I think the drinking window here may be generous. Darker notes, tertiary flavors are more prominent, though this bottle retained good acidity. I prefer it at cellar temperature.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Typical for this label, from a warm vintage and in a good drinking window. Brett notes resolve to bold cherry flavor, with a meaty component to boot. Ideal for fans of the traditional Rhône style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose showed rich blackberry fruit, sweet spice, blue and purple floral tones with a hint of ginger. On the palate it was soft, medium bodied and juicy, as a mix of ripe dark fruits, inner floral notes and spice intermingled into the finish, which showed hints of tannin and dark berry fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opens up marvelously and this comes from a next-day tasting. There’s a massive amount going on here, beginning with a nose that breathes deep forest compost, dark wildflower beds, musky blackberries & blueberries, hints of prunes & dates, and pressed dark strawberries all condensed into a vivid picture of a post-rainfall grove teeming with morning dew. The palate is a rich, raisinated, woodsy font of blackberries and black raspberries, fruit stems, and dried strawberries. The mid-palate bursts with an ashen smoke note that lingers and melds with the fruit till the finish without overtaking the other elements. This is a magnificent effort that evokes camping in deep, secluded virgin woods with dark and red fruits being smoked over a raw fire and served atop rustic cookware. Sensational structure and the continual refined, ashen element gives this wine an almost enigmatic, feral quality. Spellbinding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Echoing other notes, I enjoyed this big, structured, Bordeaux-like wine. It needed several hours open to blow off a funk of wet dog fur, which even persisted on the palate, but after that, it was delicious, particularly on the second night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was good, but also disjointed. It put my mind to a 2004 Leville Barton I tasted several months ago. Indeed, this Vacqueyras closely paralleled that Bordeaux in taste profile, style, and construction; a great reason to pay $15-$25 for this instead of $55-$80 on a Bordeaux. :)
This is a powerful, well-structured, but also disjointed wine, a wine of phases. It shows fruit, earth, alcohol, tobacco, all in turn. No two elements appear to be integrated. With time, I would not be surprised if it evolved into a pleasant and harmonious blend, but it's not there right now. If it does, score it 91-92+.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big wine, definitely taking a walk on the wild side of the Southern Rhone with this one. Slightly rustic,displaying strong notes of garrigue, leather and dark berries on the nose. Ample mouth-puckering tannins suggest that this wine's best days are still a few years away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose showed blackberry fruit, blue and purple floral notes, with a zesty dose of ginger and sweet spices. On the palate it was soft, medium bodied and juicy, as a mix of dark fruits, inner floral notes and spice intermingled going into the finish, which showed hints of tannin and dark berry fruits.
When this wine was first opened, it was simple on the nose and tight on the palate. However, after three hours open in bottle, it came to life and was truly enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
very expressive nose. light red fruit with a slight earthiness. Rich and seems like some slight oak but balanced. Great food wine and terrific value for $20. Drink now with 1-2 hour decant or hold for another year or 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
9/10/2022 - chardsy Likes this wine: 84 Points
I think the drinking window here may be generous. Darker notes, tertiary flavors are more prominent, though this bottle retained good acidity. I prefer it at cellar temperature.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2017 - urban_dk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Typical for this label, from a warm vintage and in a good drinking window. Brett notes resolve to bold cherry flavor, with a meaty component to boot. Ideal for fans of the traditional Rhône style.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2014 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 92 Points
The nose showed rich blackberry fruit, sweet spice, blue and purple floral tones with a hint of ginger. On the palate it was soft, medium bodied and juicy, as a mix of ripe dark fruits, inner floral notes and spice intermingled into the finish, which showed hints of tannin and dark berry fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2014 - RGNZero Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opens up marvelously and this comes from a next-day tasting. There’s a massive amount going on here, beginning with a nose that breathes deep forest compost, dark wildflower beds, musky blackberries & blueberries, hints of prunes & dates, and pressed dark strawberries all condensed into a vivid picture of a post-rainfall grove teeming with morning dew. The palate is a rich, raisinated, woodsy font of blackberries and black raspberries, fruit stems, and dried strawberries. The mid-palate bursts with an ashen smoke note that lingers and melds with the fruit till the finish without overtaking the other elements. This is a magnificent effort that evokes camping in deep, secluded virgin woods with dark and red fruits being smoked over a raw fire and served atop rustic cookware. Sensational structure and the continual refined, ashen element gives this wine an almost enigmatic, feral quality. Spellbinding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2014 - Gordonium Likes this wine:
Echoing other notes, I enjoyed this big, structured, Bordeaux-like wine. It needed several hours open to blow off a funk of wet dog fur, which even persisted on the palate, but after that, it was delicious, particularly on the second night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2013 - Motz wrote: 90 Points
This was good, but also disjointed. It put my mind to a 2004 Leville Barton I tasted several months ago. Indeed, this Vacqueyras closely paralleled that Bordeaux in taste profile, style, and construction; a great reason to pay $15-$25 for this instead of $55-$80 on a Bordeaux. :)
This is a powerful, well-structured, but also disjointed wine, a wine of phases. It shows fruit, earth, alcohol, tobacco, all in turn. No two elements appear to be integrated. With time, I would not be surprised if it evolved into a pleasant and harmonious blend, but it's not there right now. If it does, score it 91-92+.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2012 - urban_dk wrote: 91 Points
Big wine, definitely taking a walk on the wild side of the Southern Rhone with this one. Slightly rustic,displaying strong notes of garrigue, leather and dark berries on the nose. Ample mouth-puckering tannins suggest that this wine's best days are still a few years away.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 93 Points
The nose showed blackberry fruit, blue and purple floral notes, with a zesty dose of ginger and sweet spices. On the palate it was soft, medium bodied and juicy, as a mix of dark fruits, inner floral notes and spice intermingled going into the finish, which showed hints of tannin and dark berry fruits.
When this wine was first opened, it was simple on the nose and tight on the palate. However, after three hours open in bottle, it came to life and was truly enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2012 - fdaner wrote: 90 Points
very expressive nose. light red fruit with a slight earthiness. Rich and seems like some slight oak but balanced. Great food wine and terrific value for $20. Drink now with 1-2 hour decant or hold for another year or 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2011 - hutch wrote: 90 Points
Rich. Good. 89-90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment