Nose has oxidized yellow pear, dry chalk, wilted daffodils, over-ripe pineapple and sweet oak.
Palate has rich, ripe pineapple, bruised yellow apple, dried orange peel, wet river stone but the acidity makes one take notice, quite exciting for the age.
Cork pulled for slow oxidation, 11H.
Another example of a Saint-Aubin that hits my pleasure on all fronts, doing great tonight.
Paired to a French dish this evening, chicken, apples and cremé à la normande (cream, onion, mushroom & calvados), wow smiles all around tonight. — 5 years ago
From a great old looking bottle with a mid shoulder fill. Cork is fully saturated and the crud under the capsule had formed a strong seal. Slow-ox’d for a few hours, then decanted for an hour or two before taken to L’Escargot in Carmel. Amber tawny rims with a reddish tawny core. Crazy nose right from the start. Notes of sweet black cherries, tobacco leaf, plums, black pepper, ash and crusty wood, pencil shavings, some just unwrapped cigar and some menthol. Silky in the mouth with firm structure and soft but present acidity. Long and memorable finish. Outstanding performance over several hours. — 5 years ago
Popped, 1.5 hrs slow ox. Used a Durand to open, and the cork was probably penetrated 7/8 of the way through with a soft crimson hue, but probably could have opened this with a regular corkscrew. A sublime bottle of wine. I adore this BDX vintage, and this btl was no exception. Pitch perfect aromas of soft cedar, charcoal, smoke, dries bluberry and raspberry. Gorgeous on the palate, with a still present juicy acidic core, lovely density, waves of dried fruit, secondary and tertiary flavors and a very soft tannic finish. — 4 years ago
Sweet and not too strong — 5 years ago
Vintage 2001 caramel flavors and taste — 3 years ago
Medium yellow color. Tropical and vanilla on nose. Oak With something I can’t distinguish.. maybe some salinity? Bright pineapple. Then rich buttery creaminess. Slight vanilla into an oak finish. Slightly dry — 5 years ago
Ray Vanderhoff
Interesting “Vin de France” that is the brainchild of the great Louis Barruol. Primarily made with Grenache that is a blending of several vintages, all vinified in concrete tanks. This one was bottled in 2019. Deep ruby/garnet/purple color. Aromas of ripe red berry fruit, dried purple flowers and dusty earth. Flavors of strawberries, red and black cherries, blackberries, red and black licorice and baking spices. Touch of black pepper spice on the medium-plus and slightly earthy/musty/peaty finish. Medium-plus acidity. Light and well integrated tannins. Pleasant texture and purity. Interesting concept that has led to an interesting wine. Excellent QPR. — 21 days ago