3/13/2021 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Well balanced, nuanced, and elegant. A lovely translucent cherry red color, mineral and ripe on the nose, layered red fruits backed by some shaved chocolate, crushed rock and leaves, and fine-grained, light tannins. A lot of power for such a light-looking wine.

11/11/2020 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Not a good example of barbera d'asti, hot and disjointed with no acidity, flabby and over-oaked. At 14.5%, what are they thinking these days in Piedmont?

3/4/2017 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Whoops, found this buried in my cellar! Still had a good deal of life to offer, balanced and rich with great depth for a crianza. After a few hours it began to show its age as the fruit went flabby but still, nice bottle overall for 10 year old of this type.

11/4/2015 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Outstanding wine, a more fruit forward Rhone style with great structure, depth of fruit and earthiness typical of a great syrah.

8/30/2015 - Cosmo3 wrote:

What a shame domestic wine can't be more realistically priced. A very nice, balanced and structured wine that drank like a good Saint-Joseph with some years on it but that Saint Joseph would not cost 35 dollars, more like 18-20.

8/30/2015 - Cosmo3 wrote:

I'd agree that this wine needs a touch more time, it was open and lovely right off the bat but the tannins were pretty built up still and masking the subtleties.

6/26/2015 - Cosmo3 wrote:

A seriously disappointing bottle as there was no varietal characteristics from the syrah and granache present as the wine was overripe and over-oaked, nothing but sugary vanilla.

3/24/2015 - Cosmo3 wrote:

A bit flabby, good fruit but soft tannins that don't hold it together.

2/28/2015 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Lovely and powerful wine with good structure, in many ways a classic Priorat with the sweet and dense dark berry notes balanced with dusty tannins, so much going on in this wine.

2/28/2015 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Lots of green pepper on the nose and in the mouth but very nice fruit to compensate, good backbone of acids and smooth finish.

2/8/2015 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Wow, a real blockbuster with just the right amount of restraint. Incredible density of herbs, fruits and acids that are well integrated and balanced. Drinking perfectly now but the tannins on the finish speak of a few more years left in this beauty, glad I have a few more left.

9/14/2014 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Outstanding. At peak, perfectly balanced and fresh, long silky finish.

2/22/2013 - Cosmo3 wrote:

A bit tired in terms of structure but very good purity of fruit, the oak has really left more of a funky barnyard for the finish.

1/23/2013 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Pulled this off the shelf at franprix and was very surprised with the freshness and depth of this inexpensive bordeaux. Classic profile for 02, silky tannins with clean red and black fruits, earthy minerals and cedar notes and delineated finish-very nice surprise for taking a chance at the supermarket on a 10 y/o BDX cru.

12/24/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

This was disappointing. The nose was simplistic at best with rich dark berry notes but came off hot. The thick, warm layers of fruit, vanilla and dusty loam was not well balanced and it lack good stony fruit and a tight mineral backbone and the finish, well-long but again hot and lacking in grace. This was more like a modern valley cab of much less pedigree.

12/1/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Fantastic purity of fruit, still high toned but very smooth. Will improve but is great now.

10/28/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

So candy like that the earthy notes are lost in waves of super ripe cherries and strawberries. Later in the evening it fell apart succumbing to sugar and the brutal heat of the alcohol. Not my style at all.

9/15/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

More or less an excellent wine, ripe and powerful with great structure but just a little too much heat on the finish.

8/5/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Really changed as the night went on. Upon opening, it was pretty closed down with just some green peppers supported by a strong mineral profile (mainly a ferrous taste) which was not pleasant but an hour later the dark fruits and tannins exploded and the complexity and power dominated and improved as the night went on. This was more full bodied to me (than medium bodied based on the previous notes) but it walked the line in terms of a fine and balanced finish.

8/3/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Quite impressive with very fine and bright tannins, forward fruits that are complex and ripe and long finish. Drinking well right now but the tannins suggest this is still on the young side.

7/27/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Overly oaked on the finish but otherwise a decent wine.

7/26/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Lacking complexity (nose has a bit more going on) and one dimensional, a bit hot even though ABV is under 14%. I have had other years of this and it has been much better at this age, overpriced as always too.

5/7/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Still tannic but accessible, the send day was more soft. Great fruit on this, pure and intense. Maybe in six months this will be more balanced.

5/6/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Classically styled for such a simple Rioja, great bargin.

5/6/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Very nice Cab for the price, lots of character and complexity and classic Rutherford terrior, not jammy but good dense fruit.

3/27/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Excellent for the price, full and round with enough structure to keep it going all the way through the finish.

3/25/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Too much oak, nothing could penetrate it.

3/25/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

The purity of the fruit on the nose and in the body are only surpassed by the finesse of this wine. Over the evening it developed wonderfully as more earthy and spicy notes came out as well as some light cola and mineral tones.

3/18/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Incredible balance between power and elegance, rich fruit and firm tannins with long, lingering and complex flavors.

2/19/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Felt a little tired and losing structure, fruits have become somewhat burnt tasting too. I feel like this is on the decline despite still being big and chewy.

2/18/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Refined but with a round feel to the fruit.

2/2/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Nice balance, chewy and dense with dark fruits, a touch of spice and good acidity.

1/28/2012 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Very nicely structured and surprisingly fresh and ready to drink for 05. Developed well over the evening.

12/16/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Surprising light but very pleasing. Very complex with layers of fruit, oak and spices but light and fleeting at times, quite compelling.

12/11/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

This is just a wonderful Zin. While on the huge side with big alcohol it remains complex with firm structure and is food friendly.

12/11/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Interesting notes of pear, apricot and green apple but lacks precision and character.

12/6/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

My first ever from Cheval Blanc, very impressive.

12/4/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Beautiful textures and layers of fruits, earthy tones, oak, seashells and cinnamon. Perfectly well balanced, medium mouth-feel and soft tannins with perfect structure and depth and warmth.

12/3/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

A bit warm and chewy, not as refined as others I have had from them but still loaded with delicious red fruits, some nice calcaire/earth notes in the background and a long, dense finish.

12/2/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Warm and plush but with good structure, long and sweet finish.

12/2/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Very smooth and silky, warm mixed red fruits and good oak/vanilla tones, structure present but not dominating. Great with food and drinking perfectly right now.

12/2/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Whoops, opened too early but still pretty nice. The fruit is masked by the woody, pepper notes. Second night it was more round but still needs a few more years to fully develop.

11/12/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Pretty consistent with previous notes, bright cherry/raspberry and light earthy nose and in the mouth it shows some delicate balance, some light warm spice, good structure without being too firm and long, silky finish. Really nice wine.

11/10/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Pretty big wine, more so than the 06 but still quite nice. Needs a few years to balance out.

11/10/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Whoops, this 05 is not ready. I was hit with a wall of tannins that put a stop to much of anything coming through despite the nose revealing really nice depth of fruit and floral and herbal notes mixed with some nice, mellow oak. Decanted for 24 hours and the next night it was really nice, the fruit came forward and was pretty balanced considering the still big tannins.

11/10/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Very pure and finessed, earthy and dry upfront but delicate fruit all throughout afterwards.

11/10/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

On the big side with heavy texture, cooked berries, licorice and dried mushrooms. Acids still firm but this wine is somewhat plush overall.

11/10/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Still going strong, superb purity of fruit and very nice balance.

11/5/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Vanilla and forest floor on the nose with a strong, earthy core of dark cassis and blackberry, firm acids means this can go a few more years.

11/3/2011 - Cosmo3 wrote:

Finally softening and showing lush fruits, silky tannins.