Fruits noirs au nez, touche de chocolat, bien expressif. Fondu, fruits noirs, longueur appréciable. Amertume qui se pointe en finale. Tres bien. Encore beaucoup de vie. Attendre encore!
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Started drinking after 1/2 hour decant and it didn't improve over the next 2-3 hours so no need for a longer decant. Nose: raspberry, other dark fruit, a slightest musty note (in a good way) that went away fairly quickly. Pallate: soft medium body mouthfeel, bursting with fruit Finish: fruit fades to pleasant moderate tannins. Mild -moderate acidity Overall: seems perfect to drink now! Likely will stand up to aging much longer. As I drank it more and got about 2.5 hours since decant the fruit aroma mostly went away. Still good but enjoyed the earlier pours a bit more.
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Quite a cedary nose despite not having much if any Cabernet Sauvignon in the assemblage. Fruit was limited but there was still life in this wine which demonstrated the quality of the vintage and the winemaking. As I have said before, comparatively good value for a Bordeaux.
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Modern, extracted, and..........Bordeaux. Leathery, meaty notes, yet still rich with bramble fruits. Pretty delicious 14 years on, particularly for a basic Bordeaux. Drink up, it probably won't improve much.
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No apparent danger yet of going downhill albeit not the fruit bomb of a few years ago. The nose is cedar and blackcurrant with an edge of sawdust and that dusty edge carries through to the palate but in a truly lovely way. The finish is not particularly long but then this is a Castillon so it is what you could imagine. Very enjoyable and maturing nicely
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Decanted for an hour. Very dark still, plums, dark berries and cedar. Same on palate with cola and leather. Big fruit, smooth and medium bodied this is a good table wine. To me, still improving with plenty of time left.
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Dark color N: meat, smoke, cigar, spices, flowers P: dark meat/blood, dark fruits, very powerful, very good tannins and acid structure, lasting long. A very good wine and extraordinary QPR!
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The nose was smelling like smoked meat. The mount is really powerful. Strong notes of mulberry zn sandalwood. The mouth is better than the nose. But this isn’t what I’ve expected. Have the bottle goes down the sink.
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Drank this just from the bottle. Do not think it needs to be decanted. Great colour, still fresh and juicy, alcohol rich and therefore good for bbq. I paired this with a USDA Prime stew and it was awesome. Should be ok for a few more years.
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Decanted 3 hours. Dark color, nose of plums, dark berries, and cedar. Same on the palate with addition of cocoa, cola, and a bit of spice. Big fruit, medium plus body, tannins resolving but still showing. Not the most complex, but a really nice bottle that improved with more time in the decanter. This is one of those wines that may be referred to as "Parkerized" although I don't consider that a bad thing. Modern in style.
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Reasonable, but not as nice as I'd hoped. A bit acidic, was expecting more tobacco from others' notes. Some nice plum, smooth tannins, but limited complexity. I decanted for two hours.
I have the 2016 as well which, although young, is drinking nicer.
Note to self: had with beef tagine, which did not pair well at all. Back to Chinon! [Notes are from tasting before and after dinner]
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Splash decanted. All black fruits, plums, brambles, dusting of cocoa powder, slight herbaceous notes with an odd note of cardboard...more of the same on the palate (that cardboard is thankfully absent) plush fruits helps with alcohol warmth, tannins are present and persistent. Still very primary but intergrated. Yum
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Plush, rich, bit of fruitcake spice, rounded tannins. Not massively complex but enough going on and delivers exactly what you would want when opening an '09. Still a couple of years of hedonism left in it before who knows what? Very, very nice right now.
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Dark, youthful crimson. Powerful nose, full of dark berry jelly and some pencil shaving; not very complex, but sufficiently interesting and immediately open for business. In the mouth, big bodied, polished tannins, succulent; overall a bit jammy, but with sufficient structure and freshness. Good length. Not complex or complicated, but modern Bordeaux in the better sense, that has matured quite well. Very enjoyable with braised lamb.
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This appears to have emerged from a “grumpy” period and whilst I suspect it will never be the glorious fruit bomb of yore, it could be said that this is now more balanced with secondary flavours of earthy leather and lead pencil mixed with the red fruit that verges on raspberry. Not sure how long this will last.
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Exhilarating.... Nearly blackcurrant juice colour. Super fruity nose and palate. Long. Punching really well now. A very good Cotes de Castillon. Will keep but why hold back?
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Similar assessment to my note of July 2018, but this bottle had a hint of wet wood on the nose, which I hope is no more than a minor fault affecting this bottle. Otherwise, still very good, but with a hint of drying fruit, but maybe that's particular to this bottle. As I said in 2018, very enjoyable now, but will hold a couple of years.
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1 hour decant. Crimson color with pink meniscus. Great typicality in the aromatics: red berries, cassis, herbs and cedar. Palate is warm and fruit forward. Interesting spice notes on the back-end. Tannins completely resolved. Soft and round finish; medium length. Perfect with NY Strip. Delicious.
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Beau nez de fruits bleus, de prunes, légères notes tertiaires. On retrouve cela à l'attaque. Belle longueur et une austérité qui s'estompe avec un peu d'air. Millésime chaud, ça paraît, c'est enrobé sans être dans l'excès. les 14.5% d'alcool se font sentir mais aussi sans excès. Encore beaucoup de chemin devant. Un autre 5 ans minimum avant la prochaine bouteille.
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Nice deep dark fire-red with no bricking whatsoever. On the nose, open aromas of raspberries and with air blackcurrant, and a bit of herbs and spices. On the palate, the attack is frank and very full-bodied with a lot of everything - fruit, tannin (though rounded, but drying) and acidity. Medium to good length of the fruit and the whole... mix. From an aroma perspective, it is not overly complex nor overly precise, yet surprisingly young looking/smelling/tasting for its age/appellation. Do I like it? Well, same as for the 2012s, I prefer the Clos Marsalette from the same producer. More complexity, balance and less power and overtness. I also think I preferred the 2012 Ailguilhe to this 2009, but then it was a lot younger and less over the top. I can see many people liking this, but I find it a little too modern (or Californian?) for my taste. This is an appellation I have only seldom tasted (4 times) over the years, and I don't get much of an impression of location (terroir), but then I may just not be able to recognise this terroir for lack of having tasted it that often. Ready to drink now, probably good for another 5-6 years, but beware, the fruit may fade faster than the tannin. Not really my cup of tea, 88-90?
Okay, okay, with air and time, I started to like this more. Still over-the-top, a little simple, but pleasant to drink. Pushing up to 90.
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As noted in a review about a month ago, this bottle is somewhat of a fruit forward wine with tannins that have largely resolved. Cassis, spice, and mild tannins characterized this bottle also. Should drink well for 8-10 years.
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Served with grilled NY strip steak, double decanted about an hour before serving. Casisis, leather, wood, and spices on the nose. Somewhat of a fruit forward wine with tannins that have largely resolved. Look forward to drinking these over the next 5-10 years.
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Decanted for 3 hours. This comes across as a big, modern styled, ripe and rich wine with notes of blackberry, cassis, licorice, earth and still some oak. Medium to full bodied and with a dense flavor profile, this is starting to soften, but could probably still use more time. Nice qpr.
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Another highly successful bottle from this vintage but confirmation it would seem that the luscious baby fruit has faded to be replaced with a tougher darker layer. Still possible that this will evolve again.
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I probably wouldn’t recognize as Bordeaux blind. Massive scale, red and black fruits. High extraction. But the tannins are rather soft and fruit plush. Moderate finish adding toast and coffee. A no apologies wine. No heat despite the scale. Gotta be in the mood for this but it has a place.
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Plaisir entièrement retrouvé sur cette bouteille qui a vieilli à merveille, offrant ce côté luxuriant des 2009, avec ses notes de bois exotique et d'épices, sur une bouche suave mais parfaitement équilibrée.
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Annual Coravin blitz - day two (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Polished with plum blackberry and dusty sweet spice backed by cedar and a little bit of almost tomato leaf. On the palate it's a bit jammy and concentrated but is nicely balanced with drying, floury tannins. Medium plus length. Hmm.
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Excellent, fruit forward Bordeaux from 2009 which echoes the characteristics of the vintage. Nose of cassis, spices and wood with moderately intense fruit and light tannins in the mid-range and finish. Should hold and improve for a number of years.
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Decanted for a couple of hours, which is highly recommended, the nose will open up more, this starts off a little hot. The nose has that potent kick you get from this style of wine, with red fruit and deep oak. The palate needs time to open up, drink this slowly and watch its demeanor change. The tannins are a little tough but will mellow, I would cellar this for a couple of more years to allow further integration.
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Deep, dark purple, bordering on black, with a nose of blueberry, plum, forest floor and oak. On the palate this is a ripe, modern, rich, medium to full bodied wine, that tastes of blackberry, cassis, earth, licorice, cherry, spice, and still noticeable oak. Another 2009 Bordeaux winner, that represents an excellent QPR, and although I think it has room to improve with time in bottle, this was surprisingly good to drink now. If you like a more modern style of wine, this is going to impress you. Amazing how well these "lesser" 09 chateau are showing almost across the board while letting the big boys sleep.
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I have drunk a few bottles from this appellation and normally they are dry slightly dusty but comparatively value drinking. This was something else completely. This is a serious powerful wine dark fruited and broody with dense layering of tarry unctuousness. The tannins are there but in balance. There is a just a touch of cedar and liquorice on the long finish. A bonus point for vfm, not something I see often In Bordeaux in recent years should hold up for a good five years yet.
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Consistent with my earlier note, although maybe I was too pessimistic about this holding up - it was almost as good on the second day, with just a touch of extra dryness on the finish.
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Another bottle of this.Very fruit forward,the aromas of black cherry and maraschino cherry just jump out of the glass.Rich and smooth,absolutely not overripe,with wonderful balance and length....this was singing. Excellent juice and amazing QPR !
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One hour decant. Opaque purple-black colour. Hefty sediment. Violet, plum, blackberry, pepper, mineral, all spice, tobacco, leather. Firm tannins and balanced acidity. Easily held up to beef short rib with mushroom risotto. First revisit of this wine in 1.5 years and the improvement is noticeable. I suspect the '09 D'Aiguilhe has entered its peak phase and has the structure to remain in top form for another 5+ years.
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Tons of ripe fruit, blue plums and bilberries, cherries. Hints of herbs like thyme, very well integrated oak, enough acidity to keep it fresh and a good tannic structure.
Drinking very well now and over the next few years probably. Superb QPR at €22 en primeur.
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Haven‘t had this in a while. Pretty dark purple color. Open and radiant, with notes of dark chocolate, plum, sweet dark fruit, some earth, cassis, also some sweet spices and some flowery notes. It‘s medium-full bodied, has nicely balanced medium acidity and medium tannin that has nicely integrated. Beautiful freshness and good length. Another excellent QPR Bordeaux and just so delicious to drink right now.
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Dark colour, opulent nose, touch of liquorice, very smooth and rich palate, finishing a little "hot", possibly due to the very high alcohol (14.5). Claret purists might find this a little too New World in style but with food and a short decant, it's a very satisfying bottle. Probably at its peak now and will hold for a year or two, but I don't think there is much to be anticipated in terms of tertiary development; with all that alcohol, it's liable to become chunky and unbalanced.
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Dark ruby hue that opens with violet, bay leaf and aniseed aromas. The full-body density layers black cherry, charcoal and truffle flavors on the palate.A lingering finish offers hints of smoky allspice.
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Quite modern styled, with lush dark fruit, and lower acidity and plumper texture than more typical Bordeaux. A nice wine to enjoy so long as you appreciate the style. Not a wine to age for many more years.
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Opened and served with beef ragu. Did not decant. Have not opened one of these bottles for about 3 years. Was a bit courser than the one I opened in 2014. Still, nice nose of cassis, leather, and wood, slightly astringent moderate tannins and good finish. Look forward to drinking more of these over the next 4-5 years.
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Two years ago I thought this wine was nearing the end of its lifetime. This bottle is still lively, full of the big fruit and complexity I would expect from a fine Bordeaux. Still drinking smoothly with integrated tannins and wonderful dark fruit tones, some wood and great taste throughout. I have a few bottles left and will try them for the next several months
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Fantastic! The nose is full of ripe dark fruit with a certain freshness. In the mouth it's structured, juicy, full of ripe dark (and some red) fruits. A modern Bordeaux from a very good vintage. One of the best Value wines I've had (bought at under £20).
Fantastic, dark, almost black. Needs carafing and is after 4 days rounder without any oxidation and full bodied. May be better kept for 5-10 more years.
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Color: Dark, almost black and impenetrable. Nose: There is some complexity. Oranges, cherries and licorice. Mouth: Big and bold but lacking aromas a bit compared to the bigness. A bit too bitter (overextraction?) and a bit too alcoholic. Full bodied wine. A very good quality but sometimes less is more. Drink now. It won't improve.
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Opaque purple turning violet at the rim with a reflective edge. The nose is highly effusive bearing higher alcohol levels in this ripe vintage showing blueberry compote, potpourri, vanilla, and toasted oak. Among the vintages, this is the ripest in decades. The palate is full-bodied with a velvety texture. Flavors of ripe plum and blueberry pie form a heightened core that's almost mentholated extending all the way to the long, jammy finish. What a joy to drink! This is the most attractive wine so far for this Chateau. Drink now until 2024.
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Deep ruby colour. Leather, rubber, violet, plum, raisin, cherry, sawdust, mercury, earth. Decent acidity with firm tannins. Reasonable length. A few more years may expose additional layers of flavour. Potential for improvement.
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Modern, extracted black wine style. Chewy tannins, toasty oak, bitter dark chocolate, black berry flavors, good acidity. Lots of intensity, but not (yet?) balanced. Good quality, but not my favorite style. - 88 points
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Définitivement un de mes vins préférés du millésime 2009. Beaucoup de fruit, une belle acidité et une légère touche boisée. Belle expression du merlot. Bien qu'il va tenir la route encore quelques années, je ne vois aucune raison d'attendre. Il est si bon maintenant!
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Dark red. Impressive nose, full body. Still tight, feels very young. I guess it will unfold even more within the next years. Rather modern and international style, but very nice to drink.
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Better than my last bottle. Beautiful merlot aroma, very fruity. Good mouthfeel with a little touch of acidity. Taste like a very good american merlot. Liked it very much!
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Big bold wine that will surely get better with age. Not so expressive on the nose but powerful tannins and acidity that when they subside will reveal plum, black and red berries, vanilla, and carmel. Outstanding QPR. Needs at least 5 more years. Full bodied, and medium finish.
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Not as expressive as the last bottle, with a coffee nose and plum fruits on the palate. Much tighter with little depth. On night 2 was more expressive, but similar character. Dark plummy fruits and coffee overtones, with somewhat coarse tannins. In the plush modern camp. Probably in a awkward phase but approachable.
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Still drinking nicely. Cab nose with cherries, berries on the nose, wood and cassis in the mouth, nice finish, soft tannins. Probably getting near the end of its lifetime, so if you have some, drink and enjoy over the next year.
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Le vin semble s'être refermé depuis la dernière fois. Le boisé ressort trop à mon goût, la matière semblant être en retrait. Loin du vin exubérant et luxuriant bu quelques mois plus tôt.
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Closed on PnP, decanted for an hour. Sediment present. Aromatic plums on the nose on a very silky med-full body. Agree with those that say this is more new world, but there is a certain amount of refinement and a hint of earthiness that makes it Bordeaux. I just wish it showed a bit more complexity. Nevertheless, a delicious wine that paired well with our filet mignon.
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Garnet color leads to a nose of cassis, leather and dark chocolate. Medium body carries flavors forward while adding some cherry on mid palate. Tannins are sweet and dry. Finish lasts 20 seconds.
A very new world styled Bordeaux that squarely hits my sweet spot.
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Encore déçu de ce vin sur 2009....on est loin des 2004, 2005 et 2006 je trouves en ce moment. Gros fruit joufflu et capiteux, manque de complexité en ce moment....à attendre et espérer!
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this one got lost after having a bottle of torrione and Sociando Mallet 03. Still really nice product here. Not sure whether it is really worth waiting a lot longer, it has been extremely enjoyable as from release...
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A good, solid, well balanced Bordeaux. Earthy nose, good fruit on the palate, plenty of backbone, good finish. Lots of potential here. Still very young though and will need time to develop complexity.
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Très bon et très apprécié par tout les convives. Tannins bien intégrés, nez complexe, fruité (fruits rouges mûrs) légère nuance de cuir à l'horizon. Longue finale.
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Very nice wine with old world Bordeaux flavors. Enticing nose and paired with a Standing Rib Roast perfectly. This wine just kept my interest and made me want more. A great QPR! Can not go wrong with this Bordeaux especially for the price.
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Quite modern in style, as expected. Dark in color. Plum, coffee, and toast notes, with a plush palate. Quite concentrated. Could be from anywhere, but good in the style that it is. Drink or hold (mine will be consumed young)
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Great aroma on opening, full of fruit and slightly tannic. This is young right now, and will improve with a couple more years. Still enjoyable none the less. Great for the money paid, and good job this was the first bottle of 2 cases!
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Double decanted and aired for about an hour and a half; served with grilled duck breast. Nice nose of black cherries, cedar, plums, and spices. Soft, round tannins hidden by the fruit and good length. This is a very nice wine for the price, should improve for a few years, and should hold for 10 years or so. Glad this is the first bottle of my case.
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What a fruit bomb ! But not only.....Pretty nose,black cherries,candied plum,milk chocolate,violets,graphite,oriental spices.Silky texture,good structure and balance.A lovely wine,with good potential.
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Changed significantly during the last 9 months. Nose - very appealing, sexy (as before). Sniffing after swirling the wine slowly in the decanter is fun! Body: Medium+, Tannins have mellowed a bit, acid is not that obvious any more. Still a pretty jammy and slightly hot wine (which to me is ok, I tend to prefer modern wines). Harmony is coming slowly but continuously.
I give it one or two more year(s) to be fully enjoyable. I do not think this wine will close down. The only hesitation I have is the relative low filling level of all the bottles I have seen so far. But well - this wine is not for century long ageing and return on investment, it's for enjoyment within the next 3-7 years.
Still one of the best qpr-wines in Bordeaux. Bought 12 more for 24 € / bottle.
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Dark purple color. Nose of dark chocolate, some dark fruits and earth. On the palate there are notes of dark and red fruit, chocolate, earth, some sweet spices and some minerality. Medium-full bodied and dense with medium+ tannin and medium acidity and a very good finish. Year after year Château d'Aiguilhe is one of the best values of the Bordeaux right bank. It's slightly on the modern side but shows all the nice aromatics you would expect. I would still give this another year or two but it's already drinking really nicely.
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What a day. Xmas lunch got interruptiedebat by a (minor) kids accident. 5 stitches and 3 hours later lunch had a different dimension. Family really is the most important in life. Now a couple of hours later everything is quiet and peaceful again i am enjoying a glass of aiguilhe left over from lunch in front of the fireplace. Perhaps the wine is slightly less impressie than a year ago, but i am enjoying it on a completely different level. Will hold on to remaining 7 bottles for min3 yes. Merry xmas to all.
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No decant. Quite modern in style, sexy and appealing. Good structure and weight that will serve it well in the cellar although with air this was performing pretty well. Hints of cedar wood and some exotic spices. 90
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pretty nose but palate is a little tight with mouth drying tannins and a good bit of acidity. Definitely enjoyed but will hold other 2 bottles for a while to see how it mellows.
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Mixed emotions. On the first day I was quite disappointed. Yes, I can understand why people call this wine 'Sexy'. But to me it just seems like a wine without terroir, (very) high acidity and tannins, which recommend 3 more years of cellaring. Pretty hot, jammy, lots of fruit, but elegance, earthiness and harmony is missing.
On day two, it was way better. Integrated, a (tiny) bit of vanilla appeared and I was somehow able to enjoy it.
Prices in Germany range from 25,50 € up to 34,50 € / bottle. Compared to Chianti Classico it’s far away from a good qpr. But hey, we are (almost) in Bordeaux here....
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We drank the Château d’Aiguilhe 2009 alongside the 2000. We decanted both wines for one hour before we poured the first glasses. The 2009 was dark purple in colour and offered ripe fruit, ripe strawberry, blackberry, raw meat, vanilla and chocolate on the nose. On the palate the full-bodied wine showed blackberry, red currant, plum, spices, vanilla, coffee and coconut, paired with medium-plus ripe tannin, medium to medium-plus acidity, a creamy mouthfeel and very good length. The oak was quite present and although still being sexy and very drinkable the wine was less intriguing than bottles I had about a year ago. I will try to hold my other bottles for about two years.
We saved half of the bottle and consumed it over the next days. On day one I also preferred the 2009 to the 2000, whereas I preferred the 2000 on day two for it balance. I would rate the 2009 90 points on day one and 88 on day two.
Compared to the 2000 the 2009 was fuller-bodied, more opulent and sexier, but also more oak-driven, whereas the 2000 was the more balanced wine of the two, but as opposed to the 2009 dominated by brett.
(A little fun fact: the 2000 was bottled in green glass bottles whereas the 2009 was bottled in brown glass bottles.)
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This turned out to be a pleasant surprise tonight. The nose is sweet and complex. The extraction is huge, bordering on black. Lovely mouthfeel which is expansive and broad. Very toasty which I assume to be aspects of the barrel. Blueberries everywhere. Don't know the blend percentage, but the cabernet franc is very evident. Very nicely constructed. Will only get better with bottle age.
:0)
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Decanted for two hours and the wine seems disjointed a bit. Two things jumped right off the bat on this wine - acidity level and sourness on the finish dominated this wine. I rated this initially an 87 pt wine... Wine from decanter was put back in the bottle and day 2 tasting was better. The nose was just all red fruit and cherries. Very sweet on the front palate and sour cherries coat the mid palate and finishes off with a nice tannic structure that will soften up over time. Note that on day one there was a spicy/heat component on the finish that is no longer apparent on day 2. I think this is where you lay down for at least another 5 yrs to see how interesting this wine develops. Opened this bottle bc I wanted to see if it was worth buying a case...not sure yet and will hold off to taste other 09 Bordeaux before I take the plunge. In the meantime I have 2 more bottles and and a 3 L in my cellar.
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Virginia vs. The World - A Blind Taste-Off (Washington Wine Academy): Very ripe on the nose: sweet plums, purple Gushers candy, red licorice, notes of sweet incense. A fruit-forward wine to the core, with lots of toasty mocha accenting the candied plum and cherry fruit. Yummy, but not the most balanced wine. I guessed this as a Virginia red because of those sweet fruit notes. I was surprised to see this was Bordeaux, but it's a modern-style from a really ripe vintage, so it makes sense.
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Wonderfully open, this wowed the crowd at a dinner recently, very voluptous and round, full bodied. The Merlot could not be any riper. After this bottle had a bottle of St. Emilion from the restaurant and it paled in comparison. Count me as fan of this property! I think that this will never be closed....problem is keeping your hands off it.
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Had heard good things about this estate and wanted to try a bottle. It is amazing that the '09s are already drinking but it does need a couple of hours in the decanter. Big hedonistic primary fruits but some complexity there that will come through more with age. Amazing value and something I will be drinking more of in the future.
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We poured the wine into a decanter and served the first glass immediately, poured the remainder back into the rinsed bottle after about two hours and consumed it the following day. The wine was very dark purple in colour. It offered an expressive nose of sweet dark fruit, black currant, blueberry, blackberry, sweet spices, vanilla, mocha, cream, chocolate and tobacco. The palate was ripe and dense, with black currant, spices, lots of chocolate, cocoa, mocha, coffee, vanilla, coconut and tobacco, paired with medium-level acidity, medium plus to high ripe tannin, a good, creamy mouthfeel and very good length. The wine was equally good on day two, but even more oak-dominated. A delicious, well-made modern-style Bordeaux that is drinkable pop&pour, offers great value for the money and is definitely worth seeking out.
