Still good, mostly fruit driven, like aged cherry fruit, some cola notes, a little menthol early but maybe not after open. Basically good fruit base, more cherry, less cocoa and coffee of Left Bank. A little tannin taste, but resolved. Drinking well and easy. At times it reminds me of an aged bigger Burgundy with the fruit profile. Good. 13% not hot either. Not stellar but a solid enjoyable bottle. After open hours, half bottle, it still seems young. Again not stellar, but good and younger notes.
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Currant, casis, tobacco, leather, soft round tannis. Very nice drinking wine on its own. A bit softer and lighter than my personal preference in Bordeaux but a lovely wine. Would have liked to have tried it a few years ago for reference but nothing to not like here.
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Medium deep ruby with just a faint hint of aging - big aromas, even wafting as I decanted - as I do this note, has been decanted about two hours - blackcurrant and hints of tobacco on the nose, same on the palate, although it leans more toward the savoury tobacco side there - I'm trying to be objective here, after reading so many meh comments on CT - but if this was blind, I'm pretty sure I'd say 91 - tannins are still there in spades, and while this is perfectly delightful to drink now, I think I'll hold that other bottle a few years, notwithstanding prevailing opinions
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Spicy nose with some violets and a dark fruit profile that we find also on the fairly balanced palate, medium bodied and length, doesn’t show too much age, good but no big emotion or nothing special drinking this.
Nez épicé avec des violettes et des fruits noirs que l’on retrouve en bouche aussi, assez bon, bel équilibre, longueur moyenne, équilibré et ne montre pas son âge, mais rien de spécial et peu d’émotion à boire ce vin.
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Very smooth and elegant, but a bit plain. Very subtle nose. Fully integrated structure, mixed (mostly dark) fruits. It is matured, but has some potential to develop stronger secondary aromas with more cellaring, which would perhaps make it a more exciting wine.
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Intense dark color, still purplish in tint. The nose and taste of dark fruit with cherry highlights, and only the slightest hint of graphite pencil. Recognizably a mature wine, with fully resolved tannins; smooth, but still retaining sufficient acidity to provide a lively drinking experience.
I don't believe there is anything to be gained by additional aging, and would recommend drinking up now.
Rated 1 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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A terrific bottle of wine, could restore my interest in Bordeaux. Now fully mature, and certainly in its drinking window, the wine exuded notes of dark and red stone fruits (i.e., more plum than berry), with flashes of tobacco, earth, a certain spiciness (from stems?), and well integrated, mature tannins.
I note that others believe this wine has a long life ahead of it. I would counsel better to drink now, or in the coming year, before the remaining fruit dissipates.
Rated 2 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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Medium bodied, sharp, crisp, bright red fruits, earth and spice on the nose are the best part of the wine. Considering the vintage and the terroir, this should be much better. Although, fans of this older style will probably like it more than I did. Tasting this wine shows how much the estate has improved under the direction of Ets. Moueix.
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Nose with dark plums, dark berries, some fruitcake, some tar and some stone dust. Palate with dark berries, good concentration, some sweetness of fruit, medium(+), still somewhat young, 89+ p. From magnum.
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Bin 75): Dark garnet core with light red rim; red and dark almost candied fruit, youthful, vanilla, milk chocolate, some weediness; riper texture, licorice, anise, wet earth, vanilla, darker chocolate, long finish, good tannic wrap, good mid-palate; very tasty and definite potential, 91+.
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Smells of sweet dark fruits, wet fungus, & alcohol. Tastes of simple slightly sweet dark fruits (blackberries) with light to moderate tannins. Less bitterness at the end this time. Medium bodied. Simple and easy to drink.
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I am on such a tear...after the stunning 2002 Magdelaine of the night before, I opened this beauty to go with a steak dinner to celebrate my wife's birthday. And just like the Magdelaine, this neighboring property delivered. This wine also has sentimental value to me. It was the first barrel sample I ever tasted in Bordeaux, and really the most beautiful property we visited and tasted at (with the amazing underground caves). But sentimental value or not, the cold hard fact is that this wine is an excellent wine, and an even better wine in the making. Unlike the Magdelaine which was plush and accessible, this wine was much more reserved and brooding. Imposing structure, lovely blackcurrant and black cherry fruit with lots of earthiness and lip smacking acidity. Strong finish. As much as I liked this wine, it is really still a baby. This is a wine that likely won't hit its stride for another 8 years, and it should last a long time based on my tasting of various older vintages of Belair from the 70s and 80s. Usually 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this was one of the last wines made and bottled under the ownership and guidance of Pascal Delbeck.
