77% Cab, and 23% Merlot and matured in 50% new oak.
My sharing with the boys at our Clubhouse in BT Hartamas, I was curious how this was developing and it turns out.. its heading to a good place, and enjoyable this year. Will it shutdown like some other 14s? Hmm..
Acid M+, and growing gradually and gently. Fine tannins, M. Mid palate shows leather notes, nice to see the aging and maturity development, circa 10 years now.
Floral aromatics also keep opening up over our 2 hour session. This is a d'Issan which is certainly developing over the recent two years, and can be better in say 3-5 years more.
My fellow Vivino buddies thought.... CdP!? Brunello? But when revealed, said this was actually rather typical of a Margaux appelation 2014 vintage Bordeaux.
Fun evening with WMK, Hann, Romz and Joe too.
Butchers Table, Hartamas, KL, Malaysia 26th Jan 2024
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A bit acidic at first, after 3+ hours in the decanter. Improvisert after a while ro a very nice wine.Not great, but truly nice. Lacked concentration and length, and maturity. The latter is not strange as it is only 8 years old.
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Dark plums, tobacco, fennel, a nice touch of oak and a hint of lilacs. Dry dense fruit on the palate, concentrated, full bodied, welded acids, strong fine grained tannins, clarifying aromatic lingering acid finish. 13% alcohol. Excellent with pan fried prime NY strip, asparagus with hollandaise, and boiled small potatoes with parsley. Very satisfying.
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77% CS and 23% Merlot which is matured in 50% new oak. I bottle breathed this for 4 hours which opened up the perfume bouquet with hints of cedar too.
Plums and blackcurrants with dark chocolate lined my palate, with good intensity and a balanced full body.
This rich Margaux has sufficient depth and moderate complexity with a medium finish.
At USD 60-70 for a Bordeaux with this pedigree,it's still a reliable pop each and every time! Nevertheless, it lost out to the amazing Almaviva 2015 on this occasion.
YSL and TC farewell, bon voyage to HK..
Jl Bangkung in Bangsar, Malaysia - 3 Sep 2022
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Similar to previous notes. Has the lovely house style but also a bit of the muddled awkwardness I often get from the '14 vintage, which tends to continue to need more time to show better. Even the '19 d'Issan arguably shows better now than even this '14. This was great value upon release but might be better options now to seek out like the '19 which is so reasonably priced. The '12 stands way above this in quality, but likely far more pricey too now.
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Unusually musty ruby color for this age. Lush nose of ripe black fruits, toasted oak, fresh wet garden aromatics. Dry, soft acidity and tannins, dark fruits and chocolate palate follows through. Medium body. Great balance. Lingering finish. Great QPR.
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Wonderfully aromatic with inviting blackberry, leather and tobacco leaf scents that lead to an approachable but still somewhat youthful, mouthful of dark fruits that maintains freshness and balance throughout the finish.
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Another winner for the vintage. After a short decant this was firing on all cylinders. Creosote, tar and dark fruit on the nose. So classic in style, slightly lean but not green with great mouth feel. Rich but not over extracted. Sadly, I only managed one bottle at a bargain price of $42.
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Dark ruby color turning violet at the rim with a reflective edge. The nose is divine with smoky notes of ripe black fruits and hints of cola on toasted oak. The palate is surprisingly full bodied and rich in fruit with medium plus acidity that balances the blackberry, blueberry, and cassis notes. Secondary notes of fig, chocolate, and espresso on the long, heightened and refined finish. This is an excellent d’Issan for the vintage and most certainly surpassed my expectations. Drink now until 2032.
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Dark ruby with a garnet edge. Dark berries, graphite, flowers, green pepper, a hint of earth on the nose. Deeply concentrated black cherry fruit on the palate with a firm tannic base and a crisp acid frame. Medium body, very long finish.
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A classic Margaux, with smooth tannins and a nice long finish with oak and leather notes. Delightful!
Had this in a 3 way blind test with another 3eme Chateau Giscours 2016, along with a Bolgheri Rosso and the Le Serre Ornellaia 2017. The girls unanimously liked the LS best, whilst both me and E picked this D'Issan as the best of the three!
Malaysia - May 2021
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Great wine with strong character, great hit on the aroma with Strewberry, oak, cigar, vanlila and sark chocolate, full body with long finishing. already quite good for drinking but should be good for an other 20yrs as the tannin was still a bit hard.
