Purchased en primeur from Prima Wine. Not decanted. 100% Merlot. Drinking well, but I don’t see any reason to hold. Tannins resolved, and it isn’t a blockbuster. Why risk it at this point? Coffee, currant, blackberry. Medium finish.
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Opened 4 hours in advance and brought to a right bank tasting with friends. Cherry, plum, leather, on the palate dark fruit, slight mushroom, good acidity, dense, harmonious, resolved tannins, long finish. Still in very good shape, but will not develop more.
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Tasted twice with consistent notes. Nice right bank bouquet, secondary mushroom flavours with some wood. Extracted style with grainy tannins still to sort themselves out. Could use more elegance. Expected more for 2000
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We coravined a glass after a steak dinner to chase a 2001 Chateau Angelus, and the Croix de Labrie exceeded our expectations. The wine did not need more than a few minutes in the glass before the nose opened. Well structured, but not dominated by tannins at this stage. Finish was long, approaching 45 seconds. We think this wine is at the pinnacle of its drinking window, and we look forward to drinking the remaining bottles over the next 12 months.
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Nach wie vor sehr jugendliche Farbe. Tiefes Bordeauxrot, kaum Randaufhellungen, keine bräunliche Reflexe ausmachbar. In der Nase schwarzfruchtig, schwarze Johannisbeere, Pfeffer, leicht rauchig. Am Gaumen setzt sich das schwarze Aromenprofil fort. Johannisbeeren, Lakritz, Pfeffer, hat das Dickfruchtige der letzten Flaschen verloren und ist jetzt ein ernstzunehmender, toll balancierter Merlot. Ganz, ganz grossartig, werde mit den weiteren Flaschen doch noch einige Jahre warten, das hat weiteres Potential.
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This was brilliant, perfect maturity. Definitely needs to breathe - only decanted 45 mins before first drinking and still too closed with a bit of an acidic edge. Next day was wonderful.
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Good amount of sediment. Decanted for 20 minutes. Perfect pairing with chicken galantine stuffed with mushroom, eggplant and zucchini, brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. Nose is black fruit and cassis. Well balanced strong flavor. Silky feel. Ruby red color. Excellent garage wine!
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Wuha. Auch wenn ich tendenziell eher am linken Ufer daheim bin und Cabernt-lastige Weine bevorzuge ist das ein tolles Ding. Eher Dolly Buster Style aber dafür wirklich schön balanciert und sehr interessant.
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Full nose with bright fruit. 100% Merlot evidenced in the color - dark purplish inky. Wonderful. More nuances of minerals and complexity than the 2005.
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In prime. Nominal decant necessary. Big pure fruit up front. Above average balance. Will continue to hold for 5-10 years but this should be drank young. Great value.
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Maybe on the downhill slide. Very subtle fruit and very earthy. In fact wife described it as old and dusty. Drinkable, good but not great, was not overly impressed and expected it to be better.
Needs an hour decant- this is outstanding- full bodied, seductive, perfect balance and good finish. In prime and unlikely to improve but will hold for another 10 years easily. Good value. 100% Merlot
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A solid wine to pair with a rib eye au poivre, but I must admit I was a little disappointed that the wine did not have as much body or depth as I was hoping.
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Solid showing on first night, with good balance and some grip. Not terribly complex, but punched at its weight (and price). On day two, nothing left at all. Just overly cloying. Not a wine to let sit too long.
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I think this has more than a decade but it is in a really nice place right now. Our first experience with this fairly small producer - certainly won't be our last. As the cliche goes, so many st Emilions so little time.
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I think will move higher in score but for us still earlier in its life than ideal and we will wait on next bottle at least a year. That said a very good right bank -liked the feel, finish, balance.
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Ripe, ripe, ripe. Nice wine. Not quite as 'serious' as I expected based on all I have read. Consumed across 2 days, and this absolutely crashed into a pile of raisin pudding on day 2. Troubling. The score is for day 1. Trying to ignore the day 2 nightmare. I thought wine would have more stuffing/longevity.
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This is a sexy little wine made for hedonists. Rich, velvety, plush waves of dark chocolate covered plums, licorice and minerals fill your palate. This 100% Merlot is drinking perfectly today. Owners should drink this wine young to capture its fruit and vitality.
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First experience with this wine. Black and blue to the rim. Unfortunately this was not ready. Pretty unyielding at this point, yet promising. Give this 5 years.
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12/9/2023 - jeff nowak Likes this wine: 91 Points
Purchased en primeur from Prima Wine. Not decanted. 100% Merlot. Drinking well, but I don’t see any reason to hold. Tannins resolved, and it isn’t a blockbuster. Why risk it at this point? Coffee, currant, blackberry. Medium finish.
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3/18/2022 - tomasio-1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened 4 hours in advance and brought to a right bank tasting with friends. Cherry, plum, leather, on the palate dark fruit, slight mushroom, good acidity, dense, harmonious, resolved tannins, long finish. Still in very good shape, but will not develop more.
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6/25/2021 - Andice wrote: 90 Points
Tasted twice with consistent notes. Nice right bank bouquet, secondary mushroom flavours with some wood. Extracted style with grainy tannins still to sort themselves out. Could use more elegance. Expected more for 2000
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10/3/2020 - Luckey Likes this wine: 94 Points
We coravined a glass after a steak dinner to chase a 2001 Chateau Angelus, and the Croix de Labrie exceeded our expectations. The wine did not need more than a few minutes in the glass before the nose opened. Well structured, but not dominated by tannins at this stage. Finish was long, approaching 45 seconds. We think this wine is at the pinnacle of its drinking window, and we look forward to drinking the remaining bottles over the next 12 months.
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6/17/2020 - dnnk88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
CB Wine Night #17 (turned out to be the last CB Wine Night) - WT Last Day!: 2nd try this CB - great consistency. Enjoyed this again! 92/93
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6/6/2020 - EMAZurich Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nach wie vor sehr jugendliche Farbe. Tiefes Bordeauxrot, kaum Randaufhellungen, keine bräunliche Reflexe ausmachbar.
In der Nase schwarzfruchtig, schwarze Johannisbeere, Pfeffer, leicht rauchig.
Am Gaumen setzt sich das schwarze Aromenprofil fort. Johannisbeeren, Lakritz, Pfeffer, hat das Dickfruchtige der letzten Flaschen verloren und ist jetzt ein ernstzunehmender, toll balancierter Merlot. Ganz, ganz grossartig, werde mit den weiteren Flaschen doch noch einige Jahre warten, das hat weiteres Potential.
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6/5/2020 - dnnk88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
CB Wine Night #13 - CT 91 and up!: Notes to come
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4/30/2020 - Volleyball Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was brilliant, perfect maturity. Definitely needs to breathe - only decanted 45 mins before first drinking and still too closed with a bit of an acidic edge. Next day was wonderful.
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2/12/2018 - HeavyPourWine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Good amount of sediment. Decanted for 20 minutes. Perfect pairing with chicken galantine stuffed with mushroom, eggplant and zucchini, brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. Nose is black fruit and cassis. Well balanced strong flavor. Silky feel. Ruby red color. Excellent garage wine!
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1/12/2018 - jimyeni wrote: 90 Points
Pyrazines among notes of black cherry, anise and chocolate. Vibrant yet simple.
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12/24/2017 - EMAZurich Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wuha. Auch wenn ich tendenziell eher am linken Ufer daheim bin und Cabernt-lastige Weine bevorzuge ist das ein tolles Ding. Eher Dolly Buster Style aber dafür wirklich schön balanciert und sehr interessant.
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11/26/2017 - lmbernstein Likes this wine: 93 Points
Full nose with bright fruit. 100% Merlot evidenced in the color - dark purplish inky. Wonderful. More nuances of minerals and complexity than the 2005.
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3/17/2017 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 94 Points
In prime. Nominal decant necessary. Big pure fruit up front. Above average balance. Will continue to hold for 5-10 years but this should be drank young. Great value.
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3/6/2017 - hdchappy Likes this wine: 89 Points
Maybe on the downhill slide. Very subtle fruit and very earthy. In fact wife described it as old and dusty. Drinkable, good but not great, was not overly impressed and expected it to be better.
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6/11/2015 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 94 Points
Needs an hour decant- this is outstanding- full bodied, seductive, perfect balance and good finish. In prime and unlikely to improve but will hold for another 10 years easily. Good value. 100% Merlot
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5/10/2015 - Power Forward Likes this wine: 90 Points
A solid wine to pair with a rib eye au poivre, but I must admit I was a little disappointed that the wine did not have as much body or depth as I was hoping.
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12/29/2014 - MLwine wrote: 89 Points
Solid showing on first night, with good balance and some grip. Not terribly complex, but punched at its weight (and price). On day two, nothing left at all. Just overly cloying. Not a wine to let sit too long.
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11/16/2013 - capacious Likes this wine: 93 Points
I think this has more than a decade but it is in a really nice place right now. Our first experience with this fairly small producer - certainly won't be our last. As the cliche goes, so many st Emilions so little time.
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10/9/2013 - capacious Likes this wine: 91 Points
I think will move higher in score but for us still earlier in its life than ideal and we will wait on next bottle at least a year. That said a very good right bank -liked the feel, finish, balance.
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6/3/2012 - mindev wrote: 92 Points
Soft lovely emiion drinks well
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12/17/2011 - MLwine wrote: 93 Points
Very enjoyable Bordeaux. Rich, thick fruit, but with some complexity and tannic backbone.
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4/10/2010 - Eric wrote: 92 Points
Ripe, ripe, ripe. Nice wine. Not quite as 'serious' as I expected based on all I have read. Consumed across 2 days, and this absolutely crashed into a pile of raisin pudding on day 2. Troubling. The score is for day 1. Trying to ignore the day 2 nightmare. I thought wine would have more stuffing/longevity.
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3/5/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
This is a sexy little wine made for hedonists. Rich, velvety, plush waves of dark chocolate covered plums, licorice and minerals fill your palate. This 100% Merlot is drinking perfectly today. Owners should drink this wine young to capture its fruit and vitality.
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1/28/2009 - rnellans wrote: 91 Points
Sexy wine. Dark ruby. Cherries on the nose. Rich and lush on the palate. Smooth tannins. Nice wine.
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7/12/2008 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
With its coffee, fennel, black fruit nose is a treat. The fruit is silk and velvet. Already showing well, this sexed up wine is a lot of fun to drink
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12/20/2005 - MichaelB wrote: 91 Points
First experience with this wine. Black and blue to the rim. Unfortunately this was not ready. Pretty unyielding at this point, yet promising. Give this 5 years.
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