7/4/2020 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

Almost fully opaque, red ruby colour.

On the nose. Strawberry, cherry, black pepper, liquorice, lavender, dry sawdust and mild vanilla

The mouthfeel is quite sour but smooth and very bitter. Medium to full bodied. Slightly gamy. Ripe cherry and strawberry, fennel seeds, dark chocolate, peppermint, wet stony minerality

Medium long finish. Cherry, cinnamon, vanilla. Bitter tannins.

Very tasty wine. At first the bitterness did bother me, but as the wine opened up it faded away and the wine came across very nicely. Distinct southern Rhône where the fruit and oak are kept in good balance. Youthful with good weight and structure.

6/26/2020 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

Almost opaque dark red and brownish colour. On the nose it’s ripe and surprisingly developed. Lot’s of black currant. Liquorice, espresso, raisins, sweaty leather and sweet spice.

On the palate the wine is medium bodied and sweet toned but also very sour and tannic, witch gives me this candy aspect of fruit. Black currant, figs and cherry. Cornichons, star anis, shy vanilla and rosemary, charcoaled beef. Oak is quite restrained.

The aftertaste is longish, fruity, tannic and juicy. Strawberry jam and spice.

This was my first bottle of Musar. It’s very different and interesting wine. I feel like it’s little off balance though and I feel the flavour only on the sides of my tongue. Maybe it’s on an awkward stage at the moment. There is a lot of structure and the tannins are so gripping that I’m sure there is room for many years of ageing. It’s paradoxical. It’s austere and elegant. Sweet and sour. Developed and youthful. Is this just typical Musar? Perhaps some of you can give me some insight? However I did enjoy this and I’m thrilled to try another vintage soon.

6/21/2020 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

The colour is quite dark. Opaque and purple ish. Very nice nose. Black currant panna cotta, ripe plum, liquorice, hint of dark chocolate, violet, leather and oyster.

The wine is medium bodied and has a pleasant mouthfeel, but it’s hollow and short in flavour. Ripe plum, black currant, dry wood and vanilla. It’s very herbal. I get a lot of thyme.

Short finish. Slightly bitter tannins. Orange zest and oyster.

I find it hard to score this wine. Regardless the lack of flavour and depth I’m not disliking this. There is deliciousness to it. It’s tasty with nice mouthfeel and nice bouquet.

6/20/2020 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

Lot’s of rotten apple on the nose. Bread dough, almond and stony minerality.

The mouthfeels of the wine is delightfully light and crisp, perhaps slightly oily. Granny Smith apple, preserved lemon, ground almond, green olive brine and slight smoky ness.

Nice citrusy and mineral finish.

Very nice. Sharp and crisp. Nothing too serious but good value.

6/18/2020 - Jonezky wrote:

Dark purple colour and almost opaque.
Subdued nose is ripe, sweet and little creamy. Blackberry, violet flower, tobacco and oaky sawdust.

On the palate the wine is medium bodied, soft and velvety. Blackberry, raspberry, clear mint, oyster, milk chocolate and pencil like oak. Tannins are quite abundant but there is hardly any acidity which is why the structure is a bit lost.

On the finish, black currant, coffee and hint of vanilla. Flavour fade away rather fast.

Thanks for the lack of acidity the wine is velvety and elegant in a way but at the same time missing certain posture and length.

6/16/2020 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

Aromatic nose gives ripe peach, cherry (artificial), raisins, apple vinegar, shy yeast and toasted almond.

Ripe and nice viscosity . Low in acidity. Peach, lemon, dark caramel, mild coffee, vanilla, toasted almond and rocky minerality.

Alcohol driven aftertaste gives brown apple, oaky vanilla.

For my taste bit too low in acidity and high in alcohol but still smooth and pleasant.

6/12/2020 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

On the nose black currant jam, dried fig, coffee, over ripe banana! Cinnamon, Sweet and spicy oak, clear warmth of alcohol.

Sweet jammy aromas on the nose are misleading. The mouthfeel of the wine is dry and firm. Strong blackcurrant, mild fig, slightly bitter chocolate, anis, shy vanilla and dry woody notes of oak.

Nice medium long finish gives cherry, dry wood and mineral chalky flavours.

To my personal taste the wine suffers from bit too much oak and clear feel of alcohol but at the same time in this price range, I can’t help but admire the certain unapologetic feel of it. It’s not jammy and easy. It has a real kick and character.

6/2/2020 - Jonezky Does not like this wine:

Bland nose gives cherry, hint of lavender, mint chokolate, low key leather and some kind of yeasty minerality.

Very light in body and it’s not giving much flavour. This is like straight to the middle palate. I get bit of sour cherry and maybe radish?, mild tar. It’s little floral and wet in minerality.

Fairly high tannins and acidity does give some length to the wine.

I did notice that the wine got little better as it opened up but all in all very modest wine.

5/31/2020 - Jonezky wrote:

The nose is very dark speaking. Ripe strawberry and cherry, liquorice, mild floral notes, strong manure and vanilla. Clearly Pinot noir.

Medium bodied and pleasantly soft due to moderate acidity. Ripe strawberry, cherry and raspberry, dill, barn yard, tobacco and vanilla. Oak plays a big role here.

Medium long aftertaste leaves intense oak flavours linger.

Not bad at all. Clean and sound Pinot noir but despite its fruitiness and ripe berry flavours, the wine suffers from too much oak which only intensifies as the wine opens up.

5/27/2020 - Jonezky wrote:

The nose is on the rich side. Black currant berry and leaves, wet leather, mild vanilla, nutmeg.

On the palate black currant berry’s stems and leaves! ripe sweet cherry, lingonberry, toasted star anis and lots of it!, coffee, wet wood, tobacco and vanilla. The wine is lacking acidity completely witch gives it kinda soft mouthfeel. However firm tannins brings posture to the wine as a whole, but it’s rather weak and effortless in flavour.

Short tannic black currant driven aftertaste.

There is clearly trying but the wine needs more flavour and expression to be even mediocre.

5/18/2020 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

The nose is topped with raspberry and liquorice under witch you can find wet gravel, cigar and flowery notes

On the palate the wine is medium bodied, fruity and round, almost silky where moderate acids and tannins are still bringing good posture. Ripe cherry, strawberry jam, raspberry, cranberry, wet gravel, game, smoky sauna!. Oaky flavours increase as the wine opens up.

Medium long finish is quite dry. Cranberry, Forest strawberry, wet rock, clove, vanilla

Overall surprisingly soft and pleasant 7 year old barbaresco. The wine will certainly last few more years of aging but I see no reason for it. At this moment it shows no signs of downhill. It has plenty of fruit with a nice grip of tannin. For the price the wine is a discovery for sure.

5/17/2020 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

Fairly rich nose gives black currant, artificial cherry, tobacco and clear meatiness.

On the palate the wine is medium to full bodied with good amount of acid and tannin. Black currant, unripe plum, salted liquorice. Beef stew flavours, tomato purée, shy rosemary and black pepper as well as dry tobacco and bitter chokolate powder.

Aftertaste gives black currant, herbal and peppery flavours.

Nice wine. Pleasant and robust and lot’s of flavour.

5/13/2020 - Jonezky wrote:

The nose is surprisingly hearty. Ripe plum, dark berry, dark chokolate and oak.

The taste is more subdued. Ripe plum, sour cherry, thyme, chokolate and vanilla.

The after taste gives sour cherry, herbs and dry oak .

One dimensional and simple but well balanced and structured wine.

9/18/2018 - Jonezky wrote:

Restrained nose is giving ripe plum, tender blueberry jam, clear leather and wet rotting wood.

The wine is medium to full bodied and quite acidic. Sweet ripe plum and blueberry, shy vanilla, star anis, white pepper, game like meatiness, clear leather and cigar.

The after taste is longish dry and tannic, peppery and mineral.

The wine may be a bit austere just when opened but couple hours in decanter softens the acids and tannins and the wine becomes very classy. However, for my taste the wine suffers from a typical pushy manure of chateneuf du pape.

9/1/2018 - Jonezky wrote:

The nose is first very low key but opens up with time. Ripe strawberry, lingonberry, pink grapefruit. Quite intense meatiness, clove, dry tobacco and leather.

The taste of the wine is somewhat full bodied, softly acidic and tannic. Ripe berry and raspberry, strong licorice and star anise, braised meat with spices and dry oak

Short after taste gives lots of sour berry flavours

The wine continues with the same theme from the start to the end. Still a bit shaky and closed where the fruit can hardly shine under the tight body and oak. Couple hours in the decanter will ease the issue.

5/19/2018 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

The nose is surprisingly matured and dusty. Blackcurrant leaves, raisins, wet tobacco, clear floral notes and spicyness, rich leather and smoke. Charming nose.

On the palet the wine gives clear berry flavours, raw plum and lingonberry, menthol tobacco, violet, clove and pepper, charcoaled meat. On the mouthfeel the wine is rather light in body, lively, juicy and quite acidic.

The aftertaste is delightfully tannic and long with juicy berry, leather, tobacco, and dark chocolate. Flavors lingers on the tongue for a long time.

The wine is lacking certain richness. However, it carries itself well from start to finish with its interesting and complex flavors.

3/18/2018 - Jonezky wrote:

The nose gives rich fruitiness, litchi, granny smith apple, honey and watery minerals.

Taste of the wine is generous and fresh. Ripe flavor brings sweet citrus, pineapple, hint of sweet wood, wet stony minerals. Light nuttiness and creaminess brings fine elegance.

Short after taste gives candy like fruit flavors.

Elegant wine which only weakness is little lame aftertaste.

1/8/2018 - Jonezky wrote:

The nose gives sweet dried figs, tobacco, some kind of herbiness and earthy air dried ham notes.

The flavor brings plenty of sour cherry and even cranberry thanks to the high acidity, well balanced oak, the same earthiness and light smokiness. The wine is developed but at the same time fresh and lively. The general appearance is tannic, sour and juicy, comfortably rich but not too concentrated with great structure and balance.

Long tannic after taste brings sour cherry, forest strawberry, light leather and cigar.

The wine will certainly improve with time but it is already charming and unapologetic. The wine is superior in its price range.

12/31/2017 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

The nose is really rich. Dark mature fruit, candy like blackcurrant, licorice and hint of eucalyptus. Good earthiness and hint of smoke with well integrated oak.

The mouthfeel is very soft. Plenty of figs and mature dark berries without jammy nuances. Licorice, vanilla, milk chocolate. The tannins are quite strong, modest acidity.

Oak and slightly bitter tannins dominate the aftertaste witch is quite modest and short.

Rich and generous. The wine is likely to evolve but it is already very approachable. More acidity would give a good posture to the so rich and generous overall taste.

10/7/2017 - Jonezky wrote:

The nose gives ripe black berry, dark ripe plum, green pepper, leather cigar, star anis and rosemary

The mouthfeel is thin ish, tannic and acidic. Crude black currant, dark olives, strong pepper and spice, burnt leather, dry tobacco and shy vanilla.

The aftertaste is bright and acidic. The dark fruit is starting to stand out more.

Despite of the strong tannins and acidity the wine is quite enjoyable. However, in all it’s pleasantness, it is a bit modest, which may be getting better with patient maturing

6/26/2017 - Jonezky wrote:

Dark berryes, toasted spices, cloves, dried plum, relatively strong oak, caramel, liquorice and vanilla. Clear floral notes as the wine opens up

Full bodied, round and velvety. Sweet cherry, sweet strawberry, dried fruits, herbal notes, wet rock.
The oak is quite abundant but not overpowering alongside the fruit
The wine is abundant and harsh with suitable acid and tannins.

The aftertaste is long. Chocolate, vanilla, dark ripe fruits

6/26/2017 - Jonezky wrote:

Elegant and velvety. On it's way to be profound.

