Left for about 30 minutes before consumption. Still a bit black fruit jam with a shot of vodka for me. Time at best...Might have to flog the last bottle
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A bit overripe and very alcoholic. Dark chocolate, rusty iron, espresso coffee, hint of licorice, iodine, black tea, a bitter finish. Still some chewy tannins. Not much fruit left in this bottle. Does not seem to further improve with age. Time to finish. - 88 points
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Popes and poured. Good nose, but sturdy rather closed because of the robust tannins. In my opinion to much alcoholic warmth due to the lack of freshness. I hope it will get more elegance in the future, but I doubt this will really happen due to the lack of freshness. Okay wine but no a wow experience
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Coravin fun - 2009 Bordeaux & Random Burgundies (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Blackcurrant, quite sweet spice, alcohol prickle, slightly jammy, a little red currant note in the background. Ooh, it's quite thick and dense and positively Porty on the palate, alcohol warmth, talc textured tannins. It's a bit too much for me
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From a well stored case. Good cork. Nose is promising but for my taste the wine, whilst very correct, is rather stern for a 2009 with has dusty tannin of which I'm no fan. Second day no change.
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Hint of menthol on opening, normally a good sign for me. Decanted for a couple of hours. Nice amount of fruit; cherry and plum. Very dry tannins, dry but delightful.
After 3.5 hours in the decanter it evolves beautifully. The initial fruit fades a bit and a concentrated cassis develops alongside tertiary notes of liquorice, leather and warmth. The dryness subsides....it all works.
This is great. Highly recommended.
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This has developed very nicely. Quite orangey rim, showing its age. Fresh nose and very noticeable tannins left. Primary fruit is still there with some secondary notes of tea and cedar. Very nice
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Coravin fun - Bordeaux (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Wet blackcurrant but with a little alcohol and peppery spice initially on the nose. With time some raisins and sweet spice. Sourly juicy, raisins and blackcurrant, tight, drying floury textured tannins close things down, chalky minerality on the finish. Hmm.
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You have to love Charmail. In an overpriced market for cru bourgeois it is such great value, especially if bought after release. Drinking fabulously with secondary notes present, it should stay here for at least the next 5 years.
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Dark transparent red, almost black --- Nose elegant, nice wood notes, cedar box, black fruit, darkness, underbrush, burnt wood, tar, some liquorice --- Palate fresh, vivid, wonderful acidity, red fruit, sour cherry, some white pepper, cardboard, astringent, black tea, very nice bark aspects, flowery aspects --- Finishes on tart aspects and minerality, fruit flashing back. I am impressed, did not expect this level of quality, very nice development, somewhat rustic while classic Bordeaux. Very nice.
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Transparent dark red --- Nose elegant wood notes, herbal, amarena cherry, almond, menthol, nice liquorice flavour, some cherries coming through, charcoal pretty present, nice green aspects--- Palate fresh, watery, nice acidity, red fruit, sour cherry, dark fruit --- Finishes on smoky and charcoal tones. Nice vine, somehow rustic while showing some elegance, nice flavor profile.
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Another bottle showing that vintage can be most important, bought some bottles 10+ years ago, for around 14, 15€, tonight pnp, intense fragrance of dark rich fruit, spice, the palate really lively, strong ripe tannin is meeting a good grip acid in the finish, rich, very delicate black cassis fruit, very well structured, energetic flow, mineral background, very long finish, a great QPR here! In its beginning prime, but will easily hold another 5+ years! **(*+ -?), around 91(+) potential in well stored, high class bottles!
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Typical French Polish nose reduces after half an hour to aged character. Palate modest to start but when the wine opens up after 2 hours is rather more intensivied. Good value.
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From Coravin. Initially it's a bit minty on the nose, which lends freshness to jubey, ripe blackcurrant. On the palate there is a touch of bitterness that doesn't agree with me, the fruit is quite raisined. Hmm.
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Lots of oak and alcohol but if you like the style, this is really quite good. No sign of tiring yet, the fruit is still vibrant and much to my surprise, this outclassed a Cantemerle 08 tasted at the same time.
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Kept partly under condition 1 for some years, but mostly under 2 (see my profile) since autumn 2011. No decant. Color: very dark ruby-purple. Taste: good, a bit overripe fruit, dominated by a lot of tannins, with an OK acidity. A short finish with licorice. At the second day the tannins were a bit more resolved, but still rather drying, and the lush fruit came a bit more at the front. The alcohol was not that much dominant as was the case with other bottles. (The TN-writers who advised a decant of 2-3 hours might have been right. Unfortunately I didn't notice that advise earlier.) For now 87
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Color: very dark purple. Taste: at the first day compared to my last TN of 10-02-19 with a bit more, nice mature notes. The tannins were almost fully resolved, which made the wine rather soft, but it was also a little bit flat or tired. Still quite attractive. But at the second day unexpectedly dominated by a lot of alcohol. In common for me Medoc 2009 over all so far does not appear to be the vintage with the superlative quality it was destined for. At the first day 88, second no rating.
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In a lovely spot right now. Give it a couple of hours. Not sure it’ll gain much from ongoing cellaring as the fruit is becoming less pronounced but there’s not much additional complexity in return. Shows off the warmth of the growing season. Very pleasant, soft, rich, merlot-driven accessible classic claret at an outstanding QPR; just don’t expect too much. Great midweek drinking or with food. 2009 blend: 49% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, 6% petit verdot.
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Quite a ripe Bordeaux with sweet and slightly overripe fruit. Soft, warm and accessible, more Merlot than Cabernet. Soft tannins, fine notes of rusty iron, licorice and a bit of tobacco. A very good wine, best with food, nothing special though. Good now, will hold for a few more years, but based on its evolution over 2 days I would not cellar for too long. - 88 points
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Nice, quite rich nose with mature notes. Also the taste was better than last time, also less unresolved tannins. The best bottle so far. Will be still drinkable in 2020. 88(-89).
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Taste: nice, lively and quite rich (mostly red) berry-fruit, quite full. Not surprisingly also this bottle had far to much burning alcohol - was it really the 14,5% on the label? Still quite attractive. 88.
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Color: rather turbid purple with a bit of ruby. Maybe drunk a bit to warm. Nose: herbs, especially laurel. Taste: rather sweet red and some dark fruit, but already a bit more mature notes. Good acidity. This was the best bottle of this wine so far, although the lively fruit had moved backwards and the mature notes are in front. 88-89.
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Decanted 2 hours before serving. Deep colour with no browning at the rim. Some fruit, blackcurrants, on the nose with some more earthy notes too.
Tannins much more noticeable than previous bottles, very drying tannins too. Fruit still evident, along with some acidity. Alcohol not too evident despite a high content for claret.
Decent match with roast beef, but too tannic for the cheese. Interesting to note the different comments on this one - I've had two quite different experiences of it too. Not as good as last two bottles, but difficult to tell if this is bottle variation or it's going downhill. The colour tells me not, but I wonder if the tannins will now submerge the fruit.
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Annual Coravin blitz - day three (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. spiced blackcurrant and bramble, a little cream and almost herbaceous noes. Cedar. Quite dense and alcoholic on the palate the fruit s more raisined and some liquorice joins. Tannins present but subdued. Hmm.
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Taste: not that much fruit; the tannins this time were not fully resolved and probably hid the fruit. A herbal note and like earlier bottles quite a lot of alcohol. Also lacking a bit of concentration. Nevertheless quite elegant. At the second day and a drunk bit cooler the concentration as OK. Next bottle after one year of keeping. At the first day with duck 87, at the second with a sausage of deer 88.
Bordeaux Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typically, something like 48% Merlot, 30% C.S., 20% C.F., & 2% P.V., from vines ave 30 yrs of age, grown in the gravelly clay soil of a single, hilly 68 acre plot "alongside the Gironde river in the commune of Saint-Seurin de Cadourne next door to the Saint-Estèphe appellation area; The harvest is steeped for 15 days at 5°C, using dry ice; fermentation for 7 days; about 10 days of final maceration, fermented from 25-30°C with temp regulation, then aged 1 yr in barrels (1/3 new)." Typically 9-10,000 cs bottled unfined & unfiltered.
N: Closed, but seems ripe; Intensity lurking?
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt fairly quickly met by an astringent pucker which only somewhat resolves by the LONG finish with a tangy/swtness & OCCASIONAL glimpses of bitterness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '21, I'm guessing, then making its 20th? 14.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. 90 pts WA, 89 WS, 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, + the "Tasting Notes" section of wine-searcher has NUMEROUS review citations. [This vendor's $39.95 is $6 > the only U.S. listing on wine-searcher.]
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Lively, dark garnet color. Blackcurrant and stewed plum nose. Quite straightforward taste with noticeable alcohol, good acidity and slightly dry tannins, which aren’t not yet fully integrated and which I doubt they will. Nice, but a bit too manufactured for my taste.
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The tannins are resolved now (see my earlier TN's). This wine is ready to be drunk and mature now, at least when kept the way I did: a short time under condition 1, mostly under condition 2 since 2011 (see my profile). Good fruit, quite concentrated, and with an agreeable round taste. The alcohol was less prominent than whith earlier bottles. Nice wine that can be drunk at least until 2020. (87-)88.
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First bottle of this for a while. Double decanted about an hour or so before drinking.
First night was full on blackcurrant going on to quite heady cassis on the nose. Same fruit with some initial sweetness on the palate but a firmer tannic finish. Didn't notice the 14% alcohol really. Pleasant, and more complete than last time.
Kept half for 2 nights later in vacusealed bottle. Unfortunately the fruit had faded quite a lot and the tannins seemed firmer rather than softer. Oxidation I suspect. Maybe not young enough to hold together.
The 'like' relates to the first night tasted. Suggest you drink up on day of opening.
Twice decanted for two hours and aerated when poured. Color: dark purple. Nose: nice fruity nose with plum and berries. Taste: nice, quite lively fruit, which is partly dominated bij 14% of alcohol, but not as much as in my last bottle. Already nice secondary notes have emerged in the meantime. Acidity is OK. At the third day on its own still some unresolved tannins and a lot of alcohol. This wine has developed well since and has entered its drinking window. Probably still has upwards potential. To drink at least until 2020. For now 88(-89).
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2.5 hour double decant which seems to have done wonders for this - from the bottle it was a bit foursquare but with time it is bold and ripe blackcurrant and liquorice, cedar and sweet spice, broad on the palate with avuncular tannins. Quite modern Bordeaux or, perhaps, more of a reflection of the vintage. Pretty nice.
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Dark purple color. Ripe dark fruits and creamy oak spice on the nose. Medium body with dark fruits and walnuts on the palate. Super ripe but enough acidity to keep things in check. 14% alcohol just a bit evident. Tannins are savory and mouth puckering dry. Good now or keep for a while.
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Half of the time since about april 2011 kept under condition 1, half of the time under 2 (see my profile). Comparable with my note of 31th October 2016. I now conclude, that this wine is not mature. There is nice sweet fruit like cherries at the background, but the intrusive combination of astringent tannins and burning alcohol makes me intend to keep my other bottles for a year or more.
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Kept about two years under condition 1, last two years under condition 2 (see my profile). Taste: Blackberry, with blueberry and red berry. Some sous-bois and herbs. At the second day cherry-liquor in the nose, fruity and concentrated in the taste. On its own the tannins still were a bit astringent. Drunk with food the 14% alcohol didn’t really disturb this time. Compared to other tastings, this wine is developing well. Can be drunk now with food, but probably has upward potential. For now: 88-(89).
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Kept about two years under condition 1, last two years under condition 2 (see my profile). Color: dark purple. Interesting nose with with forest trees. Taste: red and some black fruit. Medium bodied. Quite soft and round. The tannins were resolved. The 14% alcohol was noticeable, but at the first day not disturbing. At the second it was dominating the taste to much. Ready to be drunk. I am curious if and how this wine will develop. At the first day: really enjoyable wine from a very good year. First day: 88(-89).
Dark purple. Very rich and ripe dark fruit on the nose with some spices and background oak. Super-ripe palate with just enough acidity to balance the very rich extract. Just a bit of alcoholic heat. Refreshing, savoury finish. Certainly quite new world but not overdone. Charming wine with some upside potential. Next bottle in five years.
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At Donna's pre-fireworks: tasty wine. Nores if cherry, blackberry, oak, toasr, tanins. Great with the homemade pizza at Donna T's and even better with a little more time. Drink now or hold 1-2 years
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Good claret. Maybe it's the vintage, but comes off like a new world wine. Strawberry red color. Raspberry and spice on the nose. Lower acidity on the palate. Enjoyable claret.
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I used to like Charmail in the early 2000s, but this wine does not work for me. I hope it's not because of the vintage. The aromas seemed a little cooked with plums and almost unpleasant stewy characteristics. Since the wine is missing structure, acidity and minerality I don't know how it should improve.
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Decanted for four hours. Nose: directly after decanting very nice fruit with raspberry, but in the glass quite closed. Taste: quite closed, just for one moment one can taste the really good fruit, leather (?) and chocolate that are hidden behind the still quite harsh tannins. At the third day the nose as well as the taste were more open, with plum and blackberry, chocolate and nice herbal notes in the taste. Already quite much deposit, the tannins were resolved in considerable amount. Only the 14% alcohol is to much for me, be it less disturbing than one year ago. This wine has developed since one year, but still needs at least one, maybe two more years of cellaring. I can’t rate it now, but am curious how this will develop. Potenially 88+?
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From Coravin. Biscuit, cassis, cream and slight vanilla on the nose as well as a touch of alcohol heat. In the mouth the wine has blackcurrant flavours but is a touch savoury as well. The tannins are chewy and there is a fair heft of alcohol warmth on the finish. Hmm. Time required I think.
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From Coravin. Biscuit, alcohol heat, spice, blackcurrant tending to cassis and a slightly meaty note on the nose. In the mouth the wine is savoury and spicy with plentiful tannic grip that is quite tough and chewy. Quite young.
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From Coravin. Leather black currant and plum, spice, alcohol heat all of which are quite muted. In the mouth the wine has flavours of leather, black fruit and spice. Very savoury though with chewy tannins. I still think this needs a bit more time to come together. I may push out my window for my remaining bottles for 4 years or so.
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Just ready to drink. Smooth creamy texture and ripe black fruits. Clearly from an amazing vintage and for £15 all in you can't go wrong. Will try another in 2 years as a bit primary. Salut!
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Decanted once and drunk the day after. Colour: very dark. Taste: this wine is in a closed state. Better at the second day: good red fruit in the background and also some chocolate. The tannins are resolved in large amount, but not fully. I will not open my next bottle within one year. I still think this wine has good potential. For now 87-88, potentially 89+.
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Dry, fruity, and balanced, with a touch of coffee or tobacco and earth to balance the cassis fruit. Or as another taster put it, pencil shavings. Not a hint of sweetness that I can detect. Serious wine and a solid value for around $20.
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Very ripe and sweet fruit for Bordeaux, almost raisiny and overripe, dark berry flavors dominate, also quite warm on the palate, but the texture is juicy and not too concentrated or overextracted, tannins are surprisingly soft, the oak is well integrated and adds licorice and pencil shaving flavors that linger on the finish. Approachable now but with potential for several years. Not the most typical Haut-Médoc, but tasty. - 88 points
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If you're seeking a Bordeaux value wine from the Left Bank, look no further. Lots of soft, polished, round, dark berries, licorice, coffee bean and earth are easy to find. Forward in style, this already fun to drink, Merlot dominated blend is a charmer.
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1 hour decant; dark ruby-purple in colour. Nose of blueberries, vanilla, and earthy cassis. Black ashen fruits and creme de cassis on the palate; tannins do not interfere. Medium bodied with a medium finish. Not a bad QPR Bdx and worth the ticket.
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Nice, big and bold. Tannic is smooth, big berry taste. Love to buy more. The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Blackberry. The body is Full. The wine has Leathery texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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Well made, broad Bordeaux. Large, attractive, simple nose of cherry yoghurt and blueberries. Good structure in the mouth with firm tannin, good acids and still young fruit. It is a little short, but promising. Should come around with some time in the wine cellar. Married Grana Padano cheese dice and liver paste. From glass btl at Milestone Bar w/Kosugi sensei.
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Great Bordeaux, lovely vanilla nose, loaded with red fruits. A good pick for the 09 production. Tannic is still a bit strong and will be perfect afterw years. Will buy more if there's the chance.
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Tasted after opening: more fruit than in august (see my note of Augst 8th), fine but very much tannins. Drunk after four times decanting and keeping the decanted wine for two days. Color: very dark purple. Nose: rather mute. Taste: good, pure fruit, mixed black and red. Much less tannins than directly after opening. Interesting secondary - I assume - flavours are coming up, but are hard to define for me. At the second day a hint of barnyard in the nose and still more interesting flavours. Concentrated, (medium to) full body. This seems a haut medoc with very good potential. Only the alcohol (14%) seems to high for me, at least at this moment. 89, potentially up to 91.
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Color: very dark purple, almost black. Nose: fruit, rather closed. Taste: also rather closed, the fruit is rather hidden. Fine tannins. Concentrated, (medium to) full bodied, medium finish, balanced. Quite the character of a St. Estephe, which doesn’t surprise, because the vineyard borders to St. Estephe and has the same kind of soil. In the aftertaste the hidden fruit seemed noticeable. After all this seems at least for the moment an austere wine, but it wouldn’t surprise me, when this turns out to be very good after the four to five years this needs cellaring for getting its optimum (according to the winemaker). Potential 88-91?
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1/5/2024 - chatters wrote:
Left for about 30 minutes before consumption. Still a bit black fruit jam with a shot of vodka for me. Time at best...Might have to flog the last bottle
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12/25/2023 - Sl4ddy wrote:
Sehr verschlossen. Eventuell nächstes Jahr. Lange Lagern
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10/12/2023 - EdKz@comcast.net wrote: 85 Points
Muted dark fruit aromas and flavors, short, drying finish
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9/7/2023 - isbjoern wrote: 88 Points
A bit overripe and very alcoholic. Dark chocolate, rusty iron, espresso coffee, hint of licorice, iodine, black tea, a bitter finish. Still some chewy tannins. Not much fruit left in this bottle. Does not seem to further improve with age. Time to finish. - 88 points
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7/31/2023 - Dutchderk wrote: 89 Points
Popes and poured. Good nose, but sturdy rather closed because of the robust tannins. In my opinion to much alcoholic warmth due to the lack of freshness. I hope it will get more elegance in the future, but I doubt this will really happen due to the lack of freshness. Okay wine but no a wow experience
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7/28/2023 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - 2009 Bordeaux & Random Burgundies (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Blackcurrant, quite sweet spice, alcohol prickle, slightly jammy, a little red currant note in the background. Ooh, it's quite thick and dense and positively Porty on the palate, alcohol warmth, talc textured tannins. It's a bit too much for me
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7/1/2023 - Garnet wrote: 89 Points
From a well stored case. Good cork. Nose is promising but for my taste the wine, whilst very correct, is rather stern for a 2009 with has dusty tannin of which I'm no fan. Second day no change.
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12/17/2022 - Swintonblade Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good! Plenty of fruit but nice tierary notes with firm tannins.
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6/17/2022 - cugel_saga Likes this wine: 93 Points
Hint of menthol on opening, normally a good sign for me.
Decanted for a couple of hours.
Nice amount of fruit; cherry and plum.
Very dry tannins, dry but delightful.
After 3.5 hours in the decanter it evolves beautifully. The initial fruit fades a bit and a concentrated cassis develops alongside tertiary notes of liquorice, leather and warmth.
The dryness subsides....it all works.
This is great. Highly recommended.
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3/20/2022 - ThMeyer Likes this wine: 91 Points
This has developed very nicely. Quite orangey rim, showing its age. Fresh nose and very noticeable tannins left. Primary fruit is still there with some secondary notes of tea and cedar. Very nice
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1/31/2022 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Bordeaux (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Wet blackcurrant but with a little alcohol and peppery spice initially on the nose. With time some raisins and sweet spice. Sourly juicy, raisins and blackcurrant, tight, drying floury textured tannins close things down, chalky minerality on the finish. Hmm.
