Very pleasant wine. No signs of age, nose opened up over an hour. Consumed at The Westerly in San Diego, went well with wild mushroom Risotto. Not a overly nuanced wine, just a solid Bordeaux from 2005. Quite enjoyable and a good value. Obtained on Wine Bid for $15.00 plus auction fees. Wish I had more. Based on this bottle there's no need to rush to consume however I doubt there's much room for improvement with further cellaring.
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Really strong value. Beautiful deep ruby color. Black fruit, black currant, tobacco and baking spice on the nose. Balanced acidity, alcohol and tannins well integrated. Overall excellent value as the 2005 vintage shines through.
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Nose black currant cedar mushroom and smoke. Palate slightly hot and menthol notes. Big fruit and tannins not fully resolved. Decent acid. Good value for sure.
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managed to not listen to my own note of wait a couple years on this and opened my last bottle of this with a flat iron steak from the local butcher. Similar notes but a touch more cohesive than before. honesty could have just been mood but a very nice bottle with an hour decant.
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Decanted for an hour-plus. This is still very primary. Nose is full of ripe, dark fruit: currant, plum, very ripe blackberry and some oaky spicy quality. Palate is dripping with more ripe fruit, slightly redder this time, with cherries and raspberries and a hint of mint with a strong streak of acidity followed by an equal-if-not-stronger streak of tannins. Blind I might have called it a slightly younger Cali Cab. It’s not a bad wine, but it’s just not quite dense enough and way too primary for my tastes.
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Impressive, especially for such a low pedigree wine. Plenty of life here, still vibrant. Impressive solid ruby color still. Fragrant nose has opened over several hours to reveal menthol, pretty red fruit, floral aromas, blood, and iron. Minerally fruit, tannins resolved, a little gritty, good grip but a bit ragged on the long finish. Quite a bargain, and shows that pedigree is a state of mind. 4-13-15-8: 90/100.
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lovely food wine. needs an hour of air to come together but after that it has a harmonious mix of leather, tobacco, darker berries, a touch of bell pepper, and wet earth. still the structure to go another 4-6 years if you want it to
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Lovely wine. Had some sediment at the bottom of the bottle/last pour. Fruit is still present as are the tannins. On the second day the fruit faded faster than the tannins and the nose retreated substantially. Does that mean it needs to be drunk sooner rather than later?
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Sweet dark spicy aromas of cigar box, blackberries, nutmeg, beautifully melded. Deep sweet salty fruit on the palate with a fine aromatic acid finish, a one-big-gulp experience rather than a finely articulated progression. A fine argument for letting those cru bourgeois bordeaux reach their maturity. A perfect match for mapo dofu.
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Excellent showing.... Harmonious, pretty fruit remaining, all integrated, clean (not the brett I previously noted). A touch soft at this point suggesting that now is the time to drink up
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Nose of roses, graphite and dark berries. Simple palate with a nice balance of fruit, tannin, and acid. A simple pleasing claret. 50 + 15 + 15 + 8 = 88.
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$19 estate-bottled Medoc has improved with more aging. Blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Mid-dark garnet; herbaceous, mint, cedar and terroir nose; mid-body; balanced; long, smooth, flavorful finish. w/marinated beef on the BBQ.
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Nose of graphite, black plum, lilacs. Nice dose of dark fruit on the palate with plenty of acid backing, a bit of tannic bite, well integrated. Uncomplicated, pleasing. 50 + 15 + 15 + 8 = 88.
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This is everything I love about Garagiste. Jon has found an amazing middling Medoc that's in perfect drinking window now and offers low alcohol, perfect balance, finesse and optimal food pairing. Just a delight with plenty of future ahead if you're lucky enough to have some in your cellar.
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totally different from the last bottle, this had none of the funk and weird off-putting aromas, but was instead a lean, classic bordeaux that felt like it was still a decade away from being ready to go. 2005 is definitely one of my favorite vintages, as even $20 bottles are offering fantastic drinking pleasure.
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Generous nose of blackberry, pencil lead, violets, oak on the nose. Furry tannins on the palate, with a solid fruit core, firm acid support. Portly, muscular, reassuring. 50 + 16 + 15 + 8 = 89.
