I was pleasantly surprised by this wine. Day 1 was a dollop of red fruit and well balanced and integrated tannins. Day 2 was more classic aged Bordeaux with some cedar notes, complex fruit undertones, wonderful balance and a smooth medium finish. Day 3 was on the down side with the fruit pretty well gone, the complex tannins starting to become monolithic and the finish a bit harsh. Great QPR.
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Soft on tannins, probably at the end of the drinking window, but smooth and silky. Lot of cherry and licorice. A little sediment tho, so decanting is a good call.
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Solid claret, my last bottle. While the tannins have softened this still tastes young. Red berry fruit, a touch inky. Nowhere near fully mature. This is a vintage to hold.
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Concentrated, pitch-black nose of ink powder, blackberry, and plum. Palate matches the nose, showing concentrated flavours of squid ink, blackberry juice, and plum. Hints of cranberry and bay leaf are hiding behind all the blackness. The mouthfeel is dominated by powerful acidity; tannins initially seem to have gone missing, but there is a dry, tannic finish. Although the mouthfeel is thin, there's enough acid and tannin to cut through a tough beef dish. This is quite enjoyable, and far more interesting than the 2006 I had a few days ago.
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Nicely mature. Bright red fruit, tight acid, fine firm tannins that have resolved into the fruit. This is less modern than I expected. Good herbal component. The fruit is starting to dry up so it's probably time to start drinking these. B/B-
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Big, expressive blackcurranty nose - ripe and modern. Flavour is still quite inky and youthful. Lots of cassis but tannins, while softer than they were 4 years ago are still present. Needs another 3-5 years yet.
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PnP at party for D&D. This was drinking very nicely, and the Bordeaux fans in the group really enjoyed it. Drank alongside a Turnbull 04 Napa Cab, which I preferred, but this was very enjoyable too. Solid core of fruit with nice tobacco and slight cedar notes. In nice balance, and fairly smooth to drink. Don't imagine this will get much better. Last bottle.
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Nice red fruit nose when opened. rich cherry/raspberry flavors followed by slate/tar, long finish. I then let it stand for a couple of hours, and it actually seemed less intense, less ready to drink. Nonetheless, it was very good with cheese and bread. But I'm still a bit puzzled about how to approach this wine the next time.
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Best bottle so far though still a few years away from maturity. Gorgeous blackcurrant nose on decanting though it fades a bit as the wine opens up. First signs of cassis in the flavour - classed growth quality but after an hour it becomes a bit inky and closed. The tannins show at 2 hours though less fierce than in previous bottles. Leave it for a couple more years before trying another.
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Still holding up well. Drank over 3 hours and it gradually opened up. 6th bottle of the case, and progressing as I had hoped. Drank with Stacy on Proposal night. Made braised short ribs.
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Very little development since I last had this 18 months ago. Blueberries all the way on opening though it faded to more muted red fruits on the nose after a hour in the decanter. Still very young looking, softened a little after 2 hours - juicy fruits, modern and lush. Needs another 5 years at least to develop any secondary characteristics. Tannins seemed to have softened a little on last time perhaps.
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Fruit, chocolate nose...nice structure, lots of midpalate fruit. A bit too much tannin on the end...but a couple of years should help that. Wonderful silky mouthfeel. Best $25 Bordeaux i've had...and it should improve
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Starting to soften a little though still a fair bit of tannin showing. In a modern style but nothing much wrong with that in this class of Bordeaux. Lots of ripe black cherries showing. Good structure and persistence of flavour. Should start to be ready in a couple more years. Good wine.
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Very interesting. Day one, showed almost nothing. Very shut down. Day two, same. Day three. Finally! Dense fruit, tobacco, spice and herb, lovely grip and finish. This this will be ready in about 15 years at this rate. Either that, or decant it 24 hours before pouring.
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initially the nose on this was very promising. Slow oxygenated for 6 hours before serving. At first, compelling tanins, bell pepper notes, chocolate, spice and fruit. As it opened, however, it seemed to lose its structure and become more flabby. Perhaps it got a bit too warm, but only a good, not great, showing.
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My first taste of this. A fruity nose smelling distinctly of blueberries. Some of that in the flavour too. Ripe and soft fruit - very modern Bordeaux - though a little closed still (the 2002 is better at the moment) - give it a couple more years. The only downside is that there is a boatload of tannin here and I don't think they will all meld in. Still, for the price and the modest location this is impressive.
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This bottle is drinking amazing right now! We had it about an hour after opening (no decanting), and paired perfect with steak. The cherry fruit was still bright and great full body.
