Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.3

Clos du Bois don’t make ‘em like this anymore. — 14 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

No formal notes . This is quite a deep colour still , medium deep garnet with medium garnet rim . On the nose this shows some ripe fruits , sous bois , tobacco and coffee , really quite rounded and generous , reminds me somewhat of Napa from the 70s . On the palate though this is more Bordeaux with a drier profile , sous bois , tobacco and grafite , quite generous mid palate and a well balanced if slightly short finish. Rounded tannin and balanced acidity . Quite a generous and user friendly 1982 , shows its charm and the ripeness of the year . I’m sure this was enjoyable a couple of decades ago and still shows well today and over the next 5 or so years though won’t improve . — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

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 — 9 months ago

Matthieu Humeau

9.2

Bouquet de fruits rouges et des bois, petit côté végétal. Bel équilibre en bouche, tannins souple acidité vive alcool moyen à leger. À boire légèrement frais 12-13 degrés. Gouleyant et parfumé — 3 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby garnet, quite thin garnet terracotta rim . Quite rich , with ripe red fruits , some tobacco , warm spiciness , cigar box , ripe cassis , sous bois , after a while touch of coffee. On the palate this also shows good roundness with ripe red and dark fruits, cassis , red plum , grafite , touch of earthiness . Balanced acidity and rounded sweet tannin . Quite juicy with a grafite edged finish . Pretty good length. This is at peak now . For now and over the next 5 -8 years. Quite generous and showy , ripe but balanced, a good showing. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Medium deep garnet , medium terracotta rim . A very healthy looking colour. Quite mature and venerable on the nose , sous bois , iodine, plum, old wood , earthy with herbal touches and fresh tobacco . Reasonable volume on the palate with light sous bois and nori notes , quite fresh acidity and slightly gritty tannins still. Tobacco , grafite slightly short finish. Quite a good showing for a wine of almost 80 years old, enough interest and volume on the palate . Probably better a few decades ago , but certainly more than a curiosity as the wine stayed with us well for over 2 hours . Drink now . This was an ex chateau bottle that had been reconditioned at some point , I would imagine by the looks of the cork , about 20-25 years ago. No mention of this on the bottle however . Into neck fill. — 4 months ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.3

Wow, this second wine from the famous #apalta producer is stunning. Nose is supremely elegant black/purple fruit, sous bois and dried herbs. The rich beam of dark fruit is offset by the perfect level of acidity on the palate with velvety tannins on the finish. — 2 years ago

Sébastien F

9.3

C'est du haut niveau sur du fruit mur. La mûre, les notes viandées, le sous bois, une bouche tapissante, une longueur folle.
Un tout petit excès d'alcool à peine domageable. — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Medium light garnet , terracotta with terracotta rim . Quite herbal and cedary, light sous bois , earthy . On the palate this has quite fresh acidity , slightly herbal character, light sous bois and tobacco notes, grafite , quite light tannins . Alright length and balance . Drink now , probably would have been better some years (decade ?) ago . However quite commendable for a difficult vintage from a petit chateau . Tasted at Hedonism Wines , London . — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

medium ruby with quite wide terracotta rim . Quite light spice filled nose at first , allspice , clove , nutmeg with some liquorice and herbal , tobacco and red plum touches. On the palate a bit leaner than the 1993 , but light dried red fruits, sous bois , tobacco and herbal notes. Good length, really nice balance and intensity with fresh acidity and melted sweet tannins . This is still showing well and can last perhaps a further 5 years or so . Quite elegant and classic in style . — a year ago