9/21/2018 - cfrances33 wrote:

Served in a Riedel Burgundy glass. Root; 1021 hPa.

Upon intial opening, this is very reductive and stinky with a manure quality. Fortunately, after stepping away for 20 minutes, this blows off. Color here is a deep magenta, moving to a bricking, watery rim. Some sediment, but rather fine. The nose here is really quite pleasant, with fresh bramble, red currant, lavender, and fresh violet. A bit of menthol. There’s a distinct wet red clay quality, along with decaying compost. Rather attractive, though the clay can be a bit distracting. Taste follows suit with more tart red fruits - red currant, red raspberries, rose water, sage. Some of the same decaying leaves funk by not as noticeable as the palate. Tannic structure here is moderately firm, and lingering. The red clay character from the nose provides no real flavor, but completely drives the palate, drying out the ripeness of the fruit, emphasizing the tart acidity, and sharpening what would likely be a rather pleasant tannic grip. The finish is short with no real flavor other than some of the tart red currant, a slight graininess, and incredibly dry.

Overall this wine is confounding. The fruit quality is undeniable, but I can’t say that the terra-cotta aging benefits this wine. Perhaps I focus on the clay qualities that come through on the nose and palate by power of suggestion, but I don’t think they provide any complexity to the wine; quite the opposite. I’m not sure aging will help this wine either as it was short and uninteresting a year ago and doesn’t seem much different now. I’d love to try this same wine coming from old oak elevage.

4/12/2020 - Unell-Wine Likes this wine:

Drank past the suggested drink date, but still tasted good. A little lighter than my favorite Cabernets, though smooth and paired well with steak, potatoes and wedge salad.

4/6/2022 - Elycohn Likes this wine:

Suicide soda fountain blend of Nothern Italian, French, and German varietals. Fun to see Lagrein and Teraldego in the mix. Comes together in a soft pink cotton candy glow and raspberry lemonade finish. Thirst quenching.

8/24/2016 - ChristP Likes this wine:

What a magnificent Burgundy. Alas, no formal notes. The 2005 Cuvee Brunet is still rather youthful and tannic. It took around 3 hours in the decanter to start to open up, and it continued to evolve with every glass - no, almost with every sip. It's amazing wine with great depth of red and dark fruits, tannins to pack the cheeks and youthful acidity. There's great complexity and a lovely finish. Foolishly, I only bought a 6-pack, so I'm now down to 5 bottles. This should not be opened for another couple of years, and I'm sure it could cellar well for a further ten years. If ever this comes round again, don't hesitate to buy this outstanding Burgundy from a top producer in what was a golden vintage (the price was also very reasonable at GBP180 for the half case).

10/15/2021 - OldHick95 Likes this wine:

Light in style. Nose of well worn letter. Core of red plum, licorice. Tingling acidity on the long finish.

10/18/2021 - Thejjohnsons01 Does not like this wine:

Skany. Do not open

8/27/2022 - Vinkällaren på Lillåvägen wrote:

Väldigt syrligt och tenens till vinäger i smaken
Troligast skadat

10/23/2022 - mazik Likes this wine:

Dark ruby in the glass with fragrant raspberry and cherry fruit along with clove and lilac, good length, goes down nicely and definitely cuts the grease! Golde was contemptuous of it.

5/3/2020 - jwolf99 Likes this wine:

My third bottle before I could really get a good read on this; much more trocken than spatlese; acidity is almost too much and is a real distraction from the rest of wine; once you get past the acid, there are nice apple and pear flavors which persist on moderately long finish

3/20/2022 - logos Likes this wine:

pungent herbaceous-floral nose; fleshy, matte textured, slightly harsh, ripe melony taste; brisk acidity;soft, clean, lingering finish. very attractive and moreish. may improve

3/16/2022 - logos Likes this wine:

simple in the best way: easy drinking, pronounced cherry and a touch earthy on the nose and palate. decent length and harmonious aftertaste. quite enjoyable; might improve with age.

1/12/2020 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine:

This maceration Fab 2 is described by Florian as an Orange wine, I must admit I don't like Orange Wines. I just don't get them. However, this is certainly interesting. Golden colour with aromas of overripe peaches, yellow apple, pears and tea the palate was more layered than what I was expecting with a rich mouthfeel of bruised orchard fruits, tropical notes, crushed stones and an easy straight finish. Not a favorite of his lineup but understand why some like it.

