February 26, 2022 - 4th Saturday Group Cellar Diminishment (Sue’s): Slightly corked. (SS)
January 25, 2019 - Good with a steak dinner.
May 12, 2018 - Bottle went bad- this is the second bottle where the cork disintegrated on removal. Wine soured and was brown
August 8, 2017 - Still fantastic in Aug of '17! Drank this wine years ago and remembered it taking an hour after opening to reach its peak. Took about 20 minutes after aging 5 or so more years.
September 4, 2016 - This bottle held up better than I expected after 10 years. It had a soft texture and the fruit flavors came through very well. This bottle was paired with rib eye steak, potato gratin and coleslaw, and the wine complemented the meal without trying to be the star.
June 26, 2014 - Soft and lush -- really in a great place right now.
June 17, 2014 - Clos Rougeard Dinner; 6/16/2014-6/17/2014 (Absinthe, San Francisco): Youthful deep red and black fruits, slight mint, fades a bit quickly; warm, very fruity, modern but balanced; medium to long finish very nice example of a more modern style. 90-91
June 16, 2014 - Cabernet Franc Dinner (featuring Clos Rougeard) (Absinthe - San Francisco, CA): A rather warm and round Cabernet Franc. I can see how this would certainly appeal to a lot of people as the flavors were dense and powerful, but stylistically it missed the mark for me. Not enough earthy/green notes...and from what I know about the 2006 vintage, that makes a lot of sense. The heat in the vineyard probably keeps this from being a bit leaner.
June 16, 2014 - Cab Franc, Especially Rougeard (Absinthe Brasserie, SF): Cherry Jolly Rancher on the nose with some sweet tarragon and ripe green pepper peeking out. on the palate, lead. very short finish. True to the hot vintage, drink up.
November 23, 2013 - I wish I'd have known this wine in it's youth. I am just meeting this wine now, and it is a fine adult, full of interesting things to say, and gets along well with others (tonight it's a ribeye and some Saint Agur bleu). Perhaps in it's youth it may have been a bit more unruly or maybe even "too big for the room". It may have hit me over the head for no reason, as the young and imperious are known to do. We love them for that. Would have been interesting, indeed. But it would seem this wine has matured nicely. I'd drink it now. Or in the next couple of years. It's very cordial, no rough edges, like it's gone to a good prep school. Good posture, stands up straight, says please and thank you. Very nice fellow.