February 18, 2024 - Still requires aging but very pleasant
December 27, 2023 - PNP from magnum. This will be tasted over two days. Day 1 a glass poured at open. Some bricking in color, the nose is of earth, some green. On the palate there is red fruit but at this point the wine is a bit course and the structure on the finish shows a bit more than the fruit. It will be interesting to see what day 2 brings. Day 1 B+/A-? Day 2 this had rounded out a bit with more dark red fruit showing on the palate. The tannin is still there and yet it seems ripe enough and there is enough fruit here that this should age into a solid wine, perhaps even better than that. My guess is 3-5 years before worth trying again given the format. Day 2 A-. Day 3 (day 2 and 3 the wine was stored at room temp) there is a bit more showing on the nose, but the wine is starting to show some oxidation but nothing that worried me - was actually drinkable and had been stored 1/2 recorked at room temperature since day 1. I feel like a solid wine, maybe better, in the making. Try again in 3 years. A-
May 13, 2023 - From magnum. We had this from magnum 2 years ago and we rated 93 but on this day ( we had a long discussion in the group as to the bottle variation of this wine and that many times is underwhelming) was below the bar. Good wine still, soft earthy, polished wine with good energy but lacks magic and had a few sharp edges ( almost a green feel) on the finish. Good 91 but that’s all and we wonder if one should have this sooner than later.
April 25, 2023 - Clos des Epeneaux survey, part II (Chicago, IL): From magnum (of course). A whiff of light red fruit at first, but the palate felt dull. This picked up with air, showing quite some stern structure and relatively coarse tannins. Feels somewhat thinning on the palate as well; not convinced this is a particularly strong showing of this bottle. Perhaps more time would allow the structure to soften up? In any case, I won't be opening any of my bottles for at least another five years.
June 10, 2022 - (May warrant 93-94 over time)
(From magnum)
Very tightly wound at first, sappy. Took the unusual step of decanting it and clearly benefited from 1 hour. While still at the early stages of evolution, this was beautifully pure; concentrated without being dense or heavy; with notes of violets and sap. Enormous potential.
December 4, 2021 - From Magnum ( 2 very consistent magnums opened on the day) and this needed a good 10-15mintes to hit its full stride. Effortlessly pretty wine, soft and with a subtle feel, elegant in that way and with good yet in no way over done fruit. Soft red fruits, floral, juicy feel and really pretty. At a very good time to be enjoyed as well. 93
November 25, 2018 - Mostly Magnum Holiday Celebration (San Francisco): Magnum. Deep ruby. Black fruit and licorice. Medium bodied. Chewy black fruit and earth. Very early days, significant structure to resolve. This should turn out to be outstanding, but it will take another 10 years from this format.
February 6, 2018 - From magnum. Stunning but young nose - wow spice great cherry and berry fruit. Amazing purity. Bit of green. Lots of savory. Great cherry fruit and soil. Spicy towards end great finish. A lot of my score is potential but it's clearly there. Give it 10-20 years. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5+/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5/20.
March 6, 2015 - @Otto Suensson (magnum): Seems a little ordinary for the price.