NobleRottersSydney - Bordeaux night (Glass Brasserie, Sydney): {cork, 13%} [Paul] All about black-grape perfume, well developing. Super-ripe medium/full weighted palate of the usual maturing cassis flavours, still with medium chalky tannins, cedary oak and medium acidity. I didn’t write much on this, but it’s straight from Bordeaux central casting, and a joy to drink right at its peak now. And seems to have managed the hot vintage very well. Tick!
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From my dad’s cellar, and we were both totally shocked at the classic form and structure of this wine from the much maligned 2003 vintage. No overripeness, no stewed notes, just a dark fruited, early maturity Bordeaux. It was easy to drink on its own, and showed zero heaviness, and in fact some real nuance. It’s not a top tier wine, but solid and eminently pleasurable.
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This has improved a lot and a pleasant surprise! Gave it about 1.5 hours to breathe in bottle and it was perfect. Blackcurrent fruit, maybe a little sweet for some tastes, but smooth, long and nice with food. Worth the wait!
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Zu Kalbsschnitzel. Dunkles, brillantes Rubinrot. In der Nase Duft von Erdbeerrahmbonbons, Süssholz, Zedernholz. Am Gaumen Dörrpflaume, Nuancen von Erdbeere, Lakritze, Lederhandschuhe, Kiesel. Geschmeidig, vielschichtig gut eingebundene, aber präsente Säure, jugendliche Tannine. Ein frischer, fruchtiger Wein mit Potential. In zwei Jahren wieder.
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Deep dark core, brick rim. Notes on 2nd day. Aromatic, deep dark berries, coffee beans, licorice, a touch of green. On the palate a bit thin. Nice balance and depth. Dark berries, licorice, espresso. Juicy. Medium Pluss length
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Zu Kalbskotteletten vom Grill. Drei Stunden vorher Doppeldekantiert. In der Nase eine cremige Frische mit Duft nach Rosen und Shortbread. Am Gaumen Dörrpflaume, Leder, Tabak, Zimt und einen Hauch Eukalyptus. Gut eingebundene Säure, im Abgang machten sich die Tannine in einer Bitternote bemerkbar, die sich über die Dauer des Nachtessens abschwächten. Vollmundig mit mittlerem Abgang. Anders als andere 03er, darf dieser Wein durchaus noch etwas liegen.
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One-hour decant through a screened funnel as cork disintegrated while being pulled. During decant, nose was a little sour and off-putting. Wine was clear, deep crimson in bowl and lightening towards the rim, but no amber. It did have a slight halo. After resting in the decanter, nose had calmed down: black currants, lead pencil and saddle leather. In the mouth, wine was classic Bordeaux: subdued red fruits and cedar. It had reasonable depth, was fairly smooth, but some tannins were still hanging on. Finish was a bit short with a hint of bitter baking chocolate. Nice food wine, but nothing stupendous.
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Elegant and fresh black currant fruit with a touch of leather but it is still quite young. It is however a bit short of the aftertaste and I would not recommend saving this any further. Lush and open for consumption and the tannins are sweet and polished. Does not show any of the warm fruit from 2003.
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Decanted and consumed over 2 days. Initial impressions: dark purple in color, aromas of barnyard, leather and wood; some black fruits but not initially very prominent. Smooth, polished tannins. After some time, the wine opened up to reveal more fruit: first plums and blackcurrant, later cherry compote and chocolate. Very enjoyable. I'm surprised by the "drinkability report" citation that this wine is past its drinking window; that was not at all the case in my opinion. I felt this wine has several good years ahead of it.
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Tasted blind. Decanted because the cork crumbled upon opening. Medium (+) ruby with some garnet hues. The nose is clean, medium in intensity and developing. Aromas of tart and ripe red fruit, some black fruit, a very deft touch of mocha and sweet baking spices and a little forest floor. The palate is dry, and consistent with the nose, with pleasant, ripe fruit. The acidity is medium, alcohol is medium (13%) and tannins are medium, possibly medium (+), but very polished and smooth. Medium to medium (+) body, medium (+) flavor intensity and medium length. I guessed Right Bank Bordeaux due to this wine's very generous qualities, but that is probably attributable to the very hot vintage. It is also surprisingly youthful, I would have put it in the 7-10 year-old bracket. This is a really fine, well-balanced, elegant wine, which is drinking beautifully. Drink now through 2018?
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Tannic, with loads of graphite, tar & black currant. Needs some time in the glass. Not much acidity to speak of....fruit appears to be fading. I may have waited a little too long before opening this bottle. Proper & solid red.
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Nose and initial p alate of dates, leather and smoke. Mid palate lighter but dark dried fruit. Only criticism was short finish and lack of concentration typical of vintage. Went well with bison burgers
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Pas carafé. Couleur violine, peu brillante. Nez de cassis et de cèdre. En bouche, le vin est assez costaud, un peu chaud avec des tanins assez astringents. Il n'y a pas une grande complexité, c'est plutôt monolithique. J'imagine qu'il faut encore l'attendre quelques années...
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I had high expectations for this wine, but was somewhat disappointed. In my opinion, the '03's are hit or miss. The '03 La Lagune, Gloria, Reserve de Comtesse, Les Fiefs de Lagrange, Sarget de Gruaud Larose and Haut Bages Liberal were all better. The wine had some rough edges and lacked taste. A lot of acid. I have another bottle, but I will hold off on drinking for 2 to 3 years.
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Gave this a 1.5 hr decant. Pleasant enough and might have distinguished itself with a little more time to ponder. But it was Seder wine so it took a back seat to ceremony and plagues. Not quite excellent but certainly very good.
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sweet currant driven nose, with some leather to it. on the mouth its warm without getting hot or overly extracted. ripe and jammy fruit with a brown sugar finish and tannins hold it all together. all in all, a good bottle, on its on or to a unpretentious meat dish.
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Double-decanted. Good nose with fragrant wood. Strikingly sweet burst of fruit on initial taste giving way to something more refined. Not particularly long.
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Maybe I was not in my best wine testing mood after 4 bottles and stomach aches, but I was not impressed by this one. Good nose, brought my to a Napa cabernet the palate felt hollow though ...something missing, with annoying structure. Might give another go when I feel bit more in the right spirits...
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I am trying to be patient in holding my Bordeaux but with a young cellar I get the itch to enjoy some of them sooner. Before I decanted this I had a sip and you could feel the tannins. Well 2+ hours in the decanter softened them enough to make this really enjoyable. This had a light smooth quality to it. Crushed berries on the palate. The nose had a scent of sandlewood mixed in with the fruit and the nose got richer as the night wore on. This drank nicely with a proper decant but can go 3-5 years no problem.
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Deep, maturing, warm wine with a wonderful nose and palate. Certain greatness and grace in texture. Long aftertaste. Not a lot of acid. Keep for a couple of years or drink now.
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Merlot from Bordeaux (Weinforum Frankfurt): Fantastic Nose! Heavy Black Cherry with Eukalypthus The Palate can not hold up. Fruits are still a little closed down and the Tannins are not really Integrated. Try again in maybe 5 Years
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2003 Bordeaux Tasting (Binny's, Schaumburg): Deep purple color. Notes of graphite, black currant and smoky plum and damp earth. Rich fruit, with smoky cherry, red currant and mineral flavors. Longest finish of the wines thus far.
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Not a bad buy, though it'll take a couple more years to integrate and come around. Tight upon opening, with sage and other herbal notes on the nose and smoky or even rubbery accents following those up. With some air, though, the slightly green character gives way to opulent black fruit. There's a boatload of tannin throughout. The balance isn't quite there yet, but the wine's enjoyable enough now and ought to improve with a year or two on its side. I've given it an 88, with room to move up a point or two depending on what happens down the line.
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Ripe fruit on the nose, but the oak is overbearing, beyond toasty and bordering on caramel, covering slightly harsh tannins. Let’s hope this integrates with bottle aging…
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Ch. Giscours: Dark opaque purple; dark rotten wood, but barely any nose; cassis & classic cigar box came out on 2nd taste; silky full bod; fair amt of a’s, big t’s, long hot fin.***Rich, dark and brooding--10 yrs.
