10/2/2015 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Decent structure for its pricepoint, but fails to deliver any personality or quality fruit. A touch of cedar almost lends a cooked notion to the fruit on the nose/palate. Overall, average at best, this is one I'd avoid. What happened to this house?

7/8/2015 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Great wine, but disagree w/ others on its youthfulness; wouldn't hold past 2016 or so...

4/21/2012 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Consistent w/ 6/13/2011 note. Great stuff. Sorry to see them go.

4/21/2012 - CdP in NYC wrote:

These are done. Should have enjoyed the lot back in 2010. Two more bottles showing nothing but tannins and faded fruit. Oh well--great in it's youth. I'd seek out the '09s.

4/21/2012 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Consistent w/ 5/25/11 note. These continue on their slow and steady decline, but still offer a fabulous experience. Enormous and complex nose of dark fruit, forest floor, cedar and baking spices. Smooth and fat on the palate with a lengthy finish, though the fruit doesn't show as exciting as it did back in '09. I'll drink my last before the end of the year.

4/21/2012 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Gorgeous aromatics pop after lots of air. Hopefully time on its side will fatten this up, as it's a touch thin. Still, it has exceptional balance and loads of class. If you're sitting on some of the 04's, I'd crack one of those open in leiu of this. I find the 04's to be drinking exceptionally well right now.
Hold. 90+

4/21/2012 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Last of the case. consistent w/ other bottles. Continues to age well, but this is about at its peak. A lot of complexity and class for the price point.

4/21/2012 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Full, deep and rich. Big, tarry dark fruit palate. Long, muscular finish. Will drink well for a while, but i prefer these somewhat youthful.

12/29/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Consistent w/ 3/13/2010 tasting. Big time espresso as well. This is a thing of beauty.

12/29/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Consistent w/ prior note. Based on other reviews, maybe I just have some lousy bottles.

12/10/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

This was my 4th or 5th bottle of this over the last two years. Not much to add to the other notes ou tthere. I just felt like the heat in this wine brought an otherwise fantastic wine down substantially. It's big and tastey, but just disjointed and hot. Maybe another few years will sort it out, but i wouldn't count on it. 87

12/10/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Not quite what i'm looking for in a malbec; however, this was an excellent showing. Blackberry, plum, mocha, toasted oak, and hints of leather and spices. Classy and refined on the palate showing nice fruit, oak and hints of cinnamon. Excellent, but didn't have the depth and concentration i was expecting. When it comes to malbec, i prefer a more obvious, upfront style. 89

11/25/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Definitely the wine of the weekend for our family. Big, classic St Emilion nose of earthy barnyard, coffee, chocolate, dark berry fruit and plums. Medium to full on the palate, showing balanced fruit and oak with a long finish, which is still quite tightly knit. While this is drinking nicely now w/ the right amount of air, I'd give it another three to five years to unwind. 93+

11/20/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Opening for an extented bottle decant. One of the many wines for the Thanksgiving line-up. Initial impressions are strong. Always love pulling a cork that oozes black goo. Almost wondering if it needs this long as the nose is quite open and showing loads of earth. I didn't have high hopes for this one, but now I do.
Detailed notes to follow in the coming week...

11/20/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Twelve hour bottle decant followed by another two in the decanter. This is an extremely classy wine. Young and perhaps a bit austere, but has all the components to go the long haul. Black and red fruits shying behind earthy roasted herbs, soil and mineral notes. Medium bodied and long. Probably best enjoyed 2015 - 2020. A great reminder that no one does Grenache like the French. Love it.

Drink now or hold. 91+

11/16/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Last bottle was two years ago. Time has been good. Dark crimson/magenta with a big time nose of ripe raspberry, currant, smokey charcoal, and mint. Delivers a sweet punch of fruit along with tarry Chilean smoke and roasted mint. Broad in the mouth finishing fairly long. Great balance of fruit/wood/acid, with each finish begging for another sip.
Goregous stuff - good for the next five years+. 93.

11/16/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Consistent w/ prior note, but not given enough air to plump up.

11/16/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Huge, rich boysenberry, blueberry, raspberry. Phenomenal acidity keeping an otherwise massively syrupy juice light, lively, and young. Unbelievable long, penetrating layered finish. This tastes soooo good now, but has enormous structure to keep it kicking around for another two+ decades.

Hang on to this one. 94-96

11/16/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

24-hr bottle decant, followed by vinturi into wide based decanter. Another two hours of air and a final vinturi into the glass. Exactly what this needed. As hoped for and anticipated, this delivered flowers, black and blue fruit, some burning embers and mineral. Power and elegance. Next bottle? Maybe three years down the line.

Hold. 94-96.

10/25/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

The rest of these were duds...Wine Library...i can never trust the bargains there.

10/25/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Believe the hype. This is intensely mineral driven with loads of pulverized granite. Rock, birch, steely cherry, and fresh cut marjoram round out the palate on this sensation effort. Probably best through 2015.

10/25/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

No rush on these if you have them. Over the last two years this has turned the corner a bit...started oak driven and now becoming more mineral driven. Worth popping one open for reference now, then another in a year or so.

10/25/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Far and away the best of the bunch; and shame on me for not taking my own advice and holding off on these until now. Exceptional value here--now flamboyantly showing its tertiary notes. Loads of earth and wet leather around a cherry and cassis core. Nice depth with enough acidity to keep it from feeling heavy. This will drink well for another five years, but will best be enjoyed over the next two or three. Enjoy!