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Absolut klassischer Margaux. Anfänglich recht röstiges Holz, das sich aber schnell integriert. Dann kommen reife Kirschen und florale Akzente zum Vorschein. Minimal unreife Cassis. Der Geschmack ist filigran, fein saftig und bietet anregende Frische, die einen schnell trinken lässt. Milde Tannine. Voller Eleganz. Sehr gute Länge. Die Extraktion dieses Weines ist mit viel Sensibilität durchgeführt worden. Das verrät schon seine helle Farbe. I like! jetzt bis 2032
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Medium to deep ruby, deep bouquet of red and black currant, cassis, tabaco leaf, saddle leather, spice and a touch of wood, silky smooth but tight on the attack with racy acidity, plump red and black fruit, and mild tannins, finishes a little dry with the heat and wood turned way up, waves of fig, black tea, and dry extract but unfortunately turns a little astringent
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Surprisingly accessible now. It drank well early but the Margaux nose came out with a decant, tracked it over 2 hours in the decanter. I wouldn't do much longer on this one as it does not need it. Classic, restrained claret and drinking very nicely. At 13% alcohol. It should gain some complexity over the next 3-7 years, but very drinkable now. More so than most other 2014's that I have tasted lately.
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My first peek at this bottling, out of 375 mL after a 2 hour decant and drunk over a few hours. For me, young bordeaux may be more approachable, but hardly exciting in their youth. This is just starting to show a smidge of interest. The balance on this is excellent with fairly good concentration. The 89 score reflects its current state, not its potential. I would expect it to be very fine with several more years of age.
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2009-2019 Vertical Tasting with Jane Anson & Emmanuel Cruse
My key take-away of the evening was how consistently elegant this wine is across vintages. Some impressions by vintage (not all mine)
2009 – 92 points. 60% Cab Sav, 40% Merlot. Ripe fruit, eucalyptus, tobacco and chocolate. Very long finish, already drinking very well.
2010 - 93 points. 61% Cab Sav, 39% Merlot. More serious than the 2009, less fruit-forward, more herbaceous and more closed. Tannins not as well integrated and clearly earlier in its development. My favourite.
2014 - 90 points. 77% Cab Sav, 23% Merlot. Perhaps a lesser vintage (forgotten and great value according to the owner). Younger but in a way more evolved, with less fresh fruit, more liquorice and chocolate coming through on the nose. Maybe not the quality in the fruit and the finish of the other wines but very balanced and creamy none the less.Very enjoyable and ready to drink.
2015 - 93 points. 65% Cab Sav, 35% Merlot. The younger version of the 2010. More concentrated, richer in perfume and colour than the 2016.
2016 - 92 points. 64% Cab Sav, 36% Merlot. The younger version of the 2009. The cassis is charming complemented by floral notes, liquorice and chocolate. Very long mouthcoating finish.
2019 - 92 points. 70% Cab Sav, 30% Merlot. En primeur. I am not an experienced en primeur taster, and therefore, it was a surprise how easy drinking this unfinished wine already is. A very open nose with expressive fruit and floral notes and, obviously, alcohol but that will mellow down over time. Again elegant rather than overpowering. It looks like this is going to be delicious when it grows up.
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The 2014 had a 77/23 Can-Merlot blend and is lighter, fresher and more classic than the 2015 especially, but also the 2016. It is quite accessible now and of the three the one to drink now and the one that really grew on me. Absolutely delightful, classic, classy, restrained claret.
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Pleasantly surprised by this! Teetering on a point more to be honest, but perhaps that’s the surprise talking. Drinking wonderfully now. Opaque dark red core. Not the biggest aromas, but I get ripe blackberries and maybe a touch of cassis mixed with some sour cherry. On the palate, much more sour fruit, smooth mid palate. Fairly long after taste.
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From a split, tasted over two days, alongside the 2015 vintage. The 2014 is a traditional Bordeaux aficionado's Bordeaux. Perhaps a touch rustic for Margaux, it features Cabernet Sauvignon typicity throughout, and a Merlot-driven core of elegant red and purple fruits. By great vintage standards, this might rightly be described as 'a little thin', but such is common with Old School Bordeaux. Conversely, it sports medium plus to high acid and copious powdery tannins, which will allow the wine to evolve and hold for fifteen to twenty years from now. Also, it lists 13 abv, which was essentially imperceptible, and a judicious oak profile. Not yet fully integrated, but that will come in time. Recommend holding bottles for five to seven years.
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Amazing nose having popped the cork which left great anticipation for trying the wine. Not sure the palate yet lives up to the bouquet. Fruit presents itself well, ending with a softer floral finish, medium-fine tannin. Having taken in the aromas it seemed there was something missing for me. At this age I was expecting a little more concentration in the fruit and I probably just need it to move on from more primary fruit so cedar and leather characters show more.
Drank this along side a Lafon Rochet 06 and Yalumba Signature 2014 This was initial winner of the three having PnP but is still too young I suppose as I was hoping for more.
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Shy nose of chocolate, chiles, and dark berries, with an emerging note of black pepper. Pure clear focused fruit on the palate with a smooth tannic acid fusion at the back moving into a long vibrating acid finish. Balance, spice, lilt, promise. Excellent with rabbit cacciatore.
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Clean, fresh and cool aromas, in addition to some very pronounced oak. Full bodied and broad shouldered, ie a bit atypical Margaux. Concentrated and impressive, though.
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Checking in on the 14s...still young and very brash/powerful. Lots of fresh black raspberry, green bell pepper notes. Tannins are quite strong. Looking forward to trying it again when It settles down. All signs show this is developing nicely.
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More complex and reserved aromatics than 2014 Blason d'Issan tasted next to it. Violet, lavender, potpurri, sous bois. Classic Margaux intoxication.
Less angular structure but definitely present. Med to med plus tannin, med acidity, med body (13.24 abv). Fresh, slightly tart black berry fruit. Subtle minerality. Elegance. No excess. Some fungi and wet log. Pencil lead. Some fresh Italian herb.
This is a great Margaux in the making. One of the highest proportion of Cab in the history of the estate. This will take time to come together though. I would not touch it until its 10th birthday and start to enjoy the unleashing of its upside by 2030. 91++
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Violet and pencil lead / shavings on the nose. Earthy, leather, pencil shavings, dark muted and stewed prunes, and burnt black cherry on the palate. Medium acidity. Medium minus tannin. Soft and delicate. 91-92.
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I tend to like this producer and this is a good case in point. It has the classic house style. I recently had the '10 and '05 and this is delightful and similar in many respects though obviously younger - maybe not as complete as the other strong vintages but not worlds apart either. This has a beautiful chocolate and coffee tone, with slight earthiness and sweetness. It's balanced and beautiful. I paid $40 and realize now that was a bargain- should have bought a case. 93+pts.
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Drunk this three times already. I know this is very primary, but I enjoyed this medium weighted, fruity young wine even at this stage. A very good value and a clear buy for me.
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The Grand Vin av d`Issan har en drueblend på 77% Cabernet Sauvignon og 23% Merlot. 50% av fatene er nye og vinen er modnet 16-18 måneder på fat.
På nesen er vinen middels intens med ganske så forførende florale toner og med livlig frukt der skogsbær, mørke kirsebær, noe skogbunn og lakris dominerer.
Medium konsentrert på paletten med forholdsvis saftige mørke bær med en liten sødmefølelse fra vaniljen og noen brente kaffetoner. Tanninene er tilstedeværende, men løfter bare vinen.
Vinen trenger mer tid for å vokse litt, men viser lovende takter. Vil nok skinne mer om 5-10 år.
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During a 2014 walkabout arrivage tasting, no tasting notes given, only selective comments. In general I did not walk away excited after sampling ca. 40 wines (to be fair, all the big weights were missing). In a nutshell, while the vintage is pleasant and fresh, it is often too lean, lacking charm and aromatic depth. Still, Bordeaux being Bordeaux, the wines are not made for immediate drinking so, I don't see the point in buying them now. There will be plenty of them in the market in 2024 when they reached their peak and prices then will probably still be relatively attractive given the release prices. TN: For me the best wine of this event. Very nice and complex nose with truffle, smoke, some barnyard, spice, dark fruit. Elegant palate, tannins well measured. Well done Mr Cruse. 93-94
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Smoke, tobacco, cigar box, cassis and floral aromatics can be picked up with ease. Forward and approachable, the medium/full bodied, dark, red fruit filled wine can be enjoyed in its youth, while you wait for the 2015 and 2016 to mature.
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En Primeur Bdx. 2014 tasting event, tasting pour, short note. Very closed nose, some green herbs, licorice, gravel and black cherries present. Palate with herbs, spices, sweeter fine dark fruit, minerals, fine acidity and tannins, for an excellent and balanced overall impression. Clean Cab. Sav is the general impression at this stage, with fine structure. Excellent, this will be a very fine Margaux with time. (90 – 93)
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A quickly detected aura of flowers, licorice, cherries and black raspberries, this wine is medium/full-bodied, elegant in style and replete with nectarous cherries and silky tannins. From a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, the wine reached 13.24% alcohol, with a pH of 3.83. 90-92 Pts
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1/26/2024 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 91 Points
77% Cab, and 23% Merlot and matured in 50% new oak.
My sharing with the boys at our Clubhouse in BT Hartamas, I was curious how this was developing and it turns out.. its heading to a good place, and enjoyable this year. Will it shutdown like some other 14s? Hmm..
Acid M+, and growing gradually and gently. Fine tannins, M. Mid palate shows leather notes, nice to see the aging and maturity development, circa 10 years now.
Floral aromatics also keep opening up over our 2 hour session. This is a d'Issan which is certainly developing over the recent two years, and can be better in say 3-5 years more.
My fellow Vivino buddies thought.... CdP!? Brunello? But when revealed, said this was actually rather typical of a Margaux appelation 2014 vintage Bordeaux.
Fun evening with WMK, Hann, Romz and Joe too.
Butchers Table, Hartamas, KL, Malaysia
26th Jan 2024
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1/5/2023 - wgmccallum wrote:
Drank in the middle of a dinner party without serious attention, but this seemed a bit shy to me right now, compared to earlier notes.
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10/12/2022 - Counsel71 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice aroma but expected more of a 3rd Growth.
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10/11/2022 - Antoniusyh Likes this wine: 89 Points
A bit acidic at first, after 3+ hours in the decanter. Improvisert after a while ro a very nice wine.Not great, but truly nice. Lacked concentration and length, and maturity. The latter is not strange as it is only 8 years old.
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10/5/2022 - wineappellation wrote: 91 Points
Earthy, tar smoke, savoury, graphite. Some dry flowers and blackberry
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9/17/2022 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark plums, tobacco, fennel, a nice touch of oak and a hint of lilacs. Dry dense fruit on the palate, concentrated, full bodied, welded acids, strong fine grained tannins, clarifying aromatic lingering acid finish. 13% alcohol. Excellent with pan fried prime NY strip, asparagus with hollandaise, and boiled small potatoes with parsley. Very satisfying.
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9/4/2022 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 89 Points
77% CS and 23% Merlot which is matured in 50% new oak. I bottle breathed this for 4 hours which opened up the perfume bouquet with hints of cedar too.
Plums and blackcurrants with dark chocolate lined my palate, with good intensity and a balanced full body.
This rich Margaux has sufficient depth and moderate complexity with a medium finish.
At USD 60-70 for a Bordeaux with this pedigree,it's still a reliable pop each and every time! Nevertheless, it lost out to the amazing Almaviva 2015 on this occasion.
YSL and TC farewell, bon voyage to HK..
Jl Bangkung in Bangsar, Malaysia - 3 Sep 2022
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8/27/2022 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Similar to previous notes. Has the lovely house style but also a bit of the muddled awkwardness I often get from the '14 vintage, which tends to continue to need more time to show better. Even the '19 d'Issan arguably shows better now than even this '14. This was great value upon release but might be better options now to seek out like the '19 which is so reasonably priced. The '12 stands way above this in quality, but likely far more pricey too now.
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8/27/2022 - kt95 wrote: 89 Points
Nice smokey nose out of the bottle. Leathery, woody tasting notes. But the finish is slightly too short. Did not decant it prior 😌
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6/21/2022 - j30 wrote: 91 Points
Open and classic, with a soft medium bodied palate. Softer and lighter than the '16 I had the other day.
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6/11/2022 - Costes76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Unusually musty ruby color for this age. Lush nose of ripe black fruits, toasted oak, fresh wet garden aromatics. Dry, soft acidity and tannins, dark fruits and chocolate palate follows through. Medium body. Great balance. Lingering finish. Great QPR.
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5/18/2022 - Donjcorleone Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderfully aromatic with inviting blackberry, leather and tobacco leaf scents that lead to an approachable but still somewhat youthful, mouthful of dark fruits that maintains freshness and balance throughout the finish.
