Inaugural vintage I believe. Well kept and showing muchike a Dominus. I might have guessed 11 as it was a little to the green side, but well integrated and built for further aging.
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Decanted 2 hours. This bottle was better than my last one. Better balance, less heat than the last one. Still has a long life ahead. 93 pts. at the moment.
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Finishing up the last half of the bottle left over from yesterday’s tasting. It’s just so much more open and inviting, without having changed too much in terms of aromatics or flavors. The floral notes in the bouquet are a bit more pronounced with dominant violet and lavender qualities, joining licorice, cassis and kirsch. A touch softer on the palate. Cassis, spice and black fruit with a long finish. Nearly seamless texture. This falls squarely in my wheelhouse. 95-96 for me tonight, 94+ for Domino.
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Friday Night Uptown Brown Bagger (R&D's): Blind. Deep color. Aromas of red currant, red plums, florals, vanilla and something a little green as well. Full-bodied and balanced. Flavors of red and black fruit mingle on the palate. Finishes with good length. With more time in the glass notes of black cherry and green tobacco emerge. Elegant. My favorite in this flight. The hosts had guessed that this was their Dominus, and I thought Dominus as well, but part of me wondered if this was in fact our Ulysses. A fine showing from this bottle, which had been double decanted about three hours prior. Still quite youthful, give this a good four to six hour decant, or better yet, hold another three to four years. 94-95 pts.
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Purple with some clearing at the rim. Bouquet of cassis, kirsch, stony minerality, and a floral note. On the palate, there is a core of fruit but it is by no means overpowering. Fine tannins and good acidity give the wine structure. Very restrained, balanced, and classical in style. Certainly not a Napa fruit bomb.
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Openeded yesterday and decanted for over one hour. The wine is very tied, mute, tannic and acidity. We put it back in the bottle and vacuumed it. 80 pts yesterday.
Now after 24 hours the wine is amazingly smooth, no harsh edges, the acidity and tannic was gone and delicate notes of fruits and earth provide a pleasant mouthfeel.
93+
I think the best days of this wine are still ahead, hold 2-3 more years.
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Dark holiday red. Smooth, berry, cassis, spice, firm tannins on the finish—and I want to drink this at the holidays. I probably opened it too early. While it's delicious, I think I've had better cabernets at it's price point.
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Well made wine with all the proper notes. The wine lacked the complexity that a wine of this price should have. I would buy this at $100 all day, but not at close to $200
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Decanted 3 hours. Improved with air. I guess 3 hours in the decanter were perfect right now. Still pretty young. Slightly touch of heat at the finish. 92-93 pts at the moment.
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Nice bottle but wanted so much more from a Christian Moueix offering where the vineyard is right next to Vine Hill Ranch. Had a nice elegance, restraint, and classic style to it but even after a 2 hour decant, just wasn't singing. It was good but not great.
SLDS April 2018: Blind. Blackcurrant pastille, cherry and vanilla with some tobacco as well. Bold fruit on the palate, this is punchy and dark, and yet the structure holds up to it very well. I think there is good quality here, although it didn't strike me as being typically Cabernet in style.
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Decanted 2+ hours. This is still young as expected. A very good bottle. Not terribly complex. At the moment more friut than complexity. But i guess it might be better with more age. 92+ pts at the moment.
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This wine is delicious. Wanting a break from the more modern styled wines I have been drinking of late, and wanting something with a bit more age than the 15's that I've been enjoying, I turned to this beauty from the man, the myth, Christian Moueix.
The first vintage released from these vines (located next to Vine Hill Ranch and Missouri Hopper), and boy is this in a nice place right now.
Decanted for two hours and it needed a bit more time to really flesh out. At first, tannins were a bit grippy on the finish, but with more time the edges were smoothed out.
The nose on this is amazing- it screams Old World and "sophistication". A nice interplay of dark fruits, with some crushed rock undertones, medium + bodied. There was nice acidity to this, and a freshness on the palate. Overall, it had a similar "feel" to the better Dunn's that I have had.
