2016 Domaine du Bel Air (Pierre et Rodolphe Gauthier) Bourgueil Clos Nouveau

Community Tasting Notes (7) Avg Score: 91.4 points

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  7/29/2022 - grafstrb wrote: 95 Points

  -- decanted approx. 1 hr. before initial taste --
  -- tasted non-blind over a few hours --
  
  NOSE: red-fruited --- ripe; medium-light to medium pyrazine note; somewhat reserved right now.
  
  BODY: medium-light to medium bodied.
  
  TASTE: dark red fruits; juicy; light pyrazine; strong mineral note; little bit of Sweet Tarts; not tannic; medium-light or light oak note a couple hours after initial taste. This wine oozes class. Possibly the best Cab Franc I've had. Unbelievable. Drink Now or Hold.
  
  50, 5, 12, 19, 9 = 95

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  4/20/2022 - Rani Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Elegant. Lots of stuffing here but it closed up which means it needs time. Bordeaux-like nose, but the palate is highly toned and floral. Would be interesting to sample this in 5 years.

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  1/10/2022 - bvivio Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Appearance: deep ruby, light staining, medium tearing, some fine sediment.
  
  Nose: clean, developing, medium+ intensity, black cherry, red currant, red plum, ripe strawberry, bay leaf, paprika, violet, crushed gravel, tobacco, cedar, cocoa powder, worn leather.
  
  Palate: dry, medium+ acid, medium tannin, medium alcohol (13%), medium+intensity, medium body, medium+ finish, black cherry, red currant, red plum, ripe strawberry, bay leaf, paprika, violet, crushed gravel, tobacco, cedar, cocoa powder, worn leather.

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  12/12/2021 - frenchiecagowine wrote:

  PnP. First, it came out with great fruit and palate feel at first, displaying crunchy red fruits and good concentration. However, on the back end I thought I may have noticed some potential "mousy" notes. I didn't get to try it again later but someone else did mention it was getting natty with air.
  "Sold" to me as the Clos Rougeard of Bourgueil. It was good at first, but nowhere near the concentration and structure of Clos Rougeard.

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  12/12/2021 - acyso wrote: 85 Points

  Sunday wines (Chicago, IL): The nose is very juicy and ripe; definitely a Loire red with a decidedly modern bent. There's also a fair bit of oak that's readily discernible on the nose and palate here. Some classic cabernet franc notes on the nose, but there's also something slightly mulchy and dirty that I find slightly off-putting. The palate has lots of dark fruit as well, and that same hint of oak; but with air, it seems that this bottle has gone slightly mousy. Despite that oak treatment and ripeness, it does seem as if this is a little natty.

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