On tour with Tim and Phil day two (Beechworth and King Valley): Served Blind. Dense ripe dark fruits, sweet spice - quite rich and concentrated - getting a little dried out with a touch of caramel in support. Juicy, savoury, chewy tannins, dark fruits, alcohol warmth, that dried out note is on the palate as well. I knew this was mine.
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Pinkish-purple, translucent, lighter form. Scents of iron, blood, mild tobacco, maraschino cherry, and raspberry that develop complexity with aeration. Gentle red berry flavors, fairly simple, unidimensional flavor profile. More like a middle-age Beaujolais than a Corton. Reasonably pleasant but with a somewhat bitter finish.
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Burgundy introduction (Vance's at 811): From Coravin. A little wood glue, polished oak, red and blackberry, sweet spice, a little jubey note. Juicy, savoury ,dark hued fruits, tannins are controlled, balanced. Okay.
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Under cork (but it was behaving), note made on day 2, wine decanted and left in decanter overnight, guzzled via Riedel Burgundy stem and scored on CT scale as on cusp 'twixt Excellent and Outstanding. I leant towards outstanding and scored accordingly.
The best wine experiences tend to involve a story, an event; like music we are speaking of something that involves the combination of mind and heart. Unlike some things, the laboratory is not the place for wine.
In this case, I opened the wine to mark the experience of someone I know who pushed through an unpleasant 'chest' episode the weekend before. My own view is that hospitals are places where sick people get sicker, hypochondriacs get their mental weakness confirmed and, regardless, you lose all control over your situation. Worse still, have you ever read a great wine note written from hospital? If one is on the brink, open something you really want to drink and let the dice fall as they will. I'd rather die at home with a glass of something fine than in some COVID ridden, antiseptic smelling cesspool of human misery. And then there's the hospitals.
Naturally, I withheld this sage misanthropic advice from the person of whom I speak. My own views are fine for me, but in no way do I recommend them for others. You have been warned.
The colour of this wine was deep, brooding and whilst not that of a babe in the cradle, it gave no indication of being 17 years old. It did, however, speak to the power to come.
The Chatters 2020 tasting note pretty much nails this, so many thanks to that writer. I will add only that it is fierce on day 1, almost Shiraz. In this it reminds me of my ex-wife; a splendid woman. She was cranky when roused from slumber, much like this wine. Perhaps this was as much because it reminded her of to whom she was waking, as it was about the end of sleep. Regardless, like this wine, after a little time her naturally garrulous nature and inherent grace, breeding and poise emerged. In my ex-wife this was usually after about 30 minutes, but this wine needs about a day. It is vastly more enjoyable on day 2; indeed, it is a gorgeous interlocutor on day 2 and, like my ex-wife, you won't want to put her down. However, when it is over, you will appreciate you are better for the experience. Something similar might be said of a life well lived and, for the person I know, if a chesty issue did arise, what better way to go than on a run, or following a great wine? We are born to die, after all. It is how, not how long, when, or where or why that really matters.
As I said, not advice, certainly bad medically, just a personal philosophy. Take it lightly, open something good and follow your own star. But do drink good wine, love great women and be ready to let go of both and be thankful for the joy they have given.
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From Coravin. Savoury but with a pretty core of jubey black fruits especially blackberry, a little cream and sweet spice. Softly rich but with sufficient acidity to carry it, there is a very slightly bitter underpin to the creamy black fruits, tannins are tight, alcohol warmth is present but not intrusive. All travel very long. Good.
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Cherry, peat, touch of vanilla and incense on the nose. Palate is striking due to a very bracing blast of chalk in the middle and a strong grip of tannin in the back. Tasty but somewhat linear. Starts off quiet and ends fierce. Best with a meal.
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Nose of bacon, dark fruit-boysenberry, fig, and plum, and hint of barnyard and allspice, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty but subdued, 3 to 5 years from the peak, opened nicely the second night, lovely fruity taste, long, long finish.
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Nice dark red fruit and strong acid. A very "firm" wine that's a little angular. Was not surprised this was an 05 - needs more time to show its best. The fruit is there, and I think it will improve.
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Burg / Pinot blind: nose - dark berry, brooding mouth - big wine though somewhat closed, lots of stuffing here but not really showing that much today. Hints of dark licorice. Angular per Jim. Big dry tannins. A beast. Blah . Needs 10+ years, but no guarantees
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A touch of a sandalwood note mixes with some crushed berry elements on the nose. Almost a chalky texture on the palate with good acid up front and rich fruit flavors. Lots of depth and slightly tannic towards the finish. Very nice.
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Classic burgundian color...this wine is not revealing much in the nose. A young, young, smooth not-hot spice with bright finish. Will be saving my other bottles for hopefully many more years. This is a superb wine.
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Purchased this from Premier Cru. Didn't really know much about wine or producer but did a little research and found that the vineyard consists of 2.62 acres planted half to 40 year old vines with the other half to 20 year old. The grapes were hand-harvested, then the juice was fermented and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (50% new). Nose offers blackberries, leather, underbrush and river rocks. Bright garnet red in color. Tannic, massive but well structured with plenty of minerality and a long finish. Complemented our short ribs marinated in calbi sauce and baked alaskan salmon pretty well. Give it another 5 year s or so it should be drinking beautifully with potential to rate 92-93.
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5/19/2023 - chatters wrote:
On tour with Tim and Phil day two (Beechworth and King Valley): Served Blind.
Dense ripe dark fruits, sweet spice - quite rich and concentrated - getting a little dried out with a touch of caramel in support. Juicy, savoury, chewy tannins, dark fruits, alcohol warmth, that dried out note is on the palate as well.
I knew this was mine.
