smooth and tasty, but nothing complex or eye-opening here.

Crisp and clean, with hints of melon. Very drinkable and refreshing.

Excellent, especially for a 17 year old wine. Amazingly it even improved the longer it was in the glass. Visit my website: Wine Peeps

just ok, many of the Cote du Rhones are better at a very good price. 83 pts

Sadly, dead on arrival.

We had this with feta, shrimp sauce over rice on 2/11/09. It had a tight nose with quince, apple, grapefruit and honey aromas. The palate was slightly sweet and followed with quince, apple & grapefruit flavors. It was OK...just very blah. I certainly wouldn't buy another.

Expansive bouquet of blackberries, blueberries and red currants. There are also flower petal and white pepper aromas with layers of oak that are seamlessly balanced with the fruit. In the mouth there are classic merlot nuances of cherries and blackberries all wrapped around a spicy youthful core. This is a rich, ripe and vibrant wine that will age well.

wow

Dark purple color. Concentrated plum and blackberry aromas with black pepper and cassis. This wine is deep and focused. More Cabernet flavors show through this year, producing a more extracted, longer-lived wine. Yet the tannins are soft and Merlot-like. Nice lingering finish.

Inky, purple color. This is an extreme wine of unbelievable concentration, bursting with juicy flavors. There is rich, black fruits, cigar box oak and violet aromas. The flavors are expansive both in length and breadth. Wow!! The flavors include, but are not limited to, exotic fruits, peppery Asian spice, leather, plums and a touch of chocolate. There is grip and strength, yet a certain polish in the wine. Will do well in the cellar.

Deep black color. The wine is youthful yet showing deep extracted aromas of Asian spice, black fruits, pencil snap and cassis. Layers of blueberries, plums and a meaty quality flow across the palate. Incredible concentration reveals a well integrated oak toast. Great classical structure and grip. A very fine vintage for Chaleur Estate.

Nose: Very powerful aromas of black licorice and bitter dark chocolate...stunning and unforgettable. Body: Complex blend of blueberry and cocoa, amid thick background of red fruit and leading to a leather and herb blush and singed with some serious heat.

Big jammy, ripe aromas of blackberries, blueberries and toasty vanilla oak spices jump right out of the glass. The flavors combine a blast of fresh ripe berries with white pepper, ripe tannins and plush Merlot middle flavors. Good concentration and fresh vibrant fruit is the key to this wine.

Dark regal ruby color. Bright aromas of cocoa, blackberries, fresh currants and black pepper spice. There is a soft plush mouth-feel typical of Merlot with black fruits, cassis and mocha flavors. The finish reveals length and tannins that are ripe and soft.

Absolutely delicious. Fabulous core of red fruit, kirsch framed by slight smokiness and well integrated oak. Velvety, sweet tannins, this glides across the palate. Cannot put the glass down (or I should say Donielle couldn't). Long, long finish.

Opened wine to late - was little dry and had a slight metal taste to it. Otherwise up to Ste Michelle standards