5/6/2024 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Very similar to the 2018. Pale greeny gold. Citrus dominates the nose on opening, with time more sea weed. Full mouthfeel.

I initially, juicy lemon dominates and salty minerality. Refreshing acidity. After time, seaweed, oyster shell, chalk and more bitter citrus come to the fore. As ever, the last glass is the best.

Really good but drink slowly. Interesting to see how it develops. No hurry

4/1/2024 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Lightish garnet red. Translucent at the edge no signs of age.

Dark fruits, more plum than sour cherry, mocha. Tannin discernible but not particularly prominent. Longish fruity sweet finish. In a good place so not sure that it needs much more time so will drink mine over the next couple of years

3/24/2024 - Neil.L wrote:

Dark red, brownish as others have stated.

Unremarkable bouquet and taste. Dark fruit, plum, some leathery flavours but just not that great. Either it is quiet and needs more time or this was a bad bottle.

First taste immediately after opening was better than after a couple of hours in the decanter do perhaps something in that too.

In a quandary what to do. Maybe try another just to eliminate a bad bottle.

3/22/2024 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Clear bright garnet, watery at the edge.

Light perfumed bouquet, violet and cherries.

Watery, soft mouthfeel. Fresh, slightly sweet red fruit, dry tannins but becoming integrated and much less noticeable with food, medium acidity. Agree with another reviewer more perfume than fruit. More savoury finish, not particularly long.

Really good. Like where it is right now not sure it will improve materially…have a case so won’t hold back. Great house Classico.

9/17/2023 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Pale straw.

Light bouquet, stone, citrus peel, tropical fruit.

Syrupy mouthfeel but lively and fresh. Citrus and citrus peel in the mouth, waxy. Bitter citrus peel finish.

Really like this wine and prefer it to the more expensive and oaky La Rocca.

7/28/2023 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Bright, translucent yellow.

Classic nose, citrus, chalky but no spent match, oyster shell/sea weed

Quite a rich mouthfeel. Lemon citrus, juicy, mineral, salty and oyster shell/seaweed. Medium/high acidity. Longish, faintly bitter citrus finish.

Really good but no great hurry

Another bottle March 2024 and no great change from the above, reinforcing no great hurry

6/11/2023 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Translucent garnet, no signs of age. Very fruity nose. Watery mouthfeel, very juicy more sweet plum than cherry,a little savoury, black olive. Grippy tannins, mildly drying but not unpleasant. Sweet slightly drying finish. Perfect for. Enough stuffing to hold but why? Lovely

1/22/2023 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

A year on from the last. Not much to update but it does continue to improve.

Medium garnet red, translucent, some signs of ageing at the edge.

Big, complex aromas, red fruits, obviously oak but some leather, spice.

Watery mouthfeel, fruity, oak (it is a gran reserva) but not over-powering, tannins nicely integrated, good acidity. A little drying without food but really soothed out by flavoursome food (game paella). Long finish , spicy, hint of smoke even.

Really good and in a great place. Drink it or keep it, neither is a bad decision.

1/21/2023 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

5 years since the last bottle.

Some mould under the cap but wine was in very good order. Decanted 5 hours.

Yellow gold colour. Very expressive nose from opening: citrus, minerally, honey and a little chemical.

In the mouth, very full and bursting with flavour. Mineral to the fore, citrus, honey, lanolin as others mentioned and with time in the glass some tropical fruit, mango. Nice acidity and a lingering finish.

The high alcohol wasn’t as bothersome this time and in general all the flavour components were more resolved. Very fine and loved it.

Sadly last 2011 but I have some 2015….12 years seems a good age to happy to wait on those.

1/6/2023 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

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4/10/2022 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Dark purplish red but translucent at the edge. No obvious signs of age. Legs in the glass, 13.5% alcohol.

Dark fruit nose, cherry, hit of sourness. A little farmyard, pine and greenness.

Lovely soft mouthfeel, juicy fruit to the fore, nice acidity and well integrated tannins giving structure. Persistent finish, a little sour with the greenness showing through.

Well made and shows well with many foods. Very good.

4/1/2022 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Translucent garnet. Legs consistent with 13.5% alcohol.

Expressive nose, immediately fruity, sour plum and cherry, tea like tannin, dry oak.

Similar in the mouth dark sourish fruits, dry, tea leaves, oak but not over powering, good acidity. Dryish tannic finish with some alcohol heat.

Pretty well balanced, will improve with age but pretty good where it is.

3/27/2022 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Very pale gold, almost clear. Legs in the glass (13.5%).

Clean nose, mineral/saline bitter citrus, grapefruit peel.

Initially, a bit of prickle on the tongue that fades with time to a full creamy mouthfeel. Again, mineral/salty, bitter citrus, creamy after time but still good acidity. Finish lemon citrus with a bit of bitter pith.

Pretty nice. Benefits from time in the glass and food. The search for the perfect VdS goes on but this is up there.

3/19/2022 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Dark garnet, clear edge. Little signs of age.

Big bouquet, blackcurrant, dark fruits, leather.

Lovely in the mouth, soft, well integrated tannins, sweetish fruits. Again blackcurrant, dark fruits and savoury, animal flavours. Nice acidity and some stony minerality with tannins showing in a slightly drying but fruity finish.

Can’t think how this could be any better. Sure there is structure to last but why deny yourself. Great value.

3/3/2022 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Very pale straw colour

Nose of lemon juice, ripe apple, honey and slate

Thinish mouth feel, dry but hint of residual sugar on the tip of the tongue. Medium acidity and slatey minerality intensely flavoured, again ripe apple, lemon juice and honey but also peach. Nice long lemon honey finish.

Lovely.

A novice at German Riesling but really enjoying this

3/1/2022 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Pale brassy gold.

Juicy green apple and honey on the nose.

Green apple, lemon sherbet and chalky minerality. Riesling is quite obvious. Long persistent lemon juice, zest and salty finish but agree with another reviewer that something is missing mid palate but nice all the same.

A little richer and more to the mid palate with a bit of air.

Good VFM

2/26/2022 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Really like this for the money.

Dark garnet but translucent. Fruity nose with strawberry as well as usual juicy cherry, slight ester smell.

Watery soft mouthfeel. Juicy cherry, strawberry, hint of menthol/cherry cough sweet. Something a bit earthy/animal too. Good acidity, some minerality and drying tannins in the finish giving it nice structure and a few more years to develop.

Very nice

1/14/2022 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

This is in a really good place for me. Pale, translucent garnet, a hinting of brick at the edge. Great nose, tart red fruit, vanilla, cedar.

Expected it to be pretty tannic but the balance between tannin and fruit is good, midweight, watery in the mouth. Tart acidity says no hurry but I really like it where it is right now. Fruity dry finish.

Food really softens all the edges. Just finished my 06’s so thought this might be a bit young but really good.

11/7/2021 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Surprisingly good and well advanced for only 6 years old. Certainly more advanced than some earlier vintages.

Pale translucent garnet. Nose of soft bramble fruit, green leaves, leather and cedar.

No great surprise in the mouth. Soft mouthfeel, bramble, again green leaves, leather. Some acidity and some drying tannins remain but pretty well integrated. Drinking really nicely, no great hurry but don’t see it improving massively. Good regular claret for the next couple of years. Glad I have a case.

10/24/2021 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Translucent garnet. Transparent at the edge no signs of age.

Big fruity nose, soft red fruits, sweet cherry. Slight mineral edge, some earthiness but more vegetal than earthy. Some oak.

In the mouth soft mouth feel, again red fruit, some minerality, sweetness on the tip of the, mild acidity, something of a cherry cough sweet but drying finish

Very nice and the stuffing to go longer. Nice to drink now but will continue to drink over next five years at least.

10/3/2021 - Neil.L wrote:

Nothing wrong with this wine just not my style.

Deep garnet, hint of purple. Long legs in the glass.

Big nose, black current, blue Berry, cedar bordering on creosote, spice. Prickled the nose.

In the mouth fruit predominates, sweet on the tip of the tongue, good acidity, not particularly mineral, expecting more tannin but well balanced (with food), hot (14%), dry and fruity finish.

Good with strongly flavoured food (cottage pie).

4/16/2021 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Pale brassy gold.

Complex nose: honey, chalky minerality, esters, citrus peel, smokiness , malo.

Soft mouthfeel. Off dry, strong honey flavours, slightly spicy and hot, sweet apple, apricot and peach.

Honey and citrus peel finish.

Really good and great VFM. Stable and consistent year to year. No great reason to keep Pnp and enjoy. Great wine-making

3/25/2021 - Neil.L wrote:

PnP but developed considerably in the glass.

Pale bright gold.

Strong lemon citrus bouquet, hint of stone.

Initially, lemon citrus, slight spritz on the tip of the tongue, sherbet, more bitter lemon peel finish. Good acidity, clean.

Later, richer, creamy mouth feel and taste, powerful. Lemon juice still dominates with long citrus peel finish. Would prefer minerality to be more to the fore but pretty good anyway.

Don’t think it is going to improve massively, classic citrus style Chablis but no great hurry either. Very good without blowing your socks off.

3/5/2021 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Dominant acetone nose on opening but blows off to much more appealing soft red fruit aromas, bramble hint of white pepper.

Similarly in the mouth: soft red fruits, a little spice, residual sugar sweetness, unobtrusive tannins, medium/low acidity, short juicy finish.

Very nice, uncomplicated, have drunk this over successive vintages and will continue to do so.

So much to like and little to dislike.

2/27/2021 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Fabulous stuff and incredible value.

Intense mineral nose, stoney and classic Riesling kerosene but not over-powering.

Dry but residual sugar on the tip of the tongue. Syrupy, oily mouthfeel. Tinned mandarin segments, juicy apple, mineral and creamy. High acidity and long, long finish of citrus and stone.

Really, really good.

2/5/2021 - Neil.L wrote:

Purple red, no signs of age.

Soft, red red fruit nose. Strawberry, raspberry.

Soft mouth feel. Same red fruits in the mouth but some tertiary flavours, mushroom. Nicely integrated, drying tannins and bright acidity.

Shortish fruity finish.

Really nice and in a place I like so I won’t wait too long to drink the rest.

1/29/2021 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Pale bright gold. Very fragrant nose, floral, honeysuckle, syrupy white fruit, wet stone, herbaceous.

Syrupy almost oily mouthfeel, stone fruit, peach apricot, pineapple juice. Really quite bitter citrus peel finish, grapefruit?

Really good. Started as an aperitif but finished. With grilled halibut, worked for both.

Mini Condrieu. Great value.

12/24/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Bright yellow gold, viscous in the glass.

White fruit nose, stoney and salty minerality. Dried herbs.

Very rich, syrupy mouthfeel, Slight prickle and sweetness on the tip of the tongue. Stoney/salty minerality, sweet peach, honey. Bitter citrus and honey finish. Long.

Very good. Great white burgundy alternative with salty minerality. Claims aging potential but what is wrong with it now?

11/8/2020 - Neil.L wrote:

Translucent garnet red. No signs of ageing.

Nose of dark cherries, bramble. Something vegetal / farmyard too. Spice.

Cherry and blueberry, little sweetness, slight blood/metallic. integrated tannins but quite astringent. Sour cherries on the finish.

As others have commented, I was expecting more fruit and it would be better for it. Ok but not remarkable and not much that says it going to get much better.

Another bottle May 2021. Pretty similar to above but noticeable esters on opening.

Had a glass left next day, marked improvement. Sweeter dark fruit, tannins better integrated and same sour cherry finish, spice. Pretty nice

10/10/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Pale, bright gold.

Lemon citrus, citrus peel, oyster shell, something fresh and green I can’t quite put my finger on.

Thin mouthfeel, citrus, lemon sherbet, salinity on the sides of the tongue, hint of vanilla and cream, citrus juice finish.

Good without being fantastic. I could drink bottle after bottle of this but as other reviewers have noted it is missing something of Chablis.

Another bottle 7/3/21, although bouquet and taste components the same, the sum of the parts so much better in this bottle. Harbour at low tide, intense lemon sherbet, intense acidity, malo of the last bottle much less prominent. Faith restored!

Decanted for an hour vs. PNP....was that the difference. Lovely.

10/3/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Transparent dark crimson.

Dark fruits, plum, cherry, menthol, herbaceous, oak obvious but not over-powering.

Sweet dark fruit on the tip of the tongue, good acidity, tannin still quite prominent so astringent but not unpleasant. Slight saltiness on the sides of the tongue. Complex.

Long finish, sweet dark fruits and tannin.


Lovely but all the components to be great. Try again 2023.

9/28/2020 - Neil.L wrote:

Deep purple colour.

Dark fruit and strong oak aroma and pretty much the same in the mouth, a little astringent. Oak dominates even after some air.

