Last but one of a case of 12. Finally, this is showing some elegant Margaux character, with all that oak well integrated. At last! Fine mid-level Margaux, nothing exceptionnel but competent.
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Ikke dekantert, men åpen i 1 døgn. Litt mutt første glass, tar seg opp og fremstår som meget pen. Alt på plass. Slankere enn 2009, og bedre. Pen dag 3 også. Faktisk bedre, slankere, strammere.
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Personally would be in favor of drinking this rather sooner than later. Nicely developed some black fruits and dried sugared cranberries still present enough. Leather, graphite, meatyness, damp soil. The beauty of this one is more on the palate, nice wood tannins still present, nice acidity.
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Coravin fun - Bordeaux (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Bold black fruits; brambles; blackcurrant; plums, sweet spice, polished oak, cream, slightly meaty underpin, lends a touch of savouriness, jubey notes with time. Moving from primary to tertiary on the palate, beautifully balanced acid, fruit and tannins, Juicy, black fruits, oak, drying woody tannins, bold but with freshness, best showing for me. Yum.
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3rd bottle of 6 purchased. Last had a bottle ~15 mos ago. Enjoyed this wine with a perfectly cooked, slow-roasted beef tenderloin. What an accompaniment. Perfectly ripened black and red fruits, with earthy stewed mushrooms and espresso grounds, anise, and mint. Gorgeously refined tannins, supported by solid acidity and a long and regal finish. Drink through 2027+.
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Highly perfumed in the nose, waves of black truffles, fresh berries and cherries, coffee beans, mints, and pencil shavings; complex, creamy, and fruity on the palate, ripe berries and cherries, wood spices, and some unresolved tannins; creamy and long finish; overall, very enjoyable, 93-94 points at this stage; still a few more years to evolve further prior to full maturity.
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I decanted this for five hours. I'm not quite so keen as others here - I agree that it has great aromatics, for me mainly rosehip and violets, with a very good attack of strawberry, rose, violet and a little spice, but then the finish comes and for me the party was over: still raspingly tannic, plus a lot of heat, which lingers on the throat for a good minute. So overall, like drinking cough mixture. To be fair, it had calmed down a bit on the second night, but I need to try this again in four or five years' time.
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For me this was the pleasant surprise of the evening, in that it easily beat my expectations. Deep colour, and absolutely superb Margaux fragrance, with hints of coffee and black cherry. Minerally on the palate, with good grip and concentration, this was even better than the Branaire Ducru 2009 which preceded it. Some tannin still evident on the finish, but I think this is absolutely on its plateau of maturity. No hurry, though.
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A beautifully aged Margaux. The 2 things that really stood out for me were the wonderful nose and the extremely long finish of this wine. Very plush, with a palate of blackberry, cassis, aged leather, tobacco, forest floor, and mushroom. Decided to pair this with a homemade chicken noodle soup full of vegetables and savory spices and it was a great pairing!
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Ouvert le soir pour le lendemain midi. Top Margaux. très beau bouquet de fruit noir et café. Des tannins bien fondus. Une belle longueur et une légère acidité encore présente. Excellent maintenant avec une petite ouverture de plusieurs heures. Il pourra faire encore 10/15 ans en cave encore en plus sans aucun souci.
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Beautiful bouquet with herbs and spices, dark berries, some bell pepper and chocolate. On the palate juicy dark fruits, a lot of (sweet) spiciness, beautiful acidity and round tannin. Beautiful wine with a great length.
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Good full bodied Margaux, although quite masculine after the fine and feminine Poyferre 2003. A bit surprising as I have had this wine so many times. This time I prefer the Poyferre.
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Marilyn's Birthday at Stubborn Seed in South Beach. Dark fruits, earth, a touch of flowers and saddle leather on the nose - Clearly a left Bank wine. Medium plus body, great balance of tannins and acid. Pure dark fruits and very elegant. Purchased as futures and stored at 55 degrees. Early maturity but in a very good place now. 92 points
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Actually 91+, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt:). Fully resolved, acidity getting low, so prabably needs to go soon. Graphite on the nose, sweet berries, medium finish. Very nice Margaux
Seems to fade quickly. Don’t decant too long.
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The wine looks ruby colored. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like plum. Silky smooth and subtle. Drunk over 2 hr and needs considerably more time to open despite decanting.
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Very enjoyable Margaux with an excellent bouquet of cassis, some orange zest, sandalwood and pencil shavings. Medium to ful bodied the palate is still fresh with fine, but present tannins. Slowly starting to enter its plateau of maturity, but I would guess best after 2025 and holding for at leeast another decade afterwards, well done.
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2nd of 6 bottles, this one was enjoyed with grilled ribeye steaks. Cassis, charcoal, plum, black cherry, and pencil lead. Medium in body, showing nicely integrated tannins and solid acidity. Drink now through 2027+.
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Medium dark red color. Ripe cherry fruit with a hint of tobacco in the bouquet. Plump fruit entry and mid palate. Long but moderately tannic finish. For a Margaux, this is an unusually powerful wine and one that way over performed. Could use 3-5 years of additional cellaring. Double decanted 2 hours prior to tasting.
From Mark’s 2005 Bordeaux Vintage Tasting: Attended a 36 wine ‘05 Bordeaux tasting recently. The wine above is one of those wines. Served single-blind. All wines were tasted over a 2 day period, 18 per day. The wines served on the 1st day had their corks pulled two hours prior. The second day’s wines were served “ double-decanted”, 2 hours before the first flight. The overall tasting experience was quite different, as one would expect. Day 2 wines were softer, displaying more ripe fruit, and less harsh tannins. Kudos to Mark for both a fantastic experience as well as providing an instructive opportunity on how the 2005 Bordeaux vintage is showing at this stage.
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2005 Bordeaux at 16 years courtesy of Mark Taylor; 6/26/2021-6/27/2021 (Atlanta, GA): Mmmmmm, horsey, stern, dark and brooding, screams left bank. Me likey!!! This wine reminds me of early tastes of 2005, balanced, lots of fruit, juicy, but with great acid and tannic structure. This wine is a winner. My #1 and the clear group #1. I guessed Saint-Pierre.
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From 375mL. Medium-deep ruby with minimal bricking; moderately aromatic with sandalwood spice, blackberry, slight green or mint; palate is full bodied, richly textured black fruits, medium acidity, medium alcohol (13.5%), medium-plus tannins; finish is medium length. A balanced bordeaux, drinking well and enjoyable but similar to my last few halves isn't the most complex or deep wine. 89
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This is just outstanding and in a perfect drinking wi doe. Rich and fleshy with length and complexity. Decanted 1 hour but probably could have popped and poured. The next day it was much less precise — think this is ideal now through +5 years.
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Soft wine with regarding Bordeaux medium+ acidity. Some wood is present and the typical claret-bitter in the aftertaste disturbs the balance in the aftertaste a bit. Not a bad wine but at current prices not the best QPR.
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Rapid decline in the glass, first minute showing lovely wood in the nose, but very soon the bitterness and acidity were starting a fight with only 'a loss of quality' as an outcome.
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Nose of dark fruit, gamey meat, and forest brush. Medium plus body, and a cool entry with blueberries, barnyard, leather, au jus, charcoal, and mocha all very seamless and silky. There's still a touch of grip, but the tannins are largely softened. This tastes mature, but it will definitely keep aging. It still has decent power left and - though I called it soft - has spine that will allow further evolution while maintaining vitality.
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Surprising. In its early maturity. Still showing some moderate tannic structure, but in balance and refined. Lovely dark fruit, expressive nose with eucalyptus and minty complexity. Hints of cedar and leather mixed in. Really lovely. As delicious as this is it may still have upside.
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A splendid, early-maturity Bordeaux that offered good balance, properly ripe fruit and plenty of earthiness. It didn't have much of another gear but that's a quibble. I think this performed nicely relative to expectations and that's a good thing.
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PnP (ok, short decant) because the original wine I opened was off. Graceful with dark mixed berries, good acidity and body. Well balanced. Some mineralogy and spice. I don't expect much improvement with age but based on how it improved over a couple of hours in the glass, and the overall length and fruit, I think this is in a sweet spot for at least 3+ years.
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Coravin fun - Prieure Lichine (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Leather, blackcurrant, sweet spcie, a little plum, pretty, jubey cherry and, with time, earth and cigar box. Juicy acidity, wild blackcurrant and plum, muted spice, chewy tannins close things down on the palate a little. Alcohol warmth on the finish is non-intrusive. a little forward, perhaps, but nice.
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From 375mL. Medium-plus ruby with age-appropriate bricking; moderately aromatic with some sandalwood, some fruit, some blackcurrant; palate is full bodied, balanced medium alcohol, medium balanced acidity, deeper red to black fruits, balanced and elegant throughout but not that complex nor deep; finish is medium length and balanced. Very similar to my half from 4/9/20. Seems at early maturity and a solid value at release price, though maybe not at the current going rate of ~$80. 89-90 30 min in decanter: a bit more capsicum/bell pepper shows up on the palate and the nose which provides a bit more depth. Nice, now scoring on the higher end of my range.
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Not sure it is at its peak but certainly has entered its drinking window. Wonderful rich nose, leather and cassis predominant in the mouth with smoky earth and graphite, tannins well integrated finish a little lacking but a wonderful wine nonetheless and if you bought it back in the day quite the bargain
The overtly oaky character has receded somewhat. The (red) fruit is open and inviting on the nose and the attack. I care less for the finish, I find it a bit soupy, a touch of heat, lacks definition.
This one really came around. Very pleasant nose, medium-bodied, and one minute plus finish. The fruit is fresh and vibrant. Cherry, Margaux grape style. No harshness in the middle or the finish. After about an hour and a half there begins to have a slight amount of spice on the finish. I would consume it in the first one to two hours. Needs about 30 minutes in the glass to open up. Very aromatic and pleasant and smooth. A delight. Don't wait, I think it's ready now
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Cedar, dried herbs, bright cherry, fine toasty tannins. A lovely, complex wine, feminine. Black licorice and burnt oak on the finish, this is all about dark delicate flavors. Very nice. Pretty ready to drink, could develop and soften a bit. I'd say drink now or hold for another 10 years. No rush.
