Winery - Chateau St. Jean
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Concentrated and oaky, this wine features superripe tropical fruit and spice aromas and flavors, bolstered by woody vanilla and smoke. Drinks rich and leesy, with well-etched peach, mango and guava flavors. Crisp acidity provides freshness and zest, while the finish is clean and spicy.
0 out of 0 people thought this note was helpful.
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Starts off super-oaky, unleashing the telltale scent of rich, charred wood, and its vanilla and spicy notes. Only in the mouth does the fruit generously reveal itself, in fat cascades of blackberries, mocha and sweet herbs. It’s very complex, but also very hard now. Drink 2006+.
0 out of 0 people thought this note was helpful.
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Silky and rich, with a bright core of herb, melon, citrus, pear and mineral flavors. The wine offers a clean, refreshing edge while lingering long on the finish.
0 out of 0 people thought this note was helpful.
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Easily one of the greatest California Merlots ever. Notable for its complete balance. Nothing sticks out; all the parts work together. The black cherry, plum, black currant, dark chocolate and licorice fruit is big, but perfectly balanced with smoky, sweet oak, while a subtle touch of violets brings a smack of the earth. The tannin-acid structure is just beautiful. Will continue to develop bottle complexity for at least six more years.
0 out of 0 people thought this note was helpful.
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
With some caramelized oak and lots of black fruit, the bouquet isn’t snazzy but it doesn’t falter. The palate is fresh, lively and loaded with cherry and plum fruit, while the finish is broad, with soft tannins. Very much a mass-market Cab, but one with just enough power and complexity.
0 out of 0 people thought this note was helpful.
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Texture is the name of the game here. We’re talking pure velvet, the way the wine glides over the palate with hardly a wrinkle. Beyond the mouthfeel are flavors so complex, they’re hard to describe. The blend consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, with contributions from Cab Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, and each grape brings its own distinction, as does 100% new oak. It’s approachable now for the softness, and should glide through the next 6–8 years with ease. Expensive, yes, and only 344 cases were produced, but it’s worth the search.
0 out of 0 people thought this note was helpful.
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Varietally pure and true. This is a crisp, elegantly structured wine with tropical fruit flavors, honeysuckle, vanilla and masses of dusty crushed brown spices. Finishes really powerful in fruit.
0 out of 0 people thought this note was helpful.
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A slightly musky nose of spiced apricots and orange marmalade. Rich and mouthcoating, there’s just enough acidity to prevent it from being flabby. A high level of botrytis makes this a delectable wine that finishes with spice and honey notes.
0 out of 0 people thought this note was helpful.
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
One of the least successful of this bottling in years, probably due to the chilly vintage. It’s marked by green, pyrazine-influenced aromas and flavors that sweet oak can’t disguise.
0 out of 0 people thought this note was helpful.
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A huge, full-on, ripe and supple red wine that is buttery smooth on the palate yet offers the structure to support a rich flavor profile including chocolate, plum, cassis, vanilla, coffee, herb and spice. Very long and velvety on the finish.
0 out of 0 people thought this note was helpful.
