2/14/2023 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Moist cork/ swift decant and pour. Dark maroon colour, similar to puher tea or coleitha. Classical 80’s claret - light at 12.0%. Nose is slightly fainted roses, medley of red fruits, some metallic overtones offering structure. Bouquet faints after some time in the decanter/ glass. Light front palate with very seductive faint roses, brambles, slight cinnamon, tobacco. Round and sedated mouthfeel. Mid- long finish. Tannins fully dissolved. Time to drink up over the coming 3-5 years.

1/14/2023 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Swift decant. Broken cork. Dark Purple, mauve ring. Very intense darkness, which is surprising for the age/ vintage. Brambles, tobacco on the nose. Fading over 60 mins. Full red fruits (brambles, etc). Somewhat watery and light on back palate but not displeasant. Classical claret at very reasonable price. Very nice spot at this stage

1/27/2021 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Swift decant. Dark cherry rim. Deep velvet luscious color. Marzipan, slight nail polish- dark cherry, garrigue, dried roses on the nose. Very silky, slender but full body, a real pleasure to drink. Slightly tannic and hint of alcohol strength on back palate. Ripe plum, fig, medley of bramble and other red fruit not very defined and slightly heated. Overall a surprisingly silky wine, elegant. Maybe a little young with several years to go. Will accumulate...very nice.

1/10/2021 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Dark purple rim. Cherry- slight vanilla, bramble, fresh nose. Sour cherry , plum, gingerbread on the palate. Juicy medium- body, very fresh. Mid-length finish. Still time ahead, nice drink but no rush. Great Gamay!

12/31/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Broken cork - careful. Vts. Very dark purple core with brown purple rim. Astonishing depth for the age, maybe with slight sediment due to decanting. Peppery dark red fruit medley with pu-er tea notes on the nose. Reduced and watery mouthfeel, dissolved tannins, quite watery. Notes of cooked dark fruit. Not unpleasant but limited excitement! Past peak or descending rapidly. Bought out of curiosity. Not worth vs other great tertiary estates in the 80s. Drink up fast!!

12/30/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Long Lunch at Js. Open over 1.5 hours. Served against 80/90 Bordeaux of secondary chateaux. Medium- violet rim. Typically cherry perfumed nose. Quite rounded, dissolved tennis, still slight acidity on back palate. Medley of cooked sour red fruit, roasted meat, earthy tones, slight truffles. Highly drinkable, but good potential to keep. Very much enjoyed this bottle.

12/30/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Broken cork (middle); decanted and drunk over 2.5 hours. Brown- purple rim. Medicinal, mushroom, burnt cherry and brambles nose. Very subdued at onset but very nicely evolved over the course of dinner. Plum, brambles, cooked cherries, leather, some rose, faint tobacco. Slightly plum and a little tired after 2 hours. Tannins fully faded and a little light on back palate. Very enjoyable estate Shiraz, but drinking window fading. Maybe max 2 years to still enjoy. Drink up.

12/21/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Deep golden straw color. Subdued nose with slight wax. Similar to Veneto/ Friuli Chardonnay. Opens over 30 mins. Benchmark Chardonnay. Easy drinking, limited aging potential.

12/12/2020 - Revenga wrote:

Disintegrated cork, therefore swift decant. Vts bottle. Dark orange brick hue. Medium port, medicinal, hint of butterscotch and strawberry on the nose. Started with slight oxidation, but swung around after 15 mins to rich red fruit (cooked strawberry), molasses, butterscotch, smoky. Silky, smooth, but very light and fragile body. Was very sceptical about bottle condition, so nice surprise. However, need to drink with haste as on last drinking window...but quite enjoyable after 30-40 mins of aeration.

11/5/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hour. Broken cork- careful. Red brick with dark core. Fragrant, herbaceous, burnt cherries on the nose. Rich and fragrant mouthfeel. Cassis, faint tobacco, cab franc like greenery, flint. Great discovery as bought for a curiosity taste. Got some time of 2-3 years, but ready to drink up. Will by more as super affordable!

11/5/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Red brown veering towards coffee brown color. Tilleule tea, toffee, caramel, acidic. Very beautiful eine with a expressive back palate with good acidity. Keep for 5-8 years, but lovely to enjoy now. Simply love these old VdCs...

