Medium garnet , medium garnet rim . Aromatic , and slightly funky nose , with herbal, cedar , sous bois , truffle . On the palate this is slightly strict , quite high acidity , slightly gritty tannin , mix of red and dark fruits , herbal tinges , tobacco and earthy finish . Quite linear and elegant . Perhaps slightly rustic , not particularly ambitious but classic ‘gentleman’s club’ claret. Though this is showing quite a lot of tertiary character it is still drinking well , drink now and over the next 5 or so years — 4 months ago
2022 vintage. Deep dark red, with purplish rim. Very attractive nose already, with cassis, blackberries, raspberries,flowers and subtle cedar.
Midweight, with layers of succulent black and red fruits and fresh acidity, embedded in a ripe tannic structure. Great length, with a distinctive mineral touch. Not sure if it is as good as the incredible 2016, but a close contender for one of the best wines ever for this estate. Abv. 13%. It totally outperforms the Croizet Bages 2022 tasted alongside. — 7 months ago
+1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark ruby red color. On the nose: Intoxicating/intense nose of black fruit, dark currants, worn leather, forest floor, coffee grounds, minty dark chocolate. Taste: smooth, satiny, structured, balanced wine with chocolate covered brambly blackberry, tobacco, earth, cedar, black pepper, and a herbal licorice long finish. A medium body old world style wine that shows well right now and should continue to provide more years of enjoyable sipping. — 9 months ago
Starts off with a very evolved fruity character, but that quickly blows off.
Lovely purity beyond that - fresh black currant, with a bit of darker, earthy undergrowth, some red fruit, a hint of cedar wood, a touch of bell pepper. A bit evolved yet still juicy & pure.
Beautiful mouthfeel with nicely evolved, slightly mellowed yet still juicy tannins, evolved fruit yet still fresh acidity.
This is peeking or already has peeked but today is drinking so nicely!
A really nice one! — 3 years ago
Lovely secondary elements of sweaty saddle leather, cedar and later some cigar box. Soft, integrated tannins. Long finish and very nice nose. — 9 years ago
At Hakkasan — 12 years ago
Slightly medicinal notes. Dark fruit, leather, cedar, plum and bitter cherry. Soft and long. — 4 months ago
An exceptional, full-bodied wine. Tasted a lot of black cherry, currants, cedar, and creme de cassis. Drinking great now, but should last a long time in the cellar. — 4 months ago
Magnum! Leather, tart cherry, blackberry, cedar. Chalky tannins with bright acidity. What a treat! — 6 months ago
Flight 2 , wine 1 . Quite deep garnet , less terracotta rim . This had a whiff of oxidation about it at first which seemed to somewhat dissipate with time . Some dark spiced fruits , liquorice and menthol hints , cedar and sous bois . On the palate good ripeness and spiced dark cherry hints . Good acidity and rounded tannin . Nice length also , offering some spiced black fruits and menthol hints . Don’t think this is a pristine bottle but was enjoyable none the less , I was unsure at first if this was Napa , but coming back to it … and reading my notes , it became quite obvious . However I had this down as the Ch Montelena , not the Dominus — 6 months ago
2016 vintage. Cantemerle is always a good idea if you want value for money. Like many left bank Bordeaux in this great vintage, it tends to close down a bit, so give it some time in the glass or decant. The nose slowly develops after an hour, with a mix of black and red fruit, classy cedar notes, and flowers. As usual, it's all about elegance, but it doesn't lack power either. Still needs a few more years to reveal all its complexity, but very good already. Ab. 13%. — 8 months ago
Hillside Select is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged 32 months in 100% new 60-gallon French oak barrels. Deep Ruby with pronounced aromas of dark fruits, with hints of cedar, floral, oak, herbs and spice. On the palate flavors of concentrated ripe blackberry, cherry and blackberry, pepper, tobacco, leather and earthy cacao. Fine savory tannins, well balanced, long finish, great structure ending with fruit, spice, oak and earthy mineral character. Outstanding! — a year ago
A absolute steal at $35, this Rioja is aging beautifully and I’d say 2022 is the perfect time to drink this. A light, tawny color. A nose of cranberries, cherries, leather, tobacco and what I’m calling a fresh goat cheese. The palate is perfectly balanced. Lots of intense, bright fruit with a wonderful acidity that reminds me of ouzo or lemon curd. The finish is long and smooth with some leathery and cedar notes. Nearly perfect structure. Wow. — 3 years ago
Last time I had dark cherry was there but blackberry is showing now @ £133 a 96-98 in the making, but 93-95 now
🍇 85% Cab S & 15% Cab F
🍷 Opaque ruby
👃 Elegant savoury herb infused cedar wood, smokey fresh pine & new oak through earthy blackberry, crushed mineral rock, pencil lead, cocoa, bluebells, black tea & new leather
👄 Med silky body of spiced blackberry, liquorice, mocha, light balsamic w/ very fine smooth tannins & cherry hints
🎯 Med+ refined earthy blackberry, mocha & liquorice w/ a black tea tone — 7 years ago
Very smooth — 9 years ago
1.5 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable purplish magenta color. On the nose: very aeromatic notes of black & red berries, truffles, loamy soil, worn leather, tobacco leaf, floral, herbaceous. Taste: soft, elegant, balanced, layered mouthfeel wine with blackberry, dark plum, leather, crushed granite, dried herbs, and a spiced cedar long finish with some dusty tannins. YUM! At the start of its drinking window with 20-30 years to go, so no rush. — 5 months ago
From a 5 Bordeaux grape blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, 2.3% Petit Verdot & 0.3% Malbec, aged 24 months French oak, 85% new, Deep Ruby with aromas of ripe dark fruits, cedar and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, black cherry and currants with notes of herbs, pepper spice and earthy notes. Fine sweet tannins, long finish ending with cacao, smoky oak, fruit and mineral tang. Very nice, aging well, but time will reward! — 6 months ago
This was still youthful showing black currant, plum, cassis, cedar, damp earth, menthol, sweet spice & tobacco. — 7 months ago
Another oldie, probably just past its peak. 38 years old - not bad! Barn-sided red with some brick on the edge. Lots of cedar, graphite, black pepper and cigar ash to smell but little fruit. Nice smooth tannins, still a little puckering. Medium acidity. For flavor there are some darker berries and red cherry notes. It’s a nicely balanced wine. Good length on the finish. — a year ago
Beautiful wine. Slightly prefer the 1999, which I had last night. The ‘99 was musty and tasted lots of mushrooms. The ‘01 is still earthy, but fruitier. Dark fruits, with a bit of tobacco and cedar. — a year ago
Wonderful! Enjoyed this delicious wine with beef spiedini and pasta with fresh tomatoes. — 7 years ago
Can't believe I've held on to this treasure for so long! Cedar and sandalwood on the nose. Silky with a bright and savory--almost vegetal--finish. Perfect with filet and steak-house style garlicky creamed spinach. These grapes were picked when I was still in high school! — 9 years ago
Wood (cedar), plum, tobacco. Pure ecstasy. — 11 years ago
Tom Garland
Double decant for sediment and pour. A splendid still dark tawny red color. On the nose: expressive notes of stewed blackberry/plum, worn leather, musty forest floor, truffles, mint. Taste: silky, elegant, savory wine with dried strawberries, leather, cedar, earth, and a peppery chocolate espresso medium plus finish. YUM! Still delivering like a champ at 45 years and glad to have a couple more bottles — 3 months ago