8/22/2018 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

On the nose, fruit has started to fade with chocolate and vanilla notes dominating. Alcohol is a bit too present at first, but fades after a bit Taste and mouthful are wonderful. Black cherry, blackcurrant, cinnamon, good acidity, and soft tannins. Drink up now, since this is heading towards past peak.

2/1/2018 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Apple, pear, and strong petrol notes on the nose. Honey, apple, and peach on the palate with glorious acidity. Has mellowed out somewhat though. Not sure if this will improve much more with age, but wondering if I should give it a shot my last bottle. Hmm....

6/19/2015 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

For a 10-year old, $20 bottle of wine, this is drinking just beautifully. Soft tannins, plenty of dark fruit left, accompanied by secondary and tertiary flavours. Great QPR.

2/19/2015 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Corned beef, mint, earth, black pepper, dark fruit.

2/14/2015 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Showed much better than the last bottle. Dark cherry, blackcurrant, smoke, mushroom, pencil shavings, and menthol notes on the nose. Medium-plus, though fairly soft tannins, medium-plus acidity. Medium body and medium-plus intensity. Should last a few years yet.

8/21/2014 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Initially quite a bit of blackcurrant, earthy notes, and hints of cedar on the nose. Over the course of the evening, sweeter notes of liquorice and tobacco began to emerge.

On the palate, there's a great balance between fruit, earthy and liquorice notes, acidity, and tannins. Long finish.

Had this with several cheeses, among which the Appenzeller turned out to be an amazing match.

5/17/2014 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Similar notes to last time bit now also getting some more sweet spice / licorice notes. Such a beautiful wine. Sad that this is the last one, but will be enjoying every drop of it.

12/20/2013 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Brimming with Blackcurrant aromas. Black cherry and plum notes, as well as hints of cigar box and pencil shavings. Good acidity on the palate with soft, silky tannins. Great complexity and length. Love this.

12/6/2013 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

I bought a 375ml bottle of the 2004 Siran this summer and was rather disappointed in it; the mid-palate had hollowed out substantially, so it was rather lean and thin on the palate. This made me a bit nervous since I have a few 750ml bottles in the cellar, so I figured I should open one of those up sooner rather than later. I did so tonight and, thankfully, it did not disappoint.

The nose is classic Bordeaux and is the stuff that makes me come back to this region over and over again: cigar box and blackcurrant with hints of leather and a tiny bit of herbaceous notes. On the palate, there is a nice mix between black cherry and redcurrant, with medium acidity and velvety tannins. There's not the same intensity on the palate as on the nose, but there's enough life left to be very enjoyable. I'm not going to wait for much longer before I open up the bottles that remain in the cellar though.

6/7/2013 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Incredible acidity, green apple, lemon peel, pineapple, peach. Finish lingers and evolves beautifully. Should hold up for at least another 5 years.

4/12/2013 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Great example of oaky, buttery Chardonnay with tropical fruit flavours but still with enough acidity to keep it standing.

4/5/2013 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Green apple, citrus, and pineapple notes, as well as toasty characteristics on the nose. Similar notes on the palate with green apple, lime, and lemon peel, as well as some ripe fruit. Secondary toasty notes. Medium body and above average acidity. Finish lingers nicely.

2/21/2013 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Still deeply colored for an 8-year old wine. On the nose there are dark fruit aromas (blackberry and prune), earthy and smoky notes, and hints of licorice and white pepper. Alcohol is slightly showing on the nose. The palate is opulent, but quite balanced. Again dark fruit flavours are found, but in combination with a layer of red fruit as well (red cherry). The earthy and smoky notes reappear on the finish, which goes on for a long time. Good acidity and a non-trivial amount of soft tannins. Could go for another 3 to 5 years, but drinking wonderfully right now.

2/21/2013 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Gone over the top

2/18/2013 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

On the nose, there's first a bit of banyard. Once that faded, it opened up beautifully to red cherry, raspberry, and strawberry in combination with floral notes and sweet spice. Consistent notes on the palate with beautiful red fruit, earthy notes, and sweet spice. Low tannins, medium plus acidity. Very soft, balanced, and complex. Beautiful.

1/4/2013 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Nice intensity on the nose with blackcurrant, white pepper, leather, and a bit of cigar box. Velvety tannins on the palate with raspberry, plum, and blackcurrant. Soft and beautifully balanced with medium acidity. Medium length.

1/3/2013 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Peach and ripe apple on the nose. Green apple and citrus on the palate with high acidity and classic mineral notes. Lovely.

12/31/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Rather lean. Subtle meaty and mushroom notes on the nose, as well as some red cherry. Redcurrant, mineral notes, medium-plus acidity, soft tannins. Starting to fade, so drink up!

11/22/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Nice, ripe fruit on the nose: redcurrant and black cherry with sweet spice and smoky notes. Red cherry and blackberry notes on the palate, as well as some spicy, black olive, earthy, and chocolaty notes; soft tannings and vibrant acidity. Great value.

11/16/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Intense blackcurrant, black cherry, plum, prune, and fresh soil. Quite tannic still, but with lots of potential. Let lie for at least another 5 to 10 years and the enjoy over the next few decades.

11/16/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Dark and luscious. Black cherry, plum, stewed fruit and loads of chocolate. Some spicy notes as well. Wonderful balance between fruit, chocolate, spice, sweetness, and acidity.

11/16/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Red cherry, blackcurrant, plum, white pepper, and licorice. Very soft. Beautiful.

11/16/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Intensely coloured. Intense blackcurrant and black cherry with stewed fruits. Youthful, but with soft tannins so drinking beautifully now and will last another 10 to 15 years.

11/16/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Dark fruit; black cherry, blackcurrant, and prune. Rich with chocolate notes. Has quite a few years left in it.

11/16/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Black cherry, plum, white pepper, spice, and some earthy notes. More fruitforward and fuller bodied than the Vargellas.

11/16/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Lightly coloured with a clear rim. Elegant with prune and leather on the nose. Raspberry as well as stewed fruit with coffee and earthy notes lingering on the finish. Delicate but quite lovely.

11/10/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Mostly peppery notes on the nose along with some blueberry. Ripe plum and blackberry fruit on the front palate with red cherry on the back palate and the finish, as well as white pepper and subtle earthy notes. Medium-plus acidity and soft tannins. Quite intense and slightly hot (15.5% abv), but sufficiently balanced and integrated to pull it off.

10/28/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Wonderful, dark fruit (blackcurrant and black cherry), black pepper, slight cigar box, medium acidity, and soft tannins. Very well balanced. Drinks beautifully now; will hold up for a few more years, but since its strength is its fruit, I'd drink up now.

10/18/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Wonderful and complex nose: blackcurrant, sweet vanilla, black cherry, pencil shavings, and cigar box. Palate is still quite shut down though with high acidity and medium-plus tannins, though some blackcurrant, raspberry, and earthy notes are starting to come through. Needs another 3 to 5 years.

10/18/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Sweet cherry and vanilla,. Medium plus acidity and medium tannins. Has balanced out, but still has some life left in it.

10/18/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Intens, orange marmalade, honey, and chocolate on the nose. Luscious, but well balanced by acidity. Apricot and slight earthy notes on the palate. Delicious.

10/18/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Sweet cherry, blackcurrant, raspberry, and chocolate on the nose. High acidity and high tannin on the palate, covering up its flavours, so needs 5 to 10 years.

10/18/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Black cherry, plum, raspberry undertones, sweet spice, tobacco, chocolate, hints of violet. Medium plus tannins, medium plus acidity, medium plus alcohol. Starting to balance out very nicely and showing great complexity and length. Fabulous.

10/18/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Black cherry, sweet spice, some earthy notes. High tannin, medium plus acidity. Medium plus body, medium plus acidity, medium plus alcohol at 14% abv. Needs at least another 5 years.

10/18/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Black cherry, plum, raspberry, white pepper, tea leaves. Medium plus tannins, medium plus acidity, a bit hot despite only 13.5% abv. Out of balance so will need time to find its way.

10/18/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Passion fruit, lime, green apple, nutmeg, some vegetal notes. Medium plus acidity. Medium plus body. Well balanced and good complexity for the price point ($24.99).

10/14/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Prune, black cherry, sweet vanilla, and sage. Low acidity, low tannin, and a bit hot. Classic Amarone: ripe, hot, and sweet.

10/14/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Red cherry, plum, and black pepper. Medium-plus acidity, medium bodied. Well balanced.

10/17/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

One of my white favourites. Apricot, pear, and lemon peel. Hints of oak, slight butter, and bready notes. Medium acidity, solid intensity, wonderfully balanced, above average length. Delightful.

10/13/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Sweet peach, pear, honey, and floral notes. Medium sweet with decent acidity to hold it up. Fabulous. Paired great with the L'Edel de Cleron.

10/13/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Peaking beautifully at the moment. Blackberry, plum, blueberry, and some riper fruit as well (prune), combined with smoky vanilla, black pepper, and chocolate. Soft tannins and medium acidity. Well balanced and complex with a long finish.

9/19/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Sweet spice, smoky oak, cranberry, and red cherry. Medium plus acidity and silky tannins. Very well balanced. Really like this.

9/19/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Lots of ripe fruit: black cherry and plum. Some sweet spice. Medium acidity and low tannin. Slightly hot and not overly complex, but smooth and a solid quaffer. Drink now.

9/16/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

A CNDP from the year my wife and I got married, so a rather ironically named wine for us. Lots of deposit in the bottle and tawny coloured on the rim, so showing its age. On the nose, there's blackberry, stewed fruit, sultana, white pepper, smoky wood, and forest floor. Quite savoury on the palate with notes that are consistent with the nose as well as some blueberry. Medium acidity, low tannins, a long finish, but slightly hot at times. Quite complex though. On the fading side of peaking, so drink now.

9/1/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Beautiful red fruit on the nose with red cherry and redcurrant, as well as cloves and a bit of black pepper. Red cherry and redcurrant on the palate as well with some earthy notes. Medium acidity, very soft tannins, intense, complex, and well-balanced. I'm a fan.

9/1/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Initially some Brett on the nose. After it dissipated, bright red fruit showed up with red cherry and cranberry, with still some lingering forest floor and mushroom as well. Earthy finish lingers for a long time.

8/25/2012 - MatthijsVisser wrote:

Bright red fruit: red cherries and cranberry, as well as some plum, hints of cedar, and a bit of white pepper. Soft tannins and above average acidity. Well balanced, soft, and medium-bodied.

8/18/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Tawny rim. Plum, black cherry, leather, and cedar on the nose. Red cherry, redcurrant, liquorice, and slight earthy notes. Silky tannins and solid acidity. Beautifully elegant and excellent length on the finish.

Needs to be drunk soon though as tertiary notes are starting to overtake the primary and secondary notes and the acidity is starting to become more dominant. Drink up!

8/17/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Incredibly well balanced. Shows good fruit (melon, green apple, and a hint of peach), some oak, and some butter without any component overly dominating. Mouth-watering acidity and a long finish with some lingering lemon peel.

8/10/2012 - MatthijsVisser Likes this wine:

Pale lemon; peach, canned asparagus, and petrol notes on the nose. Nice weight on the palate with peach, citrus peel, green apple, and petrol notes. Off dry with high acidity.