My effusive review of this wine 5 years ago has not held up over time. It's very dark with almost no indication of browning. Nose is muted. The wine is somewhat harsh with a modicum of fruit and a bitter, green-tannin finish. Nevertheless, it would be a fine accompaniment to grilled meats and spicy Moroccan or Middle Eastern dishes.
(8/8/2017) Apparently, there is a lot of bottle variation with this wine. I found none of the mustiness alluded to by other reviewers. Instead, there was very obvious ripe cabernet coupled with an oak polish and still enough soft tannins, perhaps helped by the petit verdot, to keep it going for another 5 years. A really stylish, wonderful Médoc, from a terrific vintage, thankfully from hand-harvested grapes, thus lacking the often green flavors of its machine-harvested neighbors. (Originally rated 91.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not as attractive as it was in Dec 2012. Same jammy nose, but no hint of spice. Tannins kind of unruly, and did not soften after three days in the wine cooler. Not a bad wine, but nothing special. Hard to see how this won a prize.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cabernet for Under $25 Tasting (Waterford Wine, Milwaukee): Very dark and opaque. Meaty aromas, reminiscent of old leather. Gravel notes with menthol herbaceousness. Leafy character of the cab franc also comes through. Tannic and mouthfilling blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. High acidity. Chewy and long. Wonder if this wine is always as good as this, or if it's just the quality of the vintage shining thru. Great value at $20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Strong, jammy nose. Very pleasant to drink with moderately heavy tannins. Interesting finish of allspice, not at all expected, providing a note of distinctive character. Worth checking out again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice competent Bordeaux. Shows the ripeness of the vintage with nice pure dark fruit but has enough structure to hold it together. Also some cedar and spice components to add interest, and a decently lengthy, juicy finish with good tannic grip. Not bad at all for $16.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich and sweet black fruits, plush and plummy, slightly farmyardy; good weight but the tannins are a bit rough and the finish is slightly hot. A typical hot-vintage wine - not unlike a 2003 at this stage. I question its balance, certainly not as good as the 2005. Drink now - 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/19/2022 - oakville72 Likes this wine: 88 Points
My effusive review of this wine 5 years ago has not held up over time. It's very dark with almost no indication of browning. Nose is muted. The wine is somewhat harsh with a modicum of fruit and a bitter, green-tannin finish. Nevertheless, it would be a fine accompaniment to grilled meats and spicy Moroccan or Middle Eastern dishes.
(8/8/2017) Apparently, there is a lot of bottle variation with this wine. I found none of the mustiness alluded to by other reviewers. Instead, there was very obvious ripe cabernet coupled with an oak polish and still enough soft tannins, perhaps helped by the petit verdot, to keep it going for another 5 years. A really stylish, wonderful Médoc, from a terrific vintage, thankfully from hand-harvested grapes, thus lacking the often green flavors of its machine-harvested neighbors. (Originally rated 91.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2014 - Orlandus wrote: 87 Points
Not as attractive as it was in Dec 2012. Same jammy nose, but no hint of spice. Tannins kind of unruly, and did not soften after three days in the wine cooler. Not a bad wine, but nothing special. Hard to see how this won a prize.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2013 - moods Likes this wine: 91 Points
Cabernet for Under $25 Tasting (Waterford Wine, Milwaukee): Very dark and opaque. Meaty aromas, reminiscent of old leather. Gravel notes with menthol herbaceousness. Leafy character of the cab franc also comes through. Tannic and mouthfilling blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. High acidity. Chewy and long. Wonder if this wine is always as good as this, or if it's just the quality of the vintage shining thru. Great value at $20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2013 - Baggio Likes this wine: 90 Points
Seems to me there's a lot going on here. Fruit, tannin, minerality, all quite well balanced. Should be really good in a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2012 - Orlandus wrote: 88 Points
Strong, jammy nose. Very pleasant to drink with moderately heavy tannins. Interesting finish of allspice, not at all expected, providing a note of distinctive character. Worth checking out again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2012 - JVG wrote: 88 Points
Nice competent Bordeaux. Shows the ripeness of the vintage with nice pure dark fruit but has enough structure to hold it together. Also some cedar and spice components to add interest, and a decently lengthy, juicy finish with good tannic grip. Not bad at all for $16.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2012 - astroman wrote:
Violet slight jammy but not overly. Green on the palate and pretty structured tannins. Elegant is this a sight of the vintage?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2012 - mwneil wrote: 84 Points
OK wine, grapey, prune taste, nice bouquet, drank ok.Not my taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2012 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 87 Points
Rich and sweet black fruits, plush and plummy, slightly farmyardy; good weight but the tannins are a bit rough and the finish is slightly hot. A typical hot-vintage wine - not unlike a 2003 at this stage. I question its balance, certainly not as good as the 2005. Drink now - 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2011 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Stinky funk. But in the best possible way. Complex, a bit green, a touch of tannin, good stuff indeed. Works at $20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment