3/15/2024 - PaulHig wrote:

Tannins slightly ahead of the fruit. Holding a chew against the dark, vanilla scented fruit.

3/15/2024 - PaulHig wrote:

Better bottle

2/10/2024 - PaulHig wrote:

Beautiful rich Nebbiolo, silky, tea, tar, berry fruits and rose. 1 hour decant, still holding a slight grip in the tannins.

1/30/2024 - PaulHig wrote:

Diam 5

1/12/2024 - PaulHig wrote:

Great nose, unmistakable Chablis, green apple and limestone. Slightly let down on the palate, a touch thin, the nose suggested more, but as a generic village wine, still good.

12/20/2023 - PaulHig wrote:

Served ice cold, crisp apple, pear sweetness, nice balance. Fruit still fresh , slightly mineral underlying. Easy and enjoyable.

6/18/2023 - PaulHig wrote:

Developing nicely. Dark fruit and licorice savouryness, tannins staying in the savoury lane. Best enjoyed with food and a little time in the decanter.

6/18/2023 - PaulHig wrote:

Very enjoyable, light style. Clean and clear fruit, with lifted aromatic finish. A great success for the vintage.

2/8/2023 - PaulHig wrote:

Oxidised

1/19/2023 - PaulHig wrote:

Lovely light fresh plummy/strawberry fruit. Good level of acidity balancing the light, ripe, fruit. Still drinking well.

1/19/2023 - PaulHig wrote:

Oxidised. Please Michel use better corks, this shouldn't be dead after 8 years.

11/12/2022 - PaulHig wrote:

Definitely improved since my last note 5 years ago. The oak has softened and the wine feels much more in balance now. Good fruit, still a touch of grip with the tannins, holds its own against stronger dishes. Chicken, duck or lamb recommended.

9/3/2022 - PaulHig wrote:

Dark, enjoyable wine, in a great phase. Slightly overshadowed by Alion 2012 tasted alongside, but not shy in that company.

9/3/2022 - PaulHig wrote:

Tasted alongside Pintia 2012, the Alion is richer, deeper, sweeter, fine tannins and with exceptional length. A large step up from an already good Pintia.

7/19/2022 - PaulHig wrote:

Dark and muscular, a touch tight (but I didn't decant), suggest at least 1 hour in the decanter. Sweet rich fruit under the layers.

6/29/2022 - PaulHig wrote:

PnP cellar cool, tight wine, could certainly do with a decant and relax from the bottle. Will approach this better next time.

6/19/2022 - PaulHig wrote:

2 hour decant, nice rich and broad fruited Pauillac. More generous than the 06 Lynch tasted alongside.

6/3/2022 - PaulHig wrote:

Beautiful. So much better for time in the bottle. Rich, sensual and pure quality.

4/14/2022 - PaulHig wrote:

I've not had this wine for a few vintages, but tasting better than I remembered. Lemon curd, hint of vanilla, touch of reduction. Precise and together, with a great texture. The perfect wine for a seafood pasta or rich shellfish.

4/14/2022 - PaulHig wrote:

Ripe, pure, red fruit. Lovely perfume. Hint of mineral background. Decanted for 1 hour before, softened the mineral toughness on original opening. Drinking well with a short decant.

9/12/2021 - PaulHig wrote:

Slight reduction, but deep intriguing Pinot. Ripe, but not over rich, great fruit, touch of earth and spice.

7/23/2021 - PaulHig wrote:

Good Napa Cab. Slightly ripe, but rich blackberry fruit. Touch of capsicum pepper and earth on the nose, but lacks complexity and not much development at this stage. Drinking nicely in a fun way today, maybe best enjoyed now with the fruit at the fore?

7/17/2021 - PaulHig wrote:

Silky, pure fruited, touch of leathery decay, everything that you would want from a top Rioja. Drinking so well today, out shines the 10 in fact, but 10's day will come in later years.

7/17/2021 - PaulHig wrote:

Only just starting to open up, tasted alongside the 07, which is now displaying it's maturity beautifully. Greater things to come for the 10, try and hold a few bottles!

1/10/2021 - PaulHig wrote:

Smokey, dark raspberry nose with a touch of capsicum pepper. Medium body, tannins nicely softened, with a lightness through the clean palate. Good fruit with a light touch of earthyness and pleasing length. Drinking well, with plenty of life left.

1/8/2021 - PaulHig wrote:

Corked.