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Colour - pure red. Nose - Very interesting. Sweet. Cherry, Redcurrent. I like the nose. Palette - disappoints. Does not follow the nose. Some blackurrent fruit. Tannin present, but reasonably integrated. But also some non-tannic bitterness and abit of heat. Its young, so may improve with age.
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Classic Belair. Elegance and finesse. Lovely black currant and cherry fruit with some meaty smoke, earth, truffle, and tobacco. This is a very pretty and tremendous food wine with great freshness and focus. I tasted this at Belair as a barrel sample in 2006, and the wine is just as impressive now as it was then. Although this was not shut down like the Larcis Ducasse the night before, this has a stern structure that will easily support long-term cellaring. Frankly, I far prefer this to the 2006 Larcis Ducasse from the previous night.
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9/10/2023 - gnosis Likes this wine:
Still good, mostly fruit driven, like aged cherry fruit, some cola notes, a little menthol early but maybe not after open. Basically good fruit base, more cherry, less cocoa and coffee of Left Bank. A little tannin taste, but resolved. Drinking well and easy. At times it reminds me of an aged bigger Burgundy with the fruit profile. Good. 13% not hot either. Not stellar but a solid enjoyable bottle. After open hours, half bottle, it still seems young. Again not stellar, but good and younger notes.
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5/27/2022 - The Wine Monkeys wrote: 90 Points
Currant, casis, tobacco, leather, soft round tannis. Very nice drinking wine on its own. A bit softer and lighter than my personal preference in Bordeaux but a lovely wine. Would have liked to have tried it a few years ago for reference but nothing to not like here.
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4/10/2022 - vinero wrote: flawed
Corked. I guess wrong transport or storage by previous owner.
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3/23/2022 - egoya Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rather mature and nice to drink, but nothing to remember.
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2/25/2021 - winot Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium deep ruby with just a faint hint of aging - big aromas, even wafting as I decanted - as I do this note, has been decanted about two hours - blackcurrant and hints of tobacco on the nose, same on the palate, although it leans more toward the savoury tobacco side there - I'm trying to be objective here, after reading so many meh comments on CT - but if this was blind, I'm pretty sure I'd say 91 - tannins are still there in spades, and while this is perfectly delightful to drink now, I think I'll hold that other bottle a few years, notwithstanding prevailing opinions
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11/3/2020 - MHM007 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Super excellent
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10/24/2020 - Mario17 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Spicy nose with some violets and a dark fruit profile that we find also on the fairly balanced palate, medium bodied and length, doesn’t show too much age, good but no big emotion or nothing special drinking this.
Nez épicé avec des violettes et des fruits noirs que l’on retrouve en bouche aussi, assez bon, bel équilibre, longueur moyenne, équilibré et ne montre pas son âge, mais rien de spécial et peu d’émotion à boire ce vin.
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9/15/2020 - martin_e Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very smooth and elegant, but a bit plain. Very subtle nose. Fully integrated structure, mixed (mostly dark) fruits. It is matured, but has some potential to develop stronger secondary aromas with more cellaring, which would perhaps make it a more exciting wine.
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4/22/2020 - cby Likes this wine: 90 Points
Yum
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12/7/2019 - mitalanil Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened up nicely after 1 hr. Good time to enjoy
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1/21/2017 - IJC Likes this wine:
Intense dark color, still purplish in tint. The nose and taste of dark fruit with cherry highlights, and only the slightest hint of graphite pencil. Recognizably a mature wine, with fully resolved tannins; smooth, but still retaining sufficient acidity to provide a lively drinking experience.
I don't believe there is anything to be gained by additional aging, and would recommend drinking up now.
Rated 1 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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11/1/2016 - IJC Likes this wine:
Great structure,
Note to follow
Rated 1 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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12/5/2015 - Keith Levenberg wrote: flawed
Corked.
