I bought 10 bottles at auction last week and was worried that the wine might be way past its best. But I have a favourite little (under-known) Pomerol that is only a 15 minute drive away from this Fronsac property, and have a single bottle left of their 2001, which was perhaps the most memorable wine I have ever tasted...
Well, I am delighted!
This wine was pale rimmed, tawny colour but with a deep medium+ core.
The first nose was at the same time floral and meaty. Still fresh red and black fruit there. Cassis notes with some black pepper spice.
The second nose - after a swirl - was licquorice, star anise and garrigue aromas. No cooked fruit at all, which was a surprise.
On the palate - soft, with medium body and length; supple tannins and blackcurrants again, loads of them. The acidity described in older posts has seen it through.
It was a perfect match to a lovely fillet of beef with small roasted potatoes and a mustard mayonnaise.
Totally chuffed. To drink now and next year.
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A bit rustic and creamy in the bouquet. Some red fruits as well. On the palate the same experience, so in that aspect the wine is harmonious. Also high acidity as in red currants and soft tannin. This was my last bottle and that is just fine. Not really much exclusiveness in this bottle, but my 2010 score was too negative. 83 for today, which is below standards for this domain.
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Ce vin commence à être soit sur la fin de son plateau en au début de sa prente descendante. Prêt à boire maintenant! Le nez est sur les notes tertiaires, fumée, végétale, terre humide et champignons. En bouche c'est bien équilibré, les tannins sont fondus et le fruit en retrait, finale correcte sur le chocolat!
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Occasional tasting group: "Terroir or bottles with a story" (@ TBa): Second disappointing bottle. There is a little barnyard in the bouquet and a lot of unripe cherries. Same in the taste, but too much acidity. No tannin that holds a promise. Not a pleasant start, nothing nice on the mid palate and hardly any finish. 2 bottles left and I am not looking forward to them.
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Disappointing wine. The predominant feature in our bottle was the smell/taste of alcohol. Very little fruit or body. Admittedly, not stored in the best conditions, so the bottle's less than stellar showing may have been a result of that.
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Cork showed mold under the foil. Decanted two hours. Nose is fairly light, showing definite pencil shavings, slight chili spice, plenty of dark dark cherry, and light grape candy. Definitely smells of a middle age Bordeaux. Fairly full bodied and creamy on the palate, plenty of tannins present though, showing some plum flavors and graphite, with red chili spice building. This builds into the finish as things transition to the pencil shavings, with a bit of plum and cherry. Holds on the palate for up to 30 seconds, but doesn't evolve much there. I appreciate the 12.5% alcohol. An enjoyable wine, but nothing too compelling to run out for more. Definitely improved over the span of 4 hours.
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Vendu à un prix nettement inférieur à quantité de bordeaux rouges d'appellations plus réputées (style Pauillac, Pomerol, Saint-Julien, etc.), il s'agit d'un vin toujours en parfaite forme, mais, surtout, d'un charme indéniable. Fait de 80% de Merlot combiné à 15% de Cabernet Sauvignon et à 5% de Cabernet franc, puis élevé en fûts, dont 35% de fûts neufs, son séduisant bouquet de fruits rouges, dominé par le Merlot et au boisé discret, de qualité, s'accompagne d'une bouche de corps moyen, aux saveurs de fruits mûrs, avec des tannins tendres, et toujours jeune au plan aromatique. 12,5% d'alcool seulement. On se régale
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Belle longueur, belle matière. Fruits noirs, mocha, boite à cigare. Peut-être un peu mince en milieu de bouche. Très intéressant et bien conservé. Peu certainement se garder encore 2 ou 3 ans.
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Wow, quel beau vin, bel équilibre, pour le prix, un incontournable, avec steak bbq, parfait, encore 2 en cave mais je ne vais pas attendre trop longtemps
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No specific notes, just a score and a general impression. This was a disappointing bottle. Hope the wine is closed at the moment and will open up again. The main taste is the acidity. Seems to lack in body. I have a few bottles left so there will be a follow up, but probably not the next few years. Waiting 3 or 4 years might be a wise thing to do. With my score for today I even give it the benefit of the doubt.
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The fruit is dominating the bouquet with mainly cassis. There is good new oak in the background as well. Creamy and round. Cherries and cassis. Firm tannin. Compared to 2003 this wine is completely different. 2003 is offering more complexity at the moment. But I think the 2001 might be locked a bit and will -in the long term- be at least as interesting as 2003.
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Drank this straight from the bottle - no decanting. Needed time to open up, but did so quite quickly. Quite peppery, taste of plums, long finish. Definitely mostly merlot.
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A lot of butter and merlot in the bouquet. Pleasant dose of oak. Full bodied, cassis, some raspberry, young and sticky tannin. Good dose of acidity. This wine is still too young. Ok if you like your wine really young, but it will definitely improve the next 2 - 3 years and will probably last for about 8 - 10 years from now.
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3/19/2021 - ndsperry Likes this wine: 90 Points
I bought 10 bottles at auction last week and was worried that the wine might be way past its best. But I have a favourite little (under-known) Pomerol that is only a 15 minute drive away from this Fronsac property, and have a single bottle left of their 2001, which was perhaps the most memorable wine I have ever tasted...
Well, I am delighted!
This wine was pale rimmed, tawny colour but with a deep medium+ core.
The first nose was at the same time floral and meaty. Still fresh red and black fruit there. Cassis notes with some black pepper spice.
The second nose - after a swirl - was licquorice, star anise and garrigue aromas. No cooked fruit at all, which was a surprise.
On the palate - soft, with medium body and length; supple tannins and blackcurrants again, loads of them. The acidity described in older posts has seen it through.
It was a perfect match to a lovely fillet of beef with small roasted potatoes and a mustard mayonnaise.
Totally chuffed. To drink now and next year.
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11/29/2013 - maxima wrote: 84 Points
Un nez sur le tertiaire,Champignons et feuilles mortes, sous-bois etc...!
En bouche, mince et dilué.
En fin de course on dirait!
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11/27/2013 - julius111 wrote: 89 Points
Plum, black fruit. Still bears good acidity.
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4/11/2013 - Zweder wrote: 83 Points
A bit rustic and creamy in the bouquet. Some red fruits as well. On the palate the same experience, so in that aspect the wine is harmonious. Also high acidity as in red currants and soft tannin. This was my last bottle and that is just fine. Not really much exclusiveness in this bottle, but my 2010 score was too negative. 83 for today, which is below standards for this domain.
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11/6/2010 - toontune wrote: 89 Points
Showing nice age...fruit melowed, tannins smooth...at it's prime.
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10/11/2010 - KVM wrote: flawed
corked, but otherwise sound
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7/24/2010 - maxima wrote: 87 Points
Ce vin commence à être soit sur la fin de son plateau en au début de sa prente descendante. Prêt à boire maintenant!
Le nez est sur les notes tertiaires, fumée, végétale, terre humide et champignons.
En bouche c'est bien équilibré, les tannins sont fondus et le fruit en retrait, finale correcte sur le chocolat!
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7/2/2010 - RedFilth wrote: 88 Points
Initial nose of black fruit as soon as I opened the bottle.
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6/26/2010 - toontune wrote: 89 Points
Excellent and super value for the price.
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2/5/2010 - Zweder wrote: 79 Points
Occasional tasting group: "Terroir or bottles with a story" (@ TBa): Second disappointing bottle. There is a little barnyard in the bouquet and a lot of unripe cherries. Same in the taste, but too much acidity. No tannin that holds a promise. Not a pleasant start, nothing nice on the mid palate and hardly any finish. 2 bottles left and I am not looking forward to them.
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1/31/2010 - 9jrl1 wrote: 83 Points
Disappointing wine. The predominant feature in our bottle was the smell/taste of alcohol. Very little fruit or body. Admittedly, not stored in the best conditions, so the bottle's less than stellar showing may have been a result of that.
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1/9/2010 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 89 Points
Cork showed mold under the foil. Decanted two hours. Nose is fairly light, showing definite pencil shavings, slight chili spice, plenty of dark dark cherry, and light grape candy. Definitely smells of a middle age Bordeaux. Fairly full bodied and creamy on the palate, plenty of tannins present though, showing some plum flavors and graphite, with red chili spice building. This builds into the finish as things transition to the pencil shavings, with a bit of plum and cherry. Holds on the palate for up to 30 seconds, but doesn't evolve much there. I appreciate the 12.5% alcohol. An enjoyable wine, but nothing too compelling to run out for more. Definitely improved over the span of 4 hours.
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12/23/2009 - awhite wrote:
The acid, tannin, and fruit are marching to their own drummers and have yet to knit. I don't know that they ever will.
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10/23/2009 - philhamelin wrote:
Vendu à un prix nettement inférieur à quantité de bordeaux rouges d'appellations plus réputées (style Pauillac, Pomerol, Saint-Julien, etc.), il s'agit d'un vin toujours en parfaite forme, mais, surtout, d'un charme indéniable. Fait de 80% de Merlot combiné à 15% de Cabernet Sauvignon et à 5% de Cabernet franc, puis élevé en fûts, dont 35% de fûts neufs, son séduisant bouquet de fruits rouges, dominé par le Merlot et au boisé discret, de qualité, s'accompagne d'une bouche de corps moyen, aux saveurs de fruits mûrs, avec des tannins tendres, et toujours jeune au plan aromatique. 12,5% d'alcool seulement. On se régale
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8/4/2009 - Spaz wrote: 90 Points
toujours aussi excellent, décanter 1 hrs...
tres bel équilibre
mais court en bouche...c'est son seul défaut.
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6/7/2009 - martcouz wrote: 88 Points
Belle longueur, belle matière. Fruits noirs, mocha, boite à cigare. Peut-être un peu mince en milieu de bouche. Très intéressant et bien conservé. Peu certainement se garder encore 2 ou 3 ans.
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4/17/2009 - Spaz wrote: 90 Points
Wow, quel beau vin, bel équilibre, pour le prix, un incontournable, avec steak bbq, parfait, encore 2 en cave mais je ne vais pas attendre trop longtemps
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3/18/2009 - paul canet wrote: 89 Points
Prêt à boire, nez fumé, note tertiare notant une certaine évolution, note végétale, humidité, champignon.
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10/13/2008 - Zweder wrote: 83 Points
No specific notes, just a score and a general impression. This was a disappointing bottle. Hope the wine is closed at the moment and will open up again. The main taste is the acidity. Seems to lack in body. I have a few bottles left so there will be a follow up, but probably not the next few years. Waiting 3 or 4 years might be a wise thing to do. With my score for today I even give it the benefit of the doubt.
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5/22/2008 - Zweder wrote: 87 Points
The fruit is dominating the bouquet with mainly cassis. There is good new oak in the background as well. Creamy and round. Cherries and cassis. Firm tannin. Compared to 2003 this wine is completely different. 2003 is offering more complexity at the moment. But I think the 2001 might be locked a bit and will -in the long term- be at least as interesting as 2003.
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11/17/2007 - spader wrote: 87 Points
Drank this straight from the bottle - no decanting. Needed time to open up, but did so quite quickly. Quite peppery, taste of plums, long finish. Definitely mostly merlot.
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10/19/2007 - Zweder wrote: 87 Points
A lot of butter and merlot in the bouquet. Pleasant dose of oak. Full bodied, cassis, some raspberry, young and sticky tannin. Good dose of acidity. This wine is still too young. Ok if you like your wine really young, but it will definitely improve the next 2 - 3 years and will probably last for about 8 - 10 years from now.
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1/2/2007 - Double-A Likes this wine: 95 Points
Aromatic, coffee, roasted meats, toasty oak and black currant nose. Med-full bodied, rich and lush palate; long, mocha finish.
5/5
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