Little to add from last tasting. This remains outstanding. What it may lack in complexity is made up for by richness (and at 13.5% abv). 3-5 year window.
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Amazing fruit in the nose and on the palate. Now on a plateau, should remain strong for many years to come.
very pure cherry nose, dark for a pinot, on the palate pure magic with cherry, a hint of strawberry, accompanied slow cooked and smoked spare ribs very well. next to 2008 probably the best Isabelle, haven't tasted 10 so far which comes highly recommended
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My last bottle. Opened at just the right time IMO. The fruit has started to subside a little, with more earthy nuances coming through, and less of the fresh red and black fruit aspects. I think the wine has started into decline, but will still be good for a few years. Decant for an hour, and enjoy!
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This bottle delivered consistent results. Beautiful red fruits and complex on the nose. Balanced fruit/acidity/structure/tannin. Drinking beautifully. May gain complexity with time, but why wait? This is fantastic now.
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showing really well, it was loaded with fresh red and blue fruit and is almost in perfect balance at this stage; this was as good as any of the many bottles I`ve had and promises to evolve into an even more fine Pinot.
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Pleasant pinot, much better day 2 than day 1. Perhaps missing a bit of acidity, but ripe cherries and a distinct pinot nose. Would decant for a few others to open this wine up.
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FIRST FLIGHT 2000 Silvio Grasso Barolo Ciabot Manzoni - Gorgeous, complex, great weight, sweet fruit, a beautiful wine -- 95 points 1999 Jadot Clos Vougeot - Pretty closed, both in its aroma and on the palate. Difficult to tell whether this will evolve. 90 points 1999 Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra - Very tight and young. A complete wine - give it 5 years. 93 points 2005 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir "Isabelle". Lush, deep, great fruit and balance. Drinking beautifully. 94 points
SECOND FLIGHT 1996 Fonsalette Cote du Rhone Cuvee Syrah - gorgeous, complex, evolved, deep, rich fruit. WOTN. 96 points 1991 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Le Greal - A little tight on the nose; a little closed on the palate. Lovely though. 92 points 2000 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque - Structured, tannic, great depth. Needs another 5 years. 93 points 2003 Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis - Big, jammy, rich, structured. Close contender for WOTN. 95 points.
PORT Graham's Vintage Port 1994 - Sweet, vinous, needs more time. Try again in five years. 93 points
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Very fine structured Pinot. Not overpowered. Plenty of ripe fruit. More like dark berries and some cherries. Some hints of roasted nuts and light earth. Gentle and just fine. QPR Eeerrrrrr .... I don't know!
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dark color. classic pinot with obvious heavy toast on barrels, pretty extracted but despite the alcohol maintained pleasant balance. more fruit than acid in this one, but the tannins keep it from seeming flabby. very drinkable now, but i expect that this has quite a lot of time ahead of it.
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Great wine. Never a bad wine from ABC. This one took second place out of a field of high end Cali pinots Premier and Grand Cru Burgundies. Powerful nose and flavors. Big, refined tannins. Give it plenty of time.
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1/18/2023 - jgh123 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Little to add from last tasting. This remains outstanding. What it may lack in complexity is made up for by richness (and at 13.5% abv). 3-5 year window.
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8/31/2022 - jgh123 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Spice and ripe cherries on the nose; rich; medium complexity. Lovely. Probably will hold for another 5 years if properly cellared.
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7/13/2021 - jgh123 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice and holding, though there is nothing to gain by additional bottle age. Drink up.
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6/21/2014 - jbroich Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amazing fruit in the nose and on the palate. Now on a plateau, should remain strong for many years to come.
very pure cherry nose, dark for a pinot, on the palate pure magic with cherry, a hint of strawberry, accompanied slow cooked and smoked spare ribs very well. next to 2008 probably the best Isabelle, haven't tasted 10 so far which comes highly recommended
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5/17/2014 - la turque wrote: 92 Points
My last bottle. Opened at just the right time IMO. The fruit has started to subside a little, with more earthy nuances coming through, and less of the fresh red and black fruit aspects. I think the wine has started into decline, but will still be good for a few years. Decant for an hour, and enjoy!
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2/13/2014 - la turque wrote: 94 Points
A beautiful Pinot Noir. Sweet fruit, with good structure and balancing acidity. Showing decent complexity. A lovely wine. Drink over the next 5 years.
