Very floral with stems, red fruit, coffee beans, and roasted fruit. Palate was very expressive and transperent with some tart red fruit. Beautiful wine for the vintage despite a bit lean. Drinking very well.
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Purchased from auction a couple of years ago, excellent fill level. Opened and decanted an hour before serving. The nose of this was extremely pretty, showing plush, red fruit, and developed secondary notes of mushroom and crushed autumn leaves. In the mouth, it was complete, balanced and very pleasing, without being terribly complex or powerful. Showing some finesse and pedigree, though not immediately recognizable as Clos de la Roche. A very friendly and appealing burgundy that would likely make the non-burgundy loving crowd happy. No hard edges at all. It did not come off as empty through the mid-palate as some '97s do, and there was certainly no green or thinness in evidence. An out-performer, to my palate. Another happy bottle from an off vintage - it will never compete, but it doesn't have to.
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Tart, fresh, and fleshy on the nose. Soft entry with good depth and with more of a raisiny, grapey flavor than I expected. Some cinnamon notes. Sexy, almost new world in style. Does show nice persistence. Complete wine, but a little too obvious and grapey for me, perhaps would have enjoyed more if slightly chilled.
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At Nicolas with my wife and SS. Dark red in colour, slightly tawny rim. The nose was rather muted and it stayed that way throughout the night. Some plums, stewed fruit, with enough earthiness and meat to suggest MSD. The palate was slightly metallic (like some other 97s I have tasted). There was good acidity and tannins, but somehow at the initial stage, there was a lack of structure, density and fruit - probably the vintage. However, like all Hubert Lignier wines, this one really hit the sweet spot after about 1.5 hours, developing more powerful fruits, meat and a firmer body. It's really amazing how Lignier wines grow so much better with aeration. Patience is required.
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Popped and poured. Medium red color with just a touch of amber on the edge. Beautiful nose of cherries, plums and a little mocha. Surprisingly closed on the palate at first, but the nose said give it a little more time. Lovely spicy, black cherry flavors dominate after about 20 minutes. Soft tannins with good balancing acidity. This wine is about finesse than power. One of the stronger efforts of the '97 vintage. Drink up!
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My first Clos de la Roche and my first Grand Cru of such age. Drunk blind back-to-back with a Gevrey village 2007 for contrast, and the difference was pretty obvious. The colour alone, garnet with brick rims and some slight haziness made it clear that this had some age. The nose is intense, with blackberries and amarena cherries under alcohol, with some undergrowth (which P insisted was more "sauvage") in the background and quite some spiciness (something like very dry and old cinnamon). The palate showed a similar aromatic profile, with dark berries, spices and earthy notes. It had medium body, good acidity and a long finish. Fantastic.
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I've had this a few times before but this is the first one that's really captivating for its finesse and more than just a very good if kinda anonymous Burgundy. Now it has not only a nice flavor but real breed too.
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Another great showing for this wine. Starts out disjointed with the acid out of whack, but pulls itself together by the end of the glass. Streamlined and feminine, it tastes savory on the entry but leaves a rockier, gravelly finish.
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11/29/2019 - The Vines That Bind wrote: flawed
Corked, and moreover filthy dirty.
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11/9/2019 - rlove wrote: flawed
There's a moldiness to this that I won't call as TCA, nor does it render the 1997 Clos de la Roche entirely undrinkable, but certainly flawed.
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6/26/2018 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very floral with stems, red fruit, coffee beans, and roasted fruit. Palate was very expressive and transperent with some tart red fruit. Beautiful wine for the vintage despite a bit lean. Drinking very well.
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4/21/2018 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Burghound Symposium Asia - Clos Saint- Denis vs. Clos de la Roche dinner (Hong Kong): Dark color, red and dark fruit, sweet spices, complex. Soft and fruity palate, pleasant, could need a bit more structure but the aromatic complexity is really great here. Very good, but outshined by the amazing 2002.
