12/23/2017 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Decanted an hour. Lovely colour, still quite young and glossy but showing a bit of development. Very classic Pauillac nose: all blackberry and cedar and pencil-shavings and cigar box. The palate is very well integrated and harmonious at this stage - nothing stands out too much, but the fruit, acidity, alcohol and (ripe) tannin are all working well together. Quite a flavoursome wine - still quite a lot of primary cool fruit. Very delicious. Long. This is drinking beautifully now, but the balance/harmony suggests that there is no rush either. Drink or hold.

12/23/2017 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Decanted 1 hour. Still quite youthful colour. Masculine, savoury nose: more depth of stewed red fruit and meaty graphite flavours than the 2001 Pontet Canet which preceded it. Medium-bodied and supple on the palate - tannins well resolved at this stage but the wine still has good vigour. Lovely.

12/26/2017 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

First of a six-pack. Not decanted. Blood red: less full in colour (slightly fading perhaps?) compared to the Sérafin village Gevrey opened yesterday. Less extraction perhaps. Elegant red-fruits nose, developing some secondary notes too such as white pepper and truffles. Very Grivot - sexy and classy in an elegant way. The palate is similar: smooth, cool, juicy. Perhaps even slightly herbaceous? Some length; quite minerally in the back-palate. I am not sure about this in some ways. While not unpleasant, it is not as ripe or fleshy as I expected, particularly for the vintage. Perhaps it just compared unfavourably to the Sérafin (on the day) - the latter is made in a bolder, more extracted style. Or perhaps with another couple of years in bottle it will still put on some more weight. For now, I call it good / good-plus, and will hold for my others for a while.

12/25/2017 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Not decanted. Quite a full colour in the glass; no fade at the edge. Tightly wound at first, but opens out to reveal expressive and sumptuous fruit. A lot of black, and red, fruit in fact - along with some lovely secondary aromatics. Sexy and stylish on the palate, in quite a rich style, but not over-extracted. This has plenty of stuffing but is not overdone. The tannins are super-fine; gives it lovely grip. Good length. Very good plus, and drinking very well now, but not rush at all. (This was generally considered to edge it over Grivot's Vosne Bossieres from the same vintage, although it's a subjective choice of course. Serafin's slightly richer fruitier style probably played a part in that.)

12/23/2017 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

First of a trio. Youthful, full colour: quite glossy and unctuous. Appealing fresh nose of citrus fruit (lime) but with complex overtones too (possibly oak-inspired?) - hawthorn, honeysuckle. Trademark Dancer vibrancy on the palate: so cool and clean and crisp. That Meursault "fatness" to the texture, without loss of focus. A drying, moreish finish. Really very lovely indeed. No rush with these at all - they're still quite youthful - will possibly wait a while before trying another.

1/12/2018 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

First taste of this in a while. Not decanted, but open in the glass some time. A very promising St-Estephe nose: quite a stony/savoury profile to the cassis note. Promising. Nice entry. Medium-bodied, both in flavour profile on the palate and in texture. A savoury twist on the end. Although this isn't bad wine at all, the palate doesn't really live up to the promise offered by the nose (something I remember observing the last time I tried this too). I still prefer it to the 2008 Angludet though (I bought the two together and have been drinking them largely in tandem over the last couple of years) - I think this will still be offering pleasure after the Angludet has fallen apart.

8/21/2017 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

[TASTING NOTE NOT CONTEMPORANEOUS.] First of a case. Decanted about 2 hours. Full colour, still youthful. Complex nose: still primary at first(still a lot of black fruit); but secondary complexities when it opens up. Very classic Left Bank, but not without some modern fruit/opulence too. Lovely texture on the palate; great grip; very ripe tannins. Very well-balanced; savoury. Long. Very good plus - looking forward to seeing how this develops over the next 15+ years.

2/17/2017 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Not decanted, but poured out in the glass about 20 min before sampling. Good colour, medium-full, could be mistaken for a younger wine. Complex and attractive nose - good weight of fruit but also the secondary elements such as confit/stewed fruit, underbrush, subtle spice ... and a savoury, almost meaty, note (almost Burgundy's answer to the Graves!). But mostly it's still about the purity of the integrated fruit and subtle spice combo. Lovely on the palate: rich, velvety tannins, supple and flavoursome, and supported by correct acidity. Very rich and long on the finish, with a flourish of minerality. Very good plus, on its own or with food. I was lucky to pick this up some years ago for about €30. More recent vintages now seem to be offered at closer to €50-€55.

