Saffrony apricot and pear, honey, creme brulee, and a touch of green, with a slightly spicy finish. Very sweet, almost cloying, but there's enough acidity to not completely overwhelm the palate. Could last another 8 years or so, though probably won't improve much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An attractive translucent light gold color, with a somewhat weird smell of pine sap when cutting down a Christmas tree. The sip is very mellow and lacks sugar richness, depth, and concentration, closest to a marshmallow. Low acidity keeps this wine from being bright and refreshing. With inadequate cleansing power, each sip of the wine keeps piling on another layer of the same taste, making the wine disagreeably cloying. Did not go with or improve any of the foods that a dessert wine normally enhances, such as chocolate, candies, and fruit tarts. Overall, a disappointing wine that I hoped would be a well aged treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Surprisingly, this ended up being the hit of the night during desert at a Labor Day cookout party. As expected for its age, it showed a deep golden color with pronounced complex aromas and flavors of spicy dried apricot, orange marmalade, sweet honey, swewed pear, dried nuts and some terrior infused earthiness. Acidity was medium, I would have wished for a bit more, but there was more than enough not to induce a "cloying" sensation. Good long finish. It went fast!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gorgeous gold in color, the nose is highly botrytised, with stewed apples and pears on the nose, with some cloves and spice. Then palate is a bit unbalanced, but has nice creme brûlée, and some orange. Missing a touch of acidity, but still pretty darn good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank it too long ago to give it a proper score, so you should take this with a grain of salt, but I was underwhelmed. It was good, but not as amazing as one might hope for a bottle form 1995. The primary tasting note was cherry cough syrup. My recollection is that it was about a 90.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This rating is based on enjoyability. Drinking this wine varietal for the first time, and a 21 year old one at that, was quite the experience. Dark gold color. Aroma and palate pretty much the same. Honeycomb was very prominent, with citrus and funk. Not as syrupy as many Sauternes I have had in the past. Rather bitter on finish, but somehow it was an enjoyable part of drinking experience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium gold clear color. Honeyed aromas with funky botrytis. Light body yet persistent finish. Not syrupy at all. Very pleasant but not very complex. Served with poblano stew, perfect match! Flavors mirror the aromas, sweet and with some characteristics of 'moldy' flair. Would buy again if the price was ~$30 Good quality dessert wine, but nothing spectacular.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
86-87 pts; Unfortunately not entirely the same experience as previous notes. This wine definitely had nice mature Sauternes flavors and a beautiful nose. However, there was an off putting bitter note on the back end which carried through the finish. In addition the alcohol showed through with a touch too much heat. Tried over 2-3 hrs at different temps with not much difference. All in all still a decent buy and very fun to enjoy a 21 year old wine. Will I be converting from Sauternes, not likely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rating highly as this was right in the zone. Excellent expression of what Monbazillac can be. Deeply flavored towards honey and golden fruits but so light on the palate. Danced right on that edge, such a treat. Not overly sweet, really lifted the palate at the end of the meal. Very bright and lively, this can last for some time. Bought just one from Garagiste as a test balloon, and wishing I had more to watch this develop. A pleasure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spicy and sweet. Very rich and pure. Notes of pear, sweet jalapeno peppers, extremely rich honey, citrus mixed with papaya and guava. Quite amazing, and almost syrupy in it's mouth-feel. Somewhat more complex than even a traditional sauterns.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
8/12/2022 - jayw Likes this wine:
Saffrony apricot and pear, honey, creme brulee, and a touch of green, with a slightly spicy finish. Very sweet, almost cloying, but there's enough acidity to not completely overwhelm the palate. Could last another 8 years or so, though probably won't improve much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2018 - Mossrose wrote: 85 Points
An attractive translucent light gold color, with a somewhat weird smell of pine sap when cutting down a Christmas tree. The sip is very mellow and lacks sugar richness, depth, and concentration, closest to a marshmallow. Low acidity keeps this wine from being bright and refreshing. With inadequate cleansing power, each sip of the wine keeps piling on another layer of the same taste, making the wine disagreeably cloying. Did not go with or improve any of the foods that a dessert wine normally enhances, such as chocolate, candies, and fruit tarts. Overall, a disappointing wine that I hoped would be a well aged treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2018 - wmccone54 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprisingly, this ended up being the hit of the night during desert at a Labor Day cookout party. As expected for its age, it showed a deep golden color with pronounced complex aromas and flavors of spicy dried apricot, orange marmalade, sweet honey, swewed pear, dried nuts and some terrior infused earthiness. Acidity was medium, I would have wished for a bit more, but there was more than enough not to induce a "cloying" sensation. Good long finish. It went fast!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2017 - Phredd wrote: 91 Points
Gorgeous gold in color, the nose is highly botrytised, with stewed apples and pears on the nose, with some cloves and spice. Then palate is a bit unbalanced, but has nice creme brûlée, and some orange. Missing a touch of acidity, but still pretty darn good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2017 - gpritsch Likes this wine: 95 Points
Stunning wine. Better on day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2016 - bspahn wrote:
Drank it too long ago to give it a proper score, so you should take this with a grain of salt, but I was underwhelmed. It was good, but not as amazing as one might hope for a bottle form 1995. The primary tasting note was cherry cough syrup. My recollection is that it was about a 90.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2016 - kcsteve Likes this wine: 89 Points
This rating is based on enjoyability. Drinking this wine varietal for the first time, and a 21 year old one at that, was quite the experience. Dark gold color. Aroma and palate pretty much the same. Honeycomb was very prominent, with citrus and funk. Not as syrupy as many Sauternes I have had in the past. Rather bitter on finish, but somehow it was an enjoyable part of drinking experience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2016 - lelandinmichigan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium gold clear color.
Honeyed aromas with funky botrytis.
Light body yet persistent finish. Not syrupy at all. Very pleasant but not very complex. Served with poblano stew, perfect match! Flavors mirror the aromas, sweet and with some characteristics of 'moldy' flair. Would buy again if the price was ~$30
Good quality dessert wine, but nothing spectacular.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2016 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 87 Points
86-87 pts; Unfortunately not entirely the same experience as previous notes. This wine definitely had nice mature Sauternes flavors and a beautiful nose. However, there was an off putting bitter note on the back end which carried through the finish. In addition the alcohol showed through with a touch too much heat. Tried over 2-3 hrs at different temps with not much difference. All in all still a decent buy and very fun to enjoy a 21 year old wine. Will I be converting from Sauternes, not likely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2015 - btock Likes this wine: 95 Points
Rating highly as this was right in the zone. Excellent expression of what Monbazillac can be. Deeply flavored towards honey and golden fruits but so light on the palate. Danced right on that edge, such a treat. Not overly sweet, really lifted the palate at the end of the meal. Very bright and lively, this can last for some time. Bought just one from Garagiste as a test balloon, and wishing I had more to watch this develop. A pleasure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2012 - ecola Likes this wine: 90 Points
Sweet apricot with a little honeycomb. Medium body with a very long sweet finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/18/2011 - ckinv368 wrote: 95 Points
Spicy and sweet. Very rich and pure. Notes of pear, sweet jalapeno peppers, extremely rich honey, citrus mixed with papaya and guava. Quite amazing, and almost syrupy in it's mouth-feel. Somewhat more complex than even a traditional sauterns.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment