7/24/2015 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Double decanted, light colour, rose scented mineral fruit on the nose, relatively complex and heady. Pallete has good acidity and fruit, very enjoyable, hardly tastes 20yrs old.

6/5/2015 - SimonJohnson wrote:

This bottle was an attempt to find value in Bordeaux, i was pleasantly surprised, located parallel to Pauillac this Chateau produces good wine. The nose has a pronounced complexity, cedar/pencil nose reminds me of St Julian. The palette is light to medium but carries the complexity from the nose. Overall I'm impressed and will watch this Chateau going forward.

8/24/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

In my opinion this wine is now over the hill, on opening the nose gave off very little and was very vacant, the same on the pallet. Fin.

8/22/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Popped and poured, I wouldn't recommend a decant personally. Lovely casisy nose with mature secondary smells, on the pallets again soft aged fruit, very pleasant. I'd say this bottle has a life span of about an hour after opening so don't do what I did and open it on your own.

8/9/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Coffee'd dark fruit nose, seems more merlot although apparently 50/50 blend. Pleasant smooth palette, I feel this is a £12 bottle, so I overpaid but their wise enjoyable.

7/30/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Soft caramel fruity nose, well balanced structured palette, great quaffer.

7/7/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Some nice initial aromas once opened but these quickly vacated to leave an over the hill bottle of wine, im sure it was probably pleasant a couple of years ago but while drinkable now lacks any depth of character.

6/27/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Initial thoughts are that this is impressive, nose is a warm smoke and coffee cassis, quite heavy. The palette the blend is concentrated a pleasant blend of fruity cassis, this bottle has matured well and is ready to go, i doubt it will inprove. Good value bordeaux.

6/27/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

A strong effort for Cru Bourgeois all the classic Bordeaux smells and flavours, while a little weak good fun and excelent QPR.

5/26/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Orange rim, the colour displays some age. Nose is muted but soft, gives off a little earth and fruit, it seems well integreated. The Pallete is well balanced, very smooth and soft, some simple light fruit but not much. Overall a pleasant simple wine which is probably a little old but still acceptable. I wouldnt decant this.

3/7/2014 - SimonJohnson Likes this wine:

This seems to be in a good early drinking window, this certainly benefits from a couple of hours in a decanter, the nose is very interesting, quite complex and layered with spice and earth and substantial fruit. The pallete is smooth & well integrated. Had with slow cooked lamb, this is excelent value.

1/30/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

There's no question in my mind that this has moved on, it has done so in a good way. The nose has a structured mineral, spiced cherry nose, not dense, quite light but all in the correct place. Mouthfeel is very well structured, soft fruit, very simple but elegant. Great QPR, great fun, I'd buy this again and cellar for a few years.

1/16/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

I certainly haven't credited this wine enough in my previous two reviews. I bought a case from C&B at around October last year, I'm a fan of complex bourgogne Chardonay and this impresses, it has a wonderful layered toasted mineral earth nose, similar to Chassagne Montrachet style. The palette is light and fresh while still exuding the same complex buttery full flavours. I rate this wine highly for its price.

1/1/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Different from your typical "Bourgogne" this is more refined and complex. This nose has aged to produce a complex, concentrated butter, mineral and hazelnut scent. The palette is similar to the nose however I feel it's starting to fade on the palette, I would argue that this wine should be drunk this year.

1/1/2014 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Drunk on NYE, great balance, rich and interesting.

12/31/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Details: pop and pour and after 40mins the details fade so pay attention! Nose is a beautiful heady concentrated wild mushroom, truffle and earth mix, finesse only reserved for aged claret. The palette carries aged fruit still in its youth with a layered texture. This is aged claret...

12/22/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Very enjoyable, this had some great complexity and has moved on well from my last bottle. The tannins are still firm so i feel this has a heck of a lot longer to go.

12/22/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Not much fruit left, the nose is wildly menthol, too much for me.

12/14/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

I'd encourage anyone with this wine in their cellar to get a move on. I opened up a case in August and this wine is in a lovely drinking window. It benefits from a 1-2hr decant, the nose is concentrated complex purple, gritty, earthy Pauillac fruit. The pallete is silkly smooth and perfectly balanced, at no point does the alcohol imballance the wine. All round corker, I have enjoyed these a lot.

12/14/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Decanted for an hour, this helped open up the nose. Quite a complex Pauillac, very typical and drinking well now. I was impressed and would buy more if I could.

12/14/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Wonderfully layered smoked soil and cherry nose, enjoyed this a great deal.

11/30/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Not good news I'm affraid, this wine has past it. Popped and poured, the nose has a wild cassis, forest fruit and oak nose a beautiful and heady mix. Unfortunatley this initial aroma disappears within 10mins of being in your glass, if you try to taste I found an initial hint of fruit but a sour empty and all together unpleasant finish.

