3/10/2024 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Initially I thought this smelled like a Chardonnay from the Macon. Ripe fruit. After it had cooled in the glass a while there is a hint of grass; white pepper; salinity. In the mouth has a good acidity filling the mouth with ripe fruits in the middle. Good everyday wine.

3/9/2024 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Savoury tertiary aromas: mushroom, cigar box, also figs, dark fruits, hints of rose water, cinnamon, spice on the nose; Smooth, elegant peppery palate; tannins are well-integrated; slightly chalky. The acidity comes quite powerfully on the finish. Wears it’s hefty 14.5% alcohol very well. I can drink this quite happily without food. As ever Ardanza delivers.

2/25/2024 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

From one of the fourteen leux dits slated for premier cru status. Developing a distinct earthy aroma; mushrooms; spice; dark fruit. Chalky tannins with some grip on the gums dominated by lingering acidity. Very good vfm.

2/3/2024 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Made from Fer Servadou. Carbonic maceration. Very pale rose colour. Light aroma of strawberry, rhubarb, bubble gum. a hint of spice. Fresh, clean tense acidity. Very light tannins. Nice finish. I should be drinking this is Spring. A tick in the box for natural wine.

On day 2 the carbonic aromas were very much in the foreground with some garrigue on the horizon. The wine holds together well.

12/9/2023 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Lots of black fruit, a smoky note; a hint of spice, something a bit pithy.. Fresh, sprightly acidity light chalky tannins. Nothing complex. Simple fruity wine. GVFM

11/15/2023 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Dark fruit, earth, pepper, musk, hints of strawberry. herbs. Damp autumn mist. Bramble and herbs on the palate with enough acidity still. Soft chalky tannins. Lovely soft fading finish. Opened two other bottles of this and found them over the hill.

11/5/2023 - tooby2 wrote:

This was so mute on opening and horribly unbalanced that I thought it was a defective bottle. It smelt of nothing more than dust and seemed to lack tannins with vicious acidity and overbearing alcohol burn. It needed a good three hours in the decanter before it opened up - liquorice, herbs, some mint, subdued fruit, leather on the nose. Seems balanced in the mouth initially but falls apart a little at the end with the acidity a bit too sharp and some alcohol burn. I was looking forward to this bottle and maybe I was just expecting too much and these notes reflect my disappointment more. In balance, my drinking partner loved it from the off.

9/3/2023 - tooby2 wrote:

Pale garnet now. Still not the most pronounced nose but has developed since last drunk. On the nose: earthy, ferrous, thyme, menthol. Fruit is less distinct and in the background now. Soft tannins; good acidity. Decanted for a couple of hours.

4/22/2023 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Rich garnet. All secondary and tertiary to the fore. Leather, mushroom, prune, black pepper, liquorice, resin, thyme. Lovely peppery palate, chocolate and blackberry. Lovely stuff. After a couple of hours in the glass clove, mint and herbs coming through.

4/19/2023 - tooby2 wrote:

Pale garnet; Nose: bright red fruit; raspberry; some cooked fruit; violets; initially. After an hour forest floor; cut hay; thyme; something musky; toast. Good acidity; tannins are still quite chalky; slight alcohol burn. Still has time to go in the cellar I should say.

3/25/2023 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Nose: Apricot, peach, walnut, petrol (honey) (ginger) (orange peel). Good acidity. Apricot really comes through on he palate w/ hint of green apple. Slight petillance also. Decent finish.

Went nicely with Sauerkraut soup.

3/19/2023 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Made from the Greco Bianco grape. New one on me. A rich gold which it seems is a feature of the grape. To look at the wine you would assume deliberate oxidation or significant age.

Ambient yeasts so that pungent leesy / farmyard / slight medicinal aroma of biological wines; peaches; pear; honeysuckle, (ginger), spices, stewed apples, sweet dried fruits.

Flavours are much softer on the palate than you might expect from all that is going on with the aromas. High acidity; medium body. Long finish.

3/18/2023 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Pale ruby verging on garnet. Aromas of raspberry; blackcurrant cherry; kirsch; leather; musk

3/18/2023 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

A lovely pale lemon verging on golden
Aromas of apricot and peach; pear (quince) (butter)
Decent acidity medium-bodied. Flavours are decent with a medium finish.

3/15/2023 - tooby2 wrote:

Maybe familiarity has bred some contempt but I thought the 2018 was better than this. A burst of strawberry on the nose fades quickly, brambly indistinct red and black fruit. Blackberry maybe...some tannic grip...but no great intensity on the nose or palate. Pleasant, inoffensive, slightly dull.

1/21/2023 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

On the nose - bags of raspberry and blackberry initially but opens up after an hour in the decanter - clove, liquorice, leather. Palate: sweet red fruit; softening tannins w/ slight grip. Medium bodied. Pleasant residual alcohol burn. Still plenty of life in this.

11/12/2022 - tooby2 wrote:

Deep ruby. Medium intensity aromas - very tart cherry; leather; hint of vanilla. Fresh acidity; some grip in the tannins; medium bodied and the sour cherries really really come through n the tongue. Needs food. I think I like a little more oak in my rioja than is coming through here.

11/5/2022 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Clear medium intensity, gold, good legs; medium intensity; aromas of apricots; lychee; rubber plimsoles; ginger nut biscuits; fully developed aromas; medium dry with high acidity; medium body; long long finish
Very good stuff.

4/30/2022 - tooby2 wrote:

Certainly needs an hour in the glass to wake up.

3/12/2022 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Pale ruby. Nose: plum; smoke and cloves; hint of mushroom; Smooth tannins, some sweetness (from the alcohol); acidity very much racing!!; good body; long finish. Still developing. Be interesting to try in a few years when that acidity has died down a little.

4/6/2021 - tooby2 wrote:

A few days ago now. From memory deep ruby. Intense raspberry aromas, leather, dark chocolate. Very soft tannins. Good body. Long finish. Very nice now if you like your fruit but will keep.

3/21/2021 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Blackcurrant; cherry; raspberry; a bit of crunchy green bell pepper. Good acidity. Chalky tannins. Good vfm.

3/13/2021 - tooby2 wrote:

Leather; clove; liquorice; orange; Christmas spices; burnt rubber; mouldy cellar Palate: racing acidity; tannins softened; fruit still lively. Lots of strawberry. Finish is the clear slow fade of a prayer bell.

3/12/2021 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Fairly intense nose. Blackcurrant overlaying raspberry. Menthol notes. Good acidity. Liquorice. Cherry. Black pepper. The alcohol (15%) is still hefty but mellowing. Good stuff.

3/10/2021 - tooby2 wrote:

Pale ruby. Not a very pronounced nose. Strawberry. Rusty iron. On the palate. Bags more strawberry. Light tannins and refreshing acidity. Really well balanced. Acidity lends a lovely lightness yet has a satisfying body. Long sweet strawberry finish. Really well made wine.

3/5/2021 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Bright ruby. Very dusty nose initially. This is clears after . Nail polish remover. Black fruit. Hint of spice. Palate: Grippy tannins. Good acidity. Blackcurrant. Prunes. Decant this for few hours. It really needs time to open up

3/3/2021 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Very intense nose of gooseberries initially. Muscat, hawthorn. Tropical fruit undertones. White grapefruit on the palate; refreshing acidity. Creamy texture imparted by the oak fermentation.

2/28/2021 - tooby2 wrote:

Lovely pale lemon. Intense nose. Peaches. Candy. Lemon. Nice crisp acidity. Lemon more pronounced on the palate. Very decent for the price.

2/24/2021 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

60% Grenache; 30% Syrah; 5% Mourvedre; 5% Carignan. Medium Ruby. Medium intensity. Cherry, pepper and something herby - eucalyptus - can't pin it down. Dry, full bodied. Low acidity. Smooth tannins. Wears 14% alcohol well. Nicely balanced. Pepper comes through on the palate and hint of cloves. A really pleasing Côtes du Rhône.

