Rustic Absinth
Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier
Clos de la Maréchale Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2012
Dark fruit with just a hint of oak with spices, and coca cola slightly. The wine is powerful, acidity is there and the ripe dark red fruit adds freshness to that full palate. The finish that is delicious, has a rustic side and some grip reminiscent of a good Nuits St-Georges. Despite that, a wine I really like in this vintage that has not yet convinced me. 90-91
Fruits noirs au nez avec un léger profil boisé, épices et coca cola. Le vin est puissant, une bonne acidité aussi, du fruit noir ou rouge foncé et assez mur en bouche qui apporte une belle fraîcheur. La finale, quand même délicieuse, a une touche de rusticité et de poigne qui est fidèle à un NSG digne de ce nom. Malgré tout un vin que j’aime bien dans ce millésime qui ne m’enchante pas toujours. 90-91
— 5 years ago
Agricola Punica
Montessu Isola dei Nuraghi Carignane Blend 2019
Carignan based red blend (also has small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc). Deep ruby in color. Intense black fruit aromas and flavors. Notes of fresh herbs, purple flowers and Forrest Floor. Touch of saline and minerals on the long finish. Full bodied with a velvety texture. Nicely balanced acidity and medium tannins. Beautifully rustic! Thanks for bringing this one, Petey! Revisited in October 2025. Still excellent. — 4 years ago
Scarpa (Antica Casa Vinicola Scarpa)
La Selva di Moirano Monferrato Freisa 2006
Starts out reticent, and without fruit. Lots of leather, earth, tar and some fruit leather. The fruit grows and becomes like a plum coulis, maybe strawberry balsamic jam, but never becomes really fruity. The nose is sweet, but the palate is not. Mint and baking spice come out on the nose. Tannins need to be mentioned here, they are there in every sip. Really long and "rustic" tannins. This needs to be drunk with food. By the time it opened up, my food was gone. Really powerful nose, purple flowers are coming on, violets and even lillies. Good acids. Dark purple color, darker than most examples of its relative Nebbiolo.
— 6 years ago
Domaine Pavelot (Jean-Marc et Hugues)
La Dominode Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2010
Deep dark cherry. Orange zest. Earthy and rustic. Classic. But the wine lacks anything special where i would say wow. Wine oxidizes within 2 hours so air does not make a difference. So I will drink these bottles up. Note these wines needed to be aged for 15 years to develop. — 8 months ago
R. López de Heredia
Viña Bosconia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2008
A blend of 80% Tempranillo with 15% Garnacha, rest Graciano and Mazuelo, aged 5 years in American oak, deep Ruby with aromas of red fruits, spice and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of strawberry and black cherry with spice, tobacco and cedar notes. Fine rustic tannins, long finish, savory ending with tobacco and earthy character. Nice! — 3 years ago
Château La Vieille Cure
Fronsac Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
Never disappoints; at 15 years it clearly still has a lot of life in it, and always shows better on day two. Aroma is reticent at first, but then opens to classic Bordeaux graphite and bramble fruit, plus pretty licorice and floral notes layered with tobacco and earth. Unyieldingly traditional and delivering a whole lot of pleasure for the dollar. Best of all, pairs well with a variety of food, even rustic vegetarian dishes, unique for Bordeaux. Flirting with 9.3. — 5 years ago
Andrew Cullimore
Medium deep ruby garnet with wide garnet rim . Open and classic on the nose with tobacco , grafite , herbal , mint , seaweed and some mixed summer fruits . On the palate this is quite fresh and slightly lean in style , quite rustic , bitty tannins and a herbal touch. Mixed summer fruits on the mid palate and a reasonable earthy tobacco tinged finish . Best drunk now and over the next few years on the basis of this bottle . — 20 hours ago