Very solid wine. No complaints at all, but at the same time no excitement ( I think I am a spoiled brat). Nice, sweet aromas of black cherry, plum, but also minerals ( so nice), coffee ,red cherry and smoke. The taste is full of harmony with black cherry and black coffee, red cherry and minerals. Spice visible from the beginning to the end. Perfect acidity and tannins. Juicy, very drinkable, high quality wine for any wine lover. Great with food or just alone. Vintage 2016 in Graves got 97 points according to the WA Vintage. Extraordinary! Wine? WS - 93 JS - 92 RP - 91 Decanter - 91 JD - 91 Jeff Leve - 91 CT - 91 Atkin - 91 TWI - 90 Vinous - 90 M - 50% CS - 48% CF - 2%
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Notes from PNP. Black in the glass. On nose, cigar box, black cherry, black currants. Medium body/acidity with low tannins and long finish. Shut down? A '19 Barolo tasted alongside made this wine taste JV. 90+/-
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30 minute decant. Nose of red currant, barnyard, and a hint of dog poop. Supple black cherry palate delivers a long note before dissolving into cranberry. Smooth tannins provide a nice underpinning, then a add a long earthy finale with a light cherry soda note. Not a lot of complexity but nice wine for the price. Drink now through 2027.
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Decanted off sediment and back to bottle for 4h of slow-ox.
Ruby colored with some bricking and lightening. Nose shows lots of cedar and tobacco, some fruit underneath. Palate is medium body and very balanced. Lighter red fruits underpinned by orange peel, almost Chianti-like. Structure is well integrated with supple acid and very fine tannins. Finish shows some proper red currants, tobacco, and some gravelly character.
This is nice and rather elegant. Not the best value at $30ish. Not much structure left to age, probably drinking at peak.
Drink now and within 5 years. Not much structure left. 90-91
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Leather, bay leaf, tobacco, red currant on the aroma. Cherries, red currants, plums, and cedar box on the flavor. Acidity is medium-plus with a slight sharpness. Tannins are medium-plus. Medium-plus body. Overall, its a pleasant wine.
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No detailed notes or score as it was the fourth of four Bordeaux and a step down. Fairly fruit-forward but has some nice Bordeaux character. Nice wine at this price and drinking well now or over 5-7 years.
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On day two: more graphite and mineral on the nose then I remember, but still with primary fruit. Also now out of a Zalto, so showing what a Zalto would show. Palate is cherry, a bit soft, a bit fake (but I have been tasting that way all day). Finish is fine, if not all that interesting. Solid at its price.
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Wow For the price Agree with Jeff Obviously fruit dominates this young but very drinkable wine Pessac My favorite area Lots of Merlot and Cabernet tones If you can find this wine you are going to have a real nice time But Maybe not for a longtime keeper Domaine de Chevalier is my choice there
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I feel like I might have gotten a bad bottle. Aroma was of rubber, with hints of dark fruit like blackberry. Palate was almost exclusively balsamic and background of blackberry. Soft tannin, short finish. No complexity, no body. Not an enjoyable bottle.
Mouth: This is beautifully pure, featuring steeped black currant, huckleberry and sweet black cherry melted together as faint tinges of powdered anise and light applewood chime in though the midpalate. Finish is an easy mix of equal parts powdered graphite and chalk, but this is really an afterthought to the huge fruit core. Finish is not intense, but goes and goes with light echoes of fruit and a liquid violet note that finally asserts itself.
Overall: Polished, fruit forward, and ready to go now - this is built well and has nice palate action, but begs for just a bit more structure. Some will find a fruit bomb (for Bordeaux) but the finish really redeems it and keep everything focused through the end. Drink now- 2028.
92.
