April 22, 2024 - Dusty red fruit, herbal, some leather notes. This still shows quite young, but definitely has some tertiary development beginning. Very enjoyable.
October 31, 2022 - Still youthful and not yet at peak, though perhaps getting there. Nose is as expected for a 13 year-old Guion, showing both some sweet fruit, almost roasted, savory red pepper and that cool note that Guion always shows, and just a touch of autumn forest. The ripe vintage makes itself known in some initial sweetness on the palate but this is quickly washed away by acid structure, and a bit of tannin. Right away everything is speaking loudly, but in turn, here. Over several hours this goes strong, with no signs of fading. Excellent length carried on its acid structure. The palate retains that cool, refreshing note. Hard to say what the fruit is, but it's there, and, again, with some 2009 sweetness, not in a sense of any residual sugar, as there is none, but with some forward nature to the fruit. Color is pure garnet, like a gem, really. First hints of tertiary notes on this, so maybe the next few years is the time to drink. 2009 might not lend itself to particularly long aging, not because of a surplus of ripeness, though it seemed that way when the vintage came out, following in the paradigm of 2006-2008, but more because it doesn't have the thicker skinned tannic structure of 2010 or even 2008. A lovely drink, purchased for, IIRC, $13. I wonder how more recent, riper vintages will age in comparison. Glad I bought enough of these to drink over the years. Guion is a silly value if you want to follow the life of an age-worthy wine which can develop slowly but costs a pittance. I'm not saying it will ever be as profound as some wines, but it sure is pleasant and enjoyable for a price that beats most supermarket plonk. Sadly down to just one bottle left of this, maybe 2 of the '10 and 2 of the '08, unless there are a few hiding on me. I went deeper on 14/15 and have a good deal of 18/19 as well. For my taste, Guion remains an outrageous value, but one that requires a patience not at all commiserate with the modest price.
I only opened because I feared possible seepage or damage, as the label was coated in dried wine, but needn't have feared. Cork was perfect and capsule spun freely. Something else must have broken and/or leaked on this at some point. Not sure when or what wine it was, but this was completely sound.
If trying to describe this to someone who doesn't know the wine at all, I'd say it's not an objectively "great" wine, but one that provides so much pleasure for someone who wants to understand how a properly made traditional wine can age, and really just for anyone who loves wine itself.
December 29, 2021 - Pop and poured - beautiful nose, plush red fruits, a hint of cinnamon and spice - the wine is medium body with ample fruit - high acidity creates a mouth watering finish - quite nice and youthful.
December 6, 2021 - I stumbled upon this in the cellar - a nice surprise. On pop and pour, it was quite mute, but over time it opened up. On the second night open, there's a light nose of mainly black fruits with slight earthy and herbal notes. The medium bodied and rather lean and tannic palate shows a mix of mainly black and some red fruit with iron, tobacco and earthy notes. No green notes at all on the palate, but as noted, the acid and tannins are quite healthy. This could use some more time I think, but I notice many people are saying it is past the due date? Hard to say if the fruit is diminishing. Great QPR as always (B+).
May 28, 2021 - Tart, lean, green, mulchy, tomato leaf. Extremely difficult to enjoy and I like Cab Franc.
July 28, 2020 - FWS Review: Every time I drink Guion I wish I bought more, and I think I bought 6 of these... This has aged so gracefully. Tobacco, green pepper, menthol, black berries and so much more. This shows those organic earth aromas so beautifully. Could easily live another 5+ years, but I doubt this will get better, its just too good now!! This was my wine of the night with some wines that cost 3-5 times as much...
May 5, 2020 - This last bottle seemed quite green and on it's way to vinegar. I'm not sure if it was over the hill or that is just the way Loire cabernet franc ages.
August 19, 2019 - This bottle was really rocking, completely open but still youthful. Medium body, with a mulberry and green pepper nose. The palate adds some herb and is fairly elegant, even Bordeaux-like. Great value. Can last for years.
October 29, 2018 - Wholly fruitless. Guess I got off bottles, though they tasted fine on release.
August 9, 2018 - qpr is outstanding.....glad to have a few more of these in the cellar and it's a perfect example of a wine that can be aged vintage to vintage.