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This is still monstrous for 11-1/2 years, even with decanting. Enjoyed over two days. Initially, the wonderful black fruit is completely dominated by oak, tannin, and acidity. It takes at least an hour in the decanter for the black fruit to start showing. Dry and tannic throughout.
On the second day this was much more approachable and showed very well with the wine showing a much better balance of fruit, tannin, and acidity. This appears to be built for the long haul. I would hold for another 2-3 years before trying again.
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Agree with WGMCCALLUM's TN here. Holding well for an 11 year old. Decanting is a must, and in general, this is a solid value and an interesting 11 year old exploration of a Haut Medoc.
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Cloudy garnet with bricking at the edges. Graphite, blackberry, musty cedar spice box on the nose. Light body, clear concentrated juice on the palate with a broad acid frame, aromatic after notes leading into a long acid finish. A very satisfying wine that brings a smile. 50 + 15 + 16 + 8.
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Bright red/purple, no bricking. Nose initially has alcohol (!) and herbs. Palate is relatively closed, but does show some herbs and spice along with a bit of red fruit. Medium tannin, should do well with meat. Needs time to open up.
Second glass is much more open. Currant, red plum, and limestone show up to balance things out.
Night two it's rather similar still. No significantly new flavours have emerged, but none have vanished either.
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Dark ruby. Forward nose redolent of blackberries and with a touch of graphite. Simple palate with a nice balance of clear juicy fruit and coffee-like tannins, with the light acids playing a supporting role. Concentrated but strictly balanced, not overly fruity or extracted. Great wine to have with a meal. 50 + 16 + 16 + 7.
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Opened this wine five hours before I started drinking it...Wonderful wine for the price. Tastes very young. The fruit and flavor profile is really wonderful. The wine could easily last another five years, but why wait? Also, and this won't surprise anyone, but this wine tastes great with red meat.
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I really liked this more for what it was not than what it might have been. This is a clean clear, high flying bordeaux the cabernet sauvignon and merlot created a beautiful tension, but it was the Cab Franc that created the alive, high wire act. It was elegant like a ballet dancer, not at all ponderous or pedantic. I had seared hanger steak and arugula and this wine played with he spicy arugula and cut the red meat. I kept saying, in each bottle there is a story, so much to learn. Another winner.
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PnP. Drank over two days, definitely better on day 2 than in day 1. Requires a long decant, plenty of air, and hearty food. Still maintaining its tannic grip and showing considerable oak. Once it has time to settle, and open, there's plenty of black and red fruit. Dry and a bit austere with a long finish. Additional cells ring will help.
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I've had an epiphany: food wines are different from "serious" wines. This is just a great food wine, nice oaky nose and great acid on the palate with a solid base of tannins and a nice dose of fruit. Food wines are like comfort food. 50 + 15 + 15 + 8.
Tannic, balanced, cassis, hints of mineral, sufficient herbs after getting some air, and overall a tasty wine. Nice effort and good value at the Garagiste price.
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Popped and poured. Obvious brett. Otherwise the wine is showing only non-fruit characters with nice structural balance. This is a food must wine and I'll take care to aerate future bottles.
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Dark ruby. Classic nose of blackberry and cedar. Penetrating fruit on the palate with firm tannin support, crisp acid frame. Long solid finish. Just a very nice satisfying Bordeaux. 50 + 15 + 15 + 8.
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Dark ruby. Wet dog, forest floor, canned olives, some spice on the nose. Core of black fruit with notes of cedar, some acids, bitter chicory finish. 50 + 12 + 14 + 5 = 81. Going to hold this one for a day. Maybe it is just corked. Second night: hangs together much better, but it is still a little corked, so I'm not going to rate.
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Dark fruit on a medium bodied framework. Lots of round tannins and good acidity, a hint of green in the finish. This is pretty straight forward but none the less very nice with our meal. Ready now.
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Great vintage, solid wine, fantastic QPR in the low $20's. Short decant. Aromatic nose, approachable, nice mix of red and black fruit. Vibrant mouthfeel and a decent finish. One of the better 2005's I've had to date in what seems to me to be an overhyped vintage. I'd buy again.
