Note: I use the recommended s ale, so 85 represents a very good wine.
For whatever reasons, I though this wine would age a bit better than it seems to have aged. After decanting, the wine opened up a bit, but it was still a bit dry and dusty for my taste. Not much fruit was present.
Interestingly, on Day 3 (a half bottle sat corked on the counter) the wine seemed to have picked up some nuance. Often, this suggests that more aging is need, but for whatever reasons, I do not think this was the case here. Rather, it seems that a long decant may be in order. I have some others, so I will try it out.
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Nose: dried apricot, spiced rum and vanilla Palate: predominantly earthy flavors - pecan shell balanced with pleasant acidity Tasted with: beef Shoulder roast Overall: very pleasant low tier Bordeaux. This didn't seem "old" and didn't have any bricking. Enjoyable and glad to have kept this. Consensus at my house: 91 points
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with lamb chops- perfect. Excellent fruit, grip, and finish. Some cigar box on opening, but not after decanting for a few hours. Mostly merlot, so I would suggest drinking soon.
Prior bottle was almost exactly nine months ago and my notes were quite consistent. Blackberry and other mixed blackfruit on the nose along with mineral and leather qualities. Between medium and full bodied, but very rounded and open through the middle. Accessible upon opening, but improving over the course of two hours. Blackberry upfront (which retains some nice mineral accented brightness) with smoother black cherry and deeper plum behind. Mineral, leather and cassis notes towards the finish. Based on this bottle and prior notes, feels like this is as integrated and balanced as it's going to get. Still showing good fruit with excellent complexity for the price. Should be able to maintain this balance through at least the end of 2018 with more time beyond, but enduring, rather than improving.
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A forgotten bottle in the cellar. Pleasantly surprised though, with the depth and complexity given the relatively modest price, and I wasn't sure about holding this long. The tannin has never completely resolved, holding me back from a higher score, but an enjoyable Medoc nonetheless, with notes cherry liquor, leather, an earth.
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Really pleased here. Bought probably in 2008 and cellared until now. Nutmeg or cinnamon with big plum fruit. Intoxicating nose of chocolate liquors. Better on day two and this needed a good hour of air. Probably could use a few more years in the cellar but great
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Last bottle of 4. Wish I had more. Goes to show that a minor vintner in a outstanding vintage is good path to follow. This has all you would expect for a BDX, tart cherry with earth and bit of cigar box and mint. Excellent grip, balance and finish.
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Last bottle was 18 months ago (June 2015) and I believe the wine has finally reached peak during that time. Blackfruit, stone and leather on the nose. Right around medium bodied (14% ABV) with still bright notes of blackberry and black cherry upfront, deepening towards the back with more blackfruit, cassis and chocolate. Mineral, tar and leather notes on the finish. Tannins are almost entirely integrated with just a hint of drying notes well into the finish. As long as the fruit remains vibrant, this will remain an interesting bottle, but given how it's showing now, I wouldn't push it beyond 2018. The wine is as good as it will be, so no need to delay.
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pop and pour. Color is deep garnet. Nose of blackberry and dark cherries followed by ripe grape and leather. Flavors of cherry cola, dark chocolate, and more ripe berries. Tannins still present but balance well against the fruit. At 17 bones per bottle, this is great quality.
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Very good value that shows buying the vintage often works. A bit of a modern Bordeaux but not over the top. I think it will continue to improve over the next 3-5 years.
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We drank this late into the evening at a wine indulgement at Thanksgiving and it held up well against some heavy hitters from Washington state. Expressive nose, good mid-palate and a nice finish. QPR off the charts.
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Very good easy drinking Bord. I gave it a high rating because I paid less than 10 euros for it. I dont get the 77-82 scores - that is totally unfitting. At 15 Euros or so it is still a good 87-88 wine.
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16 / 20 * * * Visuel:rubis, marron Olfactif: nez évolué, notes de mélasse et de gâteau aux fruits Gustatif: notes tertiaires. Tannique avec une trame solide. Ensemble: j'aime bien ce Moulis : il me donne exactement ce que je m'attend...
