A hint of mint on the nose and well mellowed. I prefer this wine when it is younger around the 5 to 8 years but it is still showing well. Medium bodied. -- looking back I am amazed with the consistency of my scoring on this bottle over the past 5 years. (all blind)
I normally enjoy the Raymond Reserve but this did not impress tonight. Initially sweet and the berries came through strongly. The body is thinning and a dryish finish.
This was a powerful spicy wine - in fact amazingly spicy for a cab/merlot. I was looking for the Zin in the blend. It will be interesting to see this in 3 or 4 years - possible potential as this has the power to lie down. It may make it to 90 in the future. My score now is 87 but that is probably unfair - so I have split the difference
I have not always enjoyed Fusion V. This time I followed the reviews on CT and decanted for almost 10 hours and it was a great improvement. Clearly this wine needs the air. Full bodied (tannins 7/10) with dark fruit and well balanced. The 5 varietals are in balance with none overpowering the other. If I had used the formal scoring, I think it would be closer to a 95. I will try some tomorrow and see.
South Africa, Coastal Region, Cape Peninsula, Constantia
The nose is extraordinary. Enticing yet clearly not syrupy. Pears, honey and apricot all in one. The body is a little lighter than expected which makes it a little more drinkable than sippable - so be careful and enjoy.
2000 Château Bel-Air Lussac-St. Émilion 89 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lussac-St. Émilion
Dark cellar dust nose with the classic dry French Bordeaux finish. Good medium bodied and drinking well now. Tannins 5/10
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