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The wine is absolutely black in the glass. It gives off the sents of dark cherries and chocolate. The first sip just filles the mouth with the fruit and the tannins coat the mouth but are well integrated and provide the right amount of grip to the finish. As it sat in the glass during dinner it opened up more and became quite a lovely drink that has the great balance of tannins, acids and fruit which marks the 2000 vintage. This wine will improve over the next 5 yrs or so and I am in no hurry to drink it. 3/3/05 Drank another bottle before dinner with guests. As above the wine was black and had about 45 min to airate before pouring. Our guests noticed the chocolate right away and it was easy to taste the cab sav in the wine. Fun to see the 2000 small wines open up. This is why I like bordeaux's.
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4/23/2020 - Rick & Ilsa wrote: flawed
Looked youthful with no orange or bricking in the glass, still some structure and tannins left, unfortunately the fruit is completely gone. No score.
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3/30/2018 - Ocean676 Likes this wine: 90 Points
I was pleasantly surprised by this wine. Day 1 was a dollop of red fruit and well balanced and integrated tannins. Day 2 was more classic aged Bordeaux with some cedar notes, complex fruit undertones, wonderful balance and a smooth medium finish. Day 3 was on the down side with the fruit pretty well gone, the complex tannins starting to become monolithic and the finish a bit harsh. Great QPR.
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3/24/2017 - redz wrote: flawed
done
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3/11/2017 - mdefreitas wrote: 80 Points
Pretty uninteresting and even a bit boring. Lots of vanilla and tar, but can't get any fruit here. Meh...
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3/25/2015 - Baylorwine wrote: 91 Points
I think this is the last of the case. Had a great run the last 10+ years. Wished I had taken notes!
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10/24/2014 - Msquared Likes this wine:
Soft on tannins, probably at the end of the drinking window, but smooth and silky. Lot of cherry and licorice. A little sediment tho, so decanting is a good call.
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10/7/2014 - kevin h wrote: 90 Points
Solid claret, my last bottle. While the tannins have softened this still tastes young. Red berry fruit, a touch inky. Nowhere near fully mature. This is a vintage to hold.
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3/31/2014 - Drinking Trees wrote: 90 Points
Concentrated, pitch-black nose of ink powder, blackberry, and plum. Palate matches the nose, showing concentrated flavours of squid ink, blackberry juice, and plum. Hints of cranberry and bay leaf are hiding behind all the blackness. The mouthfeel is dominated by powerful acidity; tannins initially seem to have gone missing, but there is a dry, tannic finish. Although the mouthfeel is thin, there's enough acid and tannin to cut through a tough beef dish. This is quite enjoyable, and far more interesting than the 2006 I had a few days ago.
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12/19/2013 - redz wrote: 86 Points
a bit of a tar palate, not exciting
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12/18/2013 - MRichman wrote:
Nicely mature. Bright red fruit, tight acid, fine firm tannins that have resolved into the fruit. This is less modern than I expected. Good herbal component. The fruit is starting to dry up so it's probably time to start drinking these.
B/B-
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1/25/2013 - candyman wrote: 89 Points
Drinking well soft tannins,coffee forest nose,nice finish.at Michael Smiths for Resturant week brought by Brian and Sherri
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12/21/2012 - kevin h wrote: 90 Points
Drinking well, lotsof ripe berry fruit, softened tannins. A good point to drink it.
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8/29/2012 - Baylorwine wrote: 90 Points
Still drinking well. No notes taken.
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6/29/2012 - Baylorwine wrote: 88 Points
Solid soft mature bordeaux. Great easy drinking.
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3/14/2012 - Fateful Destiny wrote: 88 Points
Nice nose, average palate. Decent but not great.
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12/25/2011 - vicewine wrote: 87 Points
All burnt toast and tar and round edges. Definitely mature and if fruit ever existed here it does not anymore...
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12/18/2011 - pdadams66 wrote: 88 Points
From a magnum at the holiday dinner. Solid bordeaux. Mature. Drink now.
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1/23/2011 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
Big, expressive blackcurranty nose - ripe and modern. Flavour is still quite inky and youthful. Lots of cassis but tannins, while softer than they were 4 years ago are still present. Needs another 3-5 years yet.
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11/25/2010 - bobbylion wrote: 88 Points
chewy, thick, smooth. not hugely special, but very drinkable. i think it can still go for a couple of years and will improve.
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10/22/2010 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 89 Points
PnP at party for D&D. This was drinking very nicely, and the Bordeaux fans in the group really enjoyed it. Drank alongside a Turnbull 04 Napa Cab, which I preferred, but this was very enjoyable too. Solid core of fruit with nice tobacco and slight cedar notes. In nice balance, and fairly smooth to drink. Don't imagine this will get much better. Last bottle.
