10/29/2021 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Dark centre but fading to almost clear at the edge.

Nose autumnal, smokey with some tobacco/cedar notes in there too.

Palate again autumnal with lots of dark fruit, raisins etc with spice and chocolate hints. Alcohol a little strong on the finish but this wine has aged really well. Can’t see it improving much more but as there’s not one bottled (after this one) so it probably won’t get the chance. Good length with flavours lingering on and perhaps becoming even more fruity with blackberries and even raspberries hints.

If a wine can be reminiscent of log fires and minces pies, this may well be it…even if it is only October! Will try to remember it’s there at Christmas to drink the last one…probably!

10/23/2021 - Chalkhills wrote:

Incredibly dark colour for the age
Autumnal nose (drie leaves, fruits etc) with perhaps smoky hints

Sloes, damsons on the palate - still strong fruit flavours but needed food to be at its best - that lasts into the finish and gives reasonable length.

Strange wine but interesting.

5/18/2021 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

A biizarre blend of Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Viognier, Syrah and Mourvedre...”to name but a few”!

Pale bricky red to almost clear at the edge. Clean and clear.

Hints of pinot noir on the nose, enhanced by notes of chocolate and possibly cherries and some darker fruit.

Soft tannins an a touch of acid balanced by red fruit flavours...perhaps ripe strawberries and maybe a hint even of raspberry! There are hints of the Rhine grapes’ influence there too (slightly smokey with a bit of dark fruit too) but the dominant impression is, perhaps unsurprisingly, of a Italian Burgundy! Finish carries lighter red fruit flavours with good length.

Looks like it has aged well and may continue to improve but with only one bottle left after this, I may not risk it for too long! A fascinating, unusual and delightful wine.

7/4/2020 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Drinking really well at the moment. Ripe tannins and good dark berry fruit all contributing. This was drunk during an meal and we did not spend the time assessing it as well as we might. However, there was no disputing the quality and its remarkable accessibility. Went superbly well with the cheeseboard, especially the goat's cheese!

Not the last one so will pay more attention to detail next time!

7/4/2020 - Chalkhills wrote:

Probably pushing it's luck. The fruit was still there but drying out and tasting a little "over-cooked"...possible poor cellaring. Dark fruit cake and perhaps hints of tobacco were there but when drunk by itself you were always left with the feeling that it should have been better!

However, it went really well with guinea fowl served wit mole (chocolate and chilli) sauce. The cooked edge perhaps even helped the match and certainly reminded us of how good the wine had once been.

There are a couple of other left and so an early "retaste" will be need to see if this was one dodgy bottle or they are all on the way out.

5/9/2020 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Wow! This certainly packs a punch! The 14.5% alcohol helps but there’s depth and flavour there too.

Despite its age, it’s still a deep, dark almost purple red with only a little fading to the rim. On the nose, there’s cigar boxes, perhaps cedar notes over a generally rich autumnal aroma. There’s also dark chocolate making its presence felt.

The palate does not disappoint. The implied bitterness of the dark chocolate persists in a rich fruit cake flavour, bordering at times on Christmas pudding (with most definitely flaming brandy over it!). There is some dryness, perhaps not surprising given the age, with the tannin but the fruit clearly wins out and despite the drying edge I’d say the tannins are ripe. The alcohol is a nagging edge that is dulled when drinking with food.

The fruit flavours persist on the finish with bramble/blackberry (unsweetened) starting to push through...and it just goes on and on.

Some notes I’ve read elsewhere suggest that this should have been drunk years ago but I think that would have meant missing out on a lot. Shame this was my last bottle!

5/2/2020 - Chalkhills wrote:

Bit of a last minute decision to open it but worth it.

Classic Tuscan flavours (morello cherries and all that) but with hints of sloes and even rich fruit cake in there too. Nose was slightly closed (and stayed that way) but there were some tobacco notes in there, maybe even some cinnamon. Perhaps getting towards the end of its life but still a lot of fruit, even if in the dried fruit end of the spectrum. Excellent length

4/4/2020 - Chalkhills wrote:

Bit of an impromptu tasting with socially distanced neighbours.

Very well received and classic southern Rhone bouquet and palate. Cigar boxes and autumnal smokiness on the nose; brambles and dark fruit on the plate. Quite possibly at its peak. Two bottles left for me to find out!

4/22/2020 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

From our local vigneron, I'd only tried this once before and thought I should try it again. It was worth it.

Dark colour and some brambly notes on the nose with a fruity palate - hinting towards strawberry! Good balance and firm tannins with accompanying acid. Might benefit from some time in the bottle...in which case I need to buy some more!

Good value at only 8€/bottle.