12/25/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

[Christmas wine - Note not contemporaneous.]. First of a six-pack. Not decanted. Lovely mid-red colour - luminosity. Attractive and quite open nose - strawberry, red cherry, bramble fruit. Elegant through the palate - there is sufficient stuffing in the fruit to match the acidity and the soft but grippy tannin. Mineral. Very typical of the domaine I think. Excellent for a generic. This will improve over the next few years I feel, although it is perfectly approachable now too.

2/12/2017 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Second of a six-pack, about a year since I tried the first. Unfortunately this one was slightly corked. Good colour, fullish but showing some maturity. Almost impossible to get anything on the nose, except a (fairly faint) hint of wet mushroom. Corked. Interestingly the palate seemed largely unaffected, showing lovely sweetish red fruits and that hint of mint which I sometimes get from Pinot Noir. All quite elegant and harmonious, for a flawed bottle at least. If the four remaining bottles are unaffected by this taint, they should be very nice indeed based on this evidence. Drink soon(ish).

12/27/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

First of a six-pack I've been hoarding for nearly ten years. Decanted about an hour (perhaps slightly less). Quite a full colour - showing some development at the rim but otherwise quite youthful and intense. Quite closed on the nose. Some hints of primary black confit fruit; also some subtler elements when worked. But it is in quite an awkward phase just now. The same is true on the palate. Really quite difficult to get much out of this in terms of flavour profile. However, the building blocks for a super wine are there - lovely ripe tannins, lush mouthfeel without any loss of structure, excellent acidity gives it poise. Good minerality on the finish. The only mystery is where is the fruit hiding?! Although it clearly has the potential to be superior, on the day this didn't compare particularly favourably to the 2007 Ch la Nerthe tasted alongside. Wait a few years before trying another.

12/25/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Brilliant gold colour; no green or orange. Fresh, citrus nose with orange zest and marmalade. Not as obviously botrytized as a Sauternes. Good, unctuous mouthfeel - luxurious without loss of focus. Lovely purity of fruit, vanilla and marzipan notes, and good length. If being critical, it is not hugely complex - perhaps still a bit primary. If I had another (which I don't), I would hold it for a few years yet. But it is very lovely right now all the same.

12/25/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Not decanted. Full colour. Coiled nose, still youthful; slightly closed. Not a blockbuster on the palate in terms of structure, but the flavour profile is very full. Still quite primary. Quite long on the finish: quite spicy/minerally. Good plus; possibly very good. Wait a couple of years before trying another, or at the very least decant for several hours next time.

2/12/2017 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Full colour. Does not betray its age. Smoky, complex nose - classic Amarone notes of black cherries, tar, and white flower blossom. Lovely on the palate - fully resolved supple tannins. Good volume of stewed black fruits and figs. Delicious texture. Long. Voluminous and full on the finish but with no heat from the alcohol (16%!). This is a very well balanced wine overall. Very good. Pity this was the only one I had.

4/30/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

First of a six-pack. Decanted an hour or so. Stony nose of dark-red fruits and white pepper; distinctively Syrah. Medium-bodied on the palate. Cool. Nice dark fruit and spice flavours, with some tanning peeking out. Slightly angular, not to say dilute. A bit hot and lame on the end. (Finished the bottle the following day, when it was slightly chilled. This didn't affect the nose (wasn't that chilled!), but it did help draw out slightly more fruit profile on the palate.). Overall, OK for what it is, but nothing too exciting.

5/3/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Second of a case. See previous note which covered this bottle as well as the first.

5/3/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

First two bottles of a case (this note covers both). Indeed first 2008 Bordeaux of any sort I have tried. Decanted about 2 hours. Full, youthful colour; quite dark/opaque. Not giving much on the nose. Closed? Eventually some dark (very dark) fruit - blueberries and black cherries - when worked. Also quite a deep menthol element. Unusual, but not unappealing. On the palate however I find this wine very hard to fathom. It almost seems to be falling apart already. Initially cool and correct on entry; but then difficult to discern anything other than alcohol. Very little obvious fruit (or indeed other flavours of any sort); some tannin but largely already resolved/gone; which in turn means no length. It's almost like if you swallow it you'll miss the palate entirely. Very odd, and hopefully an aberration. Not looking forward to the rest if they're all like this.
PS - the remainder of the second bottle consumed after a couple of days in the fridge - slightly more approachable on the nose, but still that hollowness through the palate. Not sure where this is going (or has it anywhere left to go?). A note of caution here.

