Final btl of this on a cold rainy night. It's alright. Still a bit disjointed. This one starts with a slug of cherry jam but then quickly comes a bitterness and rusticity, olives, prunes, and a then dollop of EtOH heat. A bit dried out. Should be drunk up. It is recognizable as a Bandol, although a far cry from Dm Tempier.
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More like the JULY 21 bottle than the DEC 21 one. Very rustic, reminiscent of an old school Hemingway-style Cahors. Dark, bitter, sort of dirty. Works well on a cool evening. I can feel my chest hairs growing...
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Not very refined but a balanced, delicious, and deep wine. Thyme, cardamom, dark cherry, and dark chocolate notes with leather in the mouth. The tannins are assertive but not rough. The acidity neither prominent nor deficient. Mourvedre tertiary character is evident. Could age longer with cool storage.
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Finally got to one of these after 7+ years in the box. Warm summer night sans food is probably not the best setting, as this deserves a cold evening with grilled meat or a hearty stew. Big, chewy, tannic, and rustic. Tannins drying and this tastes a tad astringent and stripped down. Probably on the decline, or at least not likely to improve. Still have a few more of these.
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There is no sediment in the bootle. Deep purple color. Aromatic nose of black cherrie, plums, leather, spices. Wine is ripe, full bodied. Acidity is medium-. Tanins are present, but well integrated. Finish is medium.
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I enjoyed this bottle very much. I'm glad I cellared it for as long as I did. Even at 9 years, this wine had fairly intense tannins out of the bottle. It's rustic, chewy, full-bodied. It's a great bottle for a cold night with a beef stew. Very good.
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Accessible and now likely entering a peak window. Was open immediately after un-corking. Floral nose with deep blueberry, blackcurrant, garrague, and wild mushroom and herb on the palate and still tannic finish. This is rather linear but well-balanced and executed. Great QPR for heartier dishes like beef stew. Drink 2020-2024. Technical score: 90. Enjoyment score: 92.
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I don't enjoy this wine like I used to. It is too dominated by alcohol. I also suspect that it would have been better a few years ago, with more tannins and acidity to stand up to the 15%.
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The wine looks purple colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blueberry and black currant (cassis). It tastes like blueberry, blackberry, black currant (cassis) and oak. The body is medium/full. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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Seemed shut down even after a few hours of air. Smooth and silky, but it ultimately delivers a mute palate with muddled notes of dark cherries, prunes, blackberries, and smoke. The finish is still thick. Drink 2019+. Technical score: 89. Enjoyment score: 88.
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Evolving nicely with age. Aromas of black currant (cassis), prune and oak. It tastes like blackberry, plum and black pepper. The body is full. The wine has leathery texture. The wine finishes long.
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Far more accessible than a few years ago. Bright cherries and dark fruit with streaks of soy sauce, garrigue, and savory herbs. Full-bodied but juicy and light on its feet. Fantastic QPR. Technical score: 91. Enjoyment score: 92.
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The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. It smells like fig, mushroom, dust and oak. It tastes like black currant (cassis), black pepper, stoniness and toast. The body is full. The wine has leathery texture. The wine finishes long.
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Agree with most of the comments here this wine is tight but should benefit from more aging. After 2.5 hours of decanting the bouquetkept evolving of cigar box and oak and dark berry. Blackberry and pepper hit the palate. Some fruit seems to want to evolve and may open up over time. Finish is mid-palate and chewy. Have three more bottles and looking forward to trying again in a year.
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Decanted 2.5 hours ahead of a savory beef stir fry. Far more accessible than last bottle a year ago with a compact, juicy core of blackberries, tobacco, mushrooms, and campfire. Palate is balancing out yet the finish is still tight. Linear wine but it's well made and makes a nice weeknight QPR.
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17/20 et un coup de coeur pour ce bandol. Belle texture en bouche. Dès l'attaque on sait que l'on va se régaler. Le goût est ample, profond avec des fruits bien murs. Coup de Coeur ! Très bon Bandol !
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Tuesday Night $20-$40 Double Blind (Bin 75): Dark core with light garnet rim; sweet berry, garrigue, raspberry, medicinal; tart on the palate with same medicinal note, very Southern France, bright with bigger tannin, dryish; good.
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Supple, gritty, and a cloudy, dark crimson, this brings plenty of red and black berries, tobacco, smoke, herbs, and dry dirt (literally, it's unfiltered). The finish is still tight. Not super complex but charming and well executed. Went good with grilled chicken but will be best in a few years. Drink 2016-2030.
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Very pretty from a bottle that had been open all day. Gritty tannins, medium acid, loads of mixed berry fruit and wild herb, charcoal, loamy soil. Very pretty now, but I'd prefer burying this for three years and seeing what happens.
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Decanted for 2 hours and enjoyed with pizza. Dark red color. Tobacco, dirt, black cherry, meat on nose. On palate, full body but nice acidity provides balance. Cherry, sour cherry, garrigue on palate. Medium+ finish.
91+/- Went well with pizza. Would buy again.
