I thoroughly enjoyed the 05 Joguet, but it is not for everyone to be sure. It was super funky and animalistic on the nose with some notes of tar, collard greens and cast iron. The palate is big and strapping for a Chinon with lots of fruit and rustic power. Not sure if the funkiness was brett or just Chinon (or both). Drinking well now, but I bet this improves. 92-93 pts.
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Ouvert et bu sur 2 jours, sans changement notable. Superbe robe carmin foncé, sans signe d’âge. Nez classique mais encore assez retenu sur les poivrons, la cerise noire et le cacao. Puissant en bouche, concentré, équilibré, l’élevage est bien intégré. La finale est serrée et longue. Je pense qu’il lui faut encore quelques années en cave pour se livrer davantage mais c’est un vin excellent. 93-94+
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Oulala, que de bois! Le nez offre des effluves de caramel, de café, c’est très empyreumatique.
La bouche est lisse, veloutée, sans aspérité, on sent là aussi l’influence du fût. L’équilibre structurel est très bon, mais l’aromatique est terne, on cherche en vain le fruit. C'est décevant. J’aime l’expression du cabernet franc de la Loire, mais je n’en trouve pas de trace ici. J'y trouve plutôt l’expression d’un vin international, qui a perdu son âme.
Il y avait très longtemps que je n’avais goûté un vin de Joguet. J’espère qu’il est revenu à un style plus authentique.
En 2013, lors d'une dégustation Loire, je l'avais trouvé moderne mais très prometteur. Le Baron avait alors souligné, avec à propos, qu'il était un peu inquiétant d'avoir encore tant de bois après 12 heures de carafe. Le temps lui a donné raison, chapeau! Et comme 2023 approche, attention, il est dû bientôt pour un autre moment de sagesse...
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An excellent bottle of Loire red -- the nose has just a slight bit of dirty, animal funk and not too prominent pyrazines, but those both serve to frame some sweet black fruit. On the palate, you get a sensation of full ripeness, but without any heaviness. The pyrazines on the palate lighten up the dense, sweet fruit on the palate.
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Magnifique à ce stade, avec des notes tertiaires bien présentes de profil nobles, avec un fruité toujours présent en arrière-plan. C'est exactement à ce stade que j'aime mais vins âgés. Les tannins sont assouplis mais encore assez sévères, caractéristique du millésime un peu partout en France. Grande réussite. 94.
Good showing for a potentially great wine. While this is a bit anomalous for Loire Franc in terms of intensity, I don't find it out of character. This wine is to Loire Cab Franc what matcha is to regular lightly steeped green tea.
Opened up with olive, currant and savory tones. Tobacco and cassis became more prominent as it opened up over several hours. All about pure currants and earth tones on the palate, with a medium acidity entry. The lower acidity and higher alcohol than typical for Chinon gives it a surprising roundness and warmth. Long finish with interplay between dark fruit and tobacco. The tannins are a bit hard and rather grippy--that is the big question mark for development.
Since I have several bottles, the 15 year mark was a logical point to check in. But I think another 5-10 years is the time frame for bottle #2. The incipient olive notes are auspicious--that is what a deep Franc (or Merlot or Cab S) should develop over time. And there is plenty of stuffing and freshness here. On the other hand, the astringency of the tannins may be a long term characteristic.
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Quite full-bodied and powerful at this current stage but yet in a very nice drinking window; This has tell-tale aromas of bell pepper and herbs, but with great density and concentration of fruit on the palate; This should continue to improve but is quite enjoyable in its current state
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Nose: The nose is well balanced and poised with tobacco, sour red cherries, raspberries, mint, herbs, earth, violets, along with some bell pepper notes.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and medium tannins. The feel is refined with sour red cherries, tobacco, herbs, bell peppers, violets, and raspberies. The tannins certainly show youth, but there is a silkiness to them.
Overall: This is drinking beautifully after about an hour's worth of air. Though it is drinking well, there is a good amount of youth to it and this should easily be able to sail along and develop for another 8+ years.
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Wines with Salil et al.; 12/1/2017-12/3/2017 (Chicago, IL): This is definitely drinking better than the 2005 FdP, but in the long haul, it will probably be the weaker wine. This is pretty much the same as I noted a few months ago; it's got a brilliant density of black fruit that the riper vintage gives it, alongside the requisite pyrazine tones. This is definitely in no risk of decline anytime soon, but I really can't deny how good this is already.
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Awesome. Perhaps just a faint notch below the '05 FDP in terms of depth and finesse, but this is fantastic. Black fruit, cedar, tobacco, a whiff of leather, and more savoury earthiness all come together on a medium weight frame, and while this is really tannic and tightly-wound at first, it opens up nicely with air and becomes more approachable with time. Excellent, though it's still rather youthful and in need of a lot more cellar time.
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Russk. Hollywood wine Society chinon tasting at Lola's. Tied with one other for my WOTN. Relatively full-bodied for a Chinon, earthy, strong but pleasant oak presence.