4/9/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

First time in a while I've made a note about this wine - a few bottles have disappeared "undetected" since my last note. Still quite a youthful colour - light gold shot, through with greenish tinges. Quite intense however (not watery). The nose shows some development - as well as the classic white fruit and citrus notes there are also elements of honeysuckle, almonds and nutmeg. Still beautifully fresh on the palate - lovely acidity and purity of fruit. Long. I'm a big fan of this wine over several years now. Have a couple of bottles of the 2010 left - before trying this I would have thought they might soon need drinking up, but on today's evidence there is absolutely no rush. Lovely.

4/24/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

See my immediately previous note, which covered this bottle too.

4/9/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Second and third bottles of a case, consumed over a couple of days. Decanted >1 hour. Medium-full colour, showing some development. Dark nose, a bit closed, eventually some cedar and smoke notes to go with the restrained primary black fruit. Cool and elegant on the palate. Fruit is perfectly adequate, but not plump; covers the tannins well (these are already quite integrated and show through only on the end). Some length. Quite classy. Certainly no blockbuster, but quite classic Left Bank claret from a non-blockbuster vintage. Will be interesting to see if the nose opens up again in future as it evolves further. Good plus.

12/25/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Drunk on Christmas Day - tasting note not contemporaneous. Quite an evolved colour. Slightly closed nose, but gives up some red fruit and some minerally undertones also. Not necessarily for everyone but appealing to me - quite masculine Pinot. Quite "correct" and medium-bodied on the palate. I possibly expected something more gutsy, although this is not necessarily a criticism. Perhaps lacking slightly in fruit. But good sappy tannins and a long mineral finish, combined with acidity to give it poise, make this very good with food. Overall, quite a conservative Old World style of Pinot - which is entirely unsurprising I suppose. Wait a while before trying another: this was possibly slightly closed. Good plus.

2/15/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Medium colour, still quite youthful. Glossy/sheeny, but red/garnet rather than anything more intense. Appealing, open nose - all raspberries, cherries and damsons, but with that indescribable Pinot undertone too. Smooth and sexy on the palate. Texture is at the lighter end of medium-bodied, but it is packed with lively red fruit flavours so could not be described as dilute. Grippy, mineral, finish - makes you want to go back to the glass again. Very good indeed for the money. At present I prefer this to the Sérafin equivalent from the same vintage sampled a couple of weeks ago (that had a bit more substance, but this has a bit more elegance), but it will be interesting to watch them go toe to toe over as I try further bottles of each over the coming couple of years.

2/1/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Fullish colour, maturing slightly. Accessible nose, quite lifted. More of a red-fruit profile (rather than a black-fruit profile) than I expected. Stylish if not super-complex. Lovely palate; medium-bodied (I expected slightly fuller in this vintage, but this is not a criticism). Sappy minerality on the finish; moreish. The whole thing is well balanced and harmonious. Very good generic Bourgogne (as it should be at the price-point). Drinking well now, but no rush to drink up.

4/3/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

First of a case. Decanted nearly 2 hours. Deep ruby colour, still quite full. Initially quite closed aromatically, but opens up a bit when worked. Some elegant notes (floral; eucalyptus?), but overall quite tightly wound claret. Good on the palate - medium bodied, still some primary fruit but with secondary nuances now too. Not exceedingly complex mind. Balanced. Some length. Gives great pleasure, and drinking very well just now. But there's enough acidity and sappy tannin - and overall balance - to suggest this will keep going (though not necessarily improve) for a good while yet. Very good.

3/25/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

See previous note which covered both bottles.

3/25/2016 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Third and fourth bottles of a case, drunk together. First time in a while I have assessed this. Decanted one hour. Full colour, slightly glossy; still youthful. Very attractive brambly and cassis nose, with classic Left Bank graphite shavings and cedar underneath. Complex and sexy. Smooth entry. Medium body, and good grip. Lovely fruit through the mid palate. Long and minerally. This is drinking really well now. My only concern would be whether the tannic spine has integrated rather too quickly: the wine is so appealing and accessible through the palate that it isn't easy to find the tannins under the fruit. Maybe it has the stuffing to carry it off, but alternatively it might soon start to tire. Hopefully the acidity level will stand it in good stead for the long haul. Very lovely now, but I'm slightly alarmed at how how it is developing, given that I have 8 more bottles to get through. Try another soon.

12/25/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Similar to my August 2015 experience. Lovely white Burgundy which has now shed its initial freshness and is taking on more mature tones. However the ripeness of the fruit and the crisp acidity of the wine keep it deliciously fresh. Complex and mineral on the finish. Very good, and just a point now.

12/24/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Last bottle of a case (God knows where the previous 5 or 6 bottles got to). Part of a "bin-ends" miscellaneous selection over Christmas. Maturing colour, but still quite full. Classic Graves nose, although somewhat muted perhaps. Takes some time for the secondary elements of smoke and earth to creep out. Pleasant fruit through the palate, although slightly fading in intensity and vigour at this stage. Some length. Good, but perhaps a little tired at this stage. Still a good wine - I would buy more of this from more recent vintages, as it represents good value for money and is always a crowd-pleaser.

12/24/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Last of a case, shared on Christmas Eve - I only got a small taste. Full colour. Spicy nose of blue-black fruits, perhaps some menthol. Good integration on the palate at this stage, tannins resolved, quite a lot of blueberry fruit as well as the typical Syrah red/black spectrum. This version doesn't seem as lean/green as prior bottles. Pleasant; easy-drinking. Some length. Good, but I'm not devastated that I don't have any more.

12/25/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Last bottle of a case. Medium colour, still quite youthful. Quite an open, red-fruit nose. Some complexity: sous-bois. Medium-bodied on the palate (it was always so with this wine in this vintage), but good vigour. Nice fruit. Sappy and with good grip. Nice mineral flourish on the slightly short finish. Good plus - and better than expected. Probably at its best now though, so I'm not too disappointed I don't have any more.

9/13/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Medium to medium-full colour. At first slightly reserved, but opens eventually to give good raspberry and red cherry aromas. And also something lacey and Pinot-ey in behind: although this is delicate it is not without depth. A touch light on the palate; elegant; feels medium/light in body. Good purity of red fruit though. Tannins fully integrated; this is fully ready. Nice grip. A lovely minerality through the mid-palate and on the finish. Very good: pity I only have one more of these. Drinking very well now.

8/30/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Decanted an hour or so. A maturing dark-brick-red colour: dark core, russet edges. An initially closed nose eventually opens to give signature Nebbiolo notes of black cherry, tar and aniseed overlaid with something floral. But this example is quite mature - tertiary aromas compete with the primary fruit. Not entirely appealing, at least not to me - and I wonder has this been corked. Nice on the palate: medium-bodied but with a display of secondary fruit flavours. Very dry. Tannins are resolved at this stage. Slightly hot on the finish. Some length but had hoped for more. Overall I would say this was probably only ever a solid, rather than stellar, Barolo which, to be fair to it, may have been slightly betrayed by its storage conditions over the years. Based on this showing, I'm not disappointed that I don't have any more bottles.

9/5/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Second of a case (I didn't get a taste of the first!). Good colour, still youthful, deep indigo with little redness. Seductive nose, smoky/inky, more black fruit than red - plus something slightly eucalyptus-like. Attractive. The palate is good too: smooth entry, a silky texture. Medium-bodied rather than full-bodied, but a good depth of fruit, and supported by good acidity. Supple tannins. Some length, with no hot alcohol. Good plus, and drinking well now, but no rush whatever. If being critical, this does not have quite the depth of flavour, or the complexity, of some of the more expensive CNdP options, but very enjoyable all the same, and good value for money.

8/3/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

6th of a case. Good colour, fullish gold but with some green tinges. Vibrant appearance, no dullness. Lovely nose of maturing fruit, hazelnut, buttery aromas, some floral notes. Really very attractive. The palate matches this, with delicious fruit, and good body/texture, but with excellent acidity throughout to keep it fresh. Lovely minerality on the long finish. This is really very good indeed for the pricepoint, and drinking beautifully now.