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7/20/2010 - wbq8f wrote: 89 Points
Nice red fruit nose when opened. rich cherry/raspberry flavors followed by slate/tar, long finish. I then let it stand for a couple of hours, and it actually seemed less intense, less ready to drink. Nonetheless, it was very good with cheese and bread. But I'm still a bit puzzled about how to approach this wine the next time.
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5/3/2010 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
Best bottle so far though still a few years away from maturity. Gorgeous blackcurrant nose on decanting though it fades a bit as the wine opens up. First signs of cassis in the flavour - classed growth quality but after an hour it becomes a bit inky and closed. The tannins show at 2 hours though less fierce than in previous bottles. Leave it for a couple more years before trying another.
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1/18/2010 - Baylorwine wrote: 89 Points
Still holding up well. Drank over 3 hours and it gradually opened up. 6th bottle of the case, and progressing as I had hoped. Drank with Stacy on Proposal night. Made braised short ribs.
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11/21/2009 - kevin h wrote: 89 Points
Very little development since I last had this 18 months ago. Blueberries all the way on opening though it faded to more muted red fruits on the nose after a hour in the decanter. Still very young looking, softened a little after 2 hours - juicy fruits, modern and lush. Needs another 5 years at least to develop any secondary characteristics. Tannins seemed to have softened a little on last time perhaps.
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12/11/2008 - thirstyman wrote: 90 Points
paled next to the 83 ducru - nice fruit, nice nose, nice finish - but suffered by comparison
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11/23/2008 - rwatkin wrote: 90 Points
Fruit, chocolate nose...nice structure, lots of midpalate fruit. A bit too much tannin on the end...but a couple of years
should help that. Wonderful silky mouthfeel. Best $25 Bordeaux i've had...and it should improve
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5/25/2008 - kevin h wrote:
Starting to soften a little though still a fair bit of tannin showing. In a modern style but nothing much wrong with that in this class of Bordeaux. Lots of ripe black cherries showing. Good structure and persistence of flavour. Should start to be ready in a couple more years. Good wine.
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11/21/2007 - DennisL wrote:
prune, plum. tannins. not much depth but pleasant with cheese
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10/22/2007 - SteveHyde wrote:
Very interesting. Day one, showed almost nothing. Very shut down. Day two, same. Day three. Finally! Dense fruit, tobacco, spice and herb, lovely grip and finish. This this will be ready in about 15 years at this rate. Either that, or decant it 24 hours before pouring.
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6/25/2007 - kevin h wrote: 89 Points
Still quite youthful and a bit tannic. Give it another couple of years.
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4/2/2007 - SteveHyde wrote:
initially the nose on this was very promising. Slow oxygenated for 6 hours before serving. At first, compelling tanins, bell pepper notes, chocolate, spice and fruit. As it opened, however, it seemed to lose its structure and become more flabby. Perhaps it got a bit too warm, but only a good, not great, showing.
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11/4/2006 - kevin h wrote: 90 Points
My first taste of this. A fruity nose smelling distinctly of blueberries. Some of that in the flavour too. Ripe and soft fruit - very modern Bordeaux - though a little closed still (the 2002 is better at the moment) - give it a couple more years. The only downside is that there is a boatload of tannin here and I don't think they will all meld in. Still, for the price and the modest location this is impressive.
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10/30/2006 - Baylorwine wrote: 92 Points
This bottle is drinking amazing right now! We had it about an hour after opening (no decanting), and paired perfect with steak. The cherry fruit was still bright and great full body.
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2/8/2006 - repoper wrote: 90 Points
The wine is absolutely black in the glass. It gives off the sents of dark cherries and chocolate. The first sip just filles the mouth with the fruit and the tannins coat the mouth but are well integrated and provide the right amount of grip to the finish. As it sat in the glass during dinner it opened up more and became quite a lovely drink that has the great balance of tannins, acids and fruit which marks the 2000 vintage. This wine will improve over the next 5 yrs or so and I am in no hurry to drink it.
3/3/05 Drank another bottle before dinner with guests. As above the wine was black and had about 45 min to airate before pouring. Our guests noticed the chocolate right away and it was easy to taste the cab sav in the wine. Fun to see the 2000 small wines open up. This is why I like bordeaux's.
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1/1/2005 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 90 Points
Very modern style, ripe and sweet fruit, well-judged oak, ripe acidity, slightly hard tannins, good stuffing and length, complete.
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