I think this wine is at its second youth period, after a dull time. It's simply delicious! This Chateau got promoted to Grand Cru Classé in 2006 and it deserves it. An hour in the decanter. 🕐 Strong, but typical aromas for 20 years old wine. A lot of tobacco, prune, smoke, leather, but wait...there are also sweet notes of plum, black cherry, vanilla, black chocolate. Let's go to the taste. Powerful juice! Again a lot of tobacco and prune, but also black coffee, black tea (!), plum, chocolate and vanilla. Unfortunately the finish is too spicy and very dry (why?!) It it very long though. Nice tannins and acidity ( the wine has a few years of good life 😎) 2004 got 88 points according to the WA Vintage Guide. Unpopular with the critics when it was released as a primeur wine, 2004 has now proved itself to be of very good quality. Vinous - 93 Jeff Leve - 92 RP - 91 IWC - 90 Jean - Marc Quarin - 89
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This still tasted quite young at 20 years old. Vibrant red and black fruit, slight tannins, nicely balanced. Not too complex though, but it’s a nice midweek claret (B+/A-).
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Note: I use the recommended scale, so 85 represents a very good wine.
A bit from memory -- forgot to enter the TN upon drinking. Decent claret, although not exceptional. Opened up a bit through the bottle, but it was lacking a bit of depth and smoothness/roundness. Maybe a bit past prime?
I was not as impressed as some others. Such is life.
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From 375cc, sadly my last btl of this. It has been 6+ years since I have checked in with one of these. This is truly a very lovely and nuanced St Emilion at this point. As before, this punches way above its weight. Classic plummy fruit, cocoa, tar, and thyme. Medium finish. This seems to be on a very long plateau.
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Decanted off lots of fine sediment. Gorgeous deep, rich, pure maroon colour. Rather shy nose to start that takes some coaxing and then aromas of red plum, boysenberry, cassis, fennel seed, cedar and suede unfurl. Lovely nose! Full bodied, dry and still surprisingly tannic on the palate, but good fruit extract and pitched acidity. The flavours are all deep red and black fruits, lots of black plum, a bit of bramble, charred oak, sous bois and chalk. Very smooth and nicely integrated. Finishes long, juicy and with lingering fruit. No where near past its prime. Drinking beautifully right now! Sadly, this was my last bottle.
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Stepping back a few years from the 2010 we just tried. Still very dark plummy purple with just a hint of age starting to show at the very edge. Savoury nose of spiced plums and blackberries, graphite, soft leather and a camphoric lift at the end of a deep inhale. The flavours are more spiced plums and blackberries, a bit of oakiness still, dark berry skins, graphite and chalky minerals. Full, smooth and dry in the mouth with great acidity and a final tannic grip. Nice long darkly fruited finish that tingles with acidity and tannins. Was spectacular with spiced duck breast and potatoes cooked in duck fat!! 93 points on its own; 95 points with the duck!
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Alas, my last bottle of this wine. I have enjoyed drinking these very much. The floral notes in the aroma have been one of my favorite aspects of my tasting experience for this wine. Also found nice wet earth, mineral and a bit of oak in the nose. The tart tannins on the palette were very nice, cherry, leather and a bit of pepper on the finish were the defining characteristics for me. A nice long finish. Drank this with a 2004 Grand Pontet, which I felt was just a bit below this bottle for quality.
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Classic middle-aged-Bordeaux nose; graphite, blackcurrant, a hint of leather and cigar box. Very inviting. Smooth in the mouth. Rich and dark. Some grip on the medium-length finish, but the tannins have mostly melted away. The real up-front fruit has gone too, but there isn't a great deal of obvious development in terms of aged characters. Sitting on the plateau at the moment with years of life left. Most enjoyable.
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Second Sunday Group: Geja's Cafe format (Marty's): Dark fruit, currant and earth notes. Medium-bodied with softened tannins and flavors of dark fruit, chocolate and plum. Drinking very well. 92+ pts.
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Improved from last time we had it. Good red fruit -- cherries and currants -- with smoke, tobacco and a little earth. I don't find this as mature as some do. Perhaps it will drink a little better with some more time?
Only the third vintage for the new owners, and it is obvious that things continue improving here. Medium bodied, and soft in texture, the dark red fruits offer the right levels of sweetness and freshness. The smoke, tobacco, fennel, and earthy notes add to the fruits and to the fun. However, this is fully mature and should be consumed before the wine hits 20 years of age.
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Drank this wine with steak after a brief decant. The fruit was still all there, and no amber edge. Keeping it any longer would be a waste—probably ought to drink the rest of the case up over the next year. But this is a fine example of a well-made St. Emilion. Delicious!
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Bon! le nez a change en cours de route, au depart fruits rouges et un peu de cuir, par la suite il a developpé des arômes de de poivrons verts. en bouche toujours la touché de poivrons qui s'est installée mais les fruits rouges compotes sont toujours presents.
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Perfect fill and cork. 100 year cork by the looks of it! Lots of sediment. Very dark, opaque, muted red black almost right to the rim. No trace of purple left. Cedar, saddle, dried red plum skins and camphor. Savoury but not meaty. Structured for the long haul. Very dry, tart acidity, tannins still quite apparent. Very smooth nonetheless. A very food friendly wine - not a sipper. Still needs at least 5 years. No rush on this one.
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Dark red and nice nose, but this is a little one-dimensional. I let this one breathe in hopes of coaxing out a little more. But I'm really starting to believe this is little more than a nice little steak wine.
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This wine really seems to be at its peak now. Great balance and at the point were complex tertiary notes of forest floor etc. Are still counterbalanced by a lively fruit core. Plenty of toasty notes still evident but these are now in harmony with the rest of the wine. This was great value bought en primeur.
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A very pleasant surprise on how well this showed tonight especially that this was not stored properly. I thought the palate was quite youthful and could use 5-10 years. Very nice!
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Dark cherry red color without much leg. Drinking this with the understanding that this vintage for st Emilion is past peak. I tasted it after decanting for 1/2 hr - it was a mess: harsh, acidic, paasable dark berry nose. After 2 hours of decanting, the wine is coming together better, but still harsh at first sip. The nose is a tad more together with more cocoa than jam. Med to full body, heavier tannin. Think this is as good as it will get = blah. I do not recommend this vintage.
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Sipped for an hour, then it started to open nicely. Currant and cassis on the nose, prominent anise and cherries on the palate. A pleasant but peppery 30 second finish. Nice wine!
