August 30, 2023 - Terrific now, exactly what I want in a modest bordeaux --- deeply flavorful with a fine sour edge, duly complex and richly finishing to the extent that it is hard to believe it's only merlot. Not a big nose, but a fancier reviewer than I speaks of its 'iron-laced satin', a phrase worth recycling for sure.
I have had good luck w cotes de bordeaux over the last 45y, and this is one peak without question. Refreshing, crisp, strong, dark and sour, with zero grapy roundedness. Actually probably has some years left.
I will note (this is an edit / add after night 2) that it tastes quite like any number of other equally tasty bordeaux. So I guess part of my enthusiasm is that I have been drinking a lot of my fancier 2015s the last half-year, and alas many of them (however pleasing) have been kind of imbalanced to my taste, with different overall tendencies toward thickness, fruitiness, grapiness, ... unrefreshing. Not this guy. So possibly discount my findings a little or put them in that context.
March 5, 2022 - Top!!!
October 14, 2021 - Simple but good value ...
March 13, 2021 - Appearance: Med Ruby
Nose: Med Intensity, dark plum, leather, dark cherry, nutmeg, cedar, developing.
Palate: Dry, high acidity, high tannins (chalky), high alcohol, med+ body, med+ flavour intensity, dark cherry, rusty, med+finish.
Overall, very good. Superb value for money!
March 8, 2021 - Paid $21. This is a solid Bordeaux for rich pasta dishes. Do not expect more. My wife calls it the working man's Bordeaux. I agree. We have been drinking it since the 1980s.
February 19, 2021 - Decanted two hours. Dark ruby color. Black cherry, leather, damp earth (my wife said “wet puppy,” but in a positive way). Medium minus body, medium acid. Tannins are present but pretty finely grained.
December 18, 2020 - Deep, dark purple out to almost the edge. Strong alcohol and pepper, a slight rockiness in the aroma. Dry dry dry, more slate, maybe a note of anise, faint dark fruit. Tannins are fairly soft. Still could use some more time to age and round off but drinkable now with the usual Bordeaux matches to temper the bigger aspects.
October 16, 2020 - Solid value. Interesting ripe nose of sweet blackberry, plum, cloves, nutmeg, mixed spice and pepper. Ripe and luscious with just a hint of earth / mushroom /undergrowth. Juicy palate with some tartness (black cherry?) and powerful tannin. Quite a full, sweet flavour (plum, marzipan?), finishing with coffee and some alcohol. Quite a ride for £15!
July 12, 2020 - Long, alcoholic legs in the glass, with a nose that hints at spring flowers and sweet cherries, and then moves into smoky , herbal/ menthol , and vanilla infused plums. On the palate , acid is still there, as are the dusty tannins, and the relatively high alcohol - smooth,. but with dry flavours of cocoa and coffee beans. The assertive tannins , and high alcohol levels went well with char-grilled steak . Give it an hour's decant to soften the tannins . Will try my next bottle in a couple of years . Will develop over the next 5-8 years.
June 25, 2020 - Cherries, earth, slight white pepper on finish. Slightly drying tannins. Nice QPR