my first glass stopper! a perfect specimen! I like it especially for a short to ~medium-term wine. My first bottle, opened earlier in the week and followed for 2 days, helped me to know exactly how to prep the New Year's bottle with the in-laws. Out of the bottle, it's somewhat herbal, slightly unbalanced and muted on nose and palate with limited finish...
The New Year's bottle was double-decanted at 4pm. Started drinking at 8pm.
Nose of red fruits and plums, with notes of light spicy earth (Champoux) and citrus (organic naval+clementine). Friendly and forward with very good balance, concentrated but not over-extracted, medium+ body, slight (in a good way) ripe green herbal component (not spice boxy) resulting in moderate- complexity. Well integrated and seamless, showing no heat despite the 15.1% alc. Very consistent flavors on palate and finish which followed the aromas on the nose. moderate-(minus) soft non-drying tannins with a moderate (20+ second) finish.
This was as enjoyable as the 2005 L'Ecole Apogee in its own way. It was easy for most people to say "I like the merlot" or the "blend" better, but my toughest customer/critic (my wife) liked them equally. The next morning, the last ounce in the bottle was fading, unlike the Apogee which was singing.
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Double-decanted at 4pm, nose was clean and restrained. 4 hours later, dark ruby color with moderate-minus expressive nose of dark fruits and pencil lead. Though this blend is 45% cab sauv, 45% merlot, 7% malbec, 3% cab franc, the nose to me said cab sauv which means the merlot really compliments the blend. The palate was seamless with great balance of acid, pure fruit and smooth/ripe moderate tannins. Very enjoyable, though not fully open. Hints of earth and some complexity. Fruit became richer and nose slightly prounounced as the night went on (8 hours from opening). Finish was moderately long and consistent with nose and palate.
The next morning, the last couple of ounces revealed deeper, brighter and more open layered fruit flavors, no oxidation and signs of a great future. The nose was open and complex, the finish was longer and more expressive and also included some red fruits which became revealed with airtime.
Tasted alongside a more fruit-focused and less complex 2006 Sineann Merlot Champoux vineyard.
This is my first note. This needed a review which included some airtime.
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2006 Sineann Merlot Champoux Vineyard
1/4/2009 - mmcc wrote: 91 Points
my first glass stopper! a perfect specimen! I like it especially for a short to ~medium-term wine. My first bottle, opened earlier in the week and followed for 2 days, helped me to know exactly how to prep the New Year's bottle with the in-laws. Out of the bottle, it's somewhat herbal, slightly unbalanced and muted on nose and palate with limited finish...
The New Year's bottle was double-decanted at 4pm. Started drinking at 8pm.
Nose of red fruits and plums, with notes of light spicy earth (Champoux) and citrus (organic naval+clementine). Friendly and forward with very good balance, concentrated but not over-extracted, medium+ body, slight (in a good way) ripe green herbal component (not spice boxy) resulting in moderate- complexity. Well integrated and seamless, showing no heat despite the 15.1% alc. Very consistent flavors on palate and finish which followed the aromas on the nose. moderate-(minus) soft non-drying tannins with a moderate (20+ second) finish.
This was as enjoyable as the 2005 L'Ecole Apogee in its own way. It was easy for most people to say "I like the merlot" or the "blend" better, but my toughest customer/critic (my wife) liked them equally. The next morning, the last ounce in the bottle was fading, unlike the Apogee which was singing.
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2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogée Pepper Bridge Vineyard
1/3/2009 - mmcc wrote: 92 Points
Double-decanted at 4pm, nose was clean and restrained. 4 hours later, dark ruby color with moderate-minus expressive nose of dark fruits and pencil lead. Though this blend is 45% cab sauv, 45% merlot, 7% malbec, 3% cab franc, the nose to me said cab sauv which means the merlot really compliments the blend. The palate was seamless with great balance of acid, pure fruit and smooth/ripe moderate tannins. Very enjoyable, though not fully open. Hints of earth and some complexity. Fruit became richer and nose slightly prounounced as the night went on (8 hours from opening). Finish was moderately long and consistent with nose and palate.
The next morning, the last couple of ounces revealed deeper, brighter and more open layered fruit flavors, no oxidation and signs of a great future. The nose was open and complex, the finish was longer and more expressive and also included some red fruits which became revealed with airtime.
Tasted alongside a more fruit-focused and less complex 2006 Sineann Merlot Champoux vineyard.
This is my first note. This needed a review which included some airtime.
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