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This baby of a Mourvèdre-blend is seriously shut down and unyielding. Pop-and-pour, nothing there. Leave the glass for 30 minutes, still nothing there. Faint hints of something winey on the nose and some alcohol prickle. A sip, can feel some slightly over-ripe black fruits before the wine turns to sawdust in the mouth. Where the 2010 is too young and in need of cellaring, it's still expressive and quite bold and open, but the 2011 is just completely closed up. It's impossible for me to tell where this wine will head in the future, hence the NR-score, but none of the previous vintages have failed me so I suspect this will begin to open up and be a good wine in a few years time.
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A bit of a pussycat. Bandol should have grunt and animal hide and minerals and rustic barnyard. The 2011 Bastide Blanche is just a bit muted - like an amp turned up to 3 when you were hoping for a stomping 8+. Tanins are great, acidity is good, nose is reasonably well structured but simply not imposing enough. There is also still quite a bit of oak here so should improve with ageing. Maybe it'll find its voice with time, too?
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4/18/2024 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 90 Points
I like rustic, old school Bandol, so I enjoyed this very much. Tasty and contemplative.
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2/7/2024 - Neurowine1 wrote:
Final btl of this on a cold rainy night. It's alright. Still a bit disjointed. This one starts with a slug of cherry jam but then quickly comes a bitterness and rusticity, olives, prunes, and a then dollop of EtOH heat. A bit dried out. Should be drunk up. It is recognizable as a Bandol, although a far cry from Dm Tempier.
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10/17/2023 - Neurowine1 wrote:
More like the JULY 21 bottle than the DEC 21 one. Very rustic, reminiscent of an old school Hemingway-style Cahors. Dark, bitter, sort of dirty. Works well on a cool evening. I can feel my chest hairs growing...
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7/14/2022 - TheFoodieTraveler wrote: 91 Points
Overly rustic a bit too secondary
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5/1/2022 - wilypod Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not very refined but a balanced, delicious, and deep wine. Thyme, cardamom, dark cherry, and dark chocolate notes with leather in the mouth. The tannins are assertive but not rough. The acidity neither prominent nor deficient. Mourvedre tertiary character is evident. Could age longer with cool storage.
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12/8/2021 - Neurowine1 wrote:
Drinking very beautifully at the moment. Classic cool dark mouvedre fruit, leather, and wild thyme. This is really lovely and has softened out.
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7/24/2021 - Neurowine1 wrote:
Finally got to one of these after 7+ years in the box. Warm summer night sans food is probably not the best setting, as this deserves a cold evening with grilled meat or a hearty stew. Big, chewy, tannic, and rustic. Tannins drying and this tastes a tad astringent and stripped down. Probably on the decline, or at least not likely to improve. Still have a few more of these.
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12/28/2020 - Livonietisr wrote: 91 Points
There is no sediment in the bootle. Deep purple color. Aromatic nose of black cherrie, plums, leather, spices. Wine is ripe, full bodied. Acidity is medium-. Tanins are present, but well integrated. Finish is medium.
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12/5/2020 - BBinSC wrote: 90 Points
I enjoyed this bottle very much. I'm glad I cellared it for as long as I did. Even at 9 years, this wine had fairly intense tannins out of the bottle. It's rustic, chewy, full-bodied. It's a great bottle for a cold night with a beef stew. Very good.
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7/25/2020 - FraserMacmillen Likes this wine: 89 Points
This wine split opinion, Deep dark red, leathery on the nose, v smooth but strong tannin as expected from Mouvedre.
For some the tannin is too overpowering
For others the mix of brambly fruit, spicy leather and tannin is v gd.
Rated 84 - 90!
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5/12/2020 - Livonietisr wrote: 91 Points
Dark color. Ripe fruits, leather. Full bodied, juicy acidity. Tanins become silky. Balanced.
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2/18/2020 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Accessible and now likely entering a peak window. Was open immediately after un-corking. Floral nose with deep blueberry, blackcurrant, garrague, and wild mushroom and herb on the palate and still tannic finish. This is rather linear but well-balanced and executed. Great QPR for heartier dishes like beef stew. Drink 2020-2024. Technical score: 90. Enjoyment score: 92.
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5/31/2019 - Livonietisr wrote: 88 Points
Ruby red. Blackberry, black currant, oak. Muted palate with some bitternes in aftertaste.
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5/29/2019 - UrbanGrill Does not like this wine: 83 Points
I don't enjoy this wine like I used to. It is too dominated by alcohol. I also suspect that it would have been better a few years ago, with more tannins and acidity to stand up to the 15%.
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6/25/2018 - Androurse wrote: 90 Points
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blueberry and black currant (cassis). It tastes like blueberry, blackberry, black currant (cassis) and oak. The body is medium/full. The wine has round texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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3/2/2018 - pernod wrote: 89 Points
Ruby red, clear edge, long moderate drops. Blackberry, vanilla, oak, violet nose. Blackberry, sour cherry, vanilla,pleasant fruit. Nice, mellow tannins and fresh fruit.
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1/18/2018 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 89 Points
Seemed shut down even after a few hours of air. Smooth and silky, but it ultimately delivers a mute palate with muddled notes of dark cherries, prunes, blackberries, and smoke. The finish is still thick. Drink 2019+. Technical score: 89. Enjoyment score: 88.
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5/7/2017 - Twopawsup Likes this wine: 92 Points
Evolving nicely with age. Aromas of black currant (cassis), prune and oak. It tastes like blackberry, plum and black pepper. The body is full. The wine has leathery texture. The wine finishes long.
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4/20/2017 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Far more accessible than a few years ago. Bright cherries and dark fruit with streaks of soy sauce, garrigue, and savory herbs. Full-bodied but juicy and light on its feet. Fantastic QPR. Technical score: 91. Enjoyment score: 92.
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2/25/2017 - Twopawsup Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. It smells like fig, mushroom, dust and oak. It tastes like black currant (cassis), black pepper, stoniness and toast. The body is full. The wine has leathery texture. The wine finishes long.
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6/28/2016 - lgeeker wrote:
Tuesday Night Double Blind Tasting, $40 and under (Bin 75): Big, deep, dark. It's got baby aspirin, so thought Grenache. Went 2010 CdP.
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4/15/2016 - Twopawsup Likes this wine: 90 Points
Agree with most of the comments here this wine is tight but should benefit from more aging. After 2.5 hours of decanting the bouquetkept evolving of cigar box and oak and dark berry. Blackberry and pepper hit the palate. Some fruit seems to want to evolve and may open up over time. Finish is mid-palate and chewy. Have three more bottles and looking forward to trying again in a year.
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11/15/2015 - marcbernstein Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very full body, rich with a peppery finish. Should be drank with dark meats and heavy meals. Decant for 1 hr.
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10/27/2015 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted 2.5 hours ahead of a savory beef stir fry. Far more accessible than last bottle a year ago with a compact, juicy core of blackberries, tobacco, mushrooms, and campfire. Palate is balancing out yet the finish is still tight. Linear wine but it's well made and makes a nice weeknight QPR.
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10/11/2015 - marcbernstein wrote: 87 Points
Very deep and bold flavors
decant for 45-60 min
Not my favorite
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7/4/2015 - nicking Likes this wine: 88 Points
Poivre , framboise , herbe , bon tannin belle aciditée , très bon " bien carafer "
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6/27/2015 - BoireBio wrote: 85 Points
17/20 et un coup de coeur pour ce bandol. Belle texture en bouche. Dès l'attaque on sait que l'on va se régaler. Le goût est ample, profond avec des fruits bien murs.
Coup de Coeur ! Très bon Bandol !
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10/7/2014 - Rezy13 wrote:
Tuesday Night $20-$40 Double Blind (Bin 75): Dark core with light garnet rim; sweet berry, garrigue, raspberry, medicinal; tart on the palate with same medicinal note, very Southern France, bright with bigger tannin, dryish; good.
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9/15/2014 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 89 Points
Supple, gritty, and a cloudy, dark crimson, this brings plenty of red and black berries, tobacco, smoke, herbs, and dry dirt (literally, it's unfiltered). The finish is still tight. Not super complex but charming and well executed. Went good with grilled chicken but will be best in a few years. Drink 2016-2030.
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9/6/2014 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 Points
Very pretty from a bottle that had been open all day. Gritty tannins, medium acid, loads of mixed berry fruit and wild herb, charcoal, loamy soil. Very pretty now, but I'd prefer burying this for three years and seeing what happens.
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6/8/2014 - CWilliam wrote:
Decanted for 2 hours and enjoyed with pizza. Dark red color. Tobacco, dirt, black cherry, meat on nose. On palate, full body but nice acidity provides balance. Cherry, sour cherry, garrigue on palate. Medium+ finish.
91+/- Went well with pizza. Would buy again.
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2/22/2014 - jazzb wrote:
Mörkt blåröd
Blå frukt, blåbär, sv vinbär, kryddig, animalisk reduktiv, sv peppar, träkol, pinje
Medelfyllig, outvecklad, rik blå frukt, blåbär, björnbär, sv vinbär, pinje, kryddig, ovanligt högupplösta tanniner o fin syra, ren avslutning utan störande alkoholhetta.
8p+
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1/24/2014 - HenrikJ wrote:
This baby of a Mourvèdre-blend is seriously shut down and unyielding. Pop-and-pour, nothing there. Leave the glass for 30 minutes, still nothing there. Faint hints of something winey on the nose and some alcohol prickle. A sip, can feel some slightly over-ripe black fruits before the wine turns to sawdust in the mouth. Where the 2010 is too young and in need of cellaring, it's still expressive and quite bold and open, but the 2011 is just completely closed up. It's impossible for me to tell where this wine will head in the future, hence the NR-score, but none of the previous vintages have failed me so I suspect this will begin to open up and be a good wine in a few years time.
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12/11/2013 - Phenol73 wrote: 85 Points
A bit of a pussycat. Bandol should have grunt and animal hide and minerals and rustic barnyard. The 2011 Bastide Blanche is just a bit muted - like an amp turned up to 3 when you were hoping for a stomping 8+. Tanins are great, acidity is good, nose is reasonably well structured but simply not imposing enough. There is also still quite a bit of oak here so should improve with ageing. Maybe it'll find its voice with time, too?
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