2/20/2021 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby. Cranberry, red cherry, strawberry. black pepper. Medium tannins, medium acidity. Richly dense fruit and bags of pepper on the palate. Slight alcohol burn at the end. But a long finish. Have one more bottle and will leave it for a good few years till it is a little less punchy.

2/19/2021 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Beautiful pale gold. Nose pineapple, hint of blossom. Clean, nice acidity. Went very well with a prawn coconut curry. Will buy again.

2/17/2021 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Pale ruby. On the nose dark plum, sweet dark cherry initially. Revisited two days later; a pronounced herbaceous note comes through - nettle. Hint of forest floor. Full bodied. High tannins. High acidity.

2/10/2021 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Heavy on the nail polish remover but this clears: plummy, liquorice and cloves, hints of charred wood. Tannins are balanced by the fruit. Nice acidity and long finish.

11/21/2020 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Sweet and herbaceous on opening. Pepper comes through after an hour. Good stuff.

2/23/2020 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Struck match, grapefruit, satsuma; smoke and honey. Still carries a pleasing acidity, full-bodied, long finish

2/21/2020 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Medium dark ruby. Pronounced aromas. Clouds of sweet liquorice, blackcurrant, hints of stawberry. Full-bodied, smooth and silky. Peppery, cherry and herbaceous notes on the palate. Medium tannins and acidity.

2/20/2020 - tooby2 wrote:

Red cherry on the nose with a touch of vanilla and something herbaceous. Palate sweet; red cherry slightly sour, medium body, acidity and tannins balanced. Nothing complex. Finish is short. Slightly drying tannins on finish.

2/16/2020 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Pale ruby. Nose of cranberry, red fruit lightly cooked. Hint of clove. Medium body with bright acidity balancing the tannins. Good for the price.

2/8/2020 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

A mellowing purple. Initially sweet black cherry on the nose, blackcurrant. Some secondary smoke from the oak. Earth and hint of mushroom coming through.

Medium bodied. Acidity is still very pronounced and the tannins softening but still persistent on the long finish. A lot of cherry still on the palate

11/13/2019 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Exactly what Bacchus said below except I get darker fruit.

10/30/2019 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby to the eye. On the nose heavy black fruit - blackcurrant, black cherry. A hint of liquorice(?); sweet vanilla notes from the oak. Big on the palate - a full-bodied, rounded tempranillo dominated wine but the cabernet sauvignon lends some heavy metal tannins. A good wine. Perfect for autumn nights drawing in.

10/12/2019 - tooby2 wrote:

Half aged in American oak and half in stainless steel and it comes through in a full-bodied chardonnay. This is buttery and luscious on the palate with powerful vanilla and smoke aromas, yet sweet peach and a hint of something tropical too. Enough acidity to balance it coming through on a long finish. Very nice stuff.

10/12/2019 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

A crisp dry chardonnay from South Africa. Bright lemon to the eye. Nose has lemon, crunchy green apples and floral notes. A good wine standing on its own merits and very good for the price. The vineyard are dedicated to social responsibility and minimal intervention too.

8/2/2019 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Green gold hue. A lot of rubber on the nose with hints of pineapple and tangerine. Pleasing acidity but not as bone dry as one would hope.

6/14/2019 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Christmas in a glass. Strawberry, clove, cinnamon, soft tannins. Perfect now.

6/14/2019 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

White pepper and peach, citrus. Lovely

9/16/2017 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Deep amber hue. Honey, raisins and orange on the nose. Lovely viscous mouth feel. Carmel with a hint of liquorice and lively acidity. Absolutely lovely stuff

7/21/2017 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

Very good value for money. Wet pebbles on the nose; citrus

2/24/2017 - tooby2 Likes this wine:

This is quite mellow now. Needs an hour open to bloom. Decant.

10/28/2016 - tooby2 wrote:

This needs decanting and leaving for an hour before it starts to open up.