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12/21/2013 - NZ_Mag wrote: 94 Points
Rich, deep with black cherry, plum, dark spices and French oak. Great texture and long finish
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7/3/2013 - la turque wrote: 94 Points
This bottle delivered consistent results. Beautiful red fruits and complex on the nose. Balanced fruit/acidity/structure/tannin. Drinking beautifully. May gain complexity with time, but why wait? This is fantastic now.
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1/25/2013 - Blake Brown Likes this wine: 95 Points
showing really well, it was loaded with fresh red and blue fruit and is almost in perfect balance at this stage; this was as good as any of the many bottles I`ve had and promises to evolve into an even more fine Pinot.
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4/30/2012 - AccaDacca wrote: 90 Points
Pleasant pinot, much better day 2 than day 1. Perhaps missing a bit of acidity, but ripe cherries and a distinct pinot nose. Would decant for a few others to open this wine up.
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4/14/2012 - Brsed wrote: 87 Points
At Goosefoot. Drank immediately after an Anthill and the ABC paled in comparison. Seemed very boring and monolithic. Very little acidity.
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1/19/2012 - la turque wrote: 94 Points
League of Gentlemen Tasting chez moi.
FIRST FLIGHT
2000 Silvio Grasso Barolo Ciabot Manzoni - Gorgeous, complex, great weight, sweet fruit, a beautiful wine -- 95 points
1999 Jadot Clos Vougeot - Pretty closed, both in its aroma and on the palate. Difficult to tell whether this will evolve. 90 points
1999 Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra - Very tight and young. A complete wine - give it 5 years. 93 points
2005 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir "Isabelle". Lush, deep, great fruit and balance. Drinking beautifully. 94 points
SECOND FLIGHT
1996 Fonsalette Cote du Rhone Cuvee Syrah - gorgeous, complex, evolved, deep, rich fruit. WOTN. 96 points
1991 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Le Greal - A little tight on the nose; a little closed on the palate. Lovely though. 92 points
2000 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque - Structured, tannic, great depth. Needs another 5 years. 93 points
2003 Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis - Big, jammy, rich, structured. Close contender for WOTN. 95 points.
PORT
Graham's Vintage Port 1994 - Sweet, vinous, needs more time. Try again in five years. 93 points
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10/1/2011 - The Count wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyed a magnum of this consistently excellent Pinot Noir. ABC quietly one of the best, year in, year out.
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9/25/2011 - stocksandbondage wrote: 88 Points
Good, but I was expecting a bit more given the producer. A bit thin, tart and lacking complexity
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8/15/2011 - Oh Dae-su wrote: 89 Points
Very fine structured Pinot. Not overpowered. Plenty of ripe fruit. More like dark berries and some cherries. Some hints of roasted nuts and light earth. Gentle and just fine. QPR Eeerrrrrr .... I don't know!
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8/2/2011 - chefpete wrote: 92 Points
After an hour of breathing this is wonderful.
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7/31/2011 - jupiter33 wrote: 92 Points
Really enjoyed this. Cranberry and orange peel nose. Smooth silky mouthfeel. No heat.
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4/23/2011 - la turque wrote: 93 Points
A gorgeous, sweet New World pinot. Good structure and acidity. Drinking now; will drink well for 5-6 years.
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2/16/2011 - chcook wrote: 90 Points
dark color. classic pinot with obvious heavy toast on barrels, pretty extracted but despite the alcohol maintained pleasant balance. more fruit than acid in this one, but the tannins keep it from seeming flabby. very drinkable now, but i expect that this has quite a lot of time ahead of it.
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12/20/2010 - stocksandbondage wrote: 92 Points
Similar notes to prior bottle. Terrific Pinot.
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5/29/2009 - stocksandbondage wrote: 93 Points
Great wine. Never a bad wine from ABC. This one took second place out of a field of high end Cali pinots Premier and Grand Cru Burgundies. Powerful nose and flavors. Big, refined tannins. Give it plenty of time.
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6/28/2008 - carlwhat wrote:
not a fan. over extracted pinot with astringent finish. i would wince every time i tasted this wine... wanted to like it, but did not.
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8/5/2007 - EMichels wrote: 88 Points
Wally's Central Coast Tasting: Good nose of ripe fruit; Good fruit; Medium depth; Medium length
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