Champagne Bookclub---bring a top shelf + a still: After 10 years decided to open my final bottle of this, to see if it remained true to my memory and blessed by the vintage as something less powerful. I paired this with the chocolate cake my wife made, but the 2015 d'Yquem that was served with it was more in the spotlight which is understandable! So, there is quite a bit left to retaste today, and as one fragile soul who drinks mostly Champagne these days, I won't be even close to finishing the bottle (but I assume it may endure just fine under cork for a week so there is hope). Dark and moderately inky, although not as opaque as the 2005 that we had a month or so ago. The glass is sitting off to my right as I type and I can smell it from arm's length away. Yeah, some heat here but less so than other years that are bookended to 2011 (bottle label lists this as 15.0%). Touch of prune and graham cracker. While there is some texture here, and in bigger years the texture is very evident, it is less so here and in contrast more rustic. Dark berry, iron, dark chocolate and tarry which are all consistent with the SR PS profile, yet there is that rusticity that hangs around the edges, giving it a red fruit kind of crunchiness. Still a reasonably big wine, but the acidity is just more pronounced in a year like 2011, which I appreciate and revere. Given the profile I do think the wine can age for some time further but there is a nice intersection now, as the vectors of fruit and acid cross, and I'd say now is a good time to drink this vintage.
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Opened 3 hours ahead. Black fruits and a touch of licorice on the nose. Medium plus body with cool black fruits, no alcohol on the nose or palate and not over the top at all. A little rustic but I really enjoyed this. Purchased on release and stored at 55 degrees. This should last several more years. 92 points
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Probably at its peak (or slightly past it). Assertive nose - it smells "purple". Not particularly full bodied, viscous, or tannic, but it manages to come across as a big boy. Decent finish, but not all that complex. I like rustic wines with some age on them, and this delivered.
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Dark black and purple core fruit, with black raspberry, black currant, black pebbles, railroad tie, and some cedar. Decent grip and some evolution and layering of flavors across the palate from the initial attack and on through the finish. Medium bodied. Not overly viscous or unctuous, but a notable quality considering the challenging vintage. Drink now and over the next year or two.
This was served next to an ‘08 Valdez PS, which was simpler and had less focus than the SBR.
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12/3/2023 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Champagne Bookclub---bring a top shelf + a still: After 10 years decided to open my final bottle of this, to see if it remained true to my memory and blessed by the vintage as something less powerful. I paired this with the chocolate cake my wife made, but the 2015 d'Yquem that was served with it was more in the spotlight which is understandable! So, there is quite a bit left to retaste today, and as one fragile soul who drinks mostly Champagne these days, I won't be even close to finishing the bottle (but I assume it may endure just fine under cork for a week so there is hope). Dark and moderately inky, although not as opaque as the 2005 that we had a month or so ago. The glass is sitting off to my right as I type and I can smell it from arm's length away. Yeah, some heat here but less so than other years that are bookended to 2011 (bottle label lists this as 15.0%). Touch of prune and graham cracker. While there is some texture here, and in bigger years the texture is very evident, it is less so here and in contrast more rustic. Dark berry, iron, dark chocolate and tarry which are all consistent with the SR PS profile, yet there is that rusticity that hangs around the edges, giving it a red fruit kind of crunchiness. Still a reasonably big wine, but the acidity is just more pronounced in a year like 2011, which I appreciate and revere. Given the profile I do think the wine can age for some time further but there is a nice intersection now, as the vectors of fruit and acid cross, and I'd say now is a good time to drink this vintage.
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5/14/2023 - sastewart wrote: 92 Points
Opened 3 hours ahead. Black fruits and a touch of licorice on the nose. Medium plus body with cool black fruits, no alcohol on the nose or palate and not over the top at all. A little rustic but I really enjoyed this. Purchased on release and stored at 55 degrees. This should last several more years. 92 points
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5/25/2022 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Probably at its peak (or slightly past it). Assertive nose - it smells "purple". Not particularly full bodied, viscous, or tannic, but it manages to come across as a big boy. Decent finish, but not all that complex. I like rustic wines with some age on them, and this delivered.
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5/6/2018 - csimm wrote: 91 Points
Dark black and purple core fruit, with black raspberry, black currant, black pebbles, railroad tie, and some cedar. Decent grip and some evolution and layering of flavors across the palate from the initial attack and on through the finish. Medium bodied. Not overly viscous or unctuous, but a notable quality considering the challenging vintage. Drink now and over the next year or two.
This was served next to an ‘08 Valdez PS, which was simpler and had less focus than the SBR.
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1/27/2017 - DCSteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
Singing.
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