December 31, 2021 - Really coming along quite nicely. After a couple of hours the wine opened up and displayed good dark fruit character along with some good herbal notes. The tannins are integrating and the acid, while not pronounced, keeps things fresh.
Definitely in a good drinking window at the moment.
Drink now with a small decant and over the next few years.
April 5, 2020 - Plums, mint, anise, and lavender all rise from the glass with equal parts reticence and valor.
The medium bodied and fine grained juice displays fresh acid up front and drying tannins upon the finish.
The palate follows suite with the nose. Akin to slurping from a bowl of tart blackberries macerated with fresh tarragon, black pepper and assorted potpourri.
Really quite nice at the moment. Reading the previous notes I was concerned about the wine. I purchased 6 at the time and have been waiting to open the first one.
I am quite happy with this bottle. Drink 2021-2030
March 23, 2020 - Well, after last nights wine, this was a great choice rich and somewhat sweet, but very nice, last bottle from Garagiste.
January 22, 2020 - It may have had a rough start, but this has found its stride over the past year or so. The corners are rounder and the bouquet more harmonious and playful. The acidity isn't exactly plentiful, but at least the tannins have softened some to share the leading role with the nice berry and plum fruit. I wish I had a couple more bottles.
5+10+15+8= 88
November 6, 2019 - Not super impressed with this - but went nicely with a moroccan chicken/shasksouka combo. Dark ripe, with tasty acidity.
June 23, 2019 - A typical K&L wine selection that gets a ridiculous introductory price and then gets cleared out at 50%+ discounts.
This velvety wine with high alcohol content and already well-rounded tannins feels like a French experiment to manufacture for Californian wine tastes falling somewhere between a Malbec and a Zinfandel. Not as fruity as a Zinfandel, less tannic than a Malbec.
Dominated by Carignan allowed to fully ripen to provide the sugars and high alcohol content with just enough Syrah and Granache to contribute fruit.
Light-medium bodied but not a pizza/pasta wine since the low acidity doesn't let it cut through cheesy or creamy dishes. Best as an aperitif with dry munchies or with dry/roasted non-fatty meat dishes/tapas and unadorned vegetables.
Best consumed sooner than later.
January 12, 2019 - rossi.wine’s review is quite accurate. Very grippy with tannins and acidity, and there just seems to be an adolescent nature to the overall profile. Profound and beautiful nose. I would only add that I think this wine is just a baby and will pull together nicely with another 2 years of rest. I look forward to another try in 2021. 4+12+14+7= 86
November 18, 2018 - Blend of Carignan sourced from 80 year old vines plus some Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. Shows purity of fruit with black cherry and dark plum decorated by sweet spices. Concentrated and deep with velvety tannins.
November 18, 2018 - Concentrated fruit - plums, dark berries, cherries, spices, minerality on the nose. A little unbalanced on the palate - sweet fruit, lots of acidity, slightly drying tannins, heat. medium length. 86-88