Alvaro Bustillos

9.8

Amazing mazon sbiatti This bottling is from the British wine merchant Avery's. who bought barrels of wine and brought them to England for bottling until the practice was banned. The wine would have been labeled Domaine René Engel in France, but it was under the stewardship of his son Pierre at the time of this bottling. The wines under his reign were quite notable through the 1969 vintage. Pierre fell ill in 1970, and the estate was neglected until Pierre's son Philippe took over after wine school. The vintage was very good in Burgundy, though it is often overlooked because it was such a disaster in Bordeaux, says K&L's Burgundy buyer Keith Wollenberg. In 1999, the critic Clive Coates of the Vine wrote of this wine: "Full, very vigorous colour. Hardly any sign of age. Full, ample and spicy. Fat and Plump. Very good grip. This has length and quality and richness...Yet it has the fat, succulence, intensity and vigour. Fine Plus." — 18 days ago

Sharon B

9.0

I love a 100% Cab Franc; however, maybe this one needs to age more? It’s good, but not great. Coates my palate but not with fruit, nice color, medium body, just lacking in fruit. — 3 years ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.4

Nose has notes of strong blue cheese. Copper color. Medium body, dry, a bit of tartness. Rhubarb and tangerine notes on plate. Quite nice! Thanks @Michael Seely! — 5 years ago

with Joe and Michael

Paul J

9.1

1hr+ decant. Dark purple color. Dark fruit and cough medicine, with hints of prunes and baking spices on the nose. Cough medicine and more alcohol than I expected on the palate. Zero oak and lacks structure. Medium depth and the wine really coates the palate and sticks to your teeth. Medium plus finish. Good, just not my style.

Downgrading from 93 as this has become very harsh in the palate and fruit is gone. — 6 months ago

with Brooke

Bob McDonald

9.3

Delectable - this is the Mourvèdre - not in your Database. Requested an expert review. Notes of plum and black to blue fruits - spicy, umami - finishing with a touch of tar. Easy to drink. I have always thought that McLaren Vale does Mourvèdre well. Also some old vineyards in the Clare Valley as with Wendouree (Mataro). Although one must acknowledge the Old Garden from Hewitson in the Barossa, planted in 1853 and reputedly the oldest Mourvèdre vines in the world. — 2 years ago

Aravind A

9.4

Pop and pour. Far and away my favorite rendition of this wine so far, if this bottle is representive. On the nose, only the slightest hint of struck match, then waves of lemon, lime, soft vanilla, loads of minerality. On the palate: this just absolutely coates the palate with waves of lemon and soft wet stone, then the acidity kicks in to give this some drive as the lime and vanilla join the party, and then it just lingers and ever so slowly dissipates. Unbelievably good for a bourg blanc. — 4 years ago

Jason

9.5

Smooth and tasty — a year ago

Sharon B

9.5

I love 100% Cabernet Franc but not sure if I’ve had one from Argentina. This wine is delicious! Full bodied, coates your mouth with dark red fruit and has a very smooth finish. — 2 years ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.6

Dear friend @Michael Seely shared this with me. Beautiful, well aged Napa Cab. Big, dry, balanced. Outstanding! — 4 years ago

with Michael and Joe

Justin Hansohn

9.5

On Clive Coates recommendation of Pommard vineyard specifically for this producer purchased from Benchmark Wine Group received February 2020 drank April 2020. Fruit still accessible but completely integrated into the fully electric energy that this wine has become. Aromatics are beguiling and potent. Finish seems to go on for minutes. So much energy. Concentration of fruit in perfect harmony. Ready to go now and still could probably hold and evolve for a bit longer I suspect. The energy is unreal. — 5 years ago