Redcurrant and cranberry fruit, some cedar/woody notes, obviously not the concentration of the first wine, but a nice package, very enjoyable and good value.
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Half. Deep ruby. Attractive nose, blackcurrant and mulberry fruit, some sandalwood. Classical left bank frame with a little extra density to the fruit from the vintage. Really very attractive and a good match for the Sunday roast beef with bone marrow jus. Now midway though the case and it’s in it’s prime in half bottle format. ***
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Note: I use the suggested scale for ratings, so 85 represents a very good wine.
Not quite as enjoyable as the last bottle, not quite as flavorful. May have been bottle shock -- transported to Europe in early May. I thought a month would be enough, maybe not.
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Drink this with an '85 La Louviere, so this may have suffered a bit in comparison, although my brother (no oenophile, somethin of which he seems to be proud) preferred this bottle to that.
Regardless, very nice right bank Bordeaux. Very smooth, no edges. I recommend opening for about 30-60 min before serving.
I have a few previous vintages, which I will need to track down in the cellar. Could be time for a vertical.
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Half. Halfway through the case now and this is lovely. Mid to full ruby. Cedar, cigar and blackcurrant nose. Tannins nicely resolved, classic St Julien profile. Worked well will a roast sirloin of beef, but very pleasant in its own right. Very enjoyable. ***
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Good St Julien typicity shown in a great year. Drinking now. I don’t see much potential for upside if you hold because I don’t think this is going to develop any more complexity and/or length. It’s smooth and well put together. Very likeable and and shows a few glimmers of the grand vin on the P. On opening fresh and energetic, 2-4 hours in a decanter and it all came together.
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Deep ruby to the edge with no noticeable bricking. Intense aromas of cassis, vanilla, raspberry and leather. The palate bursts with juicy raspberry, boysenberry and a base note of incense. Generous and fresh. Tannins are fully resolved and the acidity provides ample lift. There’s plenty of life left.
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Fruit had started to fade. My best bottle was consumed in the fall of 2016. Still, this is pleasant with Bordeaux markers like graphite, leather, cedarwood.
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Needs a decent time in the decanter, quite sullen on opening. Eventually opens up to reveal crunchy redcurrant, fresh acidity (perhaps even a tad too much) and a hint of cedar. Lunchtime claret for the next few years?
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Dark and brooding, semi transparent, still youthful.
Restrained bouquet at first but after 1 hour of thorough decanting, it decided to wake up. Cassis, toasted cedar wood, lovely tobacco and tea leaf undertone.
The palate gives away quite good amount of tannin remaining. Nice balance of acidity. More dark than red fruit. A lot of secondary characters start to come out. Finish strongly on the cedary/woodsy note.
For a second wine in a heralded vintage (i.e. usually not good), this is a success. Has staying power to keep going for 5 more years easily. If pop now, need a long decanting time. It's in that very sleepy phase. 90+
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4 hour decant leaves a fresh redcurrant claret that is a great partner for a Sunday roast. At peak now and the acidity and tannin suggest it will last for at least 5 years.
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Decanted for ~1 1/2 hour, which helped, but still didn't make this wine enjoyable to drink. The fruit just wasn't here, but the acid was. Totally unbalanced and hard to swallow. Don't know if more decant time would have helped, but somewhat doubtful.
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Half. Mid weight, slightly cedary dark red fruit that hints at its familial line. Held up to cite de boeuf nicely. Ready now and enjoyable with or without food. ***
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HDH holiday tasting (Chicago, IL): Maybe it's my imagination, but there's still just a bit of that Cordier funk in this wine. Yeah, it's probably my imagination. Earthy and animale with tart red fruit influence, the palate is actually surprisingly light. In fact, it's too light to handle the tannins and moderate oak treatment, resulting in something that's not entirely on balance.
Good fruit on the nose, quite primary still without a huge amount of development. Some cedar and spice; opens up nicely on the palate, tannins fully resolved now, classic St Julien flavour, quality of the vintage comes through. Excellent second wine.
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Dark ruby appearance. Earthy, wet loam bouquet of cherries, red currants, creosote, and a little bacon fat. Mid-bodied but gets fuller in the glass. Exhibits adequate length, a tinge of spice on the midpalate, and just enough heft on the finish. More charm than character.
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Had a few of these by the glass at a restaurant. Very silky smooth with ripe plum (and peach?) flavors . Rich and satisfying - came across to me quite youthful compared to other TNs. Missing the depth or complexity I'm sure it's big brother carries in this vintage. But a nice everyday wine and not too overpriced.
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Deep red with maturing brick rim. Pleasing nose with just a hint of that elusive complexity known for in the higher echelons on Bordeaux. Showing ripe fruit, vanilla and barrel spice. Not as big on the palate as one might expect from a 2005, even for a second wine. Acidity seems a little forward. Tannins are in line and the finish is persistent. A maturing, pleasant and delicious drink just lacking perhaps in the overall wow factor.
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Decanted for 20mins - couldn't wait any longer. Deep red with a touch of purple. Bottled showed 13%... Sniffed, first taste -umm... what's happening here.... it was a acidic, very acidic.... back to the BBQ. swirled the glass and on the second taste the acid had started to integrate - phew. After a couple of hours this was humming. Tannins had subsided and now it was a solid Bordeaux with good fruits of the forest flavours. Strange start but needed some time to settle.
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Mid red at the rim, just the faintest hint of bricking - cedar and light cassis on the nose. Medium to medium/light bodied, fruit and slight savoury characteristics on the palate, at a good point of maturity now, largely resolved well mannered tannins - perfectly decent but not exciting.
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some toastiness on the nose and then tobacco - showing some maturity very ripe red fruit, supple and open, there are tannins here but they are nice and relaxed SOme dark chocolate here too This is at a lovely stage. It tastes very complete. I'd love to share a bottle of this over lunch.
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Bordeaux Star Performers Tasting (8 Danks street, Sydney): Bit closed on the nose, touches of nutmeg and clove, red currant, and berry, slight leather. Hmm. In the mouth the are flavours of red currant ,chalky tannin but the fruit carries. Not sour by any means but the flavours are a little muted. Mmm.
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At La Boite en Bois last night. Must have been ill stored. Cloudy, characterless. Would have done better with some newer Italian wine, hard as that is to believe.
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Half. Decanted an hour in advance. Still quite full, but this is softening nicely and showing some St Julien character. Ripe fruit, smooth tannins and a modicum of complexity. Lovely with a raw steak. ***
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This is an old school style St. Julien of good dark berries with a rustic edge yet very silky. I don't think this will evolve through decades, but it's drinking well now. This reminds me of 2004 Lynch Bages. Tasted from 375ml at The Modern.
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Deep red in colour. Needs time to open up - 2 hrs in the decanter see,s a minimum for now. Decent fruit and acidity balance. Integrated should be good for several more years. Drink or keep.
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Solid effort. Took some time to open up (2-3 hrs) but then it had decent fruit and balance. Not as fruit forward as other 2005s I've had but then it was only £12.
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Had a few botteles from other less prestigious vintages. All very satisfying and classy wines. But this (judged from several bottles) is really bad performance. Nothing really faulty with the wine as such, but many cheaper and less known wines from bx 2005 are lightyears ahead. This is really strange. Wonder what happend od this famous chateau in 2005 ??
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Decanted day 1, re-bottled and re-corked overnight. Notes are from day 2. Nose: Dark currants, soy, anise, green/stemmy/tobacco leafy element. Fairly rich and fresh at the same time. Palate: Currants, melted licorice, plums, bit of gravel and pencil lead on the attack. Seamless transition to and through the mid-palate where the fruit and smooth tannins persist into the finish. Excellent acidity throughout as well.
On day 1, this wine's nose was open but the palate was pretty reticent. I made it a point to re-bottle a big pour to make a better assessment on day 2. Turns out it was a pretty good move because I believe it resulted in this wine's true character being shown. Reviewers (myself included) love to describe a wine's balance, structure, and integration among many other things. I peeled those 3 out specifically because those are the characteristics that really stood out on Gruaud Larose's 2nd wine. Good enough fruit to make the wine actually taste good, but the wine's seamlessness and balance are what really impressed me.
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With air, this was a pretty good wine, but needed food to smooth the edges. Flavors of blackberry, blueberry and earth. Medium body, Medium finish. All that having been said, I will probably not repurchase -- at $20, there are many wines as good or better.
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$50 from Glengarrys. The second tier wine of Chateau Gruaud Larose. Lovely mushroom, vanilla nose, firm tannins and a mouth pucker but not particularly earthy or big. Initially found it to be quite light but it did get bigger. Medium bodied. A good Bordeaux but certainly not worth its (modest) price or reputation in my opinion.
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Nose is rather closed, some traces of dark fruits. Still not ready for drinking, dark currants, bitter choc, some bell peppers. But still get the ripeness in the fruits.
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Retail purchase held about 6 months. Blue center, red rim, long glycerin legs. After 90 minutes decanting, the nose remains fairly quiet, but a blueberry floral cedary aroma comes forth with coaxing. Medium bodied, a touch green if anything, keeps it a little brighter and edgier than expected. Medium finish. I adored the 2000 at $21 back in the day,... this one at $36 is not quite in the same league. I think since that also holds true for the Grand Vin Gruaud, it's not unexpected.
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Alcohol :: 13% Nose is still very tight, giving away hint of blackberry, currant and coffee notes. Silky, very silky, straight forward and rather simple with blackberry, coffee and floral that gently coat the palate with it's med body, fine ripe med level tannin and med length spicy finish. This doesn't has the power and structure of the 2005, maybe a 2nd wine? I guessed this was from 2004 for the vibrancy and the medium weight. Nevertheless, this wine is easy going, friendly and I really enjoyed it. Buy - No.
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Could tell this was a left-bank Bordeaux but could not nail the appellation. Impossible to guess this was 2005 too as this wine seems to lack the characteristic tannin structure of the vintage. Finish was a tad short and I do not see much aging potential but overall this is very old-world in style.
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Half. Decanted 10hrs. Good colour. Clarety nose though still resonably primary. Air had certainly mellowed this, reasonable attack and mid-palate, pulling up a little short and a touch dilute but then nice rounded tannins and a reasonable finish. Think this would be better decanted at lunchtime rather than breakfast, for evening drinking, but needs must. Perfectly decent midweek or luncheon claret at the moment. **1/2
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Wound up in a tight little ball of new leather, graphite and oak the first night but ever so slowly, the fruit started to peek around the corner as time passed. Left half the bottle out overnight and the second night this was really quite tasty with the fruits taking center stage. At $20, this is a pretty good deal but you'll need a nice long decant to let it show it's best stuff.
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We cracked this wine one night and poured a couple glasses, it was very tight after a couple minutes in the glasses but did some quality blackberry and earthy notes. However, we saved the remaining 1/2 bottle until the next day, it definately benefited from the extended oxidation. I'd recommend either short-term cellaring or an hour decanting for this one (and I'd probably get a 1/2 case to watch it develop over the next 2 years).
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Very pruney. I enjoyed the bottle but would probably not rush out to get another. That said my girl really enjoyed it. It probably needed a little more time in the bottle to really come together.
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This showed a nice forward St Julien bouquet with serious mineral complexity right after pulling the cork. The mid-palate is a little hollow but the finish is great. On Day 2, this showed some raw fecal notes that made me wonder what I had in my glass. Came back to it after a while and it was gone. The palate started to unwind and turned out to be quite enjoyable. On Day 3, a restrained bouquet but the mid-palate is full and the finish deeper than the previous two days. There's some good potential here but I'm lacking the motivation to buy any more. [89-90+?]
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very oaky nose with a floral element that emrged after some airtime. blackberries. thin and a bit hollow, but what a finale. big ripe tannins, bitter minerals. metallic, rolling, evolving finish that lasted over a minute. i'll overlook its shortcomings for the delight i found in it. a quirky, charming qpr quaffer.
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8/13/2023 - empire80 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Redcurrant and cranberry fruit, some cedar/woody notes, obviously not the concentration of the first wine, but a nice package, very enjoyable and good value.
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3/12/2023 - SimonG wrote: 88 Points
Half. Deep ruby. Attractive nose, blackcurrant and mulberry fruit, some sandalwood. Classical left bank frame with a little extra density to the fruit from the vintage. Really very attractive and a good match for the Sunday roast beef with bone marrow jus. Now midway though the case and it’s in it’s prime in half bottle format. ***
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1/30/2023 - Martyl9 Does not like this wine: 70 Points
not drinkable, nose off from the start, some tannin but no fruit. cork was fine but wine was brown. in a half bottle
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6/15/2022 - John Nezlek wrote: 86 Points
Note: I use the suggested scale for ratings, so 85 represents a very good wine.
Not quite as enjoyable as the last bottle, not quite as flavorful.
May have been bottle shock -- transported to Europe in early May.
I thought a month would be enough, maybe not.
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1/20/2022 - empire80 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fresh crunchy red fruit with some secondary development. Doubt this will improve, but drinking well now and very food friendly.
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11/3/2021 - John Nezlek wrote: 89 Points
Note: I use the suggested scale for ratings.
Drink this with an '85 La Louviere, so this may have suffered a bit in comparison, although my brother (no oenophile, somethin of which he seems to be proud) preferred this bottle to that.
Regardless, very nice right bank Bordeaux. Very smooth, no edges. I recommend opening for about 30-60 min before serving.
I have a few previous vintages, which I will need to track down in the cellar. Could be time for a vertical.
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9/12/2021 - SimonG wrote: 88 Points
Half. Halfway through the case now and this is lovely. Mid to full ruby. Cedar, cigar and blackcurrant nose. Tannins nicely resolved, classic St Julien profile. Worked well will a roast sirloin of beef, but very pleasant in its own right. Very enjoyable. ***
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7/30/2021 - Macdog Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good St Julien typicity shown in a great year. Drinking now. I don’t see much potential for upside if you hold because I don’t think this is going to develop any more complexity and/or length. It’s smooth and well put together. Very likeable and and shows a few glimmers of the grand vin on the P. On opening fresh and energetic, 2-4 hours in a decanter and it all came together.
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12/21/2020 - Acratophorus Likes this wine:
Ruby to the edge. Medium-bodied, with mature cedar-scented fruit, fine tannins and good persistence.
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4/6/2020 - empire80 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is really starting to sing. Fresh red fruit, a hint of cedar, and mellow tannin. At its peak but no rush.
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10/11/2019 - Alc13%byvol Likes this wine: 90 Points
Everything coming together now. Lovely nose. Shame I only have 2 bottles left.
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5/18/2019 - DavidWong168 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep ruby to the edge with no noticeable bricking. Intense aromas of cassis, vanilla, raspberry and leather. The palate bursts with juicy raspberry, boysenberry and a base note of incense. Generous and fresh. Tannins are fully resolved and the acidity provides ample lift. There’s plenty of life left.
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4/6/2019 - Skrutt (Formerly RotHead) wrote: 89 Points
Fruit had started to fade. My best bottle was consumed in the fall of 2016. Still, this is pleasant with Bordeaux markers like graphite, leather, cedarwood.
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6/2/2018 - Kaerhoeg wrote: 90 Points
Nice glas. Well structured. Leather and blackcurrant,
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5/19/2018 - Innertällmo Bryggeri Likes this wine: 89 Points
Leather, wood, some stables, nice fruit and acidity.
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11/10/2017 - empire80 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Needs a decent time in the decanter, quite sullen on opening. Eventually opens up to reveal crunchy redcurrant, fresh acidity (perhaps even a tad too much) and a hint of cedar. Lunchtime claret for the next few years?
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9/27/2017 - NarunP Likes this wine: 90 Points
60 CS, 30 M, 5.5 CF, 3 PV, 1.5 Malbec
Dark and brooding, semi transparent, still youthful.
Restrained bouquet at first but after 1 hour of thorough decanting, it decided to wake up. Cassis, toasted cedar wood, lovely tobacco and tea leaf undertone.
The palate gives away quite good amount of tannin remaining. Nice balance of acidity. More dark than red fruit. A lot of secondary characters start to come out. Finish strongly on the cedary/woodsy note.
For a second wine in a heralded vintage (i.e. usually not good), this is a success. Has staying power to keep going for 5 more years easily. If pop now, need a long decanting time. It's in that very sleepy phase. 90+
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3/26/2017 - empire80 Likes this wine: 89 Points
4 hour decant leaves a fresh redcurrant claret that is a great partner for a Sunday roast. At peak now and the acidity and tannin suggest it will last for at least 5 years.
