I’m not a merlot man per se, but can enjoy a good french one now and then. This one’s pretty good and I have several more on hold cause they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon!
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I bought this on a whim recently because the price at auction was attractive. I've had mixed experiences with this wine, which has often been very much on the "Dark Side", with a lot of chocolate and mocha flavours, but which in the past (1998) has produced good bottles.
This was really quite a nice surprise. It is certainly quite thick and dense, but it is not without charm either, with a certain freshness that saves it from being too stodgy. The flavours are mostly blackcurrant and dark cherry, with a strong hint of citrus fruits on the finish.
I think the less than ideal vintage conditions did this a power of good.
No hurry for drinking up, this has several years left in the tank.
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30 min open, no decant, RT. Deep burgundy. Nose with green, sticks, blue/red fruit. Thinnish and lots of acid, no tannins except with finish which is actually long and pleasing.
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Mhmm! Opened and tasted and there is this chocolate pudding lingering on the tongue. Absolutely fascinating, how the wine developed from highly acidic to today’s complexity and sweetness.
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PNP - medium red color with slight meniscus and no apparent sediment. Tart cherry, red currants, black cherry & dirt on the nose. Palate flavor profile was similar to nose and the fruit is still pretty primary (red fruit dominant). Medium body, medium+ acids, medium tannins (noticeable on the long finish). 91+ Best of my six bottles. At peak but should be good for a few more years at least.
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Drank over 2 nights. Dark blackish red color. Tobacco, currants, earthy, & charcoal on nose. On palate, similar flavor profile. Medium body, medium+ acids, nice tannic grip and medium+ finish. Has improved from prior tastings. 90-91 Range. Good value and drinking well now.
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Cherries and other red fruit, wet wood, earth. Nice balance of the classic St Emilion ambiance. Sod and ready to drink ( it was decanted for about 30 minutes, which may have softened it)., Enjoy this wine over the next few years.
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Pop & pour. Tobacco, earthy, black cherry, cranberry on nose & palate. Medium body, still fairly tannic with medium to medium+ finish. 89+/- needs some time.
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wood, pencil box, not a lot of fruit, but a BIG wine. Has some tannins to work with a charbroiled lamb, and still a hint of alcohol on the finish, but this one will age. Cannot wait until next year when we try it again!
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Quite a nice showing for this at this point - some ripe fruit notes on the nose that are a little deceptive as the taste is still very young and a little tight. Aromatics of cranberry, pine forest and a hint of milk chocolate, medium body and good tension due to ample acidity. There are some tannins here that are not obvious at first but with a few hrs decant you get a fairly impressive complexity on the finish that bauds well for future development.There is good texture here and if it all comes together this could turn out to be an outstanding value. Certainly worth keeping and following.
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Couldn't resist and started with the first bottle. Still too young, doesn't have the depth. Acidity didn't come out as strong as some others noted. Next bottle will have to wait for 2 years.
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Fairly unremarkable, although solid. Decanted and drank over a few hours, and it just did not open up much. I feel like it might have more to show in a few years, and will hold on to the rest of the bottles I've got. Medium-bodied, well balanced but just not enough fruit for me at this point. Wait on this.
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Pretty nondescript. Unlike the other 2008 St. Emilion I've tried to date (Fleur Cardinale), this was at least oaked judiciously, and was not a disjointed wood stew. Somewhat simple nose of some berries, thyme, with floral notes. The palate is medium-bodied, dominated by cranberry flavors, with moderate tannin and a medium finish. Pleasant and decently made, but somewhat simple. Could flesh out some, but my hunch is this is an early drinker. So far, count me as one not terribly impressed with this vintage in Bordeaux.
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12/27/2023 - Time traveller Likes this wine:
I’m not a merlot man per se, but can enjoy a good french one now and then. This one’s pretty good and I have several more on hold cause they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon!
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1/3/2023 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 91 Points
I bought this on a whim recently because the price at auction was attractive. I've had mixed experiences with this wine, which has often been very much on the "Dark Side", with a lot of chocolate and mocha flavours, but which in the past (1998) has produced good bottles.
This was really quite a nice surprise. It is certainly quite thick and dense, but it is not without charm either, with a certain freshness that saves it from being too stodgy. The flavours are mostly blackcurrant and dark cherry, with a strong hint of citrus fruits on the finish.
I think the less than ideal vintage conditions did this a power of good.
No hurry for drinking up, this has several years left in the tank.
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8/21/2022 - chifred wrote: 87 Points
30 min open, no decant, RT. Deep burgundy. Nose with green, sticks, blue/red fruit. Thinnish and lots of acid, no tannins except with finish which is actually long and pleasing.
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7/7/2019 - pdwinter Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mhmm! Opened and tasted and there is this chocolate pudding lingering on the tongue. Absolutely fascinating, how the wine developed from highly acidic to today’s complexity and sweetness.
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5/13/2018 - CWilliam wrote: 91 Points
PNP - medium red color with slight meniscus and no apparent sediment. Tart cherry, red currants, black cherry & dirt on the nose. Palate flavor profile was similar to nose and the fruit is still pretty primary (red fruit dominant). Medium body, medium+ acids, medium tannins (noticeable on the long finish). 91+ Best of my six bottles. At peak but should be good for a few more years at least.
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2/5/2017 - Craig Hogan Likes this wine:
Outstanding
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12/19/2015 - pdwinter Likes this wine: 88 Points
A bit more acidic than I usually like, but fit perfectly the roasted chicken with lemon. but
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11/18/2015 - CWilliam wrote:
Consistent with my note from 4/2015. Paired well with herb crusted Filets. 91+
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4/19/2015 - CWilliam wrote:
Drank over 2 nights. Dark blackish red color. Tobacco, currants, earthy, & charcoal on nose. On palate, similar flavor profile. Medium body, medium+ acids, nice tannic grip and medium+ finish. Has improved from prior tastings. 90-91 Range. Good value and drinking well now.
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1/14/2015 - FredF Likes this wine: 89 Points
Cherries and other red fruit, wet wood, earth. Nice balance of the classic St Emilion ambiance. Sod and ready to drink ( it was decanted for about 30 minutes, which may have softened it)., Enjoy this wine over the next few years.
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4/9/2014 - no leashes wrote: 89 Points
Cassis, dark fruit, violets and mineral flavors, drinking nicely.
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1/27/2014 - FredF Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasting good over two days. Raspberries and cherries on nose. Cocoa and coffee and wood add a dimension. Still needs time to smooth out.
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6/24/2013 - CWilliam wrote:
Needs some time & better on day 2 - relatively consistent with note from 1/2013.
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4/27/2013 - comnsense wrote:
- Garnet color - Drank with a steak. nice nose. Earthy and fruity mix. Short finish. I seems a bit thin at finish and needs more age.
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1/12/2013 - CWilliam wrote: 89 Points
Pop & pour. Tobacco, earthy, black cherry, cranberry on nose & palate. Medium body, still fairly tannic with medium to medium+ finish. 89+/- needs some time.
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11/11/2012 - FredF wrote: 88 Points
Full bodied, red fruit, some earth. Beautiful color. Very nice Merlot
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5/5/2012 - FredF wrote: 89 Points
wood, pencil box, not a lot of fruit, but a BIG wine. Has some tannins to work with a charbroiled lamb, and still a hint of alcohol on the finish, but this one will age. Cannot wait until next year when we try it again!
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5/30/2011 - bon vivant wrote:
Quite a nice showing for this at this point - some ripe fruit notes on the nose that are a little deceptive as the taste is still very young and a little tight. Aromatics of cranberry, pine forest and a hint of milk chocolate, medium body and good tension due to ample acidity. There are some tannins here that are not obvious at first but with a few hrs decant you get a fairly impressive complexity on the finish that bauds well for future development.There is good texture here and if it all comes together this could turn out to be an outstanding value. Certainly worth keeping and following.
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5/7/2011 - pdwinter wrote:
Couldn't resist and started with the first bottle. Still too young, doesn't have the depth. Acidity didn't come out as strong as some others noted. Next bottle will have to wait for 2 years.
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3/19/2011 - ahettinga wrote: 88 Points
Fairly unremarkable, although solid. Decanted and drank over a few hours, and it just did not open up much. I feel like it might have more to show in a few years, and will hold on to the rest of the bottles I've got. Medium-bodied, well balanced but just not enough fruit for me at this point. Wait on this.
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3/6/2011 - scotty_b wrote: 90 Points
Rasberry, forest floor, cranberry and cocoa. Pretty acidic right now but good.
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2/16/2011 - PangurBan wrote: 90 Points
Black berries, currants, and a hint of wet earth. Nice balance of fruit, soft tannins and crisp acids.
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1/25/2011 - GrapeScott wrote: 87 Points
Pretty nondescript. Unlike the other 2008 St. Emilion I've tried to date (Fleur Cardinale), this was at least oaked judiciously, and was not a disjointed wood stew. Somewhat simple nose of some berries, thyme, with floral notes. The palate is medium-bodied, dominated by cranberry flavors, with moderate tannin and a medium finish. Pleasant and decently made, but somewhat simple. Could flesh out some, but my hunch is this is an early drinker. So far, count me as one not terribly impressed with this vintage in Bordeaux.
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