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5/15/2022 - g-man wrote: 93 Points
Another winner for the vintage. After a short decant this was firing on all cylinders. Creosote, tar and dark fruit on the nose. So classic in style, slightly lean but not green with great mouth feel. Rich but not over extracted. Sadly, I only managed one bottle at a bargain price of $42.
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4/16/2022 - Somm Enchanted Evening wrote:
Error
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11/10/2021 - RayOB wrote: 90 Points
Drank at 67
Still young come back in 5 years
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10/13/2021 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 95 Points
Dark ruby color turning violet at the rim with a reflective edge. The nose is divine with smoky notes of ripe black fruits and hints of cola on toasted oak. The palate is surprisingly full bodied and rich in fruit with medium plus acidity that balances the blackberry, blueberry, and cassis notes. Secondary notes of fig, chocolate, and espresso on the long, heightened and refined finish. This is an excellent d’Issan for the vintage and most certainly surpassed my expectations. Drink now until 2032.
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9/19/2021 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby with a garnet edge. Dark berries, graphite, flowers, green pepper, a hint of earth on the nose. Deeply concentrated black cherry fruit on the palate with a firm tannic base and a crisp acid frame. Medium body, very long finish.
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5/30/2021 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 90 Points
A classic Margaux, with smooth tannins and a nice long finish with oak and leather notes. Delightful!
Had this in a 3 way blind test with another 3eme Chateau Giscours 2016, along with a Bolgheri Rosso and the Le Serre Ornellaia 2017. The girls unanimously liked the LS best, whilst both me and E picked this D'Issan as the best of the three!
Malaysia - May 2021
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5/16/2021 - HWG99 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great wine with strong character, great hit on the aroma with Strewberry, oak, cigar, vanlila and sark chocolate, full body with long finishing. already quite good for drinking but should be good for an other 20yrs as the tannin was still a bit hard.
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2/20/2021 - Mali Likes this wine: 92 Points
Absolut klassischer Margaux. Anfänglich recht röstiges Holz, das sich aber schnell integriert. Dann kommen reife Kirschen und florale Akzente zum Vorschein. Minimal unreife Cassis. Der Geschmack ist filigran, fein saftig und bietet anregende Frische, die einen schnell trinken lässt. Milde Tannine. Voller Eleganz. Sehr gute Länge. Die Extraktion dieses Weines ist mit viel Sensibilität durchgeführt worden. Das verrät schon seine helle Farbe. I like! jetzt bis 2032
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1/12/2021 - duchamp wrote: 91 Points
Medium to deep ruby, deep bouquet of red and black currant, cassis, tabaco leaf, saddle leather, spice and a touch of wood, silky smooth but tight on the attack with racy acidity, plump red and black fruit, and mild tannins, finishes a little dry with the heat and wood turned way up, waves of fig, black tea, and dry extract but unfortunately turns a little astringent
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12/17/2020 - Jd6725 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Surprisingly accessible now. It drank well early but the Margaux nose came out with a decant, tracked it over 2 hours in the decanter. I wouldn't do much longer on this one as it does not need it. Classic, restrained claret and drinking very nicely. At 13% alcohol. It should gain some complexity over the next 3-7 years, but very drinkable now. More so than most other 2014's that I have tasted lately.
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7/4/2020 - JS79 wrote: 92 Points
67PM tasting with Emmanuel Cruse
Fine tannins, medium finish. Thinner fruit, much higher CS in blend than 15 & 16.
Good now.
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6/27/2020 - dhp. Likes this wine: 89 Points
My first peek at this bottling, out of 375 mL after a 2 hour decant and drunk over a few hours. For me, young bordeaux may be more approachable, but hardly exciting in their youth. This is just starting to show a smidge of interest. The balance on this is excellent with fairly good concentration. The 89 score reflects its current state, not its potential. I would expect it to be very fine with several more years of age.
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5/15/2020 - tmagsmaken wrote: 90 Points
67 Pall Mall Virtual Wine Tasting
2009-2019 Vertical Tasting with Jane Anson & Emmanuel Cruse
My key take-away of the evening was how consistently elegant this wine is across vintages. Some impressions by vintage (not all mine)
2009 – 92 points. 60% Cab Sav, 40% Merlot. Ripe fruit, eucalyptus, tobacco and chocolate. Very long finish, already drinking very well.
2010 - 93 points. 61% Cab Sav, 39% Merlot. More serious than the 2009, less fruit-forward, more herbaceous and more closed. Tannins not as well integrated and clearly earlier in its development. My favourite.
