7/14/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Flabby, fatty, ripe, somewhat alcoholic. Disappointing.

7/14/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Initially hot and sweet but improved considerably with air becoming more minty, chocolate driven and minerally. Very good.

8/22/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Delicious. Sweet & savory characters are well balanced. More ripe, upfront front than complex notes; a tad bit of alcohol burn. Nonetheless, a very pretty and drinkable wine. Like it.

3/21/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Yeah.....no chance of remembering anything from that night.

8/16/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Yum! This golden, rich, delicious wine bursts on the nose with nutty, honeyed, apricot aromas. On the mouth, the richness shows up again with the same nutty, honeyed character. Acidity is decent and stands up to the richness. Good medium length finish. Just a great wine.

8/15/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Pretty, bright yellow. Deliciously fragrant with some sweetness and spiciness on the nose. Quite rich, unctuous and ripe (without any evident residual sugar); there's a spicy bite that could be from the alcohol, but nothing really detracts from what is, in essence, a delicious & rich wine.

6/1/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Wow, amazing nose of tobacco, cedar, chocolate & rosemary. More restrained on the palate with tight, grippy tannins. Still, smooth & refined and a gem of a wine.

5/29/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Pours a medium lemon yellow. Delicious and mouthwatering aromas of citrus, almonds and pear. Great punch of acidity backed up by a hefty mouthfeel with even more nutty (no oxidation whatsoever) and white fruit notes on the palate. Despite the richness and full-bodied profile, the acidity keeps this firmly in check and a great option for a muggy, warm evening. Chardonnay be damned.....when something like this is so readily available for around $15.

5/24/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

I personally thought this was quite quite good. Pours a dark salmon. Bright, light floral, cherry & watermelon nose. Excellent acidity on the palate with a sweet strawberry & cherry character throughout. Refreshing through & through. Like it a lot.

5/4/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Pours a deep, dark-as-night crimson red. Sweet aromas of berry liquor, mint & coffee. The palate plays a bit of a trick on the aromas and shows completely dry with a nice biting acidity and a rich smoothness. A bit of the famed smokiness emerges here. There's just a tad of heat at the end but in general this is a very pretty and well made wine.

4/22/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Pours a very inky, dark garnet. Pretty aromas of red fruits, some cocoa & a hint of wet earth. On the palate it's quite bright with a juicy core of cherry & plum. Has quite an evident trace of drying tannins but this is drinking quite well all in all. Lively acidity and a soft, easy finish make this a perfect foil for meaty & tomatoey dishes. Well done.

4/15/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

A very pretty, medium-bodied Chablis. Lemony notes intertwine with somewhat rich yellow fruit flavors. A bit of saline firmly gives this wine it's identity. Perfect for a warm Spring day.

3/31/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

This was a fantastic surprise. The richness is certainly there, but it's backed up by an underlying vibrant acidity and spice that make this wine an absolute joy to drink. Very well done.

3/31/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Lovely. On the breadier/yeastier side of the spectrum. Complex and medium-bodied; this was simply yummy.

3/12/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Pours a medium brick red with orange highlights at the rim. Quite spicy & peppery on the nose, there's also hints of herbs, red fruit and some tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's displaying a fantastic acidity backed up by sweet berry flavors with just a hint of dark chocolate. Tannins are still quite massive but polished enough and the finish is impressively smooth and long. A very pretty wine.

3/6/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Pours a bright but still dark garnet. Gorgeous nose of black cherry, mushrooms & earth with a sweet oak whiff. On the palate, it's quite rich with a noticeable bitter chocolate note throughout. Amazingly good for a 23+ year old wine. Outstanding.

3/6/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Drinking gorgeously. Great aromatics on interspersed red/black fruits, mint, pencil lead & dark chocolate. Rich but quite lively on the mouth with great acidity backing up the medium-bodied fruit. Tannins are still young and mouth-puckering, but overall this is beautiful.

2/21/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Quite fragrant with floral, cardamom and nutty notes on the nose. Lighter on the palate with juicy melon flavors. Very refreshing and drinkable.

2/2/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

From 750. Pours much lighter than I would have thought for a 97 with a bright reddish-orange glow. Nose is quite hot with cognac like aromas hiding some raisin & caramel whiffs. On the palate it is much more promising with fig, date, caramel, molasses & the slightest citrusy note. Alcohol is quite present on the tongue as well and this hits the esophagus like an outdoor fire-pit in a winter storm. A dark chocolate note emerges in the aftertaste. Shows great promise once the heat subsides.

1/31/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Popped & poured. A very dark blood-red in the glass. Fist punch of aromas is all dark fruit & spicy black pepper. With a bit of air it mellows out a bit while still maintaining a very pronounced activity. This is definitely a wine that needs food.

1/28/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Another pleasant surprise! No green/stem-y flavors here; this was quite medium to full-bodied and flavorful....dare I say elegant even. Conservative in aroma, it shone more on the palate with bright red fruit notes and some earthy character as well. Fully mature, this drank quite beautifully.

1/28/2012 - JorgeH wrote:

Splash decanted for about 3 hours. Great aromas; this was a revelation in its power, gorgeous fruit/cocoa character and complexity all bundled together in an awesome package. Smooth mouthfeel, no heat and ripe/integrated tannins. Loved it.

12/31/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

This was surprisingly very good! Poured a dark garnet with excellent mature aromas of leather, currant & cedar wood. On the palate, it had great beefy and ripe black fruit flavors. Evident, but ripe, tannins. Great mouthfeel. A real crowd pleaser.