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2/17/2017 - VlgJeff wrote: 84 Points
Decanted for ~1 1/2 hour, which helped, but still didn't make this wine enjoyable to drink. The fruit just wasn't here, but the acid was. Totally unbalanced and hard to swallow. Don't know if more decant time would have helped, but somewhat doubtful.
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1/24/2017 - SimonG wrote: 88 Points
Half. Mid weight, slightly cedary dark red fruit that hints at its familial line. Held up to cite de boeuf nicely. Ready now and enjoyable with or without food. ***
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6/28/2016 - lgeeker wrote:
Tuesday Night Double Blind Tasting, $40 and under (Bin 75): Deep, rich, dark. Seems Old World, probably Bordeaux, younger, maybe 10-15 years old. Guessed '05 Left Bank.
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3/1/2016 - jbehrendt wrote: 90 Points
A very nice Bordeaux. Served with standing rib roast and boiled potatoes.
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12/3/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: 82 Points
HDH Holiday Wine Tasting (HDH Offices - Chicago IL): Tasting, brief note. All black fruit but very firm, resulting in a lack of balance today.
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12/3/2015 - acyso wrote: 85 Points
HDH holiday tasting (Chicago, IL): Maybe it's my imagination, but there's still just a bit of that Cordier funk in this wine. Yeah, it's probably my imagination. Earthy and animale with tart red fruit influence, the palate is actually surprisingly light. In fact, it's too light to handle the tannins and moderate oak treatment, resulting in something that's not entirely on balance.
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10/29/2015 - vespasian Likes this wine:
Good fruit on the nose, quite primary still without a huge amount of development. Some cedar and spice; opens up nicely on the palate, tannins fully resolved now, classic St Julien flavour, quality of the vintage comes through. Excellent second wine.
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8/10/2015 - Baron Slick wrote: 88 Points
Dark ruby appearance. Earthy, wet loam bouquet of cherries, red currants, creosote, and a little bacon fat. Mid-bodied but gets fuller in the glass. Exhibits adequate length, a tinge of spice on the midpalate, and just enough heft on the finish. More charm than character.
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7/26/2015 - SonnyChiba wrote: 88 Points
Had a few of these by the glass at a restaurant. Very silky smooth with ripe plum (and peach?) flavors . Rich and satisfying - came across to me quite youthful compared to other TNs. Missing the depth or complexity I'm sure it's big brother carries in this vintage. But a nice everyday wine and not too overpriced.
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7/13/2015 - martha lennon wrote: 86 Points
Deep red with maturing brick rim.
Pleasing nose with just a hint of that elusive complexity known for in the higher echelons on Bordeaux. Showing ripe fruit, vanilla and barrel spice.
Not as big on the palate as one might expect from a 2005, even for a second wine. Acidity seems a little forward. Tannins are in line and the finish is persistent.
A maturing, pleasant and delicious drink just lacking perhaps in the overall wow factor.
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6/4/2015 - kwaky Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decanted for 20mins - couldn't wait any longer. Deep red with a touch of purple. Bottled showed 13%...
Sniffed, first taste -umm... what's happening here.... it was a acidic, very acidic.... back to the BBQ. swirled the glass and on the second taste the acid had started to integrate - phew.
After a couple of hours this was humming. Tannins had subsided and now it was a solid Bordeaux with good fruits of the forest flavours. Strange start but needed some time to settle.
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4/19/2015 - empire80 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Highly enjoyable, fresh redcurrant and raspberry, quite simple but well balanced and very drinkable. Great now.
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2/17/2015 - Jasper May wrote: 88 Points
Mid red at the rim, just the faintest hint of bricking - cedar and light cassis on the nose. Medium to medium/light bodied, fruit and slight savoury characteristics on the palate, at a good point of maturity now, largely resolved well mannered tannins - perfectly decent but not exciting.
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1/27/2015 - the player wrote: 88 Points
Decent wine. Crimson red, did not decant, nose of raspberries, cassis, earth, medium bodied but slightly tannic and rustic finish.
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10/22/2014 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
some toastiness on the nose and then tobacco - showing some maturity
very ripe red fruit, supple and open, there are tannins here but they are nice and relaxed
SOme dark chocolate here too
This is at a lovely stage. It tastes very complete. I'd love to share a bottle of this over lunch.
