4/20/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

A healthy deep terracotta red colour, initial slight astringency but there is enough sweet fruit to dominate and though it tires after an hour this is really lovely. An underrated vintage and always nice to come across even after nearly 30 years.

4/8/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Being a much better vintage than initially thought it is pleasing that it is still so good. Typical mature CNP as so farmy and rustic and yet plenty of sweet fruit and good balance. Never fades in the glass and just so impressive despite being almost cloudy in appearance.

4/6/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

From my favourite Rioja vintage a glorious example of just how well they age. Beautiful ruby colour and clear as a bell. Plenty of berry fruit and balanced oak mean this is healthy and interesting from start to finish. Doubt it could last more than 5-10 years but then who knows!

4/5/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

This was a glorious wine in the many times I tasted it between 2005-2015. Elegant and so typical in definition and balance of the estate. This seemed surprisingly chunky. Not very elegant though still healthy.

3/30/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

It was a so nice to have a well made, mature Port that was not still black in colour and had a clear definition of sweet fruit but well balanced. Mid weight and not dramatically complex but really charming.

3/30/2024 - Loathesome Does not like this wine:

How I long for a big bruising, oaky Aussie Chardonnay and reading previous notes I was confident. Not a bit of it. Pale Gold in colour. The nose is promising and the very initial taste clearly Chardonnay but this is a schizophrenic wine as high acidity confected citrus fruits take over and never leave. As pleasurable as a cold shower and a real surprise bearing in mind the producer, the age and the location. A real disappointment and really cannot understand what the producer is aiming for here.

3/17/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

I really enjoyed this. Pretty rustic and very mature but with the right food very enjoyable and despite age and colo0ur did not fade in the glass.

3/2/2024 - Loathesome Does not like this wine:

The bottle I had was with the black label as on the website. It was really poor with way too much citrus acidity. Barely recognizable as chardonnay and does not even hold a candle to the excellent 2017. Bearing in mind the price it is a very poor effort that will unlikely improve. Colour of a Vinho Verde at best.

2/26/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Pale Straw colour. Terrific nose and a clean but weighty palate that is still a bit one dimensional but all things point to this being a bit of a cracker in 3-5 years time.

2/26/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Impressive golden colour. Plenty of concentration but acidity lacking a bit and so a little cloying. Complexity understandably not like or as fresh as the gorgeous 1990

2/26/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Healthy light gold colour. Showing age by depletion of sparkle but the flavour itself was rather good and not too yeasty.

2/26/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Typical 1981 in that it was soft and balanced without setting the world on fire. Still nice sweet fruit and still amazes me how a vintage with little acidity, concentration or tannins has lasted as long as they have.

2/26/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

As good as had hoped. Fading red colour but a classic old wardrobes nose and complex flavour. Definitely requires food but still healthy if only going one way now.

2/26/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

From initial decanting to the last glass this was outstanding and made even more so when one thinks of the age and the vintage. Impressive depth of colour still, love Graves and deep fruit nose and just such perefct balance and development. It did not waver and was just superb.

2/10/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Hopeless cork but outstanding Port. So deep in colour, soft tannins, high extract and so concentrated. This will take another 20 years before we see any complexity of flavour. Just toffee and blackcurrants on steroids at present.

2/10/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

I also would not look at a Musar before 10 years old but this was very well made indeed. Still some soft tannins that need to dissipate but the tradition raisiny fruit is there in abundance and within 5 years this will be beautifully balanced and very much traditional Musar rather than the worrying drift towards a global style that some recent vintages have shown. This note is very close to the 2014 as apart from being slightly more concentrated they are very similar and equally this will age beautifully.

2/6/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

As I rather imagined beautifully made balanced clean, silky but not that developed. The acidity is such that it will last 10-20 years. Impressive but some way off best.

2/5/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

I also would not look at a Musar before 10 years old but this was very well made indeed. Still some soft tannins that need to dissipate but the tradition raisiny fruit is there in abundance and within 5 years this will be beautifully balanced and very much traditional Musar rather than the worrying drift towards a global style that some recent vintages have shown.

1/31/2024 - Loathesome wrote:

Interestingly a very similar note from another taster of 12 years ago. It was very cloudy and a dull pink colour. I decanted numerous times and let it settle which help clear a bit and apart from that the flavour was alright. Still some fruit and not out of balance. Pity it looks so horrible.

1/17/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Despite being a cru bougeois and 23 years old still very dark red, intense high extract. Loads of fruit and still some tannins but a little one dimensional. Typical 2000 intensity and could go on for years.

1/1/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

A rather different opinion than previous note. Very rich, sweet & lush and not enough acidity to make it a very good wine. Acidity from Chenin Blanc should not be a problem but the balance was just not here and felt they were trying to make as big a wine as possible. the only saving grace was that we had it with Christmas pudding.

1/1/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Terracotta colour. Good nose and early remarkably sweet fruit. This soon dissipates and left with rustic farmy flavours that will not last much longer.

1/1/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

From half bottle, very rich, healthy and balanced. Certainly a desert wine with excellent acidity and very lush. Will last for years.

12/17/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

For the vintage remarkably big, concentrated and extracted. A bit one dimensional but surprisingly undeveloped and this has enough about it to improve over the next 20 years.

12/12/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Deepish redddy brown. Initial burst of structured fruit, dried raisins. Tails away quite quickly having said that surprisingly with a bit of air the initial burst of flavours gets a bit longer.

12/3/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Golden colour. Still healthy and well balanced but not great complexity and if one wanted to be very critical just a little dull now.

12/2/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Deep,pure red. Initial 'Musar' like dried raisin taste then very round and smooth. Possibly tail off a bit quickly but otherwise so much in balance and really glossy.

11/20/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Very 1989. Incredibly deep red still with little discolouration. Mature rustic nose and good length but unfortunately an astringency from start to finish which does not help or disappear. It's okay but as i say rather typical 1989.

11/20/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

A bit in its shell to start with. Slowly opened and good richness and complexity. It may well improve dramatically with time but not sure the acidity is there to do this. Good but rather two dimensional.

10/30/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Having been lucky enough to taste very many Baumard sweeties from the 1980s & 1990s I have to admit that more recent examples have failed to impress. When Chenin Blanc is not over extracted or with too much residual sugar it is an absolute elegant joy to behold. I tasted this wine 5 years and felt it was a bit clumsy. Now it is richer but still a bit lumpy and without enough balancing acidity. So sad but so typical of a number of examples tasted over the last 10 years.

10/28/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Light Gold, Dim but recognizable nose. It is a bit mid weight and a little short but to be fair does open up a bit after 30 minutes and a slight warming up. Price wise okay for a 1er Cru Meursault but hardly overall value for money.

10/16/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Pale Gold. Not overly Riesling but excellent crisp, dry and balanced. Only reservation woudl be that it is a bit short. Otherwise well made.

10/2/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

This was from a magnum and really impressive for age and chateau. Deep red, healthy fruit nose, soft round and complex with no rough edges. Held well and never deteriorated. Very nice surprise.

10/2/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Ruby red, little nose and initially really far too light and easy to drink. No grip or follow through and lightweight. 24 hours later it seems to have found some body from somewhere and though hardly a great wine it is still better and much more interesting and enjoyable.

9/25/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Nice, bright golden colour. Nose and palate gentle but well balanced and I was worried it would be a bit dilute or worse past it but not at all as there is plenty of healthy balanced fruit and good length. Very nice.

9/25/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

I am often disappointed with Meursault so maybe my expectation was low but I really liked this. Good clean acidity but some body and certainly a bit of the fabled butteryness. Age has certainly helped it and would imagine will continue for another 2-3 years happily.

9/23/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Mid brown colour with an almost Bual feel. Rich and sweet and at the edge of needing more acidity to balance but really impressive. Great length and lovely complexity. Excellent.

9/23/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Very 2000 in that the colour is very deep, the fruit is plush and there is considerable extract. This was in magnum and felt like it would last another 10+ years easily. Should develop as at present only two dimensional. Impressive if a bit predictable.

9/9/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Deep red. Big blackberry nose. Plenty of initial fruit and weight. Plenty of length which on the first glass had an astringent finish. After that it softened and was round, rich and rather nice. This bottle showed a possibility to enjoy for another five or so years.

8/21/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

When I saw the dark colour and smelt the over confected nose and bearing in mind the new style the Chateau seems to be going for, I feared the worst. However the balancing acidity is excellent and though rather more toffee than exotic fruit flavours it is really good and enjoyable. Good length and no sign of cloying.

8/14/2023 - Loathesome wrote:

Most of the points go to the terrific depth of colour and the pleasant mature, rustic nose. Otherwise, as rather expected, the fruit is barely hanging on now and a bit attenuated.

7/29/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Reddy brown in Magnum. Gamey nose though not great concentration. Fruit the same and overall well made and pleasant. Still healthy but only two thirds of a wine.

7/22/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

This was from a magnum and pleasant, clean with noticeable oak. It did open up a bit but despite the vintage there was nothing to complain about but equally not much to get excited about.

7/22/2023 - Loathesome Does not like this wine:

I have to admit to having not drunk too many German wines in recent years. Though I remember 30 years ago having a brilliant Dr. Loosen Riesling Kabinett. This on the other hand was quite dreadful. A sort of low alcoholic fruit juice with precious little resemblance to the Riesling grape. I can't imagine what food it would go with and to be honest it was just awful

7/15/2023 - Loathesome wrote:

Deep red, soft, round rich and very easy but no grip and very little complexity. Completely inoffensive but just dull and lightweight to be honest.

7/15/2023 - Loathesome wrote:

I last tasted this in 2007 and noted little fruit, tannic and needs 10 years. Well 16 years later the tannins have dissipated and the little fruit there was has really not developed. A bit harsh and really cannot see this developing.

7/11/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Glorious golden colour. Plenty of richness and as much residual sugar as one would want to keep in balance. Most only reservation woudl be that the fruit was not that interesting or complex and so rather one dimensional and a bit confected for such a high rank chateau in what I think is a good year.

6/17/2023 - Loathesome wrote:

Depp red and youthful looking. As is often the case the Cornas fruit is rather hard and unyielding. Little development and not much complexity. Not my style really and not sure how it will develop.

6/10/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Magnificent gold colour. Soft, balanced, minimal sweetness and Botrytis and rather tame and downplayed. Not unenjoyable and i feather in its cap that a wine from this vintage of such an age should still be healthy.

6/3/2023 - Loathesome Likes this wine:

Bearing in mind it was a poor lightweight vintage, it was fairly cloudy and almost brown I was staggered as to how good this wine still was. First taste was very unVT like as rather chunky and full bodied but after a short while it all toned down and the rustic fruit and structure were excellent. Did not deteriorate in the glass and was most enjoyable. One of the most unexpected results from the initial anticipation. Really good.

It is interesting that the three highest marks given have been in the last couple of years!