Still fresh and complex with plum cassis and mineral notes. Perfect with Beef Wellington. Liked it better than the 2009. Great window drink up over the next three years.
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Not a right bank fan per se, but did enjoy this one. French merlot is just better than merlot grapes grown anywhere else in the world. Smooth, and easy to drink, maybe a tinge past the prime drinking window but enjoyable just the same. I have a couple more I’ll be quaffing soon!
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Violets, black and blue fruits and espresso on the nose. A concentrated, rich body with a soft, but definite structure. Very modern, California-like styling, but the Bordeaux pedigree is not at all hidden. In a great place right now, with gentle cedary tannins on the finish, just enough to hold up to filet mignon kebabs with a chimichurri garnish. Thinking 2008 is a somewhat underrated year for Bordeaux...
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In a perfect place right now. Carefully stored since release, this is a great example what can be done in average vintage by overachiever winemaker. Stunningly elegant, fresh fruit balances effortlessly tones of leather and dark berry. Soft and irresistible long palate. A modern version of Saint Emilion. Quite lovely!
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Last tasted this e win5 years ago and gave it the same score. Wine hasn't changed whatsoever. Very well balanced, with black and red berries, cassis, and plum. Enjoy for the next 3-5 years.
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Fully mature now, perhaps on downhill (?), so drink up! The soft elements are taking over and tannins are completely resolved. A modern version of mature Saint-Emilion.
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Lovely wine that is certainly in the wheel house today. Decanted first 45min. Lovely notes of tabbaco, saddle leather, and warm berry pie on the nose, the taste is a wonderful strawberry, mineral, earthy. This wine has grown on me. I have some 2009, 2010 but very pleasantly surprised how lovely the 2008 is drinking today. Enjoy
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Showing secondary notes of tobacco, wet earth, licorice and forest floor on the nose, the wine delivers a sense of minerality along with sweet, ripe, red fruits, soft textures and a touch of oak in the finish. You can drink this now, as it is in its prime-time drinking window.
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Vielä aika nuorekas 10-vuotiaana. Tumma kirsikka ja viileä yrttisyys nousee lasista. Aika hapokas ja täyteläinen, jälkimaku vähän bitterinen mutta kypsän marjaisa. Tanniinit tallella, sopivasti. Tammi on kepeää ja merlot'n tiivis tuoksuprofiili hallitsee kokonaisuutta. Jälkimaku on vähän lyhyt, mutta raikas ja tasapainoinen.
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Served with grilled NY strip and double decanted about an hour before serving. This is an excellent, moderately priced 2008 St. Emilion. Cassis, spice, and almost slight floral quality in the nose, with medium tannins with a slight bitterness, and excellent finish. This wine should modestly improve for a few years and be drinking well for 8-10 years.
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Didn't realize I had opened a bottle about 5yrs ago. This is drinking fine, if modern and a bit on the extracted side. This makes the terrior harder to recognize. Darker fruit profile with red fruit highlights, a bit of spice mixed in. Mocha and coffee on the finish. Polished and smooth, with fine rather soft tannins in the background, even at this young state. Drink or hold.
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Decanted. Appearance: dark, crimson at rim, bright. Nose: medium aroma intensity, sweet cedar, good fruit with some cassis, raspberry and cherry notes, vegetal, some graphite. Palate: tannins a bit grippy at first, medium weight, decent balance and a good finish. Developed nicely after 90 minutes. Very good
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Popped and poured. Nose of plums, cherries and other red and black fruits, including blackberries. Glides on the palate, with more towards black fruit. On its drinking plateau. No great hurry to drink up, but no reason to wait much longer either. A nice, modern style Bordeaux, a decent value at $31 EP.
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Alc: 14%; Deep, dense garnet. Classic bouquet dried earth, underbrush and tobacco. Bright blueberry fruit with blackcurrant leaf (noted Cab Franc) add further notes. Whilst the entry is rich, there is also a sour element and surprisingly energetic lemon acidity. This starts to feel integrated as the wine opened but seemed at odds on first taste. The mid-palate is earthy with lots of blackcurrant leaf, yet ripe fruits and fair density. Some toasty elements from the oak lead to sinewy, firm tannins that build slightly to a drying finish. Overall, the wine seems relatively closed. The fruit is still making its way to the core yet there is a good structure and building blocks for longer-term aging. I found there is a coarseness to the mid-palate, and the acidity is also on the sharper lifted side so perhaps a wine for the purists as hasn't the elegance and charm of 2005. The finish is fairly long with 99% lindt chocolate slightly morphing to a bitter earth and lemon note.
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Drank over two nights. First glass after about an hour of air and warm up time after removal from cellar. Deep purple, concentrated - a bit more fruit forward than the rather muted nose would have implied. Soft tannins, medium length finish. Decent wine for what I paid - no need to sit on these, drinking fine now.
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Popped and poured and enjoyed a few glasses. This remarkably similar to my last bottle almost three years ago. The '08 La Confession is a rich wine with good fruit and extraction without being over the top. This definitely leans modern and one might have a hard time distinguishing it from a classically styled California Bordeaux blend. The wine is wide open and plush and I'm not sure it will ever shut down. I'd say these are in the zone now with no danger of fading any time soon.
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Double-decanted at six and then drank through 12:30 AM. Dead typical St. Emilion Grand Cru. Taut on opening, but rounded out into form. I did not take specific notes.
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This was certainly pleasant enough for a bottle that we probably bought for something less than $30 on release. (Actually, it was remarkable for that money.) We drank it over three hours or so, and it continued improving - needed the first hour and a half, actually, even after a vigorous decant - and so I see no hurry to get into these. The fruit profile was solid, ripe, and typical right bank merlot/cab franc. Not as juicy and giving as a new world Merlot, but it wasn't supposed to be.
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Nose of black cherry fruit, plum, allspice, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, mouth filling, juicy fruit, and delicious, probably peak in 3 years, softer and less than the 2009 or 2010 tasted during the last 3 weeks, long, flavorful finish.
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Terroir-istes International - France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion (Groot Constantia): Mid to deep blood red. the bouquet has plenty of ripe fruit but also a hint of cardboard? cork? The palate shows better with rich, fleshy red fruits wrapping around the bones of a sturdy tannin structure. Generous alcohol there is a slight bitter cherry note along with a meaty, carrion element. However, overriding this is a furfurol charry oak note that, with the warm alcohol and pomace notes, distracts. Dries out in the glass showing its extracted nature.
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Obviously not ready yet, only shows its true self about an hour after uncorked. This wine is aging at a very slow pace, not a lot of changes since the last bottle about 22 months ago. Vibrant acidity, decent balance and new-worldish. Good QPR. Enjoyable as usual. (A-)
Nose of cassis, black fruit, oak with a hint of vanilla, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, touch simple, mouth filling and delicious, probably peak in 3 years, softer and less than the 2010 tasted at the same time today, long, flavorful finish.
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This could use another year in the cellar. Nice nose of red and black fruit. Palate a bit harsh, acidity sticking out a bit. I think it might be more harmonious in a year or two.
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Tasted @ big Bordeaux tasting in Zurich. Nice nose of dark fruit, sweet spices, dark chocolate and some roasted espresso/toasted oak kind of flavors. There is also a slight note of sur-maturité (over-ripeness) which is too bad, because it's kind of disturbing a little from the beauty of the wine. Medium-full bodied with medium acidity and medium tannin. Good length. It's lush and pretty modern and not exactly my cup of tea but a very well made St-Emilion and I'm sure a lot of people will like it.
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Rich and jammy. Picked up weight and tannin on day two. Dark fruits and cedar. I'd call this modern but not over the top. This is a good wine for the vintage and will drink well for at least ten years.
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I paid too much for this in Cavey's restaurant, but that's usually what happens at restaurants. Notes lacking, but we both liked this, and it plays above it's Wine Searcher $43 average. True Beautiful nose. Cab franc?
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Subtle nose, not as aromatic as last tasted about 10 months ago. Notes of wet earth, blackberry, vanilla, dark cherry, and dark chocolate. Sweet on entry with slightly dry mid-palate and slight heat at finish. Tannins seem to be more prominent than previous bottles. Medium bodied with decent length and structure, but it is not as lively as previous bottles. Shows better one hour after uncorked, softer tannins with toasty oak finish. 90-92 pts.
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Pop and pour. Color is rich and dark puple with medium to strong body with seductively dripping legs/tears. Nose of dark black fruit, expressions of cab franc, but not overly expressive. Palate shows some earth, bitter dark chocolate, black prune, spice, cherries, and vanilla cream. Some acidity on the rear palate and finish with good tannic strucure. Better than others suggest except Nutty08 and Jeff Leve with whom I agree. With their assessment I'm interested to see what happens in a couple of hours before dinner.
Ok, by dinner this wine was singing and well worth the modest investment. Will it shut down? I don't think so. There doesn't seem to be the tannic structure for aging beyond 5 years but very approachable now. As the night went on the cab franc notes began to express themselves more with the characteristic herbal notes associated with the grape. Smooth, silky with rich vanilla, cherries even more expressive along with rich chocolate nuances.
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Popped and poured at Chez Joel. This is a well made wine, with a lush mouthfeel, nice oak integration and fairly deep fruit flavors. Sort of an upper middleweight, with a fair amount of tannin in the mix. Went well with Coq au Vin. 90.
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Decanted 1 hour prior. Good nose, smell of raisin and butter. Tannins smooth and ready to drink. Not sure if it's going to improve more, but will keep for next 2-3 years.
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Had 3 bottles over the last one month with consistent notes. Great nose. Floral aroma from Cabernet Franc dominated at the moment. Still felt the "heat" from the alcohol now. Medium body but multi-layered. Would prefer slightly more fruit and tannin for the fresh acidity but overall very enjoyable experience especially consider one could still get it for a very good price.
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Curious about this producer, just wanted to check in. Decanted 4hrs and followed. Shy nose, but this is quite young. Shows some crushed blackberries, spice and wood. Palate quite smooth but fresh, with good concentration. Ripe fruits bordering on sweetness, leaning toward the darker side with currants and black berries, with with a distinct red fruit/cassis character. Finishes pretty strong and lively with mocha and dark berries. Very good in a lush concentrated soft style (little tannins after a 3hr decant), but markedly fresh and lively and I think it will age well for 5-10yrs. Not sure about longer. The cab franc did seem to reach appropriate ripeness here as there is really no herbal/greenness at all. QPR is fair but not exceptional.
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Dark ruby color. Medium nose of dark berries, soft spice, and notes of anise and chalk (the latter emerging during a two-hour decant). Flavor follows nose with mouth watering acidity front to back and broadly-structured yet moderate tannins in good balance. Also some smoke on the palate and light charcoal emerging on a med-long finish. Overall, somewhat of a light impression, reflecting the 34% cabernet franc in this merlot blend, which provides some food pairing options approaching the lighter end of the red wine scale, e.g., dilled grilled salmon.
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Nose: Cherries covered in dark chocolate, cocoa powder, cedar, gravel, plums. Palate: Currants and plums with a hint of anise on the attack. Drying tannins on the mid-palate, along with some puckering acidity and more currants. Palate is all dry at this point, with remnants of tart fruit lingering with some hints of graphite.
Excellent fruit weight and sweetness, to go along with greater tannins and acidity. This will improve tremendously, with the optimal window opening much later on... 5-7 years easily.
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Deep ruby in color, with lightening around the edges, licorice, black cherry, truffle, coffee and smoke aromas are easy to find. Soft, voluptuous textures and a sweet, candied, black cherry and plum liqueur finish distinguish the wine. It should drink well young.
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decanted four hours. Nose: green veggies, dry soil, and maybe a hint of licorice. Pretty true to the nose on the palate with mildly bitter tannins that could use a bit more time. Long, mouth-watering finish.
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Typical dark ruby/purple color, this wine has an enticing aroma. One taster said she'd wear it as perfume! Blackberry, plum, cocoa, a touch of a floral aspect backed up by good structure and balance. Drinkable now! but has years...
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08 Château La Confession could end up being better than their 2005. From limestone, clay, and sandy soils, the large amount of cabernet franc, 34%, with the rest merlot, makes a stylish, rich, complex wine. Licorice, black fruit, minerals, and oak bring on the perfume. Fleshy in the mouth, full bodied and filled with fruit, this complex wine finishes with a big load of ripe, round black fruits. 92-94 Pts
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12/17/2023 - df1962 wrote: 92 Points
PnD let air for 2hrs.
Still fresh and complex with plum cassis and mineral notes. Perfect with Beef Wellington. Liked it better than the 2009. Great window drink up over the next three years.