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From 375cc. Quite different than my memory of this wine from 2 years ago. Nice cocoa and dark plum, but not nearly as jammy and international as I recall. Pretty and very well made. Surprisingly long finish. This is drinking above its breed.
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Showed incredibly well tonight. Directly after opening, very intense nose of dark fruit, cedar, and a touch of oak. On the palate still quite youthful with good acidity. Flavors of dark cherry, blackberry. Loved it.
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Decanted 1.5 hours before service. In the glass, red with auburn tints at the rim, fading to dark opaque red at the core. On the nose, currants, graphite, oak, and plums. On the palate, currants, cherries, mint, cedar, and a rough rustic texture on the palate from unresolved tannins. I'm not sure if the tannins will ever resolve here, but the aging notes are present, and it's certainly pleasant enough to drink now.
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Mid-week get together - dinner/drinks (Peach Garden OCBC Centre): Hrmm, '04 Bords are generally supposed to be drinking already, and indeed... the few left-bank '04s that I've tried (eg. Poyferre, PC, Malescot etc) came across nice, harmonious but this FC seemed a bit backward on this night. PnP'ed, nose was of the dark-fruited profile, some dark-chocolate as well. This was still tight (but fresh), with noticeable tannins. A broad wine, with some graphite and the dark-fruits continuing onto the palate. Should definitely be better with some more time in bottle...
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Past peak, beginning its decline. Very soft, fully mature, with subtle flavors and fully resolved tannins and EtOH. Still manages a kick here and there with food, but on its own, just a gentle if unremarkable wine. Drink up if you've got them, I doubt it's getting better from here. 14,0% abv
Slow-0 2 hours, served non-blind.
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Quite tasty and quaffy - fully ready now - but it strikes me a bit as on the simple dilute side. Red fruity with as others have noted a cherry note throughout. Pretty much what I would expect it to be.
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Either there is bottle variation, or I was extremely unlucky as it took 3 bottles to find one that showed the opulent, chocolate covered cherry, licorice and lush profile that we usually expect from Fleur Cardinale.
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Day 1-slow O for an hr and then a taste. Dark garnet in color with a faint plum smell on the nose. Taste.....very tight and tannic. Seemed to get better with a bit of red berry fruit. Decided to cork up and try again on. Day 2-sort of a similar taste....the tannins are still there. Flavor spectrum still in the tart red berry area. Guess I will try the other bottle in a couple of years.
Decanted for two hours. This was drinking beautiful tonight. Quite open with dark fruit medium acidity and fine tannins on the finish. 2004 Bordeaux are drinking well now.
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Black with a deep ruby rim. No detailed TN taken, but flavors of ripe black currant, spice, and damp earth. Full bodied on the palate with good presence and length.
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This bottle is not as good as the bottle a year ago. I am drinking this wine upon opening and it would have probably been better to double decant this morning. The color is an inky garnet. The nose is mushroom, earth and currant. The palate is loaded with graphite, glycerin, currents and black cherry. A little dry tannin still evident which is distracting but probably would have resolved if I had double decanted earlier. Quite nice for the price. The finish is long with a little heat.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Drinking really well. Blueberry and anise on the nose. Nice dark fruit and some earth on the palate. I wish I had more. I have enjoyed a lot of the 04's lately. I think the vintage is surprising to the upside.
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From 375. This is my first experience with this wine since 3 btls I had back in 07/08. Very nice, cleanly made and internationally styled St Emilion. Lacking in edge and character perhaps, but warm ripe fruits and nice cocoa and baked plum flavors. Wood is too obvious and intrusive for my tastes. This is drinking about as good as it is going to get at the moment.
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Big, and still plenty of tannic back bone. Could use more time in bottle or a longer decant. It is not a bad wine, but it had no bordeaux like qualities to me... very california cab like. disappointing.
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A very nice claret as our English brethren (and sisters) might say. Mild and smooth, although it did need a good hour or so in a flat bottomed decanter to let the flavors out. I see no reason for extended and further cellariing.
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Better on the nose than the palate with its licorice, earth and black cherry perfume. This medium bodied, easy to like, round wine seems to be less interesting than it was a few years ago. I'd opt for drinking this over the next few years before it drops more of its fruit.
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Decanted for about an hour, but it needed more. Shut down on the palate and only started to open up towards the end of the bottle. Nice fruit and structure, but needs more time.
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Nose of plum and slightly sweet. Taste of blackberries and pepper with a balance of fruit and spice. I sense modest tannins with a small 'pop' at the end. The aftertaste is almost like butterscotch with a bit of pepper. It was intriguing to note that the intensity of the wine varied with time in the mouth moving from the front of the tongue to the back as it spent time in the mouth. This did go down over time in the glass, but peaked about 30-60 minutes after opening.
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2011 Casual Session 21 @ ES (Extra Space Boon Keng): Alcohol :: 13.5% Quite expressive on the nose, Stalky, tobacco, creme de cassis and touch if wood spice and savory. This has really good level of ripe dark fruits as well as concentration of a 2004, a little bit modern and none of us get the vintage correctly. Savory, plum, chalky, mineral, wood, quite ripe with lots of dark fruits. The acid is there for the freshness, though this is a bit simple but quite delicious. With dark chocolate at the finish.
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Splash decanted and consumed over several hours, actually shut down with air(pop and pour if opening now). Nose of oak spice, black currants and coffee. Palate was quite round, with firm fine tannins on the back end. Showing concentrated plum and black currants—quite dark fruit profile. Medium finish with cedar, mocha, and gravel. Quite a modern flair with prominent oak use, while surprisingly lacking in complexity, was still a fun foreword bdx that is drinking well now and should improve over the next few years.
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This wine continues to improve gaining in complexity and overall balance. Nice fruit, cassis spice and a bit of earthiness. Drinking well at this time. Did not decant and the last glass was the best. would recommend at least an hour decant.
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decanted for 2 hours. modern bordeaux with dark fruit, leather, and earth on the nose. this is performing well at this point with dark cherry, earth, leather on the palate with good structure.
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Popped and Poured. deep color, soft woodsy cedar and not much fruit on the nose but nice fruit on the palate. Medium to strong tannings calmed down after running through a Vinturi.
My tongue is just recovering but wife who is more accurate than me agrees. Overall very nice. It is quibbling to give points as this is still quite young but it is in the 89-91 range depending on your mood
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Dark soft fruit, good earthy tones and finishes with good acidity. Not at all an over extracted wine, but pales in comparison with the 04 Malescot I had earlier this week. A little watery and lacks depth in comparison. 89 After 3 hours it did flush out a lot, gaining weight
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A good wine but still a little tight. Dark fruit, cherries, red currant and a touch of tobacco. the decanted part showed much cedar, but we preferred the big red fruit of the undecanted version, (Open 60 minutes no decant). Best with roast chicken. Better with 1-2 years of age.
