December 29, 2023 - I recently acquired a few bottles of this and did not realize how maligned this wine was by the critics. While it is not a blockbuster by any means, the criticism seems overdone. It lacks some depth but still has plenty of life left in it with good vibrant acidity and typical mature Bordeaux flavors. Medium body and finish.
After a few hours of air, this took on considerably more weight. Pretty strawberry aromas wafting from the glass. Added two points to my earlier score.
April 22, 2023 - My third bottle from a case that I've been slowly working through whenever the craving for an underripe, weedy BDX strikes me. This particular bottle, fortunately, was more like my first and therefore, modestly enjoyable. The nose is vegetal, herbal, a bit like "ditchweed" as some call it, with a bit of tobacco and hints of cassis lingering underneath. Astringent and clearly made from underripe and/or poorly sorted fruit (hail damage was at play, apparently), this is for fans of wines like Belair and Loire cab franc.
November 5, 2022 - Ullage was base neck. Color was good, with no bricking. Aroma was rich, floral and inviting. The wine showed the complexity of maturity, but, incredibly, no signs of age. Tannins present but “dusty”. Balance and structure were excellent and mouthfeel and finish were excellent.
October 20, 2022 - My last bottle of this wine was pleasant, if not necessarily worthy of the vintage or this estate. This one, however, was ugly, and makes me understand many of the other more negative reviews. The bottle variation here seems to be unpredictable, as these were two from the same case and with similar fills and corks in very good condition. This bottle shows the hallmarks of hail damage, extremely green, vegetal, thin and astringent. Like if you took a bottle of Belair and robbed it of any remaining fruit. Note even my anti-flavor wine elite palate found this enjoyable.
August 29, 2022 - My friends Loek & Saskia married three years; a lovely dinner at Zoldering Amsterdam: the first impression was a fragile wine, but wit air the colour grew as a refined bouquet, still fresh, but not because old acidity, a smooth midtaste with the, fore me, open 'Domaine de Chevalier' style. 92 Points for the concentration and 1 point 'en plus' for the overall balance and condition. I guessed the wine and the vintage with a(n) indication/confirmation 'left bank'.
August 14, 2022 - Stunning nose of menthol, herbs, cassis, and gravel. The palate thins but is fresh and lively, there is subtle cassis and berries and the lack of complexity ultimately does not detract from a great experience. A very good bottle.
May 13, 2022 - This is an oft-maligned wine, as the estate suffered from hail damage that seems to have led to considerable bottle variation and general underachiever status. I love DDC from this era ('60s-'80s) and would agree that this is not where it should be considering the vintage, but it is still a very good to excellent wine. Very top shoulder fill on this bottle, with excellent color that shows only a slight bit of bricking at the rim. Has a savory, herbal nose, with forest floor, leather, plum and fenugreek notes. A bit lean and green, somewhat austere, but improving with air (and better on day 2). Intense tart cherry flavors dominate the palate, with star anise and cardamom notes. My first bottle, and I'm happy that it exceeded my expectations, but this is definitely an AFWE (anti-flavor wine elite) style claret made in an "old skool" style.
November 13, 2021 - Absolutely fantastic, perfectly polished tanins, pure flavors and incredible balance. This is an amazing bottle showing what a great Bordeaux in a great vintage looks like at its peak.
Note: the bottle was in perfect condition, with a perfect level.
June 14, 2021 - Earth and blackberry; mature; sweet finish.
June 13, 2021 - Really excellent, at its peak I think.
Velvet texture, great balance, complex aroma with some tobacco. We’ve finished the bottle at 2 and it was the 3rd wine, so pleasant and easy to drink.
Bordeaux as I love it!