Patience can pay off. We were expecting a ho-hum experience at best, but upon opening, the nose was resplendently smoky, with no bottle stink at all. Very dark in colour, the tannins had fully integrated, but the cherry and blackberry fruit remained, with no sign of jamminess. Just enough acid remained to brighten the flavour. Aged in clay amphorae instead of wood. We will talk about this bottle in the future, and regret that it was our only bottle...
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As dark purple as wine can be. Lots of plum and cassis with plenty of dark chocolate aromas. Same black fruit on palate, very dense and chewy. Somewhat primary, one dimensional and simple, but easy to enjoy.
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- Brick color. It's overly tannic and has flavours of tar, cloves and menthol with a full body. Coarse texture with a medium finish - Agree with other reviewers that it is hugely unbalanced. But for that reason it stands up well against heavy dark sauces. Opened it for a Beef Bourgoignon and should work well in the meal and alongside.
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I was very curious to try a Malbec from France and so when this wine turned up from 2005, I had to go for it. Deep purple color. On first day, the wine tasted of chocolate, liquorice, and dark fruits. Tannins were firm but not rough, suggesting this wine could have aged at least another 5 years but is also eminently drinkable today. On day 2, the wine had softened out. We now got floral tones with lavendars and violets. The chocolate had softened out and so had the tannins. Great balance and decent length. A lovely wine to have without having to think too hard about it. Would absolutely recommend.
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I have now tried this wine twice with similar results. Deep, opaque, almost black in the center and dark purple on the rim. Nose was interesting at first showing dark, plummy fruits, some floral aromas, and a sort of flinty, mineral element, but it shut down after an hour. The palate was weird. I am going to guess that this resulted from being matured in amphora. Never had a wine made that way before. Anyway, it gives the taste a strange earthy, mineral flavor that seemed sort of oxidized, although from the color and the nose you would never think this wine was oxidized. I disliked it, although I don't think it was a flawed bottle. Not much fruit to balance that odd note, so I couldn't really get past it. Also quite tannic and spicy. Pretty sure I could have identified it as Malbec blind though, so I guess the wine gets a couple points for being true to its varietal. Some people might like this, but it's not for me.
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Decanted 2 hours prior. Darkest wine I've seen in a long time. Minimal dark fruit, cutting minerality, extremely tannic. For me, entirely too much tannins, and not sure there is enough fruit for much more cellaring.
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Amphora-raised Cahors: pretty awesome wine. Super pure, dark black, core of very dark fruits, classic malbec floral elements, brilliant mineral streak, lifted, and with a beguilingly downy texture due to the massive but oh-so-soft tannins that make up this fascinating wine. There's just so much material crammed into this wine, but it never loses its composure. I wonder how it will age.
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Those tropical soil elements I noted a year ago have really kicked up. More fruit and a sweet edge. This has grown bigger, but a little looser knit and texturally less. Colour still a marvel. Cool stuff.
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One of the more unique wines out there -- quintessential Garagiste. Pitch black, you'd think it would be heavy, but quite balanced, with good acidity, pure fruit, and that orange liqueur thing that others have noted. A bit primary now. Sappy and persistent. Would like to see how it develops, but how long to wait, I have no idea. Tons of fun. 91+
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85 points? Come on! -- this wine is fantastic. Andrew_wine's note says it better than I could. Drank this wine out of Riedel Som Bdx glasses and Riedel O Zin glasses side by side and the difference was dramatic. (In other words, break out the good glasses for this one!) As much as I also liked the 2004 Le Clos d'un Jour Cahors Un Jour (not sur Terre), this is significantly better.
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Couldn't resist, so opened upon arrival. Dark and primeval colour. Big nose of tropical soil and flowers with an edge of aged Sumatra coffee. Nice fruit on the top which dominates. Good body and some funky earth notes behind. Finishes light with a little orange liquer sweetness feeling at the edge. Drank well over a long time. Next day had the sweeter elements more to the fore.
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Unbelievable color - like a glass full of sqiud ink. However, very light on the palate. Initially very tight, with more tannins than fruit, but opened slightly with time showing some bitter chocolate and coffee. I will let the other two bottles sleep a bit longer.
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Really dark, powerful PURE fruit. You could smell this wine from 5 feet away..Floral and sweet, not at all over the top. Aging could really add complexity and depth, but really a pretty wine now.
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Dark as motor oil with an ocean of fruit, but not syrupy or alcoholic. Finish is a bit short, but pleasant. This drinks well now, and would probably improve with age.
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Un vin 100 % malbec qui a la particularité d’avoir séjourné en jarre de terre cuite pendant 18 mois, après une fermentation en cuve inox pour en magnifier le fruit. Il fleure bon la terre, et il sera difficile de lui résister bien longtemps, au moment de servir votre rôti préféré.
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4/10/2020 - Canuckgiver Likes this wine: 92 Points
Patience can pay off. We were expecting a ho-hum experience at best, but upon opening, the nose was resplendently smoky, with no bottle stink at all. Very dark in colour, the tannins had fully integrated, but the cherry and blackberry fruit remained, with no sign of jamminess. Just enough acid remained to brighten the flavour. Aged in clay amphorae instead of wood. We will talk about this bottle in the future, and regret that it was our only bottle...
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4/5/2012 - Burgundy Al wrote: 87 Points
As dark purple as wine can be. Lots of plum and cassis with plenty of dark chocolate aromas. Same black fruit on palate, very dense and chewy. Somewhat primary, one dimensional and simple, but easy to enjoy.
