The best bottle of the 8 or so if these that I’ve opened over the last year. Cork came out smoothly in one piece which was a good sign and sure enough the wine was in terrific shape. Strawberry, blackberry and red currant on the nose with a little graphite. Plums, black currants and hoisin on the palate with good depth. There is a fine structure to this, with ample acidity but the fruit holds on and it finishes well. Not a long liver though so drink up.
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Never had anything from the 80s from this estate and it was a positive surprise. Clearly some good terroir! Light ruby. Very St. Emilion with light plummy fruit, some Xmas spices and a fresh mid-weight drink which went done very easily! Not the most complex but not overripe or falling apart my any means. More recent vintages are much more concentrated but I can see where all the great fruit has evolved from. Very interesting and fun bottle from Thomas to share with me!
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Cork disintegrated, but wine was still clear and drinkable. After a bit of time in carafe, it was very round, medium dark fruits, and some nice spices on the finish. Not great, but for its age, still very nice with lamb and Stilton, two markers for tasting with Bordeaux. 91
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Classic bordeaux with a very clean taste, slight heat on the back end as this bottle is past its prime but the fruit is still present, bouquet is more woody than others. I probably should have opened it sooner, my shame.
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Cork totally dissolved on opening. After that, the wine itself was clear, bright red, nose was fresh, a bit of cedar; on the palate, tones of dark cherry, a bit of leather, a nice long finish. Maybe not too complex for an oldish Bordeaux, but a very enjoyable wine -- with duck confit and risotto. What a good combination.
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Not the most complex wine, but a very pleasant drink with rather ripe plummy and blackcurrant fruit framed by vivid tobacco/cigar smoke elements. It's nicely balanced though with the tannins mostly integrated and a lovely polished texture.
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The cork was very fragile, but the wine was fresh and vibrant. Just a touch of brownish color on the edge. A very nice, round fruity opening, with some sharp cherry notes on the mid palate, and a very long finish. The tannins are mostly resolved by now, so the flavors come through nicely. A very good wine that seems to have more good years ahead.
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Garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nice nose of anise, tobacco, cocoa and wet stones. Flavors of berries and cherries. Bright acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold.
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From magnum - A bit of a funck to start with which blew off. Good fruit, decent complexity - some barynyard bouquest - fruit started to fade after about 2 hours - less attractive by the end of the evening.
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Sweaty fruit and cedar on the nose, with an pleasant cherry note on the back of the palate. With a small amount in the glass for 20 minutes, this opens up very nicely and has quite a decent finish. Will decant the rest 45 minutes prior to serving.
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Regular dinner group (@ JvT Mature Bordeaux.): Pleasant barnyard bouquet with cassis behind it. Good juice; cherries and cassis. Good bitterness in a good harmony, Lacks a bit real complexity to belong to the great.
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Not detailed notes. I found this to be very characteristic aged Bordeaux, with sweaty fruit on both nose and palate. FBM didn't care for it, opting instead for Brunellos on the table. I'll serve the remaining bottle to someone else ;).
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Still young for a wine this age. Cherries and tobacco and some earthy tones on the nose with dried blackberry and oak on the palate. Needs more time. Nice blackberry flavoured finish.
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Not profound, but an excellent mature wine that is firing on all cylinders. The nose is about as interesting as you can get, dominated by cocoa, leather and black truffles. More in the way of soft blackcurrant and plums in the mouth, with a slightly dusty finish. But for the shortness of the finish, this would be a complete, if not earth-shattering, wine.
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Clear dark ruby in color; Raspberry and spice aromas with leather flavors. This wine showed few signs of secondary characteristics. It had a velvet texture as Steffen notes but not overly complex. Good but in need of integration.
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Paul Pazdan Off-Line (34th Street Cafe (Austin, TX)): Another superb bottle...tobacco, leather, currants, truffle, and a hint of spice. Extremely elegant wine with incredibly captivating texture. Thanks Paul!
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4/26/2024 - mbesche wrote: flawed
Bottle #11, the rest were very good
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11/5/2020 - PJRONeill wrote: 92 Points
Happily, consistent with my last note from the summer. A lovely bottle.
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7/25/2020 - PJRONeill wrote: 92 Points
The best bottle of the 8 or so if these that I’ve opened over the last year. Cork came out smoothly in one piece which was a good sign and sure enough the wine was in terrific shape. Strawberry, blackberry and red currant on the nose with a little graphite. Plums, black currants and hoisin on the palate with good depth. There is a fine structure to this, with ample acidity but the fruit holds on and it finishes well. Not a long liver though so drink up.
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1/4/2020 - dchain Likes this wine: 91 Points
Never had anything from the 80s from this estate and it was a positive surprise. Clearly some good terroir! Light ruby. Very St. Emilion with light plummy fruit, some Xmas spices and a fresh mid-weight drink which went done very easily! Not the most complex but not overripe or falling apart my any means. More recent vintages are much more concentrated but I can see where all the great fruit has evolved from. Very interesting and fun bottle from Thomas to share with me!
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5/20/2018 - Jimaronson wrote: 89 Points
Thin and over the hill. Old Bordeaux. Tired. Mixed it with a 2010 Bordeaux which livened it up.
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4/25/2018 - wbq8f Likes this wine: 91 Points
Cork disintegrated, but wine was still clear and drinkable. After a bit of time in carafe, it was very round, medium dark fruits, and some nice spices on the finish. Not great, but for its age, still very nice with lamb and Stilton, two markers for tasting with Bordeaux. 91
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8/31/2015 - Good Stuff Likes this wine: 88 Points
Classic bordeaux with a very clean taste, slight heat on the back end as this bottle is past its prime but the fruit is still present, bouquet is more woody than others. I probably should have opened it sooner, my shame.
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10/31/2014 - DaleW wrote:
Medium bodied, soft finish, not very long. B-
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5/12/2013 - wbq8f Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cork totally dissolved on opening. After that, the wine itself was clear, bright red, nose was fresh, a bit of cedar; on the palate, tones of dark cherry, a bit of leather, a nice long finish. Maybe not too complex for an oldish Bordeaux, but a very enjoyable wine -- with duck confit and risotto. What a good combination.
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10/7/2012 - salil wrote: 88 Points
Not the most complex wine, but a very pleasant drink with rather ripe plummy and blackcurrant fruit framed by vivid tobacco/cigar smoke elements. It's nicely balanced though with the tannins mostly integrated and a lovely polished texture.
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3/19/2012 - Rezy13 wrote: flawed
Completely cooked. DOA.
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9/14/2011 - vinole wrote: 92 Points
S FL WS Group welcomes Mareff (Chez JC & FKG, Hollywood, FL): Elegant, somewhat reserved fruit of dark cherry and currant. Only a hint of earth on the medium body frame with medium acidity. Long finish that has nice complexity and layers.
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6/25/2011 - wbq8f wrote: 92 Points
The cork was very fragile, but the wine was fresh and vibrant. Just a touch of brownish color on the edge. A very nice, round fruity opening, with some sharp cherry notes on the mid palate, and a very long finish. The tannins are mostly resolved by now, so the flavors come through nicely. A very good wine that seems to have more good years ahead.
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6/24/2011 - floydtp wrote:
CellarTracker Wisconsin June 2011; 6/24/2011-6/25/2011 (Madison, WI- various venues): Tasted non blind at a wine dinner. Nose of leather and tobacco with some cassis. Similar taste but the tannins took over quickly and I found it hard to fully assess. No rating.
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6/24/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
CellarTracker Wisconsin Offline I - Part One (Madison, WI): WIML92+/-?
Tasted non blind at a wine dinner.
Garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nice nose of anise, tobacco, cocoa and wet stones. Flavors of berries and cherries. Bright acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold.
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6/24/2011 - petitblanc wrote:
CT Wisconsin Offline; 6/24/2011-6/25/2011 (Madison, WI): Nice quality fruit underlying strong leather and horsey notes. Surprisingly tannic. Not scored.
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12/11/2010 - uberoh wrote: 88 Points
From magnum - A bit of a funck to start with which blew off. Good fruit, decent complexity - some barynyard bouquest - fruit started to fade after about 2 hours - less attractive by the end of the evening.
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4/12/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
Sweaty fruit and cedar on the nose, with an pleasant cherry note on the back of the palate. With a small amount in the glass for 20 minutes, this opens up very nicely and has quite a decent finish. Will decant the rest 45 minutes prior to serving.
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11/22/2008 - Zweder wrote: 88 Points
Regular dinner group (@ JvT Mature Bordeaux.): Pleasant barnyard bouquet with cassis behind it. Good juice; cherries and cassis. Good bitterness in a good harmony, Lacks a bit real complexity to belong to the great.
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9/5/2008 - vanpe003 wrote: 90 Points
Not detailed notes. I found this to be very characteristic aged Bordeaux, with sweaty fruit on both nose and palate. FBM didn't care for it, opting instead for Brunellos on the table. I'll serve the remaining bottle to someone else ;).
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9/2/2008 - mimik wrote: 90 Points
Still young for a wine this age. Cherries and tobacco and some earthy tones on the nose with dried blackberry and oak on the palate. Needs more time. Nice blackberry flavoured finish.
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5/21/2008 - lkatz wrote: 90 Points
enjoyed with veal
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2/12/2008 - bsherwin wrote:
Not profound, but an excellent mature wine that is firing on all cylinders. The nose is about as interesting as you can get, dominated by cocoa, leather and black truffles. More in the way of soft blackcurrant and plums in the mouth, with a slightly dusty finish. But for the shortness of the finish, this would be a complete, if not earth-shattering, wine.
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3/24/2007 - Winetex wrote: 90 Points
Clear dark ruby in color; Raspberry and spice aromas with leather flavors. This wine showed few signs of secondary characteristics. It had a velvet texture as Steffen notes but not overly complex. Good but in need of integration.
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3/24/2007 - steffenpelz wrote:
Paul Pazdan Off-Line (34th Street Cafe (Austin, TX)): Another superb bottle...tobacco, leather, currants, truffle, and a hint of spice. Extremely elegant wine with incredibly captivating texture. Thanks Paul!
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7/15/2006 - Burgundy Al wrote: 84 Points
Blind tasting. Pale thin fruit, seems faded and past its peak already.
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