5/6/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

big juicy wine. lots of fruit, but not a "classy" or a elegant wine. is it a "copy/paste" from australian commercial wines ?

5/6/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

big

5/5/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Maybe the oak is a little strong as it initially smells strongly of old wood & cigars (and I'm fairly tolerant to oak), but with good depth of fruit & supporting (but unobtrusive acidity). Definitely some mushrooms in the mix and long tannins that give it a very dry finish. Alcohol (14.5%) kept in check much better than a recent Tedeschi Amarone. Following day, possibly better & you just got the feeling this was vinfanticide as all elements seemed in balance even though it was still quite tight.

I think this wine was (like the cheaper Passo Doble) a trial bottling with it's handwritten styled label. Anyway, both are a success and worth looking out for.

5/5/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

SAQ : Cette maison de propriété française a récemment été classée par Wine Spectator parmi les 10 vedettes montantes de l’Argentine. Reconnue pour ses malbecs, Ruca Malen produit aussi des chardonnays et des cabernet-sauvignon accessibles, comme ce Mendoza 2004 aux notes boisées et à la robe rubis profond.

5/1/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

SAQ : Ce vin dégage des arômes de sous-bois, de framboise, de mûre et d’épices. La bouche est marquée par des saveurs de fruits et d’épices. La structure tannique encore serrée saura s’assouplir au cours des trois ou quatre prochaines années.

4/30/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Nothing special. Overated wine. Maybe my bottle was defective ?

4/17/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Commercial wine. boosted with "artificial" flavours. Not my style at all.

4/15/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Very good wine. Licorice, vanilla.

4/4/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Surprising for the low price. Not a strong wine. Close as a "st-Emillion", but more soft and light. Should be better and more aromatic in a few years. i will keep the other botlle in my cellar for at least two years.

4/2/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Nothing special. Overpriced wine. Too light and soft, no consistance.

4/2/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Fabulous for the price. strong aromas of vanillas, lether. very long finish. a bit too dry. To be decanted 1 hour before drinking.

3/26/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Discreet nose. "bordeaux style". Style young and tannic, but silky after two hour in the decanter. Aromas of cigar boc and vanilla. Very good QPR. Very decent for the price. Will buy again. Should be fantastic with lamb, BBQ ribs.

3/26/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Very dark colour. Aromas of oak, mint. Needs a long long time to open up. Decent wine but not a blockbuster.

3/12/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

SAQ : Vin arborant une robe rouge violacé de bonne intensité. Nez délicat aux effluves de muscade et de cassis. S'y retrouvent également de subtils arômes de réglisse. Faites la découverte de ce rouge exprimant une agréable fraîcheur et pourvu de tannins soyeux. Il offre une texture ample et une finale assez soutenue.

3/11/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Belle surprise. Nez complexe et très aromatique. Demande un peu de temps à s'ouvrir en carafe. Finale quasi inexistante. Typique du style bourgogne.

3/10/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

très bon rapport qualité prix. Ressemble au style des saint-emillions (famille Lurton). Nez assez discret. saveur de cassis, fruits rouges, un peu de réglisse noire. plus aromatique après 1 heure en carafe. Pas un grand vin, mais un bon vin de tous les jours.

3/5/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

SAQ : La couleur de la robe est d’intensité moyenne. Ce vin dévoile un nez plutôt discret révélant des arômes de poivron vert et de fruits noirs. En bouche, il se montre de bonne tenue avec des tannins serrés, une concentration surprenante et une touche fumée en finale.
C’est un vin qui sera exquis avec un succulent repas de magret de canard, de côtes de bœuf sauce bordelaise ou un plat de fromages affinés tels le Munster ou le Pont l’Évêque.Le vignoble est composé à 60 % de merlot, 25 % de cabernet franc et 15 % de cabernet-sauvignon. L’élevage du vin se fait en cuve et en barrique de chêne pendant 20 mois.

3/3/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Initially closed but in the glass it evolved like a butterfly. The filet mignons with cabernet sauce matched like a borg-connors match. Back and forth each drawing strength from another and coming to an overwhelming ending.

Pre-Christmas Offline (Rotisserie Jules, London): Mid red, quite dense. Cola cubes / rhubard 7 custard nose. reasonable acidity, lighter texture in mouth than expected. Good.