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1/7/2012 - DonMcGowan wrote: 85 Points
- Brick color. It's overly tannic and has flavours of tar, cloves and menthol with a full body. Coarse texture with a medium finish - Agree with other reviewers that it is hugely unbalanced. But for that reason it stands up well against heavy dark sauces. Opened it for a Beef Bourgoignon and should work well in the meal and alongside.
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11/10/2011 - risaacs Likes this wine: 88 Points
Could use more time. Decant.
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1/23/2011 - duggarm@outlook.com wrote: 91 Points
I was very curious to try a Malbec from France and so when this wine turned up from 2005, I had to go for it. Deep purple color. On first day, the wine tasted of chocolate, liquorice, and dark fruits. Tannins were firm but not rough, suggesting this wine could have aged at least another 5 years but is also eminently drinkable today. On day 2, the wine had softened out. We now got floral tones with lavendars and violets. The chocolate had softened out and so had the tannins. Great balance and decent length. A lovely wine to have without having to think too hard about it. Would absolutely recommend.
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7/20/2010 - TheBusiness724 wrote: 80 Points
I have now tried this wine twice with similar results. Deep, opaque, almost black in the center and dark purple on the rim. Nose was interesting at first showing dark, plummy fruits, some floral aromas, and a sort of flinty, mineral element, but it shut down after an hour. The palate was weird. I am going to guess that this resulted from being matured in amphora. Never had a wine made that way before. Anyway, it gives the taste a strange earthy, mineral flavor that seemed sort of oxidized, although from the color and the nose you would never think this wine was oxidized. I disliked it, although I don't think it was a flawed bottle. Not much fruit to balance that odd note, so I couldn't really get past it. Also quite tannic and spicy. Pretty sure I could have identified it as Malbec blind though, so I guess the wine gets a couple points for being true to its varietal. Some people might like this, but it's not for me.
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3/20/2010 - jjmurray23 wrote: 80 Points
Decanted 2 hours prior. Darkest wine I've seen in a long time. Minimal dark fruit, cutting minerality, extremely tannic. For me, entirely too much tannins, and not sure there is enough fruit for much more cellaring.
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3/18/2010 - danibus Likes this wine: 89 Points
Gamier and funkier than the last bottle. Also portier. Would prefer more acidity. Not aging all that well.
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3/10/2010 - Chomsky wrote:
Amphora-raised Cahors: pretty awesome wine. Super pure, dark black, core of very dark fruits, classic malbec floral elements, brilliant mineral streak, lifted, and with a beguilingly downy texture due to the massive but oh-so-soft tannins that make up this fascinating wine. There's just so much material crammed into this wine, but it never loses its composure. I wonder how it will age.
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12/20/2009 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Consistent with 3/2008, though more closely knit.
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7/8/2009 - WDK wrote: 89 Points
Big, black, rich, & chewy. Nice find by Garagiste.
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3/22/2009 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Those tropical soil elements I noted a year ago have really kicked up. More fruit and a sweet edge. This has grown bigger, but a little looser knit and texturally less. Colour still a marvel. Cool stuff.
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2/12/2009 - Caudalie wrote:
Bof, ca va, sans plus
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8/15/2008 - WDK wrote: 88 Points
Good the first day, but the 2nd day was nothing but black licorice
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6/22/2008 - danibus wrote: 91 Points
One of the more unique wines out there -- quintessential Garagiste. Pitch black, you'd think it would be heavy, but quite balanced, with good acidity, pure fruit, and that orange liqueur thing that others have noted. A bit primary now. Sappy and persistent. Would like to see how it develops, but how long to wait, I have no idea. Tons of fun. 91+
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4/28/2008 - jim dixon wrote: 93 Points
85 points? Come on! -- this wine is fantastic. Andrew_wine's note says it better than I could. Drank this wine out of Riedel Som Bdx glasses and Riedel O Zin glasses side by side and the difference was dramatic. (In other words, break out the good glasses for this one!) As much as I also liked the 2004 Le Clos d'un Jour Cahors Un Jour (not sur Terre), this is significantly better.
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4/9/2008 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Couldn't resist, so opened upon arrival. Dark and primeval colour. Big nose of tropical soil and flowers with an edge of aged Sumatra coffee. Nice fruit on the top which dominates. Good body and some funky earth notes behind. Finishes light with a little orange liquer sweetness feeling at the edge. Drank well over a long time. Next day had the sweeter elements more to the fore.
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3/4/2008 - Bruno wrote: 85 Points
Unbelievable color - like a glass full of sqiud ink. However, very light on the palate. Initially very tight, with more tannins than fruit, but opened slightly with time showing some bitter chocolate and coffee. I will let the other two bottles sleep a bit longer.
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2/6/2008 - aktormedic wrote:
Really dark, powerful PURE fruit. You could smell this wine from 5 feet away..Floral and sweet, not at all over the top. Aging could really add complexity and depth, but really a pretty wine now.
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1/18/2008 - Alex G. wrote:
Dark as motor oil with an ocean of fruit, but not syrupy or alcoholic. Finish is a bit short, but pleasant. This drinks well now, and would probably improve with age.
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9/15/2007 - Garcias cellar wrote:
Un vin 100 % malbec qui a la particularité d’avoir séjourné en jarre de terre cuite pendant 18 mois, après une fermentation en cuve inox pour en magnifier le fruit. Il fleure bon la terre, et il sera difficile de lui résister bien longtemps, au moment de servir votre rôti préféré.
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