It may improve with age but will never be my style of wine. I have enjoyed previous vintages far more

9/25/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Pale almost colourless..

Lemony, chalky mineral nose. Very clean.

Again, citrus, chalk in the mouth. Nice acidity. Thinish mouth feel. lemon, sherbet and hint of cream in the finish.

Very nice and drinking very well now but no massive hurry.

9/5/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Still quite discernible tannins and only the beginnings of tertiary flavours. Lots of time left so I should leave the remaining six for another 5 years

8/14/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Dark garnet red, no signs of age.

Oak obvious on the nose as a gran reserva but not objectionable so. Dark fruit plum hint if stony mineralogy.

Very soft mouth feel. Tannins less jarring than I expected, beginning to integrate. Sweet dark fruit, cocoa, tobacco. Nice acidity. Longish finish, tannic, sweet, tobacco.

Really nice. Just entering the window but years left.

Tried anther. This one not as advanced as the last. Oak very prominent as expected but fruit still quite primary. Dark red fruit, good acidity, drying and a little wearing on the palate without food but more balanced with food. Tertiary flavours less obvious than the last bottle but peeping through: leather, cocoa, tobacco. Leave the rest to 2025+

Couldn’t wait until 25 so tried another Jan 24. Wonderful shortly after opening(1 hour), primary red fruit, alcoholic strawberry juice, really soft mouth feel with a well integrated backbone of oak and tannin. Lovely.

More time and air the fruit subsides with more tertiary flavours and more drying finish. Still very nice but that first flush was amazing.

7/6/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Few glasses the previous night but much better next evening. Popped over 2005 as heard it was quite forward and wanted to try.

Light garnet, no signs of age. Dark fruit on the nose, cassis, oak, sandalwood.

Plump silky mouth feel, drying tannins but not unpleasant. Again dark fruits, cassis, graphite and vegetal (green pepper?). Nice acidity. Sweet oaky finish.

Will continue to develop but drinking pretty nicely now. I’ll drink slowly over next 5 years. Nice but not spectacular.

Had another Jan 21. Little to add to the above other than tannins a lots less noticeable in this bottle (+4 hour decant) and vegetable/animal flavours more pronounced. Pleasantly savoury. Better showing. Drinking really well, see no reason not to drink the rest over the next 2-3 years

6/15/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Pale greenish gold. Not particularly expressive on the nose to begin with, mineral, citrus acidity and thin citrus acidity in the mouth but improves hugely with air. Had this before and the last glass was by far the best.

With time, oyster shell, fresh lemon citrus, hint of creamy oak, chalk, grassy/herby,richer tropical fruits. Clean, citrus lemon finish. Still young and feel this will continue to develop for a long time

5/25/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Surprisingly pale in colour. Fine bubbles. Restrained bouquet that developed over time. Citrus, green apple and a little yeasty. First mouthful was incredibly intense, a big wine but it quickly developed to have lovely balance. Citrus, sweetness, acidity some stony minerality, later very noticeable cream. Very long intense finish. It kept developing and changing over the course of a couple of hours with different aromas and flavours dominating and sudsiding but never lost its intensity. I was dying to try this but another few years before I drink anymore.

4/21/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Bought this over successive vintages as a “house” burgundy.

Pale, bright gold.

Lemon peel, green apple and something vegetal/damp leaves to the nose. Hint of oak but little minerality.

Watery mouthfeel despite 13% alcohol. Tastes confirms the nose: sour green fruit, citrus peel, nice acidity. Little left to resolve so wonder how much cellaring will add.

Short finish as others have noted, sour but pleasantly so.

Overall, really nice but not remarkable, which is exactly what it sets out to be. Have already bought the 18.

Another bottle and a little different. PnP so nose restrained but melon and chalky minerality to the fore. With time citrus, green apple, cream, chalk, citrus peel sour finish. Nice acidity. @£25 in thy he UK so very good value for high quality wine making

4/4/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Bright, clear garnet red. Just a hint of age at the rim.

Usual sour cherries, acetone and beginnings of something more vegetal.

Softer in the mouth than the nose would lead to believe. Soft fruit, nice acidity and still quite tannic but all coming into balance. A bit lacking otherwise.

Nice but not spectacular

3/27/2020 - Neil.L wrote:

Bright, golden.

