In line with my notes of 6/29/2021 and 5/17/2021. On a side note: one of my dinner companions, who never really likes red wine, found this one quite enjoyable (so much so that he asked to buy one from me for a dinner party he is hosting soon).
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Initially, it almost seems as if this wine is trying to hide its light under a bushel. While the nose does not jump out at you, aromas of dried currant and herbs waft from the glass infused with notes of cigar box, saddle leather, pleasant earth, and an appealing hint of barnyard funk. All the same elements from the nose manifest themselves on the palate in pleasing proportions of aged savoriness. For a 22 year-old wine, there is deceptively more tannin here than initially apparent, but these tannins are refined and subtle--like ultra-fine oak sawdust. After a gentle decanting of about an hour, the wine finally began to display secondary and tertiary characteristics ultimately manifesting as savory fruit, sweet herbs, and cigar humidor with just a hint of astringency as it heads into medium-long but satisfying finish. Drink now if you are still holding, but definitely decant before serving.
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Ninety-minute decant. Nearly identical to my note of 5/17/2021 but the nose seemed to have more red fruit than my last experience. Still outstanding, and like that earlier bottle it did throw some sediment and had more caked to the bottle. Really drinking perfectly!
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Ninety-minute decant through a screened funnel. Sediment was caked to the bottle and some more was strained out. During decant, wine was aromatic: dark fruit and wet slate. In the glass, wine was clear; still fairly dark with no bricking towards the rim. Nose of blackberries with leaves, stones and some forest floor. In the mouth, the wine was smooth: tannins and oak completely integrated. Dark fruits, a little minerality and a hint of vanilla creme on the medium finish. Wine did not fade throughout the meal and was just as good more than 2 hours after our first sip (3 and 1/2 hours after decanting). Wonderful wine!
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Still one of the better left bank 98's that's not a First Growth, just pluggin' along with a solid Bordeaux foundation and good secondary development. At 23, drinks more like 15. Has outlasted a lot of bigger names.
Pnp with dinner at home. Was hoping for a surprise but not expecting one as I have found Haut Bergey to have too much oak for my taste in the past. I recall drinking 2000/2006/2007/2009/2010 without being too impressed in the context of the respective vintage. 1998 was of course a much better vintage for Graves than the rest of the left bank, and this is my kind of food wine. Still a fairly dark garnet in the glass, forest floor and dark fruit on the nose, this wonderful freshness on the palate, oh, how I miss those 12.5% alcohol in my Bordeaux of recent years. Oak has been perfectly absorbed, and the tannins are equally well integrated. Short to medium finish - but does it really matter when you are reaching out for the next sip already?
89-90 pnp, close if not at its prime. Nice aged character, some very refined dark floral notes emerged half way into the bottle, some dark fruit and a little of the aged Bordeaux character you expect. Not quite as much tobacco, earth or pepper as other 98s I've had, but showed well and very good QPR as previously stated. Just a delicious and perfectly aged Bordeaux.
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The wine drank perfectly upon opening but seemed a bit tired when we got it into the glass an hour later (didn't decant). Hopefully just a less-than-great bottle, as others have been exemplary.
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Sadly our last bottle, I wish I had bought another case. Best QPR I can remember. That said, it probably only has another year or so before it goes into decline, so drink up.
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Labour Day at Domaine Derek. Pop and poured. Drank over 1 hour. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of graphite, earth, blackberries, blackcurrant, leather. Developed. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium- alcohol (12.5%), resolved medium+ tannins, medium+ body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of bell peppers, blackcurrant, blackberries, black cherries, graphite, some cassis. Long finish. Good quality. Straight up Bordeaux. Not a lot of intensity, though fruit still hanging in there. Drink up and enjoy.
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20 years old but still going strong. Bought a case for a song and this was the best of the lot. Good solid bordeaux from a very good year in graves. Fruit was starting to recede but tannins were still present. Hints of leather and forest floor. Lovely
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Lots of sediment. Definitely needs decanting. A little light on the mid palate but some nice fruit left and overall a terrific bargain for the 20 dollar price. Still has a couple of years left.
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A very good and now very mature Graves bdx enjoyed at a charity fund raising dinner at Fourk in Hickory NC with good vino friends Sandy Porter & Malinda Chamberlain. Good out of the bottle - just a short decant will probably do. A very good QPR wine at the average CT price. Dark purple, soft, good mouth feel, medium bodied, relatively short aftertaste and oak and tannins very well balanced - would recommend starting to drink up holdings soon, soft enough that this probably does not have too much time left before beginning to lose ground. Muted nose of dark fruit and vanilla with flavors of dark fruit, cassis, earthy mushroom and an unexpected blast of lighter red cherry on the late palate. Definitely recommend this wine.
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Red with black center. Cedar, plum, black currant, and charcoal on nose and palate. No flaws, funk, or rough edges, but also not distinctive or memorable.
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Tuesday Night Double Blind <$40: Dark core, chocolate, dark garnet rim; deep dark fruit, black currant, dusty, cedar, leather, slight funk, spice; similar on palate but lighter texture and better acid than nose suggests, firm dark cherry, plum, mushroom, gravel, good structure, firm tannin; not bad especially considering price.
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A very pleasant wine with aromas of red and black fruits. There was a certain stony and sous bois aroma to it too. Much better than the last experience with this wine. Must be drunk with food. With food, the fruits on the palate becomes defined and full. A good, well made and very nice casual wine.
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Really interesting. Totally ready to drink, secondary characteristics galore. Not complex; however there's a little extra lift to the finish that makes you realize you're drinking something a cut above. Like: it had enough muscle to make it interesting when the fruit dies down, and it's got enough to extend the finish, too. Great experience for $25.
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This little beauty is drinking very nicely now. Wet stone, earth, and cedar notes. Brickish hue reflecting the age. Integrated tannis but still good acidity. Great QPR. Will have to hold my later vintages of this wine if this is indicative of how it ages.
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Really good! Smokey, tobacco box, damp asphalt flavors supported by soft tannins and fruit. Beautiful dark color, clearly held up well. Enjoy this great value!
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A low scoring wine back in the day but aged beautifully for tonight. I love an aged Bordeaux but can't afford the 1st growths at this age so I'll just call this the poor mans Bordeaux, and I'm perfectly fine with that. Nose is mostly smoke and leather with slight hints of cherry and plums. Still some cherry and maybe black currant on the palate along with tobacco and tar. Acid and tannins have basically disappeared, maybe the only flaw I can find. 92pts.
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Dark medium appearance. Some browning around the edge. Tar, cigar box, cassis, blackcurrant, quite dark and brooding. Nice fruit profile immediately giving way to vanilla mid-palate and mouth wateringly long finish.
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Dark red through and through, though clumping sendiment showing signs of age; dried cherry, wet forest floor, baking spice, tobacco on the nose; on the palate the flavors are muted and underripe, cedar and earthy flavors are coming through.
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A deep, dark red. No bricking. Graphite on the nose with a hint of crushed roses. Pleasant drinking, if a bit simple. Was appreciated by the group for what it is - a nicely aged Bordeaux that one drinks at the office pantry whilst waiting for the night shift to start.
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The nose was pretty earthy and had a slightly bitter/sourish unripe fruit aroma. The palate still had quite thick, heavy tannins and needs to be decanted. There was some leather and muskiness with fading berries. The finish was medium with a slight sourish/tangy aftertaste. Quite a pleasant wine but is really in need of food to go with.
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nose -funky nose, manure, decomposing dark cherry, hints of balsamic mouth - complex, savory sweet, plum, hints of soy, nice acidity, and overall lively. proudly poured for guest who were impressed
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I agree with fat lips below. The wine is indeed delicious. It is fully mature. Beautiful acidity, plum, blackberry, blueberry, earthy, forest floor, long and pleasant finish. Couldn't put glass down. Lovely!
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A very delicious wine showing its age by a tinge of orange around the rim and a palate reminiscent of prune, raisin, dried cherry, plum, balsamic notes, and hints of forest floor and mushroom. Its pleasing acidity, well integrated tannins, and a smooth finish make it a good candidate for drinking it with or without food. And better yet, it is ready to drink now.
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This is in a very nice place right now. Medium bodied, well integrated, lovely red fruit. Quite amazing how fresh and youthful this still is. I'd drink this now and over the next 2 years.
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Moden og velutvikla, støvete nese med svisker og kirsebær. bløtt anslag, moden og velutviklet frukt, men relativt slank og balansert. Knapt et lite tannin igjen.