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Was honestly expecting a Parkerized wine, an extracted, tannic, hot mess considering some of the things I've heard of this Estate. Thankfully I was pleasantly surprised. The powerful aromas open up with dark chocolate covered raspberries, creme de cassis and slight licorice and menthol notes. No earth or mineral on the nose of this St. Emilion and it comes across as very ripe for an 04'. The wine enters the palate with a full, rich mouthfeel of red currant, sweet pipe tobacco, cedar and orange peel. The wine is full bodied, but it is balanced by a noticeable acidity and plenty of tannic backbone. The finish is long and lasts (and I'd hate to ape Parker on this one) an excess of 30+ seconds. This is still a little tight, but well built and definitely made to last. Despite being only 70% merlot and 20% Cab Franc, the merlot really takes center stage here, the cabs seem to only add structure. Drink it right now or don't touch it for 8-10 years. Highly recommended.
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Margaux Horizontal 2004 (Toast Bistro, San Antonio): I did not peg this as Bordeaux. Despite classic year vintage, this wine came across as a hot year production. Ripe, sweet nose of cherries, cinnamon, and figs. Ripe palate as well with cola, black cherries, earth, and hints of vanilla. Obvious ringer, but also with mineral touch and racy acidity. Thus did not think Cali., but I had written down guess of Super Tuscan. Decent tannic finish.
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2004 Margaux horizontal (Toast Bistro, San Antonio, TX): Fragrant nose, with a touch of VA and dark plumy fruit. Palate was fuller bodied, with currants and plenty of toasty oak influence. Fine acidity and chewy tannins. Mocha, smoke and toast with dried fruits on the medium length finish. Quite modern. This bottle later on turned much more plum-like with the tannins becoming more prominent. A nice right bank in a modern style that should still improve. Everyone recognized as a ringer I believe, I was leaning towards this being my Pape-Clement rather than right bank, but in retrospect the cab franc is more obvious.
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pop and pour. decanted in the glass for an hour. Dark berries and a hint of earth/leather on the nose. Finish rather short and slightly tart/green until the bottle had been open for two hours. Give it another few years.
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decanted about an hour. dark fruit on the nose with hints of earth and leather. on the palate flavors of dark cherry, earth, and tobacco. enjoyable and very good but a lot of tannin and needs a few more years in bottle.
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No decant; 62 degrees F. Deep red color with magenta rim. Primary, but there is a lot there. Cherry, currants and blackberry on the nose. Alcohol showed too from time to time, but not prominently and not consistently. Some vanilla too. Full body with a somewhat creamy texture. Good fruit; tannin quite evident (esp on finish) but not harsh. Enjoyable now, but hope it might trade some power for finesse as time goes on.
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This was the best of these to date. I double decanted this about 4 hours prior to drinking. It made a big improvement from the last two bottles of this. Very nice flavors of muted fruit, graphite and earth.
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For now. Thought this great QPR on release, but the wine is in a different place at this point. Red fruit on the nose followed by a pretty astringent palate - tip of tongue astringency. Years, and not just a few, to go.
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Black raspberries, espresso bean, licorice and cassis get you going. Opulent in texture and concentrated with sweet ripe, jammy berries, this delicious wine is already drinking well.
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Lunch at Loy Sum Juan (Murray Terrace): Very modernly styled, but with some solidly quality. This had been opened for some time and quickly decanted before serving. Even then, it was all oak at first sniff, with just waft after waft of toasty vanilla. With time, it opened up to show a little musty low notes of earth, woody bramble, some meat, ripe capsicums, tobacco, spice and flowers. Quite attractive actually. Palate was rather surprisingly high-toned after the nose, with dashes of pepper, more creamy oak, mocha and plenty of ripe cassis. Nice sliky tannins and very good ripeness for a 2004. Importantly, in spite of the sweet ripeness, it still maintained a clean, well-defined shape throughout. Finish had a nice length as well, with lashings of cocoa powder. Another wine that is not really in my preferred style, but enjoyable for what it is. Wine of the day for me.
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Impromptu Half Day of Fun! (Loy Sum Juan and more...): Scented sandalwood and spicy but dark floral lifted nose. At first, alc shows but needed time to settle down and does exhibit typical bordeaux charaacteristics though a modern styled one. Good fine silky tannins. Cool fresh dark fruits with pretty nicely integrated oak. Lots of earth, truffles and herbs lingers. 75% cocoa dark chocolate finish.
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Thematic tasting of Bordeaux 2004 (Crystal Wines): Stinky nose of marmite, essence of chicken, old oak barriques, sandalwood, truffles and nice dark flowers. Savory notes of fermented bean curd paste. This also has creamier denser texture with luscious dark nice and juicy fruits. This has lots of fillings but not overstuffed. Ends on extra dark chocolate notes.
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Red ruby color - tight at first, heavy tannins, which mellowed and went very well with dinner. The wife liked the way it comined with the sage in the food. Nose of pomegranate (or red currants) and clay soil. Started at an 88 moved into the 91 point range and ended at around an 89 after 4 hours in there, with little fruit left. So I'd say drink this between 2012 and 2017 for its peak.
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This is open for buisness. Popped and poured and it had a nice nose of dark fruit, licorice, raspberry and hint of vanilla. Medium bodied with fine tannins and the fruit was certainly poking through. This became better in the glass, but is definitely drinking well now. Should continue to age nicely.
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Really impressed with this wine. Classic Saint Emilion blend. 70%merlot/20%Cab Franc/10%sauv. Drank way to early. Nose has elements of earthen floor and mushrooms, very silky and complex and good fruit on the palate. Needs another 4-5 years to develop.
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Day 1: Popped and poured...dark almost uddy color. There is fruit and body but more than anything there is tannin. Too vague to rate on day one. Day2: after sitting with the cork barely in ...no change. Day 3 tasted expecting a sour oxidized wine ready to be tossed, but Ahhh... the tannins have faded and the fruit and St Emilion earthiness moved to the front. It has still inky thick color and has a lingering late chocolate aftertaste. I think with time this will be great and I dont think merely decanting will do this justice. Look again after 2012.
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Very tight, but a nice combo of red fruit, lead and mineral push through. Will definitely hold the remaining stash for several years before trying another.
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I decided to drink this bottle because of the ratings the 05 got. We opened the bottle and the nose was classic bdx. Lead pencil wet clay and cherry with currants. The cedar oak and wet clay became in focus. The wine was medium body on the tongue but it was still closed a bit. I decide to sit on it for a while and that was the correct call. This wine opened up big time. Flavors became big and the wine was very very enjoyable. This wine surprised me. I think you can save it for a few yrs but it is drinking well now. The aromas of cherry and berry is present through out.
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Solid bordaeux with dark fruit, cedar and tobacco. Coats the palate moderately with plum and blackberry, but the wood and tobacco win out. Mild tannins. A solid midrange bordeaux.
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The nose was filled with a judicious amount of sweet oak, vanilla, smoke; fruits that included raspberry and cassis; and hints of grapefruit peel (a very positive character for me when subtle as it was here). While some thought the oak was a little heavy, and the tannins a little much, I thought both were not so out of balance that they weren’t forgivable given the wine’s age and it was still clearly the winner of the night. Additionally I found the mouthfeel to be well structured, concentrated, with a very long finish: a wine that should age well.
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Big taste, blissfully overwhelming dark berries, lush, full. Noble power and balance in its composition, a tiny bit of smokiness and wintry quality, little acidity and of course berries for a long, delectable finish, with the berries remaining on the tongue and in the nose. A classic muscular, male wine. 70% Merlot, 15 % Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
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Deep ruby with a black center. Nose of plum, black cherry, coffee, spice and some floral elements. Oak definitely present and not quite integrated yet. Modern style. Soft on the palate with ripe but youthful tannins. This needs a few years to show at its best.
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Chewy, sweet darkish fruit with lots of vanilla oak and some leather. Not a lot of complexity or a big blockbuster, but very nice friendly fruit and some structure to keep it from being flabby. Modern styled. Clean with enough acid to keep it lively. This could use a little age, but not a bad drink right now. B
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Gorgeous nose of red currant and smoke. Bright focused red fruit, tangy, lively fruit croquant. Coats the mouth on explosive finish....drying tannins. I'll give this at least a year before my next bottle. Medium bodied. At least no green notes, which is what I was worried about with '04.
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3/14/2024 - WojteG Likes this wine: 93 Points
I think this wine is at its second youth period, after a dull time. It's simply delicious! This Chateau got promoted to Grand Cru Classé in 2006 and it deserves it.
An hour in the decanter.
🕐
Strong, but typical aromas for 20 years old wine. A lot of tobacco, prune, smoke, leather, but wait...there are also sweet notes of plum, black cherry, vanilla, black chocolate. Let's go to the taste. Powerful juice! Again a lot of tobacco and prune, but also black coffee, black tea (!), plum, chocolate and vanilla.
Unfortunately the finish is too spicy and very dry (why?!) It it very long though.
Nice tannins and acidity ( the wine has a few years of good life 😎)
2004 got 88 points according to the WA Vintage Guide.
Unpopular with the critics when it was released as a primeur wine, 2004 has now proved itself to be of very good quality.
Vinous - 93
Jeff Leve - 92
RP - 91
IWC - 90
Jean - Marc Quarin - 89
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3/8/2024 - JohnSh wrote: 90 Points
This still tasted quite young at 20 years old. Vibrant red and black fruit, slight tannins, nicely balanced. Not too complex though, but it’s a nice midweek claret (B+/A-).
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12/15/2023 - John Nezlek wrote: 86 Points
Note: I use the recommended scale, so 85 represents a very good wine.
A bit from memory -- forgot to enter the TN upon drinking.
Decent claret, although not exceptional. Opened up a bit through the bottle, but it was lacking a bit of depth and smoothness/roundness. Maybe a bit past prime?
I was not as impressed as some others. Such is life.
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10/5/2022 - TashNYC wrote: 92 Points
Really delicious now, with notes of red fruit, cherry, currants, smoke, tar and herbs. It is now mature! Delicious with pur roast, herbal chicken.
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2/14/2022 - Neurowine1 Likes this wine:
From 375cc, sadly my last btl of this. It has been 6+ years since I have checked in with one of these. This is truly a very lovely and nuanced St Emilion at this point. As before, this punches way above its weight. Classic plummy fruit, cocoa, tar, and thyme. Medium finish. This seems to be on a very long plateau.
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12/24/2021 - VAGentleman wrote: 89 Points
Unctuous blasting black fruit, branbkes, smoke. Fades a bit into refined traditional perfumed dark fruit. Good but not great
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8/27/2021 - Jostrowny Likes this wine:
Rose likes it. Very good. Nice tennins.
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6/11/2021 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted off lots of fine sediment. Gorgeous deep, rich, pure maroon colour. Rather shy nose to start that takes some coaxing and then aromas of red plum, boysenberry, cassis, fennel seed, cedar and suede unfurl. Lovely nose! Full bodied, dry and still surprisingly tannic on the palate, but good fruit extract and pitched acidity. The flavours are all deep red and black fruits, lots of black plum, a bit of bramble, charred oak, sous bois and chalk. Very smooth and nicely integrated. Finishes long, juicy and with lingering fruit. No where near past its prime. Drinking beautifully right now! Sadly, this was my last bottle.
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1/1/2021 - Mr Dregs wrote:
actually drunk sometime in 2020 but not recorded
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11/21/2020 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 90 Points
Last bottle drank with beef stroganoff. Nice mature cab. Plenty of fruit plus graphite and cigar box. Nice balance. drink or hold.
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8/1/2020 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Stepping back a few years from the 2010 we just tried. Still very dark plummy purple with just a hint of age starting to show at the very edge. Savoury nose of spiced plums and blackberries, graphite, soft leather and a camphoric lift at the end of a deep inhale. The flavours are more spiced plums and blackberries, a bit of oakiness still, dark berry skins, graphite and chalky minerals. Full, smooth and dry in the mouth with great acidity and a final tannic grip. Nice long darkly fruited finish that tingles with acidity and tannins. Was spectacular with spiced duck breast and potatoes cooked in duck fat!! 93 points on its own; 95 points with the duck!
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5/11/2020 - vfccpa123 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Alas, my last bottle of this wine. I have enjoyed drinking these very much. The floral notes in the aroma have been one of my favorite aspects of my tasting experience for this wine. Also found nice wet earth, mineral and a bit of oak in the nose. The tart tannins on the palette were very nice, cherry, leather and a bit of pepper on the finish were the defining characteristics for me. A nice long finish. Drank this with a 2004 Grand Pontet, which I felt was just a bit below this bottle for quality.
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1/3/2020 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was PnP and drunk with grilled ribeyes. Very nice with plenty of fruit and secondary flavors. I think it was best when first opened. Drink up.
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10/29/2019 - 6831 wrote: 91 Points
Really well balanced w med-full flavors of dark berry, mocha
And cassis. Sweet integrated tannins carry through the finish. Last bottle
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8/17/2019 - Nostromo99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Classic middle-aged-Bordeaux nose; graphite, blackcurrant, a hint of leather and cigar box. Very inviting. Smooth in the mouth. Rich and dark. Some grip on the medium-length finish, but the tannins have mostly melted away. The real up-front fruit has gone too, but there isn't a great deal of obvious development in terms of aged characters. Sitting on the plateau at the moment with years of life left. Most enjoyable.
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6/9/2019 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Second Sunday Group: Geja's Cafe format (Marty's): Dark fruit, currant and earth notes. Medium-bodied with softened tannins and flavors of dark fruit, chocolate and plum. Drinking very well. 92+ pts.
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4/16/2019 - stinkycook wrote:
Decanted 5 hours ahead. Still youthful, but approachable now.
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12/12/2018 - vfccpa123 Likes this wine:
Wine had a very nice aroma and showed nicely on the palette after some time in the glass [about an hour].
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3/16/2018 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
Improved from last time we had it. Good red fruit -- cherries and currants -- with smoke, tobacco and a little earth. I don't find this as mature as some do. Perhaps it will drink a little better with some more time?
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1/27/2018 - MikeCW wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. This is drinking very well now, probably at or approaching its peak. Fuller and richer than I expected. Perfect steak wine.
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12/10/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Only the third vintage for the new owners, and it is obvious that things continue improving here. Medium bodied, and soft in texture, the dark red fruits offer the right levels of sweetness and freshness. The smoke, tobacco, fennel, and earthy notes add to the fruits and to the fun. However, this is fully mature and should be consumed before the wine hits 20 years of age.
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12/5/2017 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice aged QPR Bordeaux. Graphite, muted fruit. Very good
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11/17/2017 - Ranjack wrote: 90 Points
Drank this wine with steak after a brief decant. The fruit was still all there, and no amber edge. Keeping it any longer would be a waste—probably ought to drink the rest of the case up over the next year. But this is a fine example of a well-made St. Emilion. Delicious!
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8/26/2017 - paul canet wrote: 89 Points
Bon! le nez a change en cours de route, au depart fruits rouges et un peu de cuir, par la suite il a developpé des arômes de de poivrons verts. en bouche toujours la touché de poivrons qui s'est installée mais les fruits rouges compotes sont toujours presents.
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7/2/2017 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfect fill and cork. 100 year cork by the looks of it! Lots of sediment. Very dark, opaque, muted red black almost right to the rim. No trace of purple left. Cedar, saddle, dried red plum skins and camphor. Savoury but not meaty. Structured for the long haul. Very dry, tart acidity, tannins still quite apparent. Very smooth nonetheless. A very food friendly wine - not a sipper. Still needs at least 5 years. No rush on this one.
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5/22/2017 - nm10 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark red and nice nose, but this is a little one-dimensional. I let this one breathe in hopes of coaxing out a little more. But I'm really starting to believe this is little more than a nice little steak wine.
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2/12/2017 - Kiranonwine Likes this wine:
This wine really seems to be at its peak now. Great balance and at the point were complex tertiary notes of forest floor etc. Are still counterbalanced by a lively fruit core. Plenty of toasty notes still evident but these are now in harmony with the rest of the wine. This was great value bought en primeur.
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11/20/2016 - Drankard wrote: 92 Points
A very pleasant surprise on how well this showed tonight especially that this was not stored properly. I thought the palate was quite youthful and could use 5-10 years. Very nice!
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11/11/2016 - nm10 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Took a while to open, but seemed a little reticent all along. Should probably leave the last bottle another 2-4 years.
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5/29/2016 - curiouswino42 wrote: 85 Points
Dark cherry red color without much leg. Drinking this with the understanding that this vintage for st Emilion is past peak. I tasted it after decanting for 1/2 hr - it was a mess: harsh, acidic, paasable dark berry nose. After 2 hours of decanting, the wine is coming together better, but still harsh at first sip. The nose is a tad more together with more cocoa than jam. Med to full body, heavier tannin. Think this is as good as it will get = blah. I do not recommend this vintage.
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2/20/2016 - nm10 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sipped for an hour, then it started to open nicely. Currant and cassis on the nose, prominent anise and cherries on the palate. A pleasant but peppery 30 second finish. Nice wine!
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12/29/2015 - Neurowine1 Likes this wine: 87 Points
From 375cc. Quite different than my memory of this wine from 2 years ago. Nice cocoa and dark plum, but not nearly as jammy and international as I recall. Pretty and very well made. Surprisingly long finish. This is drinking above its breed.
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11/28/2015 - ThMeyer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Showed incredibly well tonight. Directly after opening, very intense nose of dark fruit, cedar, and a touch of oak. On the palate still quite youthful with good acidity. Flavors of dark cherry, blackberry. Loved it.
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7/14/2015 - paulst Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tart and tannic with some leather and blackberry.
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6/7/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours before service. In the glass, red with auburn tints at the rim, fading to dark opaque red at the core. On the nose, currants, graphite, oak, and plums. On the palate, currants, cherries, mint, cedar, and a rough rustic texture on the palate from unresolved tannins. I'm not sure if the tannins will ever resolve here, but the aging notes are present, and it's certainly pleasant enough to drink now.
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1/8/2015 - etyc wrote:
Mid-week get together - dinner/drinks (Peach Garden OCBC Centre): Hrmm, '04 Bords are generally supposed to be drinking already, and indeed... the few left-bank '04s that I've tried (eg. Poyferre, PC, Malescot etc) came across nice, harmonious but this FC seemed a bit backward on this night. PnP'ed, nose was of the dark-fruited profile, some dark-chocolate as well. This was still tight (but fresh), with noticeable tannins. A broad wine, with some graphite and the dark-fruits continuing onto the palate. Should definitely be better with some more time in bottle...
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12/30/2014 - Tim Heaton wrote:
Past peak, beginning its decline. Very soft, fully mature, with subtle flavors and fully resolved tannins and EtOH. Still manages a kick here and there with food, but on its own, just a gentle if unremarkable wine. Drink up if you've got them, I doubt it's getting better from here. 14,0% abv
Slow-0 2 hours, served non-blind.
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12/28/2014 - theusualsuspect wrote: 88 Points
Quite tasty and quaffy - fully ready now - but it strikes me a bit as on the simple dilute side. Red fruity with as others have noted a cherry note throughout. Pretty much what I would expect it to be.
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11/30/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
Either there is bottle variation, or I was extremely unlucky as it took 3 bottles to find one that showed the opulent, chocolate covered cherry, licorice and lush profile that we usually expect from Fleur Cardinale.
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11/17/2014 - KCBrian wrote: 88 Points
Day 1-slow O for an hr and then a taste. Dark garnet in color with a faint plum smell on the nose. Taste.....very tight and tannic. Seemed to get better with a bit of red berry fruit. Decided to cork up and try again on. Day 2-sort of a similar taste....the tannins are still there. Flavor spectrum still in the tart red berry area. Guess I will try the other bottle in a couple of years.
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10/5/2014 - Uncle John wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for two hours. This was drinking beautiful tonight. Quite open with dark fruit medium acidity and fine tannins on the finish. 2004 Bordeaux are drinking well now.
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9/9/2014 - dougsmith Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black with a deep ruby rim. No detailed TN taken, but flavors of ripe black currant, spice, and damp earth. Full bodied on the palate with good presence and length.
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5/27/2014 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 89 Points
This bottle is not as good as the bottle a year ago. I am drinking this wine upon opening and it would have probably been better to double decant this morning. The color is an inky garnet. The nose is mushroom, earth and currant. The palate is loaded with graphite, glycerin, currents and black cherry. A little dry tannin still evident which is distracting but probably would have resolved if I had double decanted earlier. Quite nice for the price. The finish is long with a little heat.
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3/27/2014 - VoteferPedro Likes this wine: 90 Points
now it is ready!
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3/18/2014 - MarkMich wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Drinking really well. Blueberry and anise on the nose. Nice dark fruit and some earth on the palate. I wish I had more. I have enjoyed a lot of the 04's lately. I think the vintage is surprising to the upside.
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1/12/2014 - Neurowine1 wrote: 86 Points
From 375. This is my first experience with this wine since 3 btls I had back in 07/08. Very nice, cleanly made and internationally styled St Emilion. Lacking in edge and character perhaps, but warm ripe fruits and nice cocoa and baked plum flavors. Wood is too obvious and intrusive for my tastes. This is drinking about as good as it is going to get at the moment.
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9/16/2013 - Kevdog wrote: 89 Points
Big, and still plenty of tannic back bone. Could use more time in bottle or a longer decant. It is not a bad wine, but it had no bordeaux like qualities to me... very california cab like. disappointing.
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2/18/2013 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
Best bottle of this to date. Really drinking quite well. Big fruit, graphite. Excellent balance. Medium finish. Drink or hold.
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2/13/2013 - John Nezlek wrote: 89 Points
A very nice claret as our English brethren (and sisters) might say. Mild and smooth, although it did need a good hour or so in a flat bottomed decanter to let the flavors out. I see no reason for extended and further cellariing.
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12/24/2012 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Soft with nice well textured blackberry; smooth and lean; finishes rather long with earthy blackberry and tobacco.
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12/23/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 88 Points
Better on the nose than the palate with its licorice, earth and black cherry perfume. This medium bodied, easy to like, round wine seems to be less interesting than it was a few years ago. I'd opt for drinking this over the next few years before it drops more of its fruit.
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10/10/2012 - earlster wrote: 90 Points
Decanted and poured first glass immediately. Needed more time to open up, got significantly better over the course of the evening.
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9/4/2012 - PFra wrote: 91 Points
Big dark fruit, noticable vanilla and wood tannin but covered by the fruit. Good minerality.
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8/21/2012 - keelegl wrote:
Decanted for about an hour, but it needed more. Shut down on the palate and only started to open up towards the end of the bottle. Nice fruit and structure, but needs more time.
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7/8/2012 - fanglangzhe Likes this wine: 87 Points
Taste: dark fruit, wood, firm tannins.
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6/28/2012 - nschmidt wrote: 89 Points
Good but not great bordeaux. Nothing wrong but nothing compelling either.
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2/1/2012 - Brsed wrote: 90 Points
Not as good as the 2003, fur fine St. Emillion. Black fruits with some tobacco and earth. Fruit is a little more subdued than the 2003.
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12/23/2011 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of plum and slightly sweet. Taste of blackberries and pepper with a balance of fruit and spice. I sense modest tannins with a small 'pop' at the end. The aftertaste is almost like butterscotch with a bit of pepper. It was intriguing to note that the intensity of the wine varied with time in the mouth moving from the front of the tongue to the back as it spent time in the mouth. This did go down over time in the glass, but peaked about 30-60 minutes after opening.
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11/20/2011 - Ombibulous wrote: 88 Points
Excellent. In the half-bottle, aged perfectly. Rich flavour but nice and dry mouth feel. (88.5).
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10/16/2011 - Sleepy Dave wrote: 84 Points
2011 Casual Session 21 @ ES (Extra Space Boon Keng): Alcohol :: 13.5%
Quite expressive on the nose, Stalky, tobacco, creme de cassis and touch if wood spice and savory. This has really good level of ripe dark fruits as well as concentration of a 2004, a little bit modern and none of us get the vintage correctly. Savory, plum, chalky, mineral, wood, quite ripe with lots of dark fruits. The acid is there for the freshness, though this is a bit simple but quite delicious. With dark chocolate at the finish.
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8/26/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
Splash decanted and consumed over several hours, actually shut down with air(pop and pour if opening now). Nose of oak spice, black currants and coffee. Palate was quite round, with firm fine tannins on the back end. Showing concentrated plum and black currants—quite dark fruit profile. Medium finish with cedar, mocha, and gravel. Quite a modern flair with prominent oak use, while surprisingly lacking in complexity, was still a fun foreword bdx that is drinking well now and should improve over the next few years.
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8/26/2011 - theusualsuspect wrote: 87 Points
Sixteen months since last tyasting.At least showing fruit, but very much still unforthcoming.
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8/2/2011 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine continues to improve gaining in complexity and overall balance. Nice fruit, cassis spice and a bit of earthiness. Drinking well at this time. Did not decant and the last glass was the best. would recommend at least an hour decant.
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5/29/2011 - dky wrote: 90 Points
decanted for 2 hours. modern bordeaux with dark fruit, leather, and earth on the nose. this is performing well at this point with dark cherry, earth, leather on the palate with good structure.
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5/12/2011 - au wrote: 86 Points
Tight, not exciting at all. Weak. Looking forward to open the remaining 11 bottles... well, maybe, within next 11 years.
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4/10/2011 - VoteferPedro wrote:
Popped and Poured.
deep color, soft woodsy cedar and not much fruit on the nose but nice fruit on the palate. Medium to strong tannings calmed down after running through a Vinturi.
My tongue is just recovering but wife who is more accurate than me agrees. Overall very nice. It is quibbling to give points as this is still quite young but it is in the 89-91 range depending on your mood
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3/31/2011 - Tsubasa wrote: 88 Points
Good Bordeaux, lot of mix berries, tannic overall very nice with a bit of sharp edges, color could be darker.
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3/30/2011 - Hazeo wrote: 90 Points
Dark soft fruit, good earthy tones and finishes with good acidity. Not at all an over extracted wine, but pales in comparison with the 04 Malescot I had earlier this week. A little watery and lacks depth in comparison. 89
After 3 hours it did flush out a lot, gaining weight
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2/2/2011 - TashNYC wrote: 89 Points
A good wine but still a little tight. Dark fruit, cherries, red currant and a touch of tobacco. the decanted part showed much cedar, but we preferred the big red fruit of the undecanted version, (Open 60 minutes no decant). Best with roast chicken. Better with 1-2 years of age.
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2/1/2011 - Sweet_Berry_Wine!! wrote: 92 Points
Was honestly expecting a Parkerized wine, an extracted, tannic, hot mess considering some of the things I've heard of this Estate. Thankfully I was pleasantly surprised. The powerful aromas open up with dark chocolate covered raspberries, creme de cassis and slight licorice and menthol notes. No earth or mineral on the nose of this St. Emilion and it comes across as very ripe for an 04'. The wine enters the palate with a full, rich mouthfeel of red currant, sweet pipe tobacco, cedar and orange peel. The wine is full bodied, but it is balanced by a noticeable acidity and plenty of tannic backbone. The finish is long and lasts (and I'd hate to ape Parker on this one) an excess of 30+ seconds. This is still a little tight, but well built and definitely made to last. Despite being only 70% merlot and 20% Cab Franc, the merlot really takes center stage here, the cabs seem to only add structure. Drink it right now or don't touch it for 8-10 years. Highly recommended.
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1/8/2011 - macker100 wrote: 88 Points
Margaux Horizontal 2004 (Toast Bistro, San Antonio): I did not peg this as Bordeaux. Despite classic year vintage, this wine came across as a hot year production. Ripe, sweet nose of cherries, cinnamon, and figs. Ripe palate as well with cola, black cherries, earth, and hints of vanilla. Obvious ringer, but also with mineral touch and racy acidity. Thus did not think Cali., but I had written down guess of Super Tuscan. Decent tannic finish.
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1/8/2011 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 90 Points
2004 Margaux horizontal (Toast Bistro, San Antonio, TX): Fragrant nose, with a touch of VA and dark plumy fruit. Palate was fuller bodied, with currants and plenty of toasty oak influence. Fine acidity and chewy tannins. Mocha, smoke and toast with dried fruits on the medium length finish. Quite modern. This bottle later on turned much more plum-like with the tannins becoming more prominent. A nice right bank in a modern style that should still improve. Everyone recognized as a ringer I believe, I was leaning towards this being my Pape-Clement rather than right bank, but in retrospect the cab franc is more obvious.
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9/19/2010 - rjayson wrote: 88 Points
Needs much more time to be any better. Very light on nose and taste
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9/16/2010 - paulst wrote: 88 Points
Light nose; soft blackberry with tart edges; complex; still developing.
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7/24/2010 - thirstyman wrote:
pop and pour. decanted in the glass for an hour. Dark berries and a hint of earth/leather on the nose. Finish rather short and slightly tart/green until the bottle had been open for two hours. Give it another few years.
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7/9/2010 - dky wrote: 89 Points
decanted about an hour. dark fruit on the nose with hints of earth and leather. on the palate flavors of dark cherry, earth, and tobacco. enjoyable and very good but a lot of tannin and needs a few more years in bottle.
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6/24/2010 - winelover1986 wrote:
No decant; 62 degrees F. Deep red color with magenta rim. Primary, but there is a lot there. Cherry, currants and blackberry on the nose. Alcohol showed too from time to time, but not prominently and not consistently. Some vanilla too. Full body with a somewhat creamy texture. Good fruit; tannin quite evident (esp on finish) but not harsh. Enjoyable now, but hope it might trade some power for finesse as time goes on.
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4/25/2010 - dsimmons wrote: 90 Points
This was the best of these to date. I double decanted this about 4 hours prior to drinking. It made a big improvement from the last two bottles of this. Very nice flavors of muted fruit, graphite and earth.
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4/9/2010 - theusualsuspect wrote: 87 Points
For now. Thought this great QPR on release, but the wine is in a different place at this point. Red fruit on the nose followed by a pretty astringent palate - tip of tongue astringency. Years, and not just a few, to go.
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3/6/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Black raspberries, espresso bean, licorice and cassis get you going. Opulent in texture and concentrated with sweet ripe, jammy berries, this delicious wine is already drinking well.
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2/26/2010 - 6831 wrote: 90 Points
Very Solid. Complex, fragrant nose with flavors of smokey currant, leather, earth, mineral.
Slight fade toward the end of the bottle.
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11/20/2009 - Paul S wrote: 90 Points
Lunch at Loy Sum Juan (Murray Terrace): Very modernly styled, but with some solidly quality. This had been opened for some time and quickly decanted before serving. Even then, it was all oak at first sniff, with just waft after waft of toasty vanilla. With time, it opened up to show a little musty low notes of earth, woody bramble, some meat, ripe capsicums, tobacco, spice and flowers. Quite attractive actually. Palate was rather surprisingly high-toned after the nose, with dashes of pepper, more creamy oak, mocha and plenty of ripe cassis. Nice sliky tannins and very good ripeness for a 2004. Importantly, in spite of the sweet ripeness, it still maintained a clean, well-defined shape throughout. Finish had a nice length as well, with lashings of cocoa powder. Another wine that is not really in my preferred style, but enjoyable for what it is. Wine of the day for me.
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11/20/2009 - Alex H wrote: 84 Points
Impromptu Half Day of Fun! (Loy Sum Juan and more...): Scented sandalwood and spicy but dark floral lifted nose. At first, alc shows but needed time to settle down and does exhibit typical bordeaux charaacteristics though a modern styled one. Good fine silky tannins. Cool fresh dark fruits with pretty nicely integrated oak. Lots of earth, truffles and herbs lingers. 75% cocoa dark chocolate finish.
