This was followed by a fruity blackberry rose for the late evening. The Boutisse was astonishing and almost came as a surprise to my palate as this was at a price point purchased only between $24-$32 range. The lovely Bordeaux is showing a significant characteristics of a creamy vanilla oak along with the same black fruits with small hints of residual sugar after taste. The black currant is definitely standing out however unexpectedly the tannins were really well balanced and soften even at its young age. The structure and backbone is solid, this could be cellar for another 7-10 years til prime but could be easily drank now as a perfect Bordeaux for the evening.
Try a side by side pairing with a 3rd or 4th growth Margaux or Saint Emillon, its not too apart from its taste.
Cheers,
The Winenald Ronald Of Boston, Manhattan, Hong Kong and Shanghai
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Light to medium body notations, a light rose peach and crispy pink color. There is a good amount of minerals on the taste, finished off with a blush of strawberries, rasberries and small floral notes. The finishing on the palate is heavy on acidity and medium alcohol heaviness, which makes it slightly unpleasant but would be a good pairing on some strong cheese refreshments to balance and offset the taste. This is a brut rose, so it will live up to the dry expectations.
Opened all 6 bottles for a small gathering during an evening. Could be better, suggest pairing with small bites instead of drinking by itself.
Cheers, The Winenald Ronald Of Boston, Manhattan, Hong Kong and Shanghai
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Well well, its been almost 10 years since I last visited these lovely ladies. Here goes..
Nose: There is a lovely aroma of coffee beans and tobacco and im not saying it as a typical swirl your nose on the glass scene, literally the scents flows in the air after I opened the wine and decanted it by the decanter
Color: A dark maroon-clay brick swirl
Taste: I was really happy on its first sip from the top neck of the bottle, you have tons of aged plums and dark dried fruits soaked in coffee finishings. Quite a bit of sharp tannins and some small notes of alcohol notes holding.
Decanted 1.5 hrs later, the Shafer opened up nicely, the tannins and alcohol notes have lightened and it loosen up the acidity, the berries and fruit notes favor surface even more on the glass and you could taste the aged grapes on each sip with small hint of sugary finishings. There is so much toffee and caramel notes flowing in as it swirls.
Remarkably this merlot is another great example and demonstration on how past napa wine makers without mega purple could out perform in creation to a stunning bottle of Merlot that could easily paired against with a super 2nd or 3rd label of a saint emilion.
I have 6 more bottles, would be gone in no time. However judging from the notation on its tannins, if ypu are able to find some in mint conditions, this Shafer can easily hold off for another 10 years before climbing its peak. The bottles I have were all in perfect cellar conditions. Lovely wine and Shafer did an amazing job even for something thats not a “1.5” or “relentless” level.
Cheers The Winenald Ronald Of Boston, Manhattan, Hong Kong and Shanghai
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2015 Château Boutisse
11/12/2019 - WineConfiguration Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was followed by a fruity blackberry rose for the late evening. The Boutisse was astonishing and almost came as a surprise to my palate as this was at a price point purchased only between $24-$32 range. The lovely Bordeaux is showing a significant characteristics of a creamy vanilla oak along with the same black fruits with small hints of residual sugar after taste. The black currant is definitely standing out however unexpectedly the tannins were really well balanced and soften even at its young age. The structure and backbone is solid, this could be cellar for another 7-10 years til prime but could be easily drank now as a perfect Bordeaux for the evening.
Try a side by side pairing with a 3rd or 4th growth Margaux or Saint Emillon, its not too apart from its taste.
Cheers,
The Winenald Ronald
Of Boston, Manhattan, Hong Kong and Shanghai
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NV Gruet Winery Brut Rosé
10/4/2019 - WineConfiguration wrote: 83 Points
Light to medium body notations, a light rose peach and crispy pink color. There is a good amount of minerals on the taste, finished off with a blush of strawberries, rasberries and small floral notes. The finishing on the palate is heavy on acidity and medium alcohol heaviness, which makes it slightly unpleasant but would be a good pairing on some strong cheese refreshments to balance and offset the taste. This is a brut rose, so it will live up to the dry expectations.
Opened all 6 bottles for a small gathering during an evening. Could be better, suggest pairing with small bites instead of drinking by itself.
Cheers,
The Winenald Ronald
Of Boston, Manhattan, Hong Kong and Shanghai
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2004 Shafer Merlot
4/23/2019 - WineConfiguration Likes this wine: 94 Points
Well well, its been almost 10 years since I last visited these lovely ladies. Here goes..
Nose: There is a lovely aroma of coffee beans and tobacco and im not saying it as a typical swirl your nose on the glass scene, literally the scents flows in the air after I opened the wine and decanted it by the decanter
Color: A dark maroon-clay brick swirl
Taste: I was really happy on its first sip from the top neck of the bottle, you have tons of aged plums and dark dried fruits soaked in coffee finishings. Quite a bit of sharp tannins and some small notes of alcohol notes holding.
Decanted 1.5 hrs later, the Shafer opened up nicely, the tannins and alcohol notes have lightened and it loosen up the acidity, the berries and fruit notes favor surface even more on the glass and you could taste the aged grapes on each sip with small hint of sugary finishings. There is so much toffee and caramel notes flowing in as it swirls.
Remarkably this merlot is another great example and demonstration on how past napa wine makers without mega purple could out perform in creation to a stunning bottle of Merlot that could easily paired against with a super 2nd or 3rd label of a saint emilion.
I have 6 more bottles, would be gone in no time. However judging from the notation on its tannins, if ypu are able to find some in mint conditions, this Shafer can easily hold off for another 10 years before climbing its peak. The bottles I have were all in perfect cellar conditions. Lovely wine and Shafer did an amazing job even for something thats not a “1.5” or “relentless” level.
Cheers
The Winenald Ronald
Of Boston, Manhattan, Hong Kong and Shanghai
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment