4/16/2024 - PSide wrote:

Beautifully poised, fresh, vigorous and fruity with a firm finish. No sweetness here, a lovely wine. To pick nits, a little anonymous - blind I couldn't tell you where it was from - but utterly lovely.

3/4/2024 - PSide wrote:

Badly oxidised

1/1/2024 - PSide Likes this wine:

Lovely nose here, and top quality drinking. But fruit is beginning to dry out, time to drink up.

1/1/2024 - PSide wrote:

Brett AND corked ! :-(
Replaced with a brilliant Littorai Thieriot 2004

9/28/2023 - PSide wrote:

TCA. Not terrible, but dead nose, hollowed out palate, some hints of cardboard. Assume this will get worse with air ...

1/26/2021 - PSide wrote:

TCA

4/21/2020 - PSide wrote:

TCA

10/24/2019 - PSide wrote:

corked

10/18/2019 - PSide wrote:

Medium-pale blood-ruby, youngish appearance still. Crisp light cranberry and pomegranate fruit on the nose, maybe a whisper of greenness too. Smooth and supple mouth entry, quite lush red toned fruit (raspberry/cranberry). A slight herbal twist too, but nonetheless enjoyable. Medium length finish with great balance. Very well made, just a bit too edgy for me.

7/4/2018 - PSide wrote:

Lovely nose, classic Himmelreich. Starts off pure and tasty but fills out in the mouth, and then fills out some more; almost honeyed on the finish. Much richer than usual for a WS Kabinett, but held in check by the acidity and still absolutely delicious. Careful food matching required !

12/3/2017 - PSide wrote:

A fabulous showing tonight. Served blind. Decanted an hour beforehand, but reached it's peak after 2 hours in the decanter. Sweet pineapple and popcorn notes at first made everyone call CA, but it got purer, more precise, less tropical and a touch lactic over time. A complex and delicious drop that knocked spots off the (admittedly wooden and ponderous) 01 Leflaive Chevalier it was paired with.

10/4/2014 - PSide wrote:

Low level, cork fell in when touched with a corkscrew, but marvellous ! Deep bright ruby/plum at the core albeit with a wide thinner and bricked rim. Breathed up even better than when first opened - cedar wood, fresh ground coffee and ripe plums. Really smooth mouth entry but then light and ethereal in the mouth. Despite that elegance the flavours are really saturating ... very saline and still fruity (plums again). Tremendously pleasing; I would re-buy without hesitating, even though in objective terms it's only a ****

7/4/2014 - PSide wrote:

Nice enough, with good cut but also a distinct caramel edge which suggests it is on its way out.

4/28/2014 - PSide wrote:

Some nice fruit at the core but this is a tight hard ball of a wine still all wrapped up with lashings of dry oaky tannins. I'll keep the rest another 5 years and hope...

10/25/2009 - PSide wrote:

Medium-gold touched with amber. Broad, nutty, slightly sherried nose. Quite full in the mouth, with a slight lactic touch and bright citric acidity. Became more expressive with time (not sure whether this was air or warming) showing a trace of buttery apple fruit over a firm, stony, nutty core. Still a touch of sherry/oxidation on the finish. Delightful with food after it had warmed up, but this will never be a standout wine. **

10/27/2008 - PSide wrote:

Lovely robust red-fruited nose - mature but vibrant. Perfectly poised mouth entry : full and rustic but with enough acidity to give it a sense of lightness. Sweet red fruit and lovely balance in the mouth and a tingly long finish. 5-

9/30/2008 - PSide wrote:

Quite pale cherry red, with a luminous quality. Very narrow paler rim showing just a little brick. Nose is light and beautifully perfumed with red cherry fruit and a little earthiness. Quite lithe. Mouth entry is broad and sweet with good freshness. Mid-palate shows round and ripe fruit with real depth to it and a very mineral character. It also has a very savoury, even astringent edge to it. Finish is long, though rather lean and marred (for me at least) by dominance of the savoury element. Very enjoyable in a "light and pure" style, but for me doesn't achieve greatness due to a lack of density and the astringency. A solid ***. If I had more, I would revisit in 18 months to decide whether the fruit is coming back or the astringency is winning out.

7/28/2008 - PSide wrote:

Sorry no notes taken - we just enjoyed it too much. Full and lemony, bone dry on the finish, it was a lovely (though undemanding) white Graves. Drinking beautifully today, the enjoyment was greater than a dispassionate analysis permits the points to be. And a bargain BTW.

6/18/2008 - PSide wrote:

Very, very, deep ruby, still a touch purplish. Youthful looking rim. Nose is intensely meaty and juicy - with bacon and bramble fruit. Has great richness and also some depth to it - though at the very bottom are touches of kirsch and sweaty horses that aren't to my taste. Very impressive, but not finely hewn. Mouth entry is big and full, but perfectly framed with tannic structure and good acidity. Mid-palate shows a rather gamey (probably horsemeat) edge but has luscious fruit and a nice leathery, earthy character. Very long and fruity finish. This is bordering on the feral and I would drink over the next year or two because - assuming it gets "wilder" with age - it will become too unbalanced for me.

6/17/2008 - PSide wrote:

Very deep ruby, barely any paler rim. On opening, an incredibly intense nose of smoky bacon crisps. This is soon filled out with chocolatey plums and touches of dry earth and lavender. Good/impressive, but not delightful. Full and firm with sweet ripe fruit on the mouth entry. Mid-palate shows good earthy tannic structure and nice depth. Finishes quite fresh and long, but with a touch of drying tannins. Decent quality, but doesn't excite, and for my tastes not yet ready.

5/1/2008 - PSide wrote:

Bright purplish ruby, not much density to it, but carries right up to the rim. Nose is fresh vigorous and earthy, with some spice and warm green fruit that makes me think of baked apples over a brambly fruit base. Crisp and pleasing, but lacks a little substance.
Mouth entry is clean and fresh, reminiscent of cherryade. Mid-palate is fairly light and shows a little leafmould, but otherwise much the same. Lingering earthy, spicy, cherry fruit on the finish.
No great shakes, but very pleasing and good for what it is. One * in my book. On this showing, I would drink it this year.

3/27/2008 - PSide wrote:

Pale, anaemic, and pretty uninteresting. At least not unpleasant ! Quite sweet and spirity, but nice touches of pruney fruit.

3/27/2008 - PSide wrote:

No note taken, but was drinking very nicely.

3/11/2008 - PSide wrote:

Low-level TCA meant that this was stripped of fruit and beauty. The body, balance and structure are still discernibly superb on the finish. Must find more.....

11/23/2007 - PSide wrote:

Light nutty nose – suggests maturity, a touch of sherry too. Palate is clean and crisp – light appley fruit and a touch of honeyed spice. Not long or classy, but nice. *

12/17/2007 - PSide wrote:

Pale straw. Nose initially melon, giving way to a very waxy apricot fruit. Nice, but not thrilling. In the mouth it seems a little soft, there is nice acidity, but it isn't happening somehow. Really quite sweet, with rich apricot fruit, honey notes and touches of diesel on the finish. For me, just too much residual sugar for the depth of flavour. I can't see this getting any better, so drink up.

12/6/2007 - PSide wrote:

Poor.

12/6/2007 - PSide wrote:

Fairly pale ruby, mature looking despite no discernible browning. The nose is full and spicy, with very ripe black fruit beneath, but no real lift or definition to it. The mouth entry seems quite flat. There is decent quality fruit and good balance, but no distinction to it. Quite ripe fruit and a touch of madeirisation on the mid-palate. Finish is a little tangy but not long. Condition was good and I don’t suspect the storage, so I assume this is a representative bottle. Adequate, but no more. No stars.