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10/23/2009 - V2 wrote: 84 Points
Not as refined as the 2005, but still a pleasant wine.
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9/9/2009 - dsimmons wrote: 83 Points
Second bottle, second big disappointment
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8/15/2009 - BrunelloRiserva wrote: 91 Points
Cherries and dark fruit, a touch of spice and a bit of mint. Great balance, drinking well now right from the bottle.
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3/21/2009 - Alex H wrote: 85 Points
Thematic tasting of Bordeaux 2004 (Crystal Wines): Stinky nose of marmite, essence of chicken, old oak barriques, sandalwood, truffles and nice dark flowers. Savory notes of fermented bean curd paste. This also has creamier denser texture with luscious dark nice and juicy fruits. This has lots of fillings but not overstuffed. Ends on extra dark chocolate notes.
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1/24/2009 - jdoakpark wrote: 90 Points
old world style....dusty,mushroomy,truffles
not my style but respectable
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12/2/2008 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 90 Points
Red ruby color - tight at first, heavy tannins, which mellowed and went very well with dinner. The wife liked the way it comined with the sage in the food. Nose of pomegranate (or red currants) and clay soil. Started at an 88 moved into the 91 point range and ended at around an 89 after 4 hours in there, with little fruit left. So I'd say drink this between 2012 and 2017 for its peak.
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10/25/2008 - marcb7 wrote: 92 Points
This is open for buisness. Popped and poured and it had a nice nose of dark fruit, licorice, raspberry and hint of vanilla. Medium bodied with fine tannins and the fruit was certainly poking through. This became better in the glass, but is definitely drinking well now. Should continue to age nicely.
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8/14/2008 - mikee123 wrote: 92 Points
Really impressed with this wine. Classic Saint Emilion blend. 70%merlot/20%Cab Franc/10%sauv. Drank way to early. Nose has elements of earthen floor and mushrooms, very silky and complex and good fruit on the palate. Needs another 4-5 years to develop.
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6/21/2008 - VoteferPedro wrote: 92 Points
Day 1: Popped and poured...dark almost uddy color. There is fruit and body but more than anything there is tannin. Too vague to rate on day one.
Day2: after sitting with the cork barely in ...no change.
Day 3 tasted expecting a sour oxidized wine ready to be tossed, but Ahhh... the tannins have faded and the fruit and St Emilion earthiness moved to the front. It has still inky thick color and has a lingering late chocolate aftertaste. I think with time this will be great and I dont think merely decanting will do this justice. Look again after 2012.
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5/28/2008 - 6831 wrote: 89 Points
Very tight, but a nice combo of red fruit, lead and mineral push through. Will definitely hold the remaining stash for several years before trying another.
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5/24/2008 - Pavie Princess wrote: 91 Points
I decided to drink this bottle because of the ratings the 05 got. We opened the bottle and the nose was classic bdx. Lead pencil wet clay and cherry with currants. The cedar oak and wet clay became in focus. The wine was medium body on the tongue but it was still closed a bit. I decide to sit on it for a while and that was the correct call. This wine opened up big time. Flavors became big and the wine was very very enjoyable. This wine surprised me. I think you can save it for a few yrs but it is drinking well now. The aromas of cherry and berry is present through out.
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5/17/2008 - bigdavemdphd wrote:
Sorry to report used it make spaghetti sauce which was great.
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4/6/2008 - BigTarheel wrote: 89 Points
Med-full bodied, tannic with smoky red/black fruits. Hold for a few more years but this wine has solid potential.
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2/23/2008 - bigdavemdphd wrote: 88 Points
Solid Bordeaux. Moderately fruity with smooth tannins.
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2/15/2008 - bigdavemdphd wrote: 89 Points
Solid bordaeux with dark fruit, cedar and tobacco. Coats the palate moderately with plum and blackberry, but the wood and tobacco win out. Mild tannins. A solid midrange bordeaux.
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1/5/2008 - dsimmons wrote:
This wine was much better on day two, probbly an 89-90. It was very disjointed and bitter on day one. Will let these sit for a while.
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1/1/2008 - Gargantua wrote: 90 Points
still good, this time not as perfect as before: halfway through the bottom the smokiness is most fascinating, begins to taste a bit like Pinot Noir.
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12/9/2007 - twotee wrote: 94 Points
The nose was filled with a judicious amount of sweet oak, vanilla, smoke; fruits that included raspberry and cassis; and hints of grapefruit peel (a very positive character for me when subtle as it was here). While some thought the oak was a little heavy, and the tannins a little much, I thought both were not so out of balance that they weren’t forgivable given the wine’s age and it was still clearly the winner of the night. Additionally I found the mouthfeel to be well structured, concentrated, with a very long finish: a wine that should age well.
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11/1/2007 - Gargantua wrote: 90 Points
Big taste, blissfully overwhelming dark berries, lush, full. Noble power and balance in its composition, a tiny bit of smokiness and wintry quality, little acidity and of course berries for a long, delectable finish, with the berries remaining on the tongue and in the nose. A classic muscular, male wine. 70% Merlot, 15 % Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
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9/22/2007 - dthompson wrote: 89 Points
Bought this to taste. Full bodied, powerful wine. Not yet ready. Will buy a case to lay down.
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9/21/2007 - dougsmith wrote: 89 Points
Deep ruby with a black center. Nose of plum, black cherry, coffee, spice and some floral elements. Oak definitely present and not quite integrated yet. Modern style. Soft on the palate with ripe but youthful tannins. This needs a few years to show at its best.
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7/22/2007 - MRichman wrote:
Chewy, sweet darkish fruit with lots of vanilla oak and some leather. Not a lot of complexity or a big blockbuster, but very nice friendly fruit and some structure to keep it from being flabby. Modern styled. Clean with enough acid to keep it lively. This could use a little age, but not a bad drink right now.
B
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6/18/2007 - JRB1 wrote: 89 Points
Gorgeous nose of red currant and smoke. Bright focused red fruit, tangy, lively fruit croquant. Coats the mouth on explosive finish....drying tannins. I'll give this at least a year before my next bottle. Medium bodied. At least no green notes, which is what I was worried about with '04.
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4/9/2007 - waelj wrote: 91 Points
Opened and let breathe for 30 minutes. Amazing nose of blackberries, very interesting almost napa like.
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3/25/2007 - snipes wrote: 80 Points
uninspiring. Even after a few hours of breathing in the glass and decanter not much ever happened. I was disappointed.
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