
Drank at Rosh Hashanah dinner. Very nice but certainly not outstanding. Did not get any Bordeaux graphite or smoke on palate or nose.
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8/23/2011 - deltacop wrote: 90 Points
90+ This may be turning a corner. Popped one open last night and had 2 glasses. Nose was real nice with a primary dark cherry flavor. Second half tonight, but this was its best showing to date for me. I really enjoyed last night. Enjoy!!!
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8/21/2011 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 91 Points
Very dark color, notes of black fruits, scorched earth, some grill, floral and herbs. From the nose and color, this wine seems like it is going to be huge, but in fact it is very light on it's feet and tannins are so soft and silky. This is almost impossible not to like.
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7/17/2011 - balassis wrote: 89 Points
Deep purple color.
A very good Pessac-Leognan, with a solid structure, and firm tannins.
Offers layers of sweet cherries, earth, smoke, ink, licorice and plums, both on the nose and palate.
Long and sweet finish.
To drink now, with roast lamb, or to keep for several years.
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7/6/2011 - jsiegel wrote: 90 Points
Really aging well. After 20-30 minutes being decanted this was an excellent drinking wine. It will only keep getting better with more age.
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7/4/2011 - deltacop wrote: 90 Points
Not where I want them yet but getting there. They are a nice wine, I just don't know if I would buy 2 cases of this if I could do it all over. 1 case would have been enough. Enjoy!
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6/26/2011 - benny wrote: 92 Points
Opened four hours ahead. Nose not that strong until the end of the bottle... stone,a bit of oak, a touch of cardamon. The wine is subtle with a good balance. Tannins are there. Finish is Bordeaux for sure. In the drinking window now with air time and Venturi.
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6/19/2011 - TheWinedown wrote: 90 Points
I was a little letdown, given my high expectations. Still a really nice bottle though. It needed a good amount of time to open up (better the second day), so use a airator, decanter, etc. for now. Good nose of black currants, a little cedar and leather. Similar on the palate but with some cherries added, and a slightly stony flavor as well. It lost me on the midpalate, with less body than I was expecting, and a shorter finish than I had hoped.
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5/22/2011 - Sijan wrote: 87 Points
This came in 11th of 12 wines at our Judgment of Ballston blind tasting of reds from France and the US. I originally scored it 9/20, but upgraded it to 10/20 after futher tasting. I liked the light, floral nose better than the acidic palate.
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4/16/2011 - pgordon62 wrote: 89 Points
A familiar nose of warm berry, barnyard earth, anise and meat fats. Medium bodied, dominated by earthy berry. Moderate length finish showing licorice tannin, herb, hickory smoke. Nicely detailed, airy, burgundy lightness. Needs another 5-7 years to fill-out.
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3/6/2011 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
This wine has developed over the last year much better than I expected. It now shows good cassis and graphite and a pleasant dose of oak. Full bodied and soft but also firm tannin. Will be definitely nice over the next 5 - 7 years and possibly much longer.
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2/3/2011 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
This is a nice wine now -- and will be even nicer, with a little more time. I got 2 e-mails from retailers selling more of this wine (we got our on futures) -- and saying it was a decent drink now (with a long decant) -- so I had to pop a bottle and check it out. Initially very tight, closely-wound and tannic. Some went in a glass, some went through the venturi (twice), some went in the decanter and the rest went back in the fridge.
I liked it best after a 90-minute decant. Then I got lovely red currant, cherries. mineral and some earth. the nose was particularly lovely, and it was a very good pairing with the roast chicken [yes, graves was made for chicken], which brought out more of the red and black fruit, graphite and mineral.
The rest of the bottle was pretty good the next night -- although not as good as the 1/2 decanted.
Better with 2+ years of bottle age, but an enjoyable drink now with a long decant. We paid $27. Decent QPR for that price.