10/25/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

As good or slightly better than the last. Enjoyed by all.

10/25/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Consistent w/ 11/24/09 note. Outstanding wine--still has another decade of life and development. This was my last, but would love the opportunity to taste again in five or ten years. I'm sure it would be a stunner.

8/15/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Really tastey...but for my palate, I more enjoy the terroir of Seneca/Keuka reislings...not to mention their price points.

8/10/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

About as exceptional as the last bottle. Again, best on day three.

8/10/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Another winner.

8/10/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Wet slate, toast, barnyard, tart berry, herbal nose. Delivers the same on the palate; long and complex. I like it. 91+

8/10/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Consistent w/ prior notes. Has a great freshness--even after a few days of air.

8/10/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Best on day three.

8/8/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Again consistent. My cup of tea.

7/28/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Super floral with bright, vivid, creamy fruits. Raspberry, boysenberry, blueberry, candied orange peel, pit fruit, creamy oak palate. An indeterminably long finish wraps up this amazing package. Good for the next six years.

Looking at this note vis-a-vis my last shows how much my palate has changed over the last two years...not to mention how nicely time has treated these.

7/28/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Had this one about two years ago and it was far too tight for my palate. Time has done wonders. Open, soft, and delicious. Bright and creamy cherry and red/black currant, floral/herbal--almost Provencal. Long, sweet, chocolatey, smooth, seamless finish. I love it. Good for the next four to six years.

7/28/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

I think i'd typically go 90 on this, but it was up against some fierce competition.
Terrific balance and just the perfect steak wine. I prefer the 06 to the 07. Great for drinking over the next five or six years.

7/28/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Two years has done this wonders. Enormous, yet with so much polish; I find the most remarkable is how weightless it feels and how effortless it is to drink. Soooooo dangerous. Why the hell didn't i buy a case.

Drink now and over the next five. 94

7/25/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Pretty awkward right now...i'd hold out for a while--maybe 2+ years.

7/17/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

I have to disagree w/ the others. Maybe I bought some off bottles, but this has yet to do it for me. Great aromatics, but the fruit seems a bit tired and encumbered by the tannins. It's varietally correct, it comes with a sense of place, but it's not what i'd expect from this house in a strong vintage. 86

7/17/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Consistent w/ prior note. Head to head against the Copain Tous Ensemble of the same year, this was the clear winner. The other three I dined with agreed.

7/17/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

These last two were more up to par w/ the original than the last was. Loads of cherries, raspberries, pomegranates and plums--bordering on ripe with cola and a hint of toasted oak and earth through the finish. Still has quite a bit of time ahead of it. 88+

7/17/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Consistently excellent.

6/17/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

I paid 25USD for this, which seemed appropriate, though not enough to get me excited. Then i see it typically sells for about 15USD--which seems like a huge bargain; i mean this is no doubt a real deal Bordeaux. Nice aromas of blackberry pie and underbrush with a key note of crushed granite. Hits the palate with good concentration, while feeling soft and exceptionally smooth. With time it really opens. Coats the palate and becomes full, but never aggressive. Just plush, gentle, and smooth. Soft tannins are enough to hide some nuance, but never enough to distract from the overall delicate, full, and beautiful presentation. Probably best enjoyed early on. Drink over the next three years. 90.

6/13/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Consistent w/ note from a year ago. Fabulous stuff!

6/13/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Consistent w/ prior notes. Keep on holding these guys for another year +.
Beautiful wine. Wish i had more at the sticker price; would have been a wise case-buy.

6/13/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Arguably the best wine I've tasted. Massive black and red currant, blackberry, cedar, Asian five spice on both the nose and the palate. But the palate just does not quit, and echoes wave after wave or fruit, wood, spice and mint. Unbelievable long, deep, full and satisfying. This is a masterpiece and will continue to improve.

Drink now or hold. 95+

6/13/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Substantially better than other bottles. Was showing some good herbal quality (almost Languedoc) and minerality beneath the still massive (but more balanced) fruit.

6/13/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Sorry to see my last go, but this remains a fantastic wine. Love the new worlds w/ old world twists. Will always be a classic in my memories!

6/13/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

It's official: I'm excited about 2009 Bordeaux. This bargain Medoc poors thick and black with a ruby rim and has a big nose of red currant, cedar, crushed rock, spicey oak and iodine. The wine presents beautifully on the palate showing the promise of the nose. This is modern and hugely concentrated, yet its exceptional balance of fruit, tannin and acidity makes it seem elegant and lithe--almost to the point of delicate.

This definitely has the structure for additional development, but there's no sin in popping them over the next two years, which is what I would opt for doing.

Drink now and over the next six years. 90+

5/29/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Macerated strawberry and cherry on the nose w/ significant heat. Definitely fresher than the last bottle, but really not up to the original. I find wines purchased from Cinderellla Wine and Wine Library to be inconsistent at best. I would avoid this discount retailer.

5/29/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote:

Had this about two years ago and was relatively unimpressed (with respect to the high praise). This bottle is a completely different beast. Massive but extremely well balanced. Smoked meat, sulfur, and zounds of raspberry, cranberry, bing cherry, and newly cut oak. This is still so young and fresh but more obviously beautiful. Clean, pure, and precise on the palate, delivering the promise of the nose and lasting over a minute. This is stellar; it's no wonder this is trading at double it's original offering price. Drink now and over the next ten years. 94