The first one of these we have drunk that wasn't completely closed and with a very prominent tannic structure. This bottle is just beginning to open up and, although it will likely never be easy going, is showing hints of the more interesting wine it may become. Some early complexity. Plenty of acid. Very dry. A third cabinet franc. 13.5%. i would wait another five years and hope the tannins settle down or certainly decant a hour or two. Five bottles down - just one left. Bought on release.
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Owned by Alain Vauthier together with its neighbour Chateau Ausone. Made from a blend of 66% Merlot and 34% CS, matured in new oak for 17 month. Medium+ red colour. Medium intensity aroma of plums, old cupboard, earth, dried violet petals, vanilla, graphite. Medium body, shows fully developed pleasantly concentrated fruitiness with earthy notes, some hints of funk, finely grained structured tannins, slightly warming finish. At its peak towards mild decline, drink now.
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Fourth of six, drunk with little real enjoyment over many years. Apart from any other shortcoming, this particular bottle I think must be slightly corked. Tobacco. Green notes. A certain sourness to the fruit. And from where does all this tannic clout come from ? Let's just say it is corked....
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Bright and slightly tart on the palate upon opening, almost pinot like. Over the hour the tartness settled a bit to reveal a nice balance of mildly tart red fruit (cranberry/strawberry), wood, graphite with a slight tar undertone. Some grip to the tannins, light to medium finish. At or slightly past it’s peak, imho. A nice wine that seems like it’s done all it’s going to do. Drink up!
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2024 with ease. I find it to be in its prime today. Full fruit, notable black cherry, with a slightly unbalanced acidity in second mouth, nearly opaque color with rimming garnet, yet sharing a 20 second rémanence worthy of $100.
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Difficult to assess nor extract anything positive... a lot of reduction notes on nose. After a while, very close and tight, wood quite noticiable and barely any fruit while in palate it is very concentrated, with chewy tannins and a remarkable dryness in the finish.
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Quite fruity in the nose, with lots of red and black cherries and eucalyptus; the palate, acidic and fruity, with various berries, licorice, tannins, and wood spices; the finish, fruity and long yet still rather tannic; overall, 89-90 points; needed at least 2-3 more years.
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Powerful nose of dark fruit, plum, strawberry, some leather and tobacco notes. Smooth attack, quite a mouthful, chewy, balanced tannins, jammy. Strawberry, tobacco, some toffee, plum, good length. Very enjoyable, better than I remembered and good value for money.
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This is quite a contrast from my previous experience. Seems to have closed down with much less to enjoy on the nose and the fruit has gone into hiding. Tannins still kicking but I now wonder if I should have consumed earlier. I will keep my last bottle to see what tertiary development can do for this wine.
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Have previously enjoyed this estate in the past. This I couldn't get on with. Good, classic, right bank nose with intense plum, truffle and obvious oak. On the palate however I feel the sheer weight of fairly clunky tannin overwhelms the fruit and leeaves the wine feeling austere and charmless. I would welcome the chance to taste this again a few years down the line.
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Perfumed nose, sour cherry and blueberries, typical of a right bank Merlot-heavy blend. Tannins were fairly pleasant (slightly sweet?) and finish very long, slight chalkiness on the palate. Would drink again with food, but will probably guvd it more time for the tannin to resolve. Surprised not to taste much wood on this, given the chateau's preference for 100% new oak. Very fine overall, really enjoyed the perfume on this one.
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This medium bodied wine is just starting to open with its licorice, black cherry, herb, stone and spice filled personality. It should get even better with another year or two of age.
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even with Vauthier and proximity to Ausone, this wine has a very disappointing green finish and it wasn't the bottle becuase all 6 were the same; the only silver lining is it was the last of a case that although relatively inexpensive tarnishes the winemaker's reputation/terroir...perhaps it will mature but green finishes almost always stay green
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Again a 2006 St. Emilion that shows bell peppers. It must be the stage the Cabernet Franc is in and also this wine needs some more time. The constitution of the wine is ok and also the tannin is ok with a good bite. Try around 2015 or 2016. 87+
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Beautiful and round black fruits and some earthiness in the bouquet. On the palate good black forest fruit juice and sticky tannin. The wine probably needs until 2014 to open up a bit more and will drink nicely until at least 2018/2020. Reading my previous note I was more impressed this time. 88 - 89
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No formal notes, just my score. I was not really impressed by this wine and I am surprised about the high scores in CT. (Although 87 is still very good in my book.) Next time I have this wine in my glass I will/must write down more specific notes.
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Nice wine. Different than the other two wines we had in the same evening (Bourad and Durfort Vinens). This wine had a little more fruit, not quite as much body or as powerful as taste. A good wine, but for my taste, I liked the other two better. Also consider that the Bourad was $33, this was $42. Not sorry that I bought it and tried it, but at the price, I would go with more Bourad or Durfort Vivens.
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Great blackberry cream with leather and minerality. Very classic Right Bank Bordeaux. A wine that will improve with time. $99.99 OH Retail www.austinbeeman.com
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Colour - Medium purple. Nose - Black current, plum, tanin. Palette - A fair bit of tanin. Not harsh tanin; just a fair bit of structure. But delicate fruit behind it. Some acidity. Some complexities already. Will be very nice in 5 years. Improved after 1 1/2 hour decant. BTW, I gave it a 92 when I tasted this. I've openned two bottles since, and was not as favourably impressed by the last bottle. I rated the last bottle at 90 or 91 at most.
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5/19/2024 - MuddyBoots wrote:
The first one of these we have drunk that wasn't completely closed and with a very prominent tannic structure. This bottle is just beginning to open up and, although it will likely never be easy going, is showing hints of the more interesting wine it may become. Some early complexity. Plenty of acid. Very dry. A third cabinet franc. 13.5%. i would wait another five years and hope the tannins settle down or certainly decant a hour or two. Five bottles down - just one left. Bought on release.
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3/12/2023 - Ernestas Likes this wine: 90 Points
Owned by Alain Vauthier together with its neighbour Chateau Ausone. Made from a blend of 66% Merlot and 34% CS, matured in new oak for 17 month. Medium+ red colour. Medium intensity aroma of plums, old cupboard, earth, dried violet petals, vanilla, graphite. Medium body, shows fully developed pleasantly concentrated fruitiness with earthy notes, some hints of funk, finely grained structured tannins, slightly warming finish. At its peak towards mild decline, drink now.
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3/8/2023 - MuddyBoots wrote:
Fourth of six, drunk with little real enjoyment over many years. Apart from any other shortcoming, this particular bottle I think must be slightly corked. Tobacco. Green notes. A certain sourness to the fruit. And from where does all this tannic clout come from ? Let's just say it is corked....
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3/2/2023 - The Wine Monkeys Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bright and slightly tart on the palate upon opening, almost pinot like. Over the hour the tartness settled a bit to reveal a nice balance of mildly tart red fruit (cranberry/strawberry), wood, graphite with a slight tar undertone. Some grip to the tannins, light to medium finish. At or slightly past it’s peak, imho. A nice wine that seems like it’s done all it’s going to do. Drink up!
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4/9/2019 - Lucky Luc Likes this wine: 90 Points
2024 with ease. I find it to be in its prime today. Full fruit, notable black cherry, with a slightly unbalanced acidity in second mouth, nearly opaque color with rimming garnet, yet sharing a 20 second rémanence worthy of $100.
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9/24/2016 - Periko Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Difficult to assess nor extract anything positive... a lot of reduction notes on nose. After a while, very close and tight, wood quite noticiable and barely any fruit while in palate it is very concentrated, with chewy tannins and a remarkable dryness in the finish.
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8/31/2016 - MRichman wrote:
Nicely mature nothing special Bordeaux. Dry with tobacco leaf, herbs, black fruit. Somewhat light claret. A nice glass of wine.
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11/19/2014 - CWang wrote: 90 Points
Quite fruity in the nose, with lots of red and black cherries and eucalyptus; the palate, acidic and fruity, with various berries, licorice, tannins, and wood spices; the finish, fruity and long yet still rather tannic; overall, 89-90 points; needed at least 2-3 more years.
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8/10/2014 - Fantomas Likes this wine: 90 Points
Powerful nose of dark fruit, plum, strawberry, some leather and tobacco notes. Smooth attack, quite a mouthful, chewy, balanced tannins, jammy. Strawberry, tobacco, some toffee, plum, good length. Very enjoyable, better than I remembered and good value for money.
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7/26/2014 - lwt wrote: 88 Points
This is quite a contrast from my previous experience. Seems to have closed down with much less to enjoy on the nose and the fruit has gone into hiding. Tannins still kicking but I now wonder if I should have consumed earlier. I will keep my last bottle to see what tertiary development can do for this wine.
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3/21/2014 - bocko86 Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Have previously enjoyed this estate in the past. This I couldn't get on with. Good, classic, right bank nose with intense plum, truffle and obvious oak. On the palate however I feel the sheer weight of fairly clunky tannin overwhelms the fruit and leeaves the wine feeling austere and charmless. I would welcome the chance to taste this again a few years down the line.
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8/18/2013 - lwt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfumed nose, sour cherry and blueberries, typical of a right bank Merlot-heavy blend. Tannins were fairly pleasant (slightly sweet?) and finish very long, slight chalkiness on the palate. Would drink again with food, but will probably guvd it more time for the tannin to resolve. Surprised not to taste much wood on this, given the chateau's preference for 100% new oak. Very fine overall, really enjoyed the perfume on this one.
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5/19/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
This medium bodied wine is just starting to open with its licorice, black cherry, herb, stone and spice filled personality. It should get even better with another year or two of age.
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2/13/2013 - BUBBA DAWG Does not like this wine: 85 Points
even with Vauthier and proximity to Ausone, this wine has a very disappointing green finish and it wasn't the bottle becuase all 6 were the same; the only silver lining is it was the last of a case that although relatively inexpensive tarnishes the winemaker's reputation/terroir...perhaps it will mature but green finishes almost always stay green
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11/30/2012 - Fantomas Likes this wine: 89 Points
A decent and solid St. Emilion. Good value for money for a casual gathering or even relaxing evening on its own.
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11/25/2012 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 88 Points
Annual Grand Cru Tasting (Wijnhandel De Gouden Leeuw, Voorschoten, NL): Slightly stalky and drying, elegance and finesse are there but the ripeness?
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11/13/2012 - Zweder wrote: 87 Points
Again a 2006 St. Emilion that shows bell peppers. It must be the stage the Cabernet Franc is in and also this wine needs some more time. The constitution of the wine is ok and also the tannin is ok with a good bite. Try around 2015 or 2016. 87+
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12/16/2011 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Beautiful and round black fruits and some earthiness in the bouquet. On the palate good black forest fruit juice and sticky tannin. The wine probably needs until 2014 to open up a bit more and will drink nicely until at least 2018/2020. Reading my previous note I was more impressed this time. 88 - 89
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5/4/2011 - Zweder wrote: 87 Points
No formal notes, just my score. I was not really impressed by this wine and I am surprised about the high scores in CT. (Although 87 is still very good in my book.) Next time I have this wine in my glass I will/must write down more specific notes.
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2/11/2011 - Holdem wrote:
Nice wine. Different than the other two wines we had in the same evening (Bourad and Durfort Vinens). This wine had a little more fruit, not quite as much body or as powerful as taste. A good wine, but for my taste, I liked the other two better. Also consider that the Bourad was $33, this was $42. Not sorry that I bought it and tried it, but at the price, I would go with more Bourad or Durfort Vivens.
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11/13/2010 - austinbeeman- austinbeeman.com wrote: 91 Points
Great blackberry cream with leather and minerality. Very classic Right Bank Bordeaux. A wine that will improve with time.
$99.99 OH Retail
www.austinbeeman.com
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3/9/2010 - Jhcwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Colour - Medium purple. Nose - Black current, plum, tanin. Palette - A fair bit of tanin. Not harsh tanin; just a fair bit of structure. But delicate fruit behind it. Some acidity. Some complexities already. Will be very nice in 5 years. Improved after 1 1/2 hour decant. BTW, I gave it a 92 when I tasted this. I've openned two bottles since, and was not as favourably impressed by the last bottle. I rated the last bottle at 90 or 91 at most.
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