This bottle was better than the last one, my last bottle. Full body, heavy, very dark fruits dominate with some burnt toast and fairly dry. The flavor profile is longer providing distinct fruit characteristics, but some may like it this way. Just very dense because of age and it never matured to what was expected based on prior vintages.
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Past Prime. Two years ago drinkable, but now mostly burnt toast and raisins. No fruit to speak of but some old funk on opening. Stored properly in wine cabinet. Very disappointed in this wine for this vintage. Never stood out since it was bought 15 years ago.
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Still not for your xmas/holiday party (even if you had it this year).
Muddy, plummy, over ripe cherry, tasty. Acidity keeps it balanced. A touch of leather but not much for tertiary flavors. Enjoyable now and for the short term future but again, I don't see any improvement for this wine. Drink up boys and girls.
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Not much difference from prior notes. Dry, austere, and dense. The fruit is muted. Prefer the 2000 and 2004 vintages. For a good year, this has been somewhat disappointing though the wine has a solid structure. Just not what I had expected from the prior years.
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Slow o'd 4 hours, let sit in glass for 20 minutes before trying. The nose is a potpourri of plum, light red fruits, earth and garrigue. The palate is slightly astringent with similar flavors. The nose is a solid 93, the palate closer to 90. I'll feel this wine is at or possibly slightly past peak. This seems like a very traditional bordeaux, and I will be on the lookout for this producer.
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Not as good as my last bottle. Lots of tannins and acidity. Drinking very young. Needs another three or four years but I doubt there will be any improvement.
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A Small Rosh Hashanah Dinner and Wine in Princeton (Princeton, NJ): Drinking quite well with just a pop and pour. Notes of red fruit, cherry, blackberry, a little plum, cedar, leather, earth, lead pencil, soy, herbs and some tobacco. The tannins were completely mature and resolved but still a tasty wine.
It was great on its own and also with the beef brisket. (I had been worried the tomatoes in the brisket would need more merlot but this worked great).
My friend Leslie correctly guessed this as Bordeaux and St Estephe. She then guessed Pez, Calon Segur or perhaps Montrose: all great tributes to this little, humble wine - alas no longer made.
Drink now.
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Good structure with medium to full body. Mosty black cherry and licorice notes that I could discern. Some acidity in mid-palate but quite dry. Very one dimensional with a mild finishing tannin. I keep comparing it to 2000 and 2004 which I enjoyed very much and showed more fruit/complexity. But for those who like structured very dry wines, this should be quite popular. Will not get better from here so drink up.
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Decanted for 30 minutes. Nose of black cherry, blackberry, currant, chocolate and forest floor. Black and red fruit, chocolate, licorice, spice and forest floor on the palate. Finishes with good persistence. Medium to full bodied. Served with grilled cheeseburgers.
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Decanted about 90 minutes. Fairly simple flavor profile, smooth, easy drinking and no off-flavors. While not an overly exciting wine, it paired nicely with Anita's beef stew. Drink up.
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This was great. Probably at peak, for a couple more years. Tobacco, cedar, plum & dried dark cherry, herbs (mint, sage) on the nose. Very perfumed. Palate is midweight, in balance, shows all the flavors from the nose, and delivers integrated tannins & acidity. Everything I wanted from this.
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This has held up really well. There is still fresh primary fruit. The cork is completely intact. Is still fresh with notes have stewed rhubarb and strawberries. Long legs and slight bricking. Silky smooth tannins with a leather finish. Great for the price!
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Decent but not as good as the 2000. Medium plus body, some mixed red and black fruits with licorice, tobacco, sour cherry and earthy notes. Still vibrant with acidity in mid palate and mild drying tannin on the finish. Good with food. Ready to drink now. Day 2 the wine was a lot more balanced and smooth. Sharp acidity and dry tannic edges are gone. Smooth Merlot notes predominate. I now suggest a long decant before drinking. Rate 88 day 1 and 90 + day 2 for an 89+ avg.
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1 hour decant. Enjoyed with some assorted funky cheeses. Ready to go if not maybe a little past it’s prime (this was a one-off, so not sure what it was like 2 years ago). Still deep red and good tannin structure. I wonder if the fruit might have been a little more pronounced earlier. Solid at least for another year.
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Dark purple. Black fruit on nose and palate with some tobacco and earth in the background. Mild prune notes on finish prevent this from scoring higher, but a very good mature BDX that is ready to drink now.
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Superb ! Trued right after opening and after 30 min, an hour etc. what a difference! After 2 -21/2 hours, fabulous ! Soft earthy, honey, blackberry. Loved it ! Drank with short ribs, carrots and rutabaga.
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Decanted only about 45 minutes at this point. I'm not sure what the over-the-hill crowd is drinking (the wine, not necessarily the tasters), but we just opened another bottle of this wine this evening, and it's just a lovely matured Bordeaux. Yes, the fruit aspects are less pronounced (Merlot plumminess has turned to dried cranberries now), but it's tangy and earthy with nice tannins and freshness along with a still-pretty, reddish-purple color (no bricking). Some vanilla bean and baking spices fill the mid-palate now. Long finish, too. In my 2015 review of this wine (many bottles ago), I suggested that it would last 5 years at least. Based on this bottle, I think that it will easily meet that 2020 time point, and maybe reward further cellar beyond.
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I really liked this bottle. Its more new world with bright primary fruit being dominant but there's still nice spices and earthiness to up the complexity.
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A little past it’s prime. Tons of fig and a little oxidation setting in. A little dark fruit comes out. However it pair well with a gorgonzola and fig flatbread.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, coffee and dried herbs. Red and black fruit, coffee, graphite, leather, dried herbs and soft tannins on the palate. Leads to a long, soft finish. Medium to full bodied. Served with cheeseburgers.
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A wine I managed to cellar for 10 years, only by dint of misplacing the last bottle, which i recently stumbled across to my surprise N - harmonious, plum, cherry and dusty cedar chest M - also harmonious, surprisingly mellow, this has nicely evolved into its own, showing red fruits with some secondary characteristics (tobacco, earth), good framing tannins, and lively acidity. A modesty priced petite chateau from a good vintage with a decade of bottle age - winning recipe.
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Thanks to recent notes. A dark ruby in the glass, with no bricking. The nose features dark fruits, oak, alcohol and earthiness. Dry, structured on the palate, cool, dark fruit and oak. It has lost the warmth, energy, red fruits and spice it used to have. Agree that now is time to drink up. Going to use our last bottle to cook with.
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Bordeaux Blends (Jason's house): A 1+ hour decant was likely too much for this wine. It seemed hot and a bit fragile. Nice easy drinking Bordeaux with blueberry.
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I see other tasters frequently describing this as "earthy" and I'll get even more descriptive and call this "muddy". A good wine but I wouldn't cal this great. Dark semi-opaque in glass (poured carefully so moderate bottle sediment stayed in bottle.); muddy/earthy nose with some plum and a roasted note; plum, berry, leather and earth flavors. I don't see any future marked improvement but I have enough bottles to answer that speculation.
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I drank bottles in 2011, 2014, and now 2017 and it has been very rewarding to watch this wine improve and evolve over time. Earthy with soft blue fruit. A lot of earth tones that never integrated well for me, but perhaps that is just the style. It feels to me like it peaked already, but there is no rush to drink these up. For the price paid, this is an excellent value.
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I've drank 6 or 7 from the original WineLibrary case I bought through various progressions of maturity. I have to say that it's been an exercise in patience until the past 18 months when this wine has smoothed out, opened up and maintained a terrific balance between the 3 varietals. With the Beef Stroganoff (NY Strip) made at home tonight it was a no-brainer to go with this wine and it didn't disappoint. Wife popped and poured with her favorite Vietnamese fare and was very pleased with the wine though not willing to guess the grapes (too serious!). I got to it 90 minutes later when I could wait no longer for my daughter and it was in a great place. Down to the sediment this is a fine Bordeaux blend and worth twice what I paid. For me it's finally pulling it's weight at 92-93 points.
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Decanted and returned to bottle 45 minutes before tasting. Pretty much the same impression as my last bottle on12/16/13. Need to drink more of this as it is likely not going to improve.
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Aromas of black cherry, currant, coffee and forest floor. Red and black fruit, chocolate, pencil lead, coffee and soft tannins on the palate. Leads to a medium to long finish. Full bodied. Served with baked ham.
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We drank this with prime rib on Christmas and it was outstanding. The '05's took a while for the tannins to soften but this is drinking beautifully now. Nice nose, subdued fruit, and a smooth finish. Perfect with prime rib.
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Fine St. Estephe that's drinking very well at the moment and has at least another 3-5 years of life. Slightly unbalanced with little tannins but still has good level of acidity. Medium body and finish. Predominantly red berries on the palette.