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2/7/2024 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Bordeaux night (Glass Brasserie, Sydney): {cork, 13%} [Paul] All about black-grape perfume, well developing. Super-ripe medium/full weighted palate of the usual maturing cassis flavours, still with medium chalky tannins, cedary oak and medium acidity. I didn’t write much on this, but it’s straight from Bordeaux central casting, and a joy to drink right at its peak now. And seems to have managed the hot vintage very well. Tick!
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11/25/2022 - Head Honcho wrote:
Perfect to drink now. Lots of fruit still. Long taste. Very balanced
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12/24/2021 - Rieslingfan wrote:
From my dad’s cellar, and we were both totally shocked at the classic form and structure of this wine from the much maligned 2003 vintage. No overripeness, no stewed notes, just a dark fruited, early maturity Bordeaux. It was easy to drink on its own, and showed zero heaviness, and in fact some real nuance. It’s not a top tier wine, but solid and eminently pleasurable.
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6/26/2021 - mdanyc Likes this wine: 90 Points
This has improved a lot and a pleasant surprise! Gave it about 1.5 hours to breathe in bottle and it was perfect. Blackcurrent fruit, maybe a little sweet for some tastes, but smooth, long and nice with food. Worth the wait!
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3/13/2021 - Arvered.com wrote: 93 Points
Tannins of course but magical balanced. Black currant, ceder and leather. Really nice. Perfect spot in the aging process
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1/31/2021 - Dijosa Likes this wine: 89 Points
Zu Kalbsschnitzel. Dunkles, brillantes Rubinrot. In der Nase Duft von Erdbeerrahmbonbons, Süssholz, Zedernholz. Am Gaumen Dörrpflaume, Nuancen von Erdbeere, Lakritze, Lederhandschuhe, Kiesel. Geschmeidig, vielschichtig gut eingebundene, aber präsente Säure, jugendliche Tannine. Ein frischer, fruchtiger Wein mit Potential. In zwei Jahren wieder.
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9/5/2020 - Mmark wrote: 91 Points
Deep dark core, brick rim. Notes on 2nd day. Aromatic, deep dark berries, coffee beans, licorice, a touch of green. On the palate a bit thin. Nice balance and depth. Dark berries, licorice, espresso. Juicy. Medium Pluss length
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8/28/2020 - matage Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still evolving in the glass. Muted on the nose, polished tannins but a bit thin in the middle spectrum. Might be time to drink up.
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8/27/2020 - Dijosa Likes this wine: 89 Points
Zu Kalbskotteletten vom Grill. Drei Stunden vorher Doppeldekantiert. In der Nase eine cremige Frische mit Duft nach Rosen und Shortbread. Am Gaumen Dörrpflaume, Leder, Tabak, Zimt und einen Hauch Eukalyptus. Gut eingebundene Säure, im Abgang machten sich die Tannine in einer Bitternote bemerkbar, die sich über die Dauer des Nachtessens abschwächten. Vollmundig mit mittlerem Abgang. Anders als andere 03er, darf dieser Wein durchaus noch etwas liegen.
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8/21/2020 - Tsliwinski Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beginning to fade. Has some red fruits but short finish. Has pencil shavings and some game.
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1/6/2020 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 86 Points
One-hour decant through a screened funnel as cork disintegrated while being pulled. During decant, nose was a little sour and off-putting. Wine was clear, deep crimson in bowl and lightening towards the rim, but no amber. It did have a slight halo. After resting in the decanter, nose had calmed down: black currants, lead pencil and saddle leather. In the mouth, wine was classic Bordeaux: subdued red fruits and cedar. It had reasonable depth, was fairly smooth, but some tannins were still hanging on. Finish was a bit short with a hint of bitter baking chocolate. Nice food wine, but nothing stupendous.
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12/24/2019 - canan wrote: 90 Points
Elegant and fresh black currant fruit with a touch of leather but it is still quite young.
It is however a bit short of the aftertaste and I would not recommend saving this any further.
