GrapeScott

Raisins, plums, olives, black pepper and warm spice lead through to sweet fruits, raspberries and light plums, blackberries and liquorice, sweet spices and some minerals, with a almost syrupy character. Some warmth on the finish, but its cuddly rather than rasping. Still quite youthful, and perhaps needs a couple more years, though it is very drinkable now. In hindsight, perhaps a bit out of balance. Hmmmm. Showing the vintage characteristics. 86 points. Drink 2010-2015. 14.5% abv. $57.50 from a Langtons auction.

I’ve had two bottles of this wine this week with fairly consistent results; the second was a smidge better, but only a smidge. Pleasant aromas of river stones and stewed berries, raspberries and black cherries, summery spices, moss and some leather. The palate also showed the raspberry and cherry fruits, with lovely spices and minerals, and some garrigue. Length was pretty good, but the finish was a little raspy and hot. 2003 was a stinking hot vintage, and I think it shows with the touch of heat. I don’t think time is a friend of this wine, and I will be drinking my remaining bottles as soon as possible. Sealed under cork. Was originally purchased for $46. Drink now. 14.5% abv. 87 points.

Last bottle. Still a good red in colour. Red fruits and aromas from the barnyard, with raspberries and cinnamon, a touch of herbs and varnish. On the palate, raspberries and river stones, dried herbs and a bit of the farmyardy rusticity. Full flavoured with decent length, but there is some volatility on the finish. Went well with some goats’ cheese. Sealed under cork. 14.5% abv. Drink now. Was worth $27.29 from Europa Cellars many years ago. 83 points.

I got a few bottles of this wine from the Langton’s Wine Exchange in 2004 for $35 per bottle. Seemed like a good price at the time. I remember trying it when it arrived and it was a real bruiser of a wine: big fruit and big alcohol; it certainly wasn’t a wine to be challenged in single-hand combat. Well six years later some of the fruit has subsided, but the alcohol is still there, and lots of other aromas have evolved. Red fruits and dried herbs, but also a stinkiness, with cheese, farmyard aromas and an underlying tinnyness. The palate showed sweet fruits like mulberries, black cherries and black currants, with leather, minerals and earth, but there is also some varnish, tin and something like rotting compost. Good length, but that is probably a negative, because the sooner the taste is forgotten the better. Neither nose nor palate cleaned up with time. Barely drinkable with obvious faults, but there might be “good” bottles out there somewhere. Approach with caution. 15% abv. $35. Cork. 74 Points.

Red in colour, but with a brownish tinge. A mature nose, leather, pepper, dark cherries, plums, dried herbs and dried spices, with just a touch of alcohol lift. On the palate, red fruits, dried herbs and an earthy savouriness, with a touch of cherry liqueur. Has a soft spirity edge – but nothing aggressive. Some harsh tannins on the finish, though harsh is too strong a word. Where’s my Roget’s when I need it? A pleasant wine, drinking well now but should go a few more years.

Rated : 87 Points
Tasted : Dec09
Alcohol :14,5 %
Price : $35
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2012
Source : Cellar
Website : Domaine Santa Duc

A big nose. Meaty and earthy, black fruits, new leather with a touch acetone. The palate showed black liquorice, black fruits, strong minerals, chewy tannins and some slippery cinnamon spice. Still very young. With time, the nose went a big varnishy and the palate started to show some brandy spirit. Declared to be 15% abv, but I reckon it’s boozier than that. In fact, it knocked my socks off last night and I still haven’t found them. Tastes like a Grenache with a fair dose of Mourvedre and a touch of rocket fuel. Some won’t mind the kick though of course.

Rated : 84 Points
Tasted : Sep09
Alcohol : 15%
Price : $35
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2011
Source : Cellar

The purge continues. Just found a bottle of this that was purchased about 5 years ago. Still a good red in colour. Quite a stinky nose, and it didn’t clean up with time in the glass. Red cherries and herbs, with some compost, stalk and a splash of varnish. Quite volatile really. Palate showed red fruits and dried herbs, nicely textured with the sweetness balanced and reined in quite nicely by some farmyardy dryness. Good length and a dry finish. Re-reading this, I think it sounds worse than it is, though it will be on the edge for many wine drinkers. And there’s another 2 bottles somewhere in the cellar – the brett nazis will have their special decoder rings flashing in warning. Drink with a peg on your nose.

Rated : 83 Points
Tasted : Sep09
Alcohol : 14%
Price : $34
Closure : Cork
Drink : Now
Source : Cellar
Website : Clos Montirius

I am afraid of this wine. It was a bruiser last time I had it, but it was time to confront my demons, so to speak. The first thing to be noted is that the colour is now a dullish red with some browning. The nose showed an initial burst of red currants, but settled down quickly to show rustic cherries, bright spices, animal hide and some brownness. The palate displayed a pleasant savouriness matched by boozy red fruits, stones and dried herbs. It also has a slippery feel about it and it very easy to drink, though in hindsight it did appear a bit hollow. The wine finishes with a touch of heat. Okay quality, and a reasonably priced with a CdP.

Rated : 86 Points
Tasted : Jul09
Alcohol : 15%
Price : $33
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2010
Source : Cellar
Website : La Bastide Saint Dominique