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Surprisingly youthful with good balance, mild tannin, vanilla and full vegetal dark fruits. Could live a few more years still, and might blow off some more oak and get better.
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Held up well over the 8 or so hours it was open. Palate initially had some funky spoiled vegetal flavors, but they blew off. Another 3-5 years before peak, I think, but I don't know that it has the legs to go much further than that.
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5/26/2022 - ken@ampy.com wrote: 91 Points
Very pleasant wine. No signs of age, nose opened up over an hour. Consumed at The Westerly in San Diego, went well with wild mushroom Risotto. Not a overly nuanced wine, just a solid Bordeaux from 2005. Quite enjoyable and a good value. Obtained on Wine Bid for $15.00 plus auction fees. Wish I had more. Based on this bottle there's no need to rush to consume however I doubt there's much room for improvement with further cellaring.
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1/16/2022 - jdemeter wrote: flawed
Over Oxidized. Flat and low flavor.
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4/14/2021 - WittOnWine Likes this wine: 89 Points
Really strong value. Beautiful deep ruby color. Black fruit, black currant, tobacco and baking spice on the nose. Balanced acidity, alcohol and tannins well integrated. Overall excellent value as the 2005 vintage shines through.
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10/12/2020 - lake.vino Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nose black currant cedar mushroom and smoke. Palate slightly hot and menthol notes. Big fruit and tannins not fully resolved. Decent acid. Good value for sure.
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7/18/2020 - tunaguy Likes this wine: 89 Points
managed to not listen to my own note of wait a couple years on this and opened my last bottle of this with a flat iron steak from the local butcher. Similar notes but a touch more cohesive than before. honesty could have just been mood but a very nice bottle with an hour decant.
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4/24/2020 - mattym19 wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for an hour-plus. This is still very primary. Nose is full of ripe, dark fruit: currant, plum, very ripe blackberry and some oaky spicy quality. Palate is dripping with more ripe fruit, slightly redder this time, with cherries and raspberries and a hint of mint with a strong streak of acidity followed by an equal-if-not-stronger streak of tannins. Blind I might have called it a slightly younger Cali Cab. It’s not a bad wine, but it’s just not quite dense enough and way too primary for my tastes.
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4/9/2020 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Impressive, especially for such a low pedigree wine. Plenty of life here, still vibrant. Impressive solid ruby color still. Fragrant nose has opened over several hours to reveal menthol, pretty red fruit, floral aromas, blood, and iron. Minerally fruit, tannins resolved, a little gritty, good grip but a bit ragged on the long finish. Quite a bargain, and shows that pedigree is a state of mind. 4-13-15-8: 90/100.
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4/3/2020 - tunaguy Likes this wine: 88 Points
consistent with previous bottle. Think I will hold last bottle for a couple years
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1/6/2020 - tunaguy Likes this wine: 88 Points
lovely food wine. needs an hour of air to come together but after that it has a harmonious mix of leather, tobacco, darker berries, a touch of bell pepper, and wet earth. still the structure to go another 4-6 years if you want it to
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12/15/2019 - Snowey Likes this wine:
Lovely wine. Had some sediment at the bottom of the bottle/last pour. Fruit is still present as are the tannins. On the second day the fruit faded faster than the tannins and the nose retreated substantially.
Does that mean it needs to be drunk sooner rather than later?
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8/19/2019 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sweet dark spicy aromas of cigar box, blackberries, nutmeg, beautifully melded. Deep sweet salty fruit on the palate with a fine aromatic acid finish, a one-big-gulp experience rather than a finely articulated progression. A fine argument for letting those cru bourgeois bordeaux reach their maturity. A perfect match for mapo dofu.
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5/1/2019 - brinko99 wrote: 89 Points
Excellent showing.... Harmonious, pretty fruit remaining, all integrated, clean (not the brett I previously noted). A touch soft at this point suggesting that now is the time to drink up
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12/7/2018 - wgmccallum wrote: 88 Points
Nose of roses, graphite and dark berries. Simple palate with a nice balance of fruit, tannin, and acid. A simple pleasing claret. 50 + 15 + 15 + 8 = 88.
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11/18/2018 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 90 Points
$19 estate-bottled Medoc has improved with more aging. Blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Mid-dark garnet; herbaceous, mint, cedar and terroir nose; mid-body; balanced; long, smooth, flavorful finish. w/marinated beef on the BBQ.
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10/20/2018 - wgmccallum wrote: 88 Points
Nose of graphite, black plum, lilacs. Nice dose of dark fruit on the palate with plenty of acid backing, a bit of tannic bite, well integrated. Uncomplicated, pleasing. 50 + 15 + 15 + 8 = 88.
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9/1/2018 - redz wrote: 91 Points
continues to improve, still austere, moderate tannins, needs a few hours decant, young
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8/11/2018 - fmginc Likes this wine: 89 Points
wonderful flavor deep & rich
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1/13/2018 - 2caveman Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is everything I love about Garagiste. Jon has found an amazing middling Medoc that's in perfect drinking window now and offers low alcohol, perfect balance, finesse and optimal food pairing. Just a delight with plenty of future ahead if you're lucky enough to have some in your cellar.
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1/12/2018 - redz wrote: 90 Points
only getting better, classic medoc flavors after 2 hr decant.
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1/8/2018 - mtaczak wrote: 90 Points
totally different from the last bottle, this had none of the funk and weird off-putting aromas, but was instead a lean, classic bordeaux that felt like it was still a decade away from being ready to go. 2005 is definitely one of my favorite vintages, as even $20 bottles are offering fantastic drinking pleasure.
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6/11/2017 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 89 Points
Generous nose of blackberry, pencil lead, violets, oak on the nose. Furry tannins on the palate, with a solid fruit core, firm acid support. Portly, muscular, reassuring. 50 + 16 + 15 + 8 = 89.
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6/4/2017 - wmccone54 wrote: 89 Points
This is still monstrous for 11-1/2 years, even with decanting. Enjoyed over two days. Initially, the wonderful black fruit is completely dominated by oak, tannin, and acidity. It takes at least an hour in the decanter for the black fruit to start showing. Dry and tannic throughout.
On the second day this was much more approachable and showed very well with the wine showing a much better balance of fruit, tannin, and acidity. This appears to be built for the long haul. I would hold for another 2-3 years before trying again.
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5/8/2017 - redz wrote: 89 Points
I didn't read my own note from last year, should have decanted. Tannic, opening up to dark fruit.
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9/27/2016 - Aparritz Likes this wine: 89 Points
Agree with WGMCCALLUM's TN here. Holding well for an 11 year old. Decanting is a must, and in general, this is a solid value and an interesting 11 year old exploration of a Haut Medoc.
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9/14/2016 - redz wrote: 90 Points
drinking well, decant helpful, no barnyard
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6/19/2016 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 89 Points
Cloudy garnet with bricking at the edges. Graphite, blackberry, musty cedar spice box on the nose. Light body, clear concentrated juice on the palate with a broad acid frame, aromatic after notes leading into a long acid finish. A very satisfying wine that brings a smile. 50 + 15 + 16 + 8.
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4/3/2016 - klezman wrote:
Bright red/purple, no bricking. Nose initially has alcohol (!) and herbs. Palate is relatively closed, but does show some herbs and spice along with a bit of red fruit. Medium tannin, should do well with meat. Needs time to open up.
Second glass is much more open. Currant, red plum, and limestone show up to balance things out.
Night two it's rather similar still. No significantly new flavours have emerged, but none have vanished either.
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3/29/2016 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark ruby. Forward nose redolent of blackberries and with a touch of graphite. Simple palate with a nice balance of clear juicy fruit and coffee-like tannins, with the light acids playing a supporting role. Concentrated but strictly balanced, not overly fruity or extracted. Great wine to have with a meal. 50 + 16 + 16 + 7.
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2/12/2016 - VinoServant wrote: 91 Points
Opened this wine five hours before I started drinking it...Wonderful wine for the price. Tastes very young. The fruit and flavor profile is really wonderful. The wine could easily last another five years, but why wait? Also, and this won't surprise anyone, but this wine tastes great with red meat.
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2/6/2016 - miadelt Likes this wine: 92 Points
1 hour decant. Very solid bordeaux. Med to full bodied, tannins are mellow, drinking great now.
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1/27/2016 - cohnwine Likes this wine:
Pure & noble Bordeaux, sans spoof.
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1/24/2016 - wine_will wrote: 89 Points
Light tannins, muted nose. Some pepper and earth. Not much in terms of fruit.
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10/30/2015 - Ideasthatstick Likes this wine:
I really liked this more for what it was not than what it might have been. This is a clean clear, high flying bordeaux the cabernet sauvignon and merlot created a beautiful tension, but it was the Cab Franc that created the alive, high wire act. It was elegant like a ballet dancer, not at all ponderous or pedantic. I had seared hanger steak and arugula and this wine played with he spicy arugula and cut the red meat. I kept saying, in each bottle there is a story, so much to learn. Another winner.
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10/19/2015 - wgmccallum wrote: flawed
corked
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10/8/2015 - wmccone54 wrote: 89 Points
PnP. Drank over two days, definitely better on day 2 than in day 1. Requires a long decant, plenty of air, and hearty food. Still maintaining its tannic grip and showing considerable oak. Once it has time to settle, and open, there's plenty of black and red fruit. Dry and a bit austere with a long finish. Additional cells ring will help.
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8/26/2015 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 88 Points
I've had an epiphany: food wines are different from "serious" wines. This is just a great food wine, nice oaky nose and great acid on the palate with a solid base of tannins and a nice dose of fruit. Food wines are like comfort food. 50 + 15 + 15 + 8.
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7/22/2015 - klezman wrote:
Tannic, balanced, cassis, hints of mineral, sufficient herbs after getting some air, and overall a tasty wine. Nice effort and good value at the Garagiste price.
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5/25/2015 - Cadby Likes this wine: 90 Points
2005 Chateau Vieux Robin +++ $20
Indisputable Garagiste $20 aged Medoc bargain...Needs air.
http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2015/05/2005-chateau-vieux-robin-20.html
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3/12/2015 - brinko99 wrote: 87 Points
Popped and poured. Obvious brett. Otherwise the wine is showing only non-fruit characters with nice structural balance. This is a food must wine and I'll take care to aerate future bottles.
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3/3/2015 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark ruby. Classic nose of blackberry and cedar. Penetrating fruit on the palate with firm tannin support, crisp acid frame. Long solid finish. Just a very nice satisfying Bordeaux. 50 + 15 + 15 + 8.
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1/30/2015 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 88 Points
Mid-dark garnet; herbaceous, mint, wood, tar nose; mid-body; tight tannins; decent flavor; berries and jam. w/stew
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1/2/2015 - wgmccallum wrote: flawed
Dark ruby. Wet dog, forest floor, canned olives, some spice on the nose. Core of black fruit with notes of cedar, some acids, bitter chicory finish. 50 + 12 + 14 + 5 = 81. Going to hold this one for a day. Maybe it is just corked. Second night: hangs together much better, but it is still a little corked, so I'm not going to rate.
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12/29/2014 - krmcgrath wrote: 89 Points
Dark fruit on a medium bodied framework. Lots of round tannins and good acidity, a hint of green in the finish. This is pretty straight forward but none the less very nice with our meal. Ready now.
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12/11/2014 - wmccone54 wrote: 89 Points
Great vintage, solid wine, fantastic QPR in the low $20's. Short decant. Aromatic nose, approachable, nice mix of red and black fruit. Vibrant mouthfeel and a decent finish. One of the better 2005's I've had to date in what seems to me to be an overhyped vintage. I'd buy again.
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11/5/2014 - joekroe Likes this wine: 89 Points
Surprisingly youthful with good balance, mild tannin, vanilla and full vegetal dark fruits. Could live a few more years still, and might blow off some more oak and get better.
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6/5/2014 - mtaczak wrote:
Held up well over the 8 or so hours it was open. Palate initially had some funky spoiled vegetal flavors, but they blew off. Another 3-5 years before peak, I think, but I don't know that it has the legs to go much further than that.
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