8/22/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Last of a half-case of these - the three middle ones have disappeared over the past few years without leaving any notes. This was slightly past its best. Full, golden colour. Still quite fruity on the nose, with maturing notes too (honeysuckle; hazelnuts); nothing vinegary. But coming apart a little on the palate, slightly fat and blowsy; the steel of its youth is gone. Moderate length. Nice mineral twist on the finish. Still pleasant, but on the way downhill.

7/28/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Not decanted. Youthful, glossy in the glass. Dark nose of young dark fruit and smoke; lacking the raspberry/cherry of a more mature Rioja but inviting nevertheless. Good structure on the palate - medium body - fruit acidity tannin and alcohol all in balance. Possibly lacks a bit of flesh, if being critical. Some length, but falters slightly. Good.

7/30/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Magnum. Decanted <1 hour. A good rich colour, betraying some development, but not mature. Slightly closed nose at first, eventually opens with work. A very classic Left Bank nose - to me this is not noticeably affected by the 2003 heatwave. Good entry, medium to medium-full body, good dark fruit. Very fine tannins. Lovely through the back-palate - good drying tannins, no excessive heat on the finish. Quite long. To me this is very pleasant - I had feared the worst having read of some 2003s that are already falling apart at the seams, but this is very classic claret, if slightly forward/generous for St Estephe. Drinking very well now. No need to wait, but equally this will still be drinking well in five years' time I feel. Very good.

7/27/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Four bottles of this six-pack all consumed over the course of a week's holiday. Youthful and light in the glass, faintly green at the edge. Delicate, fragrant note: not a blockbuster but some nice clean primary fruit. Delicate palate, emphasis on purity of fruit over body or complexity (unsurprising at this age?). Good acidity. Good plus. I will wait a while before trying another - I expect this to improve as it puts on weight.

4/5/2015 - Eating is Cheating Likes this wine:

Eighth bottle of a case, although it's been quite a while since the previous seven, and my tasting notes for those are intermittent. Decanted, but only about 30 minutes before served. Maturing somewhat in colour now - still a very deep blood-red core, but bricking slightly at the rim, like a claret. Signature nose of black cherries and tar/espresso elements, but also a more delicate, almost floral complexity dancing through the dark notes. Very promising. Good entry. Powerful flavour profile - those dark fruits again (prunes, black cherry); also dark chocolate/mocha. This is very harmoniously put together at this point in its evolution: fruit, acidity, tannin, alcohol (15%!) all knit together beautifully. Long and complex finish. This really is very good indeed, and in my view will easily go for another 5 years yet. Decant for longer next time.

4/5/2015 - Eating is Cheating Likes this wine:

Youthful colour - a light primrose with hints of green. Quite a delicate, mineral nose - some tropical fruit notes too (peach, lime), but they are subtle. Not fat or exotic. Good acidity: fresh and approachable but with a spine. Medium to medium/light in body. Good fruit if not very complex. Finish is fatter and more mouthcoating than the front-palate texture would have suggested. Lovely mineralité on the finish. This is good to very good for what it is. Buy more, and keep for 2-3 years to see how they develop.

4/5/2015 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

My first encounter with this wine in a while: initially had a case but this is the third-last bottle. I don't seem to have any previous tasting notes. Not decanted. Still quite a youthful appearance (dark; glossy; no bricking). Some earthy/mushroomy funk on the nose at first, but this blows off after a few minutes in the glass. It is replaced by dark fruits (black cherry; blueberry) and menthol/aniseed. Quite restrained. Closed down? The palate is hard to gauge - good acidity, still quite tannic, but the fruit is a bit of a no-show. Somewhat angular: certainly not a plush wine. Some good length, and there is a black-fruit flourish in the finish. Overall quite good, although lacking in "stuffing", and surprising that what fruit it has is very dark and very cool - not typical S Rhone to me. I find it hard to say whether this wine is going through an awkward/closed phase, or whether it's just symptomatic of the vintage. I will wait a while before opening another, and then do so alongside my final bottle of the 2006 for comparison reasons.

11/12/2011 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Decanted about an hour. Good solid Pauillac nose of cassis and tobacco. Palate in similar vein: quite concentrated without being over-extracted; well balanced; tannins largely resolved at this stage; acidity is good. Some red fruit flavours too, to go with the more predictable black ones. There is still plenty of fruit here - clearly could go for a while yet. Perhaps somewhat one-dimensional though (if one were being critical) - there is not enormous complexity here. This is solid claret, and highly enjoyable (albeit not inspiring). This was my last bottle, but I would buy more at the right price. Good plus.

