Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2004 vintage. At the time this estate was owned by Belgian Pierre Speyer who sold it in 2013. Hecate (named after the Goddess of witchcraft and necromancy in Greek mythology) is the top wine of the estate, 100% Tannat from the oldest vines. Smells like vintage port with sweet blackberry fruit and flowers. Powerful, with still a lot of jammy fruit, a shipload of mouth coating but well-integrated tannin and a sweetness that suggests some residual sugar (which maybe keeps the tannins in check). A take no prisoners Madiran that might not be for everyone, but at least it has a strong personality. Abv. 14,5%. — 2 months ago

Willem Booij

9.4

Great perfume in the noise, blood and herbs. Dark berries and chocolate. Smooth tannins, great acidity and a monster of a aftertaste. — 4 years ago

Christanna Honer

9.4

Leather, black olive and plum, a little VA, almost a "motor oil" component. Dense and brooding with statement making tannins. — 5 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Magnificent quality / price / pleasure ratio for this modern interpretation of Tannat in a "natural" style, on the fruit. Lively, with volume, accessible and crunchy. Open as an aperitif, it will be drunk throughout the meal with meats as well as pizzas.

Magnifique rapport qualité/prix/plaisir pour cette interprétation moderne du Tannat dans un style « nature», sur le fruit. Vif, avec du volume, accessible et croquant. À ouvrir dès l’apéro, il se boira tout le long du repas sur des viandes autant que des pizzas. — 2 months ago

romo

9.1

Interesting enough. — 3 years ago

R J Grogan

9.1

Inky black fruit. Just decanted. Will repost in a couple of hours at dinner. — 6 years ago

Daniele Cuzin

9.7

Et un autre fameux de la cave de B & L pour accompagner la tarte aux prunes et le crumble faits par A. On se regale! — 8 years ago

Erica Salin

9.1

Loved this - definitely different. Deep yellow, acidic, Mellon on the nose. — 4 months ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

2nd bottle and still so much pleasure. The well-worked Tannat grape brings notes of black plums; a mineral touch reminiscent of carbon or chemical smoke (not unpleasant), completed with a gourmet chocolate side, and notes reminiscent of pine or cedar sap or eucalyptus. The palate is supple and round with a lot of volume. The wine can still age for several years if we judge by the aromatic density. The tertiary woody touches are well melted, this is a good beefy and greedy bottle which will go as well with a chocolate desert as with a duck breast. Sweet and sour cooking will also go very well.

2eme bouteille et toujours autant de plaisir. Le cépage Tannat délivre des notes originales de prunes noires; une touche minérale rappelant le carbone, la fumée chimique (pas désagréable), complété d’un côté chocolaté gourmand, et des notes évoquant la sève de pin ou cèdre ou l’eucalyptus. La bouche est souple et ronde avec beaucoup de volume. Le vin pourra encore vieillir plusieurs années si on en juge par la densité aromatique. Les touches tertiaires boisées sont bien fondues. Un vin costaud et gourmand, qui ira aussi bien sur un désert chocolaté qu’un magret de canard. la cuisine sucrée/salée ou aigre doux ira très bien également. — 9 months ago

Per Niente

9.5

Laffont. Pacherenc du vic-bilh. Petit manseng. 2004. Perfect natural sweetness. — 6 years ago