11/5/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Dark golden, veering to a brown tint. Almost Bret nose, but leaves into burnt caramel, vanilla, etc. rich and thick mouthfeel. Toffee, coleita-like notes. Not fresh, a little tired. Very nice, but only for connoisseurs of this style, drink up.

10/31/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Dark gold color. Nose of cider, slight red apple, very fresh and mineral. Fresh and mineral mouthfeel, smooth and slightly creamy. Wax, honey, slight melon, vanilla. Really nice an ready to drink. Surely great aging potential. Very nice!!

10/31/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Decanted over 2 Hrs. Dark garnet with slight hue of brick red on the rim. Very concentrated nose of brambles, hint of cassis, slight metallic, marzipan. Cassis, tobacco. Still tannic, but mid-way on dissolution. Nice wine, quite young, a little subdued and leaves question mark to potential and evolution... better let it rest for a while.

4/27/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Color: Dark Gold. Nose: Baked Lemon, custard with slight marzipan hint, quite alcoholic and strong nose (not astonishing given the 14.5% alcohol, lessens after 1 hour of bottle/ glass aeration). Taste: After opening, quite astringent, alcoholic, prominent grapefruit, lemon...quite overwhelming. After 30-40 mins, round lemon custard, oak vanilla, baked custard, high notes of slight grapefruit, overall reminds me of a younger high end Corton Charlemagne with a twist. Very pleasant, better with strong seafood as quite rich to drink by itself. Quite oaked and strong. Benefits from 1 hour decanting to take the edge off, maybe more. Still a good 5+ years to go.

4/19/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Decanted: 1 Hour (needs at least 1 more hour). Cork broke at 1/3 level. No issue to extract with simple cork screw. Dark garnet with slight violet hue on the rim. First impression: Nose of dried tobacco, subdued strawberry jam (hinting at more...which showed nicely after 30 mins), pressed cherries. Heated strawberry-cherry compote on the palate. Watery, somewhat tannic and slight brett, hinting at needing further time to settle. Later impressions: Port and concentrated cooked strawberry on the nose. More pointed cooked cherry with strawberry back notes, slight chocolate and burnt caramel, richer and medium-long finish. Very pleasant, rich and round. No rush, but drinking well. Surely till 2030+!

4/3/2020 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Broken cork. Decanted 1.5 hours. Medium- Orange rim. Pepper, marzipan on the nose. Very strong bouquet. Very subdued at decanting with strong acidity. Classical cedar box, tobacco, red fruit on the palate with short finish. Opens beautifully into silky and ready to drink. Cassis, pipe tobacco, slight chocolate. Rich mouthfeel, slightly subdued, but not unpleasant watery finish. Great condition and level for age and Chateaux. Wouldn’t wait too long, very drinkable now and good value for money!

8/22/2015 - Revenga wrote:

Blind Tasting (Silveroak and other U.S.). Another very funky/ weird wine! Dark Crimson. Vegemite and Curry powder (!) nose...super strong! Palate more classically structured Bordeaux. Seems fading. Medium palate. Not sure what happened to this bottle. Was part of a library case.

8/22/2015 - Revenga wrote:

Very interesting... Given that this was tasted blind, but with knowledge of a new world line-up. Medium dark red. Slight brick hue. Very peppery, green, vegetal nose. Cab Frank like (Loire, Bordeaux)! Classical Bordeaux palate with lactose (Lynch Bages) hint. Long finish. Weird wine, which will stick in my memory!

8/22/2015 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Medium Crimson. Medley of fruits on the nose. Very Sweet and very concentrated red fruit with strong raspberry undertones. Almost port-like but fresher. Needs at least 5 + years.

8/22/2015 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Very dark Crimson. Concentrated dark red fruit (brambles, raspberry jam, dark cherry) on the nose and palate. First impression of a round but young south Rhone (reminds of St.Joseph). More soft on palate (raspberry). Slightly tannic. Medium finish. Needs time.

8/22/2015 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Pink-Crimson. Classic Paulliac nose. Tobacco, Cigar box, etc. Very nice, especially for a new world wine. A little subdued and disappointing/ flimsy mouth feel. Disjointed from impression on the nose. Medium finish.