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Did not show as much aging as previous bottles so only a little bricking around the edges. Once again, a massive amount of black fruits on the nose, with some leather also coming through. Tannins have largely faded by now, and whilst some acidity at the start, did fade with some air. Again, loads of sediment so worth decanting (possibly even twice).
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Upon opening wine smelled funky and earthy. First taste, tight, acidic and tannic. Decanted and tasted again after about an hour and the wine opened up nicely. Berries, coffee and hint of molasses are present. Tannins very mellow but present and possibly will sustain the wine for another two to three years. As previous reviews, definitely an old World wine. Very good.
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If you like Old World Wines then you will enjoy this one. If you prefer New World Wines, then you will be better off with something else. I did not decant this wine. Instead, I opened it up and let it sit for 60 to 90 minutes. This wine has a wonderful mix of earth, graphite and pencil shavings mixed with red fruit and currant with perhaps some cedar mixed in. The wine can probably be consumed for another 4 years, but why wait? 16 years old and really nice right now.
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Opened for an hour. Secondary and a little dose of welcomed funk, she also exhibits dark chocolate, blackberry, clove and earthy qualities. Silky and long, then suave throughout. Drinking very well at this point. I am reminded of how much I adore Graves wines from '98. Drink now - 2018.
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Appearance - Clear, bright, deep ruby core with flecks of garnet on the rim of the glass.
Nose - Clean, with medium (+) intensity. This wine has relatively mild Brettanomyces aromas, particularly animal & farmyard scents. Beneath lies a pungent black pepper & tobacco aroma tied in with sweeter clove spice. Primary fruit flavours of baked black cherries & blackcurrants are faint, however present. This wine has fully developed.
Palate - Dry, medium acidity, medium (+) tannins, medium alcohol, medium body with a medium (+) flavour intensity. Flavours are more mature focused than youthful. Classic oaky cedar & smoke flavours run through this wine. Some tabacoo and leathery characters linked with smokey baked black cherry fruits. The tannins are noticeably fine & dusty, almost of a charred sawdust quality. Factoring in the wines overall components, leads the palate to a medium finish.
Quality Level - Very good quality overall, however the lowish alcohol content vs. medium body & intensity of flavour could be more complex & concentrated with a longer finish.
Assessment of readiness for drinking - Drink now: not suitable for ageing or further ageing.
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In the glass this was purple with orange and brown bricking. An incredible amount of black fruits on the nose and a very smooth taste with fully integrated tannins.
Make sure you decant or filter as significant sediment which does add some bitterness.
Will not get better but has a number of years ahead.
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Pretty good wine that's in a good spot of it's evolution for current enjoyment. Nose is surprisingly expressive with lots of dark currant and earthy notes. Smooth and well balanced on the palate with nicely integrated tannins. $30 price tag is probably at the upper limit of what I would consider a fair price for this wine.
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Cedar, leather, tobacco. This is mature and probably won't get any better, but it is drinking well right now and appears to have a bit of life left in it.
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9/23/2022 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Fully mature fruit, leather and farm smells. Cleans up well when decanted through a coffee filter.
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8/17/2022 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 94 Points
Identical notes to my recent notes.
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7/7/2022 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 90 Points
One-hour decant through a screened and aerating funnel. Some sediment. Wine continues to be strong as described in my notes in 2021.
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10/6/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 90 Points
Completely consistent with my notes from 9/11/2021, 6/29/2021 and 5/17/2021. Perfectly aged Bordeaux!
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9/11/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 90 Points
In line with my notes of 6/29/2021 and 5/17/2021. On a side note: one of my dinner companions, who never really likes red wine, found this one quite enjoyable (so much so that he asked to buy one from me for a dinner party he is hosting soon).
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7/20/2021 - jwhiggins Likes this wine: 91 Points
Initially, it almost seems as if this wine is trying to hide its light under a bushel. While the nose does not jump out at you, aromas of dried currant and herbs waft from the glass infused with notes of cigar box, saddle leather, pleasant earth, and an appealing hint of barnyard funk. All the same elements from the nose manifest themselves on the palate in pleasing proportions of aged savoriness. For a 22 year-old wine, there is deceptively more tannin here than initially apparent, but these tannins are refined and subtle--like ultra-fine oak sawdust. After a gentle decanting of about an hour, the wine finally began to display secondary and tertiary characteristics ultimately manifesting as savory fruit, sweet herbs, and cigar humidor with just a hint of astringency as it heads into medium-long but satisfying finish. Drink now if you are still holding, but definitely decant before serving.
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6/29/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 90 Points
Identical serving conditions and tasting experience as my first note of 5/17/2021. Wonderful wine.
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6/15/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ninety-minute decant. Nearly identical to my note of 5/17/2021 but the nose seemed to have more red fruit than my last experience. Still outstanding, and like that earlier bottle it did throw some sediment and had more caked to the bottle. Really drinking perfectly!
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5/17/2021 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ninety-minute decant through a screened funnel. Sediment was caked to the bottle and some more was strained out. During decant, wine was aromatic: dark fruit and wet slate. In the glass, wine was clear; still fairly dark with no bricking towards the rim. Nose of blackberries with leaves, stones and some forest floor. In the mouth, the wine was smooth: tannins and oak completely integrated. Dark fruits, a little minerality and a hint of vanilla creme on the medium finish. Wine did not fade throughout the meal and was just as good more than 2 hours after our first sip (3 and 1/2 hours after decanting). Wonderful wine!
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1/20/2021 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Still one of the better left bank 98's that's not a First Growth, just pluggin' along with a solid Bordeaux foundation and good secondary development. At 23, drinks more like 15. Has outlasted a lot of bigger names.
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8/10/2020 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pnp with dinner at home. Was hoping for a surprise but not expecting one as I have found Haut Bergey to have too much oak for my taste in the past. I recall drinking 2000/2006/2007/2009/2010 without being too impressed in the context of the respective vintage. 1998 was of course a much better vintage for Graves than the rest of the left bank, and this is my kind of food wine. Still a fairly dark garnet in the glass, forest floor and dark fruit on the nose, this wonderful freshness on the palate, oh, how I miss those 12.5% alcohol in my Bordeaux of recent years. Oak has been perfectly absorbed, and the tannins are equally well integrated. Short to medium finish - but does it really matter when you are reaching out for the next sip already?
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7/31/2020 - klezman wrote:
Sadly my last one of these. Still doing quite nicely.
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11/28/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:
A very good bottle. Getting a little long in the tooth but not yet tired.
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9/16/2019 - JuliannaDHS wrote: 89 Points
Another enjoyable bottle but as before, lacking the funk I expect and enjoy in an aged Bordeaux.
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8/15/2019 - JuliannaDHS wrote: 88 Points
A nice enough aged Bdx but lacking funk and complexity in this bottle.
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8/10/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:
A better bottle than last April's, but drying up and not long for this world.
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4/21/2019 - Vino Loco Does not like this wine:
Garbage wine. Do not buy again.
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4/16/2019 - Neecies wrote:
Shows deceptively well on first pour but declines into soy sauce territory on the second. These are done, drink up.
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12/5/2018 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 90 Points
89-90 pnp, close if not at its prime. Nice aged character, some very refined dark floral notes emerged half way into the bottle, some dark fruit and a little of the aged Bordeaux character you expect. Not quite as much tobacco, earth or pepper as other 98s I've had, but showed well and very good QPR as previously stated. Just a delicious and perfectly aged Bordeaux.
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11/23/2018 - Neecies Likes this wine:
The wine drank perfectly upon opening but seemed a bit tired when we got it into the glass an hour later (didn't decant). Hopefully just a less-than-great bottle, as others have been exemplary.
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11/16/2018 - FLXHoneymoon Likes this wine:
Sadly our last bottle, I wish I had bought another case. Best QPR I can remember. That said, it probably only has another year or so before it goes into decline, so drink up.
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9/23/2018 - FLXHoneymoon Likes this wine:
Based on this bottle it's really time to drink up. Dried fruit and earth. Nice wine and has held its own quite well but probably time to drink.
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6/22/2018 - klezman wrote:
Both fresh fruit and lots of aged character. In a great place, with a long finish, and great aromas.
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5/1/2018 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 90 Points
Labour Day at Domaine Derek. Pop and poured. Drank over 1 hour.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of graphite, earth, blackberries, blackcurrant, leather. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium- alcohol (12.5%), resolved medium+ tannins, medium+ body. Medium flavour intensity, with flavours of bell peppers, blackcurrant, blackberries, black cherries, graphite, some cassis. Long finish.
Good quality. Straight up Bordeaux. Not a lot of intensity, though fruit still hanging in there. Drink up and enjoy.
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5/1/2018 - asparagus Likes this wine: 91 Points
20 years old but still going strong. Bought a case for a song and this was the best of the lot. Good solid bordeaux from a very good year in graves. Fruit was starting to recede but tannins were still present. Hints of leather and forest floor. Lovely
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4/19/2018 - FLXHoneymoon Likes this wine:
Lots of sediment. Definitely needs decanting. A little light on the mid palate but some nice fruit left and overall a terrific bargain for the 20 dollar price. Still has a couple of years left.
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4/19/2018 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Very good. Fully mature, holding well here.
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4/6/2018 - prof b wrote:
same as the previous two bottles, classic bordeaux. not terribly complex but still scratches that itch.
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12/31/2017 - soyhead wrote:
quintessential bordeaux in its drinking window
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12/21/2017 - JuliannaDHS Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nice fruity and funky Bordeaux. This has the perfect patina of age; aged, not old!
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10/14/2017 - asparagus wrote: 87 Points
Nicely resolved. Pleasant Bdx for late night drinking.
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5/18/2017 - asparagus wrote: 87 Points
Solid wine, solid value.
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3/23/2017 - jmc167@me.com Likes this wine: 89 Points
PNP - nose of carmel, cherry and strawberry. Easy drinking, extremely light on palate.
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11/23/2016 - Davidwagar wrote: 88 Points
Past it's prime but opened up after a couple of hours.
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11/4/2016 - asparagus wrote: 88 Points
Nicely resolved. Not terribly complex but I nice drink.
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10/20/2016 - redz wrote: 89 Points
solid bordeaux, perhaps a little tired.
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6/15/2016 - ikkaariainen Likes this wine: 90 Points
A very good and now very mature Graves bdx enjoyed at a charity fund raising dinner at Fourk in Hickory NC with good vino friends Sandy Porter & Malinda Chamberlain. Good out of the bottle - just a short decant will probably do. A very good QPR wine at the average CT price. Dark purple, soft, good mouth feel, medium bodied, relatively short aftertaste and oak and tannins very well balanced - would recommend starting to drink up holdings soon, soft enough that this probably does not have too much time left before beginning to lose ground. Muted nose of dark fruit and vanilla with flavors of dark fruit, cassis, earthy mushroom and an unexpected blast of lighter red cherry on the late palate. Definitely recommend this wine.
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6/14/2016 - texanoblues wrote:
Similar to bottle on 3/30/16. 88-90pts.
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4/17/2016 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Plum, cedar, mineral and mushrooms. Shows very well for the vintage. Tasty!
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4/16/2016 - David J Cooper wrote: 90 Points
Bright medium red. Juicy red fruit, balsam and purple flowers. Delicious cassis flavours and a balanced finish.
Very tasty, hard to pick it as a Bordeaux.
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3/30/2016 - texanoblues wrote: 87 Points
Red with black center. Cedar, plum, black currant, and charcoal on nose and palate. No flaws, funk, or rough edges, but also not distinctive or memorable.
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2/23/2016 - Rezy13 wrote:
Tuesday Night Double Blind <$40: Dark core, chocolate, dark garnet rim; deep dark fruit, black currant, dusty, cedar, leather, slight funk, spice; similar on palate but lighter texture and better acid than nose suggests, firm dark cherry, plum, mushroom, gravel, good structure, firm tannin; not bad especially considering price.
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2/7/2016 - Fateful Destiny Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nice bottle; nothing spectacular, but a good aged Bordeaux. For approximately $30, well worth it.
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1/3/2016 - Nicholas81 wrote: 88 Points
A very pleasant wine with aromas of red and black fruits. There was a certain stony and sous bois aroma to it too. Much better than the last experience with this wine. Must be drunk with food. With food, the fruits on the palate becomes defined and full. A good, well made and very nice casual wine.
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12/24/2015 - ledocq Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really interesting. Totally ready to drink, secondary characteristics galore. Not complex; however there's a little extra lift to the finish that makes you realize you're drinking something a cut above. Like: it had enough muscle to make it interesting when the fruit dies down, and it's got enough to extend the finish, too. Great experience for $25.
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12/13/2015 - ledocq wrote: flawed
Heat damaged.
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12/13/2015 - prof b wrote: 88 Points
Right in its prime drinking window. Dark fruits meet graphite in this mature, if simple bordeaux
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12/6/2015 - scott w wrote: flawed
This bottle seemed off way too much bret..flawed
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11/27/2015 - klezman wrote:
Earthy, leafy, tobacco, cassis, great pairing with tritip.
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11/23/2015 - soyhead wrote:
Lovely mature Bordeaux, paired great with steak
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11/7/2015 - Chateau du Fey 1994 wrote: 91 Points
This little beauty is drinking very nicely now. Wet stone, earth, and cedar notes. Brickish hue reflecting the age. Integrated tannis but still good acidity. Great QPR. Will have to hold my later vintages of this wine if this is indicative of how it ages.
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9/20/2015 - Jgallup wrote: 92 Points
Really good! Smokey, tobacco box, damp asphalt flavors supported by soft tannins and fruit. Beautiful dark color, clearly held up well. Enjoy this great value!
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9/16/2015 - Whistler Whino Likes this wine: 92 Points
A low scoring wine back in the day but aged beautifully for tonight. I love an aged Bordeaux but can't afford the 1st growths at this age so I'll just call this the poor mans Bordeaux, and I'm perfectly fine with that. Nose is mostly smoke and leather with slight hints of cherry and plums. Still some cherry and maybe black currant on the palate along with tobacco and tar. Acid and tannins have basically disappeared, maybe the only flaw I can find. 92pts.
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8/30/2015 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 90 Points
Dark medium appearance. Some browning around the edge. Tar, cigar box, cassis, blackcurrant, quite dark and brooding. Nice fruit profile immediately giving way to vanilla mid-palate and mouth wateringly long finish.
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7/10/2015 - 82Latour wrote: 88 Points
Dark red through and through, though clumping sendiment showing signs of age; dried cherry, wet forest floor, baking spice, tobacco on the nose; on the palate the flavors are muted and underripe, cedar and earthy flavors are coming through.
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7/9/2015 - asparagus wrote: 88 Points
A deep, dark red. No bricking. Graphite on the nose with a hint of crushed roses. Pleasant drinking, if a bit simple. Was appreciated by the group for what it is - a nicely aged Bordeaux that one drinks at the office pantry whilst waiting for the night shift to start.
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7/6/2015 - Nicholas81 wrote: 85 Points
The nose was pretty earthy and had a slightly bitter/sourish unripe fruit aroma. The palate still had quite thick, heavy tannins and needs to be decanted. There was some leather and muskiness with fading berries. The finish was medium with a slight sourish/tangy aftertaste. Quite a pleasant wine but is really in need of food to go with.
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6/21/2015 - soyhead wrote:
nose -funky nose, manure, decomposing dark cherry, hints of balsamic
mouth - complex, savory sweet, plum, hints of soy, nice acidity, and overall lively. proudly poured for guest who were impressed
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5/31/2015 - nic.fcn wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 2 1/2 hours, became quite smooth and very enjoyable to drink. This definitely needs to breathe. And be drunk his year.
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4/26/2015 - Hawk94 wrote: 90 Points
I agree with fat lips below. The wine is indeed delicious. It is fully mature. Beautiful acidity, plum, blackberry, blueberry, earthy, forest floor, long and pleasant finish. Couldn't put glass down. Lovely!
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4/14/2015 - Fat Lips Likes this wine: 89 Points
A very delicious wine showing its age by a tinge of orange around the rim and a palate reminiscent of prune, raisin, dried cherry, plum, balsamic notes, and hints of forest floor and mushroom. Its pleasing acidity, well integrated tannins, and a smooth finish make it a good candidate for drinking it with or without food. And better yet, it is ready to drink now.
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4/9/2015 - pituitaryglenn Likes this wine: 91 Points
Same as previous note. Lovely. graceful and wearing its age very well, like a Juliette Binoche. Truly charming after 45 mins in the glass.
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3/8/2015 - pituitaryglenn wrote: 90 Points
This is in a very nice place right now. Medium bodied, well integrated, lovely red fruit. Quite amazing how fresh and youthful this still is. I'd drink this now and over the next 2 years.
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2/27/2015 - Tom Myers Likes this wine: 92 Points
Needs 30+ minutes in the decanter and then wow! Great QPR!!
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6/27/2014 - .M. wrote: 86 Points
Moden og velutvikla, støvete nese med svisker og kirsebær. bløtt anslag, moden og velutviklet frukt, men relativt slank og balansert. Knapt et lite tannin igjen.
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6/22/2014 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 89 Points
Did not show as much aging as previous bottles so only a little bricking around the edges. Once again, a massive amount of black fruits on the nose, with some leather also coming through. Tannins have largely faded by now, and whilst some acidity at the start, did fade with some air. Again, loads of sediment so worth decanting (possibly even twice).
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5/4/2014 - savoy1 wrote:
Upon opening wine smelled funky and earthy. First taste, tight, acidic and tannic. Decanted and tasted again after about an hour and the wine opened up nicely. Berries, coffee and hint of molasses are present. Tannins very mellow but present and possibly will sustain the wine for another two to three years. As previous reviews, definitely an old World wine. Very good.
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4/24/2014 - VinoServant wrote: 88 Points
If you like Old World Wines then you will enjoy this one. If you prefer New World Wines, then you will be better off with something else. I did not decant this wine. Instead, I opened it up and let it sit for 60 to 90 minutes. This wine has a wonderful mix of earth, graphite and pencil shavings mixed with red fruit and currant with perhaps some cedar mixed in. The wine can probably be consumed for another 4 years, but why wait? 16 years old and really nice right now.
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4/21/2014 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened for an hour. Secondary and a little dose of welcomed funk, she also exhibits dark chocolate, blackberry, clove and earthy qualities. Silky and long, then suave throughout. Drinking very well at this point. I am reminded of how much I adore Graves wines from '98. Drink now - 2018.
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4/20/2014 - JohnB85 Likes this wine: 84 Points
Appearance - Clear, bright, deep ruby core with flecks of garnet on the rim of the glass.
Nose - Clean, with medium (+) intensity. This wine has relatively mild Brettanomyces aromas, particularly animal & farmyard scents. Beneath lies a pungent black pepper & tobacco aroma tied in with sweeter clove spice. Primary fruit flavours of baked black cherries & blackcurrants are faint, however present. This wine has fully developed.
Palate - Dry, medium acidity, medium (+) tannins, medium alcohol, medium body with a medium (+) flavour intensity. Flavours are more mature focused than youthful. Classic oaky cedar & smoke flavours run through this wine. Some tabacoo and leathery characters linked with smokey baked black cherry fruits. The tannins are noticeably fine & dusty, almost of a charred sawdust quality. Factoring in the wines overall components, leads the palate to a medium finish.
Quality Level - Very good quality overall, however the lowish alcohol content vs. medium body & intensity of flavour could be more complex & concentrated with a longer finish.
Assessment of readiness for drinking - Drink now: not suitable for ageing or further ageing.
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3/12/2014 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drank with Chong Min.
In the glass this was purple with orange and brown bricking. An incredible amount of black fruits on the nose and a very smooth taste with fully integrated tannins.
Make sure you decant or filter as significant sediment which does add some bitterness.
Will not get better but has a number of years ahead.
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3/4/2014 - Rob MacKay wrote: 89 Points
Pretty good wine that's in a good spot of it's evolution for current enjoyment. Nose is surprisingly expressive with lots of dark currant and earthy notes. Smooth and well balanced on the palate with nicely integrated tannins. $30 price tag is probably at the upper limit of what I would consider a fair price for this wine.
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2/15/2014 - gnrclarke wrote: flawed
Sadly this bottle was corked just like the one before.
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12/29/2013 - parkersdad wrote:
Very good bottle. Full soft fruit. Lovely Bord aroma.
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12/28/2013 - gnrclarke wrote: flawed
Corked.
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12/28/2013 - gnrclarke wrote: 90 Points
Cedar, leather, tobacco. This is mature and probably won't get any better, but it is drinking well right now and appears to have a bit of life left in it.
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5/8/2013 - parkersdad wrote: 90 Points
Very good. Complex nose and good weight. Slightly tannic finish Exc choice with rib eye steak.
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6/5/2008 - cigar52 wrote: 85 Points
cork had numerous runners (properly cellered). nose is wonderful and color has not turned brickish. Otherwise not much is left of this wine.
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3/24/2003 - cigar52 wrote: 87 Points
cork was inferior quality today - wine was a little off from what I remembered.. still a nice light cab based wine
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9/27/2002 - cigar52 wrote: 88 Points
good value P.L.--- $17.99 at winex.com
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4/30/2002 - cigar52 wrote: 90 Points
very well balanced.. should have a few years aging potential...mellow with a moderate lingering taste
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