With a 3-4 decant, its ready to go, but this easily can improve over the next 5-8 years, and will easily last 20+ years. 94 with upside.
WORTH seeking out for sure... UPDATE- I just procured 2 bottles of this on wine.com, with the $50 discount code MARCHSAVE, and it was $270 all in (free shipping with the Stewardship program).
This is a very soft, plush and medium bodied Cabernet. The nose is classic cassis and vanilla. The red fruit on this wine is very smooth and spicy. This is a good effort. I’ll sit on my next bottle for a few years.....
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A savory yet plush Cabernet Sauvignon that delivers concentrated fruit and ample structure - but makes me wonder if it's worth the price of admission. Dark purple in color, medium in body, nose of black cherry, tobacco, and pencil shavings. Tastes of blackberry, leather, baking spices, and cedar, with a grippy and tannic finish. Blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and then other Bordeaux varietals. 14.5% alcohol.
I had this next to a 2013 Napanook, which lacked the depth and creaminess of the Ulysses, but the two wines were more similar than different. I'd wait another year or two in order to open this, but my bigger question is whether it's a waste of money. I know the producer is worthy of respect, but I think the wine is over-priced. If you like the Old World Napa style, a Corison Kronos or a Napanook provides more bang for the buck. If you - like me - doubt that this inward and savory style is the best Napa can do, there are better wines - with just as much class - for less money (e.g., Blankiet, Peter Michael). This was my first Ulysses - and probably my last.
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I didn't want to go against consensus here was really looking forward to this but I dont get the hype this was average didn't open up after 3 hour decant - no real shape nor substance no wow factor yes it's young and Plummy let's see again in what 10 years to see if upward revise score? In the meantime for this price point expected much better there's much more better alternatives than this and much cheaper. Far too much respect shown here.
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Nose is dominated by red berried fruit aromas, a whiff of alcohol, greeness coming through as well (though not in a bad way); very silky and smooth, very good mouth-feel. Lovely fruit here, impressive concentration. This is delicious with classy oak and fine tannins. Impressive for 4 year old vines.
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Opened all day a decanted for 3 hours. Remained very tight, tannic, and green. Stylistically similar to young Dominus. An overtly tart and sugary note fund through. Needs 10 more years.
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2 hours of slow ox, and another 2.5 hours in the decanter.
This is certainly still a baby. Nose had an Old World profile, with dark purple and black fruit lurking underneath. Medium weight on the palate, medium + on the finish.
Overall pretty restrained profile that I think will be better down the road once the secondary flavors really develop.
Also opened a 2012 Odette, which I preferred (mostly just showing better right now) but the group mostly preferred the Ulysses.
Can't say I'm going to rush out and buy any more at this price point. Fair chance I may pick up a 2013 just to see what it's like, but imagine it will need quite a bit of time.
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Wine Warehouse Pre Event 2016 Spring Tastings, nose of cherry, red berry, red currants, lovely rich fruit on the palate, mouth filling, big body yet subtle and elegant, terrific tasting, long, lingering finish.
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The nose was wonderfully lifted and expressive as it continued to open in the glass displaying intense cherry and red currant, sweet herbs, spice and crushed stone. It was remarkably vibrant with silky textures contrasted by brisk acidity, showing ripe red berries, and palate coating minerals and spice. Fruit saturated the senses throughout the long finish, with a mix of raspberry, cherry skins, and currant. This is so good now that it’s hard to imagine waiting, and can make for a great way to pass the time while the 2013 matures in the cellar.
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6/17/2023 - Beezc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking well and plenty of life left.
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1/28/2023 - jviz wrote: 93 Points
Inaugural vintage I believe. Well kept and showing muchike a Dominus. I might have guessed 11 as it was a little to the green side, but well integrated and built for further aging.
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9/17/2021 - Mdubnik Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still a bit tight. Needs some more time.
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9/16/2021 - Romol Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours. This bottle was better than my last one. Better balance, less heat than the last one. Still has a long life ahead. 93 pts. at the moment.
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6/30/2021 - ThomasB99 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very elegant, understated and nuanced. Medium body. Very bordeaux.