2014 - 90 points. 77% Cab Sav, 23% Merlot. Perhaps a lesser vintage (forgotten and great value according to the owner). Younger but in a way more evolved, with less fresh fruit, more liquorice and chocolate coming through on the nose. Maybe not the quality in the fruit and the finish of the other wines but very balanced and creamy none the less.Very enjoyable and ready to drink.
2015 - 93 points. 65% Cab Sav, 35% Merlot. The younger version of the 2010. More concentrated, richer in perfume and colour than the 2016.
2016 - 92 points. 64% Cab Sav, 36% Merlot. The younger version of the 2009. The cassis is charming complemented by floral notes, liquorice and chocolate. Very long mouthcoating finish.
2019 - 92 points. 70% Cab Sav, 30% Merlot. En primeur. I am not an experienced en primeur taster, and therefore, it was a surprise how easy drinking this unfinished wine already is. A very open nose with expressive fruit and floral notes and, obviously, alcohol but that will mellow down over time. Again elegant rather than overpowering. It looks like this is going to be delicious when it grows up.
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5/14/2020 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 93 Points
The 2014 had a 77/23 Can-Merlot blend and is lighter, fresher and more classic than the 2015 especially, but also the 2016. It is quite accessible now and of the three the one to drink now and the one that really grew on me. Absolutely delightful, classic, classy, restrained claret.
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12/8/2019 - JS199 wrote:
This is way too young even with several hours of air. Day two, drinkable. I'd say 5+ years at a minimum.
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12/3/2019 - CrocodileCab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pleasantly surprised by this! Teetering on a point more to be honest, but perhaps that’s the surprise talking. Drinking wonderfully now. Opaque dark red core. Not the biggest aromas, but I get ripe blackberries and maybe a touch of cassis mixed with some sour cherry. On the palate, much more sour fruit, smooth mid palate. Fairly long after taste.
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11/17/2019 - Motz wrote: 93 Points
From a split, tasted over two days, alongside the 2015 vintage. The 2014 is a traditional Bordeaux aficionado's Bordeaux. Perhaps a touch rustic for Margaux, it features Cabernet Sauvignon typicity throughout, and a Merlot-driven core of elegant red and purple fruits. By great vintage standards, this might rightly be described as 'a little thin', but such is common with Old School Bordeaux. Conversely, it sports medium plus to high acid and copious powdery tannins, which will allow the wine to evolve and hold for fifteen to twenty years from now. Also, it lists 13 abv, which was essentially imperceptible, and a judicious oak profile. Not yet fully integrated, but that will come in time. Recommend holding bottles for five to seven years.
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8/17/2019 - Rune_73 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very smooth and elegant, typical Margaux. Drinking nicely now with a short decant!
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8/3/2019 - MSheridan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Amazing nose having popped the cork which left great anticipation for trying the wine. Not sure the palate yet lives up to the bouquet.
Fruit presents itself well, ending with a softer floral finish, medium-fine tannin. Having taken in the aromas it seemed there was something missing for me. At this age I was expecting a little more concentration in the fruit and I probably just need it to move on from more primary fruit so cedar and leather characters show more.
Drank this along side a Lafon Rochet 06 and Yalumba Signature 2014
This was initial winner of the three having PnP but is still too young I suppose as I was hoping for more.
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8/1/2019 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Shy nose of chocolate, chiles, and dark berries, with an emerging note of black pepper. Pure clear focused fruit on the palate with a smooth tannic acid fusion at the back moving into a long vibrating acid finish. Balance, spice, lilt, promise. Excellent with rabbit cacciatore.
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1/13/2019 - AudunG wrote: 91 Points
Clean, fresh and cool aromas, in addition to some very pronounced oak. Full bodied and broad shouldered, ie a bit atypical Margaux. Concentrated and impressive, though.
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11/26/2018 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot wrote: 87 Points
Checking in on the 14s...still young and very brash/powerful. Lots of fresh black raspberry, green bell pepper notes. Tannins are quite strong. Looking forward to trying it again when It settles down. All signs show this is developing nicely.
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9/12/2018 - NarunP Likes this wine: 91 Points
77 CS, 23 M, raised in 50% new barrel.
More complex and reserved aromatics than 2014 Blason d'Issan tasted next to it. Violet, lavender, potpurri, sous bois. Classic Margaux intoxication.