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1/6/2022 - djhammond Likes this wine: 90 Points
You have to love Charmail. In an overpriced market for cru bourgeois it is such great value, especially if bought after release. Drinking fabulously with secondary notes present, it should stay here for at least the next 5 years.
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12/13/2021 - mhensel wrote: 92 Points
Dark transparent red, almost black --- Nose elegant, nice wood notes, cedar box, black fruit, darkness, underbrush, burnt wood, tar, some liquorice --- Palate fresh, vivid, wonderful acidity, red fruit, sour cherry, some white pepper, cardboard, astringent, black tea, very nice bark aspects, flowery aspects --- Finishes on tart aspects and minerality, fruit flashing back. I am impressed, did not expect this level of quality, very nice development, somewhat rustic while classic Bordeaux. Very nice.
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11/26/2021 - TheFoodieTraveler wrote: 91 Points
needed abut 1-2 hours but then was surprisingly good for the price point. still some fruit, balanced with secondaries
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10/29/2021 - mhensel wrote: 90 Points
Transparent dark red --- Nose elegant wood notes, herbal, amarena cherry, almond, menthol, nice liquorice flavour, some cherries coming through, charcoal pretty present, nice green aspects--- Palate fresh, watery, nice acidity, red fruit, sour cherry, dark fruit --- Finishes on smoky and charcoal tones. Nice vine, somehow rustic while showing some elegance, nice flavor profile.
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3/12/2021 - fc1910 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another bottle showing that vintage can be most important,
bought some bottles 10+ years ago, for around 14, 15€, tonight pnp,
intense fragrance of dark rich fruit, spice,
the palate really lively, strong ripe tannin is meeting a good grip acid in the finish, rich, very delicate black cassis fruit, very well structured, energetic flow, mineral background, very long finish, a great QPR here!
In its beginning prime, but will easily hold another 5+ years!
**(*+ -?), around 91(+) potential in well stored, high class bottles!
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11/15/2020 - Brett Pitt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Finally there
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10/21/2020 - F1NUT Likes this wine: 90 Points
Typical French Polish nose reduces after half an hour to aged character. Palate modest to start but when the wine opens up after 2 hours is rather more intensivied. Good value.
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5/28/2020 - chatters wrote:
From Coravin. Initially it's a bit minty on the nose, which lends freshness to jubey, ripe blackcurrant. On the palate there is a touch of bitterness that doesn't agree with me, the fruit is quite raisined. Hmm.
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5/27/2020 - Julian Marshall wrote: 90 Points
Lots of oak and alcohol but if you like the style, this is really quite good. No sign of tiring yet, the fruit is still vibrant and much to my surprise, this outclassed a Cantemerle 08 tasted at the same time.
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5/11/2020 - euroyup wrote:
Kept partly under condition 1 for some years, but mostly under 2 (see my profile) since autumn 2011. No decant. Color: very dark ruby-purple. Taste: good, a bit overripe fruit, dominated by a lot of tannins, with an OK acidity. A short finish with licorice. At the second day the tannins were a bit more resolved, but still rather drying, and the lush fruit came a bit more at the front. The alcohol was not that much dominant as was the case with other bottles. (The TN-writers who advised a decant of 2-3 hours might have been right. Unfortunately I didn't notice that advise earlier.) For now 87
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4/4/2020 - dankrems wrote: 90 Points
Three hour decant. Blackberries, tobacco, pencil shavings, hint of spice. Nice wine for a casual evening meal
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2/25/2020 - euroyup wrote: 88 Points
Color: very dark purple. Taste: at the first day compared to my last TN of 10-02-19 with a bit more, nice mature notes. The tannins were almost fully resolved, which made the wine rather soft, but it was also a little bit flat or tired. Still quite attractive. But at the second day unexpectedly dominated by a lot of alcohol. In common for me Medoc 2009 over all so far does not appear to be the vintage with the superlative quality it was destined for. At the first day 88, second no rating.
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2/9/2020 - The-E-Man Likes this wine:
In a lovely spot right now. Give it a couple of hours. Not sure it’ll gain much from ongoing cellaring as the fruit is becoming less pronounced but there’s not much additional complexity in return. Shows off the warmth of the growing season. Very pleasant, soft, rich, merlot-driven accessible classic claret at an outstanding QPR; just don’t expect too much. Great midweek drinking or with food. 2009 blend: 49% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, 6% petit verdot.
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1/21/2020 - Eubeub wrote: 88 Points
Très bon rapport qualité prix
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12/9/2019 - isbjoern wrote: 88 Points
Quite a ripe Bordeaux with sweet and slightly overripe fruit. Soft, warm and accessible, more Merlot than Cabernet. Soft tannins, fine notes of rusty iron, licorice and a bit of tobacco. A very good wine, best with food, nothing special though. Good now, will hold for a few more years, but based on its evolution over 2 days I would not cellar for too long. - 88 points
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10/2/2019 - euroyup wrote: 88 Points
Nice, quite rich nose with mature notes. Also the taste was better than last time, also less unresolved tannins. The best bottle so far. Will be still drinkable in 2020. 88(-89).
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7/29/2019 - euroyup wrote: 88 Points
Taste: nice, lively and quite rich (mostly red) berry-fruit, quite full. Not surprisingly also this bottle had far to much burning alcohol - was it really the 14,5% on the label? Still quite attractive. 88.
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7/8/2019 - euroyup wrote: 88 Points
Color: rather turbid purple with a bit of ruby. Maybe drunk a bit to warm. Nose: herbs, especially laurel. Taste: rather sweet red and some dark fruit, but already a bit more mature notes. Good acidity. This was the best bottle of this wine so far, although the lively fruit had moved backwards and the mature notes are in front. 88-89.
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3/10/2019 - auldalliance wrote:
Decanted 2 hours before serving. Deep colour with no browning at the rim. Some fruit, blackcurrants, on the nose with some more earthy notes too.
Tannins much more noticeable than previous bottles, very drying tannins too. Fruit still evident, along with some acidity. Alcohol not too evident despite a high content for claret.
Decent match with roast beef, but too tannic for the cheese. Interesting to note the different comments on this one - I've had two quite different experiences of it too. Not as good as last two bottles, but difficult to tell if this is bottle variation or it's going downhill. The colour tells me not, but I wonder if the tannins will now submerge the fruit.
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2/2/2019 - chatters wrote:
Annual Coravin blitz - day three (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. spiced blackcurrant and bramble, a little cream and almost herbaceous noes. Cedar. Quite dense and alcoholic on the palate the fruit s more raisined and some liquorice joins. Tannins present but subdued. Hmm.
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12/2/2018 - auldalliance wrote:
Vibrant and deep colour. Blackcurrants and leather on nose.
Smooth palate with some tannins in background, doesn't taste or feel lke 14%. In the sweet spot now.
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11/12/2018 - euroyup wrote: 88 Points
Taste: not that much fruit; the tannins this time were not fully resolved and probably hid the fruit. A herbal note and like earlier bottles quite a lot of alcohol. Also lacking a bit of concentration. Nevertheless quite elegant. At the second day and a drunk bit cooler the concentration as OK. Next bottle after one year of keeping. At the first day with duck 87, at the second with a sausage of deer 88.
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11/10/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Bordeaux Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typically, something like 48% Merlot, 30% C.S., 20% C.F., & 2% P.V., from vines ave 30 yrs of age, grown in the gravelly clay soil of a single, hilly 68 acre plot "alongside the Gironde river in the commune of Saint-Seurin de Cadourne next door to the Saint-Estèphe appellation area; The harvest is steeped for 15 days at 5°C, using dry ice; fermentation for 7 days; about 10 days of final maceration, fermented from 25-30°C with temp regulation, then aged 1 yr in barrels (1/3 new)." Typically 9-10,000 cs bottled unfined & unfiltered.
N: Closed, but seems ripe; Intensity lurking?
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt fairly quickly met by an astringent pucker which only somewhat resolves by the LONG finish with a tangy/swtness & OCCASIONAL glimpses of bitterness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '21, I'm guessing, then making its 20th? 14.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. 90 pts WA, 89 WS, 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, + the "Tasting Notes" section of wine-searcher has NUMEROUS review citations. [This vendor's $39.95 is $6 > the only U.S. listing on wine-searcher.]
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8/21/2018 - BNWM Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Lively, dark garnet color. Blackcurrant and stewed plum nose. Quite straightforward taste with noticeable alcohol, good acidity and slightly dry tannins, which aren’t not yet fully integrated and which I doubt they will. Nice, but a bit too manufactured for my taste.
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8/7/2018 - euroyup wrote: 88 Points
The tannins are resolved now (see my earlier TN's). This wine is ready to be drunk and mature now, at least when kept the way I did: a short time under condition 1, mostly under condition 2 since 2011 (see my profile). Good fruit, quite concentrated, and with an agreeable round taste. The alcohol was less prominent than whith earlier bottles. Nice wine that can be drunk at least until 2020. (87-)88.
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3/13/2018 - euroyup wrote: 88 Points
Still young quite a huge wine, mostly because of the 14,5% alcohol. Still nice. 88.
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3/10/2018 - neomarcel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Maybe it will be better.
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2/9/2018 - auldalliance Likes this wine:
First bottle of this for a while. Double decanted about an hour or so before drinking.
First night was full on blackcurrant going on to quite heady cassis on the nose. Same fruit with some initial sweetness on the palate but a firmer tannic finish. Didn't notice the 14% alcohol really. Pleasant, and more complete than last time.
Kept half for 2 nights later in vacusealed bottle. Unfortunately the fruit had faded quite a lot and the tannins seemed firmer rather than softer. Oxidation I suspect. Maybe not young enough to hold together.
The 'like' relates to the first night tasted. Suggest you drink up on day of opening.
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9/26/2017 - euroyup wrote:
Twice decanted for two hours and aerated when poured. Color: dark purple. Nose: nice fruity nose with plum and berries. Taste: nice, quite lively fruit, which is partly dominated bij 14% of alcohol, but not as much as in my last bottle. Already nice secondary notes have emerged in the meantime. Acidity is OK. At the third day on its own still some unresolved tannins and a lot of alcohol. This wine has developed well since and has entered its drinking window. Probably still has upwards potential. To drink at least until 2020. For now 88(-89).
