1/12/2024 - FransS wrote:

Only one glass remained in the bottle for more than two weeks; an impressive deep, ripe and vivid colour, a complex bouquet with spicy wood, a whiff of vanilla and something like cinnamon. The taste is super smooth with ripe fruit and a ripe citrus backbone. The alcohol becomes covered by the concentration of the wine and the balanced aftertaste hardly disappeared. Not an eternal live, but be sure, there is still 100% live in this wine.

3/6/2023 - FransS wrote:

The 2020 vintage UGCB tasting in Amsterdam 03/06/2023 (Amsterdam): Very refined from start to finish, from the gently perfumed, somewhat exotic bouquet with well dosed elegant wood and vanilla, to the very subtle and superbly balanced aftertaste and inbetween the concentrated mix of smooth fruit and super gentle bitters; at the wow-wine level!

4/14/2023 - FransS wrote:

Okhuysen-Proeven tussen de Stellingen: Some cherries, starting elegant and smooth and becoming more vigorous with quite severe tannins in the firm aftertaste; give this wine more bottle-age.

9/30/1985 - FransS wrote:

Bordeaux 1975 ten years after the harvest; tasted blind, only the vintage was known: a very deep, red colour. a very elegant, broad and flowery bouquet, very creamy and meaty in the midtaste; a very long and refined aftertaste with lots of very edible tannins.

12/31/2022 - FransS wrote:

The bottle was empty at 20.00 h. and combined perfect with oysters, avocado and toast with paté. See my previous note and even slightly better and even fresher and more balanced than two months ago.

5/6/2021 - FransS wrote:

More zest than the previous bottle; even after three days the wine was in perfect condition. A perfect colour, a fruit driven impression in the bouquet and in the taste, a firm, friendly spicy and juicy taste, round but with the edges that give the wine a character; lovely aftertaste with ripe bitters and tannins; perfect P/Q.

10/29/2022 - FransS wrote:

Okhuysen-Proeven tussen de Stellingen: 70% chardonnay, 30% Savagnin, pear in the bouquet, a hint of oxidation (positive), gently nutty, pure and balanced.

3/10/2017 - FransS wrote:

UGC-Tasting 2014 Amsterdam March 6, 2017-A winner now, juicy, round, elegant and an impressive balance; not the body for the long haul.

5/20/2022 - FransS wrote:

Okhuysen-Proeven tussen de Stellingen (to taste between the racks):
a very light colour, some wood, a bit juicy, with fruit in the midtaste, but missing direction and, I think, missing aeration too.

5/24/2022 - FransS wrote:

The wine changes; not the exuberant cherries and the fruit driven taste as in its youth. At first I did not get sufficient compensation, but after 4 (really) days the last glass was nearly majestical; the cherries were riper, the taste more smooth, a hint of mint, soft spices, lovely bitters and very ripe tannins in a lasting aftertaste. My coonfidence was back with this glass.

6/21/2021 - FransS wrote:

The 2018 UGCB tasting Amsterdam 6/21/2021 (Amsterdam, Amstel Boathouse): Tea, iron, I've noticed this more often with older vintages of Branaire; normally it it is a sign of ripeness, but not in this young wine. It is a part of the complexity of this classic made wine with an interesting tension.

6/23/2021 - FransS wrote:

See my previous note; this biological Port is exceptional for the Ruby level (purity in the bouquet, freshness, modest sweetness, elegance and balance). Forget the price and take a bottle if you find one in a bio-supermarket.

7/30/2021 - FransS wrote:

Summer of '21-Le Lavandou vice versa: major league, a superb impression (explosion) of roses in the bouquet supported by a well chosen dose of wood and vanilla. The taste is elegant and also firm, but refined with supporting ripe acidity; everything is in the right place; only the tannins need some years to ripen.

6/21/2021 - FransS wrote:

The 2018 UGCB tasting Amsterdam 6/21/2021 (Amsterdam, Amstel Boathouse): From nose to finish absolutely lovely. hints of mocha, but missing the complexity and the refined dimensions of Léoville-Barton, but, for sure, a very good L-P.

6/26/2021 - FransS wrote:

The tasting note below concerns the white wine. Sorry

6/21/2021 - FransS wrote:

The 2018 UGCB tasting Amsterdam 6/21/2021 (Amsterdam, Amstel Boathouse): The colour younger than of most other '18's; cherries, soft peppers, a kind of cool/sleek taste, super elegant, concentrated as H-B and S H-L.

5/15/2021 - Mike’s Wine Cellar wrote:

Had this within orange roughy, potatoes and mango salsa. Julie loved the subtlety and lighter weight on the palate. Less oak than California, but nicely balanced fruit and structure. From Julie. Loved. Easy. Satisfying. Can drink with anything...

10/11/2019 - FransS wrote:

Friendly, firm taste, firm acidity, pure; give it a year in the bottle to soften.

8/18/2019 - FransS wrote:

It took some years to mellow, but now this wine is close to 'à point'.
From magnum, a ripe bouquet, still with smooth red fruit, a juicy taste, lovely bitters and the very good 2005-tannins. Pour trois fois rien this is a very serieus and also classic effort; an old-fashioned Médoc.

12/30/2020 - FransS wrote:

Quite impressive, colour as you expect, bouquet partly closed (even at day two), elegant wood/vanilla, soft peppers, cherries, black currents, a hint of leather. The taste, like the bouquet, still hides a part of its dimensions, structured, dense, close to smooth, finishing with lovely bitters and lots of noticeable, but ripe tannins. Give it another 4 to 5 years.

6/22/2020 - heegaard Likes this wine:

It is stille to young to drink.

8/16/2020 - FransS wrote:

A nice lunch at home with friends (Haarlem): The wine started with too obvious wood, but after 30 minutes there was a certain balance in the wine. There is a firm and quite balanced taste underneath the layer of wood. At day two the wood was even horrible; not my kind of wine.

7/18/2020 - Xavier Auerbach wrote:

Tasting note No. 20,000. Time to open something appropriate and this Auslese is altogether fitting. My interest in wine started with the German wines which my late father used to drink in the 1980's, I started taking notes in 1983 and this bottle is from the personal cellar of Hugh Johnson, whose annual Pocket Wine Book has guided me from the start. AP 1 576 281 004 84. Level 1.5 cm below the cork, excellent for age. Lively appearance, pale to medium buttercup yellow with golden reflections; perfectly fresh nose, citrus and smoky slate, no botrytis, waxy bottle-age and a hint of spiced peach; the palate is delicately sweet, with juicy lemon and a hint of unripe strawberry, cracking acidity and gentle bitters, still lots of energy and drive; very good persistence, complete finish with very good length. Completely ready but no hurry. Impressive and absolutely delightful for elevenses. Develops well in the open bottle, and after a two hours notes of fresh green apple emerge, joined after six hours by a touch of salted butter and flower honey.

3/27/2020 - maaike2 wrote:

What a difference: After two days wood less prominent, much more freshness, good acids, prominent fruit with nice touch of perfect integrated wood. As many good wines: open long, long time before pooring in the glass.

4/26/2012 - FransS wrote:

When corona forces you to work at home (March 28, 2020) than you go cleaning, so I found this tasting note. Fresh bouquet with anise; the taste is like the '98 but a bit leaner, lighter, however balanced.

3/27/2020 - FransS wrote:

After the excellent '11 I have tasted this '17 (to inform Harley1199 ☺and) to experience the difference between young and ripe.
Combining the tasting notes of the last 5 tasters before me, I agree with them; only hoping that Mtolerice will discover soon the refinement and complexity in this wine. This wine, indeed young, shows less minerality and stony style than ripe, but the superb elegance and balance assures a fantastic future. The refined persistence and the super elegant almond finish is already at Coche-Dury level.

6/13/2019 - FransS wrote:

Sorry, but the tasting note below concerns the Batailley '75.

3/20/2020 - FransS wrote:

Extremely refined, balanced and focused; the purity starts in the bouquet with a whiff of vanilla, some grass and a stony style. In the taste the persistence is perfect, as is the aftertaste with gentle almonds and a dry finish as you want it. The elegant citrus in the backbone gives the wine an extra dimension. Drink this wine now, it can't get any better.

3/13/2017 - FransS wrote:

Very old, still drinkable, a sweet core, but also some acidity beside, everything normal for a wine of this age. 84 Point for the intrinsic value and one for surviving.

7/27/2015 - FransS wrote:

A bit 'spritzig', missing the subtility and the balance of the previous bottle; still very nice.

10/4/2018 - FransS wrote:

Just opened the wine showed a fragrant bouquet of red fruit, roses and gentle acidity, in the taste the wine was as a ballerina, concentration, persistance, refinement, not power. To be slightly negative I noticed a whiff of unripness. Two days later, tasting the last glass, that was gone. I've bought recently two bottles, each € 25, in Belgium!

2/12/2019 - FransS wrote:

As written before: voluptuous, cherries and other fruit beneath, creamy, round, but with well chosen edges where they belong, super elegant, concentrated and refined with its acidity in the backbone and a basket of super ripe tannnins in the finish. This is only the basic cuvée!!

2/25/2019 - FransS wrote:

The 2016 vintage UGCB tasting in Amsterdam 2/25/2019; 2/25/2019-2/27/2019 (Amsterdam): A wine with a bite, noticeable, but perfect acidity; a bit aggressive in its style, at the moment less sophisticated than the Léoville-Barton; lots of hope for an excellent future.

11/11/2018 - FransS wrote:

A bit edgy, classic, not completely balanced; give it another year.

7/3/2017 - FransS wrote:

Very nice, but a bit too easy.

6/4/2017 - FransS wrote:

A whiff of some greenness and also firm spices; the combination made this wine a bit rustic, but als charming in its originality (and not in a French style). After 16 years this wine was in no way tired.

8/13/2015 - FransS wrote:

Amazing, yes, there is a certain age in this wine, but also a concrete backbone. The syrah gives power and fresness, even fruit, no brown in the colour and only a small rim; a very good finish without the acidity of an old wine. As I started: amazing. 92 points for the wine and 1 for challanging time.

12/2/2016 - Zweder wrote:

Bordeaux: Second wines in great vintages. (Valuas): This is my 20,000th Tasting Note in Cellartracker and that should be a special wine. A few weeks ago I tasted this wine (with 100 Parker points) again, and it is really great! I have a few and many users of Cellartracker have it as well, so that is why I saved this tasting note to be my 20,000th. In the bouquet beautiful cassis, cedar, smoke and luxurious oak. On the palate enormously concentrated black berry fruits with a beautiful harmony between acidity and sweetness. Soft but powerful tannin. This is a true beauty and will probably last for at least another 30+ years. 98+

11/5/2016 - Andre-Raafs wrote:

Diep rode kleur, in de neus rijp fruit, pruimen, vijgen, hint van chocolade, koffie, zwarte peper en walnoten. In de mond, afgeronde tannines en zwoel, beetje onbalans in alcohol, verder erg goede port! Lange intense afdronk, na 24 uur open te hebben gestaan komt deze port nog beter tot zijn recht!

11/18/2016 - Barry Rothof wrote:

BOLLINGER (Wijnhandel Peeters @ Rotterdam , the Netherlands.): A total of 3 300 bottles were produced. Exceptional complexity on the nose with powerful candied fruit and bread aromas. On the palate round, creamy and wonderful balanced, with exceptional richness. Youthful with endless aging potential.

10/6/2016 - FransS wrote:

Cher monsieur von Neipperg, although I didn't expect it, but also a bottle of your wine was flawed (cork). I hope you will compensate my (Dutch) importer, because I will ask him another bottle of your wine, which is normally delicious.

7/11/2016 - jkoenen wrote:

Still very primary and somewhat monolithic. Dark forest fruit, nuances of warm pastry, vanilla and oak. Soft 'n sweet tannic structure, plush texture. Some distant smokyness. I'd stay stay away for a couple of years or decant half a day in advance. OK value.

9/19/2015 - thegodfather Likes this wine:

I am pleasantly surprised. Smoothness with nice velvet licorice, dark chocolate with a stable bitter aftertaste. The finish lingers. Wine is well tamed and opens up to more dark fruits after decanting for an hour at room temperature. If I were to nitpick is a very slight feel of the heat but that said its really not an issues. I had have worst costing more.

Bought at SGD 46 this is of great value over its weight. Tried a glass using it with the coravin. So I might try it agin 3-6 Mths from today.

Paired with waygu top side medium rare steak. I think I like this over the Elderton command I had recently.

5/29/2016 - Andre-Raafs wrote:

Robijn rode kleur, bruin aan de rand. Mooie aroma's van tijm, laurier, drop, nootmuskaat. In de mond medium zuren met mooi versmolten tannines maar wel aanwezig, geven de wijn een goede structuur. Beetje vettig in de afdronk met aroma's van rijpe zwarte kersen en pruimen. Goede prijs/kwaliteit verhouding €13,50 supermarche, Frankrijk.

6/3/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote:

No Chateau d'Yquem was produced in 2012. The entire harvest was declassified.

11/13/2015 - bjfeenstra Likes this wine:

Proeverij notitie: rood en zwart fruit, specerijen, kruidnagel, kaneel.

1/26/2014 - FransS wrote:

I often agree with Jeff Leve's tasting notes, but from time to time I find his rating too high, but not this time. Power, ripe merlot, perfect tannins, lots of black fruit, creamy and balanced. You can only say that the wine is a bit square at the moment due to its childhood.
Hurray, I have a full case to go!

3/2/2015 - FransS wrote:

The family genes (Syrah) you will find in this concentrated, still elegant wine. Form the wine list of Rosa Alpina's double starred St. Hubertus, but tasted in their Grill Bar (hot spot in Alta Badia). The wine showed also very polished tannins, good backbone and acidity. Not expensive (€ 48); seen in the shops for about € 32.