A lot of fireplace ashes / coal from the glass. In mouth, fresh raspberry, black raspberry, and cassis - optimally ripe and ridiculously appetizing - initial “ash” turns into spicy peppery kick here. Full of tension and energy, thin balance standing on opposite ends of clarity and intensity. Fine tannin with horizontal breadth gravitating/returning towards the solid linear core with tightly knitted acidity. Consistent and long.
A wine with true class despite being entry level - polished/elegant like Japanese black lacquerware. Worked magically with grilled pork butt marinated with turmeric/cardamom/cumin.
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Clean Ruby color. Nose of earthy baked plum; classic and very nice and precise. Entry is sweet with a bit of wood and dark fruit driven. Small touch of leather and balsamic on the finish. Nice classic bottle.
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Upon open you got huge barnyard funk. Bordering on unpleasant but it blew off.
Appearance - clear, medium plus ruby. Inky.
Nose - youthful, There is definite funk with this wine even after hours. Wet dog, wet cardboard. Fruit is red fruits. There is alcohol burn on the eyes. I would say more funk vs fruit.
Palate - lovely. Feels balanced. More fruity, getting red and black fruits. Berries. Ripe taste. Medium body, medium acidity, medium finish, alcohol feel medium, some pepper. A slight sour taste on finish. Tomato or sour orange.
It’s an interesting earthy wine. Feels to me a high abv than 12.5 however....
Its an interesting wine. I paid a premium in NYC so am less inclined to give a higher score. Very drinkable and interesting vs something flat and run if the mill.
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Seems to have really opened up with a little more bottle time. Same muskiness on the nose, but complemented by lots of violet floral notes. Plenty of uncomplicated, ripe purple and red fruit, with equally forward herbal flavors and a mild rustic note in the background. Easy to drink, with very soft, slightly chalky tannins, and plentiful but not screechy acid. Basically, Loire cf that you can serve to the guests. Best consumed young, I think.
Musky, somewhat animale-ish aromatics that don’t cross the line into unpleasant weediness, but certainly aren’t shy. Good purple and red fruit, which is modulated by a lot of leafy notes. Decent,well-integrated acidity. Not a ton of depth or complexity, but a really nice example of old school-style Loire cf.
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9/6/2021 - epiphany Likes this wine: 91 Points
Has faded a bit but still high quality. 2019’s are drinking great right now.
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6/15/2021 - mks83 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A lot of fireplace ashes / coal from the glass. In mouth, fresh raspberry, black raspberry, and cassis - optimally ripe and ridiculously appetizing - initial “ash” turns into spicy peppery kick here. Full of tension and energy, thin balance standing on opposite ends of clarity and intensity. Fine tannin with horizontal breadth gravitating/returning towards the solid linear core with tightly knitted acidity. Consistent and long.
A wine with true class despite being entry level - polished/elegant like Japanese black lacquerware. Worked magically with grilled pork butt marinated with turmeric/cardamom/cumin.
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3/19/2021 - Jon Harrison wrote: 91 Points
(Beaune Imports)
Color: Dark ruby (impressive).
Nose: Fantastic, classic, complex Chinon nose of black raspberry, sweet tree bark, fresh cut herbs, and dark damp soil. Beautiful!
Palate: Med-full to full body.Old vines (60-year-old vines), thus excellent concentration. Plush mid palette. Tart raspberry on the end (typical).
91-92
Beautiful, exceptional Chinon. Drinks beautifully right now. Love this!
JGH sommelier CMS-III, SF/Bay Area CA
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2/21/2021 - riskun Likes this wine: 89 Points
Clean Ruby color. Nose of earthy baked plum; classic and very nice and precise. Entry is sweet with a bit of wood and dark fruit driven. Small touch of leather and balsamic on the finish. Nice classic bottle.
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1/17/2021 - Ellen5181 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Upon open you got huge barnyard funk. Bordering on unpleasant but it blew off.
Appearance - clear, medium plus ruby. Inky.
Nose - youthful, There is definite funk with this wine even after hours. Wet dog, wet cardboard. Fruit is red fruits. There is alcohol burn on the eyes. I would say more funk vs fruit.
Palate - lovely. Feels balanced. More fruity, getting red and black fruits. Berries. Ripe taste. Medium body, medium acidity, medium finish, alcohol feel medium, some pepper. A slight sour taste on finish. Tomato or sour orange.
It’s an interesting earthy wine. Feels to me a high abv than 12.5
however....
Its an interesting wine. I paid a premium in NYC so am less inclined to give a higher score. Very drinkable and interesting vs something flat and run if the mill.
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4/14/2020 - epiphany Likes this wine: 93 Points
Stunning nose and beautiful fruit. It’s all there. Wow.
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3/27/2020 - epiphany Likes this wine: 92 Points
Incredible wine for $17.
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1/3/2020 - winchester-xi Likes this wine:
Seems to have really opened up with a little more bottle time. Same muskiness on the nose, but complemented by lots of violet floral notes. Plenty of uncomplicated, ripe purple and red fruit, with equally forward herbal flavors and a mild rustic note in the background. Easy to drink, with very soft, slightly chalky tannins, and plentiful but not screechy acid. Basically, Loire cf that you can serve to the guests. Best consumed young, I think.
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10/7/2019 - epiphany Likes this wine: 92 Points
Awesome Chinon.
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9/5/2019 - winchester-xi Likes this wine:
Musky, somewhat animale-ish aromatics that don’t cross the line into unpleasant weediness, but certainly aren’t shy. Good purple and red fruit, which is modulated by a lot of leafy notes. Decent,well-integrated acidity. Not a ton of depth or complexity, but a really nice example of old school-style Loire cf.
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5/11/2019 - Afbrown wrote:
Decent.
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