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2016 Clos Marsalette delivered good complexities of earth and oak artifacts, and its elegant texture allowed early drinking pleasure. The Pessac-Léognan wine was clear and deep ruby in colour with minor fine sediments. On the nose, there were subtle aromatics of blackberries, earth, smoke, dark chocolate and black olives. The mouthfeel was dry and medium-full bodied, with medium levels of balanced acidity and supple finely grained tannin. Flavours of dark plum, toast, dark roasted coffee, wet stone minerality were present in a medium to long finish. Its age-worthiness was questionable, as it did not have sufficient fruit flavours, acidity structure and tannin backbone for extended ageing over a decade. I would recommend medium term consumption over the next five to eight years. From the winery website, the vineyard was based on gravel soils, and 12.3 hectares were devoted to black grapes. The blend composed of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, aged in 35% new oak on fine lees for 18 months.
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Made to be drinkable young. Lots of fresh blackberry fruit, backed up by earthy, smoky notes. The tannins, while clearly present, are fine and quite soft. Good acidity and decent length. They could have dialed back the oak even more, but otherwise, a friendly wine that’s well-made and and reflective of its appellation, if maybe not the most memorable. Decant for 90+ minutes for better integration.
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Smoke, dark cherry and tobacco notes create the bouquet. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied, fresh, supple, and forward, with a dark cherry and espresso filled finish. The wine was made from a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
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3/31/2024 - tristand Likes this wine: 91 Points
A lot of fruits, plums, black fruits, liquorice, very generous and expressive. I enjoyed it a lot
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3/29/2024 - WojteG Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very solid wine.
No complaints at all, but at the same time no excitement ( I think I am a spoiled brat).
Nice, sweet aromas of black cherry, plum, but also minerals ( so nice), coffee ,red cherry and smoke.
The taste is full of harmony with black cherry and black coffee, red cherry and minerals. Spice visible from the beginning to the end.
Perfect acidity and tannins.
Juicy, very drinkable, high quality wine for any wine lover.
Great with food or just alone.
Vintage 2016 in Graves got 97 points according to the WA Vintage. Extraordinary!
Wine?
WS - 93
JS - 92
RP - 91
Decanter - 91
JD - 91
Jeff Leve - 91
CT - 91
Atkin - 91
TWI - 90
Vinous - 90
M - 50%
CS - 48%
CF - 2%
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2/20/2024 - CWilliam wrote: 90 Points
Notes from PNP. Black in the glass. On nose, cigar box, black cherry, black currants. Medium body/acidity with low tannins and long finish. Shut down? A '19 Barolo tasted alongside made this wine taste JV. 90+/-
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10/3/2023 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 90 Points
30 minute decant. Nose of red currant, barnyard, and a hint of dog poop. Supple black cherry palate delivers a long note before dissolving into cranberry. Smooth tannins provide a nice underpinning, then a add a long earthy finale with a light cherry soda note. Not a lot of complexity but nice wine for the price. Drink now through 2027.
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5/12/2023 - Lma1969 wrote: 91 Points
Red cherry, some spice, perfectly balanced, really smooth. Honestly for $34 it’s a great deal. Had with lamb from a Greek restaurant.
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4/18/2023 - Rbhan12 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted off sediment and back to bottle for 4h of slow-ox.
Ruby colored with some bricking and lightening. Nose shows lots of cedar and tobacco, some fruit underneath. Palate is medium body and very balanced. Lighter red fruits underpinned by orange peel, almost Chianti-like. Structure is well integrated with supple acid and very fine tannins. Finish shows some proper red currants, tobacco, and some gravelly character.
This is nice and rather elegant. Not the best value at $30ish. Not much structure left to age, probably drinking at peak.
Drink now and within 5 years. Not much structure left. 90-91
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3/9/2023 - Rbtrage wrote: 90 Points
Funky in a nice way. Medium bodied. Good QPR.
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11/17/2022 - Rbtrage wrote: 91 Points
A solid wine at the price. A good everyday wine.
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10/1/2022 - Rbtrage wrote: 92 Points
A bit funky but paired well with Italian dishes. Great QPR.
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9/10/2022 - sboyle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Leather, bay leaf, tobacco, red currant on the aroma. Cherries, red currants, plums, and cedar box on the flavor. Acidity is medium-plus with a slight sharpness. Tannins are medium-plus. Medium-plus body. Overall, its a pleasant wine.
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8/26/2022 - VAGenius wrote:
No detailed notes or score as it was the fourth of four Bordeaux and a step down. Fairly fruit-forward but has some nice Bordeaux character. Nice wine at this price and drinking well now or over 5-7 years.
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7/19/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
On day two: more graphite and mineral on the nose then I remember, but still with primary fruit. Also now out of a Zalto, so showing what a Zalto would show. Palate is cherry, a bit soft, a bit fake (but I have been tasting that way all day). Finish is fine, if not all that interesting. Solid at its price.
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7/18/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Rich coffee and mocha oak notes to it. Soft in the mid, but lighter in the mid too, not over done, with some fresh minerality on the back.
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6/19/2022 - Rbtrage wrote: 93 Points
Wow. Love it. Crazy QPR.
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4/26/2022 - OAKTON wrote:
Buy again
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9/2/2021 - Peck Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow
For the price
Agree with Jeff
Obviously fruit dominates this young but very drinkable wine
Pessac My favorite area
Lots of Merlot and Cabernet tones
If you can find this wine you are going to have a real nice time
But Maybe not for a longtime keeper
Domaine de Chevalier is my choice there
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1/27/2021 - CelestialDoors Does not like this wine: 75 Points
I feel like I might have gotten a bad bottle. Aroma was of rubber, with hints of dark fruit like blackberry. Palate was almost exclusively balsamic and background of blackberry. Soft tannin, short finish. No complexity, no body. Not an enjoyable bottle.
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8/3/2020 - RoyaltyCoins wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby.
Nose: pronounced gunmetal note, light violet flower.
Mouth: This is beautifully pure, featuring steeped black currant, huckleberry and sweet black cherry melted together as faint tinges of powdered anise and light applewood chime in though the midpalate. Finish is an easy mix of equal parts powdered graphite and chalk, but this is really an afterthought to the huge fruit core. Finish is not intense, but goes and goes with light echoes of fruit and a liquid violet note that finally asserts itself.
Overall: Polished, fruit forward, and ready to go now - this is built well and has nice palate action, but begs for just a bit more structure. Some will find a fruit bomb (for Bordeaux) but the finish really redeems it and keep everything focused through the end. Drink now- 2028.
92.
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5/19/2020 - apple1813 Likes this wine: 91 Points
2016 Clos Marsalette delivered good complexities of earth and oak artifacts, and its elegant texture allowed early drinking pleasure. The Pessac-Léognan wine was clear and deep ruby in colour with minor fine sediments. On the nose, there were subtle aromatics of blackberries, earth, smoke, dark chocolate and black olives. The mouthfeel was dry and medium-full bodied, with medium levels of balanced acidity and supple finely grained tannin. Flavours of dark plum, toast, dark roasted coffee, wet stone minerality were present in a medium to long finish. Its age-worthiness was questionable, as it did not have sufficient fruit flavours, acidity structure and tannin backbone for extended ageing over a decade. I would recommend medium term consumption over the next five to eight years.
From the winery website, the vineyard was based on gravel soils, and 12.3 hectares were devoted to black grapes. The blend composed of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, aged in 35% new oak on fine lees for 18 months.
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2/29/2020 - winchester-xi wrote:
Made to be drinkable young. Lots of fresh blackberry fruit, backed up by earthy, smoky notes. The tannins, while clearly present, are fine and quite soft. Good acidity and decent length. They could have dialed back the oak even more, but otherwise, a friendly wine that’s well-made and and reflective of its appellation, if maybe not the most memorable. Decant for 90+ minutes for better integration.
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4/29/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Smoke, dark cherry and tobacco notes create the bouquet. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied, fresh, supple, and forward, with a dark cherry and espresso filled finish. The wine was made from a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
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