12/27/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Ripe fruit, good balance of flavours, starting to mature nicely.

12/25/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Ripe and powerful. Not quite sure how to score this wine today, tasted alongside a 2005 Beaucastel from magnum that was complex, layered and singing. Good fun winter warming wine though.

12/25/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

From magnum, silky smooth, beautifully fruited, rich wine with a touch of pepper. Still so youthful, took a few hours in the decanter to open up. Sweet fruit, with just the start of tertiary flavours. Magnums holding well.

11/26/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

From magnum, pink pepper nose, good fruit, half way to maturing, lovely mineral grip in the palate with a nice clean finish. Drinking well, with some time in hand. Lighter wine than the VV 2015, but much more interest here.

10/28/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Summer fruit, easy drinking pinot, with a touch of definite class.

10/18/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Still drinking beautifully. A great vintage for this wine.

10/10/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Totally agree with Papies, this wine is singing at the moment. Beautifully soft in the mouth, cleansing acid, then a mineral lift at the end. The fruit is still fresh, with a lovely long finish.

10/1/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Still holding a nice perfumed cherry red nose, with a woody spice in the background. A light wine on the palate with refreshing acidity, the fruit just about holding. Has shown better in the last few years, drink before it's gone.

8/22/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Last bottle, just starting to tire, the fruit no longer over powers the oak. I really enjoyed these in their youth, with bright rich fruit and glossy oak, but now a little spicy and dry, with the alcohol showing slightly (NB I was tasting alongside a 2015 Chinon).

7/5/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Fairly sweet raspberry fruit. A pleaser, but a bit simple.

6/25/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Fruit still holding, honey melon, lime and buttered vanilla. Touch of firm stoneyness freshened with lime peel and a juicy finish.
Still in fine condition.

6/13/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Spicey dark fruit, with a touch of earth and menthol in the background. Medium body, lifted by the fresh acidity of the fruit. Slightly heavy on the spice of the oak, clashing with the lighter fruit freshness.

6/11/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Wonderful floral perfume, with a hint of savory earth / herb. Beautifully balanced, great purity and length. Very enjoyable.
Tasted alongside 2014 Two Paddocks Fusilier, which seemed too reductive and heavy & lethargic in comparison.

3/29/2020 - PaulHig wrote:

Medium, fresh fruited flavours. On the lighter side for St Julien. Evolving nicely, with meaty tobacco tones and a touch of earthy bell pepper. Enjoyable pyrazine against the plump fruit, but finishes a touch bitter without food.

11/22/2019 - PaulHig wrote:

Nice perfumed fruit on the nose, with a bit of complexity hidden behind. Ripe fruit balanced with a little minty coolness. Good length. The 2010 vintage has made a good Sarget.

11/22/2019 - PaulHig wrote:

Nicely balanced, good fruit and developing a leathery savoryness. Powdery tannins giving a little chew, but very approachable now.

11/21/2019 - PaulHig wrote:

Green apple, touch of lime, but also a sweeter elderflower blossom note on the nose. Richer on the palate with the elderflower to the fore. Slight grassy minerality and concentration to suggest this will be great for another 3 years+.
Superb English Bacchus of the highest quality, easily mopped up and complimented the light Thai spices in my coconut lime & prawn dish!

5/6/2019 - PaulHig wrote:

Soft citrus flavours with a creamy smooth nature. Light mineral edge, nicely balanced village wine.

4/25/2019 - PaulHig wrote:

Nice, smokey, reductive nose covering lime and green apple. Mineral palate, again with lime and green apple. Cleansing, fairly long, finish. Good village wine.

4/25/2019 - PaulHig wrote:

Peachy blossom nose, slightly waxy palate, cleaned with lime. Nice finish.

4/21/2019 - PaulHig wrote:

Smooth, rich & warm dark cherry, still quite primary. Better on 2nd day, so long decant advisable.

3/5/2019 - PaulHig wrote:

Smooth, rich, ripe fruit. Good concentration and viscous mouth feel. Freshening acidity and a touch of mineral grip follow. Just a hint of savoury decay on the finish, but doesn't detract from the gorgeous pure fruit. Great length, at its peak today.

3/1/2019 - PaulHig wrote:

Spicey dark cherry, rich fruit, warming spice, but clean acid keeping everything fresh. Good balance.

12/20/2018 - PaulHig wrote:

Dark and rich Pinot, with a hint of cola, but held in restraint with a cool mineral juicy finish.