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10/16/2017 - NYC_Maenad wrote:
Purchased from auction a couple of years ago, excellent fill level. Opened and decanted an hour before serving. The nose of this was extremely pretty, showing plush, red fruit, and developed secondary notes of mushroom and crushed autumn leaves. In the mouth, it was complete, balanced and very pleasing, without being terribly complex or powerful. Showing some finesse and pedigree, though not immediately recognizable as Clos de la Roche. A very friendly and appealing burgundy that would likely make the non-burgundy loving crowd happy. No hard edges at all. It did not come off as empty through the mid-palate as some '97s do, and there was certainly no green or thinness in evidence. An out-performer, to my palate. Another happy bottle from an off vintage - it will never compete, but it doesn't have to.
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4/20/2015 - Robert Pavlovich wrote:
Tart, fresh, and fleshy on the nose. Soft entry with good depth and with more of a raisiny, grapey flavor than I expected. Some cinnamon notes. Sexy, almost new world in style. Does show nice persistence. Complete wine, but a little too obvious and grapey for me, perhaps would have enjoyed more if slightly chilled.
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9/9/2014 - justburg wrote: 92 Points
At Nicolas with my wife and SS. Dark red in colour, slightly tawny rim. The nose was rather muted and it stayed that way throughout the night. Some plums, stewed fruit, with enough earthiness and meat to suggest MSD. The palate was slightly metallic (like some other 97s I have tasted). There was good acidity and tannins, but somehow at the initial stage, there was a lack of structure, density and fruit - probably the vintage. However, like all Hubert Lignier wines, this one really hit the sweet spot after about 1.5 hours, developing more powerful fruits, meat and a firmer body. It's really amazing how Lignier wines grow so much better with aeration. Patience is required.
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1/11/2014 - FreddieMoose Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Medium red color with just a touch of amber on the edge. Beautiful nose of cherries, plums and a little mocha. Surprisingly closed on the palate at first, but the nose said give it a little more time. Lovely spicy, black cherry flavors dominate after about 20 minutes. Soft tannins with good balancing acidity. This wine is about finesse than power. One of the stronger efforts of the '97 vintage. Drink up!
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8/20/2012 - gilrbo Likes this wine: 94 Points
My first Clos de la Roche and my first Grand Cru of such age. Drunk blind back-to-back with a Gevrey village 2007 for contrast, and the difference was pretty obvious.
The colour alone, garnet with brick rims and some slight haziness made it clear that this had some age. The nose is intense, with blackberries and amarena cherries under alcohol, with some undergrowth (which P insisted was more "sauvage") in the background and quite some spiciness (something like very dry and old cinnamon). The palate showed a similar aromatic profile, with dark berries, spices and earthy notes. It had medium body, good acidity and a long finish. Fantastic.
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9/7/2010 - LSussman wrote: 93 Points
wonderful nose of cherries with a smooth minerally mouth feel. A terrific wine and sorry it was my last bottle.
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8/16/2010 - Burgfreak wrote: 93 Points
Lovely fruit. Great finesse. Very Clos de La Roche. Poweful too. Will keep going for a number of years yet.
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1/31/2010 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 94 Points
I've had this a few times before but this is the first one that's really captivating for its finesse and more than just a very good if kinda anonymous Burgundy. Now it has not only a nice flavor but real breed too.
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1/31/2010 - LSussman wrote: 95 Points
Exquisite with complex nose of subtle fruit and earthiness that compels continual tasting. Thoroughly enjoyable and memorable
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8/26/2009 - LSussman wrote: 95 Points
Earthy and long with moderate fruit on the nose. Fantastic
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2/26/2009 - Keith Levenberg wrote: flawed
Corked.
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7/14/2008 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 92 Points
Another great showing for this wine. Starts out disjointed with the acid out of whack, but pulls itself together by the end of the glass. Streamlined and feminine, it tastes savory on the entry but leaves a rockier, gravelly finish.
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5/6/2008 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 91 Points
Really successful '97 - nothing hollow or stewed here. Fruit is pure, vibrant, and supple; aroma is enticingly gamey.
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3/15/2008 - Eric wrote:
Seattle Tasting Group 'End of Year Dinner' #5 (Sammamish, WA): Stinky and problematic, showing some heat, sweet rhubarb, stemmy, intense. Nicely sappy, intense, tree sap. In the end I thought this was "OK".
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