10/13/2016 - Wising wrote:

Classy

10/13/2016 - Wising wrote:

Open, expressive slightly warm nose. Perfect to drink now.

10/13/2016 - Wising wrote:

Quite rich, but not "showy" white Bgn. Drinking very well right now.

10/13/2016 - Wising wrote:

Great wine at it's peak. Classic style, and still some nice currant fruit. Wish I had more.

10/13/2016 - Wising wrote:

Not bad at all. Wasn't expecting much since other bottlings from this producer have been quite "bretty". Medium-bodied, restrained style with a grassy Cab Franc-like nose. Bx drinkers would enjoy this.

10/13/2016 - Wising wrote:

Excellent! Quite mature, close to being more like a white than a sparkling wine. Very nice soft and smoot texture. pure joy.

10/13/2016 - Wising wrote:

Too young. Quite lean and very shy. Expected more.

6/22/2016 - Wising Likes this wine:

Last bottle. Surprisingly fresh and tasty. Quite consistent with my previous notes six years ago! Bx-style currant fruit with a touch of barnyard and tobacco. Soft integrated tannins. Overall a very nice wine.

2/1/2016 - Wising Likes this wine:

Decanted about 30 minutes which was not enough. Drank over a couple of hours and it started to open up slowly. Still young. Very tight structure with warmth. As usual with penfolds more classic old school-ish than a lot of warm Shiraz character. Some white pepper but very discreet.

2/1/2016 - Wising Likes this wine:

At a very good point in its lifecycle. Quite creamy on the palate, with mineral bite. Just a touch of positive oxidation. Maybe a little high in alcohol.

12/30/2015 - Wising wrote:

In a perfect spot for drinking right now.

5/24/2015 - Wising wrote:

Thought this was going to be flawed since the cork was leaking and the level of wine quite low. The cork was really dry and broke when opened. However, it was still fresh and vibrant. Tannins are quite soft but good acidity and fresh fruit, expected a 25 years old wine to be more developed. Great to drink now but will likely keep many years more.

3/30/2015 - Wising wrote:

Classic Bx.

3/30/2015 - Wising wrote:

A bit tired. Drink asap

12/1/2014 - Wising Likes this wine:

Too young. Dense fruit but still quite closed. Give it a couple of years more.

12/1/2014 - Wising wrote:

Simply lovely and a really well-made wine with some oak influence, but the fantastic fruit is dominating.

12/1/2014 - Wising wrote:

Starts off a little dirty with whiffs of brett, but after a while it shows more red fruits. It is quite elegant, and has good fruit. However it lacks some "nerve" and structure to be considered fantastic.

12/30/2013 - Wising wrote:

OK, but slightly overoaked and a bit rustic. Got better with aeration. Decent pinosity but not too complex.

12/30/2013 - Wising Likes this wine:

So good! Bright fruit flavors and a lovely freshness. Still very young but drinkable.

12/30/2013 - Wising Likes this wine:

Classic medium-body Pauillac with everything in the right place. Drink now.

9/16/2013 - Wising wrote:

Improved quite a lot since last tasting. Opening up. Excellent currant fruit, classic "juicy" Coonawarra fruit, chewy tannins.

9/8/2013 - Wising wrote:

Very positive. Quite light, but all the Pinosity is in there. Young, fresh red fruit, good acidity, quite soft. I have no experience if these wines age well, but I would recommend to drink it young while the fruit is this delicious.

9/8/2013 - Wising Likes this wine:

Rich, lush, sweet fruit, cassis, vanilla and some spice. Alcohol well balanced by fruit. Big, but not too big - works well with a nice meat dish.

9/2/2013 - Wising wrote:

Showing the warm vintage, the alcohol is too pronounced and harsh. All of the Languedoc character is in there but the wine is out of balance. Drank the last of the bottle 3 nights later and by now it is more "mellow". Will never qualify as "great", but will hopefully develop with a couple of years in the cellar.

5/28/2013 - Wising Likes this wine:

Drink now. This is now starting to fade slightly. Not bad, but just a bit of maturity/oxidation.

5/28/2013 - Wising Likes this wine:

This is simply delicious!!! Consistent with my previous notes. Thank you Cathy and Jeff at Villiera.

5/28/2013 - Wising Likes this wine:

Recommend to drink now. Will not improve further.

5/28/2013 - Wising Likes this wine:

It delivers the goods. Classic Bx. Very nice to drink now but will keep another 5 years minimum.

1/28/2013 - Wising Likes this wine:

This wine has really improved over time. Excellent balance, dark quite smooth fruit and fully integrated oak. Wish I had more!

