9/1/2014 - rikipedia Likes this wine:

Terroir-istes International - France, Bordeaux, Margaux (Rodwell House): Mid to deep ruby, the nose is youthful with bright red and black cherry, cedar, black plum compote and dried orange peel. There is a hint of stalk, green leaf and earth mingling. Focussed wine.
Medium-bodied, the wine is narrow in palate shape, firmly textured with a lemon-edge acidity leading to grippy tannins. The fruit feels cool with frozen berries, blackcurrant skins, tar, mineral and earthy notes, yet there is a slight sweetness as the wine opens. I found the wine a little hollow in the mid-palate and whilst the frame gave elegance and freshness, the wine was more light-weight than expected - more a luncheon claret.
Medium in length, the wine is fairly long, and reasonably complex but the acid does protrude slightly. I was surprised at the reveal that it was 2009. Perhaps tight?

12/24/2021 - rikipedia Likes this wine:

Christmas Eve 2021 (Home): Pale yellow, the aromas are mineral, crushed rocks, chalk, lemon and lime zest even some raw meat.
The entry has penetration and breadth with a lovely oatmeal, chalk and mineral grip. As fresh as a daisy, the core contains a strident acidity and robust mid-palate texture containing cooked Bramley apple, Forelle pear and crushed rocks. A clipped wine it races to a long finish.

1/1/2016 - rikipedia Likes this wine:

16% Alc; Deep to opaque garnet red
Heady intense aromas of sweet blackberry, eucalypt, mocha, squashed warmed mulberry, tinned Montmorency cherry on pancakes and blackberry.
The entry is liquid soft Galaxy chocolate (slightly milk chocolate) with forest fruits, coffee foam that is eminently appealing, making you want to dive in! Rich, sweet with plenty of glycerol and warmth from the 16% alcohol, yet the wine seems well balanced with a line of lively acidity, keeping the wine tucked in, and a flowery lift. The body is medium to full rather than outright power, and it is already with some development. Powdery fine-grained tannins with a hint of grip absorb the sweet fruits that envelop the palate that wash over to a long finish with teists of complexity!
An attractive more-ish wine with guts and flavours of black raspberry, treacle sugar, linoleum, candied orange peel, cocoa powder and a touch of blueberry cheesecake. Showing very well!

9/19/2014 - rikipedia Likes this wine:

Mid garnet-red.
Intense aromas of brown sugar, molasses and syrup, cracked black pepper on strawberries, salted liquorice and a balsamic splash. As the wine opens, there is more garrigue, cistus, black olive and tar.
A medium to lively acidity on entry, flavours as nose, especially the cracked black pepper. There is a ripe almost jammy feel to the fruit: all strawberries, Bing cherries and some black cherry. An enticing wine, it has a large structural frame with a granular texture coated in syrup, giving it great appeal (almost fynbos honey containing brown sugar crystals). The alcohol is generous, the tannins firm grippy but flowing and sweet-edged and the flavours are ripe, jammy and concentrated. Full-bodied, the mid-palate unfolds to reveal torn black olive skins, melted black cherries/strawberries, peaty islay malt whisky, dried figs with its rich glycerol mouthfeel spiked with black pepper. It is a very classy wine that is complex and changed through the hour of drinking it. Superb!

1/25/2020 - rikipedia Likes this wine:

Deep garnet to brick red rim.
Inimitably Bordeaux on the nose with pencil shavings, tilled earth, cassis and graphite.
Soft entry with plenty of fruit concentration the texture is fine, yet dense with flavours of chocolate ganache, tar, black olive and steeped blackcurrants. Layers of flavour, this is more powerful and full-bodied than initially expected but reflects St. Estephe well.
The tannins are still grippy but fully resolved at this point. There is a chocolate richness to the core of the wine, and the long finish is complexed with Asian 5 spice, undergrowth and button mushroom. Smart wine.

1/2/2021 - rikipedia Likes this wine:

Deep ruby with a slight orange rim. Attractive sultry aromas of chocolate-mocha, dried earth, ripe blueberries and blackcurrant with a graphite note - almost Pauillac. A soft velvety texture, almost plush, with opulent flavours of chocolate and coffee, tobacco and pencil lead along with fine, powdery tannins. Some layers of complexity this harmonious wine has a heady intensity yet isn't punchy or showy. Certainly modern, this may not have the density and components of a more prestigious wine but is a fine and more-ish example to be enjoyed now. Tasted this only 6 months ago and this has improved markedly!

7/27/2020 - rikipedia Likes this wine:

Deep almost opaque purple-ruby. A noted white pepper on the nose with herbal elements, bay leaf, stems, Kalamata olives, garlic polony, dabs of smoke and frozen blueberries. The palate reflects the stem inclusion with a sappy almost tart acidity, with a sour blackberry and blueberry fruit a distinct vegetal note (broccoli?) and white but also black pepper. This wine is all masculine with a slightly meaty almost bretty element. Despite the fabulous intensity, the tannins are abrasive. The finish is a little drying (brett again?), and there is a vegetal after kick. A good wine but feels a little over-eager.