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12/12/2023 - Super zio wrote: 93 Points
👏👏👏👍
코르크가 부서져서 아소로 오픈
보관상태가 좋아서 그런지 맛이 너무 좋았음!
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9/4/2023 - Time traveller Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not a right bank fan per se, but did enjoy this one. French merlot is just better than merlot grapes grown anywhere else in the world. Smooth, and easy to drink, maybe a tinge past the prime drinking window but enjoyable just the same. I have a couple more I’ll be quaffing soon!
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4/29/2023 - dankgummy wrote: 90 Points
drink up
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2/10/2022 - Brett Pitt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Peak! Perfect after 2 h decant.
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11/5/2021 - Zoomin Z Likes this wine: 93 Points
Violets, black and blue fruits and espresso on the nose. A concentrated, rich body with a soft, but definite structure. Very modern, California-like styling, but the Bordeaux pedigree is not at all hidden. In a great place right now, with gentle cedary tannins on the finish, just enough to hold up to filet mignon kebabs with a chimichurri garnish. Thinking 2008 is a somewhat underrated year for Bordeaux...
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4/1/2021 - bordeauxman777 Likes this wine: 93 Points
In a perfect place right now. Carefully stored since release, this is a great example what can be done in average vintage by overachiever winemaker. Stunningly elegant, fresh fruit balances effortlessly tones of leather and dark berry. Soft and irresistible long palate. A modern version of Saint Emilion. Quite lovely!
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2/19/2021 - mike410 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last tasted this e win5 years ago and gave it the same score. Wine hasn't changed whatsoever. Very well balanced, with black and red berries, cassis, and plum. Enjoy for the next 3-5 years.
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8/9/2020 - bordeauxman777 wrote: 91 Points
Fully mature now, perhaps on downhill (?), so drink up! The soft elements are taking over and tannins are completely resolved. A modern version of mature Saint-Emilion.
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3/25/2020 - egoya Likes this wine: 92 Points
A fat hedonistic mature Saint Emilion - I always enjoy La Confession no matter what vintage. A very good remedy against Corona depression.
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1/11/2020 - Jeffrey Silver Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely wine that is certainly in the wheel house today. Decanted first 45min. Lovely notes of tabbaco, saddle leather, and warm berry pie on the nose, the taste is a wonderful strawberry, mineral, earthy. This wine has grown on me. I have some 2009, 2010 but very pleasantly surprised how lovely the 2008 is drinking today. Enjoy
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10/12/2019 - Grinner wrote: 92 Points
We're Not Serving Cali to Friends from Cali! (Chez Lyon in Eugene, OR): After a 2 hour decant this bottle was really on point. More black than red fruit, plum, mocha, spice and florals. Hints or earth and cigar. Nice length and texture made it a real crowd pleaser. Now -2024
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2/16/2019 - Liskit Likes this wine:
High alcohol, cooked sweet red and black fruits, juicy, some Va, spicy, over extraction?
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12/8/2018 - dafmd Likes this wine: 92 Points
DnP 55F; red berry sous bois on pour; ruby, camphor dark berry; medium body, nice spine of acidity, pleasant
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9/17/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Showing secondary notes of tobacco, wet earth, licorice and forest floor on the nose, the wine delivers a sense of minerality along with sweet, ripe, red fruits, soft textures and a touch of oak in the finish. You can drink this now, as it is in its prime-time drinking window.
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3/23/2018 - Ron Van Holland wrote: flawed
Corked, TCA. Musty nose, subdued fruit. Disappointing after ideal cellaring conditions since bottling.
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2/23/2018 - AJG91 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Vielä aika nuorekas 10-vuotiaana. Tumma kirsikka ja viileä yrttisyys nousee lasista. Aika hapokas ja täyteläinen, jälkimaku vähän bitterinen mutta kypsän marjaisa. Tanniinit tallella, sopivasti. Tammi on kepeää ja merlot'n tiivis tuoksuprofiili hallitsee kokonaisuutta. Jälkimaku on vähän lyhyt, mutta raikas ja tasapainoinen.