Drank this over several hrs out of a decanter. Simple but well balanced bordeaux. Nose not showing much certainly nothing similar to JS tasting notes from WS. Tannin was still rather tight after 2 hrs, so I will wait to try another after at least 1-year.
Decanted 1/2 an hour in advance.
Deep ruby core, pale ruby rim.
Ripe nose, open from the off, with ripe plums prominent, vanilla, spice and some toasty oak.
A medium + bodied wine with ripe, almost mouth-coating tannins well balanced by plenty of ripe plum fruit with vanilla, lots of spice and a few toasty notes. This really is very ripe and deep for the vintage and has a satisfying, long finish with reasonable balancing acidity.
Very enjoyable indeed, surprisingly ripe, intense and tannic suggesting further improvement is possible with age. Up to another 4-5 years. (237 views)

BBQ PA--gorgeous developing Bordeaux. Nice earthy cedary notes on the nose. Silky on the palate. Not a monster, but a wonderful elegant food wine. (389 views)

Still young. This firm wine, with strong tannins, and a really long finish, it was full of dark fruit, tobacco, and I thinkk a touch of mint. Will wait a while for the next bottle or decant a few hours.

3/3/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Beautiful nose of black fruits, loamy earth, and cigar box. Elegant across the palate, nicely integrated fruit and tannins. Decent length, but wish it could have been longer

2/27/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Very sweet porto. Not bad, but not excellent. Good for the price.

2/26/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Very surprising for the price. Excellent nose of crused blackberrys. Medium lengh. Will buy again.

2/26/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Top of the line icewine. Very sweet. Nose of "caramel". Excellent.

2/26/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Typicall nose for a pomerol. very soft and light. plesant but not great.

2/26/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Not a great wine. Takes time to open up. low concentration, too much acidity.

2/19/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Shows a deep purple color all the way to the rim as well as a very earthy, herbal and tapanade scented nose. This started out fairly green but greatly improved with air to show more dark fruits, minerals, funk and integrated wood notes. Medium bodied with a very enjoyable palate that is balanced, structured and rich. This shows integrated and very subtle tannins on the medium length finish. Actually, fairly impressive and worth checking out if you don't mind the herbal/underbrush slant to the nose.

SAQ : Doté d’une robe rubis intense, ce vin exhale des arômes puissants de fruits rouges mûrs, nuancés par des notes de cassis, de tabac et d’épices. En bouche, les tannins sont souples et bien intégrés avec une belle richesse. Bien équilibré, il est pourvu d’une finale longue et persistante. Il est succulent avec un gigot d’agneau en croûte d’herbes, un filet de bœuf avec sauce aux champignons ou un steak au poivre. Ce vin est composé de carmenère (60 %), un ancien cépage européen, et de cabernet-sauvignon (40 %). Sa température de service idéale est de 16 ºC.

2/19/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Solid wine. Awesome violet feel in the mouth, very refiined. Though dark, very tamed tannins with complimentary acids. Earthy with dense sensation with lightens on the finish with the beautiful violet notes. Drinks well now, but will probably get a bit more silky as the dense earthy fruit gives way to secondary notes.

la matière est là, mais cela doit absolument s'arrondir a besoin d'un long carafage (2 heures)

2/17/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Medium-dark ruby red. Aromas of raisins, cherry, cola, and crushed red fruit. Medium-bodied with currant and spice notes. tannins are integrated nicely. Short-moderate finish, showing spice notes. Better with food

2/17/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

SAQ : Sous la robe d'un grenat soutenu aux reflets violets de ce saint-émilion se cachent des arômes de cassis et de framboises, qui se confirment en bouche, mêlés à des notes de vanille et de réglisse. Souple, harmonieux et équilibré, il dévoile une finale aérienne et délicate.

2/10/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

A big wine, dark. Lush but nit sweet, very concentrated. Drak fruit, tobaco, balanced but it may take few years before this wine reaches its best.
Dark and inky, tobacco notes - delicious with steak

2/10/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Cabernet Sauvignon + some Malbec in this Gran Reserva. Lovely nose with dark berries, some oak. Dark colour. Great mouthfilling taste with lots of fruit, black currant, a touch of coffee, supple tannins. Unexpectantly good length for the price. No rush to drink up, should hold a couple of years. Unbelievable QPR, one of my favourites. 90-91 points.
1999 Bodega J. & F. Lurton Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Lurton (Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco) 2005-05-04 claudio_bxl
Great 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Lurton Vineyards in the Uco Valley. Nice color showing some red in the rim but still quite young. The nose is quite complex with aromas of cherries, cassis, some graphite, nutmeg and a good deal of chocolate. The wood is very well integrated. In the mouth it is round and quite powerful with a good mid palate and a finish with notes of pepper and some minerality. Very elegant and well done with melted tannins and a good level of acidity, this should keep for a while. Very good and quite Bordeaux in style

2/4/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Decent enough country table wine, but there's better out there for the price. Pairs well with hearty foods. Worth airing out for a bit, as it opens up over 3-4 after uncorking/decanting. Started out thinking of this around an 80-82 pointer. It opened into a reasonable wine.

2/4/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Color: Plum, with orange edges Nose: Tomatoes, Alcohol and Peppers Taste: Soft Fruit, & Light Vanilla
I really enjoy this wine for the price, a good French white for the price.

Quite a nice wine! Medium/dark ruby. Nose is gentle with grenadine and red currents, floral overtones. On the finish supple and layered. Moderate acidity and satiny tannins. Could be mistaken for a cote-rotie or even a mid-range burgundy.

Shows nice black cherry, earth and spice notes on the nose. With air it even shows subtle smoke and mocca notes. Medium bodied with a balanced, easy drinking style and a medium finish. Really nice

1/21/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Not my style. too much acidity. Really not a great wine.

1/12/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Full body deep red. well ballanced. This 80% Cab Sav 20% Malbec is deep red in colour. Full bodied with good depth I got oak and vanilla. Smooth and fruity, almost jammy and sweet.

1/11/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

SAQ : Ce vin, tout en nuances rubis, offre une très grande concentration. Le nez, intense, dévoile des notes d’épices et de torréfaction, ainsi qu’une touche de réglisse. Il évoque également les petits fruits noirs et le pruneau. Sa texture ample et ses tannins veloutés révèlent la présence du bois et contribuent à son équilibre.

A very good wine. Complex bouquet, a little developed, cinnamon, liquorish, sweet and spicy.
Soft, very juicy, friendly bitterness, full-bodied, round and soft and a little sweetness. Drink between now and one or two years

1/11/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

80% cab, 20% merlot
14.0% Alcohol
Splash decanted immediately prior to tasting in reidel O cabernet glass.color is blood/cherry red, with some translucency.Surprisingly open nose of Pepper, Blackberry, and Oregano.Notes of mushroom and earth, much stronger oregano and pepper. Feels very smooth, alcohol well hidden within. Initially feels a little thin, but tannins are really quite firm on the finish, to the point of being overly drying.The "oregano" flavor is very strong and a little disconcerting, but adds some interesting dimensions. Good wine for the price. ready to drink.

1/8/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Owner Emperatriz Larretche creates high quality wines by taking advantage of these exceptional vines and soil. The harvest is carefully prepared like the vines which support the grapes. For the vinification, traditional methods allied with the latest technology are used which will give the best of each grape variety. The maturation is made in tanks and new oak casks under attentive care and can reach 18 months.
Tasting: Hints of blackberry, blackcurrant, raspberry, flowers, spicy, capsicum and vanilla.

Awards: Gold Medal National Contest of Independant Winemakers 2001, France.
Gold Medal Worldwine Contest Brussels 2001, Belgium.

1/8/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

SAQ : Des arômes discrets de fruits noirs et de sous-bois caractérisent cette cuvée spéciale du domaine. Avec beaucoup de matière et des saveurs riches quoique rustiques, ce vin est peu boisé et se termine sur des tannins un peu durs qui pourront sans doute s’assouplir avec le temps. Vin corsé.

1/8/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

1998 Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon Premium Selection (Australia, South Australia) Intense inky purple colour, almost black. Garnet on the rim. Berry, black pepper, wood, and resin aromas. Heavy oak in the mouth, spicy, plum and cherry as well. 15-20 second finish. It didn't seem like anything special, but I think it could benefit from a couple more years in the cellar so the oak can meld better with the fruit. (102 views)

2003 Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon Premium Selection (Australia, South Australia) delicious with a butterflied leg of lamb

2003 Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon Premium Selection (Australia, South Australia)
No formal notes taken at consumption. Very rich and generous aromas of currant and black cherry. Soft and juicy with very little structure. Moderate finish.

2001 Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon Premium Selection (Australia, South Australia)
The bottle had a thin layer of sediment running the length of the bottle. Color is very dark, almost black. Excellent strong aromas. Taste starts off with strong tannins that mellow very quickly to a good dry fruity finish. A hint of black cherry. This wine is definitely ready for consuming now. It may age for the rest of the year, but I can't see it improving much more from sitting in your cellar.

1/7/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Absolutely outstanding. Must be decanted at least 1 hours before drinking. Complex nose. Aroma of vanilla, lether. one of my favorite.

1/7/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Strong texture, concentrated, ripe fruit and muscular tannins, taste of oak. Good, but will be better after 2007.

1/5/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Granate abierto con reflejos teja. Nariz muy maderosa, con ntoas de serrería, goloso y con un suave fondo frutal. Ciertas notas de sobremaduración. En boca algo secante, con buena acidez, cuerpo medio y recorrido medio. Sencillo y sin complicaciones.

1/5/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

2002 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune du Château 1er Cru (France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune) 2007-01-05 Northern 86
Initially very tight, opened up in the decanter but still felt young. Nice Burgundy nose, on the palate rather thin and a clipped finish. Will likely mature into something better but for the moment barely worthy of its 1er Cru status. (31 views)

2004 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune du Château 1er Cru (France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune) 2006-12-22 GolferChris 90
Henriot Champagne and Bouchard Wine Dinner (Bistro Kirkou, NW Suburbs Chicago): Aromas/flavors of earth, spice, strawberry, and black cherry with a floral hint. Still young and needs a bit more time to achieve better balance. Nice acidity. Medium lenght finish with good depth. (69 views)

2004 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune du Château 1er Cru (France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune) 2006-11-26 New York Fork
2004 seemed too young to drink. Firm acidity, very light body and tanin that seemed more rough than smooth. Nose had bouquet of strawberry, cassis, black sour cherry, and cinammon. Tart red berry and spices. (94 views)

2002 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune du Château 1er Cru (France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune) 2006-11-22 joe d 85
Really nice midweight burgundy. I like to splash this in the decanter right now as it helps open it up. At <$25 it's my house red at the moment, but I think it will age gracefully for a decade or so.

2002 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune du Château 1er Cru (France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune) 2006-10-28 TinMan 89
A wonderful burgundy nose followed by a complex but thin experience across the tongue. This wine became better the more the bottle set open. My advice is to taste it then immediately decant it and see if the whole experience isn't much more enjoyable. (229 views)

2002 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune du Château 1er Cru (France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune) 2006-06-18 micha_e 91
Dark red color, but not particularly deep. Expressive nose showing the hallmarks of burgundy - black cherries, smoke and earth, a hint of wood spice. Very nice and concentrated. Same on the palate, surprising weight and structure on the paalate, but the tannins are thoroughly ripe. A hint of dried herbs thyme and some cinnamon add complexity. Relatively long finish. Thoroughly satisfying wine, especially for the modest price! Can be drunk now, but will surely improve over the medium term as it seems very balanced.

1/4/2007 - Fredetnad wrote:

Deep ruby red, almost opaque on the rim. Nose of fresh raspberries, freshly cut cedar, blackberries, prunes. On the palate, more prunes and fresh fruits. Good body but on the thin side. Medium length.

12/30/2006 - Fredetnad wrote:

1998 Nice yellow color. Nose is intense and complex, showing lot's of creamy nuts, vanila and some honey. The mouth doesn't live up to the expectation the nose triggers, not so complex, but shows a great balance. Nice medium finish.

1995 Couvent des Jacobins (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Colour is in between the previous two wines with a deep red core fading ever so slightly at the rim. Nose has a rich tobacco character as well as floral notes, some soap, blackcurrant and blood. Tannins are again slightly aggressive, but they seem fine grained. Good length and structure and enjoyable to drink.

12/30/2006 - Fredetnad wrote:

2000 Domaine de la Solitude (Lançon Père et Fils) Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape) 2006-11-19 rpfarwell 90
Smooth, good fruit

2001 Domaine de la Solitude (Lançon Père et Fils) Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape) 2006-11-11 Northern 88
Drinking beautifully straight out of bottle, my in-laws loved it with a leg of lamb. Soft and easy. I don't think this will get any better with more bottle age, in fact I liked it better before so I think it's time to drink up.

2001 Domaine de la Solitude (Lançon Père et Fils) Châteauneuf-du-Pape (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape) 2006-08-18 Northern 89
Typical spicy CnP, medium-bodied rather concentrated but with a hint of bitterness. A little less fruit than the last bottle, read on their site that the recommended drinking window is up 'til 2007. Won't hold my last bottle much longer than that. (322 views)

Colour - Dark Red, with slight bricking at the edges
Smell - Some herbs with heady red and black fruits, a hint of maturity in some notes of leather
Taste - Full bodied, grenache flavours, plenty of ripe redcurrants, blackberries and a hint of cherry
Ready to go right now, and too easy to drink, very smooooth

12/30/2006 - Fredetnad wrote:

2000 Château Mazeyres (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol) This is a very good, maybe even excellent wine. Dark blood red. I would like to call this wine rural. Is that a way to say it? Soft power, earthy tones, full bodied, nice gentle bitterness. Full and complex. A mouth full of nice wine. Young but very enjoyable. It lacks a little in the aftertaste. Might evolve from a 87 to a 88 or even 89 points wine. I love this type of wine!

2003 Seuil de Mazeyres (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol) 2006-11-09 Wrighty 88
Watson's World Wine Week tasting - A little horse shit on the nose but with fresh balance and fine tannins (219 views)

2002 Château Mazeyres (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol) 2006-11-09 Wrighty 87
Watson's World Wine Week tasting - 06 (Marriot Hotel, Hong Kong): Muddy nose, crips fresh finish but too acidic (227 views)

2001 Château Closerie Mazeyres (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol) 2006-10-20 Vinsanity
Highly aromatic, with reddish fruit and licorice. On the palate, again, fairly forward, with earthy notes. Seems rather loosely knit. (124 views)

1999 Château Mazeyres (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol) 2006-04-22 Baron Samedi 82
This one needed some time to open up after decanting. Colour is still fairly dark. Earthy nose - some licorice, baked plum, even leather. Medium-bodied with smooth tannin and (after a while) a long well-rounded finish. To drink up. (107 views)

2000 Seuil de Mazeyres (France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol) 2005-08-13 delice
La Manche Wine Circle - La Rive Droite (La Baleine, Gavray): The only Pomerol in the tasting from a great vintage looking very young with a very dark deep robe. Viscous, with the alcohol also evident on the nose. Powerful, fruity aroma but dominated by the alcohol and some odd secondaries (eau de cologne?) Rustic, tannic finish, slightly bitter. Young but not much enjoyed by the panel. (260 views)

12/8/2006 - Fredetnad wrote:

SAQ : Robe rubis profond. Nez complexe d’où émanent des notes épicées et boisées. Le tout est également agrémenté par de subtils arômes de menthe poivrée et de petits fruits noirs. Laissant percevoir une agréable fraîcheur, ce rouge est muni de tannins étoffés. Dévoilant une bouche ample, il persiste longuement dans une belle finale.

Accord gourmand Un régal avec un bœuf braisé ou une noix de veau grillée.

Mettre en carafe 30 minutes avant de servir. Prêt à boire, mais peut se conserver jusqu’en 2010. Sa température de service idéale varie entre 16° et 18 °C.

12/7/2006 - Fredetnad wrote:

SAQ : Son nez de cannelle et d'anis est à découvrir. Des arômes de figue séchée et de raisins de Corinthe se retrouvent tant au nez qu’à la bouche pour donner un porto bien corsé. C’est un délice avec les desserts aux fruits rouges et au chocolat, les dattes farcies au bleu, les fromages relevés comme le cheddar fort ou le cheddar au porto.

12/5/2006 - Fredetnad wrote:

SAQ : Voici un vin qui, servi à l’aveugle, surprendra vos convives. Le nez offre des arômes de mûre, de terre humide et d’anis, complétés par de subtiles notes boisées. L’attaque est ronde et il y a de la matière en milieu de bouche, sur un boisé bien fondu. Réveillez-le une demi-heure en carafe avant de le servir, vous en serez récompensé.Accord gourmand Médaillons de porc sauce aux champignons, magret de canard au poivre vert
Prêt à boire, mais peut se conserver jusqu’en 2009. Sa température de service idéale varie entre 16° et 18 °C.