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Again two bottles less. I fear i will never see any aged aiguilhe 09 s in my cellar. Consistant with previous bottles, excellent. Convinced that this will not shut down.
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Lovely dark purple colour. Appealing rusticity about this wine: on the nose and palate. Chunky, angular black fruit and smokiness on the nose with plum, blackberry and chewy tannins making up a lovely vinous experience, especially for the price. it's big, but balanced. I love this.
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Fruity, silky, well balanced with a wonderful and welcomed long length! SO impressed with this young wine, almost uncertain about letting it age it is so good already! More detailed tasting notes in future.
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Robe rubis foncé sombre d'une grande intensité. Le nez est très marqué par l'élevage (vanille, tabac) avec tout du même du fruit (surtout à l'ouverture). En bouche quel jus! C'est très fruité (mûre, cassis), très mûr mais déjà assez abordable. Le tout est un peu gâché par la finale très marquée par l’élevage (le tabac notamment) et cela s'accentue au fil de la dégustation ce qui finit par être assez écœurant. Bien et potentiellement très bien si l'élevage s'intègre.
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I keep on opening these babies. So incredibly drinkable and sexy, even though this surely merits cellar time. IMO this is great Q/P in any context (not only Bordeaux).
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I poured the wine into a decanter and had the first glass immediately. The wine offered an intriguing nose, with red & dark fruits, black currant, blackberry, chilli, tobacco, dark chocolate, mocha, and coffee. On the palate the wine showed plum, black currant, blackberry, spices, dark chocolate, milk coffee, espresso and cola. The wine was juicy, with chewy, ripe and smooth tannins, high acidity and great length. It was very enjoyable right after popping the cork and drank consistently well over four days. I really liked the wine and was quite surprised by its early drinkability. Great value for the money and definitely worth seeking out. I ordered a case right after finishing the bottle.
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Licorice, jammy berries, coffee and chocolate scents lead to a plush, round, sexy and already approachable wine. Net yields in 2009 were an amazing 8 hls/ha.
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Julefrokost 2010 (Casa Smidt): Nose: Sewer, coffee, buttermilk, black currant. Palate: fresh and light plum and black currant fruit. Lacks some backbone but otherwise an okay wine.
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2009 d’Aiguilhe - This 50-hectare vineyard is planted on thin clay on top of limestone. Net yields in 2009 were 8 hls/ha. The wine is aged in 50% new oak. This wine, 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc, is deeply colored, and shows aromas of spice, oak, dark jammy berries, anise, strawberries, and chocolate. Full bodied and round, this fresh, supple wine finishes with dark cherry, spice, and licorice. 90-92 Pts
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2/14/2024 - Thefatbastard Likes this wine:
Fruits noirs au nez, touche de chocolat, bien expressif. Fondu, fruits noirs, longueur appréciable. Amertume qui se pointe en finale. Tres bien. Encore beaucoup de vie. Attendre encore!
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2/11/2024 - belfast taxman wrote: 89 Points
Our last bottle from this half case - I would not keep it much longer but there is still genuine enjoyment to be had.
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12/14/2023 - Bordeaux_saver Likes this wine: 89 Points
Started drinking after 1/2 hour decant and it didn't improve over the next 2-3 hours so no need for a longer decant.
Nose: raspberry, other dark fruit, a slightest musty note (in a good way) that went away fairly quickly.
Pallate: soft medium body mouthfeel, bursting with fruit
Finish: fruit fades to pleasant moderate tannins. Mild -moderate acidity
Overall: seems perfect to drink now! Likely will stand up to aging much longer. As I drank it more and got about 2.5 hours since decant the fruit aroma mostly went away. Still good but enjoyed the earlier pours a bit more.
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10/23/2023 - belfast taxman wrote: 90 Points
Quite a cedary nose despite not having much if any Cabernet Sauvignon in the assemblage. Fruit was limited but there was still life in this wine which demonstrated the quality of the vintage and the winemaking. As I have said before, comparatively good value for a Bordeaux.
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9/16/2023 - mike410 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent wine. Seven years since by last notes, and this is holding up very well. Drink now.
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8/8/2023 - Deaddeadwine Likes this wine:
Modern, extracted, and..........Bordeaux. Leathery, meaty notes, yet still rich with bramble fruits. Pretty delicious 14 years on, particularly for a basic Bordeaux. Drink up, it probably won't improve much.
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7/8/2023 - thalver wrote:
Drinking fine in a plump, modern Bordeaux way.....good balance, I'm not sure I see this developing much down the road...in a good place now
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3/12/2023 - belfast taxman wrote: 90 Points
No apparent danger yet of going downhill albeit not the fruit bomb of a few years ago. The nose is cedar and blackcurrant with an edge of sawdust and that dusty edge carries through to the palate but in a truly lovely way. The finish is not particularly long but then this is a Castillon so it is what you could imagine. Very enjoyable and maturing nicely
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3/2/2023 - Rick & Ilsa wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour. Very dark still, plums, dark berries and cedar. Same on palate with cola and leather. Big fruit, smooth and medium bodied this is a good table wine. To me, still improving with plenty of time left.
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1/27/2023 - ThMeyer wrote: 89 Points
Lots of tertiary notes - still a nice wine but a “drink up” for me
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12/23/2022 - Chrysostomus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark color
N: meat, smoke, cigar, spices, flowers
P: dark meat/blood, dark fruits, very powerful, very good tannins and acid structure, lasting long.
A very good wine and extraordinary QPR!
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4/10/2022 - Fre Does not like this wine: 80 Points
The nose was smelling like smoked meat. The mount is really powerful. Strong notes of mulberry zn sandalwood. The mouth is better than the nose. But this isn’t what I’ve expected. Have the bottle goes down the sink.
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11/26/2021 - kolbei Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drank this just from the bottle. Do not think it needs to be decanted. Great colour, still fresh and juicy, alcohol rich and therefore good for bbq. I paired this with a USDA Prime stew and it was awesome. Should be ok for a few more years.
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11/4/2021 - Rick & Ilsa wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Dark color, nose of plums, dark berries, and cedar. Same on the palate with addition of cocoa, cola, and a bit of spice. Big fruit, medium plus body, tannins resolving but still showing. Not the most complex, but a really nice bottle that improved with more time in the decanter. This is one of those wines that may be referred to as "Parkerized" although I don't consider that a bad thing. Modern in style.
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10/16/2021 - ThMeyer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely - still full of life
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9/19/2021 - Sean McGrath wrote: 88 Points
Reasonable, but not as nice as I'd hoped. A bit acidic, was expecting more tobacco from others' notes. Some nice plum, smooth tannins, but limited complexity. I decanted for two hours.
I have the 2016 as well which, although young, is drinking nicer.
Note to self: had with beef tagine, which did not pair well at all. Back to Chinon! [Notes are from tasting before and after dinner]
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9/19/2021 - Janstan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cassis, dark fruit went well with chargrilled steak
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9/17/2021 - belfast taxman wrote: 91 Points
Another very fine bottle, with Herdwick lamb cutlets, a great combo.
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9/7/2021 - Vince_chip wrote: 91 Points
Gros dépot au fond de la bouteille, fruits noirs. Bien bon.
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6/17/2021 - Thief Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark fruits, vanilla and kirsch. Very pleasant and great Q:PR
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6/11/2021 - chatters wrote:
Splash decanted. All black fruits, plums, brambles, dusting of cocoa powder, slight herbaceous notes with an odd note of cardboard...more of the same on the palate (that cardboard is thankfully absent) plush fruits helps with alcohol warmth, tannins are present and persistent. Still very primary but intergrated. Yum
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5/24/2021 - fozzibaer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still a beauty.
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3/27/2021 - DGW Likes this wine: 92 Points
Plush, rich, bit of fruitcake spice, rounded tannins. Not massively complex but enough going on and delivers exactly what you would want when opening an '09. Still a couple of years of hedonism left in it before who knows what? Very, very nice right now.
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3/10/2021 - L-C. wrote: 88 Points
Dark, youthful crimson. Powerful nose, full of dark berry jelly and some pencil shaving; not very complex, but sufficiently interesting and immediately open for business. In the mouth, big bodied, polished tannins, succulent; overall a bit jammy, but with sufficient structure and freshness. Good length.