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2/2/2018 - Dr Root wrote: 85 Points
Not a good showing. Used coravin. Maybe a bad bottle? Had a plastic taste after decanting. Short finish. Quite disappointing. Will try again in a year
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9/17/2017 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Served with grilled NY strip and double decanted about an hour before serving. This is an excellent, moderately priced 2008 St. Emilion. Cassis, spice, and almost slight floral quality in the nose, with medium tannins with a slight bitterness, and excellent finish. This wine should modestly improve for a few years and be drinking well for 8-10 years.
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9/13/2017 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Didn't realize I had opened a bottle about 5yrs ago. This is drinking fine, if modern and a bit on the extracted side. This makes the terrior harder to recognize. Darker fruit profile with red fruit highlights, a bit of spice mixed in. Mocha and coffee on the finish. Polished and smooth, with fine rather soft tannins in the background, even at this young state. Drink or hold.
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7/3/2017 - BAJRiley Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted. Appearance: dark, crimson at rim, bright. Nose: medium aroma intensity, sweet cedar, good fruit with some cassis, raspberry and cherry notes, vegetal, some graphite. Palate: tannins a bit grippy at first, medium weight, decent balance and a good finish. Developed nicely after 90 minutes. Very good
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6/25/2017 - lewisrise wrote: 93 Points
Great value Bordeaux. Cab Franc really comes through. Great balance and acidity
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6/17/2017 - Ibetian wrote:
Popped and poured. Nose of plums, cherries and other red and black fruits, including blackberries. Glides on the palate, with more towards black fruit. On its drinking plateau. No great hurry to drink up, but no reason to wait much longer either. A nice, modern style Bordeaux, a decent value at $31 EP.
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4/16/2017 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 88 Points
Alc: 14%; Deep, dense garnet. Classic bouquet dried earth, underbrush and tobacco. Bright blueberry fruit with blackcurrant leaf (noted Cab Franc) add further notes.
Whilst the entry is rich, there is also a sour element and surprisingly energetic lemon acidity. This starts to feel integrated as the wine opened but seemed at odds on first taste.
The mid-palate is earthy with lots of blackcurrant leaf, yet ripe fruits and fair density. Some toasty elements from the oak lead to sinewy, firm tannins that build slightly to a drying finish.
Overall, the wine seems relatively closed. The fruit is still making its way to the core yet there is a good structure and building blocks for longer-term aging. I found there is a coarseness to the mid-palate, and the acidity is also on the sharper lifted side so perhaps a wine for the purists as hasn't the elegance and charm of 2005. The finish is fairly long with 99% lindt chocolate slightly morphing to a bitter earth and lemon note.
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4/12/2017 - Rangeldoug Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank over two nights. First glass after about an hour of air and warm up time after removal from cellar. Deep purple, concentrated - a bit more fruit forward than the rather muted nose would have implied. Soft tannins, medium length finish. Decent wine for what I paid - no need to sit on these, drinking fine now.
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1/19/2017 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine:
Popped and poured and enjoyed a few glasses. This remarkably similar to my last bottle almost three years ago. The '08 La Confession is a rich wine with good fruit and extraction without being over the top. This definitely leans modern and one might have a hard time distinguishing it from a classically styled California Bordeaux blend. The wine is wide open and plush and I'm not sure it will ever shut down. I'd say these are in the zone now with no danger of fading any time soon.
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12/5/2016 - Grapescape wrote: 92 Points
Soft tannins, long finish, a very enjoyable bottle.
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8/14/2016 - Ibetian wrote:
This needs another year or two.
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7/10/2016 - Ibetian wrote:
No detailed notes; much better than a bottle drunk two years ago, but still a bit tight. No great hurry, decanting would help.
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3/10/2016 - Phitz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Double-decanted at six and then drank through 12:30 AM. Dead typical St. Emilion Grand Cru. Taut on opening, but rounded out into form. I did not take specific notes.
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2/19/2016 - Phitz Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was certainly pleasant enough for a bottle that we probably bought for something less than $30 on release. (Actually, it was remarkable for that money.) We drank it over three hours or so, and it continued improving - needed the first hour and a half, actually, even after a vigorous decant - and so I see no hurry to get into these. The fruit profile was solid, ripe, and typical right bank merlot/cab franc. Not as juicy and giving as a new world Merlot, but it wasn't supposed to be.
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1/5/2016 - Tim Heaton wrote: flawed
light TCA
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7/25/2015 - mike410 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Well balanced fragrant wine. Loads of plum, cherries, and blackberry. Medium to long finish.
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1/21/2015 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of black cherry fruit, plum, allspice, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, mouth filling, juicy fruit, and delicious, probably peak in 3 years, softer and less than the 2009 or 2010 tasted during the last 3 weeks, long, flavorful finish.
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1/19/2015 - rikipedia wrote: 86 Points
Terroir-istes International - France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion (Groot Constantia): Mid to deep blood red. the bouquet has plenty of ripe fruit but also a hint of cardboard? cork?
The palate shows better with rich, fleshy red fruits wrapping around the bones of a sturdy tannin structure. Generous alcohol there is a slight bitter cherry note along with a meaty, carrion element. However, overriding this is a furfurol charry oak note that, with the warm alcohol and pomace notes, distracts. Dries out in the glass showing its extracted nature.
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1/15/2015 - pclin wrote: 91 Points
Obviously not ready yet, only shows its true self about an hour after uncorked. This wine is aging at a very slow pace, not a lot of changes since the last bottle about 22 months ago. Vibrant acidity, decent balance and new-worldish. Good QPR. Enjoyable as usual. (A-)
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1/10/2015 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of cassis, black fruit, oak with a hint of vanilla, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, touch simple, mouth filling and delicious, probably peak in 3 years, softer and less than the 2010 tasted at the same time today, long, flavorful finish.
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8/1/2014 - Ibetian wrote:
This could use another year in the cellar. Nice nose of red and black fruit. Palate a bit harsh, acidity sticking out a bit. I think it might be more harmonious in a year or two.
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5/15/2014 - NostraBacchus wrote: 89 Points
Tasted @ big Bordeaux tasting in Zurich. Nice nose of dark fruit, sweet spices, dark chocolate and some roasted espresso/toasted oak kind of flavors. There is also a slight note of sur-maturité (over-ripeness) which is too bad, because it's kind of disturbing a little from the beauty of the wine. Medium-full bodied with medium acidity and medium tannin. Good length. It's lush and pretty modern and not exactly my cup of tea but a very well made St-Emilion and I'm sure a lot of people will like it.
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3/12/2014 - EhrlichDY wrote: 90 Points
Rich and jammy. Picked up weight and tannin on day two. Dark fruits and cedar. I'd call this modern but not over the top. This is a good wine for the vintage and will drink well for at least ten years.
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1/18/2014 - BrunelloBob wrote: 90 Points
I paid too much for this in Cavey's restaurant, but that's usually what happens at restaurants. Notes lacking, but we both liked this, and it plays above it's Wine Searcher $43 average. True Beautiful nose. Cab franc?
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3/29/2013 - pclin wrote: 91 Points
Subtle nose, not as aromatic as last tasted about 10 months ago. Notes of wet earth, blackberry, vanilla, dark cherry, and dark chocolate. Sweet on entry with slightly dry mid-palate and slight heat at finish. Tannins seem to be more prominent than previous bottles. Medium bodied with decent length and structure, but it is not as lively as previous bottles. Shows better one hour after uncorked, softer tannins with toasty oak finish. 90-92 pts.
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11/17/2012 - BillyT wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Color is rich and dark puple with medium to strong body with seductively dripping legs/tears. Nose of dark black fruit, expressions of cab franc, but not overly expressive. Palate shows some earth, bitter dark chocolate, black prune, spice, cherries, and vanilla cream. Some acidity on the rear palate and finish with good tannic strucure. Better than others suggest except Nutty08 and Jeff Leve with whom I agree. With their assessment I'm interested to see what happens in a couple of hours before dinner.
Ok, by dinner this wine was singing and well worth the modest investment. Will it shut down? I don't think so. There doesn't seem to be the tannic structure for aging beyond 5 years but very approachable now. As the night went on the cab franc notes began to express themselves more with the characteristic herbal notes associated with the grape. Smooth, silky with rich vanilla, cherries even more expressive along with rich chocolate nuances.
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11/16/2012 - Vitispulmonus wrote: 88 Points
well made, nice wine. Not very big or complex
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10/7/2012 - jmull wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured at Chez Joel. This is a well made wine, with a lush mouthfeel, nice oak integration and fairly deep fruit flavors. Sort of an upper middleweight, with a fair amount of tannin in the mix. Went well with Coq au Vin. 90.