4/23/2017 - Jonezky wrote:

The nose is dark and concentrated, ripe cherry, dry oak, leather, tobacco, hint of vanilla. A clear rioja style

The taste of the wine is concentrated but not very big. Ripe cherry, very ripe dark plum, leather and cocoa. Vanilla feels harmlessly in the background. The wine is rather tannic but not aggressive but in all its plush it is quite soft and friendly, albeit unsurprising and kind of hollow.

The aftertaste is very oak orientated. Tobacco, leather, cocoa, vanilla and sour cherry.

4/7/2017 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

The nose is dark and concentrated but at the same time a very nuanced and youthful. Dark berries, herbal notes, violet, green pepper, wet rock , quite a clear leather.

The wine is medium-bodied and surprisingly rich and complex. Dark berries, violet, light pepper, discreet minerality, shy toasted spices and dry oak. Good acidity and fairly strong tannins. Very nice structure.

Multi-dimensional, tight, juicy and long lingering after taste is a second to none.

3/12/2017 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

The nose is rich. Ripe berries, steel, leather and old oak.

The taste of the wine is juicy, lively, velvety and well balanced. Just enough acidity. Quite intense, but not massive. Lots of cherry, forest strawberry and fine oak.

The after taste is long, nuanced and kind of austere

1/26/2017 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

Well balanced, rich and harmonious wine

1/23/2017 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

Good structure and complexity, full-bodied and fleshy without heavy concentration.

1/15/2017 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

The nose gives dark ripe berries, spices and flowery notes.

The taste of the wine is like the scent on the nose. Dark berries, blackcurrant, strawberry and plum, delicate flower notes and a hint of mineral stones, dark chocolate and relatively restrained oak.

The flavour is intense, concentrated but fresh, clean cut. The tannins as well as acidity has grown quite a bit in the decanter after the first glass and holds the wine nicely together.

In the after taste stony minerality becomes increasingly stronger. As the wine opens up peppery fruitiness gets a clear increase in abundance and length, while snappy tannins dries out the mouth.

1/15/2017 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

The nose gives ripe scent aromas. Dark and porous, raspberry, light manure, tobacco and watery minerality.

Raspberry, sour cherry, licorice, anise, dirty mold, restrained pepper and gentle oak. The general appearance of the wine is heavy, not fresh in any way, unwieldy and relatively soft. Fairly strong tannins brings posture to the overall taste.

The aftertaste is quite long light and rough.

1/11/2017 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

The nose is charming. Plenty of fresh raspberry and wild strawberry, relatively slender bovine, nutty dark chocolate, light smokiness. Very nice aromas of tobacco and leather.

The taste is light but at the same time intense. A lot of raspberry and cherry. The fruit is very ripe and juicy, but not jammy. Acidity brings to mind cranberry. Downy leather and tobacco. Shy tannins brings posture. General appearance is clean-cut, balanced and conveniently intense.

The after taste is lengthy. Ripe berry and herbal notes. Aromas of oak become more pronounced.

12/15/2016 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

The nose is rather light and nice, flowery notes, strawberry and plenty of dark forrest berries. Downy barn and some kind of distant meatiness.

The taste of the wine is dry, quite tart and firm. Mouthfeel is light but at the same time quite intense. Acidic red berry, soberly ripe raspberry, light pepper and a hint of stony minerality. The general appearance of the wine is clean-tight and due moderate tannins hard. Intense light hearted wine but at the same time very young and very drinkable, allthough it isnt in any way try to be easy or pleasant. The wine manages to stay nice and fresh while warming up in the glass

After-taste is lengthy, dry and rather light. Fresh raspberry, low-key minerality, aromatic herbs. Slightly bitter tannins adds depth

12/22/2016 - Jonezky Likes this wine:

The nose is kind of restrained. Jammy like berry, herbal and roasted wooden nuances.

The taste is hearty, licorice, strong oak, meatiness, dark fruit is filled with pepper, lingonberries, raspberry, toasted aniseed and oregano. Relatively strong acidity is just enough, the wine is not heavy but it has a good weight and structure

Long after taste is robust, dry, peppery, spicy, slightly bitter, delicately meaty and mineral.