Not complex or complicated, but modern Bordeaux in the better sense, that has matured quite well. Very enjoyable with braised lamb.
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2/28/2021 - John O' Likes this wine:
5 years later. poured 1/3 into another bottle for tomorrow. Aired in bottle for 1 hour. lovely juice.
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1/5/2021 - belfast taxman wrote: 92 Points
This appears to have emerged from a “grumpy” period and whilst I suspect it will never be the glorious fruit bomb of yore, it could be said that this is now more balanced with secondary flavours of earthy leather and lead pencil mixed with the red fruit that verges on raspberry. Not sure how long this will last.
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9/28/2020 - rjpbath Likes this wine: 91 Points
Exhilarating.... Nearly blackcurrant juice colour. Super fruity nose and palate. Long. Punching really well now. A very good Cotes de Castillon. Will keep but why hold back?
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6/27/2020 - Brussels 1049 wrote: 89 Points
Similar assessment to my note of July 2018, but this bottle had a hint of wet wood on the nose, which I hope is no more than a minor fault affecting this bottle. Otherwise, still very good, but with a hint of drying fruit, but maybe that's particular to this bottle. As I said in 2018, very enjoyable now, but will hold a couple of years.
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5/24/2020 - PeterMole wrote:
Very good, love it. Smooth, integrated tannines, earthy. Drink now. Decanted , does not need a lot of air.
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3/21/2020 - vino_per_tutti Likes this wine: 91 Points
1 hour decant. Crimson color with pink meniscus. Great typicality in the aromatics: red berries, cassis, herbs and cedar. Palate is warm and fruit forward. Interesting spice notes on the back-end. Tannins completely resolved. Soft and round finish; medium length. Perfect with NY Strip. Delicious.
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3/21/2020 - Thefatbastard wrote:
Beau nez de fruits bleus, de prunes, légères notes tertiaires. On retrouve cela à l'attaque. Belle longueur et une austérité qui s'estompe avec un peu d'air. Millésime chaud, ça paraît, c'est enrobé sans être dans l'excès. les 14.5% d'alcool se font sentir mais aussi sans excès. Encore beaucoup de chemin devant. Un autre 5 ans minimum avant la prochaine bouteille.
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3/13/2020 - ChristopherB wrote: 90 Points
Nice deep dark fire-red with no bricking whatsoever. On the nose, open aromas of raspberries and with air blackcurrant, and a bit of herbs and spices. On the palate, the attack is frank and very full-bodied with a lot of everything - fruit, tannin (though rounded, but drying) and acidity. Medium to good length of the fruit and the whole... mix. From an aroma perspective, it is not overly complex nor overly precise, yet surprisingly young looking/smelling/tasting for its age/appellation. Do I like it? Well, same as for the 2012s, I prefer the Clos Marsalette from the same producer. More complexity, balance and less power and overtness. I also think I preferred the 2012 Ailguilhe to this 2009, but then it was a lot younger and less over the top. I can see many people liking this, but I find it a little too modern (or Californian?) for my taste. This is an appellation I have only seldom tasted (4 times) over the years, and I don't get much of an impression of location (terroir), but then I may just not be able to recognise this terroir for lack of having tasted it that often. Ready to drink now, probably good for another 5-6 years, but beware, the fruit may fade faster than the tannin. Not really my cup of tea, 88-90?
Okay, okay, with air and time, I started to like this more. Still over-the-top, a little simple, but pleasant to drink. Pushing up to 90.
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3/2/2020 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 91 Points
As noted in a review about a month ago, this bottle is somewhat of a fruit forward wine with tannins that have largely resolved. Cassis, spice, and mild tannins characterized this bottle also. Should drink well for 8-10 years.
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1/27/2020 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Served with grilled NY strip steak, double decanted about an hour before serving. Casisis, leather, wood, and spices on the nose. Somewhat of a fruit forward wine with tannins that have largely resolved. Look forward to drinking these over the next 5-10 years.
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9/9/2019 - epiphany Does not like this wine:
Wow, lesson learned. If bringing older wine to a party take a backup bottle. This wine was oxidized upon opening.
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8/20/2019 - Rick & Ilsa wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. This comes across as a big, modern styled, ripe and rich wine with notes of blackberry, cassis, licorice, earth and still some oak. Medium to full bodied and with a dense flavor profile, this is starting to soften, but could probably still use more time. Nice qpr.
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5/19/2019 - belfast taxman wrote: 90 Points
Another highly successful bottle from this vintage but confirmation it would seem that the luscious baby fruit has faded to be replaced with a tougher darker layer. Still possible that this will evolve again.
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4/16/2019 - belfast taxman wrote: 90 Points
Okay - not the fruit sensation of a year or so ago but still a very good wine at a very (for Bordeaux) reasonable price
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2/28/2019 - Nutty08 wrote: 89 Points
I probably wouldn’t recognize as Bordeaux blind. Massive scale, red and black fruits. High extraction. But the tannins are rather soft and fruit plush. Moderate finish adding toast and coffee. A no apologies wine. No heat despite the scale. Gotta be in the mood for this but it has a place.
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2/5/2019 - Jeanda wrote: 92 Points
Plaisir entièrement retrouvé sur cette bouteille qui a vieilli à merveille, offrant ce côté luxuriant des 2009, avec ses notes de bois exotique et d'épices, sur une bouche suave mais parfaitement équilibrée.
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2/1/2019 - chatters wrote:
Annual Coravin blitz - day two (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Polished with plum blackberry and dusty sweet spice backed by cedar and a little bit of almost tomato leaf. On the palate it's a bit jammy and concentrated but is nicely balanced with drying, floury tannins. Medium plus length. Hmm.
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1/19/2019 - maxima wrote: 80 Points
Racolleur et surfait, BOF!
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1/7/2019 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent, fruit forward Bordeaux from 2009 which echoes the characteristics of the vintage. Nose of cassis, spices and wood with moderately intense fruit and light tannins in the mid-range and finish. Should hold and improve for a number of years.
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12/28/2018 - holon Likes this wine: 91 Points
85% Merlot, 15% CF; round and very well integrated tannins; nice now, I would not give much more time, 14,5% alc.
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12/1/2018 - benjaminbilliard Likes this wine: 90 Points
Generous but not overwhelming. Nice to drink now
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11/18/2018 - GRoz wrote: 89 Points
Sweet fruit and integrated tannins. Drank with a steak. In a good place right now. Would drink over next 3 years.
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10/27/2018 - quaffnov Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for a couple of hours, which is highly recommended, the nose will open up more, this starts off a little hot. The nose has that potent kick you get from this style of wine, with red fruit and deep oak. The palate needs time to open up, drink this slowly and watch its demeanor change. The tannins are a little tough but will mellow, I would cellar this for a couple of more years to allow further integration.
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8/6/2018 - Rick & Ilsa wrote: 92 Points
Deep, dark purple, bordering on black, with a nose of blueberry, plum, forest floor and oak. On the palate this is a ripe, modern, rich, medium to full bodied wine, that tastes of blackberry, cassis, earth, licorice, cherry, spice, and still noticeable oak. Another 2009 Bordeaux winner, that represents an excellent QPR, and although I think it has room to improve with time in bottle, this was surprisingly good to drink now. If you like a more modern style of wine, this is going to impress you. Amazing how well these "lesser" 09 chateau are showing almost across the board while letting the big boys sleep.
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6/24/2018 - belfast taxman wrote: 93 Points
I have drunk a few bottles from this appellation and normally they are dry slightly dusty but comparatively value drinking. This was something else completely. This is a serious powerful wine dark fruited and broody with dense layering of tarry unctuousness. The tannins are there but in balance. There is a just a touch of cedar and liquorice on the long finish. A bonus point for vfm, not something I see often In Bordeaux in recent years should hold up for a good five years yet.
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6/17/2018 - Brussels 1049 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with my earlier note, although maybe I was too pessimistic about this holding up - it was almost as good on the second day, with just a touch of extra dryness on the finish.
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5/29/2018 - valedeniro wrote: 93 Points
Another bottle of this.Very fruit forward,the aromas of black cherry and maraschino cherry just jump out of the glass.Rich and smooth,absolutely not overripe,with wonderful balance and length....this was singing. Excellent juice and amazing QPR !
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3/25/2018 - CorneilleLoiseau wrote: 92 Points
Nez: Très beau nez sur le cassis et les épices (Thym?) avec quelques notes minérales
Bouche: Toujours sur le cassis avec une belle attaque. Bonne longueur. Excellent QPR. Mieux que le 2004 ouvert il y a pas si longtemps.
La prochaine dans 4-5 ans.
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3/24/2018 - Winefeld wrote: 91 Points
One hour decant. Opaque purple-black colour. Hefty sediment. Violet, plum, blackberry, pepper, mineral, all spice, tobacco, leather. Firm tannins and balanced acidity. Easily held up to beef short rib with mushroom risotto. First revisit of this wine in 1.5 years and the improvement is noticeable. I suspect the '09 D'Aiguilhe has entered its peak phase and has the structure to remain in top form for another 5+ years.
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3/19/2018 - Zorba Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tons of ripe fruit, blue plums and bilberries, cherries. Hints of herbs like thyme, very well integrated oak, enough acidity to keep it fresh and a good tannic structure.
Drinking very well now and over the next few years probably. Superb QPR at €22 en primeur.
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3/11/2018 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 91 Points
Haven‘t had this in a while. Pretty dark purple color. Open and radiant, with notes of dark chocolate, plum, sweet dark fruit, some earth, cassis, also some sweet spices and some flowery notes. It‘s medium-full bodied, has nicely balanced medium acidity and medium tannin that has nicely integrated. Beautiful freshness and good length. Another excellent QPR Bordeaux and just so delicious to drink right now.
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2/6/2018 - Vince_chip wrote:
Sans note officielle, bu il y a plus de 2 semaines. M'a semblé bien mûr, avec des tanins assez corsés.
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1/7/2018 - Brussels 1049 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark colour, opulent nose, touch of liquorice, very smooth and rich palate, finishing a little "hot", possibly due to the very high alcohol (14.5). Claret purists might find this a little too New World in style but with food and a short decant, it's a very satisfying bottle. Probably at its peak now and will hold for a year or two, but I don't think there is much to be anticipated in terms of tertiary development; with all that alcohol, it's liable to become chunky and unbalanced.
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10/14/2017 - iDrum4Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark ruby hue that opens with violet, bay leaf and aniseed aromas. The full-body density layers black cherry, charcoal and truffle flavors on the palate.A lingering finish offers hints of smoky allspice.
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9/20/2017 - vinole wrote: 90 Points
Quite modern styled, with lush dark fruit, and lower acidity and plumper texture than more typical Bordeaux. A nice wine to enjoy so long as you appreciate the style. Not a wine to age for many more years.
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8/20/2017 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened and served with beef ragu. Did not decant. Have not opened one of these bottles for about 3 years. Was a bit courser than the one I opened in 2014. Still, nice nose of cassis, leather, and wood, slightly astringent moderate tannins and good finish. Look forward to drinking more of these over the next 4-5 years.
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5/28/2017 - FredF Likes this wine: 91 Points
Two years ago I thought this wine was nearing the end of its lifetime. This bottle is still lively, full of the big fruit and complexity I would expect from a fine Bordeaux. Still drinking smoothly with integrated tannins and wonderful dark fruit tones, some wood and great taste throughout. I have a few bottles left and will try them for the next several months
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3/4/2017 - ThMeyer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic! The nose is full of ripe dark fruit with a certain freshness. In the mouth it's structured, juicy, full of ripe dark (and some red) fruits. A modern Bordeaux from a very good vintage. One of the best Value wines I've had (bought at under £20).
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1/9/2017 - PeterMole wrote:
Fantastic, dark, almost black. Needs carafing and is after 4 days rounder without any oxidation and full bodied. May be better kept for 5-10 more years.
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12/19/2016 - wineaficionado Likes this wine: 86 Points
Color: Dark, almost black and impenetrable. Nose: There is some complexity. Oranges, cherries and licorice. Mouth: Big and bold but lacking aromas a bit compared to the bigness. A bit too bitter (overextraction?) and a bit too alcoholic. Full bodied wine. A very good quality but sometimes less is more. Drink now. It won't improve.
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11/16/2016 - GARDEN Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is just approaching its prime drinking window. It improves with a little air. I would hold a little longer or do a short decant.
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10/16/2016 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 92 Points
Opaque purple turning violet at the rim with a reflective edge. The nose is highly effusive bearing higher alcohol levels in this ripe vintage showing blueberry compote, potpourri, vanilla, and toasted oak. Among the vintages, this is the ripest in decades. The palate is full-bodied with a velvety texture. Flavors of ripe plum and blueberry pie form a heightened core that's almost mentholated extending all the way to the long, jammy finish. What a joy to drink! This is the most attractive wine so far for this Chateau. Drink now until 2024.
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10/15/2016 - Winefeld wrote: 89 Points
Deep ruby colour. Leather, rubber, violet, plum, raisin, cherry, sawdust, mercury, earth. Decent acidity with firm tannins. Reasonable length. A few more years may expose additional layers of flavour. Potential for improvement.
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9/29/2016 - isbjoern wrote: 88 Points
Modern, extracted black wine style. Chewy tannins, toasty oak, bitter dark chocolate, black berry flavors, good acidity. Lots of intensity, but not (yet?) balanced. Good quality, but not my favorite style. - 88 points
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8/11/2016 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 91 Points
Surprise wine of the night, very lively and flavorful. Dark cherry, plum and currant notes
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8/8/2016 - csimm wrote: 82 Points
Tannic, thin, and bitter; raisin, currant, and cedar notes. Best forgotten.
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6/8/2016 - Goodjob! Likes this wine: 92 Points
Définitivement un de mes vins préférés du millésime 2009. Beaucoup de fruit, une belle acidité et une légère touche boisée. Belle expression du merlot. Bien qu'il va tenir la route encore quelques années, je ne vois aucune raison d'attendre. Il est si bon maintenant!
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5/5/2016 - snoerre Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark red. Impressive nose, full body. Still tight, feels very young. I guess it will unfold even more within the next years. Rather modern and international style, but very nice to drink.
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4/29/2016 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark red, crushed rocks, lush, deep, love the 09s, a delicious wine, very well made
91
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11/10/2015 - MatLot Likes this wine: 92 Points
Très bien fait, beau nez explosion de fruits, simple mais excellent !
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11/6/2015 - Goodjob! Likes this wine: 92 Points
Better than my last bottle. Beautiful merlot aroma, very fruity. Good mouthfeel with a little touch of acidity. Taste like a very good american merlot. Liked it very much!
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9/29/2015 - mike410 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big bold wine that will surely get better with age. Not so expressive on the nose but powerful tannins and acidity that when they subside will reveal plum, black and red berries, vanilla, and carmel. Outstanding QPR. Needs at least 5 more years. Full bodied, and medium finish.
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8/29/2015 - Nutty08 wrote: 89 Points
Not as expressive as the last bottle, with a coffee nose and plum fruits on the palate. Much tighter with little depth. On night 2 was more expressive, but similar character. Dark plummy fruits and coffee overtones, with somewhat coarse tannins. In the plush modern camp. Probably in a awkward phase but approachable.
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6/7/2015 - FredF wrote: 89 Points
Still drinking nicely. Cab nose with cherries, berries on the nose, wood and cassis in the mouth, nice finish, soft tannins. Probably getting near the end of its lifetime, so if you have some, drink and enjoy over the next year.
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4/20/2015 - Jeanda wrote:
Le vin semble s'être refermé depuis la dernière fois. Le boisé ressort trop à mon goût, la matière semblant être en retrait. Loin du vin exubérant et luxuriant bu quelques mois plus tôt.
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4/3/2015 - martcouz wrote: 90 Points
Bold and juicy. Typical 2009, not so typical Bordeaux. Still very good.
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3/13/2015 - John O' wrote: 92 Points
delightful 2009 BDX. popped and poured thru Vinturi. Drank over next 1.5 hours. As a Cali Cab fan, I'm a big fan of this one.
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2/22/2015 - Decanthor Likes this wine: 91 Points
Closed on PnP, decanted for an hour. Sediment present. Aromatic plums on the nose on a very silky med-full body. Agree with those that say this is more new world, but there is a certain amount of refinement and a hint of earthiness that makes it Bordeaux. I just wish it showed a bit more complexity. Nevertheless, a delicious wine that paired well with our filet mignon.
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2/16/2015 - flashvictor Likes this wine: 92 Points
Garnet color leads to a nose of cassis, leather and dark chocolate. Medium body carries flavors forward while adding some cherry on mid palate. Tannins are sweet and dry. Finish lasts 20 seconds.
A very new world styled Bordeaux that squarely hits my sweet spot.
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1/26/2015 - maxima wrote: 86 Points
Encore déçu de ce vin sur 2009....on est loin des 2004, 2005 et 2006 je trouves en ce moment.
Gros fruit joufflu et capiteux, manque de complexité en ce moment....à attendre et espérer!
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1/19/2015 - Roughl wrote:
this one got lost after having a bottle of torrione and Sociando Mallet 03. Still really nice product here. Not sure whether it is really worth waiting a lot longer, it has been extremely enjoyable as from release...
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1/5/2015 - LeChapeau wrote: 90 Points
A good, solid, well balanced Bordeaux. Earthy nose, good fruit on the palate, plenty of backbone, good finish. Lots of potential here. Still very young though and will need time to develop complexity.
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12/29/2014 - Thefatbastard wrote: 92 Points
Très bon et très apprécié par tout les convives. Tannins bien intégrés, nez complexe, fruité (fruits rouges mûrs) légère nuance de cuir à l'horizon. Longue finale.
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12/29/2014 - suburbanfrog Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice wine with old world Bordeaux flavors. Enticing nose and paired with a Standing Rib Roast perfectly. This wine just kept my interest and made me want more. A great QPR! Can not go wrong with this Bordeaux especially for the price.
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12/17/2014 - _Xenon wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with last rating. I am glad to have some more in my cellar. This time the wine had a 'stinky' nose which disappeared on day 2.
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11/23/2014 - chatters wrote:
Cabernet and Lamb (E & M's in the rocks, Sydney): Jammy, rich, thick, dense, plums, vanilla, even chocolate. Hmm. Not today for me.
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11/16/2014 - Nutty08 wrote: 89 Points
Quite modern in style, as expected. Dark in color. Plum, coffee, and toast notes, with a plush palate. Quite concentrated. Could be from anywhere, but good in the style that it is. Drink or hold (mine will be consumed young)
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10/17/2014 - Jeanda Likes this wine: 92 Points
Somptueux vin, riche, complexe, équilibré, long... Très très bon dès maintenant !
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10/11/2014 - Krowson Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great aroma on opening, full of fruit and slightly tannic. This is young right now, and will improve with a couple more years. Still enjoyable none the less. Great for the money paid, and good job this was the first bottle of 2 cases!
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9/20/2014 - Ken332 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Double decanted and aired for about an hour and a half; served with grilled duck breast. Nice nose of black cherries, cedar, plums, and spices. Soft, round tannins hidden by the fruit and good length. This is a very nice wine for the price, should improve for a few years, and should hold for 10 years or so. Glad this is the first bottle of my case.
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8/12/2014 - martcouz wrote: 92 Points
Same impressions as previous notes.
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7/25/2014 - valedeniro wrote: 92 Points
What a fruit bomb ! But not only.....Pretty nose,black cherries,candied plum,milk chocolate,violets,graphite,oriental spices.Silky texture,good structure and balance.A lovely wine,with good potential.
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6/16/2014 - PeterMole wrote:
See recent tasting notes, I agree. Already mature, integrated. But I think it can improve for years and be kept for > 10 years.
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4/5/2014 - fdusonchet wrote: 94 Points
Superbe équilibre magnifique fruit bouche longue et complexe
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3/30/2014 - fdusonchet wrote: 96 Points
Super fruit juteux et note de cuire de cendre et d'eucalyptus
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3/24/2014 - _Xenon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Changed significantly during the last 9 months. Nose - very appealing, sexy (as before). Sniffing after swirling the wine slowly in the decanter is fun! Body: Medium+, Tannins have mellowed a bit, acid is not that obvious any more. Still a pretty jammy and slightly hot wine (which to me is ok, I tend to prefer modern wines). Harmony is coming slowly but continuously.
I give it one or two more year(s) to be fully enjoyable. I do not think this wine will close down. The only hesitation I have is the relative low filling level of all the bottles I have seen so far. But well - this wine is not for century long ageing and return on investment, it's for enjoyment within the next 3-7 years.
Still one of the best qpr-wines in Bordeaux. Bought 12 more for 24 € / bottle.
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2/14/2014 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark purple color. Nose of dark chocolate, some dark fruits and earth. On the palate there are notes of dark and red fruit, chocolate, earth, some sweet spices and some minerality. Medium-full bodied and dense with medium+ tannin and medium acidity and a very good finish. Year after year Château d'Aiguilhe is one of the best values of the Bordeaux right bank. It's slightly on the modern side but shows all the nice aromatics you would expect. I would still give this another year or two but it's already drinking really nicely.
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2/11/2014 - martcouz wrote: 92 Points
Tons of delicious fruit, so typical of the vintage, nicely balanced with the oak. Great wine, tremendous value.
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2/1/2014 - maxima wrote: 88 Points
Très fruité et un peu simple mais bien dans l`ensemble!
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1/20/2014 - schiwi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Betörender Duft, Tannine soweit der Gaumen reicht. Fast mollig, süss und doch nicht ausladend. Was ist hier noch Bordeaux und wohin geht die Reise?
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1/15/2014 - fdusonchet wrote: 97 Points
Une jus superbe des note de chocolat des tanin soyeux un deluce
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12/25/2013 - Roughl wrote: 90 Points
What a day. Xmas lunch got interruptiedebat by a (minor) kids accident. 5 stitches and 3 hours later lunch had a different dimension. Family really is the most important in life. Now a couple of hours later everything is quiet and peaceful again i am enjoying a glass of aiguilhe left over from lunch in front of the fireplace. Perhaps the wine is slightly less impressie than a year ago, but i am enjoying it on a completely different level. Will hold on to remaining 7 bottles for min3 yes. Merry xmas to all.
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11/9/2013 - lumpyelbow wrote: 90 Points
No decant. Quite modern in style, sexy and appealing. Good structure and weight that will serve it well in the cellar although with air this was performing pretty well. Hints of cedar wood and some exotic spices. 90
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10/22/2013 - fdusonchet wrote: 96 Points
Quel jus et quel parfum tellement facile à boire et agréable
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7/20/2013 - qcwino wrote:
decanted for 1.5 hrs. consumed over 2.5 hrs.
pretty nose but palate is a little tight with mouth drying tannins and a good bit of acidity. Definitely enjoyed but will hold other 2 bottles for a while to see how it mellows.
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6/30/2013 - _Xenon wrote: 89 Points
Mixed emotions. On the first day I was quite disappointed. Yes, I can understand why people call this wine 'Sexy'. But to me it just seems like a wine without terroir, (very) high acidity and tannins, which recommend 3 more years of cellaring. Pretty hot, jammy, lots of fruit, but elegance, earthiness and harmony is missing.
On day two, it was way better. Integrated, a (tiny) bit of vanilla appeared and I was somehow able to enjoy it.
Prices in Germany range from 25,50 € up to 34,50 € / bottle. Compared to Chianti Classico it’s far away from a good qpr. But hey, we are (almost) in Bordeaux here....
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6/11/2013 - mattdathan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely.