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From 375mL. Deep ruby; medium intensity aromatics with some floral and some sandalwood; palate is full bodied, youthful tannins, plush structure, black fruits; medium finish. Not bad, but not as aromatic as my previous half. 89-90
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Repulsively jammy on nose. That’s all there is - jam. Fruit is too sweet, unbalanced on palate due to anemic acidity. Topped off with really sour oak. Decanted for three hours, from magnum. I don’t know what to blame for this wine’s poor showing - the vintage, its age, or poor winemaking. An optimist might say that I opened this wine at a bad stage. Maybe you should wait 10-15 years for this bottle format and hope for the best. Keep in mind that the ‘82 from this estate did not receive the best reviews in the late ‘90s, but an ‘82 opened the same night as this was spectacular.
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From Coravin. Savoury with aromas of pencil shavings, bramble, coffee, plums, slightly meaty, dusty spice, a little alcohol warmth and jubey black fruit lozenge, biscuit. Juicy, fleshy plummy, alcohol warmth, fine, sand paper tannins persist with the fruit, spice on the long finish. Okay.
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This wine is in a great spot right now. I recommend a decant of less than 30 minutes as it seemed to get bitter the longer it was open. Med to full bodied, smooth tannins, great Margaux flavors, long finish. If it had even more depth it could be rated even higher.
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Gorgeous nose of perfume, florals, dark berries and an interesting mineral kiss on the nose, palate is surprisingly open for an 05, it has good acidity and a fresh feel, with medium plus length
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Purple, nearly black colour, deep cassis nose. Cassis and licorice but oh so young. PnP (not my idea) was a big mistake. This needs 2-4 hour decant now but ideally around 10 more years where it could add a few points - this is a wine with potential for sure,
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The last of these wines who purchase coincided with my marriage.
The first stewed and so, I felt, past it.
So I choose to drink up the second (in Prussia Cove, Cornwall), which turned out to be in much better form. Plenty of fruit, structure, vigour and freshness. Sometimes drinking the last of a case, brings a tear to the eye. It did in this case.
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I don't think this is ready to drink just yet. It is a little 'unsettled' and a little abrasive. Might be bottle variation, but I'll leave it alone for a little while longer.
Deep garnet color. Fragrant nose of violets, cinnamon and dark fruit. Flavors of cassis, pencil shavings, licorice, clove, and cinnamon. Just in the beginning of its drinking window. At least another 10 years to go. Decant for sediment. Lovely classic Bordeaux.
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Deep rich red colour. Bright raspberry and black currant fragrance, floral and very lifted. Medium bodied, good intensity of fruit with a nice seam of mulberry, cassis and fragrant tobacco leaf. Plenty of tannins to close. Drinking well but probably needs another 5 years at least.
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45+ minute decant. Dark cherry color. Napa on the nose but Bordeaux on the palate. Smoke, cherry, menthol, and some earth throughout. More fruit forward that most Bordeaux’s and very chewy. Definitely has years left in it. Decent value.
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An outperforming Prieure Lichine. Fabulous nose full of dark cherry, blackberry, graphite and woody shrubs. Palate full of vanilla and ripe cherry. Plenty of life ahead - no worries for at least another decade. A really great Prieure-lichine, beautiful expression of Margaux commune and a pleasure to drink. Score: 93. Relative to expectations: +
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Nice claret. Good acid balance, well resolved tannins and a fresh finish. Light to medium body, on the nose cedar and the palate had nice dark fruits and some lead pencil. Probably liked a bit of depth. Seems ready to drink and I'm not sure further cellaring is going to improve this cuvee.
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From a 375. Youthful medium ruby; medium-high intensity aromatics with sandalwood, red cherry, slight iodine, slight red floral, violets; palate is full bodied, medium-plus acidity, medium-plus youthful tannins, medium alcohol well balanced, classical but also plush blackberry and blueberry; finish is medium length. Young, but showing really well now, and the really nice perfumed note of a good Margaux (though with the palate to back it up, which is where Margaux sometimes falls flat). 92, drink over the next 10-15 years.
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Mid-garnet, amber edges; cassis, blackberry, wood, terroir nose; balanced; good fruit extract; bigger style for the vintage; long Cabernet-Merlot berry finish. w/steak
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Tonight finished the bottle. Totally resolved tannins. Lush fruit. Beautifully balanced soft merlot. Medium plus fruit. Wonderful with cheese or all by itself which is a testament to how much I enjoyed the wine. Does not have the finess of a first growth, but totally enjoyable.
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From a 375. Youthful medium ruby; aromatic, spice, slight floral, red cherry, sandalwood; palate is full bodied, smooth rich fruits, more red than black, integrated tannins that are still present but not distracting, balanced alcohol (13.5%), medium acidity; medium finish. I opened this because the last few CT notes have been excellent, and they are completely correct. This is balanced but plush, fruity but with enough age to balance the tannins, plenty of complexity, and overall really enjoyable. Drinking well now and over the next decade. 92+
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Tried a glass with the coravin after last weeks bottle. The wine is dark red in the glass, beautiful color, with blackberry fruit. The soft merlot grape was smooth, sexy, and with no hard edges. After an hour and warmed up the wine exibited flowers, graphite and some tire tread. It had a full mouth feel from beginning to end. Took about two hours to really notice the jammy finish because during the first hour the finish seemed to slightly fade. I am pleased that over time the wine was full bodied through the finish. It is definitely in the start of it's drinking period and I expect it to evolve over the next 5 years and drink well over 10.
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Well rounded and soft merlot wine with full bodied fruit and balanced acidity. Only difference in this wine versus a first growth is the amount of fruit which is why I gave it a 93. However, with cheese, veal or lamb you would be perfectly satisfied. The wine is now in it's prime drinking window which I suspect it will stay in at least over the next three years.
Day 2:. Wine lost some of it's sweet fruit and seemed tighter than day 1. I would extend the time to 5 years. I think I will try another glass with the coravin and report back.
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This was a much more substantial wine than I was expecting from previous encounters with Prieuré-Lichine. 2005 was the probably the great vintage that all say it was. Totally dense dark plum colour; intriguing nose, sweet but savioury, a floral lamb chop, perhaps, or should I just use the cliché herbaceous? And with that typical perfumed Margaux lift. Wonderful silky mouth feel (Margaux, once again), soft and with acidity, fully integrated with subdued wood. A very distinctive wine, which will not suit palates educated through the Paulliac region. But I liked it, and I like the fact that the books are right: all the Medoc regions are different, with their own styles, and I believe we should not try to impose a single fruit-driven rating grid upon them.
Second Sunday Group: 2005 Bordeaux (R&D's): Doubl blind. The first wine in the lineup that clearly shows as Bordeaux, featuring red plum, dark berry fruit, iodine and iron shavings. Tannins are obtrusive and there's an austerity that carries through the finish. Love the bouquet, but the palate is clearly lagging behind.
My #2, Domino's #2 Group #2, 43 pts
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Have had this wine now more than a dozen times and I will say: this is one of those wines for the spoiled palette that is affordable and great at the same time. It stands out against other vintages (better than 2000 which lacks some sophistication and is merely lots of fruit) and peers, like the Grand Puy Ducasse 2005 (rather one dimensional) and a Lynch Moussas (monolithic). The Pieure is remarkable broad, has depth and is immensely appealing. A true find.
Drinking well right now, needs a little air as some recent posters have said. Tannins still present but muted, finish is very pleasant and medium-long. Nice black fruit comes through. Would not trust this beyond another 4-5 years, would think it best between now and '21.
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Thought this was excellent. Black fruit, smoke, gravel. Opened nicely. At first the tannins were very firm but after some air, this was beautiful. Needs food and air for sure. Hints of cedar and mushroom on the nose. Plenty of fruit to be had. Seems like it's in a good place right now.
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Decanted for about 90 minutes and this was drinking great. Very expressive nose, with copious amounts of red fruit on the palate. A bit modern in style, but yummy nonetheless. Drinking well now, but can hold for another 5 before it starts to go downhill.
Nice wine with black cherry, cherries and menthol. Tannins were moderate after an hour or so. Day 2 was nice as well but different. The fruit faded a bit. Licorice, cedar and minerality were most prominent.
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Definitively a change since my last bottle almost two years ago. Tannins have mostly settled. More mature notes on the nose. Liquorice, as well on the palate. A bit light, thin. Fruit is vanishing. Drying finish. If we're lucky it will remain light but develop some stronger secondaries on the palate. Might greatly improve?
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Powerful, complex nose. Still a bit tannic; early days, I'd say. Initially surprised by the strong presence of oak on the palate, but quickly gives way to red berry softness, almost sweet. Short to medium finish. Will wait until 2020 before opening the next one.
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Didn't make a formal TN, but this wine was PnP and enjoyed over a few days, as we nibbled on steak, burgers, and salumi. Delicious, maturing Bordeaux, just barely entering it's early drinking window. This wine should continue to improve another 5 years, and drink well through 2027+.
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Grand Cru Cabernet (pyrmont wharf, sydney): blackcurrant, polished, through muted, oak, touches of almost raspberry here as well. Fleshy, broad, smooth and exceedingly quaffable. Dark fruit hued. Medium plus length. In a pleasant spot though not really showing any tertiary characteristics. Rather nice.
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This wine is showing beautifully now. Deep purple with bricking at the rim. Rich nose with anise, cedar, sour cherry,bit of brett,clove. Balanced palate, mod acid, mod tannins, darck fruit and spice carry through from the nose. Med+ finish. Drank from magnum.
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Fairly dark color with beginnings of a brownish brick rim. Nice of good strength with a lot of jammy blackberry and black liquorice. Wood on the nose as well but very well integrated. Entry follows the nose with a nice light weight especially given the heavy flavor profile. Finishes with more liquorice, tobacco and tight and late tannins. The 2005 harshness is gone and this is quite good now. Good example of an age-worthy year where harshness melts into complexity.
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Reviews are all over the place on this, had me worried. Brought to restaurant and was decanted for an hour or so before drinking. Performed very well - nice cedary notes with tannin in check. Paired beautifully with the beef tongue. Its personality is a little shy and I expect there is more to come. Still in a good place and a beautiful drink, glad I have a couple more to see how this develops.
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Typical Ch PL deep purplish, color. Medium full body but without the complexity typical of this chateau. Perhaps it was just my bottle, bought at auction. Disappointing.
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quite disappointing - very muted and closed down - only had that one bottle so I will never know if it was a timing or bottle issue. Was also very low in acidity and tannic structure so I doubt that it would bounce back but....
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Less woody than the previous bottle; the new oak seems to integrate better into the wine. Nose is showing some Margaux character. Gets more classic as it gets older. But still lacks a "soul" (l'âme, as the French would say).; it'll probably never get one.
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Three hour decant. Perfumed nose with red currant, black fruit, oak, and vanilla. The palate has moderate complexity and finish with a lot of tannins and cassis. The wine has elements of classic and modern wine making style. It will certainly benefit from 5-6 more years of aging. To enjoy this now, I would give it a 3-4 hours decant. Everyone enjoy this wine tonight. 91+
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First bottle from a case. Drinking very well after 2 hour decant. Still quite tight so possibly some upside potential. Better than the '09 Lascombes drunk the day before.
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Rich 'modern' nose with plum, cassis, touch of earth and flowers. This wine is initially a little closed on the palate with merlot predominant features but slowly it reveals a more classical structure with some real finesse. Theres a lot to like if a little anonymous. Delicious !
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Almost 1 year ago I drank the first bottle of a case of 12. At the time, I thought the oak was heavy and masking a "hole" in the middle. This second bottle shows much the same characteristics, with some wood-originated astringency. Too much oak! As the wine has plenty stuffing, not all hope is lost yet, I'll wait another year for the next one.
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While it has a modern/extracted feel to it, there is still enough classic style to the wine to enjoy, some oak nanilla still present at age 10, red berry, plums and wet stone, palate is smooth with silky and polished tannins nice medium acidity keeps the fruit feeling fresh and a medium length finish
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Amazing nose of mushroom and red currants. Medium/Heavy on the palate, so in balance that you can't even tell there are tannins until the immense finish. This is not close to its peak but so fun now. Two to three hour decant for now. Keep in mind with the high score that I'm a Bordeaux nut. Others might rate this a 93 in the context of Bordeaux given the modest finish and that there is not a lot of delineation with it's favor profile.
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Given a good chance to breathe, based upon other notes. 6 hours uncorked and then decanted 2 hours to go. Impressive, finely balanced, still seems a few years away from its best. Quite delightful.
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Still relatively primary after 2-hour decant. Dark fruits, ripe tannins, length and concetration -- lots of promise. Wait 3-5 years before next bottle.
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Plenty of dark fruit, with great structure. Seemed a bit closed and somewhat lacking in secondary flavors. Probably would have showed better with decanting.
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Although the colour is betraying some ageing, this wine is still tight. Margaux finesse fighting it out with a whack of new oak - not sure who is going to win. I'm left with the impression of a little hole in the middle, between a subtle attack and a wood-dominated finish. Early drinking window, wait and see.
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Mother's day with Filet Mignon and NY Strips. Dark in color. Very nice earthy, forest floor with blackberry fruit on nose. Developing nicely and very drinkable now. Firm tannins, mushroom, blackberry, and some spice, white pepper perhaps. Truly elegant with a long finish.
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Nose - dark fruit, earth, varnish Mouth - delicious fruit punchy attack, with serious black cherry/graphite stuffing, long lingering sweet black cherry finish. Admirably bold fruity and pure. Reminiscent of a first growth. A wow wine. superb.
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I have written three prior tasting notes on this wine. Regarding nose, flavors, length, acidity, and minerals I would echo those earlier notes but add the following: The tannins are ripening. This medium-weight Bordeaux is finally entering the drinking window. Many 2005 Bordeaux wines are still quite tight. Not this one. While young, it is ready to enjoy.
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Deep crimson purple with excellent density. Nose deep notes of dark cherry, blackcurrant, white flowers and cigar box. Touches of dark chocolate. Palate medium weight with great persistence and fine but still assertive tannin structure. Delicious and great buying. Another rewarding 2005 just beginning to open.
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Oeil: Violet foncé assez opaque avec un début de tuilé sur la frange. Nez sur la cerise, la réglisse rouge et une touche de vanille. En bouche, tout est présent, c'est rond et les tannins sont très fins, soyeux. Longueur moyenne sur le fruit. Probablement au début de son pic.
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Full, mellow, and perfumed aromas of cherries, mints, lavenders, and black truffles in the nose; yet still tannic and tight on the palate with dark berries and cherries, licorice, whipped cream, and quite some gripping and drying tannins; the finish, creamy and fruity of medium+ length, with dark fruits, mild spices, and whipped cream; overall, 91-92 points at this stage; more mature than what it was 3 years ago but still needed more time.
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See 11/17/13 note. Some people might consider this a "new world" style Margaux. The ripe fruit and extraction could give that impression. However, the earthy/leathery nose, 13.5% alcohol, restrained oak, and overall elegance suggest a pure Bordeaux pedigree. This wine is drinking really well right now.
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Nice garnet color. Beautiful cherry fruit on nose. Smooth tannins. Could have benefited from additional decanting. Strong backbone and will continue to develop.
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R4 Nice ruby with a touch of brown. Fine nose with a fresh appeal. The wood is almost overdone initially but melted back with time in the glass. Very nice entry and savoury mouth that builds to a tobacco, cedar finish. Tannins are very fine. On first opening this is not very complicated but as the wood melted it picked up nice nuances. Should have a good life, but wait a bit or decant. Well done.
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Similar to my 6/24/12 note. Clear dark garnet with a purple tint. Nose of violet, blueberry, graphite, cedar, and mint. Medium palate of savory blackberry, blueberry, minerals, and vanilla. Excellent mid palate and superb length. Energetic acidity. Youthful tannins. In summary: this is a delicious, young Margaux. It has a long way to go to hit its optimal drinking window, but is approachable now for fans of young wine.
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Deep red. Gorgeous rounded red berries with classic mulberry overtones. Lovely sherbert spice. Creamy, smooth , fine tannins, long crisp finish. Blackberries, plums and mulberry with some cedar spice. Lovely balance.
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I poured the wine into a decanter, served the first glass immediately and drank about half of the bottle over the next three hours, poured the remaining wine back into the bottle and consumed it over another two days. The wine was medium to dark ruby in colour. It was wild and funky on the nose, with cherry, blackberry, black currant, some chocolate, some fennel and some leather. On the palate the medium-bodied, balanced wine showed sweet dark fruit, blackberry, black currant, hints of coffee, chocolate and tobacco and lots of funk, paired with medium-plus acidity, medium to medium-plus round tannin and very good length. A ripe, medium-complex, polished Margaux.
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My first of 6. Was afraid of drinking it too young but needed to check the progression. Still tight but unmistakeably classic bdx. Love the deep purple hue and a bit toasted french oak, some leather , and earth. Finish with firm but silky tannins so I am happy with what I have left. Always like this wine so I will go ahead and order some 2009 to play with. Nothing beats the Classics well made stuffs.
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Return to San Anontio (Ducru Vertical); 2/21/2013-2/24/2013 (Monty): Very late addition that was a pop and pour. Hard to evaluate as it was quite closed, but you could perceive some incredible quality fruit underneath the heavy tannic structure. Quite fresh. Needs lots of time but appears to be have great potential. Hold.
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Previous bottles of this wine were not very good. This bottle was excellent which tells me that the wine has entered its zone of drinkability. This Margaux should please anyone who enjoys this grape and style.
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My first bottle of this wine. Classic purple/black, opaque color with a subdued, but unmistakably bordeaux nose of cassis, earth, oak and a hint of funk. A bit tight and lean for the first hour or so. Then opened up and took on weight and depth, and smoothed out. Lots of dark fruit with a firm texture and a medium, but still somewhat tart finish. Notes of leather, coffee and wood emerge after a while. This has a lot to like now, and has terrific potential, but is still a few years away from really being ready. I think I am going to like this a lot in a few years.
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Der Duft ist noch zurückhalten. Mittlere bis starke Struktur, ausgewogen. Alles vorhanden, momentan aber noch ein Baby. Abgang mit leichter Bitternote. Warten ist angesagt. Momentane Bewertung 91+
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Decanted 2.5 hours. Full bodied, dark color, strong bouquet. A little closed down at this stage but should be fantastic in another 5 years. Prieure-Lichine is always underrated.
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Ordered at restaurant The Steakhouse in Lachen. The wine offered a stinky nose, with cherry, blackberry, black currant, leather, tobacco, marzipan and a floral touch. On the palate the wine showed cherry, blackberry, black currant, leather, tobacco, hints of coffee and chocolate, some cedar wood, a hint of cola and some funk, paired with good acidity, round tannins and phenomenal length. The medium-bodied, traditional-style wine kept changing with air. We liked it quite a bit. Would buy again.
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Thick black fruits, plum and cherries, coffee, cassis and already very attractive. Sweet tannins in the aftertaste. Will probably gain point(s) in the coming years.
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Dark garnet with a purple tint. Nose of leather, blackberry, menthol, and blueberry. Ripe, fresh palate of juicy blackberry, plum, cherry, graphite, and espresso. Refreshing acidity. Excellent length. Grippy tannins. Youthful but accessible. Will wait a year or three before opening another bottle.
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Had Guy on his B-day. Nose filled with fennel, spice, cassis, blackberries, graphite and earth. Wine is tight and medium bodied. It has wonderful subdued fruit trying to break through tight tannins fighting w/ the leather, graphite and smoke notes. In 3-5 years this should be showing wonderfully but showing great potential right now!
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It's always nice to be surprised to taste a wine and discover it's showing better than you remember it. With a nose filled with fennel, spice, cassis, blackberries, flowers, earth and hints of tobacco, this ripe, plush style of Margaux wine needs another 3-5 years before it truly begins showing its ample charms.
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Two 2005 Bordeaux; 9/28/2010-9/29/2010 (Manchester, CT): Beautiful aromas of coffee, graphite, pure red raspberries, plums, dark cherry, and tilled soil. While still a baby, this is a lovely Margaux with great florals, tobacco, bright red fruit, plum sauce, and roasted mushrooms on the palate. Great structure, with huge sweet tannins on the finish indicate a long life ahead of this gorgeous wine.
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Bordeaux meets Burgundy (King Eddy Toronto): I have 3 of these in the cellar, so it was nice to taste before you open. In addition it allowed me to really experience Margaux (like all communes) and the distinct terroir that is the common thread of flavours between the different vineyards in the same area.
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Inky in color. Decanted about 2 hours with a brilliant earthy smell that integrated nicely. Strawberry and caramel - definitely picked up the pencil shavings. Very smooth, very elegant.
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Decanted for only 1 hour. I Immediately smelled of pencil shavings, wet asphalt, and a bit of anise. As it opened up, it became very complex adding aromas of espresso, chocolate syrup, and cola. It was really hard to pinpoint one quality that stood out from the rest, and all of the previous flavors mentioned, except the chocolate syrup, were noticeable on the palate as well. The tannins made the wine bone-dry from about mid-palate on. They did not lighten up much throughout the evening. Acid levels were on the high-side, but in great balance. This one's an ager. The only weakness I found early on was the mid-palate was a bit empty, but it filled in nicely as it opened. A soft wine yet still had nice weight and a nice long finish. Impressive wine.
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Very young, needs a lot of airing. A natural, fresh style. Elegant, complex, mid-bodied, far from the big bold style. Also not too concentrated, almost light, but rich in flavors. Remarkably long finish, though it's not intense. After a long time airing doesn't show any sign of oxidation, great potential here.
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Enchantingly floral, smoky nose. Initially very tight and tannic on the palate, showing mainly coffee and oak. After an hour or so, this opened up to reveal a core of pure, concentrated cassis fruit. Medium bodied; the balance and proportionality are classic Margaux. Picks up some earth/tobacco flavors with more air. Really pretty and elegant. Long finish with waves of super-fine, ripe tannins. So young. This is surprisingly open for now, and I would not be surprised if this shut down hard over the next year or two.
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Initially expressive aromas of toasted oak and smoky perfume, almost right-bank-ish. Clear profile of cassis and purple colored fruits. Soft tannin on entry, not overly grippy. Medium body, nice concentration but not overly extracted. Good persistance of lifting aromas. Layers of complexity not yet developed in its young age. Already approachable and very enjoyable. Should be in its prime with 3-5yrs. of cellaring.
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Nose of licorice and red brambly fruit, rather subtle. The palate is a tad metallic and tightly wound and the fruit sweetness ends on a slightly drying finish. Barrel sample.
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3/30/2024 - Sisuvino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Competent, not exceptional , mid-level Margaux
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12/4/2023 - bjlcrucrazy Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was utterly delicious and paired very well with wagyu beef short ribs!!
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11/5/2023 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Last but one of a case of 12. Finally, this is showing some elegant Margaux character, with all that oak well integrated. At last! Fine mid-level Margaux, nothing exceptionnel but competent.
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5/26/2023 - egoya Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last of 3 bottles. Fully mature, medium bodied, elegant.
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5/11/2023 - popopdrops Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ikke dekantert, men åpen i 1 døgn. Litt mutt første glass, tar seg opp og fremstår som meget pen. Alt på plass. Slankere enn 2009, og bedre. Pen dag 3 også. Faktisk bedre, slankere, strammere.
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3/28/2023 - kopatrota wrote: 94 Points
quel vin ! peut etre encore conserver quelques années..
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2/12/2023 - Sam Adam Likes this wine: 91 Points
Personally would be in favor of drinking this rather sooner than later. Nicely developed some black fruits and dried sugared cranberries still present enough. Leather, graphite, meatyness, damp soil. The beauty of this one is more on the palate, nice wood tannins still present, nice acidity.
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1/29/2023 - jcgarcia Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine was smokin tonight. Wow. Coravin’d a couple glasses. Violet nose. Tasted like Margaux!
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12/31/2022 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Bordeaux (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Bold black fruits; brambles; blackcurrant; plums, sweet spice, polished oak, cream, slightly meaty underpin, lends a touch of savouriness, jubey notes with time. Moving from primary to tertiary on the palate, beautifully balanced acid, fruit and tannins, Juicy, black fruits, oak, drying woody tannins, bold but with freshness, best showing for me. Yum.
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12/31/2022 - WineTim wrote:
New Year’s Eve 2023
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11/19/2022 - drrobvino wrote: 92 Points
3rd bottle of 6 purchased. Last had a bottle ~15 mos ago.
Enjoyed this wine with a perfectly cooked, slow-roasted beef tenderloin. What an accompaniment.
Perfectly ripened black and red fruits, with earthy stewed mushrooms and espresso grounds, anise, and mint.
Gorgeously refined tannins, supported by solid acidity and a long and regal finish.
Drink through 2027+.
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9/18/2022 - Michael_D Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice mix of dirt and fruit. Still drinking well, but rounding the bend of its life's journey. Drink now if you have them.
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9/10/2022 - CWang wrote: 93 Points
Highly perfumed in the nose, waves of black truffles, fresh berries and cherries, coffee beans, mints, and pencil shavings; complex, creamy, and fruity on the palate, ripe berries and cherries, wood spices, and some unresolved tannins; creamy and long finish; overall, very enjoyable, 93-94 points at this stage; still a few more years to evolve further prior to full maturity.
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6/13/2022 - Julian Marshall wrote:
I decanted this for five hours. I'm not quite so keen as others here - I agree that it has great aromatics, for me mainly rosehip and violets, with a very good attack of strawberry, rose, violet and a little spice, but then the finish comes and for me the party was over: still raspingly tannic, plus a lot of heat, which lingers on the throat for a good minute. So overall, like drinking cough mixture.
To be fair, it had calmed down a bit on the second night, but I need to try this again in four or five years' time.
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5/18/2022 - Richard Nabavi Likes this wine: 94 Points
At Otto's Restaurant Mature Bordeaux dinner
For me this was the pleasant surprise of the evening, in that it easily beat my expectations. Deep colour, and absolutely superb Margaux fragrance, with hints of coffee and black cherry. Minerally on the palate, with good grip and concentration, this was even better than the Branaire Ducru 2009 which preceded it. Some tannin still evident on the finish, but I think this is absolutely on its plateau of maturity. No hurry, though.
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5/8/2022 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 92 Points
A beautifully aged Margaux. The 2 things that really stood out for me were the wonderful nose and the extremely long finish of this wine. Very plush, with a palate of blackberry, cassis, aged leather, tobacco, forest floor, and mushroom. Decided to pair this with a homemade chicken noodle soup full of vegetables and savory spices and it was a great pairing!
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5/2/2022 - Crochu Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ouvert le soir pour le lendemain midi.
Top Margaux. très beau bouquet de fruit noir et café.
Des tannins bien fondus. Une belle longueur et une légère acidité encore présente.
Excellent maintenant avec une petite ouverture de plusieurs heures.
Il pourra faire encore 10/15 ans en cave encore en plus sans aucun souci.
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4/17/2022 - LucasGn Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very intense aroma, but very smooth with very very long finish, leather, tobacco, red fruit. Top quality and very Margaux
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3/20/2022 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful bouquet with herbs and spices, dark berries, some bell pepper and chocolate. On the palate juicy dark fruits, a lot of (sweet) spiciness, beautiful acidity and round tannin. Beautiful wine with a great length.
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2/18/2022 - popopdrops wrote: 89 Points
Dekantert. På det jevne, pen, men ikke spennende eller gøy.
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2/16/2022 - Ozen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good full bodied Margaux, although quite masculine after the fine and feminine Poyferre 2003. A bit surprising as I have had this wine so many times. This time I prefer the Poyferre.
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2/14/2022 - sastewart wrote: 92 Points
Marilyn's Birthday at Stubborn Seed in South Beach. Dark fruits, earth, a touch of flowers and saddle leather on the nose - Clearly a left Bank wine. Medium plus body, great balance of tannins and acid. Pure dark fruits and very elegant. Purchased as futures and stored at 55 degrees. Early maturity but in a very good place now. 92 points
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1/2/2022 - bobbylion Likes this wine: 92 Points
Actually 91+, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt:). Fully resolved, acidity getting low, so prabably needs to go soon. Graphite on the nose, sweet berries, medium finish. Very nice Margaux
Seems to fade quickly. Don’t decant too long.
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12/25/2021 - Suzyquatro Likes this wine: 89 Points
Mooie glanzende kleur - Schitterende kruidige aroma's, koffie, cassis, chocolade en zwarte bessen - Krachtige maar fluweelachtige Margaux, zuren en tannines mooi in balans, tertiaire noten - middelmatige afdronk.
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12/18/2021 - ccn wrote: 88 Points
A disappointing though not obviously flawed bottle compared to prior bottles. The wine was disjointed and never came together, though pleasant enough.
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12/1/2021 - TTHM Likes this wine: 96 Points
vintage 2005. perfect balance.
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9/20/2021 - hive wrote: 91 Points
The wine looks ruby colored. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like plum. Silky smooth and subtle. Drunk over 2 hr and needs considerably more time to open despite decanting.
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9/5/2021 - Outplaying Likes this wine:
Klugi’s note nails it. Just entering its drinking window. We both enjoyed this wine.
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8/3/2021 - Klugi Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very enjoyable Margaux with an excellent bouquet of cassis, some orange zest, sandalwood and pencil shavings. Medium to ful bodied the palate is still fresh with fine, but present tannins. Slowly starting to enter its plateau of maturity, but I would guess best after 2025 and holding for at leeast another decade afterwards, well done.
