April 15, 2024 - Initially had a bit of a hard, greenish edge to the finish, but happily this vanished after a couple of hours in the decanter. Fleshy with plenty of ripe fruit. A delight today, and a potential killer if the years bring more complexity. Outstanding QPR, borderline 92.
March 30, 2024 - Another IN YOUR FACE!!! special. In a loud and vivacious style. It tries for restraint, particularly at the back, but does not quite pull it off, owing to a greenish bite. Best with food.
October 30, 2023 - A pleasant well-made Rhone for the price, but there are many like this for less.
September 12, 2023 - Day 1: Plum and cherry on the nose, showing an unpleasant asphalt edge in the mouth. It mostly disappears on the finish, which lingers long. 87 pts.
Day 2: Much better after 24 hours. Asphalt overtones are toned down/gone. Leaving low score intact because most wine is consumed on day 1. Day 2 score = 90 pts.
September 5, 2023 - From a magnum. Ninety-minute decant through a screened and aerating funnel. Slight sediment in the screen. Dark fruit aromas during decant. Fresher, denser and smoother than the bottle I drank on 10-14-2021. The wine seems to be getting better. More flowers in the nose, more fruit in the mouth. The same aroma and flavor profiles in my earlier bottle were all here but just more profound this time. Hence the higher score. Many years left in the magnum format.
July 30, 2023 - Well made but bland. Seems to be the theme of Mr. Xavier's wines.
July 23, 2023 - Decanted for 30 min or so. Berries, oak and toast on the nose. Smooth, sweet red fruit, oak, minerals, acid, hints of tannin in the finish. Light to medium bodied, well balanced, and easy to drink. 90/91
June 25, 2023 - Roasted tomato and mushroom stew. Perfect with pizza
May 29, 2023 - Very nice. Powerful. Definitely decant. No rush to drink. The last 15% left in the bottle 28 hours later was great.
May 29, 2023 - Definitely better than my last bottle, which I think I consumed more than a year ago. Straight out of the bottle, pretty tannic finish, to the point I did not want to drink it. But then my wife suggested I decant, and it really opened up. Not sure I will buy again, unless my next couple of bottles prove me wrong.