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8/19/2014 - chatters wrote:
Bordeaux Star Performers Tasting (8 Danks street, Sydney): Bit closed on the nose, touches of nutmeg and clove, red currant, and berry, slight leather. Hmm. In the mouth the are flavours of red currant ,chalky tannin but the fruit carries. Not sour by any means but the flavours are a little muted. Mmm.
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7/6/2014 - Nubian wrote: 87 Points
The full bodied, dark fruity, well made wine will even score higher with another 2 yrs storage. Good PQR.
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5/9/2014 - wine&roses wrote: 86 Points
At La Boite en Bois last night. Must have been ill stored. Cloudy, characterless. Would have done better with some newer Italian wine, hard as that is to believe.
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1/14/2014 - SimonG wrote: 87 Points
Half. Decanted an hour in advance. Still quite full, but this is softening nicely and showing some St Julien character. Ripe fruit, smooth tannins and a modicum of complexity. Lovely with a raw steak. ***
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2/3/2013 - jreynolds3 wrote: 89 Points
No formal tasting notes. This wine was good but not very memorable.
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12/26/2012 - Number51 wrote: 90 Points
This is an old school style St. Julien of good dark berries with a rustic edge yet very silky.
I don't think this will evolve through decades, but it's drinking well now.
This reminds me of 2004 Lynch Bages.
Tasted from 375ml at The Modern.
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5/26/2012 - PC73 wrote: 86 Points
Deep red in colour. Needs time to open up - 2 hrs in the decanter see,s a minimum for now. Decent fruit and acidity balance. Integrated should be good for several more years. Drink or keep.
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5/12/2012 - PC73 wrote: 85 Points
As before. Opened up a bot sooner. Watch out for a bit of sediment
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4/7/2012 - PC73 wrote: 84 Points
Solid effort. Took some time to open up (2-3 hrs) but then it had decent fruit and balance. Not as fruit forward as other 2005s I've had but then it was only £12.
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3/10/2012 - Childsniff wrote: 83 Points
Had a few botteles from other less prestigious vintages. All very satisfying and classy wines. But this (judged from several bottles) is really bad performance. Nothing really faulty with the wine as such, but many cheaper and less known wines from bx 2005 are lightyears ahead. This is really strange. Wonder what happend od this famous chateau in 2005 ??
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3/9/2012 - gunpwdr wrote: 91 Points
Decanted day 1, re-bottled and re-corked overnight. Notes are from day 2. Nose: Dark currants, soy, anise, green/stemmy/tobacco leafy element. Fairly rich and fresh at the same time. Palate: Currants, melted licorice, plums, bit of gravel and pencil lead on the attack. Seamless transition to and through the mid-palate where the fruit and smooth tannins persist into the finish. Excellent acidity throughout as well.
On day 1, this wine's nose was open but the palate was pretty reticent. I made it a point to re-bottle a big pour to make a better assessment on day 2. Turns out it was a pretty good move because I believe it resulted in this wine's true character being shown. Reviewers (myself included) love to describe a wine's balance, structure, and integration among many other things. I peeled those 3 out specifically because those are the characteristics that really stood out on Gruaud Larose's 2nd wine. Good enough fruit to make the wine actually taste good, but the wine's seamlessness and balance are what really impressed me.
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2/23/2012 - pashe wrote: 90 Points
Delicious after being open for a day. Black fruits, even tannins. Some green. Wonder if this will even out more.
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2/3/2012 - ruffem wrote: 86 Points
With air, this was a pretty good wine, but needed food to smooth the edges. Flavors of blackberry, blueberry and earth. Medium body, Medium finish. All that having been said, I will probably not repurchase -- at $20, there are many wines as good or better.
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10/6/2011 - Ianjaig wrote: 83 Points
$50 from Glengarrys. The second tier wine of Chateau Gruaud Larose. Lovely mushroom, vanilla nose, firm tannins and a mouth pucker but not particularly earthy or big. Initially found it to be quite light but it did get bigger. Medium bodied. A good Bordeaux but certainly not worth its (modest) price or reputation in my opinion.
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9/25/2011 - Battersea James Likes this wine: 85 Points
Still quite closed but nonetheless very enjoyable as it opened up. Overall good value for money i think.
