The first mouthful was an explosive and tantalising gush of spicy fleshy fruit. Each one thereafter (I only managed a small glass) totally overwhelmed my taste buds with "puckering" tannins and a dry swell of tannin and oak. The rest of the bottle did not soften overnight.
It's just too young right now.
Next bottle - 2025...the potential is obviously there (hence 89 even in its current state)...
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Domaine Marc Roy wines are ALWAYS a force to be reckoned with...Alexandrine is an alchemist with terroir...
And this is a SERIOUS Bourgogne rouge. I have read commentary of the dense tannins 2020 brought, and that has been fully borne out with even her "entry level" cuvee...
At a BYO restaurant with a friend tonight, it was totally unapproachable after half an hour, even with hearty fare. Fortunately I had a round and juicy Minervois as stand in. Anyway, I digress...
Having recorked and brought it home, this earlier ugly duckling has shown its regal pedigree. Yes it's still "austere" but now there is a deep and fleshy sweep of sour cherry, plum pits, and red apple skin. And a mildly "phenolic" herbal backnote. The oak is there but it is buried in the rolling bluster of the fruit.
I have already pulled a case of 6 from bond but am going to try and leave the other bottles for at least another couple of years. It promises to be glorious...
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After seeing rave reviews for this wine (yes I know, if it seems too good to be true etc...), I purchased a case in bond, thinking it would be a fun mature wine for the festive season.
The 3 bottles I have opened all left me feeling hugely underwhelmed...to the point that the balance of each bottle has been poured away.
On the first 2 occasions I did not decant, due to the age of the wine. On the 3rd I left for an hour in decanter. The experience was the same each time.
To me, the nose (no change over the following few hours) is like a rather "rustic"/"tired" sun soaked table wine, not an aged Rioja (and yes, I have had vintages of Vina Real, Imperial and others as far back as 1970 all of which were beguiling in every regard). A faint whiff of vanilla was the only other thing of note.
In the mouth it is similarly bland, slightly astringent and the vanilla/oak artifacts seem so over the top - if there is any remaining character from the fruit it is barely discernible. I"m sure that in a blind tasting I would struggle to identify it as Tempranillo.
I feel really bad leaving such a negative note, and yes buying "lesser" releases of aged Rioja is always going to be a bit risky. But let's face it, there are many very good wines available for £22.50 a bottle...
The rest of the case may or may not be used for cooking. I'm sure the wine is not technically flawed, but I wonder whether the unusual flavour profile might impart an odd flavour even in ragu etc.
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2016 Château les Cruzelles
11/16/2023 - Timeforalivener Likes this wine: 89 Points
The first mouthful was an explosive and tantalising gush of spicy fleshy fruit. Each one thereafter (I only managed a small glass) totally overwhelmed my taste buds with "puckering" tannins and a dry swell of tannin and oak. The rest of the bottle did not soften overnight.
It's just too young right now.
Next bottle - 2025...the potential is obviously there (hence 89 even in its current state)...
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2020 Domaine Marc Roy Bourgogne
11/7/2023 - Timeforalivener Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ok...bear with me...
Domaine Marc Roy wines are ALWAYS a force to be reckoned with...Alexandrine is an alchemist with terroir...
And this is a SERIOUS Bourgogne rouge. I have read commentary of the dense tannins 2020 brought, and that has been fully borne out with even her "entry level" cuvee...
At a BYO restaurant with a friend tonight, it was totally unapproachable after half an hour, even with hearty fare. Fortunately I had a round and juicy Minervois as stand in. Anyway, I digress...
Having recorked and brought it home, this earlier ugly duckling has shown its regal pedigree. Yes it's still "austere" but now there is a deep and fleshy sweep of sour cherry, plum pits, and red apple skin. And a mildly "phenolic" herbal backnote. The oak is there but it is buried in the rolling bluster of the fruit.
I have already pulled a case of 6 from bond but am going to try and leave the other bottles for at least another couple of years. It promises to be glorious...
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2001 Bodegas Manzanos Rioja Voché - Vino de Autor
12/27/2022 - Timeforalivener Does not like this wine: 50 Points
After seeing rave reviews for this wine (yes I know, if it seems too good to be true etc...), I purchased a case in bond, thinking it would be a fun mature wine for the festive season.
The 3 bottles I have opened all left me feeling hugely underwhelmed...to the point that the balance of each bottle has been poured away.
On the first 2 occasions I did not decant, due to the age of the wine. On the 3rd I left for an hour in decanter. The experience was the same each time.
To me, the nose (no change over the following few hours) is like a rather "rustic"/"tired" sun soaked table wine, not an aged Rioja (and yes, I have had vintages of Vina Real, Imperial and others as far back as 1970 all of which were beguiling in every regard). A faint whiff of vanilla was the only other thing of note.
In the mouth it is similarly bland, slightly astringent and the vanilla/oak artifacts seem so over the top - if there is any remaining character from the fruit it is barely discernible. I"m sure that in a blind tasting I would struggle to identify it as Tempranillo.
I feel really bad leaving such a negative note, and yes buying "lesser" releases of aged Rioja is always going to be a bit risky. But let's face it, there are many very good wines available for £22.50 a bottle...
The rest of the case may or may not be used for cooking. I'm sure the wine is not technically flawed, but I wonder whether the unusual flavour profile might impart an odd flavour even in ragu etc.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment