The 1982 Cheval Blanc is a vintage that I have not drunk for a number of years, so this was a pertinent reminder of its pulchritude. It has a flat-out gorgeous bouquet with ebullient red fruit, warm bricks (terracotta), hints of liquorice and strawberry jam. It's the kind of bouquet that you could bathe in. The palate has a ripe entry, voluptuous yet exquisitely balanced, the Cabernet components of this Cheval Blanc quite expressed and more pronounced than I recall. Yet it's toying with you as it segues into a more Burgundy-like final third. Mercurial, sensual and riveting. Tasted at the 1982 Dinner at Hatched. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)
— 3 years ago
This is the Tibaani bottling.
On the nose there’s a wonderfully complex mix of treacle tart, apricot pastry, sticky toffee pudding, Manuka honey, warm terracotta pot, flapjack, gingerbread, yellow raisins and toasted almonds.
The palate shows spicy apricot, turmeric and gingerbread character, the tannins are sapid, firm but chalky and quite fine, certainly a wine that works best with food.
(Worked all with a chicken curry). — 5 years ago
Very nice fruit present whilst delivering loads of pepper and capsicum. Could have given it a minimum of 2 years lore age. Hints of game and leather. — 9 years ago
Subtle tannins with a bold palate, terracotta colours — 10 years ago
Easy to drink on its own — 10 years ago
Affinamento in barrique di terracotta — 12 years ago
Quite deep ruby garnet with yellow terracotta rim . Quite closed at first quite mineral and reserved , darker fruit , orange rind, touch smoky after a while . On the palate quite compact but ripe tannin , sweet dark fruits , mineral touches , black tea , liquorice. Good acidity , long on the palate . This is starting to drink well now and will continue to do so for a further 8-10 years — 2 years ago
Bold juicy flavor and super unique. Easy drinking. — 3 years ago
Warm black cherries and red plums with baking spices, oregano and terracotta.
Tart black cherries w some candied cherry notes, oregano, marjoram, pepper.
Had with lamb pizza w oregano and zahatar and wine really resonated w both of those flavors.
P.s. last bit leftover in the bottle held up surprisingly well stored in the fridge for over a week. — 4 years ago
Intense musk stick,candied apricot and peach; honey and orange blossom nose. Temperature and time open up the palate to reveal some good texture and spice, along with orange pith and stone fruit flavours, maybe a touch of earth as well (courtesy of the terracotta, no doubt) — 8 years ago
It has been a while since I last had this one and the only regret is that I did not buy a case ;-) Ruby terracotta, lovely nose with a touch of Bret, mushroom, leather, cherries, current, medium to full body, smooth tannins and a lovely acidity, more than a blend of villages ;-) a lovely wine and a great value at about 25 Euro. My score 89, drink to 2018 — 10 years ago
Garrigue, bacon fat, game, terracotta and red fruits show on the nose. Fresh, medium bodied and moderately intense on the palate, with pleasing layers of the bouquet. Good all round. — 10 years ago
Concentrated Blackcurrant aroma, hint of herbs. Noticeable 'hear' in grapes reminding me of hot terracotta tiles. Softer structure, perhaps run & raison. A bit of white pepper. Medium tannin, body, length. — 11 years ago
2015 Renieri Brunello Di Montalcino - This wine gives lots of richness and structure. Tannins are still not fully integrated, but improved from my last try a couple years ago. FWIW, James Suckling gave this wine 100pts. This was my second time with this one, and while I still don’t see the 100pts, I do see it as delicious and for me that matters more than points.
Winemaker notes says it best - this wine opens with earthy aromas of bark, sand, truffles, graphite, rust, terracotta and sandalwood. Fruitier orange zest and lemon. Ripe, incense and with dense forest of aromas. Rich to the center palate, the fruit is vivacious and elegant. Robust and generous tannins. The finish is long, the after effects of the acidity unworldly. — 3 years ago
Crisp, cool, tart, stemmy and fresh.
Raspberries, cranberries, mineral funk, peppery and spicy garrigue and cold rocks (if that makes any sense…), as opposed to the hot terracotta tiles I often get in many other Grenaches.
This has a very cool-climate feel to it, rather delicate and refreshing. Like a Bojo from Oz. Lovely! — 3 years ago
The 2018 Bélair-Monange, so impressive out of barrel, delivers now that it finds itself incarcerated by glass. It is endowed with a seriously impressive nose, delivering blackberry and still that faint warm brick/terracotta scent, shaved black truffle and a touch of clove. You could lose yourself completely in this bouquet. The palate has firmed up a little, displaying more backbone than I recall. The dash of cracked black pepper liberally sprinkled over the finish curiously bears similarities to some of the Pomerols this vintage, and the Cabernet Franc feels much more prominent than its 2% contribution to the blend would suggest. I adore this Saint-Émilion and it is going to benefit from 8–10 years in the cellar... if you can resist temptation that long. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2021)
— 5 years ago
Bright ruby red in color. A fierce attack on the palate of acid and tannin. A wash in sour red fruits, this is a great counter point to food and only gets better with it. Aged in clay terracotta amphora, this is extreme on the unique scale, yet very much a well made wine. A 40/60 blend of Frappato and Nero d'Avola. — 10 years ago
Wow! A 2003 that some friends brought back from Hunter Valley. Dark yellow, smells like petrol, cheese rind, mushrooms, curdled cream, and honeycomb. Tastes like burnt sugar, sautéed mushrooms, cheese rind, toasted marshmallow, petrol. Jasmine flower. So interesting. — 11 years ago
Andrew Cullimore
Reasonably deep garnet , terracotta rim . Lighter with more red fruits , slightly floral , spicy , really quite elegant. Long on the palate , good acidity , quite noticeable slightly rustic tannin. Red rose and red fruits on the palate . Good length . Drinking well and will continue to do so for the next 10 years or so. — 2 years ago