Interesting wine. Nose is super with wild berries and herbs - classic, rustic and authentic. Where things go a bit off is on the palate. Loads of tannin fight with the juicy up front fruit. Question I have is does the wine have enough depth to come into balance. Maybe I am being a bit picky - I’ve drunk a bunch of perfectly balanced wines recently. This is a bruiser - I have lingering doubts on the depth - there may be something superficial going on. But maybe I am being too critical. Just enjoy. I will hold until 2030 for remaining bottles. (88?)
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Couleur rouge sang de boeuf très dense. Carafé environ deux heures, peu de lie écarté. Nez ouvert, anis, réglisse, mûre cuite, vieux cuir. En bouche, les tanins sont fondus mais la structure est solide, dégusté dans une belle fenêtre, le fruit est toujours perceptible en bel équilibre avec des notes tertiaires de boeuf fumé sucré. Bonne persistance et très bel accord avec le steak de loup-marin.
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This is a deep coloured wine with flavours of licorice, smoke and ironstone. Very tannic but soft at the same time. Feels like lots of life left in it.
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Brought to a dinner; did not decant but bottle sat open for approximately 60 minutes before we got to it. Tasted along side an 11. Farily floral with dried red/black fruits. Compared to the 11, this was soft and integrated where the 11 was still quite tannic. In a very nice place.
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rose petals and dried flower bouquet, luscious plum, dried blackberries, stony soil and mineral on the finish, this is earthy, masculine, rustic, very French, very Bandol, seamless and does well at the table with food
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Spiced stonefruit, cedarbox, and a surprising alcohol-burn gives way to a pleasant, but somewhat flabby finish. The attack and midrange is wonderful, the finish a bit disappointing, but overall the flavors are near perfect for my palate. Would certainly purchase again for the price.
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This is an instance when in my view the Spectator nailed it - a floral nose with rich dark plum and kirsch flavors and a plush mouthfeel and spicy Mediterranean finish.
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Mild aromas of blackberry, earth, with some spice. The flavors were of moderate intensity, smooth, and the acid and tannins were balanced, and didn't show 15% ABV. The finish was surprisingly long, with minimal complexity. This wine paired amazingly well with a turkey meatloaf with brown rice and mushrooms.
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Muted plummy nose with some provencal herbs and olives. Tastewise we get surprisingly weak tannins, soft acids, moderate definition and too much alcoholic sweetness (15%). There's a disturbing lack of grip and bite, it doesn't stand up to our charcoal-grilled hamburgers like its competitor (2008 Aurora Barricadiero Marche IGT). No heat on the finish - at least not when served around 16 degrees - but unbalanced anyway because of the sweetness. Heard a lot good things about this Bandol from reliable sources, therefore a major disappointment. Judging by the nose it seems to be going through a closed phase at the moment.
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Had the 2005 two days earlier and like that this is just too tight to tell much. This one actually seems maybe a little more rustic than the 2005, but that could be age-related. I got more meatiness than fruits in this one compared to the 2005. Tannins still rough. Good finish. I'd say lay it down for a decade. A Kermit Lynch import.
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9/8/2023 - Harriscrj wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful aged Bandol. Medium body with long finish. Bright red fruit with toasty forest floor.
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9/1/2023 - dbkitc wrote: 88 Points
Interesting wine. Nose is super with wild berries and herbs - classic, rustic and authentic. Where things go a bit off is on the palate. Loads of tannin fight with the juicy up front fruit. Question I have is does the wine have enough depth to come into balance. Maybe I am being a bit picky - I’ve drunk a bunch of perfectly balanced wines recently. This is a bruiser - I have lingering doubts on the depth - there may be something superficial going on. But maybe I am being too critical. Just enjoy. I will hold until 2030 for remaining bottles. (88?)
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11/18/2018 - YoRi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Couleur rouge sang de boeuf très dense. Carafé environ deux heures, peu de lie écarté.
Nez ouvert, anis, réglisse, mûre cuite, vieux cuir.
En bouche, les tanins sont fondus mais la structure est solide, dégusté dans une belle fenêtre, le fruit est toujours perceptible en bel équilibre avec des notes tertiaires de boeuf fumé sucré. Bonne persistance et très bel accord avec le steak de loup-marin.
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10/21/2016 - cerobo Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a deep coloured wine with flavours of licorice, smoke and ironstone. Very tannic but soft at the same time. Feels like lots of life left in it.
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1/22/2016 - bboy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Last bottle again. Will I find more?
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6/5/2015 - bboy Likes this wine: 92 Points
excellent
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3/1/2015 - FrancoisC Likes this wine: 90 Points
Au visuel, au nez et en bouche, on a affaire à un vin costaud. Cerise à l'eau de vie, cèdre, cuir. Très long. Meilleur avec la viande.
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2/21/2015 - bboy Likes this wine: 92 Points
wow, this baby gonna go well with the lamb tonight
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2/15/2015 - Bellissimo wrote:
Brought to a dinner; did not decant but bottle sat open for approximately 60 minutes before we got to it. Tasted along side an 11. Farily floral with dried red/black fruits. Compared to the 11, this was soft and integrated where the 11 was still quite tannic. In a very nice place.
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12/5/2014 - bboy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Got some more of this favourite. Peaking now. Drinking beautifully
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1/27/2014 - whits wrote: 88 Points
rose petals and dried flower bouquet, luscious plum, dried blackberries, stony soil and mineral on the finish, this is earthy, masculine, rustic, very French, very Bandol, seamless and does well at the table with food
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11/5/2012 - JayPKay wrote: 90 Points
Spiced stonefruit, cedarbox, and a surprising alcohol-burn gives way to a pleasant, but somewhat flabby finish. The attack and midrange is wonderful, the finish a bit disappointing, but overall the flavors are near perfect for my palate. Would certainly purchase again for the price.
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5/24/2012 - pgb67 wrote: 91 Points
This is an instance when in my view the Spectator nailed it - a floral nose with rich dark plum and kirsch flavors and a plush mouthfeel and spicy Mediterranean finish.
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4/15/2012 - GoBlue2002 wrote: 89 Points
Mild aromas of blackberry, earth, with some spice. The flavors were of moderate intensity, smooth, and the acid and tannins were balanced, and didn't show 15% ABV. The finish was surprisingly long, with minimal complexity. This wine paired amazingly well with a turkey meatloaf with brown rice and mushrooms.
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4/12/2012 - Finare Vinare wrote: 87 Points
Muted plummy nose with some provencal herbs and olives. Tastewise we get surprisingly weak tannins, soft acids, moderate definition and too much alcoholic sweetness (15%). There's a disturbing lack of grip and bite, it doesn't stand up to our charcoal-grilled hamburgers like its competitor (2008 Aurora Barricadiero Marche IGT). No heat on the finish - at least not when served around 16 degrees - but unbalanced anyway because of the sweetness. Heard a lot good things about this Bandol from reliable sources, therefore a major disappointment. Judging by the nose it seems to be going through a closed phase at the moment.
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7/15/2011 - bboy wrote: 92 Points
Licorice and herbs and more. Last bottle of a great Bandol.
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7/5/2011 - brubron wrote:
Such a nice wine. Even fruit, earth, silky tannins, yum. Breath it a bit -- let it unfold.
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3/25/2011 - bboy wrote: 92 Points
Today it was fab, deep dark, animal, tannins firm but on my side. Rustic as someone said, that is so true.
Will buy more of this Bandol producer
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7/17/2009 - stevetimko wrote:
Had the 2005 two days earlier and like that this is just too tight to tell much. This one actually seems maybe a little more rustic than the 2005, but that could be age-related. I got more meatiness than fruits in this one compared to the 2005. Tannins still rough. Good finish. I'd say lay it down for a decade. A Kermit Lynch import.
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