3/30/2024 - gblacave wrote:

Perhaps an off bottle, as nothing really every came through on this for us. Dulled / muddled fruit that never really shone. Unfortunate.

4/20/2024 - gblacave wrote:

Pleasantly surprised by this - bright, vibrant fruit with clarity. A touch less expressive on the nose initially, but getting some lime, lychee, minerality. Nice balance through the finish. I was skeptical but the underlying material here seems very promising. Will check in again in ~5 years.

4/30/2024 - gblacave wrote:

Fully mature and this bottle was perhaps a bit tired. Still quite delicious and complex, but missing a note of lift and vibrance that would have helped it be really excellent.

A touch of tropical fruits coming through - but not with the brightness you'd typically find. This moved more roasted nuts, brioche - with a breadth of palate and roundness. Great length, still in balance, a nice wine.

4/28/2024 - gblacave wrote:

Always excellent - light red fruit, dark citrus, and white peach on the note with tension coming through from a strong mineral underpinning.

Excellent balance, great length - an amazing wine, and perhaps the pinnacle of rose, vintage after vintage.

4/28/2024 - gblacave wrote:

Tasted from Magnum. Tight knit on opening with apple, citrus, and a touch of toast. It never really showed a lot on day one, but had some left on day two and it really broadened out and showed more depth and complexity. Some peach coming through and the balance really came together.

I would not have thought this would need more time, but the level it reached on day two indicates that it may do well with another several years in the cellar.

4/11/2024 - gblacave wrote:

Layers of red and black fruits, mineral, touch of spices and pepper. Polished and complex with a round, polished palate. Long finish. Really excellent.

2/8/2024 - gblacave wrote:

Firing on all cylinders. Really nice balance of fruit and acidity in this bottle, with a depth of secondary notes underlying the bouquet.

12/25/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Not as giving at this stage as I had hoped it would be. Red fruit and some secondaries are there, but shy and it's unclear if they aren't going to emerge or just need more time. Crossed fingers for the latter.

Still a fine wine, but not the level hoped for in a CSJ (even considering the lower fullness of fruit in wines of the vintage).

12/25/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Very young, but has the stuffing to go the distance. A touch reduced with the oak showing a touch, but lots of fruit supporting the nose and the palate. Will check in on it in 5-ish years.

12/25/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Power and grace in a glass. Disgorged 2019.

An salmon-tinted copper hue in the glass. Savory and full nose that gives way to robust fruit as the wine opened up. Beautiful palate feel and long finish. A complete work of art - balanced, smooth, complete.

12/9/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Well... that was big. Never really came into it's own to show off the fruit that is probably hiding underneath the heft.

12/9/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Elegant and balanced - punches above its weight. Great dark and red fruit profile, a touch of spice. Excellent for the level and should age quite well. A bargain.

12/8/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Young, but really nice. Rich red fruits, a touch of violets, a little burly rather than graceful with the tannins coming through. I didn't mind though. In magnum, I think this has a long life ahead and will age into its weight but YMMV.

12/8/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Paired beautifully with some Humboldt fog. This was a PnP from a 375 and it was delicious from the moment it was opened, just singing. It was even better on day two.

Apricot, pineapple, rich honeyed orange peel, incredible lightness alongside the sweetness. Balance as only Yquem consistently delivers. Coming into its own with decades ahead.

12/8/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Not as robust on the nose (a bit thin alongside the high toned red fruits?). Red fruited with a touch of glycerin, though it hides the alcohol pretty well. My first experience with this bottling and will be interested to watch it age. This exposure makes me wonder if it has the stuffing to age well in between the high acidity and the alcohol content.

12/8/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Well balanced, dry Chenin profile - correct and mature example.

12/8/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Really nice, fully mature, Chenin. Some chamomile flowers coming through alongside a healthy dose of lanolin and apple. Just a touch of honey, but the acid supports it and helps the length remain in balance. Really nice wine - especially for the level and the age.

12/8/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Mineral-forward, nice basic chablis and a good QPR wine for the region.

12/7/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Very young but vibrant and balanced. Was not familiar with the producer and very pleasantly surprised.

9/16/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Unique and likely served just a touch too cold. Really fascinating how the weight of fruit is able to balance out the level alcohol on this wine. I understand the criticism of the weight, but call it a guilty pleasure wine of opulence for me.

9/16/2023 - gblacave wrote:

This is in a great place and is firing on all cylinders. Great representation of Bordeaux coming into its own. It’s still so young and packing a lot of fruit, but some secondary notes are starting to come through. Maintains a nice balance and the tannin structure is supportive of the fruit.

9/9/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Re-corked by Penfolds in 2007.

The bottle was correct enough, fully mature but lacking energy. Not enough depth and complexity to make up for the tiredness. Tannins fully integrated. Underwhelming showing.

7/13/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Nice bandol rose. doesn't hit the heights of complexity and finesse of Tempier, but if you're looking for a rose that is light on its feet, but doesn't lack for weight and balance, this is a good option.

A touch of citrus alongside some berry fruit. A hint of salinity and a touch of broader minerality. Well balanced finish with an acid backbone to support the weight. This will evolve and mature for a few years, as usual with this wine.

6/30/2023 - gblacave wrote:

A bit shy and could have benefitted from decanting. opened and consumed over the course of two hours.

Full fruited and rustic. A great example of the region and the what can be done by skilled hands.

6/22/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Superb complexity and length here. Beginning to enter maturity, with elegance.

Dominated by red fruits, this is one with a long life still ahead.

6/17/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Just a baby. But already firing and a long life ahead.

6/25/2023 - gblacave wrote:

World class wine. Tremendous complexity and a long life still ahead.

6/29/2023 - gblacave wrote:

A bottle that is just starting to approach maturity. Opened and decanted, consumed over about two hours.

This bottle never really came into its own and the fruit was shy throughout. It started to broaden out and gain depth after about 90 min. At that point it was showing a dark fruit profile, supported by well integrated oak characteristics and a balanced finish. The acidity and oak were well balanced with the fruit, it just lacked some substance and depth.

5/31/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Loving the dominant melon and pit fruit components that are balanced by some floral notes. Nice vibrant rose that has evolved to add a little roundness to the overall palate. Still a good backbone of acidity to keep it well balanced. Overall a touch less polished than something like Tempier, but quite enjoyable.

5/21/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Solid Macon. Good apple and lemon fruit character and well balanced, with nice length on the finish.

5/14/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Opened on Mother's Day as a more robust rose.

Red berries and dark citrus notes on the nose. Less lift from lighter floral or mineral tones than I was looking for. It's quite full on the palate and heavy for a rose, which seems to be the style.

Serviceable for the right occasion (and with the right fare), but not one for the side of the pool.

4/28/2023 - gblacave wrote:

Really enjoyable. After a first bottle that was quite tired, this one was a fully mature and integrated wine that was really enjoyable.

4/28/2023 - gblacave wrote:

A baby, but full of life. Really nice character with a broad palate. Rich nose full of fruit and a touch of marzipan. Nice acidity to balance the richness and a clean, uplifting finish.

11/28/2022 - gblacave wrote:

Over the hill. Fruit has all dissipated, but the tertiary components are hollowed out. Not very enjoyable.

12/31/2021 - gblacave wrote:

Correct, balanced and expressive. But overall relatively simple at this age.

11/25/2021 - gblacave wrote:

With Thanksgiving - nice wine with some years ahead. Nice mix of red and black fruit, some resolved oak and smooth tannins. Nice length.

12/25/2021 - gblacave wrote:

Beautiful mature example of this wine - well balanced. Nice pairing with roast duck.

10/24/2021 - gblacave wrote:

Wow - perfectly mature and a great example of mature, warmer climate CA pinot. Great depth and balance.

10/23/2021 - gblacave wrote:

Mature with the carbonation beginning to subside. Round and balanced with tropical floral and mineral notes dominating an undercurrent of light citrus and stone fruit. Balanced, long finish - really nice.

12/8/2017 - gblacave wrote:

Mature, rustic and complex, perfect pairing with roasted rack of lamb.

8/8/2021 - gblacave Likes this wine:

Well-balanced, while acid forward. Orchard fruit and a touch of minerality on the finish.

2/23/2019 - gblacave wrote:

Brutally corked.

5/30/2017 - gblacave wrote:

Wow. Complete, mature wine full of earth, barnyard, a slight hint of dark fruits. Full and retained a freshness with a well-balanced palate throughout and a long, integrated finish. Paired very well with 30-day dry aged Flannery NY Strips.

Wish I had more old Cabassaous...

5/7/2017 - gblacave wrote:

Delicious, complete champagne. But a very young champagne. Can't wait to follow this through maturity.

5/7/2017 - gblacave wrote:

Both absolutely cooked. Dry corked, that crumbled into dust when extracted, not wet at all, and wine that was completely maderized. Severe disappointment considering the source.

5/6/2017 - gblacave wrote:

Great bright and focused champagne that also provides a rich nose and mid-palate. Fantastic value.

2/22/2017 - gblacave wrote:

Raw material is there. This was surprisingly open, full of dark berry fruit, licorice, a touch of pepper, well balanced, long finish. If I had to trifle, its a tad straightforward. A baby with some legs.

2/22/2017 - gblacave wrote:

On the nose, slightly under-ripe pit fruit, mineral, a touch of petrol, a slight touch of rich/sweetness on the palate with more tropical fruit notes, supported by strong acidity. Not quite as clean on the finish, but a nice delicious example of Riesling.

2/11/2017 - gblacave wrote:

Violets, dark berry fruit, olives and prominent acidity matched by some well-hidden tannins. This is young and takes awhile to open up, but a nice match with rack of lamb.

Worth following over the next decade though, as this has the raw material to go the distance.

1/20/2017 - gblacave wrote:

Consistent. This is delicious for the price.