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11/29/2015 - IJC Likes this wine:
A terrific bottle of wine, could restore my interest in Bordeaux. Now fully mature, and certainly in its drinking window, the wine exuded notes of dark and red stone fruits (i.e., more plum than berry), with flashes of tobacco, earth, a certain spiciness (from stems?), and well integrated, mature tannins.
I note that others believe this wine has a long life ahead of it. I would counsel better to drink now, or in the coming year, before the remaining fruit dissipates.
Rated 2 on a scale of -1 to 3.
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1/7/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 86 Points
Medium bodied, sharp, crisp, bright red fruits, earth and spice on the nose are the best part of the wine. Considering the vintage and the terroir, this should be much better. Although, fans of this older style will probably like it more than I did. Tasting this wine shows how much the estate has improved under the direction of Ets. Moueix.
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1/11/2014 - Vintomas wrote: 89 Points
Nose with dark plums, dark berries, some fruitcake, some tar and some stone dust. Palate with dark berries, good concentration, some sweetness of fruit, medium(+), still somewhat young, 89+ p.
From magnum.
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11/26/2013 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Bin 75): Dark garnet core with light red rim; red and dark almost candied fruit, youthful, vanilla, milk chocolate, some weediness; riper texture, licorice, anise, wet earth, vanilla, darker chocolate, long finish, good tannic wrap, good mid-palate; very tasty and definite potential, 91+.
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6/25/2012 - Woodford Likes this wine: 89 Points
Smells of sweet dark fruits, wet fungus, & alcohol. Tastes of simple slightly sweet dark fruits (blackberries) with light to moderate tannins. Less bitterness at the end this time. Medium bodied. Simple and easy to drink.
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2/19/2012 - steffenpelz wrote:
I am on such a tear...after the stunning 2002 Magdelaine of the night before, I opened this beauty to go with a steak dinner to celebrate my wife's birthday. And just like the Magdelaine, this neighboring property delivered. This wine also has sentimental value to me. It was the first barrel sample I ever tasted in Bordeaux, and really the most beautiful property we visited and tasted at (with the amazing underground caves). But sentimental value or not, the cold hard fact is that this wine is an excellent wine, and an even better wine in the making. Unlike the Magdelaine which was plush and accessible, this wine was much more reserved and brooding. Imposing structure, lovely blackcurrant and black cherry fruit with lots of earthiness and lip smacking acidity. Strong finish. As much as I liked this wine, it is really still a baby. This is a wine that likely won't hit its stride for another 8 years, and it should last a long time based on my tasting of various older vintages of Belair from the 70s and 80s. Usually 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this was one of the last wines made and bottled under the ownership and guidance of Pascal Delbeck.
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12/3/2011 - Woodford Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smells of blackberries, raspberries, & mildewy dates. Tastes of simple dark fruits & is slightly bitter. Medium bodied & very enjoyable.
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6/23/2010 - Jhcwine wrote: 90 Points
Colour - pure red. Nose - Very interesting. Sweet. Cherry, Redcurrent. I like the nose. Palette - disappoints. Does not follow the nose. Some blackurrent fruit. Tannin present, but reasonably integrated. But also some non-tannic bitterness and abit of heat. Its young, so may improve with age.
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11/29/2009 - steffenpelz wrote:
Classic Belair. Elegance and finesse. Lovely black currant and cherry fruit with some meaty smoke, earth, truffle, and tobacco. This is a very pretty and tremendous food wine with great freshness and focus. I tasted this at Belair as a barrel sample in 2006, and the wine is just as impressive now as it was then. Although this was not shut down like the Larcis Ducasse the night before, this has a stern structure that will easily support long-term cellaring. Frankly, I far prefer this to the 2006 Larcis Ducasse from the previous night.
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3/28/2006 - Burgundy Al wrote:
2005 Bordeaux en Primeur; 3/26/2006-3/28/2006 (Bordeaux France): En Primeur tasting. Black fruit and some earth aromas. Black cherry and plum flavors with more rugged tannins than I prefer. Not a star of the tasting for me, 85-87 point potential.
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