4/21/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Enjoyable enough. No notes

4/19/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Almost 4 years to the day since my last bottle and it’s changed. My last notes mentioned it’s just not ready and some rough edges
They have all gone. Initially it’s very soft, open and almost buttery with a lack of real energy and zip
This does tend to follow after an hour
Some oak, real grippy texture does still reside underneath - 91-92
Good for the money

4/17/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

This was fantastic - took and drank at a restaurant so no real notes- opened up quite tight and lean
Soon opened up and showed terrific power and energy
Some spice / energy
Time on side

4/14/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Really enjoyable
500ml bottle, 12.5 % ABV
Quite ripe fruit and soft initial profile, touch of sweetness but this isn’t a big fruit driven buttery chard, far from it.
A real underlying leanness on the finish and gold verve - Approchable and enjoyable
The bottle format and low ABV means it’s easy to do so as an extra bottle
Lovely

4/6/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Really interesting wine. In first half hour it comes across as quite a big fruit driven and enjoyable wine with good energy. It’s 15% with decent grip though very approachable.
Left a few hours a more conventional syrah appears
End of glass gives some real Smokey notes and palate starts getting bitter and olive driven.
Makes me think if you left this 15-20 years what would be present - I imagine it may surprise many
A wine though I can see would be drunk early with no issues

4/6/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

This is rather good. I was worried it would be a fino sherry oxidative style which I generally just don’t like.
This is much fresher though
Some stinky reduction at the start and a real nutty, mineral character with some flor
Quite dry and spicy near end - plenty of depth and energy
Very much drinking now, not sure how I’d like an older one

4/5/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Very pleasant. Nose and front end give lots of good typical Sonoma / Rita notes.finish drops off rather quickly. Has some acidity
Not bad but not use it’s the best value, even in the context of US Pinots.

4/5/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Not bad but not a blockbuster. Offers a little on the nose but quite clean. It’s.a 2016 base with 4g dosage DG in August 21 so some development and softening expected.
It’s quite bright and light with more depth on the front end. The middle and finish seem a little light and weak. Doesn’t suffer from the young grower apple notes yet isn’t completely free.
Solid, would be enjoyed by many but at the full retail price there are many better options.

3/31/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Quite a pretty and enjoyable wine though rather young and still quite light / grippy

Tasted EP in 18 and was perfumed with sweet fruit. Still has a good nose and is a good wine
For me I’d like to give another 3-4 years to just soften up a touch

3/29/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Maybe too young. Older vintages I’ve had seem to have energy and a real drive. This comes across on first sip a touch fat and simple, had to check label for ABV bit its 13%
After some time it does sharpen up and lost some fl the sweet, soft feeling
Maybe 2-3 years will give this a massive lift

3/29/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

This was about 20 years old so didn’t hold much hope which was justified.
Not much of a pop and virtually no fizz - not faulty but old and not great.
Down the sink it went

3/28/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Lovely - comes across as quite light, fresh with some grip and energy.
Had to look at label as other reviews said 14.8% and id had had it around that or lower
UK label says 15.5% and given US and UK ABV tolerances that and upper seems likely
Even so a lovely way amount it and light enough delivery though dusty nose and vibrant fruit follow

3/23/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Quite incredible in some ways - nose opens up and gives a fair bit
Sone rich deep notes and flavours
Palate is quite punchy but given depth the 15.3% doesn’t detract as much as it could
It’s is fresh, it is big and does have that lanolin and furniture polish element
Has a good long finish, great drive and energy

3/17/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Very good - Approachable now.
Sweet forest floor notes and a soft rounded feel.
Nice cool uplift and tannins
Touch of savoury on finish

3/17/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Lovely bottle. Has depth and richness but a really nice energy and acidity. Just a smidge of underlining oyster and mineral notes. Decent finish
93-94

3/17/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

A good wine if not entirely my style. Touch of reduction ? Thinking burgundy but palate has a more savoury feel and I’m thinking it’s more Spanish.
Not oxidative but has a Jura, Spanish burgundy feel
Only 13 %
Ready to go now but will last a fair bit

3/16/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Wow this really may end up a fantastic wine. So light, fresh and energetic right now. A very subtle Comtes nose
Very enjoyable for a glass bit too young and the acidity …. It does creep up and after a couple of glasses things become more difficult
One to hold but should be amazing down the line

3/10/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Love this - 13% ABV good nose.
Love the tingle of acidity on the tongue and decent energy. Quite a dry finish, good fruit
I think the 2019 was a little more like this when young though has become richer.
I’m not sure this will be quite a rich but a few hrs in decanter does take away that tingling acidity and rounds things out into a softer version so maybe it will.

3/9/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Final bottle of three and will miss not having any more
Took an hour but softened up after that
The Syrah really coming though as dark olive in the nose and palate
Great wine - farewell
Wish it was more available over here

3/9/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Decent bottle. The Pinot element comes through quite strongly. Fresh and dark
Enjoyable

3/3/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Can’t really score this given I don’t really have many references for moscato but it’s sweet, refreshing and easy to enjoy
Typical white peach and pear, some finish but fades quite quickly. Not the acidity perhaps you would hope for to drive things

3/1/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Still fresh enough, some fruit but also spice and meaty elements, like a. Light Syrah. Softer tea elements and some zip on finish, darker fruits maybe now,

3/1/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Lovely and fresh. Very solid, enjoyable nose
Decent

2/25/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Seemed quite spikey and needed an hour or two to smooth out.
Not as enjoyable as I remember but did improve with air

2/24/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Very good indeed, maybe deserves higher mark

This is headache in a glass though. Really expressive a fruit filled nose, soars
Lovely in the mouth with sweet fruit but does have quite a high octane feel and some alcohol burn

A big wine but quite clean and energetic with lots of fruit and rounded edges

If they could drop the ABV and balance it a touch more it would be world class
Very good wine though

2/18/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Very nice indeed
Quite young and fresh still but approchable now which makes me think it will follow the 2002 and 1998 and gain weight / depth
Subtle enough on nose but typical rare notes
Maybe one to leave for 3-8 years min but quite lovely now

2/17/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Lovely - just lacks a proper finish
Very much like a super Tuscan which I’m finding a characteristic of older Napa wines
85% Cab Sav and 15% Cab Franc
Lovely fruit and resolved notes
Nice sappy edge
Just wish for a proper acidic long finish and this would be 95 points +

2/14/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Initially opens soft and perhaps simple but just a touch of air snaps it back in.
Some grip and zest with good fruit and savoury element. Cool lifted notes and some depth

2/10/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Not sure I entirely enjoyed this - some bitter green, though not distasteful elements in quite a punchy package

2/10/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Incredible - lovely purity and minerality
Such energy and amazing length - just oozes quality
Loved this.

2/4/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

In decent shape and a good old school Napa. Feels young enough but maybe a little simple. Ready to go but not feeling that old. Enjoyable enough

1/27/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Interesting and wonder where it’s going as still young.
Some density and plenty of fruit.
Still quite grippy and tannic, couple of hours eases some of it but still feels fresher and lighter than perhaps it is.
Slight green elements in nose and finish like a Bordeaux blend.

1/27/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Still in great shape and I’m sure will be great in a number of years but my six will be gone by then.
92+

Has that open and good fruit feel with a nice bit of leanness on finish.
12.5% sone melon and white fruit notes
Mid weight - no real oak

1/26/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Soft gentle oak nose - very much a Pinot Meunier feel
Decent - wouldn’t want to age as may go on downturn
DG 2020

1/21/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Nearly 14 years since the last CT notes so how’s it going ?
Actually pretty well. Still plenty of life and fruit left with quite a bit of richness. Relatively deep in colour and a slight brown hue but plenty of life left with a sweet core.
Good energy still and will surely last several years left surely.
Good stuff

1/20/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Lovely nose, mid weight
Ready to go - don’t sense any bitterness or tart notes like a couple of other notes but I feel
It’s just very average.
No real finish at all and quite cool / weak on the mid to end profile enjoyable enough but plenty of other French and new world options that will blow this away at the price, which isn’t terrible for burgundy.

To be fair some time in glass does give it a bit more so it may improve but still don’t think it’s that great.

1/19/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Ticking upwards since last bottle. Dry finish , sweeter core coming through , gently developed nose - really enjoyable

1/13/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Incredible energy and up front attack. Great acidity drives through quite a big wine.
Lovely - good few years ahead but drinking well now

1/7/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Fantastic - light and mid weight. Fresh with wild fruit - strawberry’s cherry and a more savoury element on nose. Asian spice / hoi sin.
Very open and approachable - with time it seems to put on weight and loses some of those elements on the nose.

1/7/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Another first note for CT
A wine in good condition but the middle end and finish really does just fade away and doesn’t have a bite and conclusion you would want.

1/7/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Not bad but not really my style. Lots of crisp sharp notes and very light and clear in colour, nudging towards a green hue.
Is reminiscent of other Australian Rieslings and not Mosel. Some herbal notes
Dry and young still
12.5%

1/6/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

This is fantastic and exceeds expectations- blind I would guess at a 2008 - 10 Italian super Tuscan
Dark and deep in colour but profile.
Better than expected

1/6/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Fantastic bottle - corked exited with a real pop which is always encouraging for an older bottle.
The full in Comtes nose has just dialled itself down but is there - lovely enveloping rich soft pastry brioche vibe. Nice sharp energy on finish, you know it’s old but not “old”
It’s like George Clooney or Elizabeth Hurley still got it in later age. Aged well

1/5/2024 - Mbad77 wrote:

Really picking up now and in a great place
Drink or hold

12/30/2023 - Mbad77 wrote:

Cork an absolute shambles. Dry, crumbly but about 1-2mm of wet end.
The wine however is glorious - a 22 year old American Pinot - Yes please
So resolved and soft on the finish but a burst of acidity follows up to give a rather long and great finish.
Some lovely sweet red fruit still present, but spice, darker fruits and light hoisin / olive notes.
Perfumed nose still
Fantastic wine given the level, cork and age

12/29/2023 - Mbad77 wrote:

Still feels very young’s initially green pepper on palate but eases off into a more gravel / earth finish. Plenty of power and drive, feels like it needs 5 years to soften up somewhat. Hides 15% quite well

12/28/2023 - Mbad77 wrote:

At last a bottle in good shape. Still perhaps past its best and a touch on the spikey side. Proper Syrah on the nose but that spikey acidity cuts through the finish a little.
The flawed bottles has this dialled up to 11, this sits around 1-2.

12/26/2023 - Mbad77 wrote:

Excellent. A real cool feel about it despite the 14.5% and good fruit. Touch of grip and tannin.
Very good

12/25/2023 - Mbad77 wrote:

Final bottle and not great. Low level of pressure and pop from cork. Some effervescence on palate but very much an aged oak chard and not a fizz anymore.

12/24/2023 - Mbad77 wrote:

Not a huge amount of pressure and pop. Seemed a little advanced with bruised apple and some bitterness on finish. Good depth and rich flavour but fizz dissipates quite quickly.
Not a great bottle or just getting too old.