11/25/2012 - Wising wrote:

Super value. Loads of bright cherry fruit, acidity and tannin in balance. Great with food.

11/25/2012 - Wising wrote:

2009 is not the best vintage for Chablis. This is still a nice wine, but not as focused and razor-sharp as you would expect from Louis Michel. I think you should drink them fairly young.

11/25/2012 - Wising wrote:

Totally agree with comments of Hawk94. What a surprise, wish I had more bottles, but this was the last one. Drinking perfectly right now. Purity, typicity, freshness.

10/28/2012 - Wising wrote:

Surprise. Worked well with food, quite rich meat stew. Quite a lot of brett/barnyard aromas but since the dark fruit and mellow tannins dominate, it works (for me).

8/12/2012 - Wising wrote:

I was wrong in my previous note, this has developed some more depth. Very nice!

8/8/2012 - Wising wrote:

Best bottle so far (7 out of 12). Popped and poured. Still a bit lean but needs time to open up in the glass, so next time I will decant in advance. Classic flavors with some brett evident on the nose. Medium-weight palate, good balance, soft tannins and some nice "sweeter" aromas like coffee showing with aeration.

6/14/2012 - Wising wrote:

Better than expected. Very open nose, starting with a lot of brett/barnyard aromas, later showing more of coffee/mocha, blackcurrant, cherries maybe and herbs. Quite light but everything in balance. Good example of what a good producer can do with a weaker vintage. For those who like the classic style of Bx.

6/14/2012 - Wising wrote:

A bit shy on the nose, but showing blackcurrant and strawberry fruit flavors with notes of violets and cedar. Still quite tight on the palate with grippy tannins and high acidity. I don't really know what to make of it. Not bad, actually quite nice but was expecting more.

4/6/2012 - Wising wrote:

A little bit too high alcohol that is not really integrated a bit disturbing. Otherwise very nice with concentrated tropical fruit flavors and enough acidity.

4/1/2012 - Wising wrote:

Sweet cassis, herbs, grass, barnyard. All the hallmarks of a Medoc, but with added sweetness. Very nice and still young.

2/19/2012 - Wising wrote:

From 375 ml bottle. Very classic, lighter style of Bx. Still young, needs time. This château delivers as usual.

2/12/2012 - Wising wrote:

Past its peak, but still drinking well. Expressive nose with some almost minty notes. Quite light, cherries dominating with some lingonberries.

2/11/2012 - Wising wrote:

Nice wine, but not as complex as you would expect from a Grand Cru. Apple, some citrus and kerosene/mineral on the nose. Medium-bodied, fresh acidity.

2/3/2012 - Wising wrote:

Wow! Has to open another one today. This wine is amazing. See My latest note. Drink or hold.

1/29/2012 - Wising wrote:

CWG tasting Gothenburg: Perhaps the surprise of the whole tasting. Expected this to be over the hill, but it is perfect to drink now. Typical Pinotage flavors, soft tannin, balance, easy to drink and enjoy. Drink now.

1/29/2012 - Wising wrote:

CWG tasting Gothenburg: Consistent with my previous notes. This is a beautiful wine with a French "accent". Nose a bit more herbaceous this time, but great fruit and elegance. Palate a bit fuller and sweeter with mocha as well. Last two bottles, wish I had more. One of the best CWG wines I have tasted.

1/29/2012 - Wising wrote:

CWG tasting Gothenburg: don't know how to rate this. Very strange combination of "new clone" Cab with strong eucalyptus flavors and sweet currant fruit & and a lot of BRETT. Never experienced that before. Not bad, some tasters liked it, but brett too disturbing for me.

1/29/2012 - Wising wrote:

CWG tasting Gothenburg: Quite big wine from a big vintage. Fruit still good, with mocha notes. Well made but lacking something. Preferred the Morgenhof Merlot.

2/1/2012 - Wising wrote:

CWG tasting Gothenburg: Not bad but you need to be a Pinotage fan to appreciate it. Quite a lot of brett, and the finish is rather bitter. Improved in the glass, so needs air.

2/1/2012 - Wising wrote:

CWG Tasting Gothenburg: top wine overall, top 3 for me personally. Typical Pinotage plummy fruit without too rough edges, combined with Granghurst's concentration and structure. For sure one of the best Pinotage I have ever tasted. Will keep another 2-4 years at least but drinking well now.

1/29/2012 - Wising wrote:

CWG tasting Gothenburg: best wine of 8 for me. Still young and fresh. Focused and concentrated dark fruits, black olive. More Napa style than Cape. Big structure but beautiful balance.