January 12, 2024 - Still going strong. Distinctive aromatics. Really, really good.
October 27, 2022 - Not sure if I waited too long to open. Still has plenty of spice, some muted but pleasant red fruit. Overall, enjoyable.
October 25, 2022 - 45 min decant.
V - medium ruby with garnet edges on med meniscus. High viscosity
N of match, sulfur, tar, red fruit and a hint of baking spice.
P - more evergreen and asphalt with dark raspberry and cherry mid palate. med+ length on the finish with med+ complexity.
September 20, 2022 - The 2014 Family Bésoleil opens slowly in the glass with a mix of medicinal strawberry, plum sauce, grilled sage and smoke. It’s silky and pure with a pleasant inner sweetness that’s nicely offset by mineral-tinged red fruits while taking on a bit of a sour twang toward the close. Cherry pits, hints of orange rind and bitter savory spice lingers as the 2014 finishes with admirable length yet still youthful and edgy. You could easily sneak this into a Southern Rhine blind tasting. The Bésoleil is a blend of 33% Grenache, 24% Counoise, 20% Syrah, 17% Cinsault, and 6% Mourvèdre.
August 11, 2022 - Currant and slight strawberry on the nose, very little fruit on the pallet. Mineral, currant, violet, choke cherry, high acid. Enjoyed but likely not a crowd pleaser.
September 3, 2021 - This bottle started off nice, but became quickly dominated by acids and a few tannins (fruit disappeared). Rating was associated with first tastes.
June 12, 2021 - Clear ruby in the glass that is closer to a Pinot than a Cab.
Nose is dark and earthy. Smoke and embers. Dark and enticing.
Palate is dark and still youthful. I can see this needing another 5 years to get silky. There's still some prominent tannic bite that shows up front. The mid-palate is nice and smooth though and it leads to a nice, long, smooth, dark finish. I want another sip.
It paired well with beef. Food really played well with this wine.
Would buy again.
June 9, 2021 - This wine was dominated by acids and tannins, but the fruit was still there. Rating is for the 2nd day where the wine was decidedly more pleasant. That said we don't think the wine has any significant life left and would drink by 2022 or earlier.
April 28, 2021 - Really enjoyable GSM blend with violets, black fruits, smoked meat, black pepper, and a hint smoke. Softer tannins and elevated acidity
April 24, 2021 - On the nose celery, rock/quartz, toned down red fruit. On the palate there is more minerality, more of the celery, herbs, light red fruit, cranberries. Light body, light tannins. Thin, not that impressive.