8/5/2021 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Luis back on the Saddle @ The Kenwood: PnP from .375 - small taste - like most 2005's a little on the sweet side with not enough acidity to quite balance it out, but still very pleasant to sip! Honeyed golden fruit with peach, creamed orange and apricot dominating, hints of Meyers Lemon and caramel. A very nice, well made Sauternes. Like most Sauternes, can be drunk now for its rich fruit and acidity, or can be held for more caramel and creaminess....has the fruit, and enough acidity to last quite some time. 92+ points.

6/30/2021 - rgawlowski wrote:

Nice, although syrupy… on the nose, palate etc. feels almost black currant/kirsch sweet.

3/29/2021 - vinko84 wrote:

Great Find. Perfect and matured Tokaji

1/23/2018 - moziedk Likes this wine:

This is the second bottle we drink of the 2002 Close Jebsal Trie Speciale, the first one we drank at a young age around 10 years ago, it was already fantastic then. This one we drank today January 23rd on our 12 1/2 anniversary, now 15 years old and thus still a young wine. This is an absolute monster now, wow what a wine, so complex and full-bodied. 10 years ago it was dark yellow in color, now it is deep red-brown. If I ever see one again, I'll buy it.

11/18/2020 - mazik Likes this wine:

Popped & poured. My first impression was leather and dust, fruit on the nose was muted at first, later came in stronger with black raspberry and plum. Not a fruit bomb at all, more like a St. Emilion in a good year. Opens out with lots of charm eventually. The best gulp was what was left in my glass, tasted with a mouthful of barnyardish sheep's milk cheese.
The rest of the bottle was vacuvined, and was a 94 wine the next day (with leftover meatloaf). The primary fruit and secondary leather, oak, and earth had all come together. It's highly extracted, juicy, with abv 14.8% covered, and a long finish. If you've got a bunch of these, as I have, they need a bit of air to show all their stuff. Decant or vinturi if you have one, and watch out for the sediment at the bottom.
Bought from Acker Merrall auction at $280 for a dozen.

6/20/2018 - jrhonda160 Likes this wine:

Soft but definite Napa aroma. Uneventful light flavor at first, finishing with a bit of a dry tart cherry.

7/12/2020 - Eric G wrote:

We like West Coast Pinot Noir and bought multiple bottles of this one based on ratings + recommendations. Sadly, although nothing wrong with the wine it didn’t registered with us.

3/9/2020 - regatore Does not like this wine:

코어가 너무 진해서 영빈인줄 알았는데, 향과 팔렛에서 오는
부케가 제법 있었다. 그럼에도 2015 빈티지 일줄은 몰랐다.
높은 알코올이 조금 튀는 느낌이고, 밸런스가 그리 좋지 못하다는 인상 .
푸르티 향이 지배적인데 블랙베리, 자두가 지배적이며 카시스 향이 난다. 달콤하면서도 매콤한 스파이시 오크 향이 뚜렷하다. 바닐라 터치도 가볍게 느껴진다. 채소류 향도 듬성 듬성 나며 약간의 피래진 뉘앙스도 지니고 있다. earthy한 쿰쿰한 캐릭터도 느껴진다.
와인이 대체적으로 먹을 수록 느끼한 느낌이고, 약간 화학적 요소들이 느껴지는 듯했다. 그래서 나에겐 맞지 않는 듯 해 아쉽다.

미디엄 플러스 산도, 미디엄에서 미디엄 플러스 탄닌, 미디엄에서 미디엄 플러스에 좀 못미치는 바디감의 드라이한 와인이다.
14%의 알콜이라 식도가 뜨겁게 타오르고 그 위로 여운이 제법 길다. 하지만 질감이 묽어서 아쉽다.

11/6/2020 - mjwilliams2 wrote:

Based on the reviews, I was excited. But I was underwhelmed.

9/8/2020 - swade wrote:

Sweet dark fruit. Closer to Syrah than Pinot. Lots of residual sugar. Ten years ago there was some vintage to vintage interest and flavor profile change. This has fans (my wife), but there is no vinosity here anymore, rather industrial recipe. The price should keep going down. You know what you are getting here, but so too at McDonalds. The difference between this and say Seghesio zin, is it doesn’t have distinctiveness. No flaws. This will have its fans. Rich and fruit forward. This it delivers. It can’t be outstanding for me. It can’t be better than the 2017 when it is the same. 86

1/17/2020 - LakeGirl69 Likes this wine:

Nice balance of oak and enjoyed the complexity.

11/13/2018 - SMHalps wrote:

My first bottle of 6 that I ordered, and it was flawed. Stored perfectly, it was probably corked. Very disappointing. Undrinkable.

6/17/2018 - SommStags wrote:

Nice fruit and somewhat in balance for such a young wine. While I recommend waiting another 5-10 years, it wasn’t a terrible sin opening. Think this wine will be around 92-93 points when it hits the plateau.

2/9/2017 - UpfromtheCellar wrote:

Medium bodied, with notes of spice and fruit. Easy to pour down. At under $15 a buy in California chardonnay that can too easily be either shrill or soft/flabby at this price point. Nicely balanced.

10/26/2017 - pdev wrote:

Sweet red currant/pommegranite, violet. palate tastes like grenache...but supposedly none present, very fresh, red fruits, garrigue. Juicy modern winemaking.

10/23/2017 - blinkingdog Does not like this wine:

10/23/2017 Pulled a glass via Coravin after trying the 2013 which I didn't care for. Wasn't crazy about this one either. Need to try again after letting it sit longer perhaps. Maybe just not my style.

5/12/2017 - Chataignier Likes this wine:

Cerise et fruits rouges au nez, légère touche de bois et de douceur aussi. Plutôt sur le fruit rouge légèrement acide en bouche, frais (légèrement asséchant) et bon. Pas boisé ni vanillé comme le sont souvent les pinots noir des usa. Intéressant, frais et agréable, finale moyenne + sur un feeling gamay. On sent que ce vin est fait avec soin mais je m'attendais à mieux pour 30$.
S'accorde bien avec un saumon et légumes grillés. Domaine en bio et biodynamie.

8/30/2016 - Eclipse1 Does not like this wine:

Great if you hanker after a reminder of how good lucozade was when you were a kid. Clumsy, cloying, far too much acidity. Boiled sweets, spritzy and frankly, sickly. All the fruit seems to collide like a bad car crash and leaves the worst after taste i can ever recall. Has an almost tannic finish. At best it is like getting bored with sucking a sherbert lemon, but when you finally crunch it to relieve the boredom you get a squirt of sour, bitterness. Off to the fridge to get some PX .

3/23/2016 - yeti575rider wrote:

Wouldn't normally bother to read about and score something this mass produced but was curious to see what others thought of the 2014. I normally appreciate this wine for what it is and like it but this one just went over the top for me. I think this is the first wine where I got vanilla as the dominant flavor. It tasted like a cross between a super sweet grape cream soda and a Dr. Pepper. In case you were wondering that is not a good thing. Of course one of the other people drinking this really liked it. There is a reason that they sell a zillion of these every year.

12/22/2015 - mathwonk wrote:

delicious. more like california wine, fresh berry taste, simple and lovely, but smooth and rich with some depth. none of the earthy complexity i recall from bordeaux. maybe i have been away from bordeaux wine so long it has changed. i mean no criticism here, as this is a real pleasure to find open on the counter at my son's house. probably opened last night, but at my house it would not still be there. i will try to save him a glass until he gets home, but that is not a given. why have i never heard of this wine? is it a young vine version of leoville barton?

12/1/2015 - ageverett Does not like this wine:

Disappointing. Pop and pour and drank over 2.5 hours. Never developed into anything redeeming for me. Muted nose, thin palate and relatively short, unenthusiastic finish. Maybe it needs to breathe? Will try something different next time.

5/22/2015 - dsan0123 wrote:

Believe it was shipped corked. Very vinegar taste and not good

8/23/2014 - mazik Does not like this wine:

Sour and unpleasant still: who wants to drink rhubarb wine? Anyone want my last four bottles?

3/22/2015 - Armando B wrote:

Bigger, darker fruited style pinot. Not for the AFWE drinker. Spritzy on opening. Dissapaited after Day 1. Thereafter a good, if unremarkable, representation of this style. OK if you are in the mood for it. OK QPR for the $25 bottle discount price. Not worth the regular retail price.

11/29/2014 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hour. Super dark, almost black in color, with big aromas of black fruit, cracked peppercorn and violets. Blackberry, pepper and earth on the palate, finishing with a bitter dark chocolate flavor. This is some really good stuff!