Lush and open for consumption and the tannins are sweet and polished.
Does not show any of the warm fruit from 2003.
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1/18/2019 - epjepson Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted and consumed over 2 days. Initial impressions: dark purple in color, aromas of barnyard, leather and wood; some black fruits but not initially very prominent. Smooth, polished tannins. After some time, the wine opened up to reveal more fruit: first plums and blackcurrant, later cherry compote and chocolate. Very enjoyable. I'm surprised by the "drinkability report" citation that this wine is past its drinking window; that was not at all the case in my opinion. I felt this wine has several good years ahead of it.
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3/29/2018 - Chefofthewoods wrote: 90 Points
Showed it's best after 2 hours breathing, +2nd day good too.
Fruity nose for an aged bottle, palate of cherries and faint leather. Tannins muted, finish relatively short. Better paired with food.
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9/11/2016 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted blind. Decanted because the cork crumbled upon opening. Medium (+) ruby with some garnet hues. The nose is clean, medium in intensity and developing. Aromas of tart and ripe red fruit, some black fruit, a very deft touch of mocha and sweet baking spices and a little forest floor. The palate is dry, and consistent with the nose, with pleasant, ripe fruit. The acidity is medium, alcohol is medium (13%) and tannins are medium, possibly medium (+), but very polished and smooth. Medium to medium (+) body, medium (+) flavor intensity and medium length. I guessed Right Bank Bordeaux due to this wine's very generous qualities, but that is probably attributable to the very hot vintage. It is also surprisingly youthful, I would have put it in the 7-10 year-old bracket. This is a really fine, well-balanced, elegant wine, which is drinking beautifully. Drink now through 2018?
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8/18/2016 - Marcusnylen wrote:
Nja.
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8/12/2016 - matage wrote: 89 Points
Still vital and developing nicely over 2 hours. Classic Bdx barnyard smell, cedar and something slightly minty before the tannins kicked in.
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6/9/2016 - khmark7 wrote: 88 Points
Tannic, with loads of graphite, tar & black currant. Needs some time in the glass. Not much acidity to speak of....fruit appears to be fading. I may have waited a little too long before opening this bottle.
Proper & solid red.
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8/10/2014 - WDSteers wrote: 90 Points
Nose and initial p alate of dates, leather and smoke.
Mid palate lighter but dark dried fruit.
Only criticism was short finish and lack of concentration typical of vintage. Went well with bison burgers
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4/13/2014 - WDSteers wrote: 90 Points
Cocoa, leather, raisin and sandlewood.
At peak now. Went well with Bison burger.
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2/23/2014 - Ericsson wrote: 87 Points
Pas carafé. Couleur violine, peu brillante. Nez de cassis et de cèdre. En bouche, le vin est assez costaud, un peu chaud avec des tanins assez astringents. Il n'y a pas une grande complexité, c'est plutôt monolithique. J'imagine qu'il faut encore l'attendre quelques années...
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2/6/2013 - VinoServant wrote: 88 Points
I had high expectations for this wine, but was somewhat disappointed. In my opinion, the '03's are hit or miss. The '03 La Lagune, Gloria, Reserve de Comtesse, Les Fiefs de Lagrange, Sarget de Gruaud Larose and Haut Bages Liberal were all better. The wine had some rough edges and lacked taste. A lot of acid. I have another bottle, but I will hold off on drinking for 2 to 3 years.
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12/29/2012 - luddie Likes this wine: 87 Points
Classic left bank Bx, nice but a little thin compared to last bottle 1,5 yrs ago.
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10/21/2012 - WDSteers wrote: 91 Points
needs a good 2 hrs to breathe. Leather, cocoa and ox blood. great depth. should age few more years.
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4/8/2012 - brooklynJ&O wrote: 87 Points
Gave this a 1.5 hr decant. Pleasant enough and might have distinguished itself with a little more time to ponder. But it was Seder wine so it took a back seat to ceremony and plagues. Not quite excellent but certainly very good.
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1/29/2012 - MOD wrote: 87 Points
sweet currant driven nose, with some leather to it. on the mouth its warm without getting hot or overly extracted. ripe and jammy fruit with a brown sugar finish and tannins hold it all together. all in all, a good bottle, on its on or to a unpretentious meat dish.
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11/13/2011 - igmacfarlane wrote:
Double-decanted. Good nose with fragrant wood. Strikingly sweet burst of fruit on initial taste giving way to something more refined. Not particularly long.
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6/7/2011 - Bar57 wrote: 87 Points
Maybe I was not in my best wine testing mood after 4 bottles and stomach aches, but I was not impressed by this one. Good nose, brought my to a Napa cabernet the palate felt hollow though ...something missing, with annoying structure.
Might give another go when I feel bit more in the right spirits...
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11/5/2010 - paulst wrote: 90 Points
Sweet blackberry and barnyard; smooth and elegant; still young.
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12/26/2009 - mpemulis wrote: 96 Points
Very good. Got better and better as the night went on. Would definitely buy and drink again.
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12/19/2009 - Jubby wrote: 84 Points
Great on the nose, good to taste but not outstanding
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12/12/2009 - Arch57 wrote: 89 Points
I am trying to be patient in holding my Bordeaux but with a young cellar I get the itch to enjoy some of them sooner. Before I decanted this I had a sip and you could feel the tannins. Well 2+ hours in the decanter softened them enough to make this really enjoyable. This had a light smooth quality to it. Crushed berries on the palate. The nose had a scent of sandlewood mixed in with the fruit and the nose got richer as the night wore on.
This drank nicely with a proper decant but can go 3-5 years no problem.
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11/1/2009 - igmacfarlane wrote:
Big, hot, fruitbomb Aussie type nose at first giving way to more typical claret refinement. Nice mouthfeel. Heavy tannins softened in the glass.
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4/5/2009 - nwinther wrote: 90 Points
Deep, maturing, warm wine with a wonderful nose and palate. Certain greatness and grace in texture. Long aftertaste. Not a lot of acid. Keep for a couple of years or drink now.
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11/6/2007 - SimonK wrote: 87 Points
Merlot from Bordeaux (Weinforum Frankfurt): Fantastic Nose! Heavy Black Cherry with Eukalypthus
The Palate can not hold up. Fruits are still a little closed down and the Tannins are not really Integrated.
Try again in maybe 5 Years
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9/9/2006 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
2003 Bordeaux Tasting (Binny's, Schaumburg): Deep purple color. Notes of graphite, black currant and smoky plum and damp earth. Rich fruit, with smoky cherry, red currant and mineral flavors. Longest finish of the wines thus far.
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9/8/2006 - Stephan O wrote: 88 Points
Not a bad buy, though it'll take a couple more years to integrate and come around. Tight upon opening, with sage and other herbal notes on the nose and smoky or even rubbery accents following those up. With some air, though, the slightly green character gives way to opulent black fruit. There's a boatload of tannin throughout. The balance isn't quite there yet, but the wine's enjoyable enough now and ought to improve with a year or two on its side. I've given it an 88, with room to move up a point or two depending on what happens down the line.
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1/27/2006 - Vino Me wrote: 89 Points
TN: 2003 Red Bordeaux (Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting); 1/26/2006-1/27/2006 (Drake Hotel, Chicago, Illinois): Another wine which approached but did not match its counterpart from the 2000 vintage. I found this wine to be rather restrained. Notes of blackberry and wet underbrush. It faded on the finish a bit. 88-90 points.
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1/23/2006 - PanosKakaviatos wrote: 87 Points
Ripe fruit on the nose, but the oak is overbearing, beyond toasty and bordering on caramel, covering slightly harsh tannins. Let’s hope this integrates with bottle aging…
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1/1/2006 - winefool wrote: 89 Points
Nice aroma. Nice, but a little hot. 1/06
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3/30/2004 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Ch. Giscours: Dark opaque purple; dark rotten wood, but barely any nose; cassis & classic cigar box came out on 2nd taste; silky full bod; fair amt of a’s, big t’s, long hot fin.***Rich, dark and brooding--10 yrs.
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