5/28/2021 - 7smcb wrote:

Past it’s prime? Not nearly. Rich and powerful. Softened tannins, controlled acid. Think this will be even better in a few years. Glad I have a few more.

10/11/2020 - 7smcb wrote:

Delicious with precision and tasty fruit. Very vinous, with tiny almost imperceptible bubbles. Very special and remarkable champagne. My first bottle from Savart but hopefully more to come...

9/16/2019 - 7smcb wrote:

Really quite limited and lacking definition and, well, strong flavour of any kind. Dusty. Suffers greatly in comparison to 2009 Belle-Vue drunk the previous evening (same-ish money. This actually cost marginally more). Under-delivers, even at it's reasonable price point.

2/18/2019 - 7smcb wrote:

What a pleasure to open a bottle you've left for a few years and find that patience rewarded. My last bottle, with the penultimate bottle consumed 3 years ago. It has grown more harmonious, acids dampened and good balance. Still going quite strong. Wish I had a few more...

9/18/2018 - 7smcb wrote:

I find it quite hard to shop for Rosso di Montalcino - seldom reviewed, and a lot of reliable Brunello producers produce uneven Rosso at best. This completely delivered at its price. Garnet colour, ripe red fruit, well balanced. GV.

9/15/2018 - 7smcb wrote:

Brownish, flawed. Not corked, but perhaps heat damaged? Worried for remaining bottles...

6/17/2018 - 7smcb wrote:

Corked! Waited a long time to be disappointed...

4/15/2018 - 7smcb wrote:

Rich nose. Clear, delineated flavours and lots of terrific CNP garrigue etc. But still tasting quite young. I will wait 2-3 years before I return...

2/24/2018 - 7smcb wrote:

Drunk in a restaurant with an hours decant. Could have used more as some high tannins remained. Delicious, classic Brunello red fruit. Refined nose. Rich, complex and layered. Will return in five years - delicious now but still reaching its peak.

2/20/2018 - 7smcb wrote:

Drank after an hour+ decant. Purchased for $18 CDN and very satisfying at the price. Ripe, round, fruit. Decent balance. As much complexity as one could expect at this level, and a very satisfying midweek drink. Certainly approaching its peak over the next 2-3 years.

2/15/2018 - 7smcb wrote:

Very pale, minimal nose. Lacking concentration and with lots of acid. Quite disappointing.

2/4/2018 - 7smcb wrote:

Agree with redted below. First I've tried, but still inordinate alcohol present. Will return in 5 years.

11/5/2017 - 7smcb wrote:

Corked

10/22/2017 - 7smcb wrote:

First actually impressive 08 I've had, and the first that showed any signs of continuing to mature/improve. Dark, deep and concentrated (with all previous 2008 Bordeaux showing as quite watery) this may yet be going places. Very sorry I only bought two - and have only one left... I will return to it in 2022.

10/20/2017 - 7smcb wrote:

Fine nose. Pretty, and delicate, but like most of the 08's i've tasted so far, a little diffuse and watery. Lacking concentration. At 39 CDN, I paid too much...

10/6/2017 - 7smcb wrote:

Quite disappointed. Delicate nose, but tastes slight and a little dusty, lacking oomph. Seems fully mature.

8/1/2017 - 7smcb wrote:

Agree w dylanp. High tannins requiring a bit of time. Will return to it in 2-3 years.

6/12/2017 - 7smcb wrote:

A bottle with a worn and damaged label purchased from Liquor World in Franklin MA for a suspiciously low price. Suspicions were confirmed. Far too brown in colour for a ten year old wine. Notwithstanding a lengthy decant, wine had a brief but musty nose, and little on the palate save acid. Wine was, I fear, heat or cold tainted prior to purchase.

8/7/2016 - 7smcb wrote:

Sadly, I have to agree with the 2013 comments of Italiana below. Massive wine, with the heat of 15.5 alcohol still prominent. Powdery tannins - but hopefully a better, more relaxed wine in two years time. Good concentration, lovely sangiovese qualities, but still too young - I hope!

6/5/2016 - 7smcb wrote:

Solid, substantial wine. Concentrated and rich. But despite a two hour decant, still high tannins. Will return to it in 3-5 years.

4/30/2016 - 7smcb wrote:

Msheridan has it right. This is on the decline, despite having just been released by LCBO. Brown in colour, stewed/cooked in flavour. Fruit in retreat. In decline.

3/26/2016 - 7smcb wrote:

Exactly what one would hope for from a quality second wine in an indifferent vintage - which is to say good wine and good value! ($40 cdn) Approachable, ready and ripe, though as some have said, a little short on the finish.

1/28/2016 - 7smcb wrote:

Drunk from 375 w 90 min decant. Agree w previous posters - not as complex or layered as Beaucastel in better vintages. But lovely, savory, spicy, peppered flavor. Rich, dense nose. Very tasty and (sorry I only have halves) moreish.

1/25/2016 - 7smcb wrote:

Have to take issue with Gunnerzfan. Warm, balanced wine with lots of spice, cinnamon and cocoa, but very little that would mark this as Bordeaux. Very very New World - not a criticism, but this isn't necessarily for a Bordeaux palate.

12/25/2015 - 7smcb wrote:

Agreement w Chopper below. This underwhelmed. Despite a three hour decant, it never came together, and remained disjointed, with exposed alcohol.

12/21/2015 - 7smcb wrote:

Small tremble of regret - it is still quite young, but complexity and depth are certainly present. This is only getting better with some time. I will check back in 2017.

12/19/2015 - 7smcb wrote:

Exposed oak and unsupported alcohol. Rustic is a fair term, but this offers far less than one would expect from a Chianti Riserva with some pedigree. Avoid.

12/14/2015 - 7smcb wrote:

Drunk against 07 St. Cosme Gigondas. Very dark. Lively, intense nose. Flavours were also intense, fresh and well delineated. Did notice some heat from excess alcohol. Unlike many reviews below, the wine still tasted quite young to me, with years and years to go. Cosme tasted much more mature, smoothed out and integrated. I won't return to it for 2-3 years.

11/4/2015 - 7smcb wrote:

Given a 90 minute decant, and drunk against the 2006 Pipeau. Both were completely mature, but the 08 has greater richness, complexity and viscosity, and is a very enjoyable drink for the money. Can't see either of them improving.

10/29/2015 - 7smcb wrote:

Muddy, indistinct flavours, and a dull, dead colour. Perhaps a damaged bottle.

2/14/2015 - 7smcb wrote:

Drunk against 05 Charmail and 05 La Louviere and clearly inferior to both. Modern, New World style. Muddy, clumsy with little complexity. Simple, pleasant flavour and limited nose. Fleeting taste.

10/2/2014 - 7smcb wrote:

Hot and overly (15%) alcoholic. Good fruit but out of balance.

9/25/2014 - 7smcb wrote:

Steady, balanced and full, if a little simple. Dark, inky colour. Ready now, but with at least 5 more years of life in it. Can't see it getting much better, though. Very classy weeknight wine.

6/20/2014 - 7smcb wrote:

Chemical nose with slightly plastic taste. Decent, if slight bubbles. Avoid.

5/17/2014 - 7smcb wrote:

I agree with the previous poster - strikingly high acidity and a simple, rustic flavour. Not a bad drink by any means, but unremarkable in contrast to virtually all other 05 cru bourgeois I've tasted recently - most of them less expensive than this was...

4/5/2014 - 7smcb wrote:

Drunk with an oyster lunch. Lovely wine. Golden in colour, with the marine qualities remarked upon in previous notes. Smooth, balanced and mature.

3/4/2014 - 7smcb wrote:

Largely agree with previous note - dry to the point of dusty. Inferior to the 2006 which had much more plentiful fruit.

2/11/2014 - 7smcb wrote:

Mature and balanced. Drinking very well but would profit from a longer decant than we were able to give...

1/11/2014 - 7smcb wrote:

Rich, fully mature and well balanced. So much better than the bottle we drank six months ago, that I would give some credence to the reviews below re: bottle variation. Still, very enjoyable for the $20...

12/22/2013 - 7smcb wrote:

I have now worked my way through the better part of a case over the last three years, and this wine is now in decline. It is in the process of losing its concentration and youthful power, leaving it far more diffuse than it was upon initial tasting. It is still a tasty drink, but it is on its way…

11/23/2013 - 7smcb wrote:

Just poor. Stewed and brownish. No nose. Muddy, sour taste.

4/14/2013 - 7smcb wrote:

This is a strong, solid concentrated wine with ample dark fruit and lovely balance. I'd agree with previous reviewers about the plum flavours. It is strong and drinking well, but there is no hurry to drink it - seems ready for another 5 or even 10 years...

4/1/2013 - 7smcb wrote:

Lots of life left in this. Still youthful, bright and fresh. I'll return to this in 2+ years.

3/8/2013 - 7smcb wrote:

Warm, rich and full of spice. Still a little tight. I'll try it again in a year or two.

11/11/2012 - 7smcb wrote:

Still at the height of its powers - mature but not old. Refined in nose, decent Pessac lead pencil, but short finish. Earthy and rich. Very enjoyable. My last bottle, sad to say.

10/29/2012 - 7smcb wrote:

It all depends what you're looking for. It has unrestrained, wild taste of rough hewn, tasty Syrah. Not to my taste, but well done.

6/11/2012 - 7smcb wrote:

My first tasting note - this bottle moved me to write one. A great example of the value of Vacqueyras, as written below. Smooth, harmonious, balanced. Nicely viscous and rich. Ready to drink. Parker draws distinction between the Solomon cuvees and others - mine was not Solomon's.