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17/20 * * * * COUP de COEUR VISUEL : grenat orangé, évolué OLFACTIF : un nez sur des notes terreuses avec un côté chocolat GUSTATIF : les tanins sont encore bien présents pour un 2005. Même que je pourrais dire qu'ils sont un peu rugueux. La bouche est puissante avec une sensation d'astringence. Impressionnant et absolument délicieux malgré cette astringence. ENSEMBLE : très réussi et comme il m'en reste 2 bouteilles, je peux les attendre encore.......
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this is a predominantly merlot blend and that explains its character: dark, layered, dry and not very much fruit in either the nose or the palate; silky tannins at this stage and a medium finish. Dark in color and medium bodied. My only bottle and I would not hold it any longer. Paired nicely with pasta and marinara sauce. Not a very distinctive wine by itself but very food friendly.
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Encore tres tannique et une absence totale de fruit, donc je ne sais pas trop quoi en penser... Dumb phase, ou simplement un vin ordinaire! Je vais laisser dormir les autres en attendant qu'elles evoluent pour le mieux!!!
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A lovely dry Medoc that has aged gracefully. Still hints of vanilla on the nose, rich tannins on the palate with enough fruit to maintain its character. Better than I expected for a moderately priced French label.
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Presque 2 ans depuis la dernière bouteille... en relisant mes notes, il est évident qu'il était simplement encore fermé. Tanins fondus, beau nez, beaucoup de coffre et une superbe longueur. Tout est parfait pour ce vin maintenant. Excellent!
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Seemed too sweet and unbalanced at this time, but there was tannic backbone. Unfortunately could not revisit in time, so will leave remaining bottles a while longer.
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There is either lots of bottle variation here, or my palate is mercurial. Definitely noticed some inferior corks used by this producer. Several in my case have broken off, or show mold on the edges.
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Deep purple core fading to a garnet rim, opaque, with black fruit, cassis, chocolate, coffee and cedar on the nose. Dark fruit, tea, cassis, and tobacco on the palate. Medium plus tannins. Short finish.
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I like this fleshy, chewy merlot-dominated blend. Is anyone else experiencing poor quality corks with this bottling? In at least half the bottles I've opened, the cork breaks in two.
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Classic bordeaux nose. Mineral, stone and blackfruit are the primary flavors. Wine is very smooth and round, almost immediately upon opening. Good balance between fruit and tannin. Picks up a chocolate and cassis note on the finish. Still has excellent tannic structure; fine grained tannins, very well integrated with the fruit. I think this wine has a couple of years before it hits its peak and it should last for several more years beyond that. Excellent QPR.
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Dark ruby, clear. No sign of ageing on the robe. Decanted and drunk throughout 3 hours. The nose was muted (even after 3 hours), a few swirls brought out notes of very ripe red fruits. Similar in the mouth. Medium+ body, medium acidity, tons of mouth-coating tannins. The bottle had lots of sediments and the wine was way too tannic to be enjoyable. Hard to judge because of it.
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My expectations were tempered by the fact that this bottle has been stored at room temperature since its purchase. It is suprisingly good under the circumstances. Fruit forward as Bordeaux goes with cherry most prominent. Dusty and dry finish with still ample tannin. Uncomplicated but very pleasant.
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Aéré 5h en carafe. "Sévèrement" tannique; très austère au nez et en bouche; finale plutôt courte. Sans être mauvais, ce vin manque de fruit pour compenser les tannins très veloutés, mais néanmoins très présents.
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A gem for the price on day 2. After spending a day in my decanter this wine went from closed and dry to a fruit driven velvet mouth feel. I would have given the wine a higher score if I hadn't drunk it the same day I uncorked and decanted it.....my bad, not the wines fault. I'm glad I have another bottle to taste next year.