Citrus peel, fatty, butter, wet stone, tropical fruits. Oaky butteriness comes to dominate after while.

Big and creamy in the mouth, sugary.Oak and butter dominate, slightly hot from high alcohol. Long, slightly bitter finish. Lots going on but not really my style. It would be really interesting to taste one with bottle age. Have a few more, might just leave them.

Tasted next day and better balanced with butter less dominant and citrus more to the fore. Same creamy mouthfeel and long slightly bitter lemon peel finish. Enjoyed it more today

3/24/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Popped a bottle just to see.

Bright clear rim, translucent garnet. Very fragrant, Cherries, bit of spice and umami noted by another reviewer.

Drying tannins in the mouth, good acidity, chalky minerality. Nice red fruits but tannins completely dominant. To be fair pulled from the cellar and only an hour of air so to cold and too tight but will need a while to come together. All the elements there though

Leave a good few years for the next one. I suspect I will be upgrading this in 2023.

Tried another late June 20 with ample air. Better integrated, tannins still prominent but very fruity with tart acidity, more fruit than I remember, darker and sweeter than classic sour cherry. Will drink slowly over the next 2-3 years.

2/1/2020 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Light purple red colour, clear at the edge. Restrained dark fruit nose, hint of pepper. Young and tannic in the mouth; thin mouthfeel, dry and astringent. Sweet dark fruit, chalky minerality, good acidity, pepper and dusty. Too young but all the elements I like and very northern Rhône syrah. Been looking for a wine like this for ages baby Rotie will buy a case and leave it a while.

12/8/2019 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Very pale, golden. Citrus, green apple nose, hint of stone. Intense green apple, lemon juice flavours, high acidity, hint of wet stone, honey, persistent citrus finish. Pretty nice but lacking the complexity you can often get from Chenin blanc.

12/8/2019 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Dark opaque purple. No sign of age. Fruity, spicey bouquet; oak too. Bramble fruits, leafy, menthol/mint. Nice tannins starting to integrate, some acidity, minerality and grip. Plenty of time left for this one to develop more complexity but I like my wines at this stage too.

4/19/2019 - Neil.L wrote:

Yellow, large bubbles that disappear quickly. Apple cider and citrus on the nose. Fresh, lively and citrus in the mouth. Citrus peel finish, very short. Uncomplicated plonk, soda pop and ultimately unsatisfying but I don’t think it pretends to be anything else. Bought in the U.K. so poor value, easily beaten by English sparklers and very good cava at the same price...bought because it was from Oregon; done it and no need to do it again.

3/23/2019 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Light purple, translucent. Nose of dried herbs, dust, raspberries and later plum and black cherry. Floral.

Light mouthfeel with alcohol well integrated despite 13.5%. Dark, juicy, sweet cherry on the palate bordering on jammy but fresh not burnt. Something animal/organic/meaty. Pepper and dusty spice prominent.

Lovely wine: SA Cote Rotie. Restrained, complex,classy. Well integrated now so not sure what more time will bring; perhaps more complexity. Definitely getting more just to enjoy now. Real find.

3/9/2019 - Neil.L wrote:

Dark, purple red, quite opaque. Very fragrant, red fruits, plum. Luscious and sweet in the mouth but good acidity. Graphite, liquorice, tobacco (?) and spicy heat. Big, high alcohol hot, something quite bitter on the tip of the tongue (black coffee) and an astringent bitter finish, not really my style....headache in a glass but well made and quite complex.

3/3/2019 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Opened and poured which did it little justice. Very light in colour, almost colourless. Bouquet citrus, melon, hint of vanilla and rocky minerals. Elegant and refined in the mouth, again citrus and melon, nice mineralogy. Just wish I could have given it more time. I’d buy more to do it justice.

2/10/2019 - Neil.L Likes this wine:

Dark red, translucent, showing first signs of age at the rim. Dark fruits, oak, herbs, leather on the bouquet. Same dark fruits in the mouth and tertiary flavours, leather, animal, really nice acidity and well integrated tannins, softer than a couple of years ago. Really good now but no hurry to drink the rest.

Tried another Nov 19. Brick red at the edge but translucent, light colour. As above but red fruits rather than dark on the nose spicy/herby, something animal also stones. Nose more fruity Thani remember

All the above in the mouth but barrel aging and tannins less prominent; nice acidity and mineralty

Really good