This is the last and probably the best of six bottles purchased back in 2008 from Wine Access. For the most part, this wine has been abysmal and very disjointed. I purposely held this bottle in hopes that there would be some improvement. Comprised of around 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, this has been really slow to come around. It still requires at least an hour in the decanter to allow some of the unpleasant burned earth and sour, minty aromas to blow off. I noted the unpleasant aromas in all five of the previous bottles.
Once this wine settles down, it starts to display some sour cherry cough syrup, dried smokey plum, minty herbaceous scents, and some black gritty charred earth wrapped around a tightly wound tannic core, which seems to be finally loosening it hard grip. Still a bit hard in the mouth, it shows some acidity which should eventually integrate with the scorched oak from the barrels. Very drying finish. In spite of the recommended drinking window this needs an additional three to five years of cellaring.
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At first pour really captures the essence of the Bordeaux region. In an hour, it loses its sheen & turns pasty & dry with none of the complexity it initiated. Decent for this qpr, but fairly disappointing
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1/10/2016 - lfbaum Likes this wine: 87 Points
Probably near its peak. Average fruit -- kind of simple tobacco and cassis flavors. Not terrible, but not great.
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11/22/2015 - wmccone54 wrote: 83 Points
This is the last and probably the best of six bottles purchased back in 2008 from Wine Access. For the most part, this wine has been abysmal and very disjointed. I purposely held this bottle in hopes that there would be some improvement. Comprised of around 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, this has been really slow to come around. It still requires at least an hour in the decanter to allow some of the unpleasant burned earth and sour, minty aromas to blow off. I noted the unpleasant aromas in all five of the previous bottles.
Once this wine settles down, it starts to display some sour cherry cough syrup, dried smokey plum, minty herbaceous scents, and some black gritty charred earth wrapped around a tightly wound tannic core, which seems to be finally loosening it hard grip. Still a bit hard in the mouth, it shows some acidity which should eventually integrate with the scorched oak from the barrels. Very drying finish. In spite of the recommended drinking window this needs an additional three to five years of cellaring.
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5/6/2015 - lfbaum Likes this wine: 88 Points
Age has been good to this wine. Notes of tobacco and cassis. Smooth mid-pallet.
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5/19/2013 - lfbaum wrote: 82 Points
Very average. Not a lot of fruit. Flat on the finish.
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2/14/2013 - Philly-O wrote: 85 Points
At first pour really captures the essence of the Bordeaux region. In an hour, it loses its sheen & turns pasty & dry with none of the complexity it initiated. Decent for this qpr, but fairly disappointing
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