Ch Chasse-Spleen 2002

Medium red young robe. Lovely smoky, cigar box scents with blackcurrants and plums and a lanolin back note. Grippy tannins; good fruit; elegant with a nice mineral backbone. Good length. Classic Bordeaux but too tannic on the finish. Interesting that this bottle had more elegance than the one opened seven weeks before; tannins the same … Continue reading →

Ch Chasse-Spleen 2002

Very dark plum red. Big plums and blackcurrants. Tannin obvious; dark berries, especially blackcurrants; quite big and tannic still but opens in the glass. Finish quite tannic but some fruit sweetness in balance as well. May need more bottle age. Moulis, Bordeaux, France 17/20 [tasted 01-10-2011]

Te Mata Awatea 2002

Amber edge. Ribena blackcurrant nose with dark plums. Lovely mellow wine, good tannins and acid in balance. Ripe cabernet dark fruits and merlot plums. Long finish with moreish fruit lingering. Te Mata’s website notes: “Awatea 2002 is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot.” Hawke’s Bay, New … Continue reading →

Ch Chasse-Spleen 2002

Medium red young robe. Lovely smoky, cigar box scents with blackcurrants and plums and a lanolin back note. Grippy tannins; good fruit; elegant with a nice mineral backbone. Good length. Classic Bordeaux but too tannic on the finish. Interesting that this bottle had more elegance than the one opened seven weeks before; tannins the same … Continue reading →

Ch Chasse-Spleen 2002

Very dark plum red. Big plums and blackcurrants. Tannin obvious; dark berries, especially blackcurrants; quite big and tannic still but opens in the glass. Finish quite tannic but some fruit sweetness in balance as well. May need more bottle age. A second bottle some weeks later had more elegance. Moulis, Bordeaux, France 17/20 [tasted 01-10-2011] http://www.chasse-spleen.com … Continue reading →

Te Mata Awatea 2002

Amber edge. Ribena blackcurrant nose with dark plums. Lovely mellow wine, good tannins and acid in balance. Ripe cabernet dark fruits and merlot plums. Long finish with moreish fruit lingering. Te Mata’s website notes: “Awatea 2002 is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot.” Hawke’s Bay, New … Continue reading →