Hosanna Vertical Tasting

1999 - 2007 Hosanna Vertical Tasting incl. 4 "ringer" bottles (Valandraud 2001, Le Plus de La Fleur Bouard 2002, Eglise Clinet 2002 and Gazin 2005).
All wines tasted blind.

• 1999 Château Hosanna 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Tasted the wine twice in the same evening. Once without decanting I gave it 89 points, once with double-decanting I gave it 94 points.
  Bottle w/out decanting: Rusty red on the edges. Leather, raspberry flavors. Acidity is present, though nice sweetness to balance it. Raspberry syrup with a hint of coffee
  Bottle w/ double decanting: Intensive red with a bit brick on the edges. Nose of leather, Earl Grey tea. Tannins still present, acidity with nice balance of raspberry, coffee and black tea.
  
  Bottle difference (not out of same cellar) or double decanting...? Idea for a future tasting...Same wine...Straight out of the bottle, decanted and double decanted...

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• 2001 Château Hosanna 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Intensive red, deep, though more evolved than the 2000. Nose of leather and typical Bordeaux notes. Tannins make this wine a bit backward tasting. Great flavors of red fruit, coffee. More classical than the 2000 and the 2001 Valandraud in the same flight. Drink now - 2025

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• 2001 Château Valandraud 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  My first impression when this wine was initially poured was "WOW"...after 5 minutes still good, after 15 minutes the thrill was gone. So I ask myself how do these modern St. Emilion's age. Maybe this does not matter as this makes fun now, and thus, should also be drunk now.
  Intensive deep red. Nose of berry marmelade, Tobacco, Creme de Cassis. Very balanced, long finish and lots of fruit. This is very modern and it makes fun because it is different to the more classical and elegant Hosannas in the tasting. I would drink this wine now but I am sure it could last another 10 years. But again, will more bottle age make this one better? time will tell...

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• 2003 Château Hosanna 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Hosanna 2003, where does the journey go? Does additional cellaring help this wine to find its balance? Hard to tell, but one thing is sure that this wine will never be one of the great Hosannas!
  Intensive red. The nose shows hints of ripe dried berries again, but then the disturbing gas/alcohol smell (?). Stingy tannins, short finish but the sweetness make this wine still enjoyable. But what will happen once the fruit is gone? I would not wait to find out...drink now - 2020.

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• 2007 Château Hosanna 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Intensive dark red. Nose with hints of chalk, leather and coffee mixed with dark berries. The balance between the sweetness and the acidity is very nice. Dark berries, silky in the mouth with lots of fruit. Very approachable now. This wine gave room for lots of controversy, scoring between 85 and 94 points. I liked it a lot as it was a great and easy drinkable bordeaux. Drink now as it is in a great phase but there is no hurry as I expect the wine to last for another 15 years.

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• 2002 Château La Fleur de Boüard Le Plus 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol

  Dark red. Overripe fruit, Coffee and Chocolate. The flavors jump in your face, rich and decadent. Lots of power and still present tannins. Brownies, Creme de Cassis and raspberries. But everything is not as long as one would expect. Modern wine which is fun for blind tasting as it reminds me more of a Tuscan Super Merlot than of a (Lalande a) Pomerol. Drink now - 2025.

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• 2000 Château Hosanna 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Intensive red, still dark. Nose of minerals and black tea. A mouthful of wine, tannins still present. Flavors of black tea, raspberry. Very balanced and well integrated acidity. Long aftertaste. Put this beauty away for another five years to fully blossom! Drink 2015 - 2035

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• 2004 Château Hosanna 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Intensive red. Nose of leather, licorice with a hint of dark berries. Chocolate, dried berries again, smell of alcohol. long finish. Modern winemaking have guessed this wine to be the 2003 due to its richness and alcohol. Drink now - 2025

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• 2002 Château L'Eglise-Clinet 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Eglise Clinet 2002...Quo vadis? This wine is still so backward and tannic so it is hard to tell where it will be in a few years and if it will improve with further bottle age. Have many critics underrated this wine or am I just to optimistic about it as I see here 93-94 at full maturity...
  
  Deep clear red. Berry bonanza with hints of Creme de Cassis (alcoholic). Lots of power, deep and long finish. Complex flavors through out. After 15 minutes in the glass it slowly started to open up a bit, showing herbs, berries, Coffee...Put aside for at least another 5 years or decant for 3 hours. Drink 2018 - 2030

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• 2005 Château Hosanna 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Intensive clear red. Cooked berries (Cassis, Raspberries) give this wine a rich nose. Ripe berry jam, creme de cassis, licorice. This wine shows the full spectrum of flavors, sweetness, acidity, bitterness, etc. Very complex and long. The tannins are still present and the wine shows a lot of power yet is very elegant. I would wait and guess that this wine evolves towards a rating of 95 in 5 years. Drink the Gazin 2005 (same flight) while you wait for the Hosanna to mature. Drink 2018 - 2040

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• 2006 Château Hosanna 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Intensive deep red with hints of purple. Berries (Cassis, Raspberries and boisenberry) with a cold touch (calk) of minerals. Ripe berry jam, cassis, very complex and long. The tannins are still present and the wine shows a lot of power yet is very elegant. I would wait and guess that this wine evolves and will deserve a higher rating of 96-97 in 5 to 10 years. Drink 2018 - 2035

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• 2005 Château Gazin Pomerol 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  WOTN...it left all the much more expensive Hosannas behind. In its current phase this wine is a tremendous Pomerol and can be still bought for relatively little money.
  Deep red still showing purple. Dark berries, cherries, coffee and chocolate. Tannins still present but very nicely integrated. Mixed forest berry jelly, Krisch liquor and coffee. Very elegant, complex and long in the finish. This wine is already approachable now but should last for another 15 - 20 years. Drink now - 2030.

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