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8/29/2012 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 86 Points
Dusty, minerally, red currant, dry and astringent tannins. After open 24 hours, little change.
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7/18/2012 - wkphang wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 1 hour prior. Good nose, smell of raisin and butter.
Tannins smooth and ready to drink. Not sure if it's going to improve more, but will keep for next 2-3 years.
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5/19/2012 - pclin wrote: 92 Points
Had 3 bottles over the last one month with consistent notes. Great nose. Floral aroma from Cabernet Franc dominated at the moment. Still felt the "heat" from the alcohol now. Medium body but multi-layered. Would prefer slightly more fruit and tannin for the fresh acidity but overall very enjoyable experience especially consider one could still get it for a very good price.
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2/11/2012 - Nutty08 wrote: 91 Points
Curious about this producer, just wanted to check in. Decanted 4hrs and followed. Shy nose, but this is quite young. Shows some crushed blackberries, spice and wood. Palate quite smooth but fresh, with good concentration. Ripe fruits bordering on sweetness, leaning toward the darker side with currants and black berries, with with a distinct red fruit/cassis character. Finishes pretty strong and lively with mocha and dark berries. Very good in a lush concentrated soft style (little tannins after a 3hr decant), but markedly fresh and lively and I think it will age well for 5-10yrs. Not sure about longer. The cab franc did seem to reach appropriate ripeness here as there is really no herbal/greenness at all. QPR is fair but not exceptional.
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11/13/2011 - Ron Van Holland wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby color. Medium nose of dark berries, soft spice, and notes of anise and chalk (the latter emerging during a two-hour decant). Flavor follows nose with mouth watering acidity front to back and broadly-structured yet moderate tannins in good balance. Also some smoke on the palate and light charcoal emerging on a med-long finish. Overall, somewhat of a light impression, reflecting the 34% cabernet franc in this merlot blend, which provides some food pairing options approaching the lighter end of the red wine scale, e.g., dilled grilled salmon.
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11/5/2011 - gunpwdr wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Cherries covered in dark chocolate, cocoa powder, cedar, gravel, plums. Palate: Currants and plums with a hint of anise on the attack. Drying tannins on the mid-palate, along with some puckering acidity and more currants. Palate is all dry at this point, with remnants of tart fruit lingering with some hints of graphite.
Excellent fruit weight and sweetness, to go along with greater tannins and acidity. This will improve tremendously, with the optimal window opening much later on... 5-7 years easily.
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10/30/2011 - Wil78 wrote: 88 Points
decant 4 hrs. oaky. yet to reach its peak. strong smell of dark fruits. definitely value for money
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10/23/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby in color, with lightening around the edges, licorice, black cherry, truffle, coffee and smoke aromas are easy to find. Soft, voluptuous textures and a sweet, candied, black cherry and plum liqueur finish distinguish the wine. It should drink well young.
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10/8/2011 - Coollawyer wrote: 86 Points
Smells of oak. Fresh tasting, acidity is strong but integrated well with the tannins. Hint of honey at the end
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6/29/2011 - thomaslangberg wrote: 90 Points
Will improve with time. A bit to much of merlot fudge now.
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6/13/2011 - prof b Likes this wine: 90 Points
decanted four hours. Nose: green veggies, dry soil, and maybe a hint of licorice. Pretty true to the nose on the palate with mildly bitter tannins that could use a bit more time. Long, mouth-watering finish.
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6/7/2011 - Grinner wrote: 91 Points
Typical dark ruby/purple color, this wine has an enticing aroma. One taster said she'd wear it as perfume! Blackberry, plum, cocoa, a touch of a floral aspect backed up by good structure and balance. Drinkable now! but has years...
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5/12/2011 - 4iron wrote: 89 Points
good young bordeaux. faded fast after being open a few hours.
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7/1/2009 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
08 Château La Confession could end up being better than their 2005. From limestone, clay, and sandy soils, the large amount of cabernet franc, 34%, with the rest merlot, makes a stylish, rich, complex wine. Licorice, black fruit, minerals, and oak bring on the perfume. Fleshy in the mouth, full bodied and filled with fruit, this complex wine finishes with a big load of ripe, round black fruits. 92-94 Pts
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