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1/9/2023 - Musinus wrote: 90 Points
Pinkish-purple, translucent, lighter form. Scents of iron, blood, mild tobacco, maraschino cherry, and raspberry that develop complexity with aeration. Gentle red berry flavors, fairly simple, unidimensional flavor profile. More like a middle-age Beaujolais than a Corton. Reasonably pleasant but with a somewhat bitter finish.
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3/26/2022 - chatters wrote:
Burgundy introduction (Vance's at 811): From Coravin. A little wood glue, polished oak, red and blackberry, sweet spice, a little jubey note. Juicy, savoury ,dark hued fruits, tannins are controlled, balanced. Okay.
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1/29/2022 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine: 94 Points
Under cork (but it was behaving), note made on day 2, wine decanted and left in decanter overnight, guzzled via Riedel Burgundy stem and scored on CT scale as on cusp 'twixt Excellent and Outstanding. I leant towards outstanding and scored accordingly.
The best wine experiences tend to involve a story, an event; like music we are speaking of something that involves the combination of mind and heart. Unlike some things, the laboratory is not the place for wine.
In this case, I opened the wine to mark the experience of someone I know who pushed through an unpleasant 'chest' episode the weekend before. My own view is that hospitals are places where sick people get sicker, hypochondriacs get their mental weakness confirmed and, regardless, you lose all control over your situation. Worse still, have you ever read a great wine note written from hospital? If one is on the brink, open something you really want to drink and let the dice fall as they will. I'd rather die at home with a glass of something fine than in some COVID ridden, antiseptic smelling cesspool of human misery. And then there's the hospitals.
Naturally, I withheld this sage misanthropic advice from the person of whom I speak. My own views are fine for me, but in no way do I recommend them for others. You have been warned.
The colour of this wine was deep, brooding and whilst not that of a babe in the cradle, it gave no indication of being 17 years old. It did, however, speak to the power to come.
The Chatters 2020 tasting note pretty much nails this, so many thanks to that writer. I will add only that it is fierce on day 1, almost Shiraz. In this it reminds me of my ex-wife; a splendid woman. She was cranky when roused from slumber, much like this wine. Perhaps this was as much because it reminded her of to whom she was waking, as it was about the end of sleep. Regardless, like this wine, after a little time her naturally garrulous nature and inherent grace, breeding and poise emerged. In my ex-wife this was usually after about 30 minutes, but this wine needs about a day. It is vastly more enjoyable on day 2; indeed, it is a gorgeous interlocutor on day 2 and, like my ex-wife, you won't want to put her down. However, when it is over, you will appreciate you are better for the experience. Something similar might be said of a life well lived and, for the person I know, if a chesty issue did arise, what better way to go than on a run, or following a great wine? We are born to die, after all. It is how, not how long, when, or where or why that really matters.
As I said, not advice, certainly bad medically, just a personal philosophy. Take it lightly, open something good and follow your own star. But do drink good wine, love great women and be ready to let go of both and be thankful for the joy they have given.
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2/16/2020 - chatters wrote:
From Coravin. Savoury but with a pretty core of jubey black fruits especially blackberry, a little cream and sweet spice. Softly rich but with sufficient acidity to carry it, there is a very slightly bitter underpin to the creamy black fruits, tannins are tight, alcohol warmth is present but not intrusive. All travel very long. Good.
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12/24/2018 - VINNICK wrote: 91 Points
Lovely notes. Light bodied and silky smooth.
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4/13/2018 - JJYoyo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cherry, peat, touch of vanilla and incense on the nose. Palate is striking due to a very bracing blast of chalk in the middle and a strong grip of tannin in the back. Tasty but somewhat linear. Starts off quiet and ends fierce. Best with a meal.
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2/15/2016 - davidrh1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Big and lush with cherry tones over a great earthy foundation. Really long finish.
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7/4/2015 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose of bacon, dark fruit-boysenberry, fig, and plum, and hint of barnyard and allspice, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty but subdued, 3 to 5 years from the peak, opened nicely the second night, lovely fruity taste, long, long finish.
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5/22/2015 - christyler wrote:
Nice dark red fruit and strong acid. A very "firm" wine that's a little angular. Was not surprised this was an 05 - needs more time to show its best. The fruit is there, and I think it will improve.
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5/22/2015 - soyhead wrote:
Burg / Pinot blind: nose - dark berry, brooding
mouth - big wine though somewhat closed, lots of stuffing here but not really
showing that much today. Hints of dark licorice. Angular per Jim. Big dry tannins.
A beast. Blah . Needs 10+ years, but no guarantees
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12/17/2011 - Rob MacKay wrote: 90 Points
A touch of a sandalwood note mixes with some crushed berry elements on the nose. Almost a chalky texture on the palate with good acid up front and rich fruit flavors. Lots of depth and slightly tannic towards the finish. Very nice.
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7/30/2011 - TinMan wrote: 92 Points
Classic burgundian color...this wine is not revealing much in the nose. A young, young, smooth not-hot spice with bright finish. Will be saving my other bottles for hopefully many more years. This is a superb wine.
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9/7/2009 - cenberra21 wrote: 90 Points
Purchased this from Premier Cru. Didn't really know much about wine or producer but did a little research and found that the vineyard consists of 2.62 acres planted half to 40 year old vines with the other half to 20 year old. The grapes were hand-harvested, then the juice was fermented and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (50% new). Nose offers blackberries, leather, underbrush and river rocks. Bright garnet red in color. Tannic, massive but well structured with plenty of minerality and a long finish. Complemented our short ribs marinated in calbi sauce and baked alaskan salmon pretty well. Give it another 5 year s or so it should be drinking beautifully with potential to rate 92-93.
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