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- Brick color with fast forming legs and aromas of chocolate. It's balanced and has flavours of vanilla with a full body. Leathery texture with a long finish - Drank at cellar temp., through Vinturi. Good nose and balanced well with Pork Roast. Very interesting. Only have one bottle. Would definitely try again. Got better by the minute.
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Dry and reticent, even a vigorous swirl had trouble coaxing out any fruit. Very tannic perhaps it needs time? Did not even pair well with a Porterhouse.
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Dark ruby in the glass with a super tight nose. You could smell some cassis and currants, as well as some strawberry and raspberry. Definitely some oak and alcohol on the nose as well, and you could pick but a bit of vanilla tones. On the palate, this seemed like a thin alcoholic cluster to me. The alcohol was overwhelming at first, but it did begin to soften in the glass. More red and black fruits, but the fruits were definitely subdued, and the alcohol was the star, which obviously was not a good thing. The finish of course had some alcohol and some tannins, and this wine just needs more time in the bottle. I do not however think that this is going to develop like the 2000. In short, hold onto these for 3-5 before you open one. Not sure the blend here, but you could definitely taste the merlot influence here, and the cabernet took a second seat along with the rest of the blend. 83 points.
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Really great. Wonderful nose of deep currants and other black fruit. Medium body with more black fruit on the palate. Soft tannins. Sweet finish. Not overly complex, but great QPR.
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Still a little too much vanilla that should ultimately integrate but a wonderful nose of black fruit and brambles. Depth of black and blue fruits is very nice. Good value but should get better over the next 1-3 years.
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(2) Drank with Pete & Dawn on a whim. Has opened up a bit (was overrated first time...this was not a “1” at that time) but still has a ways to go. Enjoyable though and I’m glad we have 10 more.
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We didn't enjoy this bottle quite as much as the previous one back in March. Similar notes, dry tannins as others have said. Better after running it through the Venturi.
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Structure is there to make a reasonable wine, but incredibly tight now with aggressive, unabating tannins. Eventually, the tannins will mellow but this will take a very long time, and it is not clear that the fruit will last as long. While I am no expert on a wine's potential to age, it seems that, at best, a simple, enjoyable wine will emerge in ten years.
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More than a year later I taste this wine again and find it even less attractive now. After 2 hours decanting and then vigorous venturi aeration it still is unwilling to give up the drying tannins or the pine shavings on the nose. It has a beautiful inky dark color and the structure is in there, but it is holding tighter than a hermit crab in his shell. Notes of cassis and very rich ripe fruits tell me that it is still just a waiting game. JS says best after 2012. I don't doubt his assessment one bit.
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A nice dry approachable wine that is fairly smooth and balanced, although not overly complex, with a decent tannic finish. Nose is not big but nice, with light cherry, oak and vanilla. Taste of red fruit, moss, light oak, vanilla with a pleasant tannic pucker finish. We wouldn’t mind more of these in our cellar.
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Not too bad right now IMHO. The tannins were not as harsh to me at least as some of the reviews suggested. However, I do agree more time is needed and certainly the 3 magnums I have will get a long sleep in the cellar (say at least 2-3 years). Hints of dark fruit on the nose and somewhat strong, however it was quite pleasing on the palate with hints of red berries and dust. Nothing too complex, just a pleasing wine to drink.
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If your looking for one more thing to put in your time capsule, may I suggest the 05 Malmaison? A little like trying to judge a flower from its seed. I think this wine blooms like a beautiful rose someday. Put'em away.
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An unripe banana in the mouth. Harsh, harsh tannins-- even after substantial decanting (5+ hours). Softened somewhat on day two, but not enough to recommend the infanticide. On the plus side: wonderful (albeit muted) mix of fruits on the nose. Finish is long, but dominated by fairly intense flavors of congnac (believe it or not!). There's no doubt this is a very well made wine. It will be a stunner in time... but for at least the next 2-3 years: hands off. No score.
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Probably needs a few years....tannic...nose of anise, tar...mild fruit, muted, there. Anise, spice, dusty hard tannins....long finish. Medium concentration.
