Mouth-watering aromas of candied strawberry and dark cherry, with a little Gruaud funk and spices, before an immediately arresting attack of the same. Mid-palate, it settles down somewhat, with silky notes of blackcurrant, before a lifting wave of forest fruits, then a very long and satisfying finish, with just enough crispness to keep it on the straight and narrow.
Two and a half years have done this a lot of good. The complexity I felt it lacked before is there in spades.
Real Loire purists might bemoan that it doesn't taste much like a Chinon - there is certainly nothing remotely green. If anything, it's like a cross between a St.Julien and a Pomerol.
I loved it, and for 24 euros, it represented extraordinary value. I see that there are still a couple of cases or so of this left in people's cellars - there is absolutely no hurry to drink it - I only have one left and will wait a good five years.
One caveat - like Melvin, I had a very crumbly cork, so either a Durand or just a twin-blade corkscrew is a must.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Crumbly cork but wine was thankfully intact. A little brett but not too distracting, dark but cool red fruits with clear Cab Franc greenness. Agree with the previous note that said this is rich but not over the top. Got this for barely above release price, always a win to get aged wine for a song.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very bretty on opening, but this disappeared after a few hours in the decanter. Quite rich, obviously since it's a 2005, but not at all OTT. What I liked was the seamless, silky body, very smooth and enveloping, combining nicely with a trademark Chinon freshness on the finish. The fruit is mostly forest fruits and dark cherry, with a hint of funk and spice. The only downside is the lack of complexity at this stage - it doesn't really go anywhere mid-palate. Anyway, this was my first Coulaine Picasses and it was very enjoyable - and at 24€ at auction recently, great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Didn't show as complete as the last bottle, or maybe it was the different circumstances. The wine is unmistakable a loire cab franc from a warm ripe vintage, and it is good wine. But it's not the style of wine that excites me, from this place - a bit blowsy and without the mineral cut that I love to experience in wines from Picasses in other vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, what a great bottle of wine. After a few hours open this wine showed beautiful fruit, really luminous blackberry and cool dark cherry, and underlined with tobacco leaf, gravelly minerals, and green herbal notes. The wine is impeccably balanced and entirely graceful, and is a benchmark for Chinon and Picasses in a ripe year. Fantastic
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was really quite good. Entering a nice drinking window, very rounded with secondary aromas and flavors starting to emerge. Everything is in balance, so there's no rush.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Super tasty stuff. It's clearly a Chinon judging by the bell pepper and tobacco aromas and flavors, but because it's a 2005, this Chinon is impressively open-knit, charming, and mellow. A wine in total balance. The fruit is full and ripe and almost velvety, and the mid-palate has nice density and black berry and cherry flavors. Finishes well and this should have a nice future ahead of it. I paired it with a nice Steak, and it was absolutely perfect for the occasion.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What struck me initially was the exceptional pencil lead nose. Opened very quickly but continued over 1hr + to open up into a big, full, focused, balanced (tannin/acid/alcohol/fruit/complexity) with a medium-long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/12/2023 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 93 Points
Mouth-watering aromas of candied strawberry and dark cherry, with a little Gruaud funk and spices, before an immediately arresting attack of the same. Mid-palate, it settles down somewhat, with silky notes of blackcurrant, before a lifting wave of forest fruits, then a very long and satisfying finish, with just enough crispness to keep it on the straight and narrow.
Two and a half years have done this a lot of good. The complexity I felt it lacked before is there in spades.
Real Loire purists might bemoan that it doesn't taste much like a Chinon - there is certainly nothing remotely green. If anything, it's like a cross between a St.Julien and a Pomerol.
I loved it, and for 24 euros, it represented extraordinary value. I see that there are still a couple of cases or so of this left in people's cellars - there is absolutely no hurry to drink it - I only have one left and will wait a good five years.
One caveat - like Melvin, I had a very crumbly cork, so either a Durand or just a twin-blade corkscrew is a must.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2022 - melvinyeowq wrote: 90 Points
Crumbly cork but wine was thankfully intact. A little brett but not too distracting, dark but cool red fruits with clear Cab Franc greenness. Agree with the previous note that said this is rich but not over the top. Got this for barely above release price, always a win to get aged wine for a song.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2021 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very bretty on opening, but this disappeared after a few hours in the decanter. Quite rich, obviously since it's a 2005, but not at all OTT. What I liked was the seamless, silky body, very smooth and enveloping, combining nicely with a trademark Chinon freshness on the finish. The fruit is mostly forest fruits and dark cherry, with a hint of funk and spice. The only downside is the lack of complexity at this stage - it doesn't really go anywhere mid-palate.
Anyway, this was my first Coulaine Picasses and it was very enjoyable - and at 24€ at auction recently, great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2020 - gordoyflaca Likes this wine: 91 Points
Cab-franky, but good fruit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2018 - brooklynguy wrote:
Didn't show as complete as the last bottle, or maybe it was the different circumstances. The wine is unmistakable a loire cab franc from a warm ripe vintage, and it is good wine. But it's not the style of wine that excites me, from this place - a bit blowsy and without the mineral cut that I love to experience in wines from Picasses in other vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2015 - brooklynguy Likes this wine:
Wow, what a great bottle of wine. After a few hours open this wine showed beautiful fruit, really luminous blackberry and cool dark cherry, and underlined with tobacco leaf, gravelly minerals, and green herbal notes. The wine is impeccably balanced and entirely graceful, and is a benchmark for Chinon and Picasses in a ripe year. Fantastic
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2015 - Chris Newport wrote:
This was really quite good. Entering a nice drinking window, very rounded with secondary aromas and flavors starting to emerge. Everything is in balance, so there's no rush.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2012 - steffenpelz wrote:
Super tasty stuff. It's clearly a Chinon judging by the bell pepper and tobacco aromas and flavors, but because it's a 2005, this Chinon is impressively open-knit, charming, and mellow. A wine in total balance. The fruit is full and ripe and almost velvety, and the mid-palate has nice density and black berry and cherry flavors. Finishes well and this should have a nice future ahead of it. I paired it with a nice Steak, and it was absolutely perfect for the occasion.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2009 - Happybob wrote: 91 Points
What struck me initially was the exceptional pencil lead nose. Opened very quickly but continued over 1hr + to open up into a big, full, focused, balanced (tannin/acid/alcohol/fruit/complexity) with a medium-long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment