Very drinkable. Aromas of plum, meat, and dark cherry. Moderate tannin. Not sweet, but with a continuing suggestion of dark fruitiness, with some spiciness.
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Oak and cherry on the nose - mineral and smoke on the taste. 2.5 hour decant. The memory on this is medium with low tannins and medium acidity. Great time to enjoy
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We decanted this at 4:00, started drinking it at 7:00 and finished it at 9:00. Over that time, it underwent a very impressive evolution, from a lean, elegant wine, to a sweet, rich wine, with developed cherry flavor and a note of celery seed. Both the early wine and the emerging wine were very good, and it was a particular pleasure to have both. On balance, I would have preferred a bit less of the lean wine and a bit more of the rich wine, so I will leave my last two bottles for another year or two or decant them longer. If you prefer the elegant version, drink this soon.
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Nice dark fruit on the nose. Still has a pleasant freshness, on the palate the dark fruit mixes with earthy notes. Paired well with roast beef. Could last another 3-5 years
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We had this once before, and we liked it again the second time. It seemed more immediately approachable this time than it had been a few months ago. It still has a marked acidity, but balanced by deep complexity. Beautiful pairing with roast duck.
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Wine in a lovely spot. Decanted but not left to rest for long, really well balanced at the moment. Some secondary flavours present but the wine still a good colour and fruit present, so there’s longer to age if that’s your thing. Tannins really well integrated. It will age further and I might stash a few bottles for longer term for interest or tasting against more recent vintages, but it’s drinking beautifully now.
NB Cellared in OWC at 8 degrees since EP purchase - la garde seems to be consistently c. £18 on release which is superb value
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Consumed last bottle. Decanted for 2+ hours. Perfect pairing with grilled lamb chops. Great nose of tobacco, licorice and dark fruit. Fruit has integrated nicely with well rounded tannins. Excellent value.
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This started slowly out of the gate -- it was thin and woody when first opened, and the first glass from the decanter was still green and acidic -- but it got better and better through the meal, so that by the end of the meal, my wife and I were like crazed crack addicts, sucking every last drinkable drop from the dregs in the bottle. Fortunately, I was uncrazed enough to resist the suggestion that we open our second bottle. (Given how much this wine improved as it was open, I might leave that bottle for a few years, or allow more time in the decanter if we become impatient.)
I've never had this before -- it's another sterling recommendation from Jane Anson -- and this older vintage is still available from Saratoga Wine for $49. More recent vintages are available for less than $30. It's a great bargain at that price. The wine is quite similar to Sociando Mallet, which is very similar in price but better known and more widely available.
Purple colored with medium legs. On the nose smell of dark chocolate, black currant and plums, prune, cherry and tobacco. On the palet black currant, blueberry, plum, cherry, lime, tobacco, cedar and vanilla. The body is medium/full. The wine has leathery texture and it finishes medium plus has high acidity. The wine has much going on. Drinkable now but it will ripe and develop more within next 5-15 years. Keeping it in my cellar and will taste on a regular base.
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In the bouquet dark berries and some tar/asphalt as well as vanilla from the oak. On the palate the same impressions. Good acidity, some herbs, slightly sticky tannin and some heat in the finish. I wonder how this will develop, but this was my only bottle…
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Color: Quite dark. Nose: Licorice, Indian spices, wild berries. Mouth: Consistent with the nose. Tabacco, dried flowers and a mushroom aroma, too. Nice fresh fruit and the other aroma layers add to the complexity. All the aromas have melted together. Full bodied and powerful wine but at the same time elegant. No bitter tannins whatsoever. 14.5% alc but not noticable.
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Dense dark red color with a hint of blue/red on the rim.
The nose gets black currants, fresh plums, blueberries and hints of cigar, roasted oak and barnyard. Classic Bdx but the alcohol (14,5 abv) is not that integrated and that is a bit disturbing. But after all 2009 was a hot vintage.
The palate gets black currants en masse! Oriental spices and cigar on the mid-palate and the finish is dry and gives me aromas of red and black currants, fresh herbs and green bell pepper (maybe it's that little dash of cab franc that is breaking through). The tannins are firm and a bit green, acidity is good and well balanced with the wine's body. There's just that alcohol heat that disturbs me but I guess it will integrate with time and the wine will gain more harmony and complexity.
Fine today, better in five years and will last at least another five years.
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Fruity flavour with vanilla and roasted oak tones. Plums, cherries, tobacco, chocolate. A bit "tied up" could easily be stored for some years. The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Slow.
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nothing notable. Obviously young but nothing pronounced. Was hoping for something more. Still a nice value. Seems like there could be some potential to evolve so will be interesting how this taste in another 3-5 years.
PERSONAL NOTE: Had a headache both mornings after 1 glass so unless I'm losing my grip and can't handle 6oz of wine, there was something not in agreement.
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1/27/2024 - talbot61 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very drinkable. Aromas of plum, meat, and dark cherry. Moderate tannin. Not sweet, but with a continuing suggestion of dark fruitiness, with some spiciness.
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1/24/2024 - Bobby_Sardells wrote: 92 Points
Oak and cherry on the nose - mineral and smoke on the taste. 2.5 hour decant. The memory on this is medium with low tannins and medium acidity. Great time to enjoy
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3/12/2023 - talbot61 Likes this wine: 93 Points
We decanted this at 4:00, started drinking it at 7:00 and finished it at 9:00. Over that time, it underwent a very impressive evolution, from a lean, elegant wine, to a sweet, rich wine, with developed cherry flavor and a note of celery seed. Both the early wine and the emerging wine were very good, and it was a particular pleasure to have both. On balance, I would have preferred a bit less of the lean wine and a bit more of the rich wine, so I will leave my last two bottles for another year or two or decant them longer. If you prefer the elegant version, drink this soon.
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11/23/2021 - The Hero wrote: 92 Points
Nice dark fruit on the nose. Still has a pleasant freshness, on the palate the dark fruit mixes with earthy notes. Paired well with roast beef. Could last another 3-5 years
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10/1/2021 - talbot61 Likes this wine: 91 Points
We had this once before, and we liked it again the second time. It seemed more immediately approachable this time than it had been a few months ago. It still has a marked acidity, but balanced by deep complexity. Beautiful pairing with roast duck.
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5/2/2021 - JohnnyFleming Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine in a lovely spot. Decanted but not left to rest for long, really well balanced at the moment. Some secondary flavours present but the wine still a good colour and fruit present, so there’s longer to age if that’s your thing. Tannins really well integrated. It will age further and I might stash a few bottles for longer term for interest or tasting against more recent vintages, but it’s drinking beautifully now.
NB Cellared in OWC at 8 degrees since EP purchase - la garde seems to be consistently c. £18 on release which is superb value
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4/17/2021 - battytaxicab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for three hours and well worth it. Plumby with Blackberries and lovely hint of oak. Thought this 2009 still had plenty of life left in it.
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3/28/2021 - rpatel99 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consumed last bottle. Decanted for 2+ hours. Perfect pairing with grilled lamb chops. Great nose of tobacco, licorice and dark fruit. Fruit has integrated nicely with well rounded tannins. Excellent value.
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3/22/2021 - talbot61 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This started slowly out of the gate -- it was thin and woody when first opened, and the first glass from the decanter was still green and acidic -- but it got better and better through the meal, so that by the end of the meal, my wife and I were like crazed crack addicts, sucking every last drinkable drop from the dregs in the bottle. Fortunately, I was uncrazed enough to resist the suggestion that we open our second bottle. (Given how much this wine improved as it was open, I might leave that bottle for a few years, or allow more time in the decanter if we become impatient.)
I've never had this before -- it's another sterling recommendation from Jane Anson -- and this older vintage is still available from Saratoga Wine for $49. More recent vintages are available for less than $30. It's a great bargain at that price. The wine is quite similar to Sociando Mallet, which is very similar in price but better known and more widely available.
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9/5/2020 - LenaLasse wrote: 94 Points
Dracks den 5 september 2020 med oxfilé inlindad i bacon med god vinsås. Vinet mycket gott! Stor, fyllig, bra tannin.
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12/11/2019 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #144; Bordeaux - Pessac-Léognan (By me): In the bouquet dark berries and oak as well as a firm dose of eucalyptus. On the palate dark berries and licorice, soft tannin, beautiful acidity and a good length.