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5/21/2013 - PSPatrick wrote: 90 Points
We drank the Château d’Aiguilhe 2009 alongside the 2000. We decanted both wines for one hour before we poured the first glasses. The 2009 was dark purple in colour and offered ripe fruit, ripe strawberry, blackberry, raw meat, vanilla and chocolate on the nose. On the palate the full-bodied wine showed blackberry, red currant, plum, spices, vanilla, coffee and coconut, paired with medium-plus ripe tannin, medium to medium-plus acidity, a creamy mouthfeel and very good length. The oak was quite present and although still being sexy and very drinkable the wine was less intriguing than bottles I had about a year ago. I will try to hold my other bottles for about two years.
We saved half of the bottle and consumed it over the next days. On day one I also preferred the 2009 to the 2000, whereas I preferred the 2000 on day two for it balance. I would rate the 2009 90 points on day one and 88 on day two.
Compared to the 2000 the 2009 was fuller-bodied, more opulent and sexier, but also more oak-driven, whereas the 2000 was the more balanced wine of the two, but as opposed to the 2009 dominated by brett.
(A little fun fact: the 2000 was bottled in green glass bottles whereas the 2009 was bottled in brown glass bottles.)
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5/17/2013 - fdusonchet Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fruit délicieux mine de crayons pierre a fusil bouche gourmande vin plaisant
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5/16/2013 - TheDarkPrince Likes this wine: 90 Points
This turned out to be a pleasant surprise tonight. The nose is sweet and complex. The extraction is huge, bordering on black. Lovely mouthfeel which is expansive and broad. Very toasty which I assume to be aspects of the barrel. Blueberries everywhere. Don't know the blend percentage, but the cabernet franc is very evident. Very nicely constructed. Will only get better with bottle age.
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4/5/2013 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 87 Points
Big nose with a lot of jam notes. Just too much for me and very modern. Could have been from anywhere and little change on the second day.
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3/31/2013 - Pierre Lim wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for two hours and the wine seems disjointed a bit. Two things jumped right off the bat on this wine - acidity level and sourness on the finish dominated this wine. I rated this initially an 87 pt wine... Wine from decanter was put back in the bottle and day 2 tasting was better. The nose was just all red fruit and cherries. Very sweet on the front palate and sour cherries coat the mid palate and finishes off with a nice tannic structure that will soften up over time. Note that on day one there was a spicy/heat component on the finish that is no longer apparent on day 2. I think this is where you lay down for at least another 5 yrs to see how interesting this wine develops. Opened this bottle bc I wanted to see if it was worth buying a case...not sure yet and will hold off to taste other 09 Bordeaux before I take the plunge. In the meantime I have 2 more bottles and and a 3 L in my cellar.
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3/11/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 85 Points
Virginia vs. The World - A Blind Taste-Off (Washington Wine Academy): Very ripe on the nose: sweet plums, purple Gushers candy, red licorice, notes of sweet incense. A fruit-forward wine to the core, with lots of toasty mocha accenting the candied plum and cherry fruit. Yummy, but not the most balanced wine. I guessed this as a Virginia red because of those sweet fruit notes. I was surprised to see this was Bordeaux, but it's a modern-style from a really ripe vintage, so it makes sense.
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2/11/2013 - Ki Punwar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wonderfully open, this wowed the crowd at a dinner recently, very voluptous and round, full bodied. The Merlot could not be any riper. After this bottle had a bottle of St. Emilion from the restaurant and it paled in comparison. Count me as fan of this property! I think that this will never be closed....problem is keeping your hands off it.
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1/17/2013 - RayOB Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drank in Hong Kong
Had heard good things about this estate and wanted to try a bottle. It is amazing that the '09s are already drinking but it does need a couple of hours in the decanter. Big hedonistic primary fruits but some complexity there that will come through more with age. Amazing value and something I will be drinking more of in the future.
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12/14/2012 - PSPatrick wrote: 90 Points
We poured the wine into a decanter and served the first glass immediately, poured the remainder back into the rinsed bottle after about two hours and consumed it the following day. The wine was very dark purple in colour. It offered an expressive nose of sweet dark fruit, black currant, blueberry, blackberry, sweet spices, vanilla, mocha, cream, chocolate and tobacco. The palate was ripe and dense, with black currant, spices, lots of chocolate, cocoa, mocha, coffee, vanilla, coconut and tobacco, paired with medium-level acidity, medium plus to high ripe tannin, a good, creamy mouthfeel and very good length. The wine was equally good on day two, but even more oak-dominated. A delicious, well-made modern-style Bordeaux that is drinkable pop&pour, offers great value for the money and is definitely worth seeking out.
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11/22/2012 - Roughl wrote:
Again two bottles less. I fear i will never see any aged aiguilhe 09 s in my cellar. Consistant with previous bottles, excellent. Convinced that this will not shut down.
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11/3/2012 - wenderoth wrote: 90 Points
Lovely dark purple colour. Appealing rusticity about this wine: on the nose and palate. Chunky, angular black fruit and smokiness on the nose with plum, blackberry and chewy tannins making up a lovely vinous experience, especially for the price. it's big, but balanced. I love this.
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10/7/2012 - Roughl wrote:
great As before
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8/24/2012 - Joemimi wrote:
Gave to Julia
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8/12/2012 - Flavito wrote: 88 Points
Quite modern, lush and oaky, a little overdone perhaps. Not elegant at all, but a sure crowd pleaser.
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7/14/2012 - hrfdr wrote: 94 Points
Fruity, silky, well balanced with a wonderful and welcomed long length! SO impressed with this young wine, almost uncertain about letting it age it is so good already! More detailed tasting notes in future.
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5/9/2012 - Mout72 wrote: 88 Points
Robe rubis foncé sombre d'une grande intensité. Le nez est très marqué par l'élevage (vanille, tabac) avec tout du même du fruit (surtout à l'ouverture). En bouche quel jus! C'est très fruité (mûre, cassis), très mûr mais déjà assez abordable. Le tout est un peu gâché par la finale très marquée par l’élevage (le tabac notamment) et cela s'accentue au fil de la dégustation ce qui finit par être assez écœurant. Bien et potentiellement très bien si l'élevage s'intègre.
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5/3/2012 - vespasian wrote: 90 Points
Super opulent nose. Lovely ripeness; huge amounts of glorious fruit. Great definition slightly marred by some heat on the finish. 90-91
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5/1/2012 - Roughl wrote:
I keep on opening these babies. So incredibly drinkable and sexy, even though this surely merits cellar time. IMO this is great Q/P in any context (not only Bordeaux).
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4/23/2012 - Roughl wrote:
lovely stuff.
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3/5/2012 - Roughl wrote: 91 Points
crowd pleaser, lush, sexy and vibrant. Glad to have 11 b left.
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2/22/2012 - PSPatrick wrote: 90 Points
I poured the wine into a decanter and had the first glass immediately. The wine offered an intriguing nose, with red & dark fruits, black currant, blackberry, chilli, tobacco, dark chocolate, mocha, and coffee. On the palate the wine showed plum, black currant, blackberry, spices, dark chocolate, milk coffee, espresso and cola. The wine was juicy, with chewy, ripe and smooth tannins, high acidity and great length. It was very enjoyable right after popping the cork and drank consistently well over four days. I really liked the wine and was quite surprised by its early drinkability. Great value for the money and definitely worth seeking out. I ordered a case right after finishing the bottle.
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7/30/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Licorice, jammy berries, coffee and chocolate scents lead to a plush, round, sexy and already approachable wine. Net yields in 2009 were an amazing 8 hls/ha.
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5/4/2011 - vespasian wrote: 91 Points
Lovely nose - superb minty menthol note and lovely ripe fruit; lovely mouthfeel - dark ripe fruits. Quite concentrated. 90-92
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11/20/2010 - canan wrote: 92 Points
Julefrokost 2010 (Casa Smidt): Nose: Sewer, coffee, buttermilk, black currant.
Palate: fresh and light plum and black currant fruit. Lacks some backbone but otherwise an okay wine.
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8/26/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
2009 d’Aiguilhe - This 50-hectare vineyard is planted on thin clay on top of limestone. Net yields in 2009 were 8 hls/ha. The wine is aged in 50% new oak. This wine, 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc, is deeply colored, and shows aromas of spice, oak, dark jammy berries, anise, strawberries, and chocolate. Full bodied and round, this fresh, supple wine finishes with dark cherry, spice, and licorice. 90-92 Pts
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