March 16, 2024 - Sample tasting at work (Oinoscent): Decanted and slowly tasted
Thick red fruit core, mineral, spice frame, floral notes, grilled peppers, palate tight, edgy, needs some time to open up (which it did later on), red fruit, acidity cutting through, med body, med finish
March 6, 2024 - Surprisingly delicate and lifted on the palate, veering towards bright red fruit with racy acidity. Juicy.
March 6, 2024 - Breton Tasting with France Breton and Baptiste Desrrouseaux (Flatiron Wines SF): Lovely as before. Didn't have a chance to fully open up, and is showing incredibly young. Several commented that this seemed like one of the youngest wines of the night. Certainly the color is of a freshly bottled wine, but I felt there was some tertiary development and complexity, while retaining young fruit vibes. Fruit, depth, mineral, tobacco. This is the complete package and will probably peak in another 10 years, and drink well for 30+. Baptiste said Pierre opened 3 bottles of the '47 for their wedding, and this was similar in profile.
February 25, 2024 - Magnum. Opened 2 hours before drinking. Even ruby without any fading. Fruit and earth on the nose. Compared to prior bottles, only a trace of dill in the background. Medium weight, marvelous integrated feel with a long soil base and naturally ripe, sweet blue and black fruit. Fine acidity, a pleasingly salty edge, and light, fine remaining tannins that have a whiff of ground coffee. This was a knockout, easily the most seamless, balanced Loire red I have had in a very long time. From this large format, I imagine it will provide pleasure for another 15 years, but recently it has also shown very well from standard sized bottles.
July 27, 2023 - Very good wine. The nose shoes a density of aroma without excess weight - a friend tasting it blind thought it could be northern rhone, such is its animale character and black fruit. I love the nose here, showing a violet aspect that I get in many rhone wines but also in some bordeaux. Lifted - very good acidity. We drank it alongside a 2010 Baudry Grezeaux, and to me the Baudry showed a more perfect composition, better overall balance. Only in comparison was I able to see that this wine, while utterly delicious, is also a bit blocky and fruit forward, even now almost 20 years on. Not a criticism - it's what the vintage gave.
August 31, 2022 - Pop n poured, and ready to go. Nose is classic cab franc - dark, spicy mysterious, plum/cassis front and center, with roasted pepper and barnyard lurking around the edges. Palate is rich, velvety, and concentrated, but near weightless in mouthfeel. Abundance of cassis, a bit of scorched earth, with secondary tobacco and old library books. Maybe a touch of menthol, but otherwise not particularly green. The balance of acid, fruit and savory elements seems pretty much ideal to me. Tannins are largely resolved, tying the palate through to a long, regal finish. Drinking at peak to me; and while I don't think this is a 50 year wine, it's not in danger of declining any time soon.
February 3, 2022 - This is just beautiful. Fresh, deep ruby fruit wrapped in a light cloak of green - just enough to let you know it's cab franc. Bit of graphite and lovely cut. What a brilliant producer.
November 4, 2021 - Deep ruby core. Some initial herb and graphite gave way to tart cherry and olive. Earthy, medium bodied. With time in the decanter, some real ripeness and sweetness emerged, fine citric acidity that was more Burgundy than Loire became apparent, and the tannins took on a bitter chocolate richness. I have had good bottles of this in the past but never as complete and exciting as this. Quite remarkable for 16 year old Bourgueil.
February 8, 2021 - Gorgeous, opulent, concentrated & complex 2005 Bourgueil. Dark Plums - damsons, dark berries, black olives, earthy, lots of the classic Loire CF notes of lead pencil, cigar box, no green bell-pepper but with a really lovely floral - wilted roses / violets ? - charm and a nice (if moderate) kick off acidity that stops it from feeling too heavy... Leans more towards Bordeaux than Burgundy, in structure & flavour profile. May well improve further, but in a good place now - long finish.
December 20, 2020 - Russk. Marido brought to Andrea's. Some of the welcomed barnyard, medium bodied+. Not tired in any way.