August 16, 2021 - Bought 2b for 29/b from Garagiste 12 years ago; this is #1. Solid cork. Decanted with heavy sediment for its age. Dark purple; complex nose of red fruit, pine resin (?), some pepper; red fruit and some resin on the palate evolving with some time; very good mouthfeel; good persistence. Unusual in a good way and best for the more adventurous. I grew to enjoy it a lot during the meal (savoury pasta dish). Glad I have one more and would like to find more tasters who would enjoy this as well. Loire wine from the Pineau d'Aunis (aka Chenin Noir?) grape--new to me. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation (see earlier posts for my 4-category, non-point rating system): This is notable+ when considering quality, age, and price.
October 6, 2019 - Strictly for the 'cerebral' wine geek. Smells exactly like a Chinese herbal tincture, tastes only slightly more vinous. At 14%, fairly hot for this thin a wine. I guess any experience can be classified as 'educational', but really...
January 11, 2018 - A bit challenging with obvious signs (bubbles) of microbial activity. Im in the smells like wet cement and cold fire ash. A weird, dirty note on first taste (like getting dirt in your mouth while gardening) but flavors including sour cherry, paint thinner (or what I imagine it might taste like), furry tannins and hints of Brettanomyces that may be responsible for the microbial activity. Different but I’d save my $30 next time.
July 17, 2017 - Much like the Adonis from a few days ago, lots of freshly cracked black pepper and some green bell pepper with black cherry. However there is much less fruit here, with less complexity as well. Good, but much less exciting.
May 17, 2017 - Wow. A complicated yet brilliantly unique wine. Exudes an intoxicating bouquet of crushed stones, pine needles, violets, wild berries, and peat. There is similar savoriness on the palate with still firm tannins and soft mineral driven acidity. Reminds me of an old wine cellar, the stone and earth surfaces, the rustic wood spice, the essence of spilled wine. My first experience with Pineau d'Aunis and definitely not my last. Like an eccentric Pinot Noir with the fruit and mineral intensities inverted. Avoid this if you need fruit as a forefront in your wines. Seek this out if you need your senses challenged by wine. Very special and I am grateful I have two more bottles, the next one is slated for ten years on.
January 12, 2016 - Another couple of years has tamed this into a decently drinkable wine, unfortunately, to me it still smells strongly of wet cement, and this is not charming.
August 13, 2014 - The powerful wet cement and green peppers were somewhat tamed by our tangy pork ribs, but this may just be a grape not for me. Seemed to be otherwise a well-made wine.
September 7, 2011 - Not my wine.
April 13, 2011 - purchased for education purposes and it succeeds in that aspect. Loads of concrete and limestone aromas and on the palate. asparagus and rhubarb notes as well. no perceptible oak. a nice drink and it does engage the mind but a bit pricey for what it does for me.
May 2, 2010 - Really tough to score because I can't say I love this unusual grape, though obviously it was done extremely well. Silky texture, with red vermouth, orange spice, herbs and wet cement. Is that a good thing? I totally get how someone who tastes wine all the time (Rimmerman) would love something so different, but its not quite doing it for me. That said, it may age quite well over the medium term -- as it is balanced, not oaky, and has all that weird still-kinda-primary fruit that perhaps needs to mellow out a bit.