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7/22/2021 - popopdrops Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ikke dekantert, men åpnet. Nydelig. Perfekt balanse. Nydelig dag 2 også. Muligens litt tydeligere syre.
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7/8/2021 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
2nd of 6 bottles, this one was enjoyed with grilled ribeye steaks.
Cassis, charcoal, plum, black cherry, and pencil lead.
Medium in body, showing nicely integrated tannins and solid acidity.
Drink now through 2027+.
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7/7/2021 - VinhoVerde Likes this wine: 94 Points
Medium dark red color. Ripe cherry fruit with a hint of tobacco in the bouquet. Plump fruit entry and mid palate. Long but moderately tannic finish. For a Margaux, this is an unusually powerful wine and one that way over performed. Could use 3-5 years of additional cellaring.
Double decanted 2 hours prior to tasting.
From Mark’s 2005 Bordeaux Vintage Tasting:
Attended a 36 wine ‘05 Bordeaux tasting recently. The wine above is one of those wines. Served single-blind.
All wines were tasted over a 2 day period, 18 per day. The wines served on the 1st day had their corks pulled two hours prior. The second day’s wines were served “ double-decanted”, 2 hours before the first flight. The overall tasting experience was quite different, as one would expect. Day 2 wines were softer, displaying more ripe fruit, and less harsh tannins.
Kudos to Mark for both a fantastic experience as well as providing an instructive opportunity on how the 2005 Bordeaux vintage is showing at this stage.
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6/27/2021 - Eric wrote:
2005 Bordeaux at 16 years courtesy of Mark Taylor; 6/26/2021-6/27/2021 (Atlanta, GA): Mmmmmm, horsey, stern, dark and brooding, screams left bank. Me likey!!! This wine reminds me of early tastes of 2005, balanced, lots of fruit, juicy, but with great acid and tannic structure. This wine is a winner. My #1 and the clear group #1. I guessed Saint-Pierre.
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5/1/2021 - aagrawal wrote: 89 Points
From 375mL. Medium-deep ruby with minimal bricking; moderately aromatic with sandalwood spice, blackberry, slight green or mint; palate is full bodied, richly textured black fruits, medium acidity, medium alcohol (13.5%), medium-plus tannins; finish is medium length. A balanced bordeaux, drinking well and enjoyable but similar to my last few halves isn't the most complex or deep wine. 89
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3/28/2021 - ccn Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is just outstanding and in a perfect drinking wi doe. Rich and fleshy with length and complexity. Decanted 1 hour but probably could have popped and poured. The next day it was much less precise — think this is ideal now through +5 years.
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2/8/2021 - Kris G wrote: 89 Points
Soft wine with regarding Bordeaux medium+ acidity. Some wood is present and the typical claret-bitter in the aftertaste disturbs the balance in the aftertaste a bit. Not a bad wine but at current prices not the best QPR.
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12/10/2020 - Kris G wrote:
Rapid decline in the glass, first minute showing lovely wood in the nose, but very soon the bitterness and acidity were starting a fight with only 'a loss of quality' as an outcome.
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11/27/2020 - GFischmann Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still balanced with acidity and tannins. Less red fruit but still has some oak. Tertiary notes great a wonderful balance with Turkey dinner
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11/15/2020 - Jmac56 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Classic Bordeaux nose. Funky fruity gritty with mellow tannins and a tinge of acid from age. Drink soon.
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11/14/2020 - misterstarre Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of dark fruit, gamey meat, and forest brush. Medium plus body, and a cool entry with blueberries, barnyard, leather, au jus, charcoal, and mocha all very seamless and silky. There's still a touch of grip, but the tannins are largely softened. This tastes mature, but it will definitely keep aging. It still has decent power left and - though I called it soft - has spine that will allow further evolution while maintaining vitality.
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11/13/2020 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Surprising. In its early maturity. Still showing some moderate tannic structure, but in balance and refined. Lovely dark fruit, expressive nose with eucalyptus and minty complexity. Hints of cedar and leather mixed in. Really lovely. As delicious as this is it may still have upside.
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11/7/2020 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:
A splendid, early-maturity Bordeaux that offered good balance, properly ripe fruit and plenty of earthiness. It didn't have much of another gear but that's a quibble. I think this performed nicely relative to expectations and that's a good thing.
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10/16/2020 - LT98 wrote: 92 Points
PnP (ok, short decant) because the original wine I opened was off. Graceful with dark mixed berries, good acidity and body. Well balanced. Some mineralogy and spice. I don't expect much improvement with age but based on how it improved over a couple of hours in the glass, and the overall length and fruit, I think this is in a sweet spot for at least 3+ years.
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9/3/2020 - hargy Likes this wine: 92 Points
the last of my magnums, and quite delicious it was too! Lovely wine at its peak
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8/27/2020 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Prieure Lichine (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Leather, blackcurrant, sweet spcie, a little plum, pretty, jubey cherry and, with time, earth and cigar box. Juicy acidity, wild blackcurrant and plum, muted spice, chewy tannins close things down on the palate a little. Alcohol warmth on the finish is non-intrusive. a little forward, perhaps, but nice.
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7/15/2020 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
From 375mL. Medium-plus ruby with age-appropriate bricking; moderately aromatic with some sandalwood, some fruit, some blackcurrant; palate is full bodied, balanced medium alcohol, medium balanced acidity, deeper red to black fruits, balanced and elegant throughout but not that complex nor deep; finish is medium length and balanced. Very similar to my half from 4/9/20. Seems at early maturity and a solid value at release price, though maybe not at the current going rate of ~$80. 89-90
30 min in decanter: a bit more capsicum/bell pepper shows up on the palate and the nose which provides a bit more depth. Nice, now scoring on the higher end of my range.
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7/15/2020 - Fatty Cat wrote: 93 Points
BBQ mid Jul 2020: dark red color; cassis and coffee; smooth and round on the palate.
Fine mature Claret.
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6/29/2020 - Slaithwaite Palace wrote: 92 Points
Not sure it is at its peak but certainly has entered its drinking window. Wonderful rich nose, leather and cassis predominant in the mouth with smoky earth and graphite, tannins well integrated finish a little lacking but a wonderful wine nonetheless and if you bought it back in the day quite the bargain
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6/27/2020 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
The overtly oaky character has receded somewhat. The (red) fruit is open and inviting on the nose and the attack. I care less for the finish, I find it a bit soupy, a touch of heat, lacks definition.
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6/26/2020 - Jimaronson wrote: 93 Points
This one really came around. Very pleasant nose, medium-bodied, and one minute plus finish. The fruit is fresh and vibrant. Cherry, Margaux grape style. No harshness in the middle or the finish. After about an hour and a half there begins to have a slight amount of spice on the finish. I would consume it in the first one to two hours. Needs about 30 minutes in the glass to open up. Very aromatic and pleasant and smooth. A delight. Don't wait, I think it's ready now
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6/26/2020 - hargy Likes this wine: 92 Points
this is a lovely wine probably at its peak - delicate but long, it is good for a few years yet - great value, at least it was
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6/9/2020 - MRichman wrote:
Cedar, dried herbs, bright cherry, fine toasty tannins. A lovely, complex wine, feminine. Black licorice and burnt oak on the finish, this is all about dark delicate flavors. Very nice. Pretty ready to drink, could develop and soften a bit. I'd say drink now or hold for another 10 years. No rush.
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5/21/2020 - Nishg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great nose to begin with it and then evened out
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4/9/2020 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
From 375mL. Deep ruby; medium intensity aromatics with some floral and some sandalwood; palate is full bodied, youthful tannins, plush structure, black fruits; medium finish. Not bad, but not as aromatic as my previous half. 89-90
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12/31/2019 - colorflavorlocking Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Repulsively jammy on nose. That’s all there is - jam. Fruit is too sweet, unbalanced on palate due to anemic acidity. Topped off with really sour oak. Decanted for three hours, from magnum. I don’t know what to blame for this wine’s poor showing - the vintage, its age, or poor winemaking. An optimist might say that I opened this wine at a bad stage. Maybe you should wait 10-15 years for this bottle format and hope for the best. Keep in mind that the ‘82 from this estate did not receive the best reviews in the late ‘90s, but an ‘82 opened the same night as this was spectacular.
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12/24/2019 - Tigg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Probably at peak
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12/21/2019 - chatters wrote:
From Coravin. Savoury with aromas of pencil shavings, bramble, coffee, plums, slightly meaty, dusty spice, a little alcohol warmth and jubey black fruit lozenge, biscuit. Juicy, fleshy plummy, alcohol warmth, fine, sand paper tannins persist with the fruit, spice on the long finish. Okay.
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11/24/2019 - miadelt Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine is in a great spot right now. I recommend a decant of less than 30 minutes as it seemed to get bitter the longer it was open. Med to full bodied, smooth tannins, great Margaux flavors, long finish. If it had even more depth it could be rated even higher.
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10/27/2019 - eoinhharkins wrote: 92 Points
Gorgeous nose of perfume, florals, dark berries and an interesting mineral kiss on the nose, palate is surprisingly open for an 05, it has good acidity and a fresh feel, with medium plus length
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10/18/2019 - AudunG wrote: 89 Points
Dark red. Light, velvety and Burgundy like aromas with red berries, toffee and vanilla. Soft and elegant in the mouth with a bit woody finish.
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10/13/2019 - il_diavolo wrote: 92 Points
Purple, nearly black colour, deep cassis nose. Cassis and licorice but oh so young. PnP (not my idea) was a big mistake. This needs 2-4 hour decant now but ideally around 10 more years where it could add a few points - this is a wine with potential for sure,
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9/10/2019 - colmanstephenson wrote:
The last of these wines who purchase coincided with my marriage.
The first stewed and so, I felt, past it.
So I choose to drink up the second (in Prussia Cove, Cornwall), which turned out to be in much better form.
Plenty of fruit, structure, vigour and freshness.
Sometimes drinking the last of a case, brings a tear to the eye. It did in this case.
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8/11/2019 - Two Winos Likes this wine: 90 Points
I don't think this is ready to drink just yet. It is a little 'unsettled' and a little abrasive. Might be bottle variation, but I'll leave it alone for a little while longer.
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4/19/2019 - djarcara Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep garnet color. Fragrant nose of violets, cinnamon and dark fruit. Flavors of cassis, pencil shavings, licorice, clove, and cinnamon. Just in the beginning of its drinking window. At least another 10 years to go. Decant for sediment. Lovely classic Bordeaux.
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3/24/2019 - Vini Ciclismo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep rich red colour.
Bright raspberry and black currant fragrance, floral and very lifted.
Medium bodied, good intensity of fruit with a nice seam of mulberry, cassis and fragrant tobacco leaf. Plenty of tannins to close. Drinking well but probably needs another 5 years at least.
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3/17/2019 - LeoDunkel Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still lots of primary aromas. Fruit and Jam. Little tanninic mouthfiil. With heavy meat, osso bucco.
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3/16/2019 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 92 Points
45+ minute decant. Dark cherry color. Napa on the nose but Bordeaux on the palate. Smoke, cherry, menthol, and some earth throughout. More fruit forward that most Bordeaux’s and very chewy. Definitely has years left in it. Decent value.
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3/11/2019 - JJYoyo Likes this wine: 93 Points
An outperforming Prieure Lichine. Fabulous nose full of dark cherry, blackberry, graphite and woody shrubs. Palate full of vanilla and ripe cherry. Plenty of life ahead - no worries for at least another decade. A really great Prieure-lichine, beautiful expression of Margaux commune and a pleasure to drink.
Score: 93. Relative to expectations: +
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3/7/2019 - Kris G wrote: 90 Points
Lovely spices and very well balanced for a Bordeaux showing a fresh acidity.
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1/20/2019 - bergkamp10 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice claret. Good acid balance, well resolved tannins and a fresh finish. Light to medium body, on the nose cedar and the palate had nice dark fruits and some lead pencil. Probably liked a bit of depth. Seems ready to drink and I'm not sure further cellaring is going to improve this cuvee.
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1/13/2019 - aagrawal wrote: 92 Points
From a 375. Youthful medium ruby; medium-high intensity aromatics with sandalwood, red cherry, slight iodine, slight red floral, violets; palate is full bodied, medium-plus acidity, medium-plus youthful tannins, medium alcohol well balanced, classical but also plush blackberry and blueberry; finish is medium length. Young, but showing really well now, and the really nice perfumed note of a good Margaux (though with the palate to back it up, which is where Margaux sometimes falls flat). 92, drink over the next 10-15 years.
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12/23/2018 - Doc90 wrote: 90 Points
This is textbook Margaux with a feminine, floral personality. Violets, blueberries, harmonious.
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10/6/2018 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mid-garnet, amber edges; cassis, blackberry, wood, terroir nose; balanced; good fruit extract; bigger style for the vintage; long Cabernet-Merlot berry finish. w/steak
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8/27/2018 - Jimaronson Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tonight finished the bottle. Totally resolved tannins. Lush fruit. Beautifully balanced soft merlot. Medium plus fruit. Wonderful with cheese or all by itself which is a testament to how much I enjoyed the wine. Does not have the finess of a first growth, but totally enjoyable.
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7/28/2018 - aagrawal wrote: 92 Points
From a 375. Youthful medium ruby; aromatic, spice, slight floral, red cherry, sandalwood; palate is full bodied, smooth rich fruits, more red than black, integrated tannins that are still present but not distracting, balanced alcohol (13.5%), medium acidity; medium finish. I opened this because the last few CT notes have been excellent, and they are completely correct. This is balanced but plush, fruity but with enough age to balance the tannins, plenty of complexity, and overall really enjoyable. Drinking well now and over the next decade. 92+
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7/27/2018 - Jimaronson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tried a glass with the coravin after last weeks bottle. The wine is dark red in the glass, beautiful color, with blackberry fruit. The soft merlot grape was smooth, sexy, and with no hard edges. After an hour and warmed up the wine exibited flowers, graphite and some tire tread. It had a full mouth feel from beginning to end. Took about two hours to really notice the jammy finish because during the first hour the finish seemed to slightly fade. I am pleased that over time the wine was full bodied through the finish. It is definitely in the start of it's drinking period and I expect it to evolve over the next 5 years and drink well over 10.
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7/21/2018 - Jimaronson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Well rounded and soft merlot wine with full bodied fruit and balanced acidity. Only difference in this wine versus a first growth is the amount of fruit which is why I gave it a 93. However, with cheese, veal or lamb you would be perfectly satisfied. The wine is now in it's prime drinking window which I suspect it will stay in at least over the next three years.
Day 2:. Wine lost some of it's sweet fruit and seemed tighter than day 1. I would extend the time to 5 years. I think I will try another glass with the coravin and report back.
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7/20/2018 - dougie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice. Decanted for an hour from 375. Very Enjoyable!
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7/20/2018 - Plabella wrote:
tres bonnee annee
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4/29/2018 - vide wrote: 92 Points
This was a much more substantial wine than I was expecting from previous encounters with Prieuré-Lichine. 2005 was the probably the great vintage that all say it was. Totally dense dark plum colour; intriguing nose, sweet but savioury, a floral lamb chop, perhaps, or should I just use the cliché herbaceous? And with that typical perfumed Margaux lift. Wonderful silky mouth feel (Margaux, once again), soft and with acidity, fully integrated with subdued wood. A very distinctive wine, which will not suit palates educated through the Paulliac region. But I liked it, and I like the fact that the books are right: all the Medoc regions are different, with their own styles, and I believe we should not try to impose a single fruit-driven rating grid upon them.
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4/22/2018 - colmanstephenson Likes this wine:
Grand Mange
Solid and Aromatic.
Chewy and tasty.
In really good shape
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4/5/2018 - schimmy23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking well now, but could go another 3-5 I imagine. Decanted for almost two hours.
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3/11/2018 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Second Sunday Group: 2005 Bordeaux (R&D's): Doubl blind. The first wine in the lineup that clearly shows as Bordeaux, featuring red plum, dark berry fruit, iodine and iron shavings. Tannins are obtrusive and there's an austerity that carries through the finish. Love the bouquet, but the palate is clearly lagging behind.
My #2, Domino's #2
Group #2, 43 pts
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1/17/2018 - Ozen Likes this wine: 93 Points
Have had this wine now more than a dozen times and I will say: this is one of those wines for the spoiled palette that is affordable and great at the same time. It stands out against other vintages (better than 2000 which lacks some sophistication and is merely lots of fruit) and peers, like the Grand Puy Ducasse 2005 (rather one dimensional) and a Lynch Moussas (monolithic). The Pieure is remarkable broad, has depth and is immensely appealing. A true find.
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1/13/2018 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking well right now, needs a little air as some recent posters have said. Tannins still present but muted, finish is very pleasant and medium-long. Nice black fruit comes through. Would not trust this beyond another 4-5 years, would think it best between now and '21.
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11/18/2017 - WineCPA wrote: 94 Points
Thought this was excellent. Black fruit, smoke, gravel. Opened nicely. At first the tannins were very firm but after some air, this was beautiful. Needs food and air for sure. Hints of cedar and mushroom on the nose. Plenty of fruit to be had. Seems like it's in a good place right now.
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10/29/2017 - flwinos wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for about 90 minutes and this was drinking great. Very expressive nose, with copious amounts of red fruit on the palate. A bit modern in style, but yummy nonetheless. Drinking well now, but can hold for another 5 before it starts to go downhill.
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10/23/2017 - Plabella Likes this wine: 92 Points
drank better after it opened up. Good ripe fruit and tannins calmed as I drank
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10/8/2017 - Justinwine wrote: 89 Points
Good wine. Missing layers of fruit. Drink it down.
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9/19/2017 - Deepdrop Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice wine with black cherry, cherries and menthol. Tannins were moderate after an hour or so. Day 2 was nice as well but different. The fruit faded a bit. Licorice, cedar and minerality were most prominent.
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9/17/2017 - mikita77 wrote: 91 Points
Definitively a change since my last bottle almost two years ago. Tannins have mostly settled. More mature notes on the nose. Liquorice, as well on the palate. A bit light, thin. Fruit is vanishing. Drying finish. If we're lucky it will remain light but develop some stronger secondaries on the palate. Might greatly improve?
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7/25/2017 - WineFrogg Likes this wine: 91 Points
Powerful, complex nose. Still a bit tannic; early days, I'd say. Initially surprised by the strong presence of oak on the palate, but quickly gives way to red berry softness, almost sweet. Short to medium finish. Will wait until 2020 before opening the next one.
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7/2/2017 - Al-Vino Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good pizza wine. Doesn't have the complexity and depth to rate any higher. In the drinking window now.
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7/2/2017 - Kris G wrote: 89 Points
the bitterness dominates too much, so not very well balanced, not the best QPR, too much sediment/deposit
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5/28/2017 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
Didn't make a formal TN, but this wine was PnP and enjoyed over a few days, as we nibbled on steak, burgers, and salumi.
Delicious, maturing Bordeaux, just barely entering it's early drinking window. This wine should continue to improve another 5 years, and drink well through 2027+.
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5/18/2017 - chatters wrote:
Grand Cru Cabernet (pyrmont wharf, sydney): blackcurrant, polished, through muted, oak, touches of almost raspberry here as well. Fleshy, broad, smooth and exceedingly quaffable. Dark fruit hued. Medium plus length. In a pleasant spot though not really showing any tertiary characteristics. Rather nice.
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4/8/2017 - lhickey Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is showing beautifully now. Deep purple with bricking at the rim. Rich nose with anise, cedar, sour cherry,bit of brett,clove. Balanced palate, mod acid, mod tannins, darck fruit and spice carry through from the nose. Med+ finish. Drank from magnum.
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4/8/2017 - riskun Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fairly dark color with beginnings of a brownish brick rim. Nice of good strength with a lot of jammy blackberry and black liquorice. Wood on the nose as well but very well integrated. Entry follows the nose with a nice light weight especially given the heavy flavor profile. Finishes with more liquorice, tobacco and tight and late tannins. The 2005 harshness is gone and this is quite good now. Good example of an age-worthy year where harshness melts into complexity.
