The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blueberry and prune. It tastes like blueberry and black currant (cassis). The body is medium/full. The wine has fleshy texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
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Drank this with the Chili for our neighborhood Halloween Chili Cook Off. A dark ruby in color with flavors of cassis, dark cherry, violet and spices. This was a big, bold, Syrah blend that I gave an hour decant but could have used 2-3 hours. Pretty big tannins which I don't mind.
I bought this at the winery and all the L'aventure 2018's we tasted through that day had pretty big tannins. First bottle of this vintage and will probably lay down the rest for at least a year before the next one. I drink both this wine and the L'aventure estate cuvee and both have a great QPR. I do find that these wines need to slumber for a while. This wine should gain a point or even two with additional bottle age.
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This bottle is very different than my last. Maybe its in a closed stage. Firm, grainy tannins and initially (and for the 1st bottle half) its all chocolate and earthyness (which is fine, pleasant) then a short, almost tannic finish until it eventually shows the fruit and a smoother ending but you still get dry tannins at the end.
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Lots pencil lead and dark berry fruit that's still very fresh and vibrant with great balance and near term aging potential. The Syrah in it is definitely not on the spicy side but the dark berry end of the spectrum (almost Mourvèdre-ish, though there is non in here)
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Ripe fruit and while massive a little bit fresher (not jammy) fruit than expected. And more salty minerality and held up and structure than I thought it would be. Darn, that is shockingly better than I thought it would be.
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Wow, what a difference 1-2 hours of air makes! This was completely different from the previous glass. Strong vibrant acid core, oak is far more integrated and subtle, vibrant dark fruit is overshadowed by the acid at this stage. I think this really needs another 3-4 years for everything to integrate, but it’s very promising at this stage!
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Pnp from coravin. Nose is dominated by fragrant french oak with light hints of vanilla, suggesting this needs time to integrate. Aromatically smooth without showing much heat. At opening I was getting more ashen, damp earth, and truffle notes, but they started to slowly open to subtle deep black and purple fruits. On the palate the wine is consistent with the nose, dominated by oak (at a level I don't personally find obtrusive) damp earth. The texture is a highlight--very fine, soft tannins. Acid is medium to low, with structure coming more from the already soft tannins. I haven't tried an older vintage of optimus, but my hunch is that the new oak here will outlive the structure, so this probably isn't for the oak-averse.
This glass (without air) was fairly linear though very enjoyable, and the texture was a highlight. It made me think of a paso/baby version of Leoville Poyferre. Next time I'll give it more time to breathe and post another review. 92-93
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very nice somewhat seamless wine for the first hour..as it opened the finish got more pronounced with a tart tannic finish..I couldn't decide ir I liked it or didn't like it..finally decided I did like it..lots of toasted re fruit on the first taste..enjoyed with grilled veal chop
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92 points. Amazing floral nose, even immediately after opening it was still delicate. Beautiful wine. L’Aventure is knocking it out or the park with this. Drinkable today and I’m sure would age gracefully over a few years.
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Clearly a full bodied, rich wine. Asian spices with some background of chocolate mint and blackberry ganache. Very smooth and long on the balanced finish - clearly a decadent rich wine but it remains balanced. Sweet Blackberry pie dominates the finish.
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Had this a couple more times...very solid intense rounded wine with nice length and layering, dense...lots of purple inky dark fruit here--boysenberry, blackberry...
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Deep Purple; Medium plus intensity of black plum, blueberry, cedar, tobacco, iron, seared meats, violets, green bell pepper, and cocoa. Dry with medium acid. Full body and high alcohol. High tannin. Very good wine.
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Might be in a closed phase right now as I thought it was not tasting as good as bottles I've tried earlier. Curious if anyone else had a similar experience lately.
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Tasted from the barrel, it shows both the style of the estate as well as the purity of the vintage with its rich, powerful, full-bodied style and loads of black fruits and chocolate aromas and flavors. Age 1-10 years
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Medium+ purple. Medium intensity aroma of green pepper, blueberry, pepper. Dry, medium- tannin, medium+ acidity, medium+ alcohol. Medium+ body. Flavor of green pepper, blueberry, herbaceous, pepper, fig. Short finish.
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3/18/2024 - aresy wrote:
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blueberry and prune. It tastes like blueberry and black currant (cassis). The body is medium/full. The wine has fleshy texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.
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10/28/2023 - RayT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank this with the Chili for our neighborhood Halloween Chili Cook Off. A dark ruby in color with flavors of cassis, dark cherry, violet and spices. This was a big, bold, Syrah blend that I gave an hour decant but could have used 2-3 hours. Pretty big tannins which I don't mind.
I bought this at the winery and all the L'aventure 2018's we tasted through that day had pretty big tannins. First bottle of this vintage and will probably lay down the rest for at least a year before the next one. I drink both this wine and the L'aventure estate cuvee and both have a great QPR. I do find that these wines need to slumber for a while. This wine should gain a point or even two with additional bottle age.
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9/1/2023 - Countless Likes this wine: 92 Points
You can always taste the PV in this cuvée. Delicious
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6/9/2023 - dino_mike Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle is very different than my last. Maybe its in a closed stage.
Firm, grainy tannins and initially (and for the 1st bottle half) its all chocolate and earthyness (which is fine, pleasant) then a short, almost tannic finish until it eventually shows the fruit and a smoother ending but you still get dry tannins at the end.