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Dinner and Wine (Tasted Blind) with Amy S in Princeton (Princeton, NJ): Coravin pour with no decant. What a tasty wine! Notes of red fruit, cherry, blackberry, cedar, leather, earth, lead pencil, soy and some tobacco. Maybe some violets, too. We tasted these blind and Amy nailed this as St Estephe.
Drink now but has time, too. Great QPR for $25. We sent the rest home with Amy. It seemed too fragile for a decant but drank great with just a little air time to open.
This was our last bottle: it is great to go out on a high note. Alas, this wine is no longer made.
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This was a tasty wine. Best on its own, with notes of red fruit, cedar, leather, earth, dirt, lead pencil and soy. We also had this with dry-aged strip steak and with rib eye. It was best with a part of the rib-eye, but better still on its own. I'm not sure what this wine pairs with -- maybe lamb, as I have been trying beef all this time? -- but very tasty on its own. Good QPR for $25 / bottle. Drink now but this has some time, too.
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Drinking well now but it will definitely last another 10 years. Terrific aromatics, chocolate, lead pencil, spices, dirt and slightly chewy tannin, very nice and coats the palate well as a PnP. A fairly good value as far as Bordeaux goes in a great year.
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Spot on with full throttle aromatics more floral than pencil or camphor. The violet hue is remarkably fresh and the palate has the same fruit noted in my last note in 2010. i rated it 90 then and would do same now except I feel it is at its peak and should be enjoyed now.
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I would definitely start drinking these if you have them. I would say this time the finish is a bit shorter but giving off a nice bouquet on the nose. Good for the price.
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Popped and poured. Dark garnet color with fine sediment. Nose of black cherry, menthol, eucalyptus, cassis, a bit of fresh earth and some cedar. Very nice. Similar flavors on the palate with a nice mix of dark berry fruit and earthy flavors with some cedar cigar box and a hint of bitter dark chocolate on the finish. Medium acid and tannin. Medium bodied. Finish was on the shorter side of medium. All said, a very solid wine for the price paid.
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Decanted for 1.5 hours before starting consumption. Nice bouquet of fruit and earth. A bit thin on the palate, but this held up all night with no decline. The next morning I had the remnants of what was left in the decanter, and it was still drinking quite well, though the fruit had dissipated. For $26, an amazing value.
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This opaque ruby wine, tasted double-blind from a bottle provided by C.S., is an ambitious undertaking. The Cuvée Alienor is from a special selection of old vines at the Valrose estate. The 2005 is a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc. It is a mouth-filling, full-bodied wine, with intense aromas and flavors of bramble fruits, cassis, dark chocolate and loamy earth. With low-to-medium acidity, big sweet tannins and well-integrated alcohol (listed as 14%), it is layered and persistent in the middle, subsequently closing with medium length. While it will likely get better, this wine is quite drinkable now and it is not unreasonable to pop a cork. Give it ample aeration. Drink now-2030.
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Upon opening little happening on the palate, some raisin notes, very tannic. Tasted aggressively over 3 hours of decanting. Was not impressed until after 3 hours when the wine finally opened up, becoming fuller and softer, with multiple secondary and tertiary notes on the palate (quite a transformation). Excellent value but needs several more years of cellaring or patient, extensive decanting if drunk sooner.
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Decanted 3 hours. This wine is in a happy place right now. Nicely balance with some youthful red fruit combine with light flavors of pencil lead, licorice and black pepper. Has a pleasant short plus finish. Recommend drinking this wine from now through the next 5 years.
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Dark ruby. Nose of fresh dark cherries, bit of bay leaf and currant. Juicy and focused, with good balance of elements, but a rather short finish. A pleasant, somewhat restrained wine.
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No formal tasting notes, but just as good as the previous bottle one week ago. This will probably achieve WS's 92 score eventually, but I'm happy with 90-91 right now. Quite excellent.
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After a one-hour decant, this is ready to drink. Simply delicious. In it's prime drinking window now. Plum, currents, chocolate, fennel, and mineral notes. Everything in balance.
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Tasty wine. Notes of red fruit, cedar, leather, earth and soy. Just an ok pairing with the beef stew: really wants a rib eye. Ok with just pop and pour; no decant. Good qpr at $25 / bottle. Drink now and for the next few years.
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Popped and poured. Dark garnet color with some sediment. Nose of dark plum and black cherry, pencil lead, cedar cigar box and a bit of leather. Similar flavors on the palate with a nice balance of dark fruit and earthy flavors with a bit of dark chocolate on the back end. Medium acid and tannins with a nice finish. Drinking well right now but probably still has some life ahead of it. Very good QPR.
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Still quite youthful looking - a deep semi-opaque purple in color, lightening only a bit around the edge. Its beautiful, powerful St. Estephe nose fills the glass with intense aromas of dark berries, spice, leather and flowers. Full-bodied and still a bit fruit-forward for its age. Lots of delicious, ripe plum and blueberry fruit character here, complemented nicely by a moderate acidity and that unmistakable St Estephe minerality. Finishes very long, with slightly chewy tannins and lingering hints of coffee, oak and spice. Leans slightly towards the New World in style, but the terroir is still there - in spades. Very elegant, balanced and delicious. 50+5+13+16+7=91
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 30 minutes. Aromas of currant, blackberry, leather, cocoa powder and forest floor. Black currant, coffee and firm tannins on the palate lead to a medium length finish. Medium bodied with a soft texture, but slightly hollow on the mid-palate. Paired with strip steaks with béarnaise sauce.
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Color is a medium intensity red moving to garnet. Earthy nose giving off red currant, a floral note, tobacco, damp split wood. Medium body, some sweet fruit showing through, lively acity, resolved tannins, spicy medium length finish. This was a nice bottle (apparently some bottle variation), and I have a lot of Bordeaux's much more expensive that provide less enjoyment.
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Much improved since my last tasting note in late 2011. The wine is getting smoother and the tannins are quite pleasant. Secondary flavors of earth and forest are emerging with hints of leather and some nice tobacco. For me, the fruit is still not there and I am concerned that it never will be. Perhaps a style preference, but I like a little fruit to provide a contrast to the earth tones. Still, for the price it is an excellent bottle that has rewarded several years of cellaring.
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Opened 2 hrs before blind tasting, very nice nose of red fruit, floral hints, cedar. Very soft tannins, smooth on the palate with fruit and a little earthiness. I'm not sure if this will improve, but it is in a nice place now, and I have 7 more bottles.
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Wow. What a difference a bit more than 2 years makes from when I last tasted this wine. Lots of violet Colour with the smell of acacia flowers and raspberry scents on the nose. A bit of cedar and licorice with sweet oak notes on the palate. Long finish. It needs more time but still delicious today.
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Nose the same as last time but tannins definitely mellowed out. Good drinking wine right now don't know if it will benefit from more time. I would drink now or over the next few years.
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2 hr decant Nose - tobacco, damp earth, sweet cherry. Smelling very much like an aged Bordeaux on the nose Mouth - delicious ripe red fruit , hints of maple, good maturity. This continues to get better and in retrospect it's silly that I squandered so much away in its prepubescence.
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Deep ruby color leads to a nose of cherry, currant, and cedar. Medium body shows predominant red fruit character with some spice box and bell pepper. The only thing holding this wine back is the finish which has a stewed prune character which I don't enjoy. I am unsure how much additional aging will improve this wine. I will drink my remaining bottles over next three years.
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Consistent with last note. The fruit is dried out but it is still technically sound wine. Hit it with pasta sauce/high acid dishes to bring out what little fruit remains. Unfortunately this was one to drink young.
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Knew this was tired and tannic, so matched it with some pizza/pasta and crushed red pepper. Actually made this quite drinkable and smooth, enjoyable even though the food brings out just a hint of fruit after cutting the tannins. Treat this like a chianti and you'll be fine. But drink up.
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the nose is very plummy and dark fruity at the open. after 20 minutes decanting, the nose becomes earthy (driven by the terrior of St. Esteph??) and more cassis. very nice nose. the palate is complex with some dark chocolate and herbal finish. there are quite a few sediments. not sure if it is due to 8 years of aging or this wine is unfiltered when bottled. but very nice at a price of CAD$30 (bought 2 years ago). my score more or less aligns with JS score of 92
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Let breathe in the bottle a couple hours. The aromatics were subtle and muted. Leather and dark cherries with a touch of spice. Palate is extremely light and comes across as diluted and thin. A disappointment. Don't know if this needs MORE time or if it's past.
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Sometimes things just don't work out. My first note was full of promise. This bottle was disappointing. The fruit has massively faded, and yet the tannins are still there. It has dried out and become dime a dozen sub $20 bordeaux.
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Entering the drinking window nicely; does benefit from some air. Cherry with leather and dried thyme, dust, and a lingering essence of watermelon jolly rancher (not in a bad or candied way) that I could taste for 30 seconds or so.
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Alluring nose of red cherry, leather, and a little earth. Medium body with solid weight and acidity. More cherry and leather flavors, leading to a dry finish. A nice mix of new and old world.
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Luscious plummy aroma on opening. Wine itself is lighter than the initial fragrance indicated. Dry, a little acidity, only light fruit, balanced by a little minerality. After a few sips the fruit notes improved. Tannins may be fading in this bottle, but not beyond what would be appropriate. Overall a nice experience. Label says 50% merlot.
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opened for several hours nose -muted, mostly oak mouth - well balanced between fruit, acidity, and tannin. this wine is starting to enter its zone and has developed some interesting secondary nuances. A very lively finish with a cornucopia of red fruit, starting to taste like mature red wine, can i not say anything dumber than that? Try again next year.
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Right now just a basic Bordeaux, nothing really special but no real faults. The nose is nice with red current and earth aromas, I would say very St. Estephe. The palate does have fruit and it seems to be balenced but still has some grainy tannins and lacks the charm that it will hopefully get in time.
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Perhaps good potential here, but very closed with a bitter tannic structure and little to no fruit. A lot of cedar and pine. Unballanced with a bitter, but long finish. Decanted for 30 minutes and served.
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This is a solid wine. Dark, almost black colour with little on the nose. Closed but there is a good fruit (blackberry) in the background. A primal and masculine wine but there is elegance within the tannic structure. Tannic but fine. Needs another 6-10 years but a very good value for $38.00 for a good 2005 bordeaux. Drabbed this as there was a controversy on the quality of the wine.
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On openning - Very tannic, no fruit. Palette - Quite tannic, some fruit. After 2 hours decant. Minimal improvement. An 85 at that point. After overnight (next morning - a quick taste). Aweful. An 80. I poured it out. Perhaps I should have waited till evening, but I lost patience with this wine.
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tasted after an overnight decant nose - earthy, then oaky mouth - well integrated at the moment. The fruit, earthiness, oak, and acidity all play off each other nicely; eventually the backend tannins catch up an overwhelm. Perfect pairing for a nice meal. Looking forward to following this wine over the next 5 years.
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Decanted for 1 hour. Bright purple color. Somewhat tight on the nose at first but eventually began to show notes of dark raspberries, shoe leather, a touch of vanilla and cedar. A little bit of heat coming through on the nose as well. Dark fruit at the core of this wine but the tannins are still keeping any nuances at bay for now. Some bitter dark chocolate on the back end to go along with the firm tannins. Medium acid. Big mouthfeel. I think this wine will really be special in a few years because there is a lot of lush fruit in the background. I will let my other bottles rest for another year or so before trying again.
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Popped and poured. Delicious but didn't really give it a chance as it was consumed within 30 minutes. Initial impression of a little too much use of oak seemed to be coming into better balance just as finished. Overall, a very approachable wine with some new worldish friendliness without losing its true, old world identity. 91+
pop and pour: Very pretty all around, vibrant on the nose with ripe blueberry and raspberry...secondary aromas for black licorice, peppercorn and jasmine are wrapped in vanilla and lightly toast caramel french oak aromas. Very tight on the palate m+ tannin and pristine m+ acid...
PopnPour. Dark violet color. Aromatics seemed mute. Concentrated cherry liquer on the tongue with a faint chocolate edge, later becoming more cassis flavored with air. Excellent, can be enjoyed now or in a few years but I would give it an hour of air next time. 90 now but would be higher if bouquet improves 5+10+17+8=90
While still in need of a few more years in bottle, this wine has evolved beautifully over the last two to three years. With bottle age, the firm tannins have noticeably soften. Nice wine and great QPR.
This will be a great wine, although it is not ready yet. Next bottle 1-2 years. Initially, very concentrated and tight, but with an amazing core of fruit, enveloped in a thick layer of tannins.
Drank better after 60-75 minutes in the decanter and vigorous swirls. Lots of dark fruit, some berries and lovely notes of spice and tobacco. But really needs more time -- or a 2+ hour decant (maybe). A quality wine. Best with our grilled filet mignon.
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Really drinking very nicely. Some dark fruit and tobacco on the nose, mint, earth and dark fruit with well integrated soft tannins, decent mouthfeel and finish.
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We have a winner. Nose has nice smokey embers, but is a little reticent on the strawberry, blueberry preserves unless swirled but very focused and beautiful berry notes once you do. Cassis, dark fruit palate with some cedar and a very nice hint of spice in the background that should come forward. Still quite dry and tannic, but nice firm structure and gives up just enough to be palatable for now. Nice earth finish work in progress. This has some years ahead of it. Next bottle 2012. Fantastic QPR at $23, retail $35 is still good.
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Let breathe in bottle for 2 hours. This is part of the shipment of '05 futures I received some time back. It's been in storage at Kent up to about a week ago. Have been anticipating the first of three bottles I have packed away. Deep dark purple - almost opaque at the center. Deep moderate complex rustic dark blackberries, black cherries, dark spice, some green pepper play as well as menthol, mint and pine needles. Palate is medium bodied showing more dark characteristics - blackberries, spice, camphor flowers. Moderate complex finish. Still very young moderate high acidity and tannins that need to further evolve. Some promise for the future. Will be nice when and if this adds a bit of weight and its acid comes into better balance with the fruit. As for alcohol, it is barely noticeable. Quite nice. Looking forward to how this will evolve. Would recommend next bottle should be opened in roughly 3-4 years.
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Opens up nicely after a couple of hours of air. Dark garnet color. The nose has blackberry, strawberry, cassis, charcoal, and herbs. Still pretty tannic, but it's starting to integrate. It has a pretty no-nonsense personality, not very flashy, but solid. There's some nice depth and character. Long, firm finish. Powerful fruit and firm structure, I think this will be great in 2-3 years.
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Opened for 5hrs.+ Nice big nose of black plum, cedar, cassis and floral. In the mouth get a nice fruit balance with a bit of earth and gripping tannins. Definitely needs a couple more years in the cellar but very approachable now. Should merit a few more points with time. Can't ask for more for the price.
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Popped, poured with balance decanted & consumed over 2 hours. Big smoky, cedary, chocolately, black plum/currant fruit. Some chalk/mineral notes on the palate too with a dry tannic finish. Very good wine, but will get much better with time. A little heat on the back, but not offensive. This is a big, more modern styled Bordeaux, but has nice balance to it that will only get better with age. For $23/btl, a great value for the quality.
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Opened and decanted, not very attractive until a few hours had passed, getting better by the minute. However, with so many blends to choose from, not sure I would buy this again but would just try something different in the same price range.
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91-92pts. This is a modern style Bordeaux, that had a pretty extracted style. Black and Blue fruit focuses, on a very dry finish. This wine is a baby, going the distance 5-10yrs+. Built on a dry finish with great balance. Give this some time and it will reward...AMM
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Elegant dark and inky purple, almost opaque, with a ruby hue and great finess! Plum, blackberry, blackcurrant aromas with an earthy, leathery and toasted oak bouquet. Nutty components with toasted almond and walnut backed by dark chocolate and vanilla coffee. It's like Godiva in a bottle! I do get quite a bit of tobacco and cigar-box undertone to it as well. Indeed, very impressive and complex nose with layers upon layers of fruit that translates into a balanced and full-bodied wine! Ripe plum and blackcurrant: clearly dark fruits on the attack. Refined and velvety tannins, bold and yet exquisite texture balanced with beautiful fruit and acidity: a surprisingly well-structured mid-palate! A long finish that is clean, crisp and floral, which goes on and on and on... Great aging potential with 10 more years easy! Excellent wine overall, and I would have estimated a $60 value. It's only sold for $35 retail, and mine was acquired at $23 a bottle through a private client network, thanks to Cory. Unbelievable value!! Already quite accessible but best after 2012.
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nose of dark berry, crushed rocks, and ink. mouth - a burst of juicy cassis and blackberry with terrific berry flavors extending through the midpalate, along with hints of coffee, followed by a long soft tannic grip on the finish. Good acidity as well, this is a very juicy and fruity yet far from overdone. Liking this significantly more than when I last tried it as it has improved; in all probability significant palate shift is playing into the picture as well.
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Drank w two trips through venturi, over three nights--clearly a solidly made wine, w flower and mineral notes, not much fruit coming forth at present; good quality now, and promises to be fine, fine, fine.
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Opened for about 6 or 7 hours, Chateau Valrose has an interesting nose. Once you get passed the ripping alcohol and metallic odors, you get a very earthy nose with pronounced truffle notes. The wine is medium to full bodied with plenty of structure. Finishes long for a wine of this caliber and exhibits good concentration; however it is rather heavy causing it to feel a bit cumbersome. Definitely wait 2-3 years; there is little point in drinking this now.
nose - mainly a chemical kind of smell. not much liking it. mouth - red fruit, taste of cigar?, still tannic and slightly bitter. By no means a fruit bomb. I can see how this could improve with time, but I'm not sure it will ever be anything stellar. Needs food. Note to self- what to do with the rest of the case?
Day 1: Nose that reminded me a bit of an extracted shiraz. Big fruit, with vanilla and oak. Very juicy mid-palate with a decent dry finish. Tannins are slightly bitter. Very good, although not what I want from a bordeaux.
Day 2: Nose of cassis juice (very pure). The tannins are much more pronounced, puckering tannins even in the mid-palate (think barolo). Not quite as extracted tasting, finish about the same.
Day 3: Wine had turned, was a little disappointed.
I am interested to see what happens to this wine over time, although I'm pretty sure it won't be a classic bordeaux.
Very nice wine; very tight when opened, but opened up very nicely after some time in a glass. Black fruit with a mineral / earthy nose. The fruit is balanced with a green pepper aspect on the palate. Good balance and long finish.
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This wine will is very good+. I think it will be better with time. Did not focus on the nose, was at a dinner party. Ripe, but not over the top in any way, red and black fruit flavors. Structure, balance and fine tannins. Tannins create a smooth finish...AMM
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Still quite tannic. Short midpalate as pointed out by Brandon. After opening, strangely, some of the fruit seemed to blow off, leaving an even more tannic beverage. Will not rate, probably too early to drink, and will be interested to see how this develops over the years.
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beatiful nose of cassis / strawberries / and a slight vegetal or earth component. Taste fresh strawberries, hints of cocoa occasionally, anise, soft earth if that makes sense. nice long finish. tannins should soften nicely over time making this a very nice bottle of wine
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Way too young, but my first 2005 to arrive so I had to crack one, and I'm glad that I did. A little heat quickly blew off in the decanter. Nose of cassis, licorice/anise and pencil shavings; gorgeous, smooth in the mouth, medium-bodied, present but medium-soft tannins (no doubt thanks to the 50% merlot); long, red fruit finish. Well-balanced and elegant. An absolute steal, and drinks above its price point. The rest are going into the cellar for a few years (2011-12?).
1/21/2024 - Kentw wrote: 86 Points
This bottle was better than the last one, my last bottle. Full body, heavy, very dark fruits dominate with some burnt toast and fairly dry. The flavor profile is longer providing distinct fruit characteristics, but some may like it this way. Just very dense because of age and it never matured to what was expected based on prior vintages.
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9/26/2023 - Jd6725 wrote: 90 Points
Perfectly decent wine. Shows the warmth of the vintage a bit. Decent QPR. No real signs of complexity but enough depth to be enjoyable
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5/27/2023 - Kentw wrote: 78 Points
Past Prime. Two years ago drinkable, but now mostly burnt toast and raisins. No fruit to speak of but some old funk on opening. Stored properly in wine cabinet. Very disappointed in this wine for this vintage. Never stood out since it was bought 15 years ago.
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5/7/2022 - gcarl wrote: 91 Points
Still a pleasing wine with the same impressions I have written 0ver the last 8 years
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2/19/2022 - boegemann Likes this wine: 90 Points
Please give it time. 3 hours at least, and the refined beauty of this wine shines. No need to break it down. It’s lovely.
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1/14/2022 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still not for your xmas/holiday party (even if you had it this year).
Muddy, plummy, over ripe cherry, tasty. Acidity keeps it balanced. A touch of leather but not much for tertiary flavors. Enjoyable now and for the short term future but again, I don't see any improvement for this wine. Drink up boys and girls.
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10/6/2021 - megropolis wrote:
Past the fruit prime but still did not resolve the tannins.
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7/10/2021 - ihavezinned wrote: 91 Points
Too bad it’s my last bottle. Plum, blackberry, cinnamon, old leather, damp dirt. Drinking wonderfully. Smooth and dry with a very long finish.
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3/15/2021 - Kentw wrote: 88 Points
Not much difference from prior notes. Dry, austere, and dense. The fruit is muted. Prefer the 2000 and 2004 vintages. For a good year, this has been somewhat disappointing though the wine has a solid structure. Just not what I had expected from the prior years.
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12/3/2020 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points
Slow o'd 4 hours, let sit in glass for 20 minutes before trying. The nose is a potpourri of plum, light red fruits, earth and garrigue. The palate is slightly astringent with similar flavors. The nose is a solid 93, the palate closer to 90. I'll feel this wine is at or possibly slightly past peak. This seems like a very traditional bordeaux, and I will be on the lookout for this producer.
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11/18/2020 - Racer117 wrote: 90 Points
As before, muddy. I liked this but its not a wine for you annual xmas/holiday party. But you're not having that this year, are you?
Earthy/muddy, plum, enough acidity to keep things balanced and interesting. As noted before, still no indication of future improvement.
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11/13/2020 - cobystilp wrote: 87 Points
This bottle started to fade quickly. Drink up!
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10/6/2020 - mike410 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not as good as my last bottle. Lots of tannins and acidity. Drinking very young. Needs another three or four years but I doubt there will be any improvement.
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9/26/2020 - IlonaN wrote: 87 Points
Came across as too thick and earthy. Maybe on the steep downhill slide...glad it was my last bottle.
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9/19/2020 - TashNYC wrote: 92 Points
A Small Rosh Hashanah Dinner and Wine in Princeton (Princeton, NJ): Drinking quite well with just a pop and pour. Notes of red fruit, cherry, blackberry, a little plum, cedar, leather, earth, lead pencil, soy, herbs and some tobacco. The tannins were completely mature and resolved but still a tasty wine.
It was great on its own and also with the beef brisket. (I had been worried the tomatoes in the brisket would need more merlot but this worked great).
My friend Leslie correctly guessed this as Bordeaux and St Estephe. She then guessed Pez, Calon Segur or perhaps Montrose: all great tributes to this little, humble wine - alas no longer made.
Drink now.
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7/28/2020 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still plenty tannic, so it needs a full 3 hours in the decanter. But, it also has good fruit, so hopefully it will continue to mature gracefully.
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6/30/2020 - Kentw wrote: 88 Points
Good structure with medium to full body. Mosty black cherry and licorice notes that I could discern. Some acidity in mid-palate but quite dry. Very one dimensional with a mild finishing tannin. I keep comparing it to 2000 and 2004 which I enjoyed very much and showed more fruit/complexity. But for those who like structured very dry wines, this should be quite popular. Will not get better from here so drink up.
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6/12/2020 - cobystilp wrote: 89 Points
Drink up.
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5/31/2020 - cobystilp wrote: 91 Points
This has held up very well.
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4/15/2020 - hoservin wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Nose of black cherry, blackberry, currant, chocolate and forest floor. Black and red fruit, chocolate, licorice, spice and forest floor on the palate. Finishes with good persistence. Medium to full bodied. Served with grilled cheeseburgers.
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1/7/2020 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decanted about 90 minutes. Fairly simple flavor profile, smooth, easy drinking and no off-flavors. While not an overly exciting wine, it paired nicely with Anita's beef stew. Drink up.
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12/23/2019 - ihavezinned wrote: 90 Points
Was a great pairing with smoked prime rib.
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10/29/2019 - cobbpa wrote: 90 Points
This was great. Probably at peak, for a couple more years. Tobacco, cedar, plum & dried dark cherry, herbs (mint, sage) on the nose. Very perfumed. Palate is midweight, in balance, shows all the flavors from the nose, and delivers integrated tannins & acidity. Everything I wanted from this.
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7/26/2019 - cobystilp wrote: 89 Points
This has held up really well. There is still fresh primary fruit. The cork is completely intact. Is still fresh with notes have stewed rhubarb and strawberries. Long legs and slight bricking. Silky smooth tannins with a leather finish. Great for the price!
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6/2/2019 - gcarl wrote: 90 Points
A bit astringent on P&P, but opened up after 20-30 min to be about what I have previosly written
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4/7/2019 - Kentw wrote: 89 Points
Decent but not as good as the 2000. Medium plus body, some mixed red and black fruits with licorice, tobacco, sour cherry and earthy notes. Still vibrant with acidity in mid palate and mild drying tannin on the finish. Good with food. Ready to drink now. Day 2 the wine was a lot more balanced and smooth. Sharp acidity and dry tannic edges are gone. Smooth Merlot notes predominate. I now suggest a long decant before drinking. Rate 88 day 1 and 90 + day 2 for an 89+ avg.