11/12/2011 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Decanted 1.5 hours. Still a young colour (for a 25-year-old wine). Good, focused nose if not particularly intense - perhaps somewhat lacking in obvious fruit at this stage, but with secondary complexity. Nice entry on the palate, medium bodied; good acidity. Perhaps showing a loss of fruit at this stage (plus some oak notes / tannins which are not quite resolved). Good grip, vigour. A classy effort (except for the slight heavy-handedness with the oak), which is perhaps slightly on the wane at this stage. Still very good mind.

10/10/2011 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

[No formal notes. Half bottle (fifth of 12). Unfortunately this bottle resembles the third in the case more than the first, second or fourth. A deep (too-deep) colour, and slightly musty nose, ester or vinegar notes, suggesting oxidation. Palate continues the theme. Not entirely unpleasant (not everyone agrees there is anything wrong at all), but to me this is spoiled. A worrying trend emerging here.]

7/1/2011 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

[No formal notes: This half bottle (the fourth of a dozen) sees a return to form - none of the scary oxidised traits of the third bottle some months ago. Hopefully that was a blip.]

11/12/2011 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Quite chilled. This has been rested in bottle for nearly a year since purchase. Still a young colour, with a fine and persistent bead. Crisp, appley nose - quite clean and fruity/citrussy as opposed to yeasty. Nice medium body - sleek, not fat or oily. Quite substantial (lots of Pinot Noir in this blend). Good acidity, not excessive. Perhaps a tad lacking in fruit on the palate, but this is only nit-picking. Good persistence and length, with no bitterness. Lovely - very good indeed for the price tag.

7/20/2011 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

(Tasting note not contemporaneous.) Didn't decant this - probably should have. This wine was quite closed, particularly on the palate, with hefty tannins obscuring the fruit. To me, it also seemed overoaked: this was betrayed both on the nose (where the nutmeg/vanilla oak notes nearly drowned out what fruit there was) and on the palate (leading to a slightly astringent wine). If being generous, you could say this wine is too young, needs time to come together, and needs decanting. If being harsh, you might conclude that this a slightly lean (certainly very "classical") Pauillac which doesn't have the stuffing to carry off this degree of oak and tannin. I don't currently have any more bottles, so others will have to decide!

7/31/2011 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

(Tasting note not contemporaneous.) Not decanted. Claret/plum colour, some maturity but still some youthful luminosity. Lovely Graves nose: lots of smoke and earthy/foresty notes overlaying the primary Cabernet fruit. Smooth on the palate, integrating nicely; good black bramble fruits, and that Grave stoney character; tannins supporting the fruit and adding grip; good acidity. Intensity increases through the back palate. Long and more-ish. Well put together. Very good indeed. I have another bottle but there is certainly no rush to drink it.

10/30/2011 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

Medium-light red colour, delicate but quite luminous (not washed-out). Delicate, fragrant nose - raspberries and some cherries; quite primary but nonetheless inviting. The palate is perhaps less convincing - seems a bit thin to me, both in texture and in flavour/intensity. There are some simple red fruito notes, but it's a bit one-dimensional, verging on lean. I suppose one man's lean is another man's elegant; perhaps with more time in bottle this will put on some weight. It needs to (in my opinion). I appreciate this is "only" a generic Bourgogne and we must judge accordingly, but there is a waterinesss, a lack of intensity and a lack of grip here which is not really what I expected from this Domaine. Some peppery tannin on the (shortish) finish. Merely quite good. Hold remaining bottles for a couple of years.

2/21/2011 - Eating is Cheating wrote:

The second of my two bottles of this. I liked the first one. This one fared less well (although to be fair it was unfortunate to be consumed the day after I had attended an impressive Gevrey-Chambertin tasting). A light colour. The nose offers some nice red fruits, but it is a bit simple and one-dimensional. The palate is medium-bodied and has some grip - it is certainly not dilute or unripe - and gives pleasure. A bit short though. Again, no great complexity, nor is it apparent that any might emerge with cellaring. This makes for pleasant drinking, but next time, for a few quid extra I would probably opt for a Bourgogne AC from a leading producer, rather than the Berry's Own option. Quite good.