2/9/2015 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hour. Slight sediment. Dark garnet rim with orange hue. Looked older when pouring (like a early 90/late 80), surprising. Nose: Light cherry, brambles, slight metallic, fresh almost Barolo like nailpolish, slight lactose (typically Pessac). Palate: cherry jam, slight pencil shavings, honey, kirsch. Finish: long, slight tannins, honey elements . Overall quite youthful, solid body, needs aging but surely enjoyable to drink now. Could be confounded with younger Barolo if blind tasting. Needs at least 2 hour decanting. Serve with food.

8/9/2014 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Decanted (assume 2 hours). Orange-hue., darker than last tried. Fresh cream, young strawberry, pavlova on the nose. Slight acidity on full mouthfeel. Quince, dried apple on palate. Medium finish. Very nice dessert wine

8/9/2014 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Dark deep gold, matted. Marzipan, yeast, caramel, calisson d'aix (some orange hints) on the nose. Rich, full, almost too sugary mouth feel with a subtle acidic undertone providing great balance. Yeasty, some walnut, lots of fudge caramel. Better with some food...good to drink, not sure it will age better.

6/15/2014 - Revenga Likes this wine:

At Upper Bistro/HK. Bottle and by the glass. Not decanted.
Straw colored. Nose acacia, honeysuckle, honey. Very fresh and subtle! The body is light/medium. Medium finish with low acidity. Overall very quaffable, makes you want to open a bottle after another. Well priced. Would make a great house wine and summer serve with friends!

6/15/2014 - Revenga wrote:

Swift decant. Very dark crimson. Nose of cream, banana at opening. Thick. More fresh, red fruit medley, stale tobacco. A little flat on the back palate, watery, sour cherry, kirsch cake. Quite a lot of tannins. Good potential I would assume, needs more aeration (1 hour?). Need to revisit in a year or so... Had better 98's.

11/26/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Waited for a while to open this. Bottle bought at Cave d'Auge. Dark purple. Concentrated nose of dark burnt cherry with strawberry compote. Heavy, surprisingly. Very silky mouthfeel, concentrated, ripe strawberry with earthy overtones, forest, smoke. Beautiful and well preserved. Most likely at its last full blossom, but would accumulate for drinking in the next 1-2 years.

11/26/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Dark brick, classic, blood like color. Very structured. Cedar, tobacco, etc. long finish. Consistent with last tasting, but somewhat more elegant in style. Ready to drink, but might benefit from 1 hour decanting (these two bottles were swift decanted). Can keep well for medium-term. Accumulate.

11/26/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Dark burgundy color. Purple rim. Very concentrated and pleasantly pungent nose of red fruit medley. Rich mouthfeel. Strong cassis, roast meat, slightly lactic. No tannins, completely smooth. Long finish. Beautiful. Ready to go! Normally not a fan...but this...accumulate!

11/26/2013 - Revenga wrote:

Very dark purple. Crimson rim. Concentrated berry compote on the nose. Difficult to discern individual notes. Slight alcohol, varnish on the nose. Flat cassis palate. Some cherry. Much fuller after just opening the bottle. Slight tannic and coarse on the back palate. Not much life left. Quite light for 14.5%, disappointing...

11/18/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Pale golden. Minerality on the nose, quince, mashed apples, cider, hints of vanilla. Quite sharp. Round mouthfeel. Orchard fruit. Acidic back palate. Long finish. Good but young. Good value for money.

11/18/2013 - Revenga wrote:

Pre- Thanksgiving Dinner. Swift decant for sediments. Typical and as usual good! A little flat however, lacks the freshness of a newer vintage.

11/18/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Aperitif. Very fresh. Small bubbles. Lemon biscuit. Smooth acidity. Beautiful. Will accumulate.

11/18/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Pre- Thanksgiving Dinner. Decanted in single vessel for 1.5 hours. Dark velvet. Composed and brooding. Earthy fruits des bois rouges. Very full mouthfeel. Strong strawberry and cherry, undertones of fresh debarked wood and fresh earth in a highly pleasant way. Very good to drink now, almost too strong for the turkey!

11/18/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

At Kerala Dinner- Secret on Seven. Gold color. Floral, cavillon melon, white flowers, medium candy and sugar. Quite sweet and viscous. Too young. But ideal for South Indian food!

11/18/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

At Kerala Private Dinner. Opened 1 hour. Dark Ink, almost no translucence. Burnt brambles, cherry confit, a little musky and mushroom. Very full mouth, concentrated, but fading. Brambles, red fruit reduction, burned, smokey. Surprisingly better than expected given CT reviews. But at 15 %...stood up to curries (lamb, even fish and tiger prawns, spicy chutneys)...good match for South Indian food.

11/18/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

The wine looks Blonde colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Lemon, Almond, and Honey. The body is Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Medium.

11/5/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Medium purple rim. Dark crimson core. Cherry nose, some nail polish. Similar nose to younger Rosso di Montalcino. Light for appellation, too flat. Some gingerbread, underripe cherry, high tannins. Light to drink, appreciated by other guests with limited Rhone experience. Maybe some potential if revisited after some time...but doubtful.

5/13/2013 - Revenga Does not like this wine:

Very flat. Decanted 3 hours. Nothing there...

4/15/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Dark gold color, orange hue. Very closed at onset (too cold). Over period of 1.5 hrs mistook for Todonia or ev Condrieu, as strong almond, marzipan taste. Very round. Heavy. Sublime vanilla, white peach, poached pear with cinnamon. Beautiful! Keep 5 to 7 years.

4/15/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Very white gold. Soft, white flowers, slight oak. Some tasters mistook for Chablis GC (due to minerality and closed nose). Sweet and soft mouthfeel. Caramel fudge with vanilla, good acidity, crystalline. At least another 5 years. Very good! .

4/15/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Gold. Pungent, metallic, new world SauvB nose. Vegetal, with hint of oranges. Something complex is hidden. After 1 hour in the glass: very structured, peppery, white flowers racy palate, medley of green garden. Very interesting. Tasted 1st time. To be revisited. Surely too young.

4/15/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Pale gold color. Medium bubbles. Fresh nose, slightly vegetal, lack of any toast or buttery notes. Classical body, structured, medium acidity, citrus, lemon tart. Similar to Perrier Jouet, Belle Époque. A little disappointing for what it is (300 bottles, etc), but magnificent or the fact that 2 year old vines...surely a collection piece and interesting to follow in maturity!

4/8/2013 - Revenga wrote:

Cafe Grey, HK. The wine looks Purple colored. The body is Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Medium. Sticky cherry- kirsch nose. Loss of tannins after 40 mins of decanting. Lots of potential. Very young. + 7-10yrs?

4/8/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Cafe Grey, HK. The wine looks Purple colored. The body is Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Medium. Sticky cherry- kirsch nose. Loss of tannins after 40 mins of decanting. Lots of potential. Very young. + 7-10yrs?

4/8/2013 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Cafe Grey, HK. Swift decant. Strong black currant, tobacco, leather, bitter black chocolate. Still quite tannic. Longer decanting (2 hrs?) would benefit. Lovely potential. Keep another 3-5 years...

12/17/2012 - Revenga Likes this wine:

Ruby-cherry color with slight brick hue. Strong fragrance on the nose of cherry- strawberry. Full and round mouthfeel. Slight acidity on back palate. Long finish. Very typical ChamMus, great for a Village. Mixed berries, ripe strawberry, kinda kirschy overtone. Drink now. Good value for money!

11/2/2012 - Revenga wrote:

Ryan's Birthday/Grand Hyatt HK/ Jeroboam and 75 cl: brick hue, concentrated plum red. Mushroom, old black currant, slight minty- cedar. Full and rich mouth feel. Very round and long finish. Beautiful...

8/18/2012 - Revenga wrote:

Colour: Deep dark purple, slender cassis couloured rim. Nose: Fresh ripe cherries, vanilla pudding (slightly caramelized) undertone, fresh, weath biscuit, hint of sour acidity. Very round and full, balanced, medium finish. Young cassis with young brambles undertone, fresh, slightly undercooked apple pastry, crumble. Still young, but pleasant to drink. Advise to keep for now and get positively surprised.