Last fall @AskoKassinen organized an impressive session of Kutch Pinot Noirs - not just the basic-level bottling, but a good number of the single-vineyard wines as well. As my previous experience with Kutch wines was quite limited, I welcomed this opportunity to taste through such a big sample at one go with open arms!
Some observations, based on these bottles:
- The basic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir can be wonderfully good when it is good. It never seems to be the best of the bunch, but it can outshine certain single-vineyards in some vintages.
- Bohan, from the highest-altitude vineyard, seems - unsurprisingly - to be the lightest and most red-toned in nature. However, we didn’t luck out with these bottles - the 2017 was a lovely, Burgundian effort, but the other vintages seemed to be somewhat off, one way or another.
- Falstaff and McDougall Ranch seemed both always riper and somewhat darker-toned in style, compared to the Sonoma Coast and Bohan bottlings.
- On average, McDougall Ranch seemed to exhibit a bit more ripeness than the Falstaff bottling. However, despite its ripeness, McDougall Ranch always seemed to come across as fresher, more structured and generally more impressive than Falstaff.
- Although I generally like lighter and more red-toned Pinot Noirs, this time McDougall Ranch seemed to be consistently the best one of the bunch. Although slightly more ripe and darker-toned than the others, the wine still seemed to be wonderfully fresh, precise and light on its feet.
- As a whole, I really love the overall Kutch style. These are truly Burgundy-drinker’s Cali Pinot Noirs!
We also had one extra blind in the beginning and one mag of Bordeaux for the food.
- 2019 Gaspereau Vineyards White Rock - Canada, Nova Scotia, Annapolis Valley (26.10.2023)
A "small lot premium wine". A blend of L’Acadie, Petite Milo, NY Muscat, Experimental Muscat and Chardonnay, all barrel-fermented separately. Full MLF. Aged in French oak for a year. 12% alcohol. Tasted blind.
Yellow-green color. The nose feels somewhat indistinct and without any obvious aromas, just ripe yellow fruits, maybe a little bit of greengage and a primary hint of fruit candies. The wine feels dry, somewhat harsh and maybe a bit unripe on the palate with a moderately full body and flavors of chalky minerality, some slightly unripe white currant notes, a little bit of grassy herbal character, light tart notes of passion fruit, a hint of apple peel bitterness and a touch of rubbery reduction. The wine feels moderately high in acidity. The finish is tart and somewhat harsh with a medium-long aftertaste of apple peel bitterness, some grassy herbal notes, a little bit of pithy grapefruit, light unripe green currant tones and a primary hint of candied sweetness.
My guess was that this is probably either an unripe Sauvignon Blanc or a wine made with hybrid grape varieties, since the wine was so lean, harsh and somewhat bitter in overall character. There were no obvious hybrid aromatics, so this was definitely quite vinous in that sense - the end result just didn't feel particularly balanced or pleasant. Not really worth the 24 CAD (approx. 16,50€).
(70 points) - 2014 Kutch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
A blend of fruit from various terroirs. 40% of the fruit was destemmed. Fermented spontaneously, pigeage by foot. Aged for about a year in predominantly old French oak barrels. 12,9% alcohol.
Evolved, slightly translucent blood-red color. The nose feels vibrant and slightly evolved with aromas of ripe red berries and crunchy cranberries, some floral notes of violets, a little bit of earthy and slightly spicy Pinosity, light sweet notes of juicy red cherries, a hint of fragrant stemmy character and a touch of herbs. The wine feels ripe, juicy and supple on the palate with a medium body and dry flavors of tart cranberries and fresh black cherries, some gravelly mineral tones, a little bit of earthy Pinosity, light floral nuances of violets and a hint of dark brambly fruit. The structure relies mostly on the rather high acidity, as the ripe medium-minus tannins lend only a little bit of firmness to the mouthfeel. The finish is dry, long and clean with a varietally correct aftertaste of tart cranberries and brambly raspberries, some savory spices, a little bit of earthy Pinosity, light sweeter notes of ripe black cherries, a floral hint of violets and a savory touch of meaty umami.
A nice, quite light and delicate Sonoma Pinot with a somewhat evolved yet not tertiary overall feel. The wine felt maybe a bit light and underwhelming compared to the younger single-vineyard Kutch Pinot Noirs we tasted at the tasting, but the wine exhibited a lovely sense of finesse all the same. Most likely the wine will continue to keep for many more years, but I doubt this is ever going to be a big and characterful Pinot. This is just a nice, clean and harmonious weekday red from the lighter end of the spectrum.
(89 points) - 2016 Kutch Pinot Noir Bohan Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
100% Pinot Noir from the Bohan Vineyard, planted ungrafted in 1972 at the altitude of 400-450 m (1300-1500 ft) above sea level. Fermented spontaneously, pigeage by foot. Aged for about a year in predominantly old French oak barrels. 11,3% alcohol.
Moderately translucent and somewhat evolved dried-blood color. The nose feels somewhat restrained and quite evolved with aromas of beef jerky, some sweeter evolved notes of wizened dark berries, light plummy tones, a hint of earth and a touch of hoisin sauce. The wine feels dry, dull and slightly oxidative on the palate with a light-to-medium body and quite tertiary flavors of beef jerky and earth, some gravelly mineral tones, a little bit of nutty rancio and a hint of dried dark berries. The structure relies mostly on the bright, zippy acidity than on the relatively light, gently grippy tannins. The finish is dull, dry and gently grippy with a moderately oxidative aftertaste of meaty umami, some game, light oxidative notes of soy sauce, a little bit of beef jerky, a hint of earth and a touch of dried cranberry.
Although the wine was wonderfully light, fresh and delicate in overall character, the fruit department was pretty much DOA. I don't know if this bottle was representative of the vintage or if we had a dud bottle suffering from premox. The cork seemed to be just fine, so something else must've gone wrong there. A shame.
(NR/flawed) - 2016 Kutch Pinot Noir Falstaff Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
100% Pinot Noir from the Falstaff Vineyard, planted in 1999 at the altitude of 155-175 m (515-575 ft) above sea level with 828, 115 and 777 clones. Fermented spontaneously, pigeage by foot. Aged for about a year in predominantly old French oak barrels. 12% alcohol.
Dark, somewhat translucent and slightly evolved garnet color. The nose feels dark-toned and quite attractive albeit a bit off-piste with its aromas of ripe dark forest fruits, some dull old wood notes, a little bit of sweet, buttery diacetyl, light black cherry tones, a brambly hint of black raspberries and a touch of spicy Pinosity. Although the diacetyl distracts a tiny bit, it doesn't manage to ruin the nose for me. The wine feels dry, firm and balanced on the palate with a medium body and somewhat earthy flavors of sweet black cherries and savory notes of meaty umami, some earthy Pinosity, a little bit of brambly black raspberry, light stony minerality, a crunchy hint of tart cranberry and a touch of dusty old wood. The structure relies mostly on the bright, high acidity rather than on the light, silky tannins. The finish is dry, spicy and slightly grippy with a rather long aftertaste of spicy Pinosity, some savory woody notes, light savory notes of meaty umami, a little bit of cherry, crunchy hints of tart cranberries and brambly raspberries and a touch of stony minerality.
A sophisticated, harmonious and very savory Sonoma Pinot that had a bit odd, yet still thoroughly enjoyable nose. Although there is quite a bit of fruit in the wine, the overall flavor profile still seems to be dominated by non-fruit flavors of earthy spices, meaty umami, old woody tones and stony mineral nuances. While not the most captivating Kutch Pinot we had in our tasting, this was a lovely effort all the same - with its dry, mineral and acid-driven overall feel, this was definitely more Burgundian than Californian, from the stylistic point of view.
(91 points) - 2016 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
100% Pinot Noir from McDougall Ranch, planted to Dijon clones 114 and 115 in 1997. 25% of the fruit is destemmed, 75% vinified in whole clusters, resulting in partial semi-carbonic fermentation at the beginning of the spontaneous fermentation. Aged in 100% used, neutral oak barrels. 12% alcohol.
Luminous, moderately translucent and slightly evolved ruby-red color. The nose feels expressive, sweetly-fruited and somewhat dark-toned with aromas of ripe black cherries and black raspberries, some fragrant floral violet tones, a little bit of earthy Pinosity, light woody nuances of savory old oak, a hint of strawberry and a touch of stemmy character. The wine feels ripe, juicy and silky on the palate with a medium body and vibrant, fruit-forward flavors of sweet black raspberries and Bing cherries, some woody tones, a little bit of stemmy spice, light gravelly mineral tones, a hint of crunchy cranberry and a touch of floral lift. The high acidity lends good sense of structure and precision to the wine, whereas the supple medium-minus tannins bring a little bit of firmness to the mouthfeel. The finish is juicy, dark-toned and somewhat sweetly-fruited with succulent flavors of black cherries and tart red plums, some crunchy cranberry tones, a little bit of savory wood spice, a hint of peppery spice and a touch of floral lift.
A wonderfully harmonious, supple and delicate Pinot Noir with great sense of freshness. The ripe, sweet-toned fruit flavors are beautifully counterpointed by the bright, zippy acidity. Aromatically the wine is quite Californian, whereas structurally it is very Burgundian. Beautiful stuff that can be drunk now or kept for many more years. A lovely and very complete wine with some upside.
(93 points) - 2017 Kutch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
A blend of fruit from various terroirs, no destemming, vinified completely in whole bunches. Fermented spontaneously, pigeage by foot. Aged for about a year in old French oak barrels. 12,5% alcohol.
Rather translucent raspberry-red color with a slightly evolved pomegranate hue. The nose feels expressive, ripe and quite red-toned with aromas of spicy, raspberry-driven Pinosity, some cherry notes, a little bit of savory meaty character, light sweet nuances of wild strawberries, a herby hint of stemmy character, a carbonic touch of kirsch and a whiff of peppery spice. The wine feels dry, bright and enjoyably sinewy on the palate with a quite light body and vibrant flavors of juicy cranberries and brambly raspberries, some stony mineral notes, a little bit of wild strawberry, light sweet notes of ripe red plums, a hint of spicy Pinosity and a touch of savory wood. The overall feel is firm and pretty structured with its high acidity and medium-grippy tannins. The finish is dry, somewhat grippy and quite long with an acid-driven aftertaste of crunchy cranberries and fresh wild strawberries, some stony mineral notes, a little bit of sour cherry bitterness, light candied carbonic notes, a hint of earth and a touch of stemmy herbal character.
A very sophisticated, tasty and balanced cool-climate Pinot Noir with great sense of freshness and somewhat noticeable yet not overwhelming whole cluster / carbonic character. Although the wine isn't particularly understated in any way, it feels somewhat lighter and less impressive when tasted next to the other 2017 Kutch Pinot Noirs. A lovely wine all the same; very Burgundian and positively delicate. Seeing how the wine doesn't really show any evolved qualities yet, I can see this not only keeping, but evolving and improving for a good number of years more - there's definitely some upside to this wine. Good stuff.
(90 points) - 2017 Kutch Pinot Noir Bohan Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
100% Pinot Noir from the Bohan Vineyard, planted ungrafted in 1972 at the altitude of 400-450 m (1300-1500 ft) above sea level. No destemming, 100% whole bunches. Fermented spontaneously, pigeage by foot. Aged for about a year in old French oak barrels. 12% alcohol.
Pale, luminous and quite translucent raspberry-red color with a slightly evolved maroon hue. The nose feels ripe, red-toned and fruit-forward with aromas of brambly raspberries, some fresh cherry tones, a little bit of gravelly minerality, light darker-toned nuances of blackberries and blueberries, a hint of spicy Pinosity and a touch of earth. The wine juicy, focused and silky on the palate with a medium body and dry flavors of raspberries and red plums, some savory notes of spicy Pinosity, a little bit of fresh red cherry, light darker-toned notes of black raspberries, a hint of sour cherry bitterness and a touch of earth. Wonderfully high acidity with firm medium tannins. The finish is dry, moderately long and gently grippy with a fresh, fruit-driven aftertaste of tart cranberries and sour cherries, some stony mineral tones, a little bit of fresh red cherry, light earthy notes and a sweeter hint of ripe dark berries.
A wonderfully fresh, supple and delicate Pinot Noir with a lovely, airy texture and good sense of focus. Like the 2017 Kutch Sonoma Pinot, this was maybe a bit understated in style compared to the other 2017 Kutch Pinots, but nevertheless showing good sense of depth, fruit and firmness. With its sense of balance and still rather youthful flavor profile, I can see this wine aging and evolving just fine for many more years. As it is with so many Kutch wines: this really is a Burgundy lover's Pinot Noir. Highly recommended.
(92 points) - 2017 Kutch Pinot Noir Falstaff Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
100% Pinot Noir from the Falstaff Vineyard, planted in 1999 at the altitude of 155-175 m (515-575 ft) above sea level with 828, 115 and 777 clones. No destemming, 100% whole bunches. Fermented spontaneously, pigeage by foot. Aged for about a year in predominantly old French oak barrels. 12% alcohol.
Youthful, deep and somewhat translucent ruby-red color with a faint purplish hue. The nose feels dark-toned and sweet with aromas of black raspberries, some strawberries, a little bit of ripe black cherry, light licorice tones, a herby hint of stemmy character, a touch of blueberries and a candied whiff of carbonic character. The wine feels ripe, juicy and silky on the palate with a medium-to-moderately full body and quite fresh but also relatively dark-toned flavors of sour dark plums, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of old leather, light savory notes of meaty umami, a hint of tart lingonberry and a touch of gravelly minerality. The wine is wonderfully high in acidity, whereas the tannins feel ripe, supple and silky smooth. The finish is juicy, quite ripe and gently grippy with a long aftertaste of tart cranberries and lingonberries, some black cherry tones, a little bit of saline minerality, light savory notes of meaty umami, a hint of old leather and a touch of black raspberry.
A rather ripe and surprisingly brooding and dark-toned Kutch Pinot Noir, but fortunately one that still sports that wonderfully fresh and crunchy, acid-driven cool-climate character typical of the producer. The overall feel is very harmonious and the balance is very much on point. However, I feel that sandwiched between the bright, red-toned 2017 Bohan and the deep, complex 2017 McDougall Ranch Pinot Noirs, I felt this wine was sort of left hanging in the middle, not reaching the heights of either of its peers. Nevertheless, this is a lovely and wonderfully poised Pinot Noir that is still very young for its age - most likely this wine will develop gracefully for another decade or so.
(91 points) - 2017 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
100% Pinot Noir from McDougall Ranch, planted to Dijon clones 114 and 115 in 1997. Spontaneous fermentation. Aged in 100% used, neutral oak barrels. 13% alcohol.
Deep, slightly translucent and rather dark cherry-red color. The nose feels vibrant, expressive and rather sweet with dark-toned aromatics ranging from ripe black cherries and juicy black raspberries to licorice root and spicy Pinosity, exhibiting also lighter nuances of wild strawberries, a little bit of dark plummy fruit, a floral hint of violets and a herbal touch of stemmy character. Tons of stuff going on here. The wine feels ripe, juicy and silky yet firm, dry and precise on the palate with a medium body and intense flavors of black cherries and ripe blueberries, some angular stony mineral tones, a little bit of sweet red cherry and strawberry, light gamey tones, a woody hint of stemmy character and a more acid-driven touch of tart red berries. The wine is high in acidity and the medium tannins slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is dry, vibrant and medium-grippy with a long aftertaste of crunchy cranberries and spicy Pinosity, some woody stemmy notes, a little bit of sour cherries, light stony mineral tones, a hint of sweet strawberry and a touch of gamey meat.
A ripe and quite dark-toned but also impressively firm, complex and sinewy cool-climate Pinot Noir with great sense of freshness, persistence and beautiful depth of flavor. Expressive, balanced and eminently delicious with great sense of finesse. Although the wine a tiny bit more ripeness than the other 2017 Kutch Pinot Noirs we tasted, this wine still didn't feel any more sweet-toned or any less fresh and precise than the Kutch Pinots normally do. A fantastic wine that is a joy to drink now, but will probably not only keep, but improve for a good numbers of years more. Very highly recommended.
(94 points) - 2018 Kutch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
A blend of fruit from various terroirs planted between 1972 and 1999, harvested between September 7th and October 1st. No destemming ie. vinified completely in whole bunches. Fermented spontaneously, pigeage by foot. Aged for about a year in old French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal addition of SO2. 13% alcohol. Total production 42 barrels.
Dark, youthful and moderately translucent ruby-red color. The nose feels clean, enjoyably fragrant and pretty fruit-forward with youthful ripe aromas of sweet red fruits, some woody tones, a little bit of tobacco, light licorice root tones, a brambly hint of black raspberry, a touch of juicy black cherry and a herbal whiff of stemmy character. The wine feels ripe, vibrant and juicy on the palate with a medium body and youthful flavors of sour cherries and ripe cranberries, some gravelly mineral tones, a little bit of tart lingonberry, light savory, non-fruity notes of tobacco and licorice root, a brambly hint of black raspberry and a woody touch of stemmy character. The wine is high in acidity with ripe yet firm and somewhat grippy medium tannins. The finish is dry, long and slightly grippy with a vibrant aftertaste of tart cranberries and lingonberries, some gravelly mineral tones, a little bit of tobacco, light floral notes of violets, a hint of licorice root and a touch of earthy Pinosity.
A vibrant, somewhat ripe yet still very balanced and harmonious Cali Pinot. After a bunch of older Kutch Pinot Noirs, which were slightly lighter in body and their fruit more red-toned, the style here feels slightly bigger and darker-toned in nature. Yet still, the wine retains wonderful sense of freshness and cool-climate character, which serve as a perfect foil to the vibrant, somewhat more Californian fruit profile of the wine. A fine wine and probably the best vintage of the entry-level Kutch Pinot Noir I've tasted. Recommended.
(92 points) - 2018 Kutch Pinot Noir Bohan Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
100% Pinot Noir from the Bohan Vineyard, planted ungrafted in 1972 at the altitude of 400-450 m (1300-1500 ft) above sea level and harvested on September 17th. No destemming, 100% whole bunches. Fermented spontaneously, pigeage by foot. Aged for about a year in old French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal addition of SO2. 13,4% alcohol. Total production 8 barrels.
Moderately deep, somewhat translucent and somewhat evolved pomegranate color. The nose feels sweet, perfumed and slightly stemmy with fragrant aromas of boysenberries and black raspberries, some licorice root tones, a little bit of dusty wood, light floral notes of violets, a hint of pouch tobacco, a green-toned touch of stemmy character and a whiff of earth. The wine feels ripe, silky and slightly earthy on the palate with a medium body and flavors of fresh black cherries and savory notes of meaty umami, some stony mineral notes, a little bit of dark plummy fruit, light licorice root tones, a hint of smoke and a slightly odd touch of something yeasty. Like fermenting dough-yeasty. The wine is high in acidity - as is typical of this particular single-vineyard bottling - but the tannins feel surprisingly stern and grippy in this vintage. The finish is dry, moderately grippy and a bit dull with a rather long aftertaste of earth and gamey meat, some sour cherry bitterness, a little bit of licorice root, light tart notes of lingonberries, a hint of gravelly minerality and a touch of something vaguely yeasty.
This was an odd bird. Among very vibrant and fruity Kutch Pinot Noirs, this particular vintage of this particular vineyard felt somewhat dull and earthy, lacking the freshness and purity found in other wines. The nose felt more or less fragrant and expressive, albeit maybe a bit light in the fruit department, but on the palate the wine had relatively little fruit flavors and a lot of emphasis on non-fruit flavors - including somewhat odd and not that attractive yeasty flavors. Like fresh yeast cake. Otherwise the wine felt enjoyably fresh and precise with a great sense of tannic firmness that I was a fan of. Unfortunately the wine just fell short in the flavor department. I wonder if we just had a bottle that was slightly off?
(88 points) - 2018 Kutch Pinot Noir Falstaff Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
100% Pinot Noir from the Falstaff Vineyard, planted in 1999 at the altitude of 155-175 m (515-575 ft) above sea level with 828, 115 and 777 clones. Harvested on October 1st. No destemming, 100% whole bunches. Fermented spontaneously, pigeage by foot. Aged for about a year in old French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal addition of SO2. 12,5% alcohol. Total production 22 barrels.
Slightly translucent cherry-red color. The nose feels fragrant and quite attractive with aromas of fresh red fruits and spicy Pinosity, some ripe cranberry tones, a little bit of juicy cherry and sweet red plum, light leathery tones, a hint of tobacco, a darker-toned touch of blackberries and black raspberries and a whiff of wild strawberries. The wine feels ripe, silky and quite fruit-forward on the palate with a medium body and juicy flavors of soft black cherries and sweet strawberries, some dark plummy tones, a little bit of dark plummy fruit, light bitter notes of sour cherries, a hint of earth and a touch of tart lingonberry. The acidity feels rather high and the ripe medium tannins bring some nice firmness to the mouthfeel. The finish is ripe, juicy and gently grippy with a long aftertaste of fresh cherries and brambly raspberries, some sweet strawberry tones, a little bit of stony minerality, light leathery nuances, a hint of tart lingonberry and a touch of spicy Pinosity.