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4/3/2021 - AllRed wrote: 95 Points
Finishing up the last half of the bottle left over from yesterday’s tasting. It’s just so much more open and inviting, without having changed too much in terms of aromatics or flavors. The floral notes in the bouquet are a bit more pronounced with dominant violet and lavender qualities, joining licorice, cassis and kirsch. A touch softer on the palate. Cassis, spice and black fruit with a long finish. Nearly seamless texture. This falls squarely in my wheelhouse. 95-96 for me tonight, 94+ for Domino.
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4/2/2021 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Friday Night Uptown Brown Bagger (R&D's): Blind. Deep color. Aromas of red currant, red plums, florals, vanilla and something a little green as well. Full-bodied and balanced. Flavors of red and black fruit mingle on the palate. Finishes with good length. With more time in the glass notes of black cherry and green tobacco emerge. Elegant. My favorite in this flight. The hosts had guessed that this was their Dominus, and I thought Dominus as well, but part of me wondered if this was in fact our Ulysses. A fine showing from this bottle, which had been double decanted about three hours prior. Still quite youthful, give this a good four to six hour decant, or better yet, hold another three to four years. 94-95 pts.
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3/10/2021 - streethawk Likes this wine: 94 Points
Purple with some clearing at the rim. Bouquet of cassis, kirsch, stony minerality, and a floral note. On the palate, there is a core of fruit but it is by no means overpowering. Fine tannins and good acidity give the wine structure. Very restrained, balanced, and classical in style. Certainly not a Napa fruit bomb.
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7/5/2020 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Openeded yesterday and decanted for over one hour. The wine is very tied, mute, tannic and acidity. We put it back in the bottle and vacuumed it. 80 pts yesterday.
Now after 24 hours the wine is amazingly smooth, no harsh edges, the acidity and tannic was gone and delicate notes of fruits and earth provide a pleasant mouthfeel.
93+
I think the best days of this wine are still ahead, hold 2-3 more years.
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5/23/2020 - cclearningwine wrote: 90 Points
Dark holiday red. Smooth, berry, cassis, spice, firm tannins on the finish—and I want to drink this at the holidays. I probably opened it too early. While it's delicious, I think I've had better cabernets at it's price point.
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3/10/2020 - tjshapiro1 wrote:
Well made wine with all the proper notes. The wine lacked the complexity that a wine of this price should have. I would buy this at $100 all day, but not at close to $200
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2/11/2020 - Romol Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Improved with air. I guess 3 hours in the decanter were perfect right now. Still pretty young. Slightly touch of heat at the finish. 92-93 pts at the moment.
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6/16/2019 - jimyeni Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice bottle but wanted so much more from a Christian Moueix offering where the vineyard is right next to Vine Hill Ranch. Had a nice elegance, restraint, and classic style to it but even after a 2 hour decant, just wasn't singing. It was good but not great.
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4/11/2018 - CamWheeler wrote: 91 Points
SLDS April 2018: Blind. Blackcurrant pastille, cherry and vanilla with some tobacco as well. Bold fruit on the palate, this is punchy and dark, and yet the structure holds up to it very well. I think there is good quality here, although it didn't strike me as being typically Cabernet in style.
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4/8/2018 - Romol Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted 2+ hours. This is still young as expected. A very good bottle. Not terribly complex. At the moment more friut than complexity. But i guess it might be better with more age. 92+ pts at the moment.
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3/23/2018 - blarmston Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is delicious. Wanting a break from the more modern styled wines I have been drinking of late, and wanting something with a bit more age than the 15's that I've been enjoying, I turned to this beauty from the man, the myth, Christian Moueix.
The first vintage released from these vines (located next to Vine Hill Ranch and Missouri Hopper), and boy is this in a nice place right now.
Decanted for two hours and it needed a bit more time to really flesh out. At first, tannins were a bit grippy on the finish, but with more time the edges were smoothed out.
The nose on this is amazing- it screams Old World and "sophistication". A nice interplay of dark fruits, with some crushed rock undertones, medium + bodied. There was nice acidity to this, and a freshness on the palate. Overall, it had a similar "feel" to the better Dunn's that I have had.
