This wine just re-ignited my love for cru beaujolais. For ~$30, this far exceeded my expectations. The nose was fruity yet serious, with classic bojo fruit but also you could tell the burgundian terroir just on the nose. The palate was equally ripe, concentrated, and structured, with a mouthful of black cherries, wild strawberries/raspberries, but then a refreshing midpalate of acid and some notable rougher tannin on the finish. 14.1% abv is 'just' detectable on the finish but its a big enough wine to make it work. I have really been findings some value wines lately but this takes it up a notch. Will be buying more. This has room to improve in the next few years and will easily last another 5.
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PNP followed over several hours. No formal notes. Tart red fruit, strawberry, just shy of juicy. Enough structure, approachable now, went well with traditional thanksgiving dinner.
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Coravin by the glass. Nose of black cherry, raspberry, loamy earth and spice. Black cherry, raspberry, hint of cranberry, earth and spice on the palate. Very long, dry finish. Medium bodied. Served with a Gruyère mushroom galette.
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Consistent with previous bottles. This showed great after about 45 mins or so of air. Perfect mix of ripe, juicy fruit with some earthy, spicy undertones. Easy drinking yet complex. Great bottle of gamay.
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Certainly too young -- the tannins are still very pronounced, and didn't recede until day 3. This wine is the poster child for quality Beaujolais (and by 'quality,' I mean with no aroma of bananas). Aromas of raspberry and leather, with an earthy undertone. Behind the tannins, flavors of raspberry and pepper, with a caramel note on the aftertaste. On days 2 and 3, the raspberry flavor evolved into cherry. The acidity is not particularly high, but the wine is overall still quite closed, not particularly pleasurable for drinking now, so I would recommend waiting a least two years to open any bottles of the 2019.
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excellent combination of rich fruit in a light red opaque body. Aromas of cherry and limestone. Texture is rich and pudding but light and spice with depth. Complex.
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Cherry, spices and something spicy on the nose. Red fruit and black pepper on the palate. More tannins and acid than expected given previous years but still juicy. Alcohol on the finish built up over time but then it just seemed to disappear completely.
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Light weight, but great complexity and depth. Sweet cherry in the forefront with the acidity chasing on the finish. I was very impressed on my first try with Thivin.
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Sometimes I put a bottle of wine in a difficult situation. This 2019 Thivin was faced with an extra-spicy homemade Chicken Makhani, and some roasted butternut squash and sweet potato with smoked paprika as a side dish. Damn if it didn't step up and socialize with both of them. I think the extra richness/depth of the modern, climate-influenced era helped, as the additional juiciness provided buffering to the spiciness in the chicken, as well as a foil to the smokiness in the paprika. The creaminess of the Makhani sauce melted the little bit of tannin in the wine, making the whole pairing work on every level. I don't think a more classical, higher acid version would have worked as well (though it still would have worked), and even a bit more ripeness in the wine would not have been a problem.
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Cherries and dark fruits on the nose; also some wood. Mild unripe banana and floral tones if you hunt. Primarily cherries on the palate along with spices and earthy tones. Light to medium body; mild structure. Mild tannins are present. Perfectly balanced with medium finish. Good complexity. IMO doesn't need additional aging. Lieutenant Brulius would adore and stand on his hill while surveying his fields with proud affection.
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Bright, juicy, and still very young. While it's drinkable now, I think in 6 months to a year it will really come together with additional complexity and a slightly longer finish.
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A perfumed, floral fruit nose, I’m pretty sure I drank one of these and wrote a note last year, with my recollection being it was much tighter, more structured, seemingly in need of a few years to become approachable. This bottle is not that, it’s juicy, with tons of higher toned strawberry notes, good a acidity, some tannins but not overwhelming at all. Doesn’t have the darker fruit profile and intensity of the 17, or the spectacular 16, but it’s really tasty.
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Tasted blind. Lovely, savory nose of red fruit, lots of cherries and nuance. Good acidity with more savory notes, prominent strawberries, some brine and a lot of fruit on the palate. Tannins are quite soft and overall the wine feels darker than the strawberry note would suggest. Nice finish. This is very good, but definitely not a gang-of-four style Beaujolais. More like a mix between good Burgundy and Northern Rhone. Drinking pretty well already. 92+
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A more serious side of Beaujolais. Not one I'd open without thought for simple enjoyment, but a more contemplative one. The herbal finish lingers long as you try to pick out all the herbal elements. Brooding, dark red fruits. Deeply herbal. Toasted bay leaf, mace, angelica root. Concentrated and dense, but well polished.
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This was very tight at first and benefited from some air The most interesting note on the nose was almond or nut spread. Black fruits. Quite herbal and herbaceous. Low tannins Quite easy drinking (in a good way)
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Marked by the vintage. Pretty, ripe red berry scents, very ripe but controlled on the palate, silky tannins, but some ripe sweetness and alcoholic heat on the finish that came through more with food.
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Dark burgundy color. Nose dark fruited, a bit of candied fruit flavor. Palate powerfully fruity yet open without any tannic bite. Stony minerals. A delicate silky character with time.
Very drinkable now with its deep fruit yet I fancy how this would be in a few more years after settling down and gaining some secondary notes
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Delightful wine and a brilliant pivot off the Barbaresco. Nose was big and Christmasy, holiday spices and a touch of cedar. Palate was big, bright, red fruit driven. Acid was there, but this wine has that lovely Beaujolais quality of quaffability. Not as muscular as some Brouilly.
QPR 6.5 (of 10)
Aging 2026 at least
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It’s debatable whether it’s positive or negative, but climate change has made Beaujolais a more serious category of wine. The Thivin has always been a favorite, due to its depth of flavor, as well as its breadth of flavor. It’s even deeper now, and forgiving a little higher octane, it’s a more serious wine. Has some of the fun of Beaujolais been sacrificed on the altar of profundity? Perhaps, but it’s a hell of a bottle for $30.
I would actually advocate drinking it sooner rather than later, lest the remaining vestiges of joy be subsumed under the pull of its gravity.
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Nose of red fruit, pomegranate, freshly cracked black pepper, lilac. Minimal tannins and a punch of acidity. The palate is simple and maybe a bit closed, but also similar to the nose. I’d give it time. There’s enough acidity to keep.
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My second sampling of the 2019 vintage, following Roilette Fleurie Tardive. This Thivin has some of the brooding, rustic, tannic character of that wine, though not nearly to the same degree. A medium-full bodied version, with plenty of dark, somewhat backward and brooding fruit, some violets, bit of anise, noticeable medium tannins, turning rocky and mineral on the finish. Despite a reputation as another warm, early vintage, following on the more juicy, lush, solar 17 and 18 vintages, this shows a lot of restraint, and a distinct need for some bottle age. A bit difficult to drink now, though not unenjoyable for someone with slightly masochistic tendencies, this shows great promise as a long term wine.
Night 2: a little more open 24 hours later, still a bit tannic, but showing more intensity and depth of fruit, excellent acidity, really quite tasty. This second glimpse is really reaffirming my initial sense, that this is going to be really good, but needs a few years in bottle. If you want to try one now, which won’t be a big mistake, I strongly suggest decanting for several hours at least, maybe double decant the day before. Raising my score on this for its future potential.
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Popped and poured. Medium ruby color. Nose of mixed cherries, pomegranate, slightly floral. Very fresh and vibrant. Juicy red fruits on the palate with good acidity and medium tannin and body so very balanced and easy drinking even at this stage. This is an annual buy for me and a good indication I will likely enjoy the 2019 vintage.
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My second 2019 Bojo and I like what I'm tasting so far. Fruit is lush not unlike 2017 but with more structure and spice. I found some 2017s a little hollow in the middle but not these. This is a touch behind the 2019 Roilette Tardive at this point -- the Tardive just a little bit more savory and wild -- but glad to have some of both.
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Deep ruby in color. Nose of blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry and bramble. Definitely, darker, deeper and with more extract than the Clos de la Roilette we had next to it. This is also two years younger, and you can feel it. The tannin is more pronounced. It is not angular or agressive, but it is present. Acid is medium plus, alcohol in balance. Medium body. Black fruits and pleasant grip on the long finish.
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2/29/2024 - Acove Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine just re-ignited my love for cru beaujolais. For ~$30, this far exceeded my expectations. The nose was fruity yet serious, with classic bojo fruit but also you could tell the burgundian terroir just on the nose. The palate was equally ripe, concentrated, and structured, with a mouthful of black cherries, wild strawberries/raspberries, but then a refreshing midpalate of acid and some notable rougher tannin on the finish. 14.1% abv is 'just' detectable on the finish but its a big enough wine to make it work. I have really been findings some value wines lately but this takes it up a notch. Will be buying more. This has room to improve in the next few years and will easily last another 5.
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11/23/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:
PNP followed over several hours. No formal notes. Tart red fruit, strawberry, just shy of juicy. Enough structure, approachable now, went well with traditional thanksgiving dinner.
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10/24/2023 - td1836 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is consistently good and a fantastic value. You get a complex wine for a value price.
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9/23/2023 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good. Still quite young and primary.
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8/23/2023 - Jd6725 wrote: flawed
Terribly corked. My first for a wine this young and also first for a bojo. Sad, it had some good stuffing under there.
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4/4/2023 - GTFreek wrote:
From magnum. Delightful at outdoor picnic. Get more.
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3/21/2023 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with previous bottles. A little more earthiness starting to pop through but still a tasty, juicy fruit forward gamay.
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12/20/2022 - hoservin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Coravin by the glass. Nose of black cherry, raspberry, loamy earth and spice. Black cherry, raspberry, hint of cranberry, earth and spice on the palate. Very long, dry finish. Medium bodied. Served with a Gruyère mushroom galette.
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8/2/2022 - racerchris wrote:
Enjoyed with friends on a warm evening, well chilled, allowing it to warm in the glass.
Good choice for a game of lawn Croquet.
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7/26/2022 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Why didn’t I buy a case (two cases) of this??
See my prior notes. This is just so good every time.
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7/14/2022 - Rich S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with previous bottles. This showed great after about 45 mins or so of air. Perfect mix of ripe, juicy fruit with some earthy, spicy undertones. Easy drinking yet complex. Great bottle of gamay.
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7/3/2022 - talbot61 wrote:
Certainly too young -- the tannins are still very pronounced, and didn't recede until day 3. This wine is the poster child for quality Beaujolais (and by 'quality,' I mean with no aroma of bananas). Aromas of raspberry and leather, with an earthy undertone. Behind the tannins, flavors of raspberry and pepper, with a caramel note on the aftertaste. On days 2 and 3, the raspberry flavor evolved into cherry. The acidity is not particularly high, but the wine is overall still quite closed, not particularly pleasurable for drinking now, so I would recommend waiting a least two years to open any bottles of the 2019.
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6/8/2022 - wdlohr wrote: 92 Points
excellent combination of rich fruit in a light red opaque body. Aromas of cherry and limestone. Texture is rich and pudding but light and spice with depth. Complex.
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3/11/2022 - autumn_child Likes this wine: 89 Points
Cherry, spices and something spicy on the nose. Red fruit and black pepper on the palate. More tannins and acid than expected given previous years but still juicy. Alcohol on the finish built up over time but then it just seemed to disappear completely.
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2/18/2022 - td1836 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light weight, but great complexity and depth. Sweet cherry in the forefront with the acidity chasing on the finish. I was very impressed on my first try with Thivin.
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2/7/2022 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Sometimes I put a bottle of wine in a difficult situation. This 2019 Thivin was faced with an extra-spicy homemade Chicken Makhani, and some roasted butternut squash and sweet potato with smoked paprika as a side dish. Damn if it didn't step up and socialize with both of them. I think the extra richness/depth of the modern, climate-influenced era helped, as the additional juiciness provided buffering to the spiciness in the chicken, as well as a foil to the smokiness in the paprika. The creaminess of the Makhani sauce melted the little bit of tannin in the wine, making the whole pairing work on every level. I don't think a more classical, higher acid version would have worked as well (though it still would have worked), and even a bit more ripeness in the wine would not have been a problem.
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1/24/2022 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Seven weeks after the prior: The note immediately below describes it well. Very enjoyable again over three nights.
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12/14/2021 - RPHC Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cherries and dark fruits on the nose; also some wood. Mild unripe banana and floral tones if you hunt. Primarily cherries on the palate along with spices and earthy tones. Light to medium body; mild structure. Mild tannins are present. Perfectly balanced with medium finish. Good complexity. IMO doesn't need additional aging. Lieutenant Brulius would adore and stand on his hill while surveying his fields with proud affection.
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12/11/2021 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Dark ruby, savory, spicy; deep fruit. A bit high in alcohol at 14.1, but it’s not overwhelming. Good acid backbone.
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11/30/2021 - Big Juicy Red Likes this wine:
Bright, juicy, and still very young. While it's drinkable now, I think in 6 months to a year it will really come together with additional complexity and a slightly longer finish.
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10/13/2021 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Delcious, dark raspberry fruit with earthy flavors, ample acidity and finish, very enjoyable but lacking depth and complexity
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8/13/2021 - VinoRosso wrote: 88 Points
Tight. Awkward. Needs more time.
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8/9/2021 - racerchris wrote:
A lot of love for this on the wine forums.
Clearly it's well made,
But I have to admit, I'm still not a fan of Gamay/Bojo.
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8/4/2021 - JJKinch wrote: 91 Points
Red fruit (strawberry, raspberry), nice floral, nice spice, earth, slight herbal, good acidity. Bright. Lingering finish. Really enjoyable.
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7/13/2021 - alanr wrote: 91 Points
A perfumed, floral fruit nose, I’m pretty sure I drank one of these and wrote a note last year, with my recollection being it was much tighter, more structured, seemingly in need of a few years to become approachable. This bottle is not that, it’s juicy, with tons of higher toned strawberry notes, good a acidity, some tannins but not overwhelming at all. Doesn’t have the darker fruit profile and intensity of the 17, or the spectacular 16, but it’s really tasty.
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7/12/2021 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted blind. Lovely, savory nose of red fruit, lots of cherries and nuance. Good acidity with more savory notes, prominent strawberries, some brine and a lot of fruit on the palate. Tannins are quite soft and overall the wine feels darker than the strawberry note would suggest. Nice finish. This is very good, but definitely not a gang-of-four style Beaujolais. More like a mix between good Burgundy and Northern Rhone. Drinking pretty well already. 92+
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7/11/2021 - rcb25 Likes this wine:
A more serious side of Beaujolais. Not one I'd open without thought for simple enjoyment, but a more contemplative one. The herbal finish lingers long as you try to pick out all the herbal elements. Brooding, dark red fruits. Deeply herbal. Toasted bay leaf, mace, angelica root. Concentrated and dense, but well polished.
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7/7/2021 - Alykhan V Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was very tight at first and benefited from some air
The most interesting note on the nose was almond or nut spread. Black fruits. Quite herbal and herbaceous.
Low tannins
Quite easy drinking (in a good way)
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7/5/2021 - coremill wrote: 87 Points
Marked by the vintage. Pretty, ripe red berry scents, very ripe but controlled on the palate, silky tannins, but some ripe sweetness and alcoholic heat on the finish that came through more with food.
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5/22/2021 - fred o. Likes this wine: 92 Points
14.1% abv.
Dark burgundy color.
Nose dark fruited, a bit of candied fruit flavor.
Palate powerfully fruity yet open without any tannic bite. Stony minerals. A delicate silky character with time.
Very drinkable now with its deep fruit yet I fancy how this would be in a few more years after settling down and gaining some secondary notes
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5/11/2021 - BBinSC wrote: 91 Points
The Sky As My Roof
Wine 2
Delightful wine and a brilliant pivot off the Barbaresco. Nose was big and Christmasy, holiday spices and a touch of cedar. Palate was big, bright, red fruit driven. Acid was there, but this wine has that lovely Beaujolais quality of quaffability. Not as muscular as some Brouilly.
QPR 6.5 (of 10)
Aging 2026 at least
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5/7/2021 - Rieslingfan wrote:
It’s debatable whether it’s positive or negative, but climate change has made Beaujolais a more serious category of wine. The Thivin has always been a favorite, due to its depth of flavor, as well as its breadth of flavor. It’s even deeper now, and forgiving a little higher octane, it’s a more serious wine. Has some of the fun of Beaujolais been sacrificed on the altar of profundity? Perhaps, but it’s a hell of a bottle for $30.
I would actually advocate drinking it sooner rather than later, lest the remaining vestiges of joy be subsumed under the pull of its gravity.
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4/25/2021 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with previous bottle.
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3/14/2021 - John Barleywine wrote:
Strong apple, cherry, plum, and wheat flavors. Very smooth all throughout.
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2/21/2021 - JOsgood wrote:
Delicious as always, plenty of weight in this vintage.
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1/24/2021 - BRogo Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nose of red fruit, pomegranate, freshly cracked black pepper, lilac. Minimal tannins and a punch of acidity. The palate is simple and maybe a bit closed, but also similar to the nose. I’d give it time. There’s enough acidity to keep.
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12/5/2020 - alanr wrote: 92 Points
My second sampling of the 2019 vintage, following Roilette Fleurie Tardive. This Thivin has some of the brooding, rustic, tannic character of that wine, though not nearly to the same degree. A medium-full bodied version, with plenty of dark, somewhat backward and brooding fruit, some violets, bit of anise, noticeable medium tannins, turning rocky and mineral on the finish. Despite a reputation as another warm, early vintage, following on the more juicy, lush, solar 17 and 18 vintages, this shows a lot of restraint, and a distinct need for some bottle age. A bit difficult to drink now, though not unenjoyable for someone with slightly masochistic tendencies, this shows great promise as a long term wine.
Night 2: a little more open 24 hours later, still a bit tannic, but showing more intensity and depth of fruit, excellent acidity, really quite tasty. This second glimpse is really reaffirming my initial sense, that this is going to be really good, but needs a few years in bottle. If you want to try one now, which won’t be a big mistake, I strongly suggest decanting for several hours at least, maybe double decant the day before. Raising my score on this for its future potential.
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12/2/2020 - Rich S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Medium ruby color. Nose of mixed cherries, pomegranate, slightly floral. Very fresh and vibrant. Juicy red fruits on the palate with good acidity and medium tannin and body so very balanced and easy drinking even at this stage. This is an annual buy for me and a good indication I will likely enjoy the 2019 vintage.
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11/23/2020 - David_K wrote: 90 Points
My second 2019 Bojo and I like what I'm tasting so far. Fruit is lush not unlike 2017 but with more structure and spice. I found some 2017s a little hollow in the middle but not these. This is a touch behind the 2019 Roilette Tardive at this point -- the Tardive just a little bit more savory and wild -- but glad to have some of both.
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10/25/2020 - BernieMSY wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful. Violets on the nose and palate. Umami and tons of peppery fruit.
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10/25/2020 - JOsgood wrote: 92 Points
Very nice stuff and another solid vintage for this reliable wine. Beautiful fruit and balance.
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10/4/2020 - DoubleMagnum wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby in color. Nose of blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry and bramble. Definitely, darker, deeper and with more extract than the Clos de la Roilette we had next to it. This is also two years younger, and you can feel it. The tannin is more pronounced. It is not angular or agressive, but it is present. Acid is medium plus, alcohol in balance. Medium body. Black fruits and pleasant grip on the long finish.
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8/18/2020 - BernieMSY wrote: 93 Points
Delicious gamay fruit. Layered, nuanced. Quite delicious
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