2/16/2024 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

JKoenen nailed it in his 18/9/2023 note. Cork came out as if it had been bottled a year ago. Just wonderful with lots of stuffing and cherryfruit. Will go on for a few more years. Great without being too heavy.

12/16/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

2nd Bottle out of 6 bought in 2012. First one didn’t impress that much and I had higher hopes for a cru bourgeois level St. Julien. This one however presents itself much better after a few more years in the cellar. Nice blackcurrant flavors with a few unresolved tannins and fair acidity in a medium weight body. Drank on its own. Could use a year or two more of further cellaring in order to be a good companion to food. Will never be a superstar, but hey, what can you expect for a 20 euro médoc from 2010?

9/15/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

First of six bottles bought at auction. As with the 2000 from the same château, this has rusticity written all over it though very different in style. Upon opening a bit muted nose with some lactic notes and the smell of canned cherries. Compared to the 2000 this has less stuffing but presents itself also a lot friendlier due to less harsh tannins. Still very palatable and friendly considering its age. Pnp and drunk on its own. Very well aged Cru bourgeois and absolutely nothing wrong with this, even attractive in an odd way…if you like old wines. This wine will fade gently in the next two decades or so.

8/11/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Very dark hue. On the nose sweet cassis and plums. Well evolved tannins that have fully resolved. Ready to drink. Fine example of a classic Cru Bourgeois. Like it very much. Drunk on its own. A steal for 9 euros.

6/2/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Pnp. Upon opening a stinky barnyard nose that somehow pleases me. Lots of iron and blood flavors mixed with tobacco leafs and a sweetish cocoa bean-chocolate mix. Quite intriguing nose, to go short. Good concentration and stuffing with melted tannins and a sweetish, funky mid palate. Reminiscent of right bank Bordeaux but then again quite different. Just love it because of its idiosyncrasies. One more bottle left of this vintage.

5/14/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Pnp. Upon opening initially quite acidic and crisp but within half an hour this is compensated by a smoky and cherry infused flavor. The iron is detectable, as noted by other tasters. There is a perfumed nose that is quite intriguing and serves as a promise of what might lie in the future of this wine in the years to come.

5/14/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

After having tasted this right after purchasing a few bottles at the domaine in 2022 I wasn’t quite sure. It seemed a bit flat and acidic. But how that has changed a year later. Unmistakable Pinot Blanc on the nose with white flowers and an initial stinkyness that’s quickly fades. What remains is a very refined and pure wine that is completely dry, unlike many of its siblings in Alsace. A perfect pairing with white asparagus accompanied by cooked and then smoked ham. The sheer crispness and flowery tones are utterly convincing in this wine. Highly recommended from this domaine, that seems never to disappoint and works biologically for a few years now.

4/7/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Muted yellow color. Beautiful restrained dried apricot and white flower aromas. Middle weight with good acidity and a fine aftertaste. Pure and elegant, not at all too heavy. Perfect match with risotto Milanese with Asian marinated shrimps.

3/31/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Distinct berry flavors. Upon entry nice fruit with a Cabernet Franc kind of funky twist. Mid weight which makes it palatable and digestive. Drank on its own and surely ‘à point’. I would recommend drinking this in the near future as there is probably no more positive development. Nice wine.

3/19/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Great balance and lift and what a succes for Pontet-Canet in this mediocre vintage. It needs a significant amount of air to fully expose its potential but a little patience is rewarded with a wine that has plenty amounts of black fruit, nearly resolved tannins and great acidity to provide lightness and makes it very palpable. Will improve for a couple of years and will easily hold another decade or so. Just love it.

3/18/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

It took a day after uncorking to fully come to life after having consumed the first half of the bottle with friends. Very ‘Médoc’ with a dark color, rich stuffing, good acidity and still fruity flavours such as cassis, brambles and blueberries. Tannins have nicely melted and integrated. Always reliable, even in lesser or extreme vintages such as 2003.
On day 1 paired with lamb fillet, on day 2 drank on its own. Glad to have a few more in the cellar. Excellent!

3/11/2023 - Phylloxera63 wrote:

Has gained color since last tasting. Reminds me of a chenin blanc from the Loire region (Vouvray) with tones of lanolin and a fair amount of acidity. Framework is alright but just doesn’t have a wow-factor. Correct but nothing more to please the palate. Paired with braised white fish and a white wine sauce. One more bottle to go.

3/3/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous note. Perfect ripeness and lovely balance. This wine doesn’t pretend to compete with a Grand Cru Classé but with its Cru Bourgeois status it more than delivers on all fronts. Just lovely. No hurry with this vintage although it will change in style over the years to come due to further ripening.

1/30/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Still solid with a dark brooding color and noticeable tannins, a bit rustic but still attractive with a good core of fruit and fine acidity. This begs for pairing with food so on day 1 it accompanied a well stuffed cassoulet dish. On day 2 a variation on a shepard’s pie provided the food element. Perfect pairing on both days.
This Madiran provides an excellent alternative to a good CdR and is a welcome substitute for more well known varieties. 2 Bottles left. Will consume within 3 years.

1/19/2023 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Pnp. This has “Bordeaux” written all over it. Although it doesn’t have the stuffing of a high classed Grand Cru, it definitely ticks all boxes on smell and taste and deliveres a satisfying drink. From an warm and generous vintage and having profited from a good decade of cellaring, this Gloria shines and is ready to share all it has to give. Still fruit driven with blackberries, brambles, leather and tobacco leafs it is just entering its phase where the secondary notes are beginning to show. Drank on its own but obviously very suitable to pair with red meat dishes. This will go on for a few more years ondoubtedly. Very good!

12/24/2022 - Phylloxera63 Does not like this wine:

Although there is technically nothing wrong with this wine, it seems a bit unstructured and lacks a sense of direction. If served blind I would have mixed this up with an average chenin blanc from the Loire valley. Maybe my hopes for this wine from a promising young producer were too high or I just waited too long to open my first bottle of three. A deep yellow color gives way to a muted nose with some honey and lanolin tones. Slight bitterness on the rather short finish.

11/27/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Decanted for 6 hours prior to consuming. Certainly color development. Classic Pauillac nose with blackberry, cigar box, leather. Nice acidity to provide lift, which makes this wine very palatable. Still some tannins but nothing overly disturbing, though. This is no wine for the long haul but it has a lovely balance without being too heavy. Paired with pommes gratinées and steak. Great performance from Pontet Canet in this difficult vintage.

11/26/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Pnp. Colorwise still very dark with hardly any visible signs of aging. In terms of scents, same features as in my previous tasting note. This time from a Riedel Vinum Pinot Noir glass, that somehow showcases the wine more profoundly. This one offers grip and lift because of good acidity and fruity black cherry. Certainly a wine of contemplation. I think I like this more than my previous bottles. One more left to try in a few years.

11/9/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Once again a lovely bottle. Sweet upon entry with ripe fruit, dissolved tannins and a perfect balance and with that unmistakable Sangiovese character. What a joy to drink. Paired with pasta Bolognese. In a perfect spot for me. Sadly one more bottle left. Will buy more from a more recent vintage.

11/4/2022 - Phylloxera63 Does not like this wine:

Very dark inky color. Upon entry unattractive nose of stewed plums and certainly not as fruity as I would have hoped. Tannic, alcoholic and completely out of balance. Comes nowhere near to what you might expect. If tasted blind I would have guessed CdR. I can hardly believe this is a representative bottle for Poujeaux 2010, given the vintage reputation and having consumed many a bottle from different vintages from this reliable estate. Have 5 more bottles so hope and pray for better ones.

9/2/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Very dark, inky color with hardly any evolution. The nose gives away smoky and herbal tones as well as green/grassy elements, probably due to the fair amount of Cabernet Franc (55%) in this wine. A sweetish entry is followed by substantial substance layered with some dusty tannins and dark red forest fruit that coat the mouth. A serious wine that really begs for food. Payed 15 euros for it at a Belgian supermarket and it’s well worth its money. From a reliable Chilean producer.

8/29/2022 - Phylloxera63 wrote:

Very dark color still with bricking on the edges. Nose of caramel coated prunes and figs, which lends it a somewhat sweet aura. Raisins as well as a slight oxidative tone. In the mouth sweet entry with plenty of stuffing, but the fruit has faded and only a shell of sweet alcoholic cooked fruit remains. Last bottle. Although technically nothing wrong with this, it just got too old and faded into its downslope journey.

7/8/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Dark color. Already developed in terms of smell and taste though nothing wrong with this. Tones of iron and blood mixed with secondary fruity elements. Nice acidity and good stuffing. At peak I would say. Drank on its own and fully satisfactory. All in all very B’x. Not bad at all for €12.

7/1/2022 - Phylloxera63 Does not like this wine:

Pnp. Very dark color with lots of stuffing and sediment. Upon entry stewed nose with plums and overripe cooked dark fruit flavors. 14,5 Alcohol level already indicates this isn’t going into history as a delicate and refined southern Rhône wine. Palate confirms suspicions. I’m afraid this cooked style is far away from what I look for in a decent glass of red Rhône. Pity.

6/30/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Dark colored and immediately attractive upon opening. On the nose secondary aromas and impressions of tea leafs, blood and iron. Very smooth taste with well developed tannins. Medium body and a relatively short finish but as a whole a decent wine, particularly for the price paid (8 euros). Only downside for me would be the high alcohol level of 14 degrees. Beats many more contenders in its price range.

6/3/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

From my temperature controlled cellar. Pnp. From the start a sexy wine. At peak right now with fully resolved soft tannins and just drinking wonderfully. Deep colored with notes of leather, secondary fruity tones, coffee beans and chocolate. Great value and a little gem at a reasonable price. Can’t have enough of these!

5/21/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Kudos again for this old school, rustic right bank Bordeaux. Keeps on giving drinking pleasure and will last for another five years, if you like wines with secondary and tertiary aromas, as I do. Very reliable. Will drink on its own or accompany savory meat dishes.

5/13/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

First bottle of 24, bought on various moments at different wine merchants. I am so fond of this domaines wines, nowadays all made biologically. Dark brooding color and with a compelling bouquet of dark forest fruits and Mediterranean herbs. Perfect acidity and tannins that start to mellow. Good stuffing and just a tiny bit of bitterness on the finish. All in all very well balanced and just a joy to drink. Drank on its own but this wine really needs food. Very approachable. This Lirac is very well made and can compete with many a CdP.

4/9/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Dark color with no signs of ageing. Wonderful aromatic nose with components of iron, blood, berries as well as some bell pepper. Sweet upon entry and a rather heavyweight in terms of stuffing, posture, fruit and that unmistakable SA funk. Tannins are there but hardly noticeable while the primary fruit is still here. Drank on its own, which gave me lots of pleasure, but this will easily match meat dishes of various preparation. Although not particularly complex compared to well bred Bordeaux GCC, I’m beginning to like South African Cabernet Sauvignon wines more than I used to. They bring a welcome variation to the glass and the palate!

3/18/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Pnp. Lovely dark color. Very pure, sweet cassis bouquet. In the mouth a solid, classy typical B’x left bank taste in which particularly the Cabernet Sauvignon stands out and dominates the overall taste in a positive way. Nicely balanced and with good concentration for a second wine. In a wonderful phase right now. Drank on its own.

3/12/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Very dark color still. Pnp. Immediately a very fruity nose with lots of forest fruit aromatics as well as some barnyard tones. Unmistakably Italian. Nice stuffing alongside good acidity. Has some length, tannins have mostly resolved. Everything in just the right order. Last bottle. Would recommend.

2/25/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Wonderful example of a modernly made Sauvignon Blanc. Bright color, not too developed at this stage. Presents itself with an attractive fruity, grassy smell. Very pure and focused with just the right amount of attractive fruit to make you want to take a sip while it remains restrained in its extravaganza. As if the wines seduces without giving it all away at once. On the palate well balanced with near perfect acidity and a touch of minerality, just enough to make this a good aperitif as well as a serious table companion. Could have had a touch more substance and lenght but all in all a very good effort.

2/24/2022 - Phylloxera63 wrote:

Bright yellow color. On the nose modest citrus impressions with a bit of hazelnut and lanolin tones. In the mouth mineral driven with again hints of citrus and chalk. No butter tones detectable. In that respect it finds itself more in the Chablis category. Rather simple but correct. A food wine, I would say. Paired this with oven baked snails in garlic butter.

2/15/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Typical German Pinot Noir with lots of cherry, herbs and smokiness along with the telltale grape-related stinkyness that flies off quickly. Pnp and immediately attractive on the nose as well as on the palate. After a few minutes in the glass it gains some weight that lends this wine depth and more fruitiness. Perhaps not the most sophisticated example of a well bred Spätburgunder but very satisfying nevertheless. Bought 18 bottles in a sale after having tried one beforehand. No regrets and I think this will improve or at least hold for a few more years.

2/5/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Pnp. Still very dark hue. Immediately recognizable as a Frenchman dressed in an Italian suit. Terroir is the magic word here, I guess. Nice blackberry and earthy tones of forest floor, leather and tobacco. Sweet upon entry but with discernible though finely grained tannins. I like this a lot, having enjoyed a fabulous 1990 an odd 20 years or so ago and remembering its breed and potential. The only downside on this wine is its high alcohol content of 15%. Therefore I would recommend drinking this slightly chilled.
Though totally different from a Médoc or right bank Bordeaux this wine has its own magical funk and has enough power to last for at least another decade.

1/28/2022 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

This dry Vouvray from a maker that is mainly renowned for its sweet wines doesn’t disappoint. On the nose some honey notes and a dash of lanolin stand out while the taste is marked by fine citrusy and mineral elements. Altogether it serves perfectly as an appetizer. Pairs well with white cheese, preferably goat or sheep, either soft or hard. Will easily hold for a couple of more years, although it will change in style. I prefer this at an age of 5 to 8 years old.

12/26/2021 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Classic B’x nose of cassis with some minty tones added. Lovely ripe appearance in color and smell alike. No noticeable tannins. Wow, this can really compete with more traditional Médoc wines, retaining its own character at the same time, which can be taken as a compliment for its maker. Really love this. High marks and will hold for a couple of more years.

12/25/2021 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

From the heatwave vintage. Fully mature. Ticks almost all boxes, except for a lack of acidity to balance the sweetness, which is abundant in this vintage. Liquid apricots and sweet peaches with a coconut touch and a certain amount of botrytis that can bring that wonderful ‘rôti’ that I would have liked to encounter more of in this wine. No punishment to drink this, though… Paired with seared duck liver served on a baked sliced of apple. Wonderful combination!

12/19/2021 - Phylloxera63 wrote:

This wine has an attractive color, but that is also its most positive feature imho. Although nothing really wrong with this, it misses a Wow-factor. Rather mediocre on every aspect of smell and (after)taste. Sour cherries, some woody notes and all in all a bit dull. Had some higher hopes for this when bought 6 years ago, but I’m afraid this won’t live up to my expectations.

12/18/2021 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Very dark in color still. Fully mature and with a lovely creamy cassis bouquet, resolved tannins and good acidity. This is drinking beautifully now and will hold for a few more years undoubtedly. Great value for money,

12/9/2021 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Bought 3 cases of this for a song in 2010 in a Belgian supermarket and tucked these away in the cellar to try a bottle every now and then. Still 14 left and this is now superb in terms of balance, fruitiness and ‘Bordeaux-ness’, if you know what I mean. Blackberry and blueberry aromas, hardly any detectable tannins. Lovely perfume. Always a reliable choice in good vintages. Just love it.
Agree with Oldcabman that this develops more depth of flavor after a few hours with some air! Goes to show that this wine has the potential to keep on shining in the years to come.

12/6/2021 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

This is not particularly refined but boy, how I love the instant fruit and juiciness of this wine. Smoke, tar and dark forest fruits are mingled into a sappy mouthful of……wine. No disturbing harsh tannins nor excess acidity, but just plain fermented grape juice with a little age to it. Who could ask for more when wanting just an easy drinking everyday pleaser?

12/3/2021 - Phylloxera63 wrote:

Surprisingly dark for a Pinot Noir this age. Color of dark cherries with no significant browning at all. Upon opening at cellar temperature a bit shy on the nose, although some funky roasted tones are detectable. The stuffing is there but the fruit is what I’m most worried about. Soft tannins and a good acidity lend this wine uplift and smoothness but all in all I think it’s not quite balanced. Maybe wait a few years for my remaining two bottles. Conservative score for now.

11/19/2021 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Very dark color, obviously. Nose of Provençal herbs and dark forest fruits. Very pleasantly aromatic. The 15% alcohol doesn’t show as this is still so stuffed with primary fruits as well as a good acid level. Hard to find matching quality at this price level of 12 euros.

11/4/2021 - Phylloxera63 wrote:

Bright yellow color with a certain sign of age. That goes specifically for its smell that has a distinct note of roasted almonds, honey and lanolin, reminiscent of a mature Loire Chenin Blanc. Certainly not unattractive, though.
Bone dry with fine acids and a long finish that shows its breed. All in all a delicate wine, paired with Alsatian choucroute, mashed potatoes and duck leg confit. Will easily hold for a couple of more years if properly stored.

10/29/2021 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Lively color with serious bricking. Great classic nose of tar and earth. Nice acidity gives it lift as well as digestability. Time to drink up, though, as its tannins are slightly drying out.

9/18/2021 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

First bottle of two. Waited deliberately for 10 years to make a fair judgement as these wines tend to evolve positively over many years and loose their steeliness along the way. Bright yellow in color with hardly a visible sign of its age. The nose reminds me of a high quality dry Vouvray with tones of lanolin, honey and citrus. Fine acidity combined with substance and depth. I had expected to find a bit more of the characteristic white pepper in this wine. Apart from that this is a very pleasurable wine that is out of the ordinary and with many more years ahead. Paired this with fried red mullet and lemon/parsley sauce. Alcohol content of 13,5 didn’t show at all. Only the price tag (bought in Austria for 43 euros a bottle) keeps me from stocking up on this.

9/17/2021 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous note. Very fruit forward and aromatic. Slight bitterness on aftertaste. Funky wine. In a perfect spot right now and will provide drinking pleasure for the next five years, I’m sure. Not one of the usual suspects!

9/10/2021 - Phylloxera63 Likes this wine:

Very fragrant and still young wine. Dark hue with scents of garrigue and dark forest fruits. Give this four or five more years to really shine. Nobility and good breeding. Very promising. Score based on potential development. Two bottles left.

8/28/2021 - Phylloxera63 wrote:

Enjoyed this wine with friends over a lasagne Bolognese alongside the CC Riserva from 2004, 2011 and 2015. Along with the 2004 this one stood out for sheer pleasure, drinkability and quality. After nearly 24 years in bottle this showed a great expression of all good quality Chianti features from a great vintage. So balanced, so fruity still and so very Chianti!