12/14/2023 - DonDon wrote:

Having had the 2010 not that long ago - this just doesn’t compare. Lacking the fresh fruit profile you want to complete the balance of the wine. The mouthfeel does show the quality of the wine. It’s just not especially memorable and for me feels a bit lacking in depth. My first of the 6 pack so maybe my future scores will be higher - but wasn’t loving it tonight

10/3/2022 - msf6msf6 Likes this wine:

This is my first 100 point score given on CT and this wine deserves every point. This is the best wine I've ever had, surpassing the 2012 Odette Reserve. Full-bodied, layer upon layer of flavor, long finish, just perfect in every way. Decanted for about 75 minutes and then drank over the next hour. I'd say the 90 minute decant that other people are recommending below is perfect. Will try to acquire more of this wine. This is what special occasion wine is all about.

9/15/2018 - DonDon wrote:

My second bottle and I have tried this over many nights with the Coravin before actually scoring and reviewing. Its time to call a spade a spade. This is the worst supposedly 'quality' wine I have ever bought (and I am a serious collector). I'm sorry but this is absolutely not nice to drink - which after all is surely the key test of a wine. It is completely and utterly lacking in acidity - which is completely ridiculous given this is a Sancerre which is supposed to have a lovely citrus quality. As a result it is really unbalanced and bitter and totally lacking in charm. I have honestly tried this many times in the last 2 months - and waited two years since my first bottle in the pointless hope it would improve - and I have never hated a wine more than this. No idea what I will do with my remaining 10 bottles. If this somehow becomes amazing in 10 years time I will have some apologising to do, bit then again I suspect I will have several bottle left by then as I just cant see myself ever wanting to drink it. My lowest score for a wine ever. And sorry but this is deserved.

12/11/2021 - DonDon wrote:

This is a 91 all day long for me - especially at this price point. It’s a really pretty wine - quite floral on the nose and just very classic Brunello profile and just really tasty and enjoyable. Great acidity and cherry fruit profile, some tar and thyme. It’s not pretending to be very complex - it’s just a really well made brunello. I’ve also got their Reserva and that is excellent

8/4/2021 - DonDon wrote:

OK I have to accept now that I have a bad batch. Apparently in the mid-90s there was a huge amount of bottle variation and the quality wasn't always there. This bottle was as per my last 2 notes (from 2012 and 2018), just fairly poor, dominated by the acidity without the complexity or joy it should have provided. Oh well

7/27/2020 - DonDon Likes this wine:

One of the finest champagnes I have ever had. Has almost everything you want in a great champagne. Immediately different from the NV cuvees. Fantastic brioche and slight nuttiness. Beautiful acidity but also a softness to the wine. The mousse isn't too aggressive - the wine dominates and the bubbles enhance it. Loved it

8/25/2020 - DonDon wrote:

Having loved this wine I opened my last bottle and it was not good. Strange experience. Can it really be that a wine of this quality cant last 5 years in the cellar? Wine was now really out of balance with way too much acidity and the alcohol quite prominent. Any help from others appreciated - would this come out of this phase if left a few more years or is this the decline of the wine? Not scoring it

6/17/2020 - DonDon wrote:

Too young to have opened this (I hope). At the moment it has such massive acidity that it really dominates. It did improve a bit with air - and I already decanted this for 4 hours before the first glass - but it just didn’t give enough joy. Red fruit profile and very fresh but not yet any tertiary flavours and everything is washed away by the acid at the moment. Quite disappointing. My first of 6 bottles and will leave them 5 years before trying the next and hope for better balance. Anyone else reading this I would strong advise you don’t open it yet.

10/13/2019 - DonDon wrote:

I bought that after trying it at the huge Cali trade tasting at the US embassy in london. This for me was the stand out Zin in the room and this was the first one I tried it at home. I find too many Zins are really flabby and Jammy. This had great acidity and a much darker fresh fruit profile. It made for a great balance with a grilled lamb dish. Honestly this is really well made and I think v good value. I look forward to trying the rest of my bottles and also the Bedrock Zin I also bought!

8/30/2018 - DonDon wrote:

Drunk at 67PM as part of a totally insane line up. Can’t believe I’ve drunk a wine from 1928!! And that I loved it. It sounds ridiculous to say but this has life left in it. Obviously this is all now about the tertiary flavours but has a great backbone of acidity. Must have got very lucky with bottle condition. What a treat.

10/16/2016 - DonDon wrote:

Very much not blown away. If I'd tasted this blind I would swear it is a (fairly average) left bank Bordeaux - very similar profile. No great depth or complexity. Nicely balanced and good acidity but not memorable at all. Thankfully this was my only bottle

11/9/2015 - DonDon Likes this wine:

Super impressed. Not a huge Bordeaux fan generally (yes I know that is a sacraligious statement) but this was seriously delicious. Real body and depth to this wine. Fab with lamb steak and roast veg. Luckily I have 2 cases of this wine to enjoy!