6/15/2022 - jhbrower1 wrote:

The De Moors' 2014 Aligote was one of my favorite wines of all time, and I've been chasing a similar experience when I can get my hands on their wine ever since. The 2020 is something different than other vintages: gone is the incredibly tight, lemony acidity that I love about Aligote, but especially theirs, and this vintage also has a bit of an acetone/VA quality on the nose (this is my 3rd bottle). The palate is really cider-y, like bruised green apples and yeast. It's not exactly unpleasant, but it's an odd year, and it doesn't taste much like Aligote to me.

2/25/2023 - sometimes_fodder wrote:

Less notes (PearceBarr covered those well), more my impression over two nights - admittedly first experience with this producer. Upon opening nice cranberry/orange fruit mixed with some funky strawberry-like note (think of ripe strawberries that sat in a barn for a week - in a good way), but after an hour of decant the funky strawberry note blew off and it became more elegant and as others have noted, almost Burgundian, more fresh and primary than expected for the age/region. The second night didn’t show any improvement over the first and the finish may have even taken a dip compared to the first night.

It’s undoubtedly old school but the lower tannins that have started integrating with the wine seem slightly out of balance with the acidity. While my second bottle will lie down a little longer, my concern is that it will be mostly acidity holding up the structure if left for more than 5 or so years.

My score reflects what I believe to be the potential and in general I feel like a harsher marker than others. With such an abundance of tasting notes on this wine recently and with a division between some very high scores and some more tempered impressions, I wanted to mention which “side” I’m leaning closer to. Still very much enjoyed the uniqueness of this Rioja being someone who generally prefers traditional styles.

1/14/2018 - jhbrower1 wrote:

Even in a style and region I don't often gravitate toward, I generally trust Andrew Will to make good wine. This was pleasant, surprisingly light on its feet for the alchohol and varieties. Blueberry, blackberry, quite ripe but not particularly jammy. More pure and focused than I expected. Nice minerality on the finish, although it's a little short -- not a surprise at this price point, but I'd hoped for more. Good value; definitely worth buying and opening a bottle or two if you see it locally.

9/25/2017 - jhbrower1 wrote:

Subdued red fruit, characteristic bell pepper, tons of woody herbs -- oregano, summer savory, etc. Drinking well now, but as with any good vintage of Raffault, it will age beautifully. Those finding it needs air would do well to pick up another bottle and return in the distance future. Drink 2017-2032, assuming proper storage.