Winery - Chateau Souverain
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
From a longtime value producer, an immensely rich wine with significantly ripe, big fruit. Has layers of flavors ranging from blackberries and plums to chocolate, and is very dry. But the tannins are great, plush and thick and easy. Might benefit from a year or so in the bottle.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Picture perfect Zin from this appellation. It’s dry, with flavors of wild berries, briary nettles and coffee, with a slight raisiny note that adds pleasure. The dusty tannins are fine. Finishes with a slight rusticity that cries out for food.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Lush, with butterscotch, vanilla, apple, pear and peach overtones. A tangy mineral edge adds balance, albeit perhaps too brightly. Clean at the end.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A blackberry and toast profile marks this quite dark but appealing wine. The mouthfeel is even, but some tasters thought it a bit narrow, and maybe too structured for the depth of fruit. Licorice and tar and moderate tannins close of this inky, mid-weight cruiser.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Grassy, citrusy and tart, but those who like this slightly aggressive style will love it. It’s dry as dust, with big acids. The winemaker barrel fermented it in order to bring sweeter, softer features, and has succeeded.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A very fine wine that showcases what Souverain can do, and also the vintage and the appellation. Well-ripened black currant and cassis flavors are wrapped in a smooth, creamy wine, with good acidity. The mouth experience is rich and classy.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Bone dry and crisp, with some of that raw, feline character, this white is complexed with notes of citrus fruits and just-ripe figs. This pretty cocktail-style wine turns super-spicy on the finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A solid effort from a dependable winery that used to be known for value, back before wine—especially Cabernet—prices exploded. It hits all the right notes, with black-currant aromas and flavors, herbal or bell-pepper notes and a fancy streak of mint, complexed with lots of new French oak. Dry and rich, it finishes with dusty tannins, suggesting aging possibilities. Best after 2003.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Earthy and oaky, with a certain heft. You get the standard apples and pears, and at every point a measurable dose of toasty wood—generally the Souverain style. Full-bodied and consumer-friendly.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Shows real classy Syrah character in the peppery, meaty aromas and flavors, and plenty of ripe, fruit and berry complexities. Also demonstrates the balance this winery is known for. Actually more of an old-style field blend, with other Rhône varieties.
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