A tasty, sophisticated and balanced Pinot Noir. Maybe a tad sweeter and more fruit-forward than the other 2018 Kutch Pinot Noirs with a slightly softer acidity backbone. Has a less cool-climate feel to it, compared to its peers, coming across as somewhat rather ripe and a bit more new world in its expression. Still a very pleasant effort that is very much open for business right now and will keep for a good number of years more.
(91 points) - 2018 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (26.10.2023)
100% Pinot Noir from McDougall Ranch, planted to Dijon clones 114 and 115 in 1998. Harvested on September 7th. Spontaneous fermentation, pigeage by foot. Aged for about a year in old French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal addition of SO2. 13,5% alcohol. Total production 22 barrels.
Surprisingly deep and dark blackish-red color that permits some light through. The nose feels savory and a bit restrained but also very nuanced with layered aromas of tobacco and ripe black cherries, some meaty tones, a little bit of licorice root, light sweet raspberry tones, a hint of earthy Pinosity and a touch of wild strawberry. The wine feels quite ripe yet very fresh and savory on the palate with a firm overall feel, moderately full body and quite intense flavors of brambly black raspberries and juicy black cherries, some tobacco, light gravelly mineral tones, a little bit of sour cherry bitterness, a hint of fresh plummy fruit and a touch of gamey meat. The high acidity brings in some nice focus and brightness while the silky medium tannins lend some firmness to the texture. The finish is juicy, ripe and gently grippy with a long, dry aftertaste of black cherries and dark plums, some sweet raspberry tones, a little bit of forest floor, light meaty notes, a hint of tobacco and a touch of sour cherry bitterness.
A firm, textural and still very youthful Pinot Noir that feels - similarly to 2018 Kutch Falstaff Pinot - slightly riper and more darker-toned than Kutch Pinot Noirs normally do, but at the same time the wine manages to retain great sense of freshness, precision and bright acidity. Despite its rather dark-toned aromatics, the wine is still wonderfully vibrant, balanced and complex with a lot of stuffing. The overall feel is very youthful and I can see the wine both evolving and improving for many years more. Excellent stuff with lots of upside. Highly recommended.
(93 points) - 2010 Château Carsin Cuvée - France, Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux (26.10.2023)
Carsin Cuvée is a different wine from the Carsin Cuvée Noire (a blend of all six red Bordeaux varieties). Cuvée is their flagship red made only in best vintages and is typically a blend of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Aged partially in new oak barrels. 14,5% alcohol. Tasted blind from a magnum.
Dense, fully opaque blackish-red color. The nose feels ripe, sweetly-fruited and quite dark-toned with aromas of blueberries and dark plums, some strawberry tones, a little bit of vanilla, light inky notes, a toasty hint of sweet oak spice and a touch of black cherry. The wine feels ripe, spicy and quite dark-toned on the palate with a full body and quite bold flavors of sweet dark plums, some peppery spice, light woody tones, a little bit of vanilla, a hint of juicy blueberries and a touch of ripe blackcurrant. The overall feel is quite firm with the rather high acidity and somewhat grippy medium tannins. The finish is quite long, somewhat grippy and slightly warm with a rich aftertaste of ripe dark plums and blueberries, some extracted woody bitterness, a little bit of blackcurrant, light sweet notes of toasty oak spice, a hint of vanilla and a touch of more peppery spice.
A balanced but also still rather woody and toasty Bordeaux that hasn't lost nearly enough of its oaky qualities in 13 years. Structurally the wine is in a good spot - not particularly soft or too open-knit, but not too tough or tightly-wound, either. The fruit department still feels remarkably youthful, so in all likelihood this wine will continue on aging, evolving and (hopefully) improving for many, many more years - at least in this magnum format. The overall feel is a bit too ripe, modern and polished for my taste, but this is an enjoyable wine all the same.
(89 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