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7/25/2011 - Alex H wrote: 83 Points
Ripe fruits with firm tannins. Rich still and v tight actually but juicy fruits
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7/2/2011 - Mingmong wrote: 87 Points
Nose is rather closed, some traces of dark fruits. Still not ready for drinking, dark currants, bitter choc, some bell peppers. But still get the ripeness in the fruits.
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3/29/2011 - City Wine Journal wrote: 86 Points
Retail purchase held about 6 months. Blue center, red rim, long glycerin legs. After 90 minutes decanting, the nose remains fairly quiet, but a blueberry floral cedary aroma comes forth with coaxing. Medium bodied, a touch green if anything, keeps it a little brighter and edgier than expected. Medium finish. I adored the 2000 at $21 back in the day,... this one at $36 is not quite in the same league. I think since that also holds true for the Grand Vin Gruaud, it's not unexpected.
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11/7/2010 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
Alcohol :: 13%
Nose is still very tight, giving away hint of blackberry, currant and coffee notes. Silky, very silky, straight forward and rather simple with blackberry, coffee and floral that gently coat the palate with it's med body, fine ripe med level tannin and med length spicy finish. This doesn't has the power and structure of the 2005, maybe a 2nd wine? I guessed this was from 2004 for the vibrancy and the medium weight. Nevertheless, this wine is easy going, friendly and I really enjoyed it. Buy - No.
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11/7/2010 - Dbrane wrote: 81 Points
Could tell this was a left-bank Bordeaux but could not nail the appellation. Impossible to guess this was 2005 too as this wine seems to lack the characteristic tannin structure of the vintage. Finish was a tad short and I do not see much aging potential but overall this is very old-world in style.
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10/5/2010 - SimonG wrote:
Half. Decanted 10hrs. Good colour. Clarety nose though still resonably primary. Air had certainly mellowed this, reasonable attack and mid-palate, pulling up a little short and a touch dilute but then nice rounded tannins and a reasonable finish. Think this would be better decanted at lunchtime rather than breakfast, for evening drinking, but needs must. Perfectly decent midweek or luncheon claret at the moment. **1/2
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2/21/2010 - Rob MacKay wrote: 87 Points
Wound up in a tight little ball of new leather, graphite and oak the first night but ever so slowly, the fruit started to peek around the corner as time passed. Left half the bottle out overnight and the second night this was really quite tasty with the fruits taking center stage. At $20, this is a pretty good deal but you'll need a nice long decant to let it show it's best stuff.
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11/16/2009 - Sir Long Pour wrote: 87 Points
We cracked this wine one night and poured a couple glasses, it was very tight after a couple minutes in the glasses but did some quality blackberry and earthy notes. However, we saved the remaining 1/2 bottle until the next day, it definately benefited from the extended oxidation. I'd recommend either short-term cellaring or an hour decanting for this one (and I'd probably get a 1/2 case to watch it develop over the next 2 years).
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11/2/2009 - Decant Touch This wrote: 87 Points
Very pruney. I enjoyed the bottle but would probably not rush out to get another. That said my girl really enjoyed it. It probably needed a little more time in the bottle to really come together.
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10/7/2009 - Kevin_C wrote: 90 Points
This showed a nice forward St Julien bouquet with serious mineral complexity right after pulling the cork. The mid-palate is a little hollow but the finish is great. On Day 2, this showed some raw fecal notes that made me wonder what I had in my glass. Came back to it after a while and it was gone. The palate started to unwind and turned out to be quite enjoyable. On Day 3, a restrained bouquet but the mid-palate is full and the finish deeper than the previous two days. There's some good potential here but I'm lacking the motivation to buy any more. [89-90+?]
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5/6/2009 - poptart_nyc wrote: 85 Points
needs time. might improve score. lack of balance, a slight bitterness.
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8/19/2008 - cormyr wrote: 89 Points
very oaky nose with a floral element that emrged after some airtime. blackberries. thin and a bit hollow, but what a finale. big ripe tannins, bitter minerals. metallic, rolling, evolving finish that lasted over a minute. i'll overlook its shortcomings for the delight i found in it. a quirky, charming qpr quaffer.
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7/3/2008 - mrjshannon wrote: 84 Points
Too young as yet. Needs a couple more years to tone down the tannins. Nice fruit showing through but not that exciting.
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4/26/2008 - EMichels wrote: 87 Points
K&L Hollywood Tasting: Ripe cherries
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