3/21/2017 - IanL Likes this wine:

Tasted at St John dinner. Remarkably fresh, deep colour with legs. Clean palate, resolved tannins, stewed fruits and good acidity. Long. Still life there.

11/13/2014 - IanL wrote:

Dark crimson colour, very slight bricking on rim. Ripe nose, touch of menthol & eucalyptus, leather, spice and gingerbread. Stewed plums, tarry palate. Still powerful, but showing age. Drying finish. Not growing old gracefully.

11/22/2010 - IanL wrote:

Deep colour. Fresh & clean nose with notes of cedar-wood & pencil shavings. Nice, not overly long - drinking well now.

11/3/2010 - IanL wrote:

Clean, classic cigar box aromas. Full and rounded, long. Slightly drying on finish.

5/9/2010 - IanL wrote:

Nice cote rotie. Fresh, balanced and elegant. Nicely rounded.

2/27/2009 - IanL wrote:

Fresh, à point, no surprises. Still drinking well.

2/27/2009 - IanL wrote:

Oxidised

4/30/2008 - IanL wrote:

showed beautifully, lots of life (4+ yrs) left...

12/24/2007 - IanL wrote:

mildly corked

5/5/2007 - IanL wrote:

Drinking beautifully, not over the hill yet.

8/25/2006 - IanL wrote:

Medium deep colour, ruby core. Elegant, but slightly restrained nose. Inital sweetness on the palate, rounded fruit and floral notes. Soft tannins. Nice, needs some time.

4/6/2006 - IanL wrote:

Pale yellow colour with distinct legs. Quite restrained nose, but what was there hinted at some richness - honey, flint, butter, nuttyness and a slight cheesyness. Concentrated, multi-layered palate with an apparent high acidity and warm alcohol finish.Was expecting more fruityness and especially some apricot. Finish long and rich.

Quite a polished wine for one so young, would have put it much older if blind tasting.

2/15/2006 - IanL wrote:

Although not a blockbuster white burg, this does exactly what it says on the bottle and does it better than many higher-graded wines from lesser producers. Needed some time to fill-out in the glass. Fresh, buttery, nutty nose with hints of vanilla and ripe pear. Medium acidity with a rich palate and a medium-length finish. It's not going to knock your socks off but it is a solid performer in the face of a lot of mediocrity at the bourgogne-blanc level. Shows what a great winemaker can do with young vinestock.

2/15/2006 - IanL wrote:

Medium-deep straw yellow colour. An expressive, smoky nose, with hints of gooseberries, mango, pear, a touch of oak and a butteryness that suggests richness. Medium+ acidity and a good length on the palate, layers of minerals and fruit. Nice.

1/18/2006 - IanL wrote:

From a bottle with a very loose, short cork - may impact TN. Stinky, not particulary pleasant nose. Hints of lanolin and cream. On the palate however the wine is very impressive: soft, viscous and fruity - hints of fruit cake. Smooth, nutty finish. Crappy nose, nice palate.

1/18/2006 - IanL wrote:

Pale mahogany core, with smooth transition to paler edge with tinge of green. Slight stink on the nose, with a volatile edge. Notes of citrus, zest and a herbal finish. Long and dry on the palate with a nutty, slightly astringent finish. Good balance. Long, long finish. Nice.

12/14/2005 - IanL wrote:

Quite pale in colour. Nice structured nose, with hints of apple, citrus and some underlying minerality. A good balance between sweetness and acidity, but quite muted palate generally. Possible the wine is going through a closed period and the acidity is outweighing the body and sweetness currently, time will tell. Revisit in several years...

11/3/2005 - IanL wrote:

Deep, golden-yellow, almost amber colour. Intense nose with distinct notes of petrol (and a touch of paint thinners), apricot, peach and a slight mushroomy funk. Quite a round full palate medium-sweet, good acidity and a long finish. Slightly drying on the finish, but quite classy.

11/3/2005 - IanL wrote:

Tasted blind. Quite a light and obviously young colour. Really fresh aromas of cassis, cherries (cherryade), bubblegum and candyfloss. Completely contradictory on the palate, being a very restrained, almost closed with some quite austere tannins. Quite wacky - a new world nose and old world palate. Interesting enough but not a great drink right now. May evolve into something more elegant given some time.