Less angular structure but definitely present. Med to med plus tannin, med acidity, med body (13.24 abv). Fresh, slightly tart black berry fruit. Subtle minerality. Elegance. No excess. Some fungi and wet log. Pencil lead. Some fresh Italian herb.
This is a great Margaux in the making. One of the highest proportion of Cab in the history of the estate. This will take time to come together though. I would not touch it until its 10th birthday and start to enjoy the unleashing of its upside by 2030. 91++
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8/26/2018 - Kevin Cheng Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quite recognizably Margaux. Very nice to drink. Slightly savoury nose, almost reminiscent of a good soy sauce. Great for the price as well.
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2/23/2018 - ckinv368 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Violet and pencil lead / shavings on the nose. Earthy, leather, pencil shavings, dark muted and stewed prunes, and burnt black cherry on the palate. Medium acidity. Medium minus tannin. Soft and delicate. 91-92.
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1/15/2018 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
I tend to like this producer and this is a good case in point. It has the classic house style. I recently had the '10 and '05 and this is delightful and similar in many respects though obviously younger - maybe not as complete as the other strong vintages but not worlds apart either. This has a beautiful chocolate and coffee tone, with slight earthiness and sweetness. It's balanced and beautiful. I paid $40 and realize now that was a bargain- should have bought a case. 93+pts.
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12/14/2017 - "Rhône Rider" Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lukket og tight, men flott balanse og lengde. Trenger tid til å åpne seg.
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11/29/2017 - MarcelloW Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drunk this three times already. I know this is very primary, but I enjoyed this medium weighted, fruity young wine even at this stage. A very good value and a clear buy for me.
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11/8/2017 - Jokofon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Too young. Has potential. Dark berries and vanilla.
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10/26/2017 - Andre Brattland wrote: 91 Points
The Grand Vin av d`Issan har en drueblend på 77% Cabernet Sauvignon og 23% Merlot. 50% av fatene er nye og vinen er modnet 16-18 måneder på fat.
På nesen er vinen middels intens med ganske så forførende florale toner og med livlig frukt der skogsbær, mørke kirsebær, noe skogbunn og lakris dominerer.
Medium konsentrert på paletten med forholdsvis saftige mørke bær med en liten sødmefølelse fra vaniljen og noen brente kaffetoner. Tanninene er tilstedeværende, men løfter bare vinen.
Vinen trenger mer tid for å vokse litt, men viser lovende takter. Vil nok skinne mer om 5-10 år.
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10/14/2017 - Collector1855 wrote: 93 Points
During a 2014 walkabout arrivage tasting, no tasting notes given, only selective comments. In general I did not walk away excited after sampling ca. 40 wines (to be fair, all the big weights were missing). In a nutshell, while the vintage is pleasant and fresh, it is often too lean, lacking charm and aromatic depth. Still, Bordeaux being Bordeaux, the wines are not made for immediate drinking so, I don't see the point in buying them now. There will be plenty of them in the market in 2024 when they reached their peak and prices then will probably still be relatively attractive given the release prices. TN: For me the best wine of this event. Very nice and complex nose with truffle, smoke, some barnyard, spice, dark fruit. Elegant palate, tannins well measured. Well done Mr Cruse. 93-94
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7/19/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
That mocha of Margaux. Really in a realyl great way. 77% Cabernet in this vintage. Served to Henry the II on 1152 for his wedding apparently.
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6/25/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Smoke, tobacco, cigar box, cassis and floral aromatics can be picked up with ease. Forward and approachable, the medium/full bodied, dark, red fruit filled wine can be enjoyed in its youth, while you wait for the 2015 and 2016 to mature.
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9/3/2015 - Ramberg wrote: 92 Points
En Primeur Bdx. 2014 tasting event, tasting pour, short note.
Very closed nose, some green herbs, licorice, gravel and black cherries present.
Palate with herbs, spices, sweeter fine dark fruit, minerals, fine acidity and tannins, for an excellent and balanced overall impression.
Clean Cab. Sav is the general impression at this stage, with fine structure.
Excellent, this will be a very fine Margaux with time.
(90 – 93)
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4/22/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
A quickly detected aura of flowers, licorice, cherries and black raspberries, this wine is medium/full-bodied, elegant in style and replete with nectarous cherries and silky tannins. From a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, the wine reached 13.24% alcohol, with a pH of 3.83. 90-92 Pts
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