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6/4/2022 - quanmeister wrote: 89 Points
Surprisingly more lively that expected. It was dark and robust. Nothing spectacular but drinkable.
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3/20/2022 - John Nezlek wrote: 86 Points
Note: I use the recommended s ale, so 85 represents a very good wine.
For whatever reasons, I though this wine would age a bit better than it seems to have aged. After decanting, the wine opened up a bit, but it was still a bit dry and dusty for my taste. Not much fruit was present.
Interestingly, on Day 3 (a half bottle sat corked on the counter) the wine seemed to have picked up some nuance. Often, this suggests that more aging is need, but for whatever reasons, I do not think this was the case here. Rather, it seems that a long decant may be in order. I have some others, so I will try it out.
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5/4/2021 - Andrew_85 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose: dried apricot, spiced rum and vanilla
Palate: predominantly earthy flavors - pecan shell balanced with pleasant acidity
Tasted with: beef Shoulder roast
Overall: very pleasant low tier Bordeaux. This didn't seem "old" and didn't have any bricking. Enjoyable and glad to have kept this. Consensus at my house: 91 points
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6/7/2020 - quagland wrote:
Inky still. Acid has finally lifted. Not much fruit left however. Some residual merlot. Past prime.
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7/24/2019 - frontenac Likes this wine: 95 Points
with lamb chops- perfect. Excellent fruit, grip, and finish. Some cigar box on opening, but not after decanting for a few hours. Mostly merlot, so I would suggest drinking soon.
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5/12/2019 - Dave Canada wrote: 92 Points
This is in its wheelhouse now....drink up if you have as it is in a great place.
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1/13/2019 - Eric B wrote: 87 Points
Has obvious aged (oxidized) character, smooth and mellow. Won't get better, this is on the downhill.
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5/17/2018 - KevMon Likes this wine: 87 Points
Got better after some breathing. Smell age on nose. Good fruit on palate with dry finish.
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9/28/2017 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 90 Points
Prior bottle was almost exactly nine months ago and my notes were quite consistent. Blackberry and other mixed blackfruit on the nose along with mineral and leather qualities. Between medium and full bodied, but very rounded and open through the middle. Accessible upon opening, but improving over the course of two hours. Blackberry upfront (which retains some nice mineral accented brightness) with smoother black cherry and deeper plum behind. Mineral, leather and cassis notes towards the finish. Based on this bottle and prior notes, feels like this is as integrated and balanced as it's going to get. Still showing good fruit with excellent complexity for the price. Should be able to maintain this balance through at least the end of 2018 with more time beyond, but enduring, rather than improving.
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2/13/2017 - bigredPA Likes this wine: 89 Points
A forgotten bottle in the cellar. Pleasantly surprised though, with the depth and complexity given the relatively modest price, and I wasn't sure about holding this long. The tannin has never completely resolved, holding me back from a higher score, but an enjoyable Medoc nonetheless, with notes cherry liquor, leather, an earth.
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1/16/2017 - Dalex Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really pleased here. Bought probably in 2008 and cellared until now. Nutmeg or cinnamon with big plum fruit. Intoxicating nose of chocolate liquors. Better on day two and this needed a good hour of air. Probably could use a few more years in the cellar but great
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1/11/2017 - signotim wrote: 88 Points
Nice wine up front, but notable rough edges with drying tannins on the finish.
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1/10/2017 - Brsed wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle of 4. Wish I had more. Goes to show that a minor vintner in a outstanding vintage is good path to follow. This has all you would expect for a BDX, tart cherry with earth and bit of cigar box and mint. Excellent grip, balance and finish.
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1/1/2017 - Rkortberg wrote:
Left uncorked over night and was pretty gone by next eve. Heavy nose at first. Try decant or 2-3 hour breathing
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12/29/2016 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 91 Points
Last bottle was 18 months ago (June 2015) and I believe the wine has finally reached peak during that time. Blackfruit, stone and leather on the nose. Right around medium bodied (14% ABV) with still bright notes of blackberry and black cherry upfront, deepening towards the back with more blackfruit, cassis and chocolate. Mineral, tar and leather notes on the finish. Tannins are almost entirely integrated with just a hint of drying notes well into the finish. As long as the fruit remains vibrant, this will remain an interesting bottle, but given how it's showing now, I wouldn't push it beyond 2018. The wine is as good as it will be, so no need to delay.
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3/3/2016 - bin905 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cinnamon, garrigue, kirsch and floral scent. Elegant, black tea, tar, cocoa, mineral and mint flavor with plentiful fine tannins. Still vibrant.
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3/2/2016 - Esteban wrote: 91 Points
Excellent RQP
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12/24/2015 - chiefwatt Likes this wine: 89 Points
pop and pour. Color is deep garnet. Nose of blackberry and dark cherries followed by ripe grape and leather. Flavors of cherry cola, dark chocolate, and more ripe berries. Tannins still present but balance well against the fruit. At 17 bones per bottle, this is great quality.
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12/1/2015 - Brsed Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good value that shows buying the vintage often works. A bit of a modern Bordeaux but not over the top. I think it will continue to improve over the next 3-5 years.
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11/30/2015 - Radboy wrote: 89 Points
We drank this late into the evening at a wine indulgement at Thanksgiving and it held up well against some heavy hitters from Washington state. Expressive nose, good mid-palate and a nice finish. QPR off the charts.
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7/3/2015 - Mech-E Likes this wine: 88 Points
Wet stone on the nose and palate. Drying tannins abound, though they are well integrated. Probably won't get any better.
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7/2/2015 - Eisch wrote: 87 Points
Drink now
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5/5/2015 - bobbylion Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good easy drinking Bord. I gave it a high rating because I paid less than 10 euros for it. I dont get the 77-82 scores - that is totally unfitting. At 15 Euros or so it is still a good 87-88 wine.
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3/28/2015 - BoireBio Likes this wine: 80 Points
16 / 20 * * *
Visuel:rubis, marron
Olfactif: nez évolué, notes de mélasse et de gâteau aux fruits
Gustatif: notes tertiaires. Tannique avec une trame solide.
Ensemble: j'aime bien ce Moulis : il me donne exactement ce que je m'attend...
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2/12/2015 - Primordialsoup Likes this wine: 89 Points
Gives me hope for the other varied lazy sleeping '05's in the cellar.
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1/23/2015 - erekose Likes this wine: 89 Points
Holding for a long time. Too long. But, surprisingly pleased with it.
On the nose - clean, moderate intensity, dark dried fruits, coco, a tiny floral element, milk chocolate, wood notes.
Bone dry with gritty tannins, medium bodied.
Found black/blue fruits. Surprised to find blueberry. A slight herbacious quality. Medium complexity.
Highly tanic, but fresh and light. A ghostly finish.
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1/11/2015 - BoireBio Likes this wine: 92 Points
17/20 * * * * COUP de COEUR
VISUEL : grenat orangé, évolué
OLFACTIF : un nez sur des notes terreuses avec un côté chocolat
GUSTATIF : les tanins sont encore bien présents pour un 2005. Même que je pourrais dire qu'ils sont un peu rugueux. La bouche est puissante avec une sensation d'astringence. Impressionnant et absolument délicieux malgré cette astringence.
ENSEMBLE : très réussi et comme il m'en reste 2 bouteilles, je peux les attendre encore.......
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1/7/2015 - pmk wrote: 89 Points
this is a predominantly merlot blend and that explains its character: dark, layered, dry and not very much fruit in either the nose or the palate; silky tannins at this stage and a medium finish. Dark in color and medium bodied. My only bottle and I would not hold it any longer. Paired nicely with pasta and marinara sauce. Not a very distinctive wine by itself but very food friendly.
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10/10/2014 - bin905 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Elegant, black tea, anise, mineral and black currant flavor with ample fine tannins and a long finish.
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8/18/2014 - paul canet wrote: 88 Points
Encore tres tannique et une absence totale de fruit, donc je ne sais pas trop quoi en penser... Dumb phase, ou simplement un vin ordinaire! Je vais laisser dormir les autres en attendant qu'elles evoluent pour le mieux!!!
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8/12/2014 - BarryInSeattle wrote: 90 Points
A lovely dry Medoc that has aged gracefully. Still hints of vanilla on the nose, rich tannins on the palate with enough fruit to maintain its character. Better than I expected for a moderately priced French label.
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7/6/2014 - Radboy wrote: 86 Points
A good third bottle, nothing fancy. Medium depth of fruit with a thin mid palate.
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5/24/2014 - Domfrenette Likes this wine: 89 Points
Presque 2 ans depuis la dernière bouteille... en relisant mes notes, il est évident qu'il était simplement encore fermé. Tanins fondus, beau nez, beaucoup de coffre et une superbe longueur. Tout est parfait pour ce vin maintenant. Excellent!
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3/1/2014 - sleepyhaus wrote:
Seemed too sweet and unbalanced at this time, but there was tannic backbone. Unfortunately could not revisit in time, so will leave remaining bottles a while longer.
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12/15/2013 - Pour Boy wrote: 87 Points
There is either lots of bottle variation here, or my palate is mercurial. Definitely noticed some inferior corks used by this producer. Several in my case have broken off, or show mold on the edges.
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12/1/2013 - wineretriever wrote: 88 Points
Deep purple core fading to a garnet rim, opaque, with black fruit, cassis, chocolate, coffee and cedar on the nose. Dark fruit, tea, cassis, and tobacco on the palate. Medium plus tannins. Short finish.
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11/24/2013 - RickMcQ wrote: 77 Points
Past it's prime drink it now
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11/17/2013 - Pour Boy wrote: 89 Points
I like this fleshy, chewy merlot-dominated blend. Is anyone else experiencing poor quality corks with this bottling? In at least half the bottles I've opened, the cork breaks in two.
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11/16/2013 - jwmeara Likes this wine: 94 Points
Best Wine of the Evening
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9/28/2013 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine: 91 Points
Classic bordeaux nose. Mineral, stone and blackfruit are the primary flavors. Wine is very smooth and round, almost immediately upon opening. Good balance between fruit and tannin. Picks up a chocolate and cassis note on the finish. Still has excellent tannic structure; fine grained tannins, very well integrated with the fruit. I think this wine has a couple of years before it hits its peak and it should last for several more years beyond that. Excellent QPR.
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9/12/2013 - Pour Boy wrote: 89 Points
Dark purple in the glass. Chewy fruit-forward texture. Decent value from a strong vintage.
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9/11/2013 - JoshA wrote: 90 Points
Understated, soft, ripe red and black fruit flavors and chalky tannins.
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6/15/2013 - bin905 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Funky cellar must out of the bottle. Lean palate and grippy finish.
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3/31/2013 - G&A wrote: 82 Points
Dark ruby, clear. No sign of ageing on the robe. Decanted and drunk throughout 3 hours.
The nose was muted (even after 3 hours), a few swirls brought out notes of very ripe red fruits. Similar in the mouth.
Medium+ body, medium acidity, tons of mouth-coating tannins.
The bottle had lots of sediments and the wine was way too tannic to be enjoyable. Hard to judge because of it.
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3/23/2013 - isdblm@lsu.edu wrote:
Excellent for the price. Soft, as it should be given the portion of Merlot, and pleasingly fruity for the palate, though not complex.
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3/7/2013 - tantotinto wrote: 87 Points
My expectations were tempered by the fact that this bottle has been stored at room temperature since its purchase. It is suprisingly good under the circumstances. Fruit forward as Bordeaux goes with cherry most prominent. Dusty and dry finish with still ample tannin. Uncomplicated but very pleasant.
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1/1/2013 - Pour Boy wrote: 89 Points
Nice Bordeaux blend of mostly Merlot. Ready to drink.
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10/7/2012 - Domfrenette wrote: 86 Points
Aéré 5h en carafe. "Sévèrement" tannique; très austère au nez et en bouche; finale plutôt courte.
Sans être mauvais, ce vin manque de fruit pour compenser les tannins très veloutés, mais néanmoins très présents.
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7/3/2012 - khmark7 wrote: 84 Points
Overripe flavors with a heavy handed finish. It's so nice to see the French making wine like those in California.
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3/12/2012 - Cdi4409 wrote: 90 Points
A gem for the price on day 2. After spending a day in my decanter this wine went from closed and dry to a fruit driven velvet mouth feel. I would have given the wine a higher score if I hadn't drunk it the same day I uncorked and decanted it.....my bad, not the wines fault. I'm glad I have another bottle to taste next year.
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2/21/2012 - JAlbert wrote: 90 Points
Bright and fruity with a classy edge and a good length of finish.
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9/10/2011 - sleepyhaus wrote:
Coming into a decent form, though still somewhat austere. Plum and cedar. Needs more time.
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9/5/2011 - jcasey555 wrote: 91 Points
- Brick color with fast forming legs and aromas of chocolate. It's balanced and has flavours of vanilla with a full body. Leathery texture with a long finish - Drank at cellar temp., through Vinturi. Good nose and balanced well with Pork Roast. Very interesting. Only have one bottle. Would definitely try again. Got better by the minute.
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8/27/2011 - ecnemergut wrote: 92 Points
Just a fantastic value. No formal notes take, but great plum fruit.
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7/7/2011 - Arch57 wrote: 81 Points
Dry and reticent, even a vigorous swirl had trouble coaxing out any fruit. Very tannic perhaps it needs time? Did not even pair well with a Porterhouse.
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6/8/2011 - signotim wrote: 86 Points
good plum fruit. but also heavy woodiness on day 1. hopefully that will recede with more bottle time.
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1/9/2011 - Dave Canada wrote: 91 Points
Very nice.....still quite primary but I can tell that there is an element of class to this wine.
I'll wait a bit to pop any further bottles
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11/5/2010 - markjahnke wrote: 83 Points
Dark ruby in the glass with a super tight nose. You could smell some cassis and currants, as well as some strawberry and raspberry. Definitely some oak and alcohol on the nose as well, and you could pick but a bit of vanilla tones. On the palate, this seemed like a thin alcoholic cluster to me. The alcohol was overwhelming at first, but it did begin to soften in the glass. More red and black fruits, but the fruits were definitely subdued, and the alcohol was the star, which obviously was not a good thing. The finish of course had some alcohol and some tannins, and this wine just needs more time in the bottle. I do not however think that this is going to develop like the 2000. In short, hold onto these for 3-5 before you open one. Not sure the blend here, but you could definitely taste the merlot influence here, and the cabernet took a second seat along with the rest of the blend. 83 points.
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10/23/2010 - chapinde wrote: 81 Points
Disjointed, hot mess.
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9/20/2010 - chapinde wrote: 89 Points
Good classic Bordeaux, though a bit hot on the finish.
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9/16/2010 - ahettinga wrote: 89 Points
Didn't decant. Tannins have mellowed since the last bottle opened last year. Really solid for $25-$30: nice fruit, vanilla and plum notes .
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9/8/2010 - ecnemergut wrote: 92 Points
Really great. Wonderful nose of deep currants and other black fruit. Medium body with more black fruit on the palate. Soft tannins. Sweet finish. Not overly complex, but great QPR.
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7/10/2010 - Brsed wrote: 89 Points
Still a little too much vanilla that should ultimately integrate but a wonderful nose of black fruit and brambles. Depth of black and blue fruits is very nice. Good value but should get better over the next 1-3 years.
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5/8/2010 - Senses wrote: 89 Points
Deep rich color. Fruity vanilla nose. Dry finish. The taste is hint of cherry.
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1/29/2010 - AZ Cat wrote:
(2) Drank with Pete & Dawn on a whim. Has opened up a bit (was overrated first time...this was not a “1” at that time) but still has a ways to go. Enjoyable though and I’m glad we have 10 more.
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12/21/2009 - kgh wrote: 82 Points
Harsh tannins and very little fruit. Better with food after an hour decant, but still disappointing.
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12/11/2009 - Bob in NC wrote: 86 Points
We didn't enjoy this bottle quite as much as the previous one back in March. Similar notes, dry tannins as others have said. Better after running it through the Venturi.
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11/16/2009 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 85 Points
Structure is there to make a reasonable wine, but incredibly tight now with aggressive, unabating tannins. Eventually, the tannins will mellow but this will take a very long time, and it is not clear that the fruit will last as long. While I am no expert on a wine's potential to age, it seems that, at best, a simple, enjoyable wine will emerge in ten years.
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7/15/2009 - N2Vin wrote: 87 Points
More than a year later I taste this wine again and find it even less attractive now. After 2 hours decanting and then vigorous venturi aeration it still is unwilling to give up the drying tannins or the pine shavings on the nose. It has a beautiful inky dark color and the structure is in there, but it is holding tighter than a hermit crab in his shell. Notes of cassis and very rich ripe fruits tell me that it is still just a waiting game. JS says best after 2012. I don't doubt his assessment one bit.
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4/1/2009 - dbg wrote:
Dark red. Medium nose with some cassis, medium body, good fruit, no real complexity, tannic finish, good-very good.
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3/12/2009 - Bob in NC wrote: 88 Points
A nice dry approachable wine that is fairly smooth and balanced, although not overly complex, with a decent tannic finish. Nose is not big but nice, with light cherry, oak and vanilla. Taste of red fruit, moss, light oak, vanilla with a pleasant tannic pucker finish. We wouldn’t mind more of these in our cellar.
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1/8/2009 - cvvhrn wrote: 89 Points
Not too bad right now IMHO. The tannins were not as harsh to me at least as some of the reviews suggested. However, I do agree more time is needed and certainly the 3 magnums I have will get a long sleep in the cellar (say at least 2-3 years). Hints of dark fruit on the nose and somewhat strong, however it was quite pleasing on the palate with hints of red berries and dust. Nothing too complex, just a pleasing wine to drink.
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5/8/2008 - Maverick wrote: 87 Points
tannic. decanted. tanic. good fruit but sucks the air out of your mouth. Lightened on day 2 and more enjoyable. Can see the potential. Good value.
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4/26/2008 - smallhart wrote: 83 Points
A Small Wine Tasting (Catonsville, MD): VERY tannic, but the group rated it better than the Chateau Grand Ormeau. Needs time.
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4/10/2008 - N2Vin wrote: 89 Points
If your looking for one more thing to put in your time capsule, may I suggest the 05 Malmaison? A little like trying to judge a flower from its seed. I think this wine blooms like a beautiful rose someday. Put'em away.
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3/21/2008 - mark'scellar wrote:
An unripe banana in the mouth. Harsh, harsh tannins-- even after substantial decanting (5+ hours). Softened somewhat on day two, but not enough to recommend the infanticide. On the plus side: wonderful (albeit muted) mix of fruits on the nose. Finish is long, but dominated by fairly intense flavors of congnac (believe it or not!). There's no doubt this is a very well made wine. It will be a stunner in time... but for at least the next 2-3 years: hands off. No score.
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12/23/2007 - AZ Cat wrote:
Tight but tasty. Should be better with a little age and perhaps decanting.
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11/21/2007 - Texas R Aggie wrote: 80 Points
Tannins off the chart. Hints of something good to come. I'll set aside the other 11 bottles and wait at least 3 year before opening the next one.
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11/10/2007 - DesMarteau wrote: 89 Points
Probably needs a few years....tannic...nose of anise, tar...mild fruit, muted, there. Anise, spice, dusty hard tannins....long finish. Medium concentration.
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10/15/2007 - JonGray wrote: 89 Points
enoyed this well rounded red. nothing sectacular but good.
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