12/29/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Still pouring a bright yellow green. Great aromatics of roasted almonds, white fruit and spice. Very good acidity with a steely character that is backed up by an oily richness and ripe, spicy fruit. A very very well made wine.

11/12/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Initially, high-acid and light in the flavor department. With air, it improved markedly and exhibited round notes of yellow fruit, nuts & smoke. Very good.

11/13/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Wanted to like this more but found it green, light and lacking in body & structure.

10/22/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

This was a gorgeous and fragrant Burg.

11/1/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Great Cab Franc. Earthy, juicy, savory, complex. Low tannins, a tiny hint of greenness but nothing that distracts.

11/8/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Wow , this was a shocker! Pours a bright cherry red. Aromas of spicy red fruit, pepper & a hint of vanilla. Very fresh on the palate with a lively acidity backed by light, not-too-rich sweet fruit and a somewhat savory note emerging on the end. Tannins are fully integrated. This was quite the revelation.

9/24/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Pours a deep, dark red with nary a hint of fading at te edge. Big & bright aromas of black cherry, smoked meat & black pepper. In the mouth it is absolutely brilliant in its balance of big, forward fruit character, spicy, meaty flavors and a racy acidity. Tannins are quite evident but smooth and the supple mouthfeel leads to an afternote of bitter dark chocolate. This is an excellent wine.

9/12/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

The extra 9 months in bottle from the last time I had it did wonders for this. Super rich and complex red berry notes intermingled with a toasty characteristic. The mousse is excellent as is the mouthfeel.

9/2/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Pours a vibrant dark crimson. Medium strong aromas of dark chocolate, black cherry liqueur and sweet spice. A bit of heat comes through on the nose. On the palate, first thing I notice is a very lively acidity framed by pretty intense red fruit and spice flavors. There's a bit of sweetness but no discernible alcohol heat. Well made.

8/31/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Pours a dark brickish red with the slightest orange tinge at the rim. A strong nose of pencil shavings, dark red fruit and cedar come up from the glass. On the palate this is absolutely stunning with a meaty texture, a strong red currant note and beautiful acidity. Tannins are still quite strong with this one and it's drinking like a very capable tweener. Gorgeous.

8/31/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Still dark garnet in color. A stinkbomb when initially poured but with a bit of air a nice roasted meat and smoke aroma emerges. In the mouth there is still a nice dark fruit background present. Tannins are completely integrated and a savory component is quite noticeable. Very enjoyable.

8/31/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Pours a beautifully deep, vibrant yellow. Think of any and all tropical fruits (coconut, lemon, pineapple) thrown them in a pan with copious amounts of brown sugar and butter and roast the hell out of them.....that is the nose on this baby. On the palate, the acidity takes a back seat to an unctuous oiliness that is just absolutely mesmerizing. Still plenty of RS but followed by an edge that keeps everything in check. Amazing wine.

8/20/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

My last bottle and thankfully a "good" bottle. By good I mean sound, because the fruit of this wine is gone; aromas are concentrated and liquor-y with flavors of chocolate covered cherries, coffee and berry liqueur. Acidity is quite prevalent and tannins are completely integrated. Goodbye Garrigue Cuvee Romaine, it's been a hell of a ride.

8/3/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Gorgeous, round & complex nose! Rich, somewhat buttery-sweet on the palate with medium plus acidity; great retronasal notes on the medium long finish. Great wine!

8/3/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Very clean nose with ripe aromas of baked fruit; soft/round flavors on the palate with low to medium acidity and a bit of sweetness on the finish. Good.

8/3/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Somewhat strange nose with a slight "cheesy" aroma; chewy on the palate with a pronounced acidity and flavors of raw almonds; not my style. Below average to average.

8/3/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

A lot of sweetness on the nose but gorgeous and voluptuous aromas no less; on the palate, it's more balanced with a lively acidity and a beautiful finish. Very Good

8/3/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Younger nose; lively aromas of fresh grass, flowers & yellow fruit; beautiful on the palate, elegant and uderstated; a bit of a sweet oak emerges on the finish. Very good.

8/3/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Conservative buut elegant nose & flavors with notes of vanilla bean and roasted nuts. Good.

8/3/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Nose is more subdued but what aromas do come through are sweeter; less acid on the palate but rich flavors of baked apple, fresh bread & almond butter are present. Good to very good.

8/3/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Wow, what a nose! Baked apple, sweet spices, buttery almonds; beautifully round but somewhat soft on the palate with the caramel apple (Granny Smith) note dominating; medium acidity and a long finish. Very good to excellent.

8/3/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Pale lemon-yellow; initial timid nose of green apples & rainwater; very dry and displays a taut acidity but it also shows a certain roundness & some nutty notes that balance it out quite well. Good.

7/19/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Color of pale salmon. Telltale nutty aromas and a dusty, minerally note. A bit watery on the palate but flavorful with savory notes of salted almonds and rosewater. Acidity is lip-smacking. The finish is bone dry. One of the best roses made.

7/17/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Tastes even rounder and sweeter than I remembered. Deliciously thirst-quenching on a 92 degree day.

7/16/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Ended up being gorgeous with the 2 extra years on it from the norm. Medium yellow color, aromas of yellow fruit and honey-roasted nuts; a bit oily in texture but lovely balance of acidity, nutty flavors and ripe fruit. Medium-lengthed finish.

7/12/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

Pours dark dark garnet. Aromas of mocha & coffee with some smoke and black fruit notes. Sweet black fruit, chocolate and toasted oak. Low acidity and tannins. Noticeable heat on the medium finish. Too ripe for it's own good.

7/13/2011 - JorgeH wrote:

SO much better though! Good PN typicality and great freshness. Aromas of berries and great balance on palate.