11/3/2005 - IanL wrote:

Deep ruby core with a heavily bricking rim. Fresh jammy nose, with hints of cigar box and layers of molasses, tobacco and a touch of christmas cake. Quite a luscious and velvety palate wth soft, fully integrated tannins. Slightly drying finish. Still some body left here and not completely shot. Certainly fine to drink now and good for a year or so. Much better than expected.

11/3/2005 - IanL wrote:

Deep ruby colour, with some bricking at the rim. Quite forward aromas of damsons & cassis with a touch of cedarwood. Fruity palate, but lacking body and quite a dry and thinning finish. Drink up.

11/3/2005 - IanL wrote:

Medium-ruby colour, with ripe aromas of cassis and griotte cherries, layered with cedarwood, sawdust and nutmeg. On the palate quite rich and jammy - very forward - with further notes of blackcurrants, griottes and minerals. A little drying on the finish and not massively complex but a fine drink. Stood up well after being open for 24hrs. It is very approachable and perfect for drinking in the next few years.

8/2/2005 - IanL wrote:

Drinking well; certainly not over the hill yet. Red fruits, ripe cherries and soft, fragrance spice notes on the nose. Ripe and soft palate with no harsh tannins but enough body to give good length. Not a powerhouse wine but elegant and fragrant.

6/15/2005 - IanL wrote:

Tasted at Andrew Edmunds restaurant in London. Quite expressive nose with notes of cedar, gravel and smoke. Palate restrained to begin with, then opened up over next hour. Very pure palate, with restrained fruit notes and smooth tannins. Good length. Not a blockbuster, but very elegant - a good example of an old, excellent Bordeaux.

4/14/2005 - IanL wrote:

Pale ruby core, with extensive bricking. Quite a forward nose with notes of stewed, sweet cherries, proscuitto, liquorice and a touch of tar. The palate is very refined and round, velvety smooth with more notes of cherries, jam and chocolate. Great acidity and balance. Wonderful length. Slightly drying finish. After 30 mins in the glass opened up some more and added some truffle notes. I suspect it is on a gradual downslope but remains a stunning wine.

4/14/2005 - IanL wrote:

Different bottling to previous tasting of this madeira. Bottle opened a week prior to this tasting, so some slight bottle stink still evident. Dark mahogany appearance with very distinct legs. Boiled sweets, chocolate and spicy fruitcake on the nose, with hints of figs and a touch of "meatiness". Great acidity and length. Nice balance. Slightly harsh finish but very long.

4/19/2005 - IanL wrote:

Pale mahogany colour. Classic christmas cake and spice nose. Fresh, rounded palate with great acidity and a hauntingly long finish. Only the slightest touch of drying on the finish. Excellent.

4/19/2005 - IanL wrote:

Medium mahogany. Christmas cake and spice on the nose. Round and ripe on the palate, quite powerful without being overbearing. Really opens up in the glass. Very nice.

4/19/2005 - IanL wrote:

Notes of christmas cake and molasses on the nose. Fine, fresh and smooth palate with great balance and very good length. Slightly 'dull' finish at the very end, but a fine madeira nonetheless.

4/14/2005 - IanL wrote:

Dark mahogany colour. Complex nose, made up from treacle, molasses, christmas pudding and a slight bottle stink (had been open less than a week). Very smooth, velvety palate, with a good grip and a very long finish.

4/14/2005 - IanL wrote:

Napoleon's Madeira. Good provenance on the bottle and served in the original hand-made 3-part moulded bottle. Pale mahogany colour. Amazingly fresh nose with notes of candied peel, coffee, molasses and chocolate. A rounded, slightly austere palate with high acidity and medium-sweetness. Despite being a little drying, the finish was fantastically long. Stunning. It's a shame to put a score against something this old - it is like tasting a part of history.

4/14/2005 - IanL wrote:

Tasted blind. Pale rusty brown colour - impossible to tell whether this was from a red grape or white grape. Fresh, elegant nose with notes of candied fruit. Grip and acidity very good, and a fantastically long finish. Ethereal. Amazing wine, with a level of freshness that was quite astonishing.

3/27/2005 - IanL wrote:

Deep golden-yellow colour. Intense nose with distinct petrol whiff on first opening, with a backbone of citrus and minerals. Some richer notes such as candied fruits and ripe pears evident on the palate. Medium+ acidity, good balance. Long finish. Very nice.

2/9/2005 - IanL wrote:

Deep colour. Very "clarety". Cigar box & cedar notes, alongside ripe, rich blackcurrant & cherry fruits. Balanced on the palate with rich velvety tannins. Although this is reserved for a Californian cab wine, the end result is easily mistaken for a very good left-bank wine. Fine.

2/9/2005 - IanL wrote:

Pale yellow. Quite a perfumed aroma of green fruits and citrus, intertwined with a distinct minerality. On the palate, quite waxy without being buttery. Good acidity and length.

2/9/2005 - IanL wrote:

Tasted blind. Pale yellow core. Slightly volatile on first opening, with turps notes and a touch of lactic baby-vomit, both of which blew off with some time in the glass. Quite creamy palate, good length and medium-high acidity. OK.

3/19/2005 - IanL wrote:

Very concentrated, new-style soave. Medium-deep yellow gold with distinct legs. Intense nose of citrus, pineapple, vanilla, mango and an underlying slatey minerality. Powerful, oily palate with a great grip and good balance. Well integrated oak. Very long. Drinking well now. Enough acidity and intensity to last for a few years yet.

3/16/2005 - IanL wrote:

Christie's Wine Department Open Evening & Tasting (Old Brompton Road, London): Unsure of provenance. Dark ruby core with slight bricking to the rim. Mostly dominated by secondary, gamey flavours and a touch of farmyard. Still carrying some tannins, ensuring a drying finish. Unsure whether it's the state of the bottle that left me unimpressed, or the state of its evolution.

3/16/2005 - IanL wrote:

Christie's Wine Department Open Evening & Tasting (Old Brompton Road, London): Dark ruby-purple core. Classic bdx nose - cigar box and blackcurrants, with a smattering of secondary aromas. Still some brooding prescence and plenty of life left. Nice.

3/16/2005 - IanL wrote:

Christie's Wine Department Open Evening & Tasting (Old Brompton Road, London): Unsure as to the provenance and presentation of the bottle. Pale ruby colour, throwing significant sediment. Slightly mushroomy nose with some subdued red fruits in the background. Drying finish.

12/1/2004 - IanL wrote:

Madeira mixed tasting (London): Little bit stinky from newly opened bottle: slightly acetone-like volatile lift blew off after a while. High acidity and rich, intense nose. Quite chocolatey. Very harmonious & round.

12/1/2004 - IanL wrote:

Madeira mixed tasting (London): Medium deep mahogany colour. Intense nose of rich, fruity christmas cake and nuts. Very elegant and perfectly balanced. Very long finish. Delicious.

12/1/2004 - IanL wrote:

Madeira mixed tasting (London): Tasted from new-style 50cl colheita bottling. Dark mahogany colour, powerful malmsey nose. Very nutty. Slightly drying finish. Nice

12/1/2004 - IanL wrote:

Madeira mixed tasting (London): Pale amber-orange colour. Nose not particularly forward, however much more giving on the palate. Notes of christmas cake and nutmeg. Drying finish.

12/1/2004 - IanL wrote:

Madeira mixed tasting (London): Clean, pure nose. Nutty touches of nutmeg and ginge. Great acidity and length. Dry+. Not a blockbuster.

12/1/2004 - IanL wrote:

Madeira mixed tasting (London): A very pure wine, dry and concentrated with notes of molasses, nuttyness and a hint of sherry-flavour. A touch of VA. Quite a drying finish as you'd expect from verdelho. Fine.

3/16/2005 - IanL wrote:

Christie's Wine Department Open Evening & Tasting (Old Brompton Road, London): Rich, unctuous wine with lashings of christmas cake and biscuit. Clearly freshly opened so still a little stinky and 'bottle sick'. Long finish. Nice

3/16/2005 - IanL wrote:

Christie's Wine Department Open Evening & Tasting (Old Brompton Road, London): Mid ruby core with wide, light ruby rim and some bricking. Sweet, opulent nose with hints of marshmallows and raspberry. Nice balance. Good length.

3/16/2005 - IanL wrote:

Christie's Wine Department Open Evening & Tasting (Old Brompton Road, London): Dark ruby core, with a light ruby rim. Hints of spice, cedarwood and plums. Smooth tannins. Nice. Drinking well now.

3/9/2005 - IanL wrote:

From the Beaucastel website
Color clear ruby red, with orange at the edges.
Nose : cooked fruit, delicat spices, undergrowth, wet leaves.
Mouth : fine and delicate, long finish.
Serve with baked whole pigeon ( in olive oil), the juice reduced and mixed with red wine, tapanade and dried tomatoes.
Drink now until 2010.
Decant one or two hours at max 17°C before serving.