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4/21/2023 - kanab ram Likes this wine:
Very young but still great. Significantly improved after being opened 24 hours.
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2/5/2023 - dino_mike Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lots pencil lead and dark berry fruit that's still very fresh and vibrant with great balance and near term aging potential. The Syrah in it is definitely not on the spicy side but the dark berry end of the spectrum (almost Mourvèdre-ish, though there is non in here)
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12/31/2022 - Chied Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent with our New Year’s Eve dinner of BBQ Baby Back Ribs and sides!
Cheers!
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12/11/2022 - LCHammer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Needed about an hour to open up, then went crazy good with steaks. Plenty of dark fruit and smooth tannins.
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6/22/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Ripe fruit and while massive a little bit fresher (not jammy) fruit than expected. And more salty minerality and held up and structure than I thought it would be. Darn, that is shockingly better than I thought it would be.
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6/3/2022 - Thek Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow, what a difference 1-2 hours of air makes! This was completely different from the previous glass. Strong vibrant acid core, oak is far more integrated and subtle, vibrant dark fruit is overshadowed by the acid at this stage. I think this really needs another 3-4 years for everything to integrate, but it’s very promising at this stage!
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6/1/2022 - Thek Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pnp from coravin. Nose is dominated by fragrant french oak with light hints of vanilla, suggesting this needs time to integrate. Aromatically smooth without showing much heat. At opening I was getting more ashen, damp earth, and truffle notes, but they started to slowly open to subtle deep black and purple fruits. On the palate the wine is consistent with the nose, dominated by oak (at a level I don't personally find obtrusive) damp earth. The texture is a highlight--very fine, soft tannins. Acid is medium to low, with structure coming more from the already soft tannins. I haven't tried an older vintage of optimus, but my hunch is that the new oak here will outlive the structure, so this probably isn't for the oak-averse.
This glass (without air) was fairly linear though very enjoyable, and the texture was a highlight. It made me think of a paso/baby version of Leoville Poyferre. Next time I'll give it more time to breathe and post another review. 92-93
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3/4/2022 - Nick Wickham Likes this wine: 92 Points
Needs to be aerated and left two hours. Serve at 17C
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2/28/2022 - cavedivr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well made but stylistically not my favorite. Too angular and acidic. Needs more backbone, more tannic structure.
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2/27/2022 - Ticker tape guy Likes this wine: 90 Points
very nice somewhat seamless wine for the first hour..as it opened the finish got more pronounced with a tart tannic finish..I couldn't decide ir I liked it or didn't like it..finally decided I did like it..lots of toasted re fruit on the first taste..enjoyed with grilled veal chop
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2/18/2022 - Roi Vin de LBC Likes this wine: 92 Points
92 points. Amazing floral nose, even immediately after opening it was still delicate. Beautiful wine. L’Aventure is knocking it out or the park with this. Drinkable today and I’m sure would age gracefully over a few years.
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1/15/2022 - GlenviewGSW Likes this wine: 93 Points
Clearly a full bodied, rich wine. Asian spices with some background of chocolate mint and blackberry ganache. Very smooth and long on the balanced finish - clearly a decadent rich wine but it remains balanced. Sweet Blackberry pie dominates the finish.
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1/4/2022 - LCHammer Likes this wine: 93 Points
No formal notes but wonderful flavors enjoyed by all. Quite the crowd pleaser.
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1/1/2022 - Super Dave AZ Likes this wine:
Like an old friend. 2018 is a fantastic vintage
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11/15/2021 - richshoes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had this a couple more times...very solid intense rounded wine with nice length and layering, dense...lots of purple inky dark fruit here--boysenberry, blackberry...
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10/30/2021 - richshoes Likes this wine: 93 Points
Solid, medium bodied, dense well rounded...still young, dark cherry, hints of plum, blackberry and rhubarb
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10/30/2021 - ragavolley wrote: 90 Points
Prendre 4h de carafe. Senteur de prunes et cuir. Goût de framboises et chocolat.
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10/8/2021 - bweber79 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep Purple; Medium plus intensity of black plum, blueberry, cedar, tobacco, iron, seared meats, violets, green bell pepper, and cocoa. Dry with medium acid. Full body and high alcohol. High tannin. Very good wine.
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10/3/2021 - losososjoe wrote:
Might be in a closed phase right now as I thought it was not tasting as good as bottles I've tried earlier. Curious if anyone else had a similar experience lately.
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8/26/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Ripe black fruit on the nose. And powerful on the palate. Darn I am not having a good tasting day.
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6/13/2021 - walla_wallou Likes this wine: 95 Points
Best wine I drank in the last year!
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6/5/2021 - Andrea Wagner wrote:
Tasted from the barrel, it shows both the style of the estate as well as the purity of the vintage with its rich, powerful, full-bodied style and loads of black fruits and chocolate aromas and flavors. Age 1-10 years
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5/29/2021 - mayakacz wrote:
Medium+ purple.
Medium intensity aroma of green pepper, blueberry, pepper.
Dry, medium- tannin, medium+ acidity, medium+ alcohol. Medium+ body. Flavor of green pepper, blueberry, herbaceous, pepper, fig. Short finish.
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4/16/2021 - Super Dave AZ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still one of the best QPR
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8/23/2020 - Super Dave AZ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great aromatics, dark fruit. Round tannins. Drank with small gathering, the winner of the night. Saving another for later date
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