October 5, 2021 - This is absolutely the opposite of the silicone boob job in so many garage wines, and this is neither a liquefied version of a dark chocolate cereal bar. Instead this is a true hedonist dream. Beautiful perfumes of red berries, plums and tobacco leaves are followed by a silky, refined and opulent mouthfeel...this is liquid velvet carried by a fresh backbone of elegant tannins. The finish is fresh and soft, persisting gently in the mouth. It is a very fine wine of grace and refinement yet with a strong personality, and well ahead of its time. Chapeau to Francois Mitjaville for this gem in such a bad vintage!
September 4, 2021 - Party at YB's Pine Close. Drank in Grassl 1855.
Apearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour with thin garnet rim. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of ripe cherries, ripe plums, licorice, coffee. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (13.5%), smooth rounded integrated high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of blackberries, ripe black cherries, ripe black plums, sweet earth, integrated oak spices, bitter coffeebean, dark licorice. Long finish.
Very good quality. Excellent Right Bank drinking so well now. Suprisingly good for an off vintage. Ripe yet elegant. Time to drink up and enjoy.
August 8, 2021 - Really nice wine - smooth, fruit, balance and good length. Sweet spot now and 1-2 more years I guess. Elegant Bordeaux!
February 14, 2021 - 89 - Moss, wet wood. Blackberry, dark fruit
February 7, 2021 - Very nice bouquet, still a lot of gentle tannins. Decanted appr 2 hours. Very approachable. Really delivered. However, drink now do not wait.
March 3, 2019 - The Winefield's pre-sale tasting (Auction location: Kamerlingh Onnesstraat 22, Amsterdam): Still a deep colour, ripe bouquet, nice acidity, spicy even juicy; the tannins confirm the unripeness of the vintage; no top, but very nice drinking.
February 22, 2019 - Another lovely bottle backing up initlal impressions.
December 28, 2018 - Fantastic classic nose and palate. Very enjoyable and drinking well.
Community notes said best drunk from 2000 - 2009 but this was lovely and I’m sure has a few years left.
Good relative value and if you have one worth cracking open.
July 9, 2018 - I did neglect to take a detailed note on the day, but this was a lovely, complete, complex, fully mature St. Emilion built along classic proportions - plum, mineral, leather, cedar, loam. Just delightful. Fully mature now and, while this shouldn't likely evolve further, it won't drop off rapidly either. Francois Mitjavile opened this when I visited the chateau to demonstrate the terroir's capacity to yield great wines (guided by his extraordinary vision) in difficult years - point made.
June 3, 2018 - BBQ at The Papies (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): Opened and left to rest for a good 30 minutes before served. We did not feel it needed decanting albeit one needs to be careful with the sediment here.
Very elegant wine, complex and true to our rule of thumb that Mitjavile makes very good wines in off vintages ( we like his off vintages more than the richer ones). Savory wine, good earthy touches but still with an undertone of rich & ripe fruit . Very good and effortlessly beautiful. 94 and drinks superbly now.