Enjoyed over two nights. A refined and enjoyable wine, with complex aromas of underbrush, mesquite, salty mineral, cran-raspberry, herb, and spice. Flavors to match with a wonderfully firm structure provided by crunchy medium(+) acid and medium(+)-intensity grape tannin. A warm, round mouthfeel provides a great foil to the fresh acid.
In a great place right now with just enough fruit remaining, but structure could allow the wine to develop for an additional 4+ years. Solid QPR at USD$26. A very high quality wine. "Excellent," 92/100.
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Dark garnet in color, this wine (75% Red Grenache/15% Syrah/5% Carignan/5% Cinsault), this wine reveals bright red fruits, anise, forest floor and rose petals on the nose. The mouth feel is more lighter bodied than expected and brings more beautiful red fruits with distinct minerality. The finish is long, open and complex, highlighting the fruit, spices and floral element while keeping the high 15% abv well in the background.
Purchased for $25US, this is an outstanding offering that clearly drinks like a CDP without the heavier mouth feel. It's delicious as it is. I wish I had bought more of this vintage. It's a winner.
An Eric Solomon Selection. Imported by European Cellars L.L.C., Charlotte, NC.
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L'Argile means clay. Approximately 70% Grenache and 15% Syrah. The rest is Carignan and Cinsault. Pretty open for business after 2 hours in the decanter. Dark berries such as blackberry and forest berry. Big bodied. Smoked pork, old leather and fine tobacco gives the nose a dirty profile behind the fruit. Grenache dominates but not as much as 3 years ago. The palate is really powerful, high acidity and fine marked tannins. Tobacco and rusty iron, big notes. 75% de-stemmed and that shows in the aftertaste that has lots of depth and complexity. Performed much better with food than on its own where I found the alcohol coming through a bit. Developed quite a bit since last time and I predict it will get better and become more balanced with another 3 years in the cellar. Great qpr, interesting wine.
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Sådärja, sista flaskan tog revanch. Nu är det precis vad man kan förvänta. Bra struktur, multnande men frisk frukt backat av komplexare undervegetationstoner. Ett bra vin och ett trevligt farväl.
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From memory: Black fruit, liquorish, floral perfume and vanilla-toffee on the nose and palate. Impressive balance and depth of flavour. Seems to be near its peak, but should be good for quite a few more years. Fantastic QPR!
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On the tart side. Needed some air, but it seems to have really good bones. I will leave my other bottles for another 2 years before checking in. Nice wine.
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This has developed amazingly well. Such intense notes of fruits and flowers both in nose and mouth. The body is substantial and the fruit is sweet yet the balance is there. Seems to be at a peak now. A fantastic bottle.
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Klart bästa flaskan hittills, helt underbar faktiskt! Det häftigaste är att den ändrar form hela tiden, börjar floralt, lekfullt, sedan mer tyngd, mer lakrits, skön balanserad frukt. Håller säkert i många år till men frågan är om jag kommer kunna hålla fingrar borta från resterande flaskor. Dracks över två dagar, lika bra hela tiden.
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Efter att ha läst otroligt smickrande saker om detta vi på flera vinbloggar tog jag med en flaska på en blindprovning. Blir inte alls imponerad. Vinet är volatilt som en taskig Musar, och även om det finns såväl körsbär och plommon som en okej ek, så är det inte alls gott. ---------------------- Volatile with cherries and plumbs. Not exciting at all.
A little closed at first and in need of air to open up. On the palate really tight with red berries, liqourice and stoney minerals. Well-structured with drinkable but still rather rough tannins. This is a really interesting wine in a mineral-driven style well worth trying. Lacks a little fruit and wow-factor to be outstanding in my book.
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Closed at first, needs a proper airing. But when the nose opens, it gives a lot: sensations of stone, kernels and nuts, pure strawberry and blackberry fruit, pepper, garrigue, chocolate, liquorice and a hint of raspberry confiture. Well-built and dense on the palate, with more prominent yet finer tannin structure than La Source. Also a drier impression, with a bit of alcoholic wamth (15,2%). This is mostly grenache (around 70%) with syrah, carignan and cinsault, all fermented together in cement. Around 1/3 of the stems were kept for structure and complexity. €17,90 on the domaine, 201 sek in Sweden. Good work!
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Fresh, cool fruit with raspberries and plums on the palate. Nicely integrated aok and alcohol makes this wine really harmonic and drinkable. Some flowers and mineral notes adds to complexity. This is an honest and well made wine if you you like the style. Close to outstanding and may very well develop into an even greater wine.
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The first thing you notice in this wine is the immense amount of clean fruit and almost flowery perfume. The palate is nicely integrated and adds to the overall experience in a pleasant way. Still there is enough structure to provide a pleasurable experience. I have written before that there is not a hard edge to this wine, which is still true. But structure and silkiness can sometimes go hand in hand. This wine is a good example of just that. The acidity is clearly visible and makes this effort a nice food companion. I anticipate 10+ years of pleasure. Lovely!
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A stunner and a total winner in terms of quality and clean fruit, the l'Argile provides clean fruit and a flowery perfume of perfectly ripe but also "cool" fruit. The palate is nicely integrated but has a vocal structure, depending on youth and primary fruit. Still there are no hard edges to be found. The acidity is clearly visible helping the wine become food friendly. Lovely!
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Sval drottningsylt, plommon, chark och rund vanilj i doften. Oväntat friskt och fräscht och utan några gröna inslag. Oregano och salmiak. Kräver rejält med luft för att komma igång. I munnen något skitigare, på ett bra sätt. Stall, salmiak och underveg tillsammans med frukten. Medellång efter och hög syra. Finmaskiga och väl påstridiga tanniner imo, än bättre med mat skulle jag tro. Mycket intressant och prisvärt, kan absolut tänka mig att lägga några på rygg och återkomma. 89+
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Clean crisp fruit with well integrated alcohol levels (15 %). Pure almost cool grenache dominated fruit. Opens up considerably after a couple hours of airation.
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Opulent, lovely and pure Grenache fruit with a spicy complexity added from the other grapes in the mix. 15% alcohol is not showing through - the l'Argile is an elegant effort with excellent quaffability. I would have appreciated a bit more pronounced acidity to make it an even better partner with food. Still - excellent.
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As nice as during last tasting, this effort provides an immense amount of clean fruit and almost flowery perfume of perfectly ripe and also somewhat "cool" fruit. There is no doubt this effort is the result of skillful winemaking at a very high level. The palate is nicely integrated and adds to the overall experience in a pleasant way. There is not a hard edge to the wine, yet the acidity is clearly visible helping the wine pair nicely to food. This effort will continue to develop for a number of years and provide 10+ years of pleasure. Quite adorable!
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Picked up today and was so curious. The wine was just wonderful. Spicy and fruity, yet with lots of character. Will pair well with a wide range of food. Impressed and great value 4 money!
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A wonderful wine expressing the essence of the region in a very distinct and clean way. The 2010 L'Argile exhibits a super clean Grenache perfume full of mature kirsch, lovely minerals and clay but also subtle and integrated garrigue. The palate follows through quite excellently in a full-bodied yet elegant manner. Everything is in place in this wine and it is extremely well-balanced. With a few more years in the cellar it will integrate even further and provide a more complex drinking experience. Though I have to say the primary fruit is quite exhilarating - and I actually see no reason not to drink now if decanting for a couple of hours. Bravo! (score is 94+)
9/30/2020 - PSUSteve wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful southern Rhône which continues to be better on day 2.
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3/16/2019 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Enjoyable, good dark red fruit, good minerality, earth, very nice
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2/27/2018 - pkbowen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Enjoyed over two nights. A refined and enjoyable wine, with complex aromas of underbrush, mesquite, salty mineral, cran-raspberry, herb, and spice. Flavors to match with a wonderfully firm structure provided by crunchy medium(+) acid and medium(+)-intensity grape tannin. A warm, round mouthfeel provides a great foil to the fresh acid.
In a great place right now with just enough fruit remaining, but structure could allow the wine to develop for an additional 4+ years. Solid QPR at USD$26. A very high quality wine. "Excellent," 92/100.
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1/2/2018 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark garnet in color, this wine (75% Red Grenache/15% Syrah/5% Carignan/5% Cinsault), this wine reveals bright red fruits, anise, forest floor and rose petals on the nose. The mouth feel is more lighter bodied than expected and brings more beautiful red fruits with distinct minerality. The finish is long, open and complex, highlighting the fruit, spices and floral element while keeping the high 15% abv well in the background.
Purchased for $25US, this is an outstanding offering that clearly drinks like a CDP without the heavier mouth feel. It's delicious as it is. I wish I had bought more of this vintage. It's a winner.
An Eric Solomon Selection. Imported by European Cellars L.L.C., Charlotte, NC.
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9/27/2017 - JohanPe wrote: 89 Points
L'Argile means clay. Approximately 70% Grenache and 15% Syrah. The rest is Carignan and Cinsault. Pretty open for business after 2 hours in the decanter. Dark berries such as blackberry and forest berry. Big bodied. Smoked pork, old leather and fine tobacco gives the nose a dirty profile behind the fruit. Grenache dominates but not as much as 3 years ago. The palate is really powerful, high acidity and fine marked tannins. Tobacco and rusty iron, big notes. 75% de-stemmed and that shows in the aftertaste that has lots of depth and complexity. Performed much better with food than on its own where I found the alcohol coming through a bit. Developed quite a bit since last time and I predict it will get better and become more balanced with another 3 years in the cellar. Great qpr, interesting wine.
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5/3/2017 - Svenssonsmakaren wrote: 90 Points
Sådärja, sista flaskan tog revanch. Nu är det precis vad man kan förvänta. Bra struktur, multnande men frisk frukt backat av komplexare undervegetationstoner. Ett bra vin och ett trevligt farväl.
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4/24/2017 - PSUSteve wrote: 92 Points
Much better on day 2 after vinvac
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4/7/2017 - Svenssonsmakaren wrote: 84 Points
Har tappat stinget. Hopps att det bara är den här flaskan.
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12/11/2016 - Pebben wrote: 92 Points
From memory: Black fruit, liquorish, floral perfume and vanilla-toffee on the nose and palate. Impressive balance and depth of flavour. Seems to be near its peak, but should be good for quite a few more years. Fantastic QPR!
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1/8/2016 - geppetto Likes this wine: 92 Points
On the tart side. Needed some air, but it seems to have really good bones. I will leave my other bottles for another 2 years before checking in. Nice wine.
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5/25/2015 - olalar wrote: 92 Points
This has developed amazingly well. Such intense notes of fruits and flowers both in nose and mouth. The body is substantial and the fruit is sweet yet the balance is there. Seems to be at a peak now. A fantastic bottle.
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4/14/2015 - Svenssonsmakaren wrote: 93 Points
Klart bästa flaskan hittills, helt underbar faktiskt! Det häftigaste är att den ändrar form hela tiden, börjar floralt, lekfullt, sedan mer tyngd, mer lakrits, skön balanserad frukt. Håller säkert i många år till men frågan är om jag kommer kunna hålla fingrar borta från resterande flaskor. Dracks över två dagar, lika bra hela tiden.
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4/6/2015 - JohanOhman Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Efter att ha läst otroligt smickrande saker om detta vi på flera vinbloggar tog jag med en flaska på en blindprovning. Blir inte alls imponerad. Vinet är volatilt som en taskig Musar, och även om det finns såväl körsbär och plommon som en okej ek, så är det inte alls gott.
----------------------
Volatile with cherries and plumbs. Not exciting at all.
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4/4/2015 - Jasonr1023 Likes this wine:
Needed to decant for 4+ hrs to bring it around.
Will open next bottle in a year.
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1/13/2015 - JM_MadTown wrote: 86 Points
Perhaps this wine is too young for my taste. It is tightly wound with stoney red fruit and red licorice. And it has a tannic backbone.
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8/23/2014 - Magners Likes this wine: 88 Points
A little closed at first and in need of air to open up. On the palate really tight with red berries, liqourice and stoney minerals. Well-structured with drinkable but still rather rough tannins. This is a really interesting wine in a mineral-driven style well worth trying. Lacks a little fruit and wow-factor to be outstanding in my book.
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5/7/2014 - Finare Vinare wrote: 91 Points
Closed at first, needs a proper airing. But when the nose opens, it gives a lot: sensations of stone, kernels and nuts, pure strawberry and blackberry fruit, pepper, garrigue, chocolate, liquorice and a hint of raspberry confiture. Well-built and dense on the palate, with more prominent yet finer tannin structure than La Source. Also a drier impression, with a bit of alcoholic wamth (15,2%). This is mostly grenache (around 70%) with syrah, carignan and cinsault, all fermented together in cement. Around 1/3 of the stems were kept for structure and complexity. €17,90 on the domaine, 201 sek in Sweden. Good work!
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5/3/2014 - Jonas Lovén wrote: 89 Points
Flowery nose and palate. Young with soft tannins. Very attractive.
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3/29/2014 - Magners Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fresh, cool fruit with raspberries and plums on the palate. Nicely integrated aok and alcohol makes this wine really harmonic and drinkable. Some flowers and mineral notes adds to complexity. This is an honest and well made wine if you you like the style. Close to outstanding and may very well develop into an even greater wine.
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2/14/2014 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The first thing you notice in this wine is the immense amount of clean fruit and almost flowery perfume. The palate is nicely integrated and adds to the overall experience in a pleasant way. Still there is enough structure to provide a pleasurable experience. I have written before that there is not a hard edge to this wine, which is still true. But structure and silkiness can sometimes go hand in hand. This wine is a good example of just that. The acidity is clearly visible and makes this effort a nice food companion. I anticipate 10+ years of pleasure. Lovely!
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2/7/2014 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 94 Points
A stunner and a total winner in terms of quality and clean fruit, the l'Argile provides clean fruit and a flowery perfume of perfectly ripe but also "cool" fruit. The palate is nicely integrated but has a vocal structure, depending on youth and primary fruit. Still there are no hard edges to be found. The acidity is clearly visible helping the wine become food friendly. Lovely!
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1/19/2014 - JohanPe wrote: 89 Points
Sval drottningsylt, plommon, chark och rund vanilj i doften. Oväntat friskt och fräscht och utan några gröna inslag. Oregano och salmiak. Kräver rejält med luft för att komma igång.
I munnen något skitigare, på ett bra sätt. Stall, salmiak och underveg tillsammans med frukten. Medellång efter och hög syra. Finmaskiga och väl påstridiga tanniner imo, än bättre med mat skulle jag tro. Mycket intressant och prisvärt, kan absolut tänka mig att lägga några på rygg och återkomma. 89+
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11/15/2013 - Frommen wrote: 92 Points
Clean crisp fruit with well integrated alcohol levels (15 %). Pure almost cool grenache dominated fruit. Opens up considerably after a couple hours of airation.
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11/9/2013 - peblin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opulent, lovely and pure Grenache fruit with a spicy complexity added from the other grapes in the mix. 15% alcohol is not showing through - the l'Argile is an elegant effort with excellent quaffability. I would have appreciated a bit more pronounced acidity to make it an even better partner with food. Still - excellent.
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11/8/2013 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 94 Points
As nice as during last tasting, this effort provides an immense amount of clean fruit and almost flowery perfume of perfectly ripe and also somewhat "cool" fruit. There is no doubt this effort is the result of skillful winemaking at a very high level. The palate is nicely integrated and adds to the overall experience in a pleasant way. There is not a hard edge to the wine, yet the acidity is clearly visible helping the wine pair nicely to food. This effort will continue to develop for a number of years and provide 10+ years of pleasure. Quite adorable!
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10/26/2013 - jakob99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Picked up today and was so curious. The wine was just wonderful. Spicy and fruity, yet with lots of character. Will pair well with a wide range of food. Impressed and great value 4 money!
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10/26/2013 - Christoffer78 wrote: 94 Points
A wonderful wine expressing the essence of the region in a very distinct and clean way. The 2010 L'Argile exhibits a super clean Grenache perfume full of mature kirsch, lovely minerals and clay but also subtle and integrated garrigue. The palate follows through quite excellently in a full-bodied yet elegant manner. Everything is in place in this wine and it is extremely well-balanced. With a few more years in the cellar it will integrate even further and provide a more complex drinking experience. Though I have to say the primary fruit is quite exhilarating - and I actually see no reason not to drink now if decanting for a couple of hours. Bravo! (score is 94+)
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