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5/26/2017 - chatters wrote:
2.5 hour double decant which seems to have done wonders for this - from the bottle it was a bit foursquare but with time it is bold and ripe blackcurrant and liquorice, cedar and sweet spice, broad on the palate with avuncular tannins. Quite modern Bordeaux or, perhaps, more of a reflection of the vintage. Pretty nice.
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2/19/2017 - UK Don wrote: 89 Points
Still developing - more stewed fruit and a bit hot still. Unsure where it'll go. Will re visit in a year as have 8 bottles left.
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2/12/2017 - epiphany Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark purple color. Ripe dark fruits and creamy oak spice on the nose. Medium body with dark fruits and walnuts on the palate. Super ripe but enough acidity to keep things in check. 14% alcohol just a bit evident. Tannins are savory and mouth puckering dry. Good now or keep for a while.
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1/31/2017 - euroyup wrote:
Half of the time since about april 2011 kept under condition 1, half of the time under 2 (see my profile). Comparable with my note of 31th October 2016. I now conclude, that this wine is not mature. There is nice sweet fruit like cherries at the background, but the intrusive combination of astringent tannins and burning alcohol makes me intend to keep my other bottles for a year or more.
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10/31/2016 - euroyup wrote:
Kept about two years under condition 1, last two years under condition 2 (see my profile). Taste: Blackberry, with blueberry and red berry. Some sous-bois and herbs. At the second day cherry-liquor in the nose, fruity and concentrated in the taste. On its own the tannins still were a bit astringent. Drunk with food the 14% alcohol didn’t really disturb this time. Compared to other tastings, this wine is developing well. Can be drunk now with food, but probably has upward potential. For now: 88-(89).
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8/22/2016 - euroyup wrote: 88 Points
Kept about two years under condition 1, last two years under condition 2 (see my profile). Color: dark purple. Interesting nose with with forest trees. Taste: red and some black fruit. Medium bodied. Quite soft and round. The tannins were resolved. The 14% alcohol was noticeable, but at the first day not disturbing. At the second it was dominating the taste to much. Ready to be drunk. I am curious if and how this wine will develop. At the first day: really enjoyable wine from a very good year. First day: 88(-89).
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6/29/2016 - Saint-Exupéry Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark purple. Very rich and ripe dark fruit on the nose with some spices and background oak. Super-ripe palate with just enough acidity to balance the very rich extract. Just a bit of alcoholic heat. Refreshing, savoury finish. Certainly quite new world but not overdone. Charming wine with some upside potential. Next bottle in five years.
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6/17/2016 - ThalesGaspar Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very good. Nice finish.
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5/28/2016 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
At Donna's pre-fireworks: tasty wine. Nores if cherry, blackberry, oak, toasr, tanins. Great with the homemade pizza at Donna T's and even better with a little more time. Drink now or hold 1-2 years
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4/19/2016 - sommwines Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good claret. Maybe it's the vintage, but comes off like a new world wine. Strawberry red color. Raspberry and spice on the nose. Lower acidity on the palate. Enjoyable claret.
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4/19/2016 - DENKMAELER Likes this wine: 91 Points
wow
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10/17/2015 - Klugi Wine Does not like this wine:
I used to like Charmail in the early 2000s, but this wine does not work for me. I hope it's not because of the vintage.
The aromas seemed a little cooked with plums and almost unpleasant stewy characteristics. Since the wine is missing structure, acidity and minerality I don't know how it should improve.
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10/17/2015 - Klugi Wine wrote: flawed
Corked
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9/8/2015 - euroyup wrote:
Decanted for four hours. Nose: directly after decanting very nice fruit with raspberry, but in the glass quite closed. Taste: quite closed, just for one moment one can taste the really good fruit, leather (?) and chocolate that are hidden behind the still quite harsh tannins. At the third day the nose as well as the taste were more open, with plum and blackberry, chocolate and nice herbal notes in the taste. Already quite much deposit, the tannins were resolved in considerable amount. Only the 14% alcohol is to much for me, be it less disturbing than one year ago. This wine has developed since one year, but still needs at least one, maybe two more years of cellaring. I can’t rate it now, but am curious how this will develop. Potenially 88+?
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4/20/2015 - chatters wrote:
From Coravin. Biscuit, cassis, cream and slight vanilla on the nose as well as a touch of alcohol heat. In the mouth the wine has blackcurrant flavours but is a touch savoury as well. The tannins are chewy and there is a fair heft of alcohol warmth on the finish. Hmm. Time required I think.
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2/6/2015 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - around the northern hemisphere ish (My place, parramatta, sydney): From Coravin. Cassis, cream, vanilla, alcohol heat and spice on the nose. In the mouth the wine is juicy then black fruit hand in hand with grippy, chewy tannins, spice and alcohol heat. Still young.
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1/20/2015 - chatters wrote:
From Coravin. Biscuit, alcohol heat, spice, blackcurrant tending to cassis and a slightly meaty note on the nose. In the mouth the wine is savoury and spicy with plentiful tannic grip that is quite tough and chewy. Quite young.
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1/18/2015 - r.o.man Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tight, good concentration, sweet tannins. Medium body, full palate, quite long. Elegant, fresh. Opening with aeration. At least 5 years ahead.
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1/1/2015 - chatters wrote:
From Coravin. Leather black currant and plum, spice, alcohol heat all of which are quite muted. In the mouth the wine has flavours of leather, black fruit and spice. Very savoury though with chewy tannins. I still think this needs a bit more time to come together. I may push out my window for my remaining bottles for 4 years or so.
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12/25/2014 - Fateful Destiny wrote: 87 Points
A bit simple. Some Bordeaux characteristics, but it was a rather simple wine. Not a huge fan.
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12/13/2014 - Brett Pitt Likes this wine: 88 Points
Too young
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9/11/2014 - UK Don Likes this wine: 90 Points
Just ready to drink. Smooth creamy texture and ripe black fruits. Clearly from an amazing vintage and for £15 all in you can't go wrong. Will try another in 2 years as a bit primary. Salut!
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7/21/2014 - euroyup wrote:
Decanted once and drunk the day after. Colour: very dark. Taste: this wine is in a closed state. Better at the second day: good red fruit in the background and also some chocolate. The tannins are resolved in large amount, but not fully. I will not open my next bottle within one year. I still think this wine has good potential. For now 87-88, potentially 89+.
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7/12/2014 - Joe the Critic Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dry, fruity, and balanced, with a touch of coffee or tobacco and earth to balance the cassis fruit. Or as another taster put it, pencil shavings. Not a hint of sweetness that I can detect. Serious wine and a solid value for around $20.
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4/25/2014 - isbjoern wrote: 88 Points
Very ripe and sweet fruit for Bordeaux, almost raisiny and overripe, dark berry flavors dominate, also quite warm on the palate, but the texture is juicy and not too concentrated or overextracted, tannins are surprisingly soft, the oak is well integrated and adds licorice and pencil shaving flavors that linger on the finish. Approachable now but with potential for several years. Not the most typical Haut-Médoc, but tasty. - 88 points
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3/8/2014 - ekenneth wrote: 91 Points
Good buy for bordeaux. There's a good blend of tannin, lush fruit, a little oak, alcohol in balance.
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11/27/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
If you're seeking a Bordeaux value wine from the Left Bank, look no further. Lots of soft, polished, round, dark berries, licorice, coffee bean and earth are easy to find. Forward in style, this already fun to drink, Merlot dominated blend is a charmer.
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8/24/2013 - AMC Eagle wrote: 91 Points
1 hour decant; dark ruby-purple in colour. Nose of blueberries, vanilla, and earthy cassis. Black ashen fruits and creme de cassis on the palate; tannins do not interfere. Medium bodied with a medium finish. Not a bad QPR Bdx and worth the ticket.
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8/10/2013 - Tsubasa Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice, big and bold. Tannic is smooth, big berry taste. Love to buy more.
The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Blackberry. The body is Full. The wine has Leathery texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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7/14/2013 - pituitaryglenn wrote: 88 Points
Lovely, perfumed nose: first thought was blueberry jam on fresh toast. Plush and savory on the palette. Should look really good in a few years.
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4/10/2013 - StefanAkiko wrote: 88 Points
Well made, broad Bordeaux. Large, attractive, simple nose of cherry yoghurt and blueberries. Good structure in the mouth with firm tannin, good acids and still young fruit. It is a little short, but promising. Should come around with some time in the wine cellar. Married Grana Padano cheese dice and liver paste.
From glass btl at Milestone Bar w/Kosugi sensei.
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2/12/2013 - Greenvine wrote:
Possibly corked. Bitter. Almost undrinkable.
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2/12/2013 - Greenvine wrote: 92 Points
Blueberry. Wet rock. Delicious.
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1/20/2013 - RunningMonkey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent, elegant style, with some élan. Buy more if possible.
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7/1/2012 - Tsubasa wrote: 92 Points
Great Bordeaux, lovely vanilla nose, loaded with red fruits. A good pick for the 09 production. Tannic is still a bit strong and will be perfect afterw years. Will buy more if there's the chance.
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10/30/2011 - euroyup wrote:
Tasted after opening: more fruit than in august (see my note of Augst 8th), fine but very much tannins. Drunk after four times decanting and keeping the decanted wine for two days. Color: very dark purple. Nose: rather mute. Taste: good, pure fruit, mixed black and red. Much less tannins than directly after opening. Interesting secondary - I assume - flavours are coming up, but are hard to define for me. At the second day a hint of barnyard in the nose and still more interesting flavours. Concentrated, (medium to) full body. This seems a haut medoc with very good potential. Only the alcohol (14%) seems to high for me, at least at this moment. 89, potentially up to 91.
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8/8/2011 - euroyup wrote:
Color: very dark purple, almost black. Nose: fruit, rather closed. Taste: also rather closed, the fruit is rather hidden. Fine tannins. Concentrated, (medium to) full bodied, medium finish, balanced. Quite the character of a St. Estephe, which doesn’t surprise, because the vineyard borders to St. Estephe and has the same kind of soil. In the aftertaste the hidden fruit seemed noticeable. After all this seems at least for the moment an austere wine, but it wouldn’t surprise me, when this turns out to be very good after the four to five years this needs cellaring for getting its optimum (according to the winemaker). Potential 88-91?
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