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4/21/2019 - battytaxicab wrote: 90 Points
Needs time to open up. Quite tight but very worthwhile. Have one left and will leave it for at least another 2-4 years
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2/27/2018 - winecontroller Likes this wine: 93 Points
Purple colored with medium legs. On the nose smell of dark chocolate, black currant and plums, prune, cherry and tobacco. On the palet black currant, blueberry, plum, cherry, lime, tobacco, cedar and vanilla. The body is medium/full. The wine has leathery texture and it finishes medium plus has high acidity. The wine has much going on.
Drinkable now but it will ripe and develop more within next 5-15 years. Keeping it in my cellar and will taste on a regular base.
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2/13/2018 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
It really is amazing now. Will be interesting to see how it develops over the next year or 2
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5/25/2017 - Zweder wrote: 87 Points
In the bouquet dark berries and some tar/asphalt as well as vanilla from the oak. On the palate the same impressions. Good acidity, some herbs, slightly sticky tannin and some heat in the finish. I wonder how this will develop, but this was my only bottle…
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4/8/2017 - Cf_robert Likes this wine: 92 Points
Quel delice, un excellent rapport qualité/prix
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3/13/2017 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Seems bigger and bolder than previous but still retains the complexity you expect. A real crowd pleaser.
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1/23/2017 - Zed57 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A brilliant wine with a surprising amount of finesse for the price. Drinking very well.
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9/5/2015 - wineaficionado Likes this wine: 91 Points
Color: Quite dark. Nose: Licorice, Indian spices, wild berries. Mouth: Consistent with the nose. Tabacco, dried flowers and a mushroom aroma, too. Nice fresh fruit and the other aroma layers add to the complexity. All the aromas have melted together. Full bodied and powerful wine but at the same time elegant. No bitter tannins whatsoever. 14.5% alc but not noticable.
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8/9/2015 - Mazy Likes this wine: 83 Points
(carafé 4 heures)
Prédominance de merlot, donc malgré le millésime très concentré, se boit bien. Pas plus.
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5/7/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 88 Points
Easy drinking, smoky, polished, soft red and dark red fruits with hints of oak, this is a wine to drink on the young side.
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12/19/2013 - karl.1480 wrote: 88 Points
Dense dark red color with a hint of blue/red on the rim.
The nose gets black currants, fresh plums, blueberries and hints of cigar, roasted oak and barnyard. Classic Bdx but the alcohol (14,5 abv) is not that integrated and that is a bit disturbing. But after all 2009 was a hot vintage.
The palate gets black currants en masse! Oriental spices and cigar on the mid-palate and the finish is dry and gives me aromas of red and black currants, fresh herbs and green bell pepper (maybe it's that little dash of cab franc that is breaking through). The tannins are firm and a bit green, acidity is good and well balanced with the wine's body. There's just that alcohol heat that disturbs me but I guess it will integrate with time and the wine will gain more harmony and complexity.
Fine today, better in five years and will last at least another five years.
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7/19/2013 - Tavastgatan wrote: 90 Points
Classic Bordeaux. Everything is in place and the QPR is very good. Fine drink if not that exciting.
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5/3/2013 - Pobby wrote: 91 Points
Very Young. Though lovely Roth tobacco and plum with dark berries. Intense spicy finish.
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4/17/2013 - Levisson wrote: 87 Points
Fruity flavour with vanilla and roasted oak tones. Plums, cherries, tobacco, chocolate. A bit "tied up" could easily be stored for some years.
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Slow.
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12/14/2012 - Sevencircles Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nose: closed, maybe some hints of oak and old cigars.
Attack, pretty closed, some tannic earth and sparkling lemonjuice coming through
Midpalete: young Bordeauxearth, sparkling tannins and some lemonjuice. Some dried cherries as well, tobacco too. Fullbodied.
Finish:Dry with lots of tannic lemons.
This is a young wine but it will be much better over time for sure maybe even a 92 ,right now it´s propably 88. I give it 89 though.
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10/9/2012 - Maverick wrote: 87 Points
nothing notable. Obviously young but nothing pronounced. Was hoping for something more. Still a nice value. Seems like there could be some potential to evolve so will be interesting how this taste in another 3-5 years.
PERSONAL NOTE: Had a headache both mornings after 1 glass so unless I'm losing my grip and can't handle 6oz of wine, there was something not in agreement.
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