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3/2/2019 - Intellectual Sasquatch Likes this wine: 90 Points
1 hour decant. Enjoyed with some assorted funky cheeses. Ready to go if not maybe a little past it’s prime (this was a one-off, so not sure what it was like 2 years ago). Still deep red and good tannin structure. I wonder if the fruit might have been a little more pronounced earlier. Solid at least for another year.
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1/25/2019 - stoneb Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark purple. Black fruit on nose and palate with some tobacco and earth in the background. Mild prune notes on finish prevent this from scoring higher, but a very good mature BDX that is ready to drink now.
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1/13/2019 - DUNCANSWI wrote:
Superb ! Trued right after opening and after 30 min, an hour etc. what a difference! After 2 -21/2 hours, fabulous ! Soft earthy, honey, blackberry. Loved it ! Drank with short ribs, carrots and rutabaga.
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12/25/2018 - Bam_Man wrote: flawed
Corked. I have had quite a few of these lately. :(
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10/19/2018 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted only about 45 minutes at this point. I'm not sure what the over-the-hill crowd is drinking (the wine, not necessarily the tasters), but we just opened another bottle of this wine this evening, and it's just a lovely matured Bordeaux. Yes, the fruit aspects are less pronounced (Merlot plumminess has turned to dried cranberries now), but it's tangy and earthy with nice tannins and freshness along with a still-pretty, reddish-purple color (no bricking). Some vanilla bean and baking spices fill the mid-palate now. Long finish, too. In my 2015 review of this wine (many bottles ago), I suggested that it would last 5 years at least. Based on this bottle, I think that it will easily meet that 2020 time point, and maybe reward further cellar beyond.
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9/16/2018 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 91 Points
I really liked this bottle. Its more new world with bright primary fruit being dominant but there's still nice spices and earthiness to up the complexity.
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7/1/2018 - ecola wrote:
A little past it’s prime. Tons of fig and a little oxidation setting in. A little dark fruit comes out. However it pair well with a gorgonzola and fig flatbread.
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1/28/2018 - hoservin wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, coffee and dried herbs. Red and black fruit, coffee, graphite, leather, dried herbs and soft tannins on the palate. Leads to a long, soft finish. Medium to full bodied. Served with cheeseburgers.
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1/22/2018 - soyhead wrote:
A wine I managed to cellar for 10 years, only by dint of misplacing the last bottle, which i recently stumbled across to my surprise
N - harmonious, plum, cherry and dusty cedar chest
M - also harmonious, surprisingly mellow, this has nicely evolved into its own, showing red fruits with some secondary characteristics (tobacco, earth), good framing tannins, and lively acidity. A modesty priced petite chateau from a good vintage with a decade of bottle age - winning recipe.
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12/31/2017 - wicozani wrote: 84 Points
Thanks to recent notes. A dark ruby in the glass, with no bricking. The nose features dark fruits, oak, alcohol and earthiness. Dry, structured on the palate, cool, dark fruit and oak. It has lost the warmth, energy, red fruits and spice it used to have. Agree that now is time to drink up. Going to use our last bottle to cook with.
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12/29/2017 - lolo66 wrote: 85 Points
glossy kind of wine with a veneer that is fading and the stuffing behind is just so-so.
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10/6/2017 - Bob in NC wrote: 88 Points
This 2005 is nice mid-level Bordeaux that is drinking fairly smooth right now. Went great with our beef burgers.
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8/13/2017 - CabIsKing wrote: 91 Points
Still holding up good since last bottle. Still giving off decent fruits on the nose with a medium finish on the tongue. Drink up.
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7/23/2017 - galewskj wrote: 88 Points
Bordeaux Blends (Jason's house): A 1+ hour decant was likely too much for this wine. It seemed hot and a bit fragile. Nice easy drinking Bordeaux with blueberry.
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7/18/2017 - Racer117 wrote: 90 Points
I see other tasters frequently describing this as "earthy" and I'll get even more descriptive and call this "muddy". A good wine but I wouldn't cal this great. Dark semi-opaque in glass (poured carefully so moderate bottle sediment stayed in bottle.); muddy/earthy nose with some plum and a roasted note; plum, berry, leather and earth flavors. I don't see any future marked improvement but I have enough bottles to answer that speculation.
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5/7/2017 - Grenik Likes this wine: 90 Points
I drank bottles in 2011, 2014, and now 2017 and it has been very rewarding to watch this wine improve and evolve over time. Earthy with soft blue fruit. A lot of earth tones that never integrated well for me, but perhaps that is just the style. It feels to me like it peaked already, but there is no rush to drink these up. For the price paid, this is an excellent value.
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4/22/2017 - Jimdish25 wrote: 93 Points
I've drank 6 or 7 from the original WineLibrary case I bought through various progressions of maturity. I have to say that it's been an exercise in patience until the past 18 months when this wine has smoothed out, opened up and maintained a terrific balance between the 3 varietals. With the Beef Stroganoff (NY Strip) made at home tonight it was a no-brainer to go with this wine and it didn't disappoint. Wife popped and poured with her favorite Vietnamese fare and was very pleased with the wine though not willing to guess the grapes (too serious!). I got to it 90 minutes later when I could wait no longer for my daughter and it was in a great place. Down to the sediment this is a fine Bordeaux blend and worth twice what I paid. For me it's finally pulling it's weight at 92-93 points.
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4/16/2017 - gcarl wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and returned to bottle 45 minutes before tasting. Pretty much the same impression as my last bottle on12/16/13. Need to drink more of this as it is likely not going to improve.
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2/28/2017 - IlonaN wrote: 87 Points
Very dense and distinctly earthy. Tobacco, leather, hint of smoky cassis. Has that St. Estephe "dirt" flavor going on.
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12/27/2016 - hoservin wrote: 89 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Aromas of black cherry, currant, coffee and forest floor. Red and black fruit, chocolate, pencil lead, coffee and soft tannins on the palate. Leads to a medium to long finish. Full bodied. Served with baked ham.
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12/25/2016 - jrsobeck wrote: 91 Points
We drank this with prime rib on Christmas and it was outstanding. The '05's took a while for the tannins to soften but this is drinking beautifully now. Nice nose, subdued fruit, and a smooth finish. Perfect with prime rib.
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12/22/2016 - mike410 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fine St. Estephe that's drinking very well at the moment and has at least another 3-5 years of life. Slightly unbalanced with little tannins but still has good level of acidity. Medium body and finish. Predominantly red berries on the palette.
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8/2/2016 - TashNYC wrote: 93 Points
Dinner and Wine (Tasted Blind) with Amy S in Princeton (Princeton, NJ): Coravin pour with no decant. What a tasty wine! Notes of red fruit, cherry, blackberry, cedar, leather, earth, lead pencil, soy and some tobacco. Maybe some violets, too. We tasted these blind and Amy nailed this as St Estephe.
Drink now but has time, too. Great QPR for $25. We sent the rest home with Amy. It seemed too fragile for a decant but drank great with just a little air time to open.
This was our last bottle: it is great to go out on a high note. Alas, this wine is no longer made.
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8/1/2016 - Don and Pam Likes this wine: 90 Points
great, after laying down for 9 years it's tasting nice right now
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3/26/2016 - TashNYC wrote: 91 Points
This was a tasty wine. Best on its own, with notes of red fruit, cedar, leather, earth, dirt, lead pencil and soy. We also had this with dry-aged strip steak and with rib eye. It was best with a part of the rib-eye, but better still on its own. I'm not sure what this wine pairs with -- maybe lamb, as I have been trying beef all this time? -- but very tasty on its own. Good QPR for $25 / bottle. Drink now but this has some time, too.
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3/22/2016 - tmoritz1 wrote: 93 Points
-Drinking very nicely-Smooth last.Nicely blended dried fruit nose. Medium tannins-glad i bought a case
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1/6/2016 - pakabear Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking well now but it will definitely last another 10 years. Terrific aromatics, chocolate, lead pencil, spices, dirt and slightly chewy tannin, very nice and coats the palate well as a PnP. A fairly good value as far as Bordeaux goes in a great year.
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12/27/2015 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine:
Spot on with full throttle aromatics more floral than pencil or camphor. The violet hue is remarkably fresh and the palate has the same fruit noted in my last note in 2010. i rated it 90 then and would do same now except I feel it is at its peak and should be enjoyed now.
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12/9/2015 - CabIsKing wrote: 91 Points
I would definitely start drinking these if you have them. I would say this time the finish is a bit shorter but giving off a nice bouquet on the nose. Good for the price.
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11/24/2015 - Rich S Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Dark garnet color with fine sediment. Nose of black cherry, menthol, eucalyptus, cassis, a bit of fresh earth and some cedar. Very nice. Similar flavors on the palate with a nice mix of dark berry fruit and earthy flavors with some cedar cigar box and a hint of bitter dark chocolate on the finish. Medium acid and tannin. Medium bodied. Finish was on the shorter side of medium. All said, a very solid wine for the price paid.
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10/11/2015 - flwinos wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours before starting consumption. Nice bouquet of fruit and earth. A bit thin on the palate, but this held up all night with no decline. The next morning I had the remnants of what was left in the decanter, and it was still drinking quite well, though the fruit had dissipated. For $26, an amazing value.
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7/2/2015 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinks just fabulously. Even if it never makes the WS 92 score, this is a decent deal. Good for another five years at least.
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3/13/2015 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 91 Points
This opaque ruby wine, tasted double-blind from a bottle provided by C.S., is an ambitious undertaking. The Cuvée Alienor is from a special selection of old vines at the Valrose estate. The 2005 is a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc. It is a mouth-filling, full-bodied wine, with intense aromas and flavors of bramble fruits, cassis, dark chocolate and loamy earth. With low-to-medium acidity, big sweet tannins and well-integrated alcohol (listed as 14%), it is layered and persistent in the middle, subsequently closing with medium length. While it will likely get better, this wine is quite drinkable now and it is not unreasonable to pop a cork. Give it ample aeration. Drink now-2030.
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3/7/2015 - Slaz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Upon opening little happening on the palate, some raisin notes, very tannic. Tasted aggressively over 3 hours of decanting. Was not impressed until after 3 hours when the wine finally opened up, becoming fuller and softer, with multiple secondary and tertiary notes on the palate (quite a transformation). Excellent value but needs several more years of cellaring or patient, extensive decanting if drunk sooner.
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3/1/2015 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted 3 hours. This wine is in a happy place right now. Nicely balance with some youthful red fruit combine with light flavors of pencil lead, licorice and black pepper. Has a pleasant short plus finish. Recommend drinking this wine from now through the next 5 years.
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2/21/2015 - nectar14 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark ruby. Nose of fresh dark cherries, bit of bay leaf and currant. Juicy and focused, with good balance of elements, but a rather short finish. A pleasant, somewhat restrained wine.
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1/14/2015 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 90 Points
No formal tasting notes, but just as good as the previous bottle one week ago. This will probably achieve WS's 92 score eventually, but I'm happy with 90-91 right now. Quite excellent.
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1/6/2015 - Don and Pam Likes this wine: 88 Points
quite nice, great bouquet. Very dry to start. Hoping for some improvement with decant time
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1/4/2015 - pinoteer Likes this wine: 91 Points
After a one-hour decant, this is ready to drink. Simply delicious. In it's prime drinking window now. Plum, currents, chocolate, fennel, and mineral notes. Everything in balance.
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12/31/2014 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
Tasty wine. Notes of red fruit, cedar, leather, earth and soy. Just an ok pairing with the beef stew: really wants a rib eye. Ok with just pop and pour; no decant. Good qpr at $25 / bottle. Drink now and for the next few years.
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12/14/2014 - klausner1 wrote: 89 Points
Decidedly restrained, well balanced, good QPR. More notes on the next one.
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12/12/2014 - cobystilp wrote: 88 Points
Lots of funk. Some sediment. Had plenty of legs left in the bottle.
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12/2/2014 - WDK wrote: 88 Points
A wine that's ok but unremarkable.
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11/16/2014 - Rich S Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Dark garnet color with some sediment. Nose of dark plum and black cherry, pencil lead, cedar cigar box and a bit of leather. Similar flavors on the palate with a nice balance of dark fruit and earthy flavors with a bit of dark chocolate on the back end. Medium acid and tannins with a nice finish. Drinking well right now but probably still has some life ahead of it. Very good QPR.
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10/31/2014 - soyhead wrote:
last bottle. turned out to be a good wine
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8/25/2014 - tmoritz1 wrote:
- Ruby color.
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8/8/2014 - jsherdc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark Purple. Tannins present but mostly resolved. Blackberry and chocolate. Will have a long life.
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7/31/2014 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still quite youthful looking - a deep semi-opaque purple in color, lightening only a bit around the edge. Its beautiful, powerful St. Estephe nose fills the glass with intense aromas of dark berries, spice, leather and flowers. Full-bodied and still a bit fruit-forward for its age. Lots of delicious, ripe plum and blueberry fruit character here, complemented nicely by a moderate acidity and that unmistakable St Estephe minerality. Finishes very long, with slightly chewy tannins and lingering hints of coffee, oak and spice. Leans slightly towards the New World in style, but the terroir is still there - in spades. Very elegant, balanced and delicious.
50+5+13+16+7=91
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7/19/2014 - WDK wrote: 87 Points
A reasonably attractive wine with faint fruit sitting behind the strong mineral element
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6/21/2014 - hoservin wrote: 88 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 30 minutes. Aromas of currant, blackberry, leather, cocoa powder and forest floor. Black currant, coffee and firm tannins on the palate lead to a medium length finish. Medium bodied with a soft texture, but slightly hollow on the mid-palate. Paired with strip steaks with béarnaise sauce.
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6/2/2014 - megropolis wrote:
Last tasted in 2009. Getting better - yes, it is closer to be ready but I think tannins still need few more years.
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6/2/2014 - wfdeacon wrote: 89 Points
Color is a medium intensity red moving to garnet. Earthy nose giving off red currant, a floral note, tobacco, damp split wood. Medium body, some sweet fruit showing through, lively acity, resolved tannins, spicy medium length finish. This was a nice bottle (apparently some bottle variation), and I have a lot of Bordeaux's much more expensive that provide less enjoyment.
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5/2/2014 - GuruofAV Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still going strong ....
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4/12/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 88 Points
Light fruit nose; some light blackberry-cherry; developing; tannic; decent finish.
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4/6/2014 - Grenik Likes this wine: 89 Points
Much improved since my last tasting note in late 2011. The wine is getting smoother and the tannins are quite pleasant. Secondary flavors of earth and forest are emerging with hints of leather and some nice tobacco. For me, the fruit is still not there and I am concerned that it never will be. Perhaps a style preference, but I like a little fruit to provide a contrast to the earth tones. Still, for the price it is an excellent bottle that has rewarded several years of cellaring.
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1/31/2014 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 89 Points
Smooth. Tannins have mellowed. Picking up typical aged bdx earthy flavors. Very nice. Suspect fruit will continue to fade.
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12/16/2013 - gcarl wrote: 91 Points
Opened 2 hrs before blind tasting, very nice nose of red fruit, floral hints, cedar. Very soft tannins, smooth on the palate with fruit and a little earthiness. I'm not sure if this will improve, but it is in a nice place now, and I have 7 more bottles.
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12/8/2013 - mimik Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow. What a difference a bit more than 2 years makes from when I last tasted this wine. Lots of violet Colour with the smell of acacia flowers and raspberry scents on the nose. A bit of cedar and licorice with sweet oak notes on the palate. Long finish. It needs more time but still delicious today.
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12/7/2013 - CabIsKing wrote: 91 Points
Nose the same as last time but tannins definitely mellowed out. Good drinking wine right now don't know if it will benefit from more time. I would drink now or over the next few years.
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12/6/2013 - soyhead wrote:
2 hr decant
Nose - tobacco, damp earth, sweet cherry. Smelling very much like an aged Bordeaux on the nose
Mouth - delicious ripe red fruit , hints of maple, good maturity. This continues to get better and in retrospect it's silly that I squandered so much away in its prepubescence.
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11/1/2013 - benny wrote: 91 Points
This was an outstanding bottle. Popped and poured.
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10/24/2013 - jfont123 wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. Paired with 1/2 beef, 1/2 bacon burger.
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10/19/2013 - flashvictor Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep ruby color leads to a nose of cherry, currant, and cedar. Medium body shows predominant red fruit character with some spice box and bell pepper. The only thing holding this wine back is the finish which has a stewed prune character which I don't enjoy. I am unsure how much additional aging will improve this wine. I will drink my remaining bottles over next three years.
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10/10/2013 - benny wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. I would drink now. Not sure time will improve this. A pleasant wine.
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9/9/2013 - kenhoeve Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Consistent with last note. The fruit is dried out but it is still technically sound wine. Hit it with pasta sauce/high acid dishes to bring out what little fruit remains. Unfortunately this was one to drink young.
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6/19/2013 - kenhoeve wrote: 84 Points
Knew this was tired and tannic, so matched it with some pizza/pasta and crushed red pepper. Actually made this quite drinkable and smooth, enjoyable even though the food brings out just a hint of fruit after cutting the tannins. Treat this like a chianti and you'll be fine. But drink up.
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6/19/2013 - GuruofAV wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very well. Soft dusty fruit a bit of coco and a long sour cherry finish.
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5/26/2013 - benny wrote: 91 Points
Not ready for prime time. Try in 6 months.
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5/17/2013 - Seo wrote: 87 Points
Tart and tight. Tannins are beginning to shed, but it doesnt appear that the fruit is going to poke through in the life of this.
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4/8/2013 - beachboyc wrote: 91 Points
the nose is very plummy and dark fruity at the open. after 20 minutes decanting, the nose becomes earthy (driven by the terrior of St. Esteph??) and more cassis. very nice nose.
the palate is complex with some dark chocolate and herbal finish. there are quite a few sediments. not sure if it is due to 8 years of aging or this wine is unfiltered when bottled. but very nice at a price of CAD$30 (bought 2 years ago).
my score more or less aligns with JS score of 92
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3/28/2013 - beezer6 wrote: 87 Points
Let breathe in the bottle a couple hours.
The aromatics were subtle and muted. Leather and dark cherries with a touch of spice.
Palate is extremely light and comes across as diluted and thin. A disappointment. Don't know if this needs MORE time or if it's past.
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3/22/2013 - msilver wrote: 89 Points
Not great, but a decent bordeaux for the price. Needs to decant for two hours
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2/16/2013 - soyhead wrote: 90 Points
showing excellent balance and drinkability, probably just now entering its drinking window.
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2/3/2013 - AMM3RD wrote: 90 Points
90+ Pop + Poured, needed 20mins for some of the dust to blow off. Showed ripe balanced fruit. Enjoyable value Bordeaux...AM
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1/26/2013 - benny wrote: 90 Points
An interesting wine but hard to discribe. I will wait 6 months.
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12/2/2012 - kenhoeve Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Sometimes things just don't work out. My first note was full of promise. This bottle was disappointing. The fruit has massively faded, and yet the tannins are still there. It has dried out and become dime a dozen sub $20 bordeaux.
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12/2/2012 - khmark7 wrote:
Not much in the way of aromatics. Tastes like licking cheap leather in your grandfathers old car......
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11/19/2012 - benny wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. Very drinkable now but I will try next in 6 months.
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10/30/2012 - gordoyflaca wrote: 91 Points
Entering the drinking window nicely; does benefit from some air. Cherry with leather and dried thyme, dust, and a lingering essence of watermelon jolly rancher (not in a bad or candied way) that I could taste for 30 seconds or so.
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8/3/2012 - ecola Likes this wine: 90 Points
Alluring nose of red cherry, leather, and a little earth. Medium body with solid weight and acidity. More cherry and leather flavors, leading to a dry finish. A nice mix of new and old world.
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6/14/2012 - gimonca wrote: 89 Points
Luscious plummy aroma on opening. Wine itself is lighter than the initial fragrance indicated. Dry, a little acidity, only light fruit, balanced by a little minerality. After a few sips the fruit notes improved. Tannins may be fading in this bottle, but not beyond what would be appropriate. Overall a nice experience. Label says 50% merlot.
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5/30/2012 - soyhead wrote: 90 Points
opened for several hours
nose -muted, mostly oak
mouth - well balanced between fruit, acidity, and tannin. this wine is starting to enter its zone and has developed some interesting secondary nuances. A very lively finish with a cornucopia of red fruit, starting to taste like mature red wine, can i not say anything dumber than that? Try again next year.
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5/21/2012 - pnwskibum wrote: 88 Points
Right now just a basic Bordeaux, nothing really special but no real faults. The nose is nice with red current and earth aromas, I would say very St. Estephe. The palate does have fruit and it seems to be balenced but still has some grainy tannins and lacks the charm that it will hopefully get in time.
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12/6/2011 - AMM3RD wrote:
Popped and poured at a nice Italian rest. This is very tight, noticed more Merlot than perviously. Holding judgement, until next bottle...AM
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9/30/2011 - Grenik wrote: 87 Points
Perhaps good potential here, but very closed with a bitter tannic structure and little to no fruit. A lot of cedar and pine. Unballanced with a bitter, but long finish. Decanted for 30 minutes and served.
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9/23/2011 - mimik wrote: 90 Points
This is a solid wine. Dark, almost black colour with little on the nose. Closed but there is a good fruit (blackberry) in the background. A primal and masculine wine but there is elegance within the tannic structure. Tannic but fine. Needs another 6-10 years but a very good value for $38.00 for a good 2005 bordeaux. Drabbed this as there was a controversy on the quality of the wine.
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9/5/2011 - Jhcwine Does not like this wine: 85 Points
On openning - Very tannic, no fruit. Palette - Quite tannic, some fruit. After 2 hours decant. Minimal improvement. An 85 at that point. After overnight (next morning - a quick taste). Aweful. An 80. I poured it out. Perhaps I should have waited till evening, but I lost patience with this wine.
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8/9/2011 - Double-A Likes this wine: 90 Points
Currant, smoke and mineral nose with an espresso note. Medium-full bodied, dry and astringent palate. Good fruit but needs time.
4/5
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7/23/2011 - soyhead wrote: 89 Points
tasted after an overnight decant
nose - earthy, then oaky
mouth - well integrated at the moment. The fruit, earthiness, oak, and acidity all play off each other nicely; eventually the backend tannins catch up an overwhelm. Perfect pairing for a nice meal. Looking forward to following this wine over the next 5 years.
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3/20/2011 - isdblm@lsu.edu wrote: 90 Points
Very good, but still young.
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3/11/2011 - soyhead wrote: 88 Points
nose - cherry, tobacco,
mouth - red fruit, tobacco, a touch of sweet, good structural tannins
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2/12/2011 - Rich S wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. Bright purple color. Somewhat tight on the nose at first but eventually began to show notes of dark raspberries, shoe leather, a touch of vanilla and cedar. A little bit of heat coming through on the nose as well. Dark fruit at the core of this wine but the tannins are still keeping any nuances at bay for now. Some bitter dark chocolate on the back end to go along with the firm tannins. Medium acid. Big mouthfeel. I think this wine will really be special in a few years because there is a lot of lush fruit in the background. I will let my other bottles rest for another year or so before trying again.
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1/7/2011 - Drewine wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Delicious but didn't really give it a chance as it was consumed within 30 minutes. Initial impression of a little too much use of oak seemed to be coming into better balance just as finished. Overall, a very approachable wine with some new worldish friendliness without losing its true, old world identity. 91+
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12/31/2010 - Rhonemaker wrote: 91 Points
pop and pour: Very pretty all around, vibrant on the nose with ripe blueberry and raspberry...secondary aromas for black licorice, peppercorn and jasmine are wrapped in vanilla and lightly toast caramel french oak aromas. Very tight on the palate m+ tannin and pristine m+ acid...
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11/30/2010 - VoteferPedro wrote: 90 Points
PopnPour. Dark violet color. Aromatics seemed mute. Concentrated cherry liquer on the tongue with a faint chocolate edge, later becoming more cassis flavored with air. Excellent, can be enjoyed now or in a few years but I would give it an hour of air next time. 90 now but would be higher if bouquet improves
5+10+17+8=90
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10/17/2010 - raginbajan wrote: 92 Points
While still in need of a few more years in bottle, this wine has evolved beautifully over the last two to three years. With bottle age, the firm tannins have noticeably soften. Nice wine and great QPR.
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10/5/2010 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
This will be a great wine, although it is not ready yet. Next bottle 1-2 years.
Initially, very concentrated and tight, but with an amazing core of fruit, enveloped in a thick layer of tannins.
Drank better after 60-75 minutes in the decanter and vigorous swirls. Lots of dark fruit, some berries and lovely notes of spice and tobacco.
But really needs more time -- or a 2+ hour decant (maybe). A quality wine. Best with our grilled filet mignon.
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9/17/2010 - michal wrote: 92 Points
Let decant for at least an hour. Very pretty wine. At $23 its a home run.
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9/2/2010 - winopops3 wrote: 91 Points
Really drinking very nicely. Some dark fruit and tobacco on the nose, mint, earth and dark fruit with well integrated soft tannins, decent mouthfeel and finish.
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8/31/2010 - gbbwino wrote: 90 Points
Same results from prior tasting in 2/10. Not much at first so be sure to give this an hour in the decanter. Really improved thereafter.
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6/5/2010 - kenhoeve wrote: 91 Points
We have a winner. Nose has nice smokey embers, but is a little reticent on the strawberry, blueberry preserves unless swirled but very focused and beautiful berry notes once you do. Cassis, dark fruit palate with some cedar and a very nice hint of spice in the background that should come forward. Still quite dry and tannic, but nice firm structure and gives up just enough to be palatable for now. Nice earth finish work in progress. This has some years ahead of it. Next bottle 2012. Fantastic QPR at $23, retail $35 is still good.
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4/24/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
Let breathe in bottle for 2 hours. This is part of the shipment of '05 futures I received some time back. It's been in storage at Kent up to about a week ago. Have been anticipating the first of three bottles I have packed away.
Deep dark purple - almost opaque at the center.
Deep moderate complex rustic dark blackberries, black cherries, dark spice, some green pepper play as well as menthol, mint and pine needles. Palate is medium bodied showing more dark characteristics - blackberries, spice, camphor flowers. Moderate complex finish. Still very young moderate high acidity and tannins that need to further evolve. Some promise for the future. Will be nice when and if this adds a bit of weight and its acid comes into better balance with the fruit. As for alcohol, it is barely noticeable.
Quite nice. Looking forward to how this will evolve. Would recommend next bottle should be opened in roughly 3-4 years.
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4/16/2010 - JavaMonkey wrote: 89 Points
Opens up nicely after a couple of hours of air. Dark garnet color. The nose has blackberry, strawberry, cassis, charcoal, and herbs. Still pretty tannic, but it's starting to integrate. It has a pretty no-nonsense personality, not very flashy, but solid. There's some nice depth and character. Long, firm finish. Powerful fruit and firm structure, I think this will be great in 2-3 years.
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4/10/2010 - CabIsKing wrote: 91 Points
Opened for 5hrs.+ Nice big nose of black plum, cedar, cassis and floral. In the mouth get a nice fruit balance with a bit of earth and gripping tannins. Definitely needs a couple more years in the cellar but very approachable now. Should merit a few more points with time. Can't ask for more for the price.
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3/3/2010 - Plantero wrote:
Full body; needs to decant
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2/8/2010 - gbbwino wrote: 90 Points
Popped, poured with balance decanted & consumed over 2 hours. Big smoky, cedary, chocolately, black plum/currant fruit. Some chalk/mineral notes on the palate too with a dry tannic finish. Very good wine, but will get much better with time. A little heat on the back, but not offensive. This is a big, more modern styled Bordeaux, but has nice balance to it that will only get better with age. For $23/btl, a great value for the quality.
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12/29/2009 - 330america wrote: 89 Points
Opened and decanted, not very attractive until a few hours had passed, getting better by the minute. However, with so many blends to choose from, not sure I would buy this again but would just try something different in the same price range.
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11/20/2009 - isdblm@lsu.edu wrote: 92 Points
Still developing nicely--St. Estephe floral bouquet.
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10/25/2009 - isdblm@lsu.edu wrote: 92 Points
Spice and flowers--continues to satisfy.
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10/21/2009 - AMM3RD wrote: 92 Points
91-92pts. This is a modern style Bordeaux, that had a pretty extracted style. Black and Blue fruit focuses, on a very dry finish. This wine is a baby, going the distance 5-10yrs+. Built on a dry finish with great balance. Give this some time and it will reward...AMM
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10/17/2009 - ihavezinned wrote: 90 Points
nose: smoke, berry violets. palate: blueberry, leather, pepper, a little hot, still young, very dry and tannic, very long finish.
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10/16/2009 - dxpian wrote: 90 Points
Elegant dark and inky purple, almost opaque, with a ruby hue and great finess! Plum, blackberry, blackcurrant aromas with an earthy, leathery and toasted oak bouquet. Nutty components with toasted almond and walnut backed by dark chocolate and vanilla coffee. It's like Godiva in a bottle! I do get quite a bit of tobacco and cigar-box undertone to it as well. Indeed, very impressive and complex nose with layers upon layers of fruit that translates into a balanced and full-bodied wine! Ripe plum and blackcurrant: clearly dark fruits on the attack. Refined and velvety tannins, bold and yet exquisite texture balanced with beautiful fruit and acidity: a surprisingly well-structured mid-palate! A long finish that is clean, crisp and floral, which goes on and on and on... Great aging potential with 10 more years easy! Excellent wine overall, and I would have estimated a $60 value. It's only sold for $35 retail, and mine was acquired at $23 a bottle through a private client network, thanks to Cory. Unbelievable value!! Already quite accessible but best after 2012.
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9/6/2009 - SyrahQueen wrote: 90 Points
Very strong on the nose with hints of fruit. Dark ruby inky color. Had a very balanced finished.
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7/6/2009 - soyhead wrote: 92 Points
nose of dark berry, crushed rocks, and ink.
mouth - a burst of juicy cassis and blackberry with terrific berry flavors extending through the midpalate, along with hints of coffee, followed by a long soft tannic grip on the finish. Good acidity as well, this is a very juicy and fruity yet far from overdone. Liking this significantly more than when I last tried it as it has improved; in all probability significant palate shift is playing into the picture as well.
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4/12/2009 - isdblm@lsu.edu wrote: 92 Points
Shared w L -- see previous note, add spice.
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4/4/2009 - isdblm@lsu.edu wrote: 90 Points
Drank w two trips through venturi, over three nights--clearly a solidly made wine, w flower and mineral notes, not much fruit coming forth at present; good quality now, and promises to be fine, fine, fine.
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2/1/2009 - isdblm@lsu.edu wrote: 91 Points
Very nice with 7 hours aeration. Glad we have a bunch more.
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1/26/2009 - JavaMonkey wrote: 88 Points
Dark ruby red. The nose isn't showing much at all. The tannins just overpower everything else right now.
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1/9/2009 - NAA2586 wrote: 87 Points
Opened for about 6 or 7 hours, Chateau Valrose has an interesting nose. Once you get passed the ripping alcohol and metallic odors, you get a very earthy nose with pronounced truffle notes. The wine is medium to full bodied with plenty of structure. Finishes long for a wine of this caliber and exhibits good concentration; however it is rather heavy causing it to feel a bit cumbersome. Definitely wait 2-3 years; there is little point in drinking this now.
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12/22/2008 - jdoakpark wrote: 88 Points
tannic monster. ...structured but tannin overburdens....opened 2hrs before drinking...did not open up...next time decant 2 hrs.
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8/9/2008 - soyhead wrote: 86 Points
nose - mainly a chemical kind of smell. not much liking it.
mouth - red fruit, taste of cigar?, still tannic and slightly bitter. By no means a fruit bomb. I can see how this could improve with time, but I'm not sure it will ever be anything stellar. Needs food. Note to self- what to do with the rest of the case?
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7/5/2008 - crimedog wrote: 90 Points
Day 1:
Nose that reminded me a bit of an extracted shiraz. Big fruit, with vanilla and oak. Very juicy mid-palate with a decent dry finish. Tannins are slightly bitter. Very good, although not what I want from a bordeaux.
Day 2:
Nose of cassis juice (very pure). The tannins are much more pronounced, puckering tannins even in the mid-palate (think barolo). Not quite as extracted tasting, finish about the same.
Day 3:
Wine had turned, was a little disappointed.
I am interested to see what happens to this wine over time, although I'm pretty sure it won't be a classic bordeaux.
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6/30/2008 - mikekoepke wrote: 89 Points
Very nice wine; very tight when opened, but opened up very nicely after some time in a glass. Black fruit with a mineral / earthy nose. The fruit is balanced with a green pepper aspect on the palate. Good balance and long finish.
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6/30/2008 - AMM3RD wrote: 91 Points
This wine will is very good+. I think it will be better with time. Did not focus on the nose, was at a dinner party. Ripe, but not over the top in any way, red and black fruit flavors. Structure, balance and fine tannins. Tannins create a smooth finish...AMM
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5/25/2008 - soyhead wrote:
Still quite tannic. Short midpalate as pointed out by Brandon. After opening, strangely, some of the fruit seemed to blow off, leaving an even more tannic beverage. Will not rate, probably too early to drink, and will be interested to see how this develops over the years.
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5/21/2008 - rguynn wrote: 93 Points
beatiful nose of cassis / strawberries / and a slight vegetal or earth component. Taste fresh strawberries, hints of cocoa occasionally, anise, soft earth if that makes sense. nice long finish. tannins should soften nicely over time making this a very nice bottle of wine
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5/17/2008 - jdoakpark wrote: 88 Points
I was disappointed. I was hyped up but did not feel the greatness on this one. 11 more to go over some time.
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5/12/2008 - jasonrsa wrote: 93 Points
Way too young, but my first 2005 to arrive so I had to crack one, and I'm glad that I did. A little heat quickly blew off in the decanter. Nose of cassis, licorice/anise and pencil shavings; gorgeous, smooth in the mouth, medium-bodied, present but medium-soft tannins (no doubt thanks to the 50% merlot); long, red fruit finish. Well-balanced and elegant. An absolute steal, and drinks above its price point. The rest are going into the cellar for a few years (2011-12?).
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