With a 3-4 decant, its ready to go, but this easily can improve over the next 5-8 years, and will easily last 20+ years. 94 with upside.
WORTH seeking out for sure... UPDATE- I just procured 2 bottles of this on wine.com, with the $50 discount code MARCHSAVE, and it was $270 all in (free shipping with the Stewardship program).
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12/25/2017 - CV Griz Fan Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is a very soft, plush and medium bodied Cabernet. The nose is classic cassis and vanilla. The red fruit on this wine is very smooth and spicy. This is a good effort. I’ll sit on my next bottle for a few years.....
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3/28/2017 - msuwine wrote: 93 Points
A savory yet plush Cabernet Sauvignon that delivers concentrated fruit and ample structure - but makes me wonder if it's worth the price of admission. Dark purple in color, medium in body, nose of black cherry, tobacco, and pencil shavings. Tastes of blackberry, leather, baking spices, and cedar, with a grippy and tannic finish. Blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and then other Bordeaux varietals. 14.5% alcohol.
I had this next to a 2013 Napanook, which lacked the depth and creaminess of the Ulysses, but the two wines were more similar than different. I'd wait another year or two in order to open this, but my bigger question is whether it's a waste of money. I know the producer is worthy of respect, but I think the wine is over-priced. If you like the Old World Napa style, a Corison Kronos or a Napanook provides more bang for the buck. If you - like me - doubt that this inward and savory style is the best Napa can do, there are better wines - with just as much class - for less money (e.g., Blankiet, Peter Michael). This was my first Ulysses - and probably my last.
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2/12/2017 - bigdogsteve Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big and Bold. Opulent. Still very young and will mature with age.
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2/9/2017 - RodLloyd wrote: 89 Points
I didn't want to go against consensus here was really looking forward to this but I dont get the hype this was average didn't open up after 3 hour decant - no real shape nor substance no wow factor yes it's young and Plummy let's see again in what 10 years to see if upward revise score? In the meantime for this price point expected much better there's much more better alternatives than this and much cheaper. Far too much respect shown here.
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1/16/2017 - vespasian wrote:
Nose is dominated by red berried fruit aromas, a whiff of alcohol, greeness coming through as well (though not in a bad way); very silky and smooth, very good mouth-feel. Lovely fruit here, impressive concentration. This is delicious with classy oak and fine tannins. Impressive for 4 year old vines.
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12/25/2016 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 91 Points
Opened all day a decanted for 3 hours. Remained very tight, tannic, and green. Stylistically similar to young Dominus. An overtly tart and sugary note fund through. Needs 10 more years.
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10/22/2016 - ageverett Likes this wine: 94 Points
2 hours of slow ox, and another 2.5 hours in the decanter.
This is certainly still a baby. Nose had an Old World profile, with dark purple and black fruit lurking underneath. Medium weight on the palate, medium + on the finish.
Overall pretty restrained profile that I think will be better down the road once the secondary flavors really develop.
Also opened a 2012 Odette, which I preferred (mostly just showing better right now) but the group mostly preferred the Ulysses.
Can't say I'm going to rush out and buy any more at this price point. Fair chance I may pick up a 2013 just to see what it's like, but imagine it will need quite a bit of time.
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5/24/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wine Warehouse Pre Event 2016 Spring Tastings, nose of cherry, red berry, red currants, lovely rich fruit on the palate, mouth filling, big body yet subtle and elegant, terrific tasting, long, lingering finish.
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2/29/2016 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
The nose was wonderfully lifted and expressive as it continued to open in the glass displaying intense cherry and red currant, sweet herbs, spice and crushed stone. It was remarkably vibrant with silky textures contrasted by brisk acidity, showing ripe red berries, and palate coating minerals and spice. Fruit saturated the senses throughout the long finish, with a mix of raspberry, cherry skins, and currant. This is so good now that it’s hard to imagine waiting, and can make for a great way to pass the time while the 2013 matures in the cellar.
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