1/15/2015 - Rmjchen Likes this wine:

The cork broke but was able to salvage it. Elegant wine with pinot traits. Not overtly acidic as some reviewers noted. Good balance of elements though not a life changing experience. Considering what I paid through last bottle it was a good value.

1/4/2015 - mazik wrote:

Amazingly unpleasant. Cork broke but butt was retrievable. Cloudy dark red with brownish tinge. The bouquet has flowers and fruit but is marred by volatile acidity, which did not blow off. Red fruit and vinegar on the palate. This goes down the drain, I can't even cook with it. Shame on Last Bottle!

1/4/2015 - jpferna wrote:

As previously mentioned, cork shredded when opening. Not a good sign. A very drinkable pinot, but fairly thin over the palate. I too am surprised Last Bottle hyped this one.

12/27/2014 - Tom Warden Likes this wine:

This wine is mellowing out quite nicely...especially with 30 minutes of decanting ahead of drinking. Drank three bottles with some special friends with salmon and asparagus...perfect.

3/26/2014 - FrugalGlug wrote:

Taking a whiff, it all but confirmed that this wine had some head. Alcohol and plum on the nose. The rest of what could have been detectable was drowned out.
Juicy, tannic and overbearing. There's a lot of bombast present here, which sadly hides what the Zinfandel grape can offer. It's a great glass, but anything beyond that sends your senses reeling. Upon tasting the next day, the alcohol became more timid and the berries seemed to express themselves more. Decant for a day, and you'll find some pleasing nuances. But, I'd have to say, skip this one.

7/15/2014 - wineaficionado Likes this wine:

Nose: Red currents, raspberries, licorice. Very perfumy. Mouth: Consistent with the nose. Very good wine. Finish a bit too diluted. Wine just a tad too bitter. Ready to drink now.

8/23/2014 - mazik Likes this wine:

Lovely wine, my tasting note from March stands. But will somebody explain how to get that effing capsule off?

11/23/2013 - Jeffyboy wrote:

Rather dark with some billbery hue, not clear with rather long legs. Light rim. Nose: very powdery but with some tart aromas at the begining, later becoming more swedt. Taste: light, lacks body a bit; quite high acidity - resembling red currants. Strange "dishcloth" finish - rather long. Would call it disapointment.

7/1/2014 - mazik wrote:

As in April: exaggerates to the point of parody the lushness of the 2011 Meiomi. Too hot, too fruity, too chewy. Where is the winemaker who made the 2009 and 2010 Meiomi that I fell in love with?

6/1/2014 - JOJ wrote:

The notes on this wine below are fascinating -- no consistency at all. This was my first bottle, and I liked it quite a bit, although I certainly would never have guessed it to be a California Chardonnay. On the nose, lemon, pineapple, and melon, with an interesting and not unpleasing touch of horse blanket. Really zippy on the palate, with lemon, green apple, and nutmeg, framed by a tangy spine of mineral and citrus. A touch thin, but rounded out with air.

1/1/2014 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine:

Really nothing special here for $20. They say its 2/3 Chard, 1/3 Pinot Noir, but hard to tell. Little creamy, but on the light side. Not a lot of depth and struggle to pull specific flavors out of it. Can't agree that this is good for the $$$ when you have Gruet and similar (try their Blanc de Noir) for well under $20. By the next day after properly securing it, it had lost all carbonation. Disappointing but good. Would have been happy if I paid $10-12 for it.

3/3/2014 - mazik Does not like this wine:

It's not flawed, it's not temporarily odd tasting from travel in a truck, and decanting doesn't do anything whatever for it. It tastes musty, dusty and drab. To me it seems utterly incredible that anyone ever said of this wine "Explosively perfumed scents of dark berry preserves, violet and spicecake, with a peppery topnote. Pliant and broad on the palate, offering intense blackberry and cherry compote flavors that show impressive depth and focus." The wine I received from LastBottle was not that wine.

3/2/2014 - prism wrote:

Popped and poured. The wax top is a chore to open. Dark, oxidized-looking stuff. Smoke flavors and broiled grapefruit. Was looking forward to this--my first of six. Disappointing. Sharp, woody, and acidic. Maybe it was just this bottle, but this sure ain't Chablis. Oak predominates; not much fun to drink. Window is closing, so I'll be trying another bottle soon, but so far it's not a wine I'd serve to anyone else. Possibly a flawed bottle -- I really hope so -- but this bottle merits no better than 74: drinkable but well below an average chardonnay.