3/13/2021 - CarpeDiem! Likes this wine:

Much Bourgogne typicity, charming bouquet with strawberry, raspberry, and floral notes. Medium bodied, elegant palate, with fresh but mature red berries, subtle cedar, cocoa, plum and vanilla notes, with a fresh menthol finish. Still early to judge, but I expect this bottle to further improve over the coming 5 years.

6/2/2020 - Eclectic Palate wrote:

Just purchased a case lot from HDH auction, and picked it up today from their storage location in Delaware. Cost was a hair under $55 as there is no DE sales tax and no shipping due to my pick up. Inspected all of the pristine bottles (the OWC was probably opened for the first time in 21 years by HDH staff two months ago to inspect the fill levels) and I chose the lowest fill level which was quite acceptable. Decanted to remove some grainy sediment, and the flowery fruit was immediately apparent upon the first pour. The color was bricking. The cherry like fruit, perhaps some blackberry, with a slight earthiness was quite appealing, good level of acid and still a little bit of tannin that soon dissolved.

This wine is just one of many examples of why initial Bordeaux reviews have SO little meaning once the wine has aged 10 or more year. I mean..........RP gave this an 87. Really? It's a tremendous wine that is currently available in England and the EU in case lots, and rarely in the USA at auction. Some NY retailer should import a few cases of this gem so that more wine American drinkers can understand PROPERLY AGED BORDEAUX. The drinking window of this wine, is another 3 to 8 years, as my feeling is that there is no rush to drink this wine; and I say that as I am not a fan of tertiary Bordeaux and this wine is not showing tertiary characteristics IF it has been cellared as well as this case was. My projected drinking window is 2020 to 2028. A special thank you to those CTers who have reviewed this wine over the years, as I relied on their input in deciding to bid on the case.

12/31/2019 - CarpeDiem! wrote:

Following white Carbonnieux since so many years I found this 2015 a bit underwhelming. Much typicity, certainly, with the usual mineral, floral expression, lots of freshness and a nice citric frame. However, surprisingly high acidity prevents the wine to develop its full aromatic depth, leaving an overall monodimensional impression. We had this bottle with oysters. To be revisited with other pairings.

9/15/2019 - CarpeDiem! Likes this wine:

Typical right bank, but still difficult to judge on its potential, hence a conservative rating at this point. Nose and mouth still dominated by fresh red fruit, menthol and tannins, covering barely perceptible wood, liquorice and cocoa aromas. Roast aromas and herbal notes to be sorted, but I believe that time will sort this. To be revisited.

12/3/2018 - CarpeDiem! wrote:

After a very good bottle had recently this one failed to impress. Cedar, mineral notes and ink in the nose. Medium bodied, cassis, leather and cask notes, but lacking power and complexity, drying out rapidly and with persisting acidity in the finish. I won't touch it for a while, but am not sure whether this will ever come back to its earlier day glory.

11/20/2016 - TheNeuroticDobermann Likes this wine:

Deep, rich nose of caramelised violet petals, rose petal jam, cherry compote, red fruit liqueur, and balsam: classic Nebbiolo that has been dried and candied. Imposing palate, hefty at 16 per cent, but supported by a very disciplined acidity and well-knit tannins, which are already well-resolved. Concentrated flavours of good, oak-aged kirsch, sweet spice, menthol, and a lingering bittersweet note of licorice sweets. Very long, very elegant. A fine expression of Valtellina Nebbiolo, that shows tremendous character and a long ageing potential. This is good as a meditation wine, to be sipped to observe the prismatic evolution of a palate which is at once traditional and old-fashioned, with dried-fruit and compote notes suggesting a dry port. Idiosyncratic, but a good choice for lovers of Amarone.

9/6/2017 - Eric Guido Likes this wine:

There's no need to wait on the '09 Les Quartz, because it's in a perfect place right now. The bouquet was dark, rich, luxurious and verging on hedonism with a display of sweet confectionary spices, masses of black currants, baked plum, haunting floral tones and grilled herbs. On the palate, I found velvety textures with glycerol weighted black fruits, sweet and savory herbs, violet candies, dusty minerals and spice, all balanced by brisk acidity. Notes of sweet black currants, fresh cherry and cinnamon spice lingered on the finish for well over a minute, with the slightest hint of heat-forgivable considering that balance here.

6/6/2018 - MQuentel Does not like this wine:

the first of 12 bottles drunk - too early! Or does this square and bulky monster never become a pretty rose? Already in the nose it seems that this is no pleasure. The flavors range from woody notes, tart spices to a restrained, black fruit. A wine in the corset of himself. Medium body, very structured, with decent acidity, but little charm. Time will tell, either it will blossom in a few years - that's my wish - or it will remain a nightshade plant that will never experience the beauty of flowering and hedonistic life.