See previous note from March 2022. Very dark Ruby in colour- impenetrable. Blackberry, smoky notes. A rich full bodied dense palate with a tarry note. Dusty. Granular persistent tannins. Again, Thomas Matthew’s drinking window is way too early (to 2025). This wine will cruise to 2030 with ease. When you taste this wine you have a new appreciation of the allure of Tempranillo, in this case old vine Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero. Post Script: The next day - aniseed and a crushed ant note. — a year ago
The 2017 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Asinone is ample and creamy, with all of the natural radiance of the year on display. Ripe red cherry, rose petal, cedar, lavender and spice all build as this extroverted Vino Nobile shows off its considerable allure. Even with all of its exotic beauty, the 2017 retains quite a bit of energy and plenty of structure, with a good deal of translucent vibrancy as well. In a word: superb. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, April 2021)
— 3 years ago
The 2008 Vieux Château Certan was cropped at 34hl/ha and contains more Cabernets compared to other vintages. Their contribution is tangible on the nose: pencil shavings and tertiary scents are pretty potent and lend it a Left Bank allure. The palate is fresh and vibrant with grainy tannins, graphite-driven, fresh and tensile with a persistent finish. Certainly, one of the best Pomerols in this challenging growing season, VCC at its most Médoc. Tasted at the VCC vertical in Etikhove, Belgium. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2204)
— 3 months ago
A winemakers wine. But a good one, puligny allure. — a year ago
I adore this wine. Elite Bordeaux blend from a Italy for not much scratch. Nose is closed but some black plum, red plum, cassis but barely peeking through. But palate is a banger. Juicy, fresh and so linear with such fine tannin! Wow this is dynamite. So fresh and precise with flavors of plum and cassis and such refinement. What a finish. This is outrageous and been open for 10 minutes. Wow. I expect the nose to really go off soon. Now the nose after 4 hours is smokey, with sweet incense and pure black plum. Terrific high quality subtle sweet oak and tons of earthy notes. So complex and unique. Ethereal and subtle. Concentrated and refined but has a bit of Tuscan grittiness that just adds to the allure. Long with an earthy sweetness on the finish. Exceptional and classy and just so Tuscan. The finish lingers for so long and there is a creamy opulence that develops after 4 hours. The balance between the Cab Franc and Merlot is terrific. This is Tuscan St. Emilion. — a year ago
The 2009 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse has been eulogized elsewhere, but returning to this vintage after four years, it's a very good Saint-Émilion rather than a great one. It has a typically ripe and exotic bouquet with a heavy carapace of new oak that doesn't feel completely welded to the fruit. Certainly, there is immense concentration, which will appeal if that's your metric. The palate is intense and structured with layered black fruit, high-toned but lacking complexity. It has a hedonistic allure, and there is a fine grip, notwithstanding that it develops more nuance in the glass. Maybe give it another four to five years? Tasted at the Lia's Wings/book dinner at Medlar restaurant. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
— 10 months ago
Lazure… quite the allure… pure… but not too pure… boredom is the disease… wine is the cure — a year ago
Haven’t had since July 2019. Wow what age has done to this wine. Totally transformed. An absolutely glorious nose that just screams limestone. As it has aged it has become less northern Rhone and more of the limestone soils of Efringen-Kirchen. There is a core stoniness that is just stunning now. Floral, meaty, olivey but so restrained and cerebral. This is just so on point aromatically. At 7 years old this is in a perfect aromatic place. The palate is pure silk. So nimble, juicy and delicate. Amazingly pure. Green olive and dark berry fruit that brightens up on the extended finish. A light touch of sweet oak adds a sultry allure. It’s seamless and effortless on the palate like silk with structure. As the acid and tannins are there to ensure at least 10 more years. Super long, complex and sweet finish. Genius wine. My last bottle. It’s is amazing the quality of Syrah from Ziereisen. Outrageous value. Sold this for under $30. — 3 years ago
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The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier is a fine vintage for drinking now and over the next 10-15 years. It's perhaps not quite as expressive or dynamic as some of the other top vintages, but it offers tremendous appeal and immediacy. Silky tannins and plush contours add to its considerable allure. A burst of dark red fruit, plum, sweet spice and cedar linger. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, October 2024)
— 17 days ago