12/6/2007 - PSide wrote:

Medium tawny blood red. The nose is quite flat on opening but after a few hours opens to reveal a delightful woodland and black cherry aroma, with floral and spicy touches. Very Vosne, but very oaky. The palate entry is sweet and a little oxidised, but fills out with red fruit and earthiness. Prominent acidity. Quite short on the finish. OK, but no flair to it, and no prospects. *

12/6/2007 - PSide wrote:

Nice clear medium ruby - just a touch of tawniness - with a wide paler rim. Nose is very broad and quite rustic - solid black fruits and sousbois. Delightful but not really fine. Mouth entry is quite fresh, medium weight with red/black fruits and good acidity. A touch of earthiness as the fruit fills to the midpalate then tapers away to a nice but simple finish with a touch of drying tannin. **

11/23/2007 - PSide wrote:

Pale straw. Quite rich and oily nose, with a floral touch. Takes about half an hour to open up properly to a really rich and spicy nose. Lovely cool poised mouth entry, very spicy and complex. Quite full and a long finish. Excellent. ****

11/23/2007 - PSide wrote:

Nice mid ruby, barely any paler rim – just a touch of age showing. Lovely fresh Pinot fruit, a touch of spice and sousbois. In the mouth this is seamless and silky smooth, but a little lacking in acidity. Very classy finish with sweet fruit and a touch of earth. ****

11/23/2007 - PSide wrote:

Quite pale ruby, but beautiful intensity. Quite broad paler rim, touched with orange. Lovely floral soft red fruit on the nose, just a touch of sousbois. Really supple and fresh in the mouth : good acidity, rich fruit and leafmould. Drinking really well today but still with a long life ahead. ****

11/23/2007 - PSide wrote:

Deep ruby, slight paler rim. Very fine nose – perfumed, floral, and yet meaty. Quite big mouth entry – broad red fruit with a dark earthy undertow. Big and quite tannic on the mid-palate, and through to the finish. Needs several more years. ***

11/24/2007 - PSide wrote:

Bright pale ruby. Big paler rim, but good density. Just a touch tawny throughout. Slightly square, rustic, nose with nice red & black fruit and a touch of cocoa butter. Palate entry is quite full and smooth though again with a rustic edge and herbal undertones. Good long finish. Not classy, but savoury, rustic and interesting. **

11/23/2007 - PSide wrote:

Bright vibrant ruby; good density of colour to the rim. Lovely fragrant nose - violets, red fruit and a little spice. With a little air it becomes bigger, bolder, and spicier. Smooth mouth entry with good acidity and cherry fruit. Warm and spicy mid-palate with earthy cherry flavours. Finish is medium length and nicely balanced. ** Will still improve.

11/28/2007 - PSide wrote:

Meaty ruby. Dark, meaty, chocolatey, black fruit on the nose. Quite reticent still. Cool sweet fruit on the mouth entry, then building with spice and meat. Really quite full. The finish is long and taut. Excellent, and should improve further. ****

11/28/2007 - PSide wrote:

Bright meaty ruby - a touch paler at the rim. Lovely nose - floral topnotes with rich, gamey, dark cherry fruit. Very classy. Mouth entry is very well balanced. Firm and meaty with a spicy edge to it and a long slightly gamey finish. Slightly edgy, slightly bitter, but very good. ***

11/19/2007 - PSide wrote:

Nice limpid ruby, touch of tawniness throughout and good colour through to the rim. Nose is lovely with floral and spicy notes, robust blackberry fruit and a touch of beetroot. Lacks the precision and penetration of a great wine, but very pleasing. Mouth entry is soft - even unfocussed - leading to a mid-palate of gentle spicy red fruit. The finish is really a gentle fading, with just a touch of tannin adding a tanginess. Pleasing and still fresh, but not a great wine. **

11/11/2007 - PSide wrote:

Nice fruit and oak, but the alcohol is actually unpleasantly intrusive (14.5%).

11/6/2007 - PSide wrote:

Bright medium ruby. Attractive earthy nose, fronted with oaky spice. Quite light summer fruits - raspberry, redcurrant, cherry - and a touch of gaminess. Mouth entry is clean, refreshing red fruit. Fairly lightweight, but builds nicely to a just medium bodied midpalate of red fruit and spicy earth. It is the savoury, earthy element that lingers on the clean, fairly short finish. ** Good and very enjoyable, but not the sort of wine that creates converts to Burgundy !

11/2/2007 - PSide wrote:

Medium purplish ruby. Good colour to rim. Oak led, but still delightful nose, reminiscent of a fruit garden - floral touches, sweet red fruit and a hint of clean earth. Mouth entry is full and sweet yet maintains good structure. This just flows through a ripe, autumnal mid-palate to a long perfectly balanced finish. Very classy, and not at all over-extracted. ****

10/30/2007 - PSide wrote:

Medium ruby. Quite broad paler rim, but still very youthful in colour. Fresh, spicy nose. Very earthy with sweet strawberry and sour cherry fruit beneath. Mouth entry is cool and clean - first impressions are dusty earthy sweet red fruit. As fruit builds on the midpalate a really savoury element appears, then lingers on a good length finish. Quite slender, but very good for what it is. **

10/22/2007 - PSide wrote:

Quite dark toned ruby, quite full colour to the rim, with just a trace of orange. Nose is on the heavy side (but not ponderous) with nice fresh raspberry fruit, oak spice and a sort of woodland path smell. Very smooth and a touch sweet on the mouth entry. Really quite full bodied, with good acidity and a real spiciness to it. Solid structure with flavours of dark fruits, chocolate and leather. Medium length on the finish, but nicely balanced. **

10/19/2007 - PSide wrote:

Medium blood red, no paler rim. Nose really quite closed. In the mouth, soft and fluid, spacious yet with good acidity. Medium full, slightly obtrusive tannins. Slightly peppery and with distinct alcoholic warmth, but good length. 4-

10/19/2007 - PSide wrote:

Fine colour - pale blood, just a touch of mahogany. Lovely nose - soft cherry fruit, real meatiness and a touch of spice. Soft and velvety mouth entry but with really zingy acidity behind. Quite full and black cherry fruity. Good spiciness and a long finish. Just a bit too warm and concocted for me. 3+

10/19/2007 - PSide wrote:

Bright purplish ruby - no rim to speak of. Nice plummy fruit on the nose. A leathery, earthy, touch. Very classy. Beautifully lucid mouth entry - great transparency and a rich, bright, ripe, acidity. Medium/full plum and rapsberry fruit. Just flows through to a big, long, finish. No excessive sweetness or alcohol. Really excellent today : should be superb in another 5 or 6 years. 4+

10/12/2007 - PSide wrote:

Quite full and aged looking blood red, but no browning to note really. Nose is an instant hit of pinosity - lovely violet notes, blood, a touch of VA and meatiness with great autumnal hedgerow scents underneath. Palate entry is really sweet and yet incisive - there's great acidity and rich red fruit underlaid by lots of spiciness and a touch of chocolate.

10/17/2007 - PSide wrote:

Lovely limpid ruby. Quite broad paler rim, but no sign of browning. Nose is delightful - oaky spice and minerality over rich bright cherry fruit. Worthy of many sniffs. Mouth entry is smooth and touched with sousbois. Mid-palate is medium bodied, earth and cherry, with a touch of green acidity that keeps a freshness running right through to a decent length finish.

10/12/2007 - PSide wrote:

NE Offline
10 years past the back-label drink by date ! Dark but clean amber/brown. Nose is quite fresh, nice touches of orange and raisins. Quite light - even a bit dilute - on the palate, but very tasty and refreshing. Nice clean finish. 3