15% alcohol, uh oh...M 65%, CF 30%, CS 5%.The cork is long but of mediocre quality. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is fading, surprisingly advanced for a Bordeaux of merely fourteen years of age. Macerated red fruit on the nose with some refined aromas, but these are swamped by alcohol (for further reference, I felt this before I looked at the back label for the declared percentage alcohol). The mouth is similar, only more so with port-like flavours developing pretty fast. There are no two ways about it, this wine is completely out of balance for me, with the alcohol protruding way too much at all stages. I guess that 2009 was not kind to M-dominated wines, but I shudder to think what recent years may have produced. This bottle is on its last legs, and they are not pretty; avoid decanting the next time to mitigate the disaster. Not for me, and if I can trace the reviewer who encouraged me to purchase this wine, I will give him a wide berth from now on (not that I pay attention to what the critics say now that I quit buying en primeur).
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modern in style without being bombastic or jammy. Still very fruit forward on opening. Silky and warm with wood spice and a mineral touch. on day 3 more tertiary and even a bit stricter, more Bordeaux like.
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Hmmh - I found this to be over the top. Too much alcohol, too evolved and mature, too extracted. Really liked another bottle 5 years ago. Drink up if you have any left
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Appearance: Bright and clear, the wine is of deep ruby colour, with fading rim and legs. Nose: Clean, with medium (+) aromas of black fruit of blackberry and dark cherries, mineral notes of earth, animal notes of leather, oak notes of cedar, kernel notes of chocolate, pungent spice of liquorice, maturity notes of savoury. The wine is developing. Palate: Dry with medium acidity, the wine has medium tannin of ripe and silky texture, high in alcohol with full body, with medium (+) concentration of flavours, exhibiting black fruit of blackberry and plum, red fruit of ripe cherries, sweet spice of clove, kernel notes of cocoa, mineral notes of earth. The wine has a medium finish. Conclusion: Very good quality Bordeaux with an intense nose showing black fruit and dark cherries, leather and earthy, with hints of chocolate and good liquorice, developing with savoury characters. On the palate it is powerful yet balanced, with strong alcohol but supported well with the concentrated fruity and spicy flavours, finishing with a decent length. It is ready to drink now and can further develop for another 3-5 years.
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15% alcohol, wow, not a great start. M 65%, CF 30 %, CS 5%. Very good long cork with no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead. Plenty of deposit. Dark colour. The nose is good at first, but it oxidises fast, so maybe a shorter decant the next time. The mouth is much better, being very lively and showing no trace of all that alcohol. Very good grip by virtue of an excellent acidity as well as some soft tannins. Much better than expected, but probably not for the long run.
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Nose has a strong hint of what at first was strange, even a bit plasticy, but really is a quite intense black truffle. Entry is rich fruit with a good weight and rich texture. Fairly extracted and deep color, this is quite tasty and interesting. Tannins well back. Finish is not strong, but all there with fine tannins. It is mostly about the nose and entry.
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Give it an hour of air time, it’ll be well worth it. Started off a little closed with some earthy notes, that burned off and the fruit really started to show. My opinion changed from thinking this was an average wine to a very good wine over about two hours.
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A nice Bordeaux value wine here, with its forward style, round, soft, polished textures and licorice, ripe black cherry and truffle personality. The wine was made from a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine reached 15% alcohol, yet there is no sensation of heat.
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Was für eine schöne Überraschung. Tiefdunkelrot die Farbe, in der Nase wie ein marmeladen-Beerenaufstrich, ich möchte am liebsten dreinbeissen. Dann feinste Tannine, dicht und fordernd. Möchte einen möglichst grossen Schluck nehmen. Langer Nachhall mit einer zusätzlich animierenden Süsse. Vielleicht kompottig, aber auf jeden Fall süchtig machend. Erfreue mich am "hier und jetzt" und bin entspannt gebannt wohin die Reise geht. Wow!
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Decant for 2 hours. Purple colored. N: Blackberry, Blueberry, Cedar, Vanilla and Lovage Palate: Blackberry, Cherry, Forest floor and Mineral . The body is Medium/Full with a medium finish, well balanced acididy, fruit and chalky tannins.
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4/16/2023 - Eudemis Does not like this wine:
15% alcohol, uh oh...M 65%, CF 30%, CS 5%.The cork is long but of mediocre quality. Decanted an hour ahead. The colour is fading, surprisingly advanced for a Bordeaux of merely fourteen years of age.
Macerated red fruit on the nose with some refined aromas, but these are swamped by alcohol (for further reference, I felt this before I looked at the back label for the declared percentage alcohol). The mouth is similar, only more so with port-like flavours developing pretty fast.
There are no two ways about it, this wine is completely out of balance for me, with the alcohol protruding way too much at all stages. I guess that 2009 was not kind to M-dominated wines, but I shudder to think what recent years may have produced.
This bottle is on its last legs, and they are not pretty; avoid decanting the next time to mitigate the disaster.
Not for me, and if I can trace the reviewer who encouraged me to purchase this wine, I will give him a wide berth from now on (not that I pay attention to what the critics say now that I quit buying en primeur).
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5/7/2022 - Vandelaar Likes this wine: 90 Points
modern in style without being bombastic or jammy. Still very fruit forward on opening. Silky and warm with wood spice and a mineral touch. on day 3 more tertiary and even a bit stricter, more Bordeaux like.
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4/24/2022 - ThMeyer wrote: 87 Points
Hmmh - I found this to be over the top. Too much alcohol, too evolved and mature, too extracted. Really liked another bottle 5 years ago. Drink up if you have any left
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12/20/2021 - peterchoy wrote: 91 Points
Appearance: Bright and clear, the wine is of deep ruby colour, with fading rim and legs.
Nose: Clean, with medium (+) aromas of black fruit of blackberry and dark cherries, mineral notes of earth, animal notes of leather, oak notes of cedar, kernel notes of chocolate, pungent spice of liquorice, maturity notes of savoury. The wine is developing.
Palate: Dry with medium acidity, the wine has medium tannin of ripe and silky texture, high in alcohol with full body, with medium (+) concentration of flavours, exhibiting black fruit of blackberry and plum, red fruit of ripe cherries, sweet spice of clove, kernel notes of cocoa, mineral notes of earth. The wine has a medium finish.
Conclusion: Very good quality Bordeaux with an intense nose showing black fruit and dark cherries, leather and earthy, with hints of chocolate and good liquorice, developing with savoury characters. On the palate it is powerful yet balanced, with strong alcohol but supported well with the concentrated fruity and spicy flavours, finishing with a decent length. It is ready to drink now and can further develop for another 3-5 years.
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9/8/2019 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
15% alcohol, wow, not a great start. M 65%, CF 30 %, CS 5%. Very good long cork with no wine penetration. Decanted an hour ahead.
Plenty of deposit. Dark colour. The nose is good at first, but it oxidises fast, so maybe a shorter decant the next time.
The mouth is much better, being very lively and showing no trace of all that alcohol. Very good grip by virtue of an excellent acidity as well as some soft tannins.
Much better than expected, but probably not for the long run.
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4/5/2019 - bbcc66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted 1 hr. Nice nose. Tastes of darker fruits & cherries.
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11/19/2018 - riskun Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose has a strong hint of what at first was strange, even a bit plasticy, but really is a quite intense black truffle. Entry is rich fruit with a good weight and rich texture. Fairly extracted and deep color, this is quite tasty and interesting. Tannins well back. Finish is not strong, but all there with fine tannins. It is mostly about the nose and entry.
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6/6/2018 - mat600 wrote: 85 Points
Beaucoup de tannins dans ce vin (avec beaucoup de dépôt.). Les tannins empêchent le fruit de se livrer pleinement. Attendre 5 ans. 85 sur 100.
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5/15/2018 - IrvineCellar Likes this wine: 88 Points
Fruity, flavorful. Still very tannic
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12/26/2017 - mpsocal Likes this wine: 90 Points
Give it an hour of air time, it’ll be well worth it. Started off a little closed with some earthy notes, that burned off and the fruit really started to show. My opinion changed from thinking this was an average wine to a very good wine over about two hours.
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10/29/2016 - Reimer wrote:
10/28/16 Good body , dry finish, needs a few more years
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12/17/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
A nice Bordeaux value wine here, with its forward style, round, soft, polished textures and licorice, ripe black cherry and truffle personality. The wine was made from a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine reached 15% alcohol, yet there is no sensation of heat.
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2/25/2014 - schiwi wrote: 92 Points
Was für eine schöne Überraschung. Tiefdunkelrot die Farbe, in der Nase wie ein marmeladen-Beerenaufstrich, ich möchte am liebsten dreinbeissen. Dann feinste Tannine, dicht und fordernd. Möchte einen möglichst grossen Schluck nehmen. Langer Nachhall mit einer zusätzlich animierenden Süsse. Vielleicht kompottig, aber auf jeden Fall süchtig machend. Erfreue mich am "hier und jetzt" und bin entspannt gebannt wohin die Reise geht. Wow!
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1/26/2014 - lumpyelbow wrote:
Some immediate appeal with ripe, juicy fruit, though a solid backbone. Still needs a year or so before drinking really well. Worth a look.
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10/17/2013 - steveo3456 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decant for 2 hours. Purple colored.
N: Blackberry, Blueberry, Cedar, Vanilla and Lovage
Palate: Blackberry, Cherry, Forest floor and Mineral . The body is Medium/Full with a medium finish, well balanced acididy, fruit and chalky tannins.
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9/30/2013 - fdusonchet wrote: 93 Points
Vin juteux fruité avec de belle note chocolaté bouche souple et relatively longue
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5/19/2012 - admid wrote: 89 Points
App: Purple red
Aroma: Expressive nose with sweet cherries and ripe blackcurrant. Deicate oak character.
Full bodied and great balance.
Good length
This will be a great wine in a few years
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