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1/29/2011 - deltacop wrote:
Lessons learned. - Read first. Don't know why I didn't look at the other notes first but I didn't. Guess it was because I had it in my hand so I just brought it upstairs and opened it up.
Right now, this is in a sleepy place. Not giving up much on taste, while the nose gives a bit more. Tannins at first were light but built as time went by. I had half a bottle last night and may give this 48 hours to try the other half.
I don't know when they'll be ready, but I do know they need more time. If you're reading this, pay attention and let them sleep.
Enjoy...later!!!
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1/14/2011 - mcease wrote: 90 Points
Leather and berries on the nose - day 2 there was huge graphite on the nose. Tannins, fruit, leather, and oak on the palet.
Will love to see what this one is like in a few years.
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1/7/2011 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 90 Points
This wine has shed a lot of 2005 tannins, but seems to be sleeping a bit.... its that time of evolution for Bordeaux. However, its still a great wine, just very tight nit, even after trying the second half 24 hours later.
Great, earthy aromas, and dark cherry. Very well balanced, deep and rich... can't wait for it to come out of its shell.
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11/28/2010 - LesterKwong wrote: 89 Points
The first of a case I bought on futures in 2006. Dark ruby in color. Nose of cedar, meat notes, minerality, graphite, and a hint of dark fruits with a mint edge. Medium-full body with still gripping tannins needing a few more years to resolve. The wine has shut down since release and could benefit with a more time in the cellar. Open another in a year.
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11/3/2010 - kferg46 wrote:
No decant but drank over a few hours; some notes of black fruit, some leather, and hints of graphite on the nose. Medium acidity and tannins. Mocha and currant flavors. Pleasant drinking with no overpowering flavors and a nice balance which provided for a nice food wine. Drank with roasted chicken. Drink up but still can improve if the fruits open up more.
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10/29/2010 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 90 Points
Tasted in single-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. (Graves theme tasting). The bottle was kindly provided by Dan Ballard. Opaque black/purple robe with violet rim. Clean, moderately intense nose of black currants, black cherries, anise, mocha and rye. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity, big ripe tannins and black fruit/mineral-driven flavors. The middle palate is solid and the medium finish is fairly smooth. The oak is fairly well-integrated. This wine is still a baby, but has the elements to become something special. It may ultimately merit a higher score. The fruit-forward nature of the wine led to several tasters to suspect that it was a new-world Cab/Merlot blend "ringer". Drink 1/15-12/25.
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9/12/2010 - pinoteer wrote: 89 Points
My first bottle from a case. Vinturi'd into decanter for two hours. Sweet licorice, black cherries, and cigar box aromas. Nice sweet tannins and good acidity that gives this Bord a luscious mouthfeel. Flavors fade a little on the finish, but there is good length. If this wine's middle fills in a little more, it could improve markedly.
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9/5/2010 - marlons34 wrote: 93 Points
One of my favorite wines. Good balance and finish.
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6/18/2010 - deltacop wrote: 90 Points
Really progressing from my first bottle. The tannins have smoothed out and this was drinking nice right out of the gate.The nose was a 92, just beautiful and made the taste that much better. A medium bodied wine, with dark cherry and choc pencil. Really happy with this. Afterall, it's under 30. Enjoy!!
Update, over the next 4 hours the tannins came through and this was not as good as the initial PNP.
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6/15/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 88 Points
Solid wine. Still quite young. Shows classic Bordeaux characteristics. Dark cherries, mocha, leather black tea and cigar box.
Palate is smooth and shows excellent promise. Some rustic qualities on the finish. Good, not great.
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6/12/2010 - benny wrote: 90 Points
Decanted thru Venturi 3 times and waited one hour. Might be closed down. Will not drink again for one year. Light nose. Finish somewhat bitter and very tannin.
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6/3/2010 - meinweinkeller wrote: 89 Points
Not the character of 2005? Dry, green cut, ceriese, black fruits, good tanin, bitter, closed?