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Blinds at Eric's (Chicago, IL): A stunner of a Loire cabernet. Surprisingly dark and brooding, this was much fuller and denser than I would have ever guessed from Loire (perhaps a reflection of the vintage). In fact, the label says 14%, which is pretty incredible by Loire standards. Vegetal pyrazines on the nose are perfectly balanced with ripe black fruit. Silky and svelte, but full-bodied and fleshy at the same time, this is a gorgeous Chinon which is delicious now but in no danger of decline (though personally I am more inclined to drink this now since I really didn't like the poop that showed up in the 1996 that I had a few months back).
Very Clean nose with classic CF, cassis, pencil, green herbs etc. Just over medium-bodied palate with smooth tannins, balanced acidity and fine ripe fruit. Incredibly nice length in aroma and flavor. A brilliant wine.
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Wow, merveilleux Chinon, beaucoup de concentration et d'élégance, boisé luxueux mais fondu, encore plusieurs belles années devant lui. Aucune note végétale, fait assez bordelais comme style. Au début de son plateau. 93
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this is so rich and decadent, there is a ton of structure and a fortress of oak, hold right now, full, tannic, strong backbone, silky flesh, plums, currants, black berries, tobacco leaf, herbs and earth, amazing, could pass for a top end Napa Cab, needs to be matched with a rib-eye steak
saved half the bottle which I drank 3 days later: meaty, floral nose, fresh even after 3 days open, firm acid braces this well, dried cherries, tobacco, herbs and earth, less like a Napa Cab, more like a Barolo now, either way, this is a extremely high quality wine for the price and will age effortlessly
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Dîner avec Poud et Blandine (Paris, Montparnasse): Robe noire, prune et cacao au nez, notes de cabernet franc bien mûr conformément au millésime, bouche aux tanins fins mais légèrement secs, pour moi il est à boire dès maintenant et sur les 3/4 prochaines années
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Gorgeous nose of integrated oak, black fruit, cassis. Impeccable balance and structure, great acidity and integrated tannins. The wine is still young and there is still room for improvement. I agree that this is not typical chinon style wine but more of a right bank bordeaux. 92++
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Bu après 2 heures de carafe. Robe sombre et opaque, ne laissant guère deviner l'âge. Nez sur les fruits noirs, bleuets, cassis, cendre, légères touches boisées et animales. Aucunes notes de poivrons, même rouges, ce qui mène rapidement vers un bordeaux rive droite à l'aveugle. Avec des steaks saignants, le vin est délicieux, et semble presque sudiste tant sa concentration impressionne. Sans bouffe, l'acidité et les tannins ressortent clairement, la jeunesse du gaillard ne fait aucun doute. Ce vin devrait atteindre son plateau dans environ 5 ans. Impressionnant pour l’appellation, dans un style moderne maîtrisée. 92+
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Gorgeous color. Aromas of clay, chalk, gunpowder, cigar. Minty, flinty, with some sour cherry, 100% unsweetened cacao, and old world funk. Complexity of the 85 year old vines shows. After being opened an hour, starting to come alive, but mostly closed and shy, especially in its finish. I'd hold at least a couple more years.
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Someone said below that this could be mistaken for right bank Bordeaux and this is so true. Impressive weight and depth of flavors - savory currant leaf, baked plum, baked cherry, forest floor. Loads of potential to improve even further. Very unlike Chinon- as this was not rustic or vegetal at all.
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Wines from all over as we thwart Jay's cellar cull plans. (Jay's.): This was one of my favorite '05s on release, but this bottle was pretty ticked off at being opened. The nose shows smokey oak and ripe red and black fruit, but on the palate the wine was scattered, unfocused and grumpy. There's gunpowder showing, the oak is a bit disjointed, but there's plenty of fruit here to absorb it. Rather thickly textured. A B now, but there's a lot of potential for this wine.
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Surprisingly opaque and dark appearance. Huge nose with profound depth and complexity. Concentrated and tannic, super complex and at the same time weightless and beautifully balanced and pure. If this would have been tasted blind, i would probably never even been close to Loire. This actually resembles a classic right bank Bordeaux like Cheval Blanc, it´s that good!
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Loire 2005 (Salle de dégustation Laurier): Un nez de café qui évoque Noiré! Expresso, noix de coco, profond. La bouche est ronde et fraîche en attaque, bien dense, du fruit mûr (noir), une finale aux tanins bien présents, marquée par une amertume. Encore jeune mais très beau. Un peu sévère, moderne certes, mais magnifique. Revoir dans 3 ans voire plus. 92 pts
Michel a peut-être raison de souligner qu'il est inquiétant de voir qu'il reste autant d'élevage, alors qu'il a bénéficié de 12 heures d'aération. À suivre.
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Loire Odyssey, Part II - the Reds (Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck, Paragon): This was really nice - quite easily my wine of the night, and a great way to start the Cab Franc flights. This had a lovely nose, smelling a bit like a good new world Bordeaux blend, but somehow more refreshing, with a layer of oak vanillin and toast, sweet spice, menthol and then bright aromas of dark cherries and cassis woven together with a nice whiff of gravelly earth. Really fresh and attractive. I guess the same thing could be said of the palate as well. Beautifully fresh, with lots of snappy acidity, it was a delectable mouthfull of dark cherries, berries, maybe thicker cassis notes, all matched by a nice lift of mint, menthol and spice moving into the bright finish. Delicious. This was a wine to put a smile on the face. I really liked when first poured, but it really came to its own when paired with a whole roasted lamb shoulder and mint jelly. A lovely wine. Still very young now, it would be wonderful to be able to try this 4-5 years down the road, although I suspect it will go one developing for far longer than that as well.
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Black core with a ruby rim. Appealing nose showing tobacco, black and dark red fruit and spicy aromas. Full bodied and absolutely delicious. Balanced wine with spicy black cherry, cassis and espresso along with earthy and leather notes. High acidity keeps all of this fruit in check. Massive tannic structure here. This has decades in front of it.
A Bordeaux lovers' wine. If blind, I'd have guessed a high quality right bank wine. I've never tasted a Loire Cab Franc quite like this one even from this producer. Highly recommended!
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A good wine. Much better than the 2006 I had a few weeks prior. 2006 had lots of mineral and was off balance. This wine was much more balanced and enjoyable.
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This was a chameleon wine for me. 100% cabernet franc. Some gunpowder which blew off slightly, which reminded me of a baby musar. sharp and slightly salty rather than sweet nose reminded me of italian. hint of fresh red pepper. Olive note - the same sort of note in haut brion - it was suggested that this would be an interesting pair with haut brion. On the palate - primary red fruits, sweetness than is cut short by acidity which reminds me again of how italian wines tend to be. very surprised that this is 100% cabernet franc. Juicy and enjoyable. Very good. And man on label looks like confucius!
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Coolness precedes it. Sappy tannins robust lacerated cherries. Dry old World oak. Good for a cabernet franc. V focused and has layers. Funky feathers and some gunpowder
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Too young to rate. Amazing dark red color, dark dark dark. Closed on the nose, some lavender and black cherry but not much else. Copious amounts of dark fruit, later showing gravel and green pepper, great smooth viscosity, perfect amount of acid, heavy unyielding tannin, finish goes on and on. Not sold that the core will still be intact once the tannin subsides.
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The fruit is still big and primary here but there is a strong mineral core underneath barely perceptible now. Light bell pepper notes were around the next couple days. Strong wine making brings great balance. One of the best Chinons I have had. Bordeaux of this quality goes for much much more.
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surprisingly ripe nose, which carries through on the palate. nice acidity. dark berries. a nice tension in the mouth. tannins cut and clear, acid refreshes, fruit satisfies. good balance. needs a couple yeara but very juicy and fine,
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Finely structured, with excellently balanced fruit, tannin, and acidity. Vibrant red currant, plum, and earthiness. Paired wonderfully with our meal at Le Bistro (Honolulu).
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Kermit Lynch Tasting (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): These wines have great color with dense red purples all the way to the edge. This is more spice driven on the nose with currant leaf, loads of complex berries, and tree bark. The fruit is more dark and brooding on the palate with flavors of blackberry and black currant. Also more structured than the Franc de Pied with a greater concentration of tannins, fruit, and acidity. Maybe not as approachable at this stage but with more potential. 94+
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Cane Rosso dinner Rob and gang -- showed absolutely beautifully and hedonistic. A very ripe and silky Chinon, more candied and inky than I have ever seen. Shimmering brilliant dark red. Sooo seductive with loads of cassis, earth, maple and spicy cherry.
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Rich nose of dusty dried plumbs, well balanced with a pleasant mouthfeel and well integrated tannins. This is a vintage the producer felt was one of the best and it seems like it could be one to last.
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Back in Dec '07 this wine was remarkably primary, but also remarkably energetic. Levels of flavour came like a series of explosions. 'Twas a vast amount of indulgent oak (milk choc, ash, cream), and very soft, simple fruit characteristics (sweet mulled cherry). Was tannin beneath, and was v enjoyable - 92 pts - but there were question marks too. Some of those have gone away - is now more clearly acidity to balance the tannin - but I now find myself questioning the length slightly. Faintest brett in a relatively quiet nose. I don't generally find the word 'juicy' positive, but it's got to be said there's a big burst of such in the finish at this stage of the wine's life. At least there are then nicely taut little lines of tannin checking it. Purple florality and purple raspberry. A primary nature, if now in a different way. Should fill out again. A definite future, in a yet further manifestation. 89-90 now; 90. Shot at 94+ one day.
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Nose of dark fruit and some cranberry on the nose, and even a bit of orange peel. The body is quite full and sweet cranberries and plums dominate. The middle has some nice dark chocolate and it finishes with more of the cranberries and dark fruits. A very complex, and something out of the ordinary.
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Awesome, just as tasted at VVW, Rob's Top Chef... Loaded with oozing dark fruit and lip smacking tannins. So sleek and licoricey, explodes from the glass with ultra ripe black fruit and crushed asphalt. Wow!
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Tasted at VVW -- wow, exploding with red licorice, crushed asphalt, menthol and espresso. A slight mustiness on the palate, but more a wet, warm earth thing that would be great with food.
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Third time I've had the 2005 Dioterie. Very dark color. Aromas of dark fruit, cocoa and light oak. On the palate, big flavors of dark fruit, tobacco and mocha. Huge structure. A monster Chinon. Wow. Looking forward to seeing how this ages compared to the '89 and '90, which I treid last year and with which I was very impressed. Note: tasted side by side with the 2005 Varennes du Grand Clos bottling, which was much more typical for Chinon - textbook stuff, compared to the flashier, bigger, juicier Dioterie.
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Loire Valley Reds at SFWTC (San Francisco Wine Trading Company): Somewhat oaky nose, with cassis, cherry. Juicy acidity, but this seems more primary and less structured than previous tastings of this wine. Also showing more sweet oak than i remember. The previous bottle tasted had been open 24 hours, however, and this bottle only 20 minutes. A little confusing, but i am pretty confident in its long-term potential.
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Now this one was freakishly black--it just ain't natural for Cab Franc to look like Syrah. Intense blackberry fruit on the nose. Ripe but too dense and brutally tannic to enjoy now. This seems overextracted and I fear for the balance over time. Of all the '05 Rhone, Burgundy, and Loire reds I have tasted to date, the tannins in this one struck me as being most out of whack.
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The nose is absolutely beautiful and promises great things - it is deep, rich, and perfumed. This is almost too punchy on the palate to really enjoy right now, but not quite if you are in the right mood.
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2005 Chinon (Joguet, Alliet, Olek-Mery) at Vineyardgate (Millbrae, CA): Lushly ripe nose of red berry liquor. Remarkably dense and rounded in the mouth, with lots of delicious cured tobacco and ripe berries, very expansive on the midpalate. Turns super tannic on the finish, with toothcoating astringency. There's definitely some oak present, but it's mostly buried in the extract. A real beast that will need some time to settle down. $39
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11/26/2023 - MJReb wrote: 90 Points
Massive wine, dark fruit, leather, a bit drying. Less good compared to the Alliet Coteau de Noiré of the same year.
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1/30/2023 - blanquito wrote:
I thoroughly enjoyed the 05 Joguet, but it is not for everyone to be sure. It was super funky and animalistic on the nose with some notes of tar, collard greens and cast iron. The palate is big and strapping for a Chinon with lots of fruit and rustic power. Not sure if the funkiness was brett or just Chinon (or both). Drinking well now, but I bet this improves. 92-93 pts.
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11/20/2022 - Ericsson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ouvert et bu sur 2 jours, sans changement notable.
Superbe robe carmin foncé, sans signe d’âge.
Nez classique mais encore assez retenu sur les poivrons, la cerise noire et le cacao. Puissant en bouche, concentré, équilibré, l’élevage est bien intégré. La finale est serrée et longue.
Je pense qu’il lui faut encore quelques années en cave pour se livrer davantage mais c’est un vin excellent.
93-94+
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10/30/2022 - MJReb wrote: 91 Points
Black fruit, leather and soil, a massive wine, which is ready for business.
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8/3/2022 - bvivio Likes this wine: 92 Points
Appearance: medium+ ruby, garnet highlights, moderate rim variation, moderate staining, moderate amount of fine sediment.
Nose: clean, developing, medium intensity, black cherry, red currant, black currant, black plum, paprika, bay leaf, crushed gravel, cedar, pencil shavings, worn leather, cinnamon, chocolate fudge, strawberry preserves, baked plum, fig.
Palate: dry, medium+ tannin, medium+ acid, medium+ alcohol (14%), medium+ body, long finish, black cherry, red currant, black currant, black plum, paprika, bay leaf, crushed gravel, cedar, pencil shavings, worn leather, cinnamon, chocolate fudge, strawberry preserves, baked plum, fig.
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6/20/2022 - InVinjeVeritas wrote: 93 Points
Seems to be on peak with fruit intact, but with developed notes of paprika (pepper) powder.
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6/18/2022 - d'Artagnan wrote: 85 Points
Oulala, que de bois! Le nez offre des effluves de caramel, de café, c’est très empyreumatique.
La bouche est lisse, veloutée, sans aspérité, on sent là aussi l’influence du fût. L’équilibre structurel est très bon, mais l’aromatique est terne, on cherche en vain le fruit. C'est décevant. J’aime l’expression du cabernet franc de la Loire, mais je n’en trouve pas de trace ici. J'y trouve plutôt l’expression d’un vin international, qui a perdu son âme.
Il y avait très longtemps que je n’avais goûté un vin de Joguet. J’espère qu’il est revenu à un style plus authentique.
En 2013, lors d'une dégustation Loire, je l'avais trouvé moderne mais très prometteur. Le Baron avait alors souligné, avec à propos, qu'il était un peu inquiétant d'avoir encore tant de bois après 12 heures de carafe. Le temps lui a donné raison, chapeau! Et comme 2023 approche, attention, il est dû bientôt pour un autre moment de sagesse...
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5/10/2022 - MJReb wrote: 92 Points
Sweet black fruit, leather, still numerous tannins, a wine which will go on for long years.
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12/1/2021 - Villon wrote: 93 Points
Délicieux mais encore jeune. Ce vin peut attendre un autre 10 ans facilement. Soyez patient s'il vous en reste!
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6/21/2021 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
An excellent bottle of Loire red -- the nose has just a slight bit of dirty, animal funk and not too prominent pyrazines, but those both serve to frame some sweet black fruit. On the palate, you get a sensation of full ripeness, but without any heaviness. The pyrazines on the palate lighten up the dense, sweet fruit on the palate.
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3/27/2021 - Villon wrote: 94 Points
Magnifique à ce stade, avec des notes tertiaires bien présentes de profil nobles, avec un fruité toujours présent en arrière-plan. C'est exactement à ce stade que j'aime mais vins âgés. Les tannins sont assouplis mais encore assez sévères, caractéristique du millésime un peu partout en France. Grande réussite. 94.
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3/14/2020 - Cabfrancophile Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good showing for a potentially great wine. While this is a bit anomalous for Loire Franc in terms of intensity, I don't find it out of character. This wine is to Loire Cab Franc what matcha is to regular lightly steeped green tea.
Opened up with olive, currant and savory tones. Tobacco and cassis became more prominent as it opened up over several hours. All about pure currants and earth tones on the palate, with a medium acidity entry. The lower acidity and higher alcohol than typical for Chinon gives it a surprising roundness and warmth. Long finish with interplay between dark fruit and tobacco. The tannins are a bit hard and rather grippy--that is the big question mark for development.
Since I have several bottles, the 15 year mark was a logical point to check in. But I think another 5-10 years is the time frame for bottle #2. The incipient olive notes are auspicious--that is what a deep Franc (or Merlot or Cab S) should develop over time. And there is plenty of stuffing and freshness here. On the other hand, the astringency of the tannins may be a long term characteristic.
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1/24/2020 - ubercuvee wrote:
Tannic, decent fruit but the tannins are pretty grainy and rough
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4/6/2019 - MJReb wrote: 92 Points
Red and black fruit, powerful and dense, spices and herbs, drinking well, still have 14 bottles, will drink them most probably over the next 5 years.
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10/17/2018 - eluebchow wrote: 93 Points
Quite full-bodied and powerful at this current stage but yet in a very nice drinking window; This has tell-tale aromas of bell pepper and herbs, but with great density and concentration of fruit on the palate; This should continue to improve but is quite enjoyable in its current state
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7/24/2018 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Underwood, pepper, and dark fruit on the nose. Medium tannins with red fruit and dark berry notes on the palate. Medium+ finish. Lovely balance!
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4/26/2018 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
Nose: The nose is well balanced and poised with tobacco, sour red cherries, raspberries, mint, herbs, earth, violets, along with some bell pepper notes.
Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and medium tannins. The feel is refined with sour red cherries, tobacco, herbs, bell peppers, violets, and raspberies. The tannins certainly show youth, but there is a silkiness to them.
Overall: This is drinking beautifully after about an hour's worth of air. Though it is drinking well, there is a good amount of youth to it and this should easily be able to sail along and develop for another 8+ years.
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12/2/2017 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Wines with Salil et al.; 12/1/2017-12/3/2017 (Chicago, IL): This is definitely drinking better than the 2005 FdP, but in the long haul, it will probably be the weaker wine. This is pretty much the same as I noted a few months ago; it's got a brilliant density of black fruit that the riper vintage gives it, alongside the requisite pyrazine tones. This is definitely in no risk of decline anytime soon, but I really can't deny how good this is already.
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12/1/2017 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Awesome. Perhaps just a faint notch below the '05 FDP in terms of depth and finesse, but this is fantastic. Black fruit, cedar, tobacco, a whiff of leather, and more savoury earthiness all come together on a medium weight frame, and while this is really tannic and tightly-wound at first, it opens up nicely with air and becomes more approachable with time. Excellent, though it's still rather youthful and in need of a lot more cellar time.
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11/8/2017 - RussK wrote: 92 Points
Russk. Hollywood wine Society chinon tasting at Lola's. Tied with one other for my WOTN. Relatively full-bodied for a Chinon, earthy, strong but pleasant oak presence.
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9/30/2017 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Blinds at Eric's (Chicago, IL): A stunner of a Loire cabernet. Surprisingly dark and brooding, this was much fuller and denser than I would have ever guessed from Loire (perhaps a reflection of the vintage). In fact, the label says 14%, which is pretty incredible by Loire standards. Vegetal pyrazines on the nose are perfectly balanced with ripe black fruit. Silky and svelte, but full-bodied and fleshy at the same time, this is a gorgeous Chinon which is delicious now but in no danger of decline (though personally I am more inclined to drink this now since I really didn't like the poop that showed up in the 1996 that I had a few months back).
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9/15/2017 - Moonie Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another grest bottle with 5-10 years to go
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1/13/2017 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very Clean nose with classic CF, cassis, pencil, green herbs etc.
Just over medium-bodied palate with smooth tannins, balanced acidity and fine ripe fruit. Incredibly nice length in aroma and flavor. A brilliant wine.
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12/24/2016 - TimmyR wrote: 93 Points
Very good bottle this one. Nice balance, oak is integrated nicely. Love this wine.
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12/16/2016 - Villon wrote: 93 Points
Wow, merveilleux Chinon, beaucoup de concentration et d'élégance, boisé luxueux mais fondu, encore plusieurs belles années devant lui. Aucune note végétale, fait assez bordelais comme style. Au début de son plateau. 93
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11/26/2016 - DougLee wrote: 88 Points
A bit hollow in the mid-palate. Off-bottle, perhaps.
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5/28/2016 - whits Likes this wine: 93 Points
this is so rich and decadent, there is a ton of structure and a fortress of oak, hold right now, full, tannic, strong backbone, silky flesh, plums, currants, black berries, tobacco leaf, herbs and earth, amazing, could pass for a top end Napa Cab, needs to be matched with a rib-eye steak
saved half the bottle which I drank 3 days later: meaty, floral nose, fresh even after 3 days open, firm acid braces this well, dried cherries, tobacco, herbs and earth, less like a Napa Cab, more like a Barolo now, either way, this is a extremely high quality wine for the price and will age effortlessly
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1/2/2016 - sebastienjm wrote: 90 Points
Dîner avec Poud et Blandine (Paris, Montparnasse): Robe noire, prune et cacao au nez, notes de cabernet franc bien mûr conformément au millésime, bouche aux tanins fins mais légèrement secs, pour moi il est à boire dès maintenant et sur les 3/4 prochaines années
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9/13/2015 - aknot13 wrote: 92 Points
Gorgeous nose of integrated oak, black fruit, cassis. Impeccable balance and structure, great acidity and integrated tannins. The wine is still young and there is still room for improvement. I agree that this is not typical chinon style wine but more of a right bank bordeaux. 92++
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7/2/2015 - Villon wrote: 92 Points
Bu après 2 heures de carafe. Robe sombre et opaque, ne laissant guère deviner l'âge. Nez sur les fruits noirs, bleuets, cassis, cendre, légères touches boisées et animales. Aucunes notes de poivrons, même rouges, ce qui mène rapidement vers un bordeaux rive droite à l'aveugle. Avec des steaks saignants, le vin est délicieux, et semble presque sudiste tant sa concentration impressionne. Sans bouffe, l'acidité et les tannins ressortent clairement, la jeunesse du gaillard ne fait aucun doute. Ce vin devrait atteindre son plateau dans environ 5 ans. Impressionnant pour l’appellation, dans un style moderne maîtrisée. 92+
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1/11/2015 - mzimberg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Gorgeous color. Aromas of clay, chalk, gunpowder, cigar. Minty, flinty, with some sour cherry, 100% unsweetened cacao, and old world funk. Complexity of the 85 year old vines shows. After being opened an hour, starting to come alive, but mostly closed and shy, especially in its finish. I'd hold at least a couple more years.
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5/3/2014 - mattyboy_ Likes this wine: 94 Points
Someone said below that this could be mistaken for right bank Bordeaux and this is so true. Impressive weight and depth of flavors - savory currant leaf, baked plum, baked cherry, forest floor. Loads of potential to improve even further. Very unlike Chinon- as this was not rustic or vegetal at all.
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6/2/2013 - BradKNYC wrote:
Wines from all over as we thwart Jay's cellar cull plans. (Jay's.): This was one of my favorite '05s on release, but this bottle was pretty ticked off at being opened. The nose shows smokey oak and ripe red and black fruit, but on the palate the wine was scattered, unfocused and grumpy. There's gunpowder showing, the oak is a bit disjointed, but there's plenty of fruit here to absorb it. Rather thickly textured. A B now, but there's a lot of potential for this wine.
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3/14/2013 - bza Likes this wine:
Surprisingly opaque and dark appearance. Huge nose with profound depth and complexity. Concentrated and tannic, super complex and at the same time weightless and beautifully balanced and pure. If this would have been tasted blind, i would probably never even been close to Loire. This actually resembles a classic right bank Bordeaux like Cheval Blanc, it´s that good!
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3/1/2013 - d'Artagnan wrote: 92 Points
Loire 2005 (Salle de dégustation Laurier): Un nez de café qui évoque Noiré! Expresso, noix de coco, profond. La bouche est ronde et fraîche en attaque, bien dense, du fruit mûr (noir), une finale aux tanins bien présents, marquée par une amertume. Encore jeune mais très beau. Un peu sévère, moderne certes, mais magnifique. Revoir dans 3 ans voire plus. 92 pts
Michel a peut-être raison de souligner qu'il est inquiétant de voir qu'il reste autant d'élevage, alors qu'il a bénéficié de 12 heures d'aération. À suivre.
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4/2/2012 - danstrings wrote: 91 Points
Showing great, such great balance of juicy inky fruit, earthiness, and a real nice minerality that gives it a food friendliness/refreshing note.
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8/6/2011 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
Loire Odyssey, Part II - the Reds (Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck, Paragon): This was really nice - quite easily my wine of the night, and a great way to start the Cab Franc flights. This had a lovely nose, smelling a bit like a good new world Bordeaux blend, but somehow more refreshing, with a layer of oak vanillin and toast, sweet spice, menthol and then bright aromas of dark cherries and cassis woven together with a nice whiff of gravelly earth. Really fresh and attractive. I guess the same thing could be said of the palate as well. Beautifully fresh, with lots of snappy acidity, it was a delectable mouthfull of dark cherries, berries, maybe thicker cassis notes, all matched by a nice lift of mint, menthol and spice moving into the bright finish. Delicious. This was a wine to put a smile on the face. I really liked when first poured, but it really came to its own when paired with a whole roasted lamb shoulder and mint jelly. A lovely wine. Still very young now, it would be wonderful to be able to try this 4-5 years down the road, although I suspect it will go one developing for far longer than that as well.
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5/11/2011 - Anthony Lombardi wrote:
Black core with a ruby rim. Appealing nose showing tobacco, black and dark red fruit and spicy aromas. Full bodied and absolutely delicious. Balanced wine with spicy black cherry, cassis and espresso along with earthy and leather notes. High acidity keeps all of this fruit in check. Massive tannic structure here. This has decades in front of it.
A Bordeaux lovers' wine. If blind, I'd have guessed a high quality right bank wine. I've never tasted a Loire Cab Franc quite like this one even from this producer. Highly recommended!
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3/25/2011 - Holdem wrote:
A good wine. Much better than the 2006 I had a few weeks prior. 2006 had lots of mineral and was off balance. This wine was much more balanced and enjoyable.
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1/15/2011 - danstrings wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful as always -- inky dark, oozing with good fruit and chocolatey tarry goodness, yet in perfect balance.
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1/14/2011 - solace wrote: 89 Points
This was a chameleon wine for me. 100% cabernet franc. Some gunpowder which blew off slightly, which reminded me of a baby musar. sharp and slightly salty rather than sweet nose reminded me of italian. hint of fresh red pepper. Olive note - the same sort of note in haut brion - it was suggested that this would be an interesting pair with haut brion.
On the palate - primary red fruits, sweetness than is cut short by acidity which reminds me again of how italian wines tend to be. very surprised that this is 100% cabernet franc.
Juicy and enjoyable. Very good.
And man on label looks like confucius!
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1/14/2011 - Alex H wrote: 85 Points
Coolness precedes it. Sappy tannins robust lacerated cherries. Dry old World oak. Good for a cabernet franc. V focused and has layers. Funky feathers and some gunpowder
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8/21/2010 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
Joya Brenda et al -- Gorgeous silky satiny licorice fruit meets a bit of roasted espresso and tar. Great as always, mellowing some, nice.
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7/11/2010 - alr6767 wrote:
Too young to rate. Amazing dark red color, dark dark dark. Closed on the nose, some lavender and black cherry but not much else. Copious amounts of dark fruit, later showing gravel and green pepper, great smooth viscosity, perfect amount of acid, heavy unyielding tannin, finish goes on and on. Not sold that the core will still be intact once the tannin subsides.
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7/8/2010 - WetRock wrote:
The fruit is still big and primary here but there is a strong mineral core underneath barely perceptible now. Light bell pepper notes were around the next couple days. Strong wine making brings great balance. One of the best Chinons I have had. Bordeaux of this quality goes for much much more.
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6/25/2010 - milwaukeewino wrote:
surprisingly ripe nose, which carries through on the palate. nice acidity. dark berries. a nice tension in the mouth. tannins cut and clear, acid refreshes, fruit satisfies. good balance. needs a couple yeara but very juicy and fine,
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2/11/2010 - Haggis wrote: 90 Points
Finely structured, with excellently balanced fruit, tannin, and acidity. Vibrant red currant, plum, and earthiness. Paired wonderfully with our meal at Le Bistro (Honolulu).
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2/1/2010 - blancdeblancs wrote:
good texture, warm oatmeal otn, lots of blackberry fruit, still has sizeable tannins, needs more time.
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1/15/2010 - danstrings wrote: 91 Points
NAMM Heather and Aaron -- showing classically with good earthy brambly sleek fruit, great food wine.
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12/31/2009 - davidselvia wrote: 93 Points
Delicious!
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12/3/2009 - Badfish wrote: 94 Points
Kermit Lynch Tasting (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): These wines have great color with dense red purples all the way to the edge. This is more spice driven on the nose with currant leaf, loads of complex berries, and tree bark. The fruit is more dark and brooding on the palate with flavors of blackberry and black currant. Also more structured than the Franc de Pied with a greater concentration of tannins, fruit, and acidity. Maybe not as approachable at this stage but with more potential. 94+
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10/11/2009 - danstrings wrote: 92 Points
Cane Rosso dinner Rob and gang -- showed absolutely beautifully and hedonistic. A very ripe and silky Chinon, more candied and inky than I have ever seen. Shimmering brilliant dark red. Sooo seductive with loads of cassis, earth, maple and spicy cherry.
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9/7/2009 - Rustyca wrote: 91 Points
Rich nose of dusty dried plumbs, well balanced with a pleasant mouthfeel and well integrated tannins. This is a vintage the producer felt was one of the best and it seems like it could be one to last.
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5/13/2009 - campingfleurie wrote: 90 Points
Back in Dec '07 this wine was remarkably primary, but also remarkably energetic. Levels of flavour came like a series of explosions. 'Twas a vast amount of indulgent oak (milk choc, ash, cream), and very soft, simple fruit characteristics (sweet mulled cherry). Was tannin beneath, and was v enjoyable - 92 pts - but there were question marks too. Some of those have gone away - is now more clearly acidity to balance the tannin - but I now find myself questioning the length slightly. Faintest brett in a relatively quiet nose. I don't generally find the word 'juicy' positive, but it's got to be said there's a big burst of such in the finish at this stage of the wine's life. At least there are then nicely taut little lines of tannin checking it. Purple florality and purple raspberry. A primary nature, if now in a different way. Should fill out again. A definite future, in a yet further manifestation. 89-90 now; 90. Shot at 94+ one day.
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4/26/2009 - ludwigbpm wrote: 92 Points
Dégustation Loire
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4/25/2009 - danstrings wrote: 92 Points
Bacar Chie -- showing absolutley great, the nose was just mesmerizing. Loaded with exotic chocolate cherry spices and a great minerality.
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4/25/2009 - Villon wrote: 90 Points
Très beau, mais trop jeune, encore fermé malgré 2 h de carafe. À réessayer dans 5 ans (2014).
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3/14/2009 - danstrings wrote: 91 Points
Chris' dinner with the gang -- A great Cab Franc, sleek and deep, loaded with tarry licorice, earth, mineral, and a touch of violet incense.
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3/3/2009 - unknownwine wrote: 93 Points
Nose of dark fruit and some cranberry on the nose, and even a bit of orange peel. The body is quite full and sweet cranberries and plums dominate. The middle has some nice dark chocolate and it finishes with more of the cranberries and dark fruits. A very complex, and something out of the ordinary.
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2/18/2009 - danstrings wrote: 92 Points
Awesome, just as tasted at VVW, Rob's Top Chef... Loaded with oozing dark fruit and lip smacking tannins. So sleek and licoricey, explodes from the glass with ultra ripe black fruit and crushed asphalt. Wow!
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2/18/2009 - danstrings wrote: 92 Points
Tasted at VVW -- wow, exploding with red licorice, crushed asphalt, menthol and espresso. A slight mustiness on the palate, but more a wet, warm earth thing that would be great with food.
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3/15/2008 - Ben Andersen wrote:
Third time I've had the 2005 Dioterie. Very dark color. Aromas of dark fruit, cocoa and light oak. On the palate, big flavors of dark fruit, tobacco and mocha. Huge structure. A monster Chinon. Wow. Looking forward to seeing how this ages compared to the '89 and '90, which I treid last year and with which I was very impressed. Note: tasted side by side with the 2005 Varennes du Grand Clos bottling, which was much more typical for Chinon - textbook stuff, compared to the flashier, bigger, juicier Dioterie.
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3/8/2008 - 5laton wrote:
Loire Valley Reds at SFWTC (San Francisco Wine Trading Company): Somewhat oaky nose, with cassis, cherry. Juicy acidity, but this seems more primary and less structured than previous tastings of this wine. Also showing more sweet oak than i remember. The previous bottle tasted had been open 24 hours, however, and this bottle only 20 minutes. A little confusing, but i am pretty confident in its long-term potential.
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3/8/2008 - drwine2001 wrote:
Now this one was freakishly black--it just ain't natural for Cab Franc to look like Syrah. Intense blackberry fruit on the nose. Ripe but too dense and brutally tannic to enjoy now. This seems overextracted and I fear for the balance over time. Of all the '05 Rhone, Burgundy, and Loire reds I have tasted to date, the tannins in this one struck me as being most out of whack.
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2/28/2008 - jwwinec wrote:
The nose is absolutely beautiful and promises great things - it is deep, rich, and perfumed. This is almost too punchy on the palate to really enjoy right now, but not quite if you are in the right mood.
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2/23/2008 - 5laton wrote:
2005 Chinon (Joguet, Alliet, Olek-Mery) at Vineyardgate (Millbrae, CA): Lushly ripe nose of red berry liquor. Remarkably dense and rounded in the mouth, with lots of delicious cured tobacco and ripe berries, very expansive on the midpalate. Turns super tannic on the finish, with toothcoating astringency. There's definitely some oak present, but it's mostly buried in the extract. A real beast that will need some time to settle down. $39
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