11/1/2019 - Chalkhills wrote:

Lost notes...drunk a while ago

4/11/2020 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Bit of spur of the moment decision to open it but glad I did!

Golden colour and typical nose (though perhaps a little quiet) but a fantastic taste. Rich, orange marmalade and a hint of honey - fantastic! Went superbly well with the home made chocolate tarts (which were good too) and the acidity kept things from becoming cloying.

There's life in this yet and fortunately, there are still a few left in the cellar!

4/15/2020 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Despite notes saying it should have been drunk over two years ago, and indeed my own notes from the previous couple of bottles, this was great. it seems to have come back into its own.

Colour fading (as expected) and even the nose was a little subdued. There were some smokey, autumnal hints but even after and hour or so in the decanter, they had largely drifted away.

However, on the palate there was rich, dried (in a good way) fruit, some smokiness and perhaps even Christmas cake (without the marzipan and icing!) and dark chocolate. There was good length too.

That said, on the second day much of the power had gone, perhaps showing the age - and it's not going to get any better. There are a couple of bottles left and they probably shouldn't be kept too long!

11/24/2019 - Chalkhills wrote:

Chocolate and cigar box aromas

On the palate it is drying out but still a lot going on. Sloes, bitter chocolate, dried fruits, liquorice all feature. A rich finish and great length. Ok, it is drying out a bit but this was enjoyable and I've only got the one bottle left...best not leave it too long.

11/23/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

The wine looks dark golden. There is no sediment. It smells like dried apples, with strong vanilla oak and even hints of honey.

The flavours continue onto the palate. Cooked apples (in a good way!). Dried but sweet fruit and there's even a hint of toffee apple about it. There's a bittersweet element too, with good acid, that relieves any potential flabbiness The body is medium/full with good length.

11/16/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Creamy and slightly compostuous on nose; meaty.

Rich damsons and dried fruit - but definitely drying out. Some smokey autumnal and mushroom flavours

9/1/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Decanted - lots of sediment
Score increased by second night!

Quite pale colour - edge almost clear with hints of ruddy brick.

Slightly "alcoholic" nose. Leathery smell with some dried fruit - pushing towards cooked aromas.

Sweetish (alcohol?) on palate. Drying out and quite harsh, drying tannins but the dried fruits flavours persist as fruit flavours so not all gone. Helped by typical Italian acidity too adding freshness. Good length.

Held over to a second night and tannins had softened and fruit came out a little more with richer, darker flavours. Autumnal and more balanced. Length and acidity still good.

LIZ
Brown on edges extending into body of glass: pale brick red colour
Legs showing the alcohol.

Slightly maderised on nose suggesting over the hill but dried fruit there too. Hints of tobacco.

Lots of tannins at first (softened later) and acids - alcohol tending to dominate.

8/9/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Golden colour and sumptuous wine. Floral notes on the nose and perhaps a hint of “Riesling petrol”. The floral flavours didn’t carry through to the palate (a good thing in my view!). Noticed one reviewer had said there were hints of cardboard. No such problem here: honied citrus flavours, marmalade and a deep richness that matched the colour. Good balance of acid and fruit with a persistent but not dominant sweetness. Good length with something like limes and grapefruit on the finish.

Fortunately, I do still have one more bottle. Probably best not wait too long before drinking it!

7/27/2019 - Chalkhills wrote:

Good colour going bricks towards the edge. Rich fruit nose but perhaps a little “cooked” but too far gone. Fruit still strong on the palate but alcohol a little intrusive. Again the dark fruit flavours coming through. Finish with hints of bitter cherries and sloes but with great length...still going after trying to think what to write!

Need to be careful it doesn’t go further with the “cooked” sense...is it madeirisation or bad celllar?

4/21/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Bricks edge to dark plum centre. Again slightly closed nose but some autumnal fruits there, along with a touch of wood smoke. Same acid and grippy tannins as last time but the fruit is perhaps drying out a little. There’s a richness there despite the dryness with some dark fruit flavours. Acid perhaps a little dominant but may be better with food. Slightly disappointing fading finish but, despite that good length: drops to a point and then holds it there!

After decanting and about an hour later it had opened up, particularly on the palate. Fruit was richer and sweeter; dryness almost disappeared. Maybe helped that it was with food (slow roast lamb) but it showed depth and fruit that just wasn’t there initially. Must remember to open i5 sooner next time!

4/6/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Graduated colour from pale brick at edges to dark plum colour at the centre. Nose peppery with a hint of mint. Slightly stalky with perhaps even some dark chocolate and even morello cherries...cross between something Italian and a northern Rhône!

Good acid and ripe tannin but maybe the fruit has faded rather...a good time to drink up. Dark fruit, bordering on sloes with other dark fruit in there too. The chocolate and cherries are still there though, especially on the finish. Good length but a little drying at the end.

I suspect it may have needed drinking sooner (hence the 87) but the quality still shows despite this being at the lower end of their range. Note to self....must buy more!

3/10/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Dark centre with paler rim...as expected. Nose quite clearly see but blackberries and raspberries in there somewhere. Very smooth with sot tannins (a result of 50% merlot perhaps) but good acidity with a bit of grip. More dark fruit flavours on the palate though all quite subtle and restrained. Good length with more cherries on the finish than raspberries. May open up over the meal...we will see!

2/27/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Holding up well despite recommendations to drink up. Still good dark fruit, though perhaps hints of drying out. One bottle left so probably got the timing about right!

3/1/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Thought it should have been drunk way back but has held up well. Oily, petroly nose with hints of citrus fruit that carry through on the palate. Not too sweet and there is acid there to balance it, a bit like caramelised oranges. Almost grapefruit on the finish but very smooth and good length.

From others earlier tasting notes it looks as if this wine went through a bit of a dip a while back but, from my perspective, it seems to have come good again so six years later!

1/27/2019 - Chalkhills wrote:

Realised we’d been drinking without taking notes. Just 2 left now so must remember next time!

1/25/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Fresh, balanced a refreshing without being remarkable. Sauvignon flavours coming through strongly. Great with fish supper (whiting in wine and dill sauce). Stayed fresh overnight to make a great aperitif.

1/8/2019 - Chalkhills wrote:

Amazing golden colour. Rich without too much sweetness. Forgot to take notes at the time!

1/26/2019 - Chalkhills wrote:

Dark golden colour and rich, Riesling nose. A wine with which the word unctuous works well. Honied flavours though perhaps a little lacking in acid meant it really taste sweet, which, as it was served with rich bread and butter pudding, was probably just as well.

Still some left of both to try again tomorrow! :)

1/26/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Deep red colour fading to the edge gave hints of what was to come. Autumnal, smokey nose if slightly restrained. Decanting helped and on the palate those same autumnal flavours emerged. Rich, dark fruit with hints of fruit cake and bitter chocolate. Perhaps some blackberry and even dried prunes adding to the dark richness. Tannins ripe and fully integrated while acid was good and well balanced. If there was a problem, it was the slightly dominant alcohol but this didn’t detract from the enjoyment. Fruit persisted on the finished and showed good length...despite rinsing the decanter last night, you could still smell the wine that had been in there this morning!

Went well with sautés lambs liver served with broad beans, mash and a wine and red currant sauce.

1/1/2019 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Deep golden colour and luscious throughout...nose, palate and finish. Honied orange flavours with good balancing acidity to avoid it being cloying or too sweet.

12/8/2018 - Chalkhills wrote:

Surprisingly light though still showing some fruit despite close nose.Red rather than dark fruit. Firm, ripe tannins with good acid and although fruit isn’t overly dominant, it doesn’t really taste dried out...although drinking recommendation was for 2015.

Not outstanding and perhaps lacking a little in flavour it is nevertheless very drinkable.

11/30/2018 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Seemed richer than the previous bottle; more fruit and riper tannin. Bramble and black currant flavours with good length. Mayjst be worth holding on to the last one a little longer...or maybe not! Drink it while it’s good!

11/25/2018 - Chalkhills wrote:

Big powerful wine (14.5%) thatsomehow just didn’t follow through on flavour. The elements were all there: fruit, tannin (soft) and acid but overall it came across as a little lacking in flavour. Dark fruit, even perhaps sloes, and bramble on the palate.

It’s a few years old now but not really drying out, so perhaps it’s just hit a flat spot. May leave the rest for while and try again.

Or maybe it was just me...

11/20/2018 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Good foil for rich data dish. Fruit drying out somewhat but still a good glass of dark fruit with a tannic hit.

11/20/2018 - Chalkhills wrote:

Petrol nose but fading perhaps. Nice sweetness but with slightly bitter edge...pink grapefruit? Certainly the sharpness continued on the finish, taking away the sweetness. Enjoyable but not brilliant and might struggle on the second glass test.

11/16/2018 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Dark colour but fading edge...a good sign. Initial nose toffee/caramel mellowing into rich, fruit aromas including brambles, prunes and even figs. Flavours carried through on the palate and the 14.5% alcohol barely raised its head. Excellent balance with ripe tannin, bags of rich fruit (almost fruitcake like) but still with acid to keep the freshness. Good length without even a hint of dryness on the finish.

Went surprisingly well with pasta cover in a spinach and blue cheese (St Agur) sauce. The creaminess of the sauce matching and enhancing the richness of the wine.

Would be interesting to see what it tasted like tomorrow but I doubt the bottle will last until then!

11/10/2018 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

To be added

11/8/2018 - Chalkhills wrote:

Faded cassis and some dried fruit but, I unfortunately with a little hint of maderisation. On its last legs I feel but still drinkable...still, with only two halves left, it won’t take long to finish up! Still went nicely with some cheese at the end of the meal.

11/7/2018 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Dark a fruity still though with perhaps a bit of an alcohol burn...though this dissipated after it been open a while. Bramble flavours with perhaps a hint of raspberry at the start. Also darker smokier flavours that worked well with the chili!

11/2/2018 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

A little passed it but still powerful flavours of dark fruits (plums etc) combined with more leathery/tobacco notes. Drying on the finest but ripe tannin and good, if dried, fruit still going well. Not for keeping much longer but worth enjoying now!

10/30/2018 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Very fresh, citrus flavours with the Sauvignon blanc coming through strongly. Not what you expect from this part of the world. Perhaps a little on the pricey side for everyday drinking but very well made and worth trying again, and maybe buying more.

10/31/2018 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Forgot to take notes at the time but remember thinking Classic Italian flavours with lots of acid and bitter cherries...went brilliantly with magret de canard and adding some to glaze the pan and make sauce worked well.

10/28/2018 - Chalkhills wrote:

Just left it too long. Colour quite pale and fading towards the edge. Dried fruit, raisins etc on the nose but clearly on the way out...shame! Not exactly maderised but in that ballpark. Tobacco and and leather in there too...perhaps even a hint of “old car” interior!

Palate still holding fruit and, perhaps surprisingly, it improved as the bottle went down. Certainly tasted better with food (pasta with sausage and paprika sauce) and held its own well.

Drifting into the conceptual, it has a real sense of decadence about it, hinting at a great past that is now just a memory, but one that still has the power to make an impact. There’s rotting fruit in there (but not in a bad way) and bits of old fruit cake that’s probably best used up in a sherry trifle! Another reminder to keep an eye on the suggested “drink by” dates! I enjoyed it but it could have been so much better...and there are still two bottles left!

9/27/2018 - Chalkhills wrote:

Dark opaque centre, fading to bricky orange at the edges. Dark fruit, pepper and hint of cigar boxes on the nose but remaining quite closed. Very smooth on the palate with ripe tannins but a fair it of acid, perhaps showing that the fruit is fading. Autumnal dried fruit flavours with hints of pepper and spice. Some suggestion of mint/ eucalyptus on the finish but nothing in the “Aussie style”. Excellent length shows the quality and the fruit/mint flavours really hold the attention for a good while after it’s left the mouth. Nice pairing with rich casserole left over from Tuesday!

9/27/2018 - Chalkhills wrote:

First one we opened was corked. Will try another!

9/25/2018 - Chalkhills wrote:

Amazing golden colour. Paired well with smoked salmon, the oak in the wine matching well with the smokey flavour of the fish. Probably at the end of its life but nevertheless a powerful wine that, for those who had not finished theirs, held its own with a rich beef casserole! A serious winter white!

Realized we have no other vintages so must try to track down some more...and pay more attention to note taking next time!

9/27/2018 - Chalkhills wrote:

Rich golden colour and good balance of acid, sweetness and fruit. Went well with crème caramel and balanced well with he caramelised sugar, having enough acid to cut through the sugariness. Drinking well now and despite recommendations to drink up, I think it would go on for a year or two yet.

9/25/2018 - Chalkhills wrote:

On the edge of being past it. Colour good with dark centre and bricks edges. Went well with rich casserole but the fruit was definitely drying out. Slightly sharp acid didn’t help but with food that disappeared. Powerful wine with good dried fruit flavours. We have more in the cellar so will need to get on with it!

9/14/2018 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Definitely showing it’s age. Quite pale, almost bricks colour. Nose rich and dark...brambles and blackerrries with that hint of autumn around the corner. Carried through on the palate with dark , spicy fruit and a rich flavor. Possibly even hints of fruit cake. Acid is there but soft, as are the tannins. Dried fruit flavors ( not drying) on the mid-palate and the finish suggest this is the time to drink...and I’m not complaining!

9/9/2018 - Chalkhills Likes this wine:

Apparently “should” have been drunk 6 years ago...! Seems ok to me. Color still dark a rich but with some fading round the edges, as you’d expect. Nose quite restrained but perhaps some tobacco notes and maybe a little dusty. Can you smell alcohol...? Fruit drying out a little perhaps but it’s still dark fruit (damsons and sloes to the fore) in good strength. Sharp acid and definite tannins all balance out quite well.. though it does have a very dry finish: again not surprisingly.

Only more more bottle and we won’t keep it long. If all “passed it” wines with this good, you wouldn’t find me complaining!