11/23/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Originally discovered Pegau in St Tropez, this bottle howerever was enjoyed in simpler surroundings. Nose has a thick, slightly sweet concentrated oak and earth character, followed by beautifully balanced spices and fruits. The pallete is slightly sweet also, I got liquorice current flavours with old oak. Wonderful wine, wonderful memories :)

11/21/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

As we expected still quite tight, slightly dry and tannic however with 2+hr decant this wine does soften and displays some wonderful characteristics. Nose has a wonderful crushed rose pettle and chalky earth nose, very concentrated. The pallete is tannic but has a light opulence which makes me smile. Great wine, great value, needs a couple more years.

11/15/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Time to drink up, lovely nose, quite a lot of alcohol, subtle fruit.

11/9/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

A very elegant example of burgundian chardonay, needs an hour to open up but has some lovely characteristics.

11/2/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

A characterful Champagne, nose had a wondeful depth and creamy complexity, the palete is fresh and rich. This has alot of interesting notes and characteristics, an enthusiasts Champagne.

10/25/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Good every day claret from a ready to drink vintage. Nose has typical pencil shaving/developed nose with an alcohol finish, not complex mind you. Pallete is dry but carries well structured fruit, pleasant plonk.

10/4/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Golden colour, nose carries a soft sweetness integrated well with honey and oak, very typical Chenin Blanc can use some more years in my opinion. Pallete is very integrated and smooth, semi-sweet, oak helps a lot to add weight. Beautiful.

9/28/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Stuborn cork, lighter colour than i was expecting, quite pale. Very fine bubbles which have almost disappeared. The nose is light but has an aged yeasty but fresh complexity. Pallete is incredibly light starts off complex but quickly drops away, certainly past its prime but still an interesting drop. Had with smoked salmon, good aperitif.

9/28/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Beautiful nose of cheese and black fruit, very game like. Pallete starts off well however i find the finish too dry and this kind of ruins it for me.

9/21/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Wasn't for me, too much heat from the alcohol.

9/6/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Nice aperitif style blanc de blancs, not as full bodied as i like. Has a beautiful nose however the palete falls slightly short but still very enjoyable.

9/1/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Decanted for 2hrs, probably needs 3hrs+. The consensus on the table was that the 96 really needs another 5 years in the bottle but is showing some great potential, tanins are soft and starting to integrate well, there is still some "green" in the wine, seems tight and still too fresh and acidic in places. This will mature into a beautiful vintage.

8/31/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

I maintain that this is an excellent value Macon, good buttery oaky notes with some refined minerality, fantastic QPR. It needs to be drunk sooner rather than later as its starting to fall away mind you.

8/30/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Bright fresh wine, nose has a rounded light honey sweet nose. Palette is bubbly & sugary but citrus and clean, great balance, dry finish. Good aperitif or palete cleanser!

8/29/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Decanted, bought these bottles a couple of years ago have moved on since but Thurs night and thought I'd check up on it. Nose is a bit vacant and alcoholic not much fruit. Pallete is quite rounded but again pretty vacant with bitter tannins. Not great.

8/17/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Saturated cork, pulled it put whole, got an affirmative pop! Poured straight from bottle over two hours. The nose exudes complex sweet aromas of earth and old oak, so very balanced. The pallete is creamy fruit with an acidic finish which keeps things fresh. Exceptional.

8/17/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Exceptional, Chardonay.

8/16/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Birthday gift from dad, warm alcohol nose backed up by dried fruit, the palette is dry and short, there's a hint of cassis but the alcohol quickly overcomes this. This is a pleasant quaffer, probably good with a roast but falls short of great.

8/12/2013 - SimonJohnson Does not like this wine:

Had a glass and then put the rest in my Lasagne.

8/11/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Demi bottle, mineral buttery nose, not much more than that, pallete was a bit empty butgot better the longer the bottle was open. Overall a simple bottle of Chardonay.

8/10/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Benefited from 2hr+ decant, fantastic concentrated raisin/cherry notes and a menthol freshness, tannins well integrated, this wine is singing :)

8/10/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Great depth

8/10/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Last bottle, quite sad to see this end of these, great mature Pauillac, I will remember :)

8/4/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Quite over the hill.

8/4/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Great wine needs a 2hr decant, well balanced, smooth tannins, pencil shaving and lead nose, rich jammy fruit. Great QPR.

8/4/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Higher rating as of last night, more complex than I remember.

8/2/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

Menthol fresh herby nose, palate is thin quite rabid fresh but slightly one dimensional. Nice but not great.

7/28/2013 - SimonJohnson wrote:

A fantastically elegant champagne, rich and toasty but still fresh. Enjoyed as an aperitif.