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5/31/2010 - plitton wrote: 90 Points
Opened 2 hours prior to drinking. A straight up Graves. Spectacular? no. Not worthy of a 92 and a 20 yr drinking window but, still, a delicious wine ready to drink now and should last another good 5-7 years.
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5/16/2010 - Ron Van Holland wrote:
Addition to my note of 5/13/2010: There were about two grams of sediment in the bottle. I drank this wine over 48 hours and the body did not improve. It looks like “jordanj” had it right back on 7/10/2008: “I don’t think this bottle is cellar worthy either as it was tannic but not enough stuffing to outlive the tannins.” The tannins are beginning to polymerize and precipitate out of the wine, but what’s left is rather hollow, unbalanced wine lacking the fruit/flavor to make it great.
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5/13/2010 - Ron Van Holland wrote: 88 Points
Deep purple. Decanted for one hour, but better after four. Promising nose of cherry, jammy black fruit, and vanilla (oak). Dry with medium acidity on a medium body that seems lighter due to lightness of fruit. Flavor is a diminished version of the nose with some white pepper, eclipsed by moderately high tannins that are smooth with dense structure. Medium, somewhat hollow tannic finish, with lingering tannins.
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2/20/2010 - Saint Stephen wrote: 90 Points
Opened on a sad day. This is very nice wine, but to my palate it is several years away from being in a good phase for drinking. Not closed down IMO but the tannins dominate - even though they are not particularly ragged, the mouth still puckers. I think this will be lovely between 2015 and 2025. As long as the pricing stays where it is, I will continue to buy the Bergey.
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12/26/2009 - Niagara wrote: 85 Points
In a dumb phase right now. Drinkable, but better to leave it alone for a few years.
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11/22/2009 - Zweder wrote: 87 Points
Very correct and juicy wine. Full bodied and good tannin and cassis juice. Not extremely complex. Will improve the next 3+ years.
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9/4/2009 - bbrantley wrote: 90 Points
Definite infanticide. Initially tight and structured, this softened and opened after 3-4 hours of air. Savory, meaty nose mixes dark fruit and olives. Great concentration and structure. Looking forward to seeing what this does.
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6/9/2009 - blanquito wrote: 90 Points
I opened this wine with some trepidation for two reasons: (1) it's a "new-wave" darling which I often have mixed feelings about or worse and I found the 2001 too oaky, and (2) I bought a fair amount of this as futures (for $27), despite reason #1. So I guess I worried this wine would be too oaky, too sweet, too generic. Well, my fears were unwarranted, but I was a tad disappointed with this wine for totally different reasons... A dark garnet color (not purple ooze), very traditional for a young Bordeaux. The aromas are expressive and very classy, with sweet cherry, gentle herbs, and primary minerality. On the palate, the wine verged on light-bodied, tasting much like a good Burgundy with red cherry and sour acids; the tannins were very much in hiding. I know it sounds impossible, but this is wide-open right now and it's hard to imagine it closing down (I'll find out, see reason #2). Yes, it's primary, but drink or hold. No where near as good as Barde Haut 2005, which is also part of the Garcin stable. Surprisingly light and soft for a 2005.
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5/30/2009 - jdoakpark wrote: 90 Points
liked it, but it did not rock my socks off....liked it alot better the second day.
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5/19/2009 - Ekoostik wrote:
No score now as its just not fair for me to rate this one. No question some nice ingrediants are here though. Med/full body of pure dark fruit. The huge structure here just does let this one show much of anything right now though. Lots of tannin, but as a whole the wine is pretty much closed off. Probably needs 5 yrs + ? I consider this one a lesson....
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5/17/2009 - dream wrote: 87 Points
Lovely nose of hot gravel, black currents and a tarry smokiness. Quite lean and tannic at this point with a lovely smoky flavor but needs time to come around. I love the gravel/tar flavors but the finish is like a steel trap and it's hard to enjoy this right now. I'm guessing it would taste better with food. 87+
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4/9/2009 - sayward wrote: 90 Points
13% alcohol, Good nose, Boisenberry, This wine was great with my steak. Likely only going to get better.
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4/8/2009 - mgl wrote: 87 Points
Good but not as good as I expected. Hope it improves with age.
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1/23/2009 - NAA2586 wrote: 92 Points
2005 Haut-Bergey shows toast, cherry, and black current on the nose quite nicely even in its youth. Typical for its vintage, its concentration is excellent; also, there is enough structure here to render a wine that will last 10-15 years easily. It's a superb wine at this price point and another great success for the 2005s.
Day 2: Holding beautifully. This wine has great balance; very nice acidity with plenty of fruit to back it up. This an absolute steal.
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1/5/2009 - jsiegel wrote: 84 Points
way too young with a nose like a wet sock. i can only hope that a few years in the cellar will let this wine blossom.
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1/1/2009 - shaftlet wrote: 89 Points
UGC Chicago Cream, black cherry, vanillin and spicebox. Very sweet up front. Touch angular on the finish. Good typicity. Needs 5 years+.
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10/31/2008 - deltacop wrote: 90 Points
Solid effort - Not disappointed. As with most of the 05's this one likely needs to rest for several years. I will enjoy watching this evolve. Tannins are high like virtually all the Bordeaux I've tried, but not as gripping, making this one of the more approachable for me at this time. A good 3-6 hour decant helps.
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9/29/2008 - Niagara wrote: 89 Points
Lush, ready to drink. Nice wine for the price -- loads of fruit but doesn't lose it's Bordeaux typicity.
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7/12/2008 - Badfish wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux Today (2005s) (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Dark ruby purple throughout with a nose completely open for business offering notes of plum, licorice, and inky minerals. The palate begins with a sweet entry and leads into flavors that mirror the aromas. This wine has superb structure with sweet seductive tannins and tremendous minerality throughout. Excellent.
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7/10/2008 - jordanj wrote: 88 Points
Disappointed. Hard as nails. After about 8 hours of opening the nose started to give off a typical high quality Graves bouquet but the wine was just too unpleasant in the mouth. It lacked balance and fruit. This is not what I expected from a 2005. I don’t think this bottle is cellar worthy either as it was tannic but not enough stuffing to outlive the tannins.
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6/15/2008 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Fennel, chocolate, dark berry and fresh oak scents make up the prefume, This has a soft, supple entry with no hard edges. It finishes with sweet blackberry and black raspberry flavors. This is one of the best buys in 2005.,
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6/11/2008 - grossie wrote:
Very dense and concentrated wine. It needs some years to work out its firm tannins, but I don't find anything particularly wrong with this wine. 5 years should help.
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1/22/2008 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
2005 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting (Drake Hotel, Chicago, Illinois): 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. An impressive wine. I wish I had tried the 2000 vintage to compare it to this wine. Moderately tannic at this stage. Notes of black cherry and cassis. Not as dry as many of the other wines at the UGC. Round texture. 90-91 points.
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1/20/2008 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
This opulently styled wine will really start shining when the oak calms down, allowing the fleshy dark fruit to come to the front. This is one of the top values from the vintage and especially Pessac Leognan.
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1/19/2008 - hcampana wrote: 91 Points
2005 Bordeaux @ Union des Grand Crus (San Francisco, CA): Very modern nose. Ripe black fruits, and New Worldish exotic. Merlot nose, intense flavors, medium bodied, with very fine tannin. Not for classicists, but yummy.
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1/13/2008 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine:
Shows much improvement from the barrel tasting. Shows particular mouth watering juiciness, black fruit and some classic Graves smokiness.
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4/8/2006 - PanosKakaviatos wrote: 88 Points
BORDEAUX 2005 / Graves reds and whites tasted in 2006 (Bordeaux): Subtle licorice nose precedes a good fruity palate but nothing extraordinary at this early stage. Time in barrel should help. 87-89
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