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3/11/2017 - lumpyelbow wrote: 91 Points
Reviews are all over the place on this, had me worried. Brought to restaurant and was decanted for an hour or so before drinking. Performed very well - nice cedary notes with tannin in check. Paired beautifully with the beef tongue. Its personality is a little shy and I expect there is more to come. Still in a good place and a beautiful drink, glad I have a couple more to see how this develops.
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2/24/2017 - lmbernstein wrote: 88 Points
Typical Ch PL deep purplish, color. Medium full body but without the complexity typical of this chateau. Perhaps it was just my bottle, bought at auction. Disappointing.
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2/19/2017 - Perthor01 wrote: 89 Points
quite disappointing - very muted and closed down - only had that one bottle so I will never know if it was a timing or bottle issue. Was also very low in acidity and tannic structure so I doubt that it would bounce back but....
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1/6/2017 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
Less woody than the previous bottle; the new oak seems to integrate better into the wine. Nose is showing some Margaux character. Gets more classic as it gets older. But still lacks a "soul" (l'âme, as the French would say).; it'll probably never get one.
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12/30/2016 - mkk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Top notes of vanilla and clementine orange and a finish of cocoa. Somewhat tanic. Drink now
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12/30/2016 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistent with previous note. Love this wine. Perfumed nose with a modern and tannic palate. The wine had a 5 hrs decant. 90-91
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12/28/2016 - colmanstephenson wrote:
With Paula and Ethan
This continues to be very enjoyable.
Austere and astringent at first. it really benefits from a few hours of air. this brings it around to a savoury, meaty flavour.
A: dark
N: fairly muted. Oak and primary fruit.
P: medium bodied. Fruit is fresh.
=: an excellent table wine. Not showy.
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12/16/2016 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 91 Points
Three hour decant. Perfumed nose with red currant, black fruit, oak, and vanilla. The palate has moderate complexity and finish with a lot of tannins and cassis. The wine has elements of classic and modern wine making style. It will certainly benefit from 5-6 more years of aging. To enjoy this now, I would give it a 3-4 hours decant. Everyone enjoy this wine tonight. 91+
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12/12/2016 - jamie24 Likes this wine: 93 Points
First bottle from a case. Drinking very well after 2 hour decant. Still quite tight so possibly some upside potential. Better than the '09 Lascombes drunk the day before.
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9/3/2016 - drjb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich 'modern' nose with plum, cassis, touch of earth and flowers. This wine is initially a little closed on the palate with merlot predominant features but slowly it reveals a more classical structure with some real finesse. Theres a lot to like if a little anonymous. Delicious !
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5/24/2016 - Kris G wrote: 90 Points
red fruits, spicy, it has a sweet touch, vanilla in the aftertaste
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4/30/2016 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
Almost 1 year ago I drank the first bottle of a case of 12. At the time, I thought the oak was heavy and masking a "hole" in the middle. This second bottle shows much the same characteristics, with some wood-originated astringency. Too much oak! As the wine has plenty stuffing, not all hope is lost yet, I'll wait another year for the next one.
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4/17/2016 - eoinhharkins wrote:
While it has a modern/extracted feel to it, there is still enough classic style to the wine to enjoy, some oak nanilla still present at age 10, red berry, plums and wet stone, palate is smooth with silky and polished tannins nice medium acidity keeps the fruit feeling fresh and a medium length finish
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1/4/2016 - unrelenting wrote: 96 Points
Amazing nose of mushroom and red currants. Medium/Heavy on the palate, so in balance that you can't even tell there are tannins until the immense finish. This is not close to its peak but so fun now. Two to three hour decant for now.
Keep in mind with the high score that I'm a Bordeaux nut. Others might rate this a 93 in the context of Bordeaux given the modest finish and that there is not a lot of delineation with it's favor profile.
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12/4/2015 - senex Likes this wine: 93 Points
Given a good chance to breathe, based upon other notes. 6 hours uncorked and then decanted 2 hours to go. Impressive, finely balanced, still seems a few years away from its best. Quite delightful.
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7/21/2015 - ccn wrote: 92 Points
Still relatively primary after 2-hour decant. Dark fruits, ripe tannins, length and concetration -- lots of promise. Wait 3-5 years before next bottle.
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5/25/2015 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 91 Points
Plenty of dark fruit, with great structure. Seemed a bit closed and somewhat lacking in secondary flavors. Probably would have showed better with decanting.
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5/17/2015 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
Although the colour is betraying some ageing, this wine is still tight. Margaux finesse fighting it out with a whack of new oak - not sure who is going to win. I'm left with the impression of a little hole in the middle, between a subtle attack and a wood-dominated finish. Early drinking window, wait and see.
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5/10/2015 - stevenrcagle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Mother's day with Filet Mignon and NY Strips. Dark in color. Very nice earthy, forest floor with blackberry fruit on nose. Developing nicely and very drinkable now. Firm tannins, mushroom, blackberry, and some spice, white pepper perhaps. Truly elegant with a long finish.
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4/18/2015 - stjames Likes this wine: 91 Points
tasty juice, those '05 Margaux are spectacular
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3/8/2015 - soyhead wrote:
Nose - dark fruit, earth, varnish
Mouth - delicious fruit punchy attack, with serious black cherry/graphite stuffing, long lingering sweet black cherry finish. Admirably bold fruity and pure. Reminiscent of a first growth. A wow wine. superb.
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2/9/2015 - Wink Likes this wine: 92 Points
I have written three prior tasting notes on this wine. Regarding nose, flavors, length, acidity, and minerals I would echo those earlier notes but add the following: The tannins are ripening. This medium-weight Bordeaux is finally entering the drinking window. Many 2005 Bordeaux wines are still quite tight. Not this one. While young, it is ready to enjoy.
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1/9/2015 - Fatty Cat wrote: 91 Points
Dinner with friends, early Jan 2015: decanted; red violet; vanilla and black fruit bouquet; full body; smooth, satin-like texture.
Followed over 3 h. Guess it hadn't opened up. The PL 2006 tasted at the same time was much more accessible.
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12/21/2014 - Number51 wrote: 90 Points
90+ points.
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10/7/2014 - drjb Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep crimson purple with excellent density. Nose deep notes of dark cherry, blackcurrant, white flowers and cigar box. Touches of dark chocolate. Palate medium weight with great persistence and fine but still assertive tannin structure. Delicious and great buying. Another rewarding 2005 just beginning to open.
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10/4/2014 - Le Gaulois Likes this wine: 91 Points
Oeil: Violet foncé assez opaque avec un début de tuilé sur la frange. Nez sur la cerise, la réglisse rouge et une touche de vanille. En bouche, tout est présent, c'est rond et les tannins sont très fins, soyeux. Longueur moyenne sur le fruit. Probablement au début de son pic.
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8/16/2014 - CWang wrote: 92 Points
Full, mellow, and perfumed aromas of cherries, mints, lavenders, and black truffles in the nose; yet still tannic and tight on the palate with dark berries and cherries, licorice, whipped cream, and quite some gripping and drying tannins; the finish, creamy and fruity of medium+ length, with dark fruits, mild spices, and whipped cream; overall, 91-92 points at this stage; more mature than what it was 3 years ago but still needed more time.
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7/25/2014 - Wink Likes this wine: 92 Points
See 11/17/13 note. Some people might consider this a "new world" style Margaux. The ripe fruit and extraction could give that impression. However, the earthy/leathery nose, 13.5% alcohol, restrained oak, and overall elegance suggest a pure Bordeaux pedigree. This wine is drinking really well right now.
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7/13/2014 - sdwineguru wrote: 91 Points
MId-dark garnet; terroir, earth, mushroom, cedar, floral perfume; mid-body; good acids and tannins; still tight; good fruity; long finish. w/beef
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7/9/2014 - stevenrcagle wrote: 93 Points
Nice garnet color. Beautiful cherry fruit on nose. Smooth tannins. Could have benefited from additional decanting. Strong backbone and will continue to develop.
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6/18/2014 - Double D wrote: 93 Points
Amazing but it continues to improve...Bdx just takes time!
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5/27/2014 - renatodug Likes this wine: 90 Points
Un nez de bois, de cèdre, d'épices. Très puissant mais équilibré. Quelques fruits. Bonne longueur.
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5/25/2014 - riskun Likes this wine: 93 Points
R4 Nice ruby with a touch of brown. Fine nose with a fresh appeal. The wood is almost overdone initially but melted back with time in the glass. Very nice entry and savoury mouth that builds to a tobacco, cedar finish. Tannins are very fine. On first opening this is not very complicated but as the wood melted it picked up nice nuances. Should have a good life, but wait a bit or decant. Well done.
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5/20/2014 - chanukha wrote: 90 Points
Could have used a little more fruit. Dry with slightly bitter notes.
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12/26/2013 - KeatingCellar wrote: 91 Points
Excellent. Needs another 5 years to mature... ...at least!
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11/17/2013 - Wink wrote: 92 Points
Similar to my 6/24/12 note. Clear dark garnet with a purple tint. Nose of violet, blueberry, graphite, cedar, and mint. Medium palate of savory blackberry, blueberry, minerals, and vanilla. Excellent mid palate and superb length. Energetic acidity. Youthful tannins. In summary: this is a delicious, young Margaux. It has a long way to go to hit its optimal drinking window, but is approachable now for fans of young wine.
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11/3/2013 - Vini Ciclismo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep red. Gorgeous rounded red berries with classic mulberry overtones. Lovely sherbert spice.
Creamy, smooth , fine tannins, long crisp finish. Blackberries, plums and mulberry with some cedar spice. Lovely balance.
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7/19/2013 - JulianSkeels wrote: 91 Points
Fairly classic savory and aromatic Margaux wine. Some heat still and lacks mid-palate and a weak finish, but elegant and still clearly improving.
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7/5/2013 - PSPatrick wrote: 90 Points
I poured the wine into a decanter, served the first glass immediately and drank about half of the bottle over the next three hours, poured the remaining wine back into the bottle and consumed it over another two days. The wine was medium to dark ruby in colour. It was wild and funky on the nose, with cherry, blackberry, black currant, some chocolate, some fennel and some leather. On the palate the medium-bodied, balanced wine showed sweet dark fruit, blackberry, black currant, hints of coffee, chocolate and tobacco and lots of funk, paired with medium-plus acidity, medium to medium-plus round tannin and very good length. A ripe, medium-complex, polished Margaux.
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4/21/2013 - jeanluc07 wrote: 92 Points
My first of 6. Was afraid of drinking it too young but needed to check the progression. Still tight but unmistakeably classic bdx. Love the deep purple hue and a bit toasted french oak, some leather , and earth. Finish with firm but silky tannins so I am happy with what I have left. Always like this wine so I will go ahead and order some 2009 to play with. Nothing beats the Classics well made stuffs.
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2/24/2013 - Nutty08 wrote:
Return to San Anontio (Ducru Vertical); 2/21/2013-2/24/2013 (Monty): Very late addition that was a pop and pour. Hard to evaluate as it was quite closed, but you could perceive some incredible quality fruit underneath the heavy tannic structure. Quite fresh. Needs lots of time but appears to be have great potential. Hold.
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12/25/2012 - Leonardo Da Vinci wrote: 91 Points
Excellent balance.
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12/10/2012 - jmottern wrote: 90 Points
Previous bottles of this wine were not very good. This bottle was excellent which tells me that the wine has entered its zone of drinkability. This Margaux should please anyone who enjoys this grape and style.
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12/4/2012 - rickspicks wrote: 92 Points
My first bottle of this wine. Classic purple/black, opaque color with a subdued, but unmistakably bordeaux nose of cassis, earth, oak and a hint of funk. A bit tight and lean for the first hour or so. Then opened up and took on weight and depth, and smoothed out. Lots of dark fruit with a firm texture and a medium, but still somewhat tart finish. Notes of leather, coffee and wood emerge after a while. This has a lot to like now, and has terrific potential, but is still a few years away from really being ready. I think I am going to like this a lot in a few years.
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10/20/2012 - md20 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Der Duft ist noch zurückhalten. Mittlere bis starke Struktur, ausgewogen. Alles vorhanden, momentan aber noch ein Baby. Abgang mit leichter Bitternote. Warten ist angesagt. Momentane Bewertung 91+
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10/13/2012 - miadelt Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2.5 hours. Full bodied, dark color, strong bouquet. A little closed down at this stage but should be fantastic in another 5 years. Prieure-Lichine is always underrated.
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10/2/2012 - PSPatrick wrote: 91 Points
Ordered at restaurant The Steakhouse in Lachen. The wine offered a stinky nose, with cherry, blackberry, black currant, leather, tobacco, marzipan and a floral touch. On the palate the wine showed cherry, blackberry, black currant, leather, tobacco, hints of coffee and chocolate, some cedar wood, a hint of cola and some funk, paired with good acidity, round tannins and phenomenal length. The medium-bodied, traditional-style wine kept changing with air. We liked it quite a bit. Would buy again.
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9/14/2012 - Ary wrote: 92 Points
Thick black fruits, plum and cherries, coffee, cassis and already very attractive. Sweet tannins in the aftertaste. Will probably gain point(s) in the coming years.
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6/24/2012 - Wink wrote: 92 Points
Dark garnet with a purple tint. Nose of leather, blackberry, menthol, and blueberry. Ripe, fresh palate of juicy blackberry, plum, cherry, graphite, and espresso. Refreshing acidity. Excellent length. Grippy tannins. Youthful but accessible. Will wait a year or three before opening another bottle.
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3/28/2012 - Double D wrote: 91 Points
Good but just so, have had many better vintages from them as it is usually a overperformer.
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1/21/2012 - tutticalvi wrote: 90 Points
Had higher hopes.
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11/5/2011 - Wino Joe wrote: 93 Points
Had Guy on his B-day. Nose filled with fennel, spice, cassis, blackberries, graphite and earth. Wine is tight and medium bodied. It has wonderful subdued fruit trying to break through tight tannins fighting w/ the leather, graphite and smoke notes. In 3-5 years this should be showing wonderfully but showing great potential right now!
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8/9/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
It's always nice to be surprised to taste a wine and discover it's showing better than you remember it. With a nose filled with fennel, spice, cassis, blackberries, flowers, earth and hints of tobacco, this ripe, plush style of Margaux wine needs another 3-5 years before it truly begins showing its ample charms.
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7/23/2011 - nschmidt wrote: 88 Points
Drank at Mesob. Smooth with no hard edges but lacking an excitement factor.
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6/27/2011 - sjdcellar wrote: 92 Points
we thought this was great - graphite and telltale margaux notes - coffee and toffee with red fruits. very good
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4/10/2011 - Julius Squeezer wrote: 93 Points
F**ing fantastic...
I don't remember if Stefan Derenoncourt had taken over by this point but this is pure, pure fantastic Margaux.
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9/29/2010 - tooch wrote: 91 Points
Two 2005 Bordeaux; 9/28/2010-9/29/2010 (Manchester, CT): Beautiful aromas of coffee, graphite, pure red raspberries, plums, dark cherry, and tilled soil. While still a baby, this is a lovely Margaux with great florals, tobacco, bright red fruit, plum sauce, and roasted mushrooms on the palate. Great structure, with huge sweet tannins on the finish indicate a long life ahead of this gorgeous wine.
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8/6/2010 - celtic67 wrote:
4 hr decant. lead pencil & red fruit on the nose. strawberries, toffee & espresso on the palate. great balance & finish. awesome bottle.
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4/29/2010 - Whinojb wrote: 90 Points
Needs time but has a good structure and mouth feel. Won't touch other bottles for at least 5 years
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4/3/2010 - EyeDoc wrote: 91 Points
This is a nice wine - drinks great now - albeit a bit primary.
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3/18/2010 - lumpyelbow wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux meets Burgundy (King Eddy Toronto): I have 3 of these in the cellar, so it was nice to taste before you open. In addition it allowed me to really experience Margaux (like all communes) and the distinct terroir that is the common thread of flavours between the different vineyards in the same area.
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3/5/2010 - Whinojb wrote: 91 Points
Inky in color. Decanted about 2 hours with a brilliant earthy smell that integrated nicely. Strawberry and caramel - definitely picked up the pencil shavings. Very smooth, very elegant.
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2/15/2010 - celtic67 wrote:
Great nose on this sucker. Toffee & Strawberries. Incredible balance. Needed about 4 hrs to really open up.
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7/25/2009 - eric42 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for only 1 hour. I Immediately smelled of pencil shavings, wet asphalt, and a bit of anise. As it opened up, it became very complex adding aromas of espresso, chocolate syrup, and cola. It was really hard to pinpoint one quality that stood out from the rest, and all of the previous flavors mentioned, except the chocolate syrup, were noticeable on the palate as well.
The tannins made the wine bone-dry from about mid-palate on. They did not lighten up much throughout the evening. Acid levels were on the high-side, but in great balance. This one's an ager. The only weakness I found early on was the mid-palate was a bit empty, but it filled in nicely as it opened.
A soft wine yet still had nice weight and a nice long finish. Impressive wine.
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5/1/2009 - EyeDoc wrote: 90 Points
so soft - so elegant - pure expression of Margaux. Not so sure this will last a long time.
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1/26/2009 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
Grand Crus de Bordeaux Tasting: 2005 & 2006 wines (NYC, The Lighthouse, Pier 60, Chelsea Piers): A good Margaux. But a little shut-down (vs other notes from prior years) and, no doubt shows better at home, over several hours, vs. at a 3 hour tasting. Needs time
$55-70/bottle offer price not the greatest
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10/20/2008 - nzoli wrote: 91 Points
Very young, needs a lot of airing. A natural, fresh style. Elegant, complex, mid-bodied, far from the big bold style. Also not too concentrated, almost light, but rich in flavors. Remarkably long finish, though it's not intense. After a long time airing doesn't show any sign of oxidation, great potential here.
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10/12/2008 - Ted Aronson wrote: 91 Points
A beautiful Margaux; very soft tannins, velvet texture, and rich ripe fruit,
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7/26/2008 - Siggy wrote: 93 Points
Enchantingly floral, smoky nose. Initially very tight and tannic on the palate, showing mainly coffee and oak. After an hour or so, this opened up to reveal a core of pure, concentrated cassis fruit. Medium bodied; the balance and proportionality are classic Margaux. Picks up some earth/tobacco flavors with more air. Really pretty and elegant. Long finish with waves of super-fine, ripe tannins. So young. This is surprisingly open for now, and I would not be surprised if this shut down hard over the next year or two.
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6/10/2008 - Motronic wrote: 93 Points
Initially expressive aromas of toasted oak and smoky perfume, almost right-bank-ish. Clear profile of cassis and purple colored fruits. Soft tannin on entry, not overly grippy. Medium body, nice concentration but not overly extracted. Good persistance of lifting aromas. Layers of complexity not yet developed in its young age. Already approachable and very enjoyable. Should be in its prime with 3-5yrs. of cellaring.
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3/10/2008 - mdefreitas wrote: 90 Points
2005 Left Bank Bordeauxs @ Table and Vine (West Springfield, MA): (unknown blend) Classy nose, rich supple body. Seemed a bit angular in the finish. A hint of iron shavings. Good complexity, with the tannins a bit coarse. Needs time (duh!). $49.99
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3/9/2008 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine:
Nose of licorice and red brambly fruit, rather subtle. The palate is a tad metallic and tightly wound and the fruit sweetness ends on a slightly drying finish. Barrel sample.
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4/5/2006 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 89 Points
BORDEAUX 2005 / Cabernet rules; 4/5/2006-4/10/2006 (Bordeaux): Nose of licorice, subtle. Palate a tad metallic, tightly wound. Sweetness of fruit but also a bit drying and woody... 88-90?
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