Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.3

Clos du Bois don’t make ‘em like this anymore. — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

No formal notes . This is quite a deep colour still , medium deep garnet with medium garnet rim . On the nose this shows some ripe fruits , sous bois , tobacco and coffee , really quite rounded and generous , reminds me somewhat of Napa from the 70s . On the palate though this is more Bordeaux with a drier profile , sous bois , tobacco and grafite , quite generous mid palate and a well balanced if slightly short finish. Rounded tannin and balanced acidity . Quite a generous and user friendly 1982 , shows its charm and the ripeness of the year . I’m sure this was enjoyable a couple of decades ago and still shows well today and over the next 5 or so years though won’t improve . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Flight 2 , wine 1 . Quite deep garnet , less terracotta rim . This had a whiff of oxidation about it at first which seemed to somewhat dissipate with time . Some dark spiced fruits , liquorice and menthol hints , cedar and sous bois . On the palate good ripeness and spiced dark cherry hints . Good acidity and rounded tannin . Nice length also , offering some spiced black fruits and menthol hints . Don’t think this is a pristine bottle but was enjoyable none the less , I was unsure at first if this was Napa , but coming back to it … and reading my notes , it became quite obvious . However I had this down as the Ch Montelena , not the Dominus — a year ago

Matthieu Humeau

9.2

Bouquet de fruits rouges et des bois, petit côté végétal. Bel équilibre en bouche, tannins souple acidité vive alcool moyen à leger. À boire légèrement frais 12-13 degrés. Gouleyant et parfumé — 3 years ago

Benoit Duhamel

9.0

Déjà très intéressant comme vin. Quand le bois sera bien intégré, ce sera délicieux. Il y a de la matière, du fruit. Un petit coté racoleur. — 4 years ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.1

Yet another superb red blend from Nice Winery. 54% #cabernetsauvignon / 16% #merlot / 14% #malbec / 12% #petitverdot / 4% #cabernetfranc - it pays homage to all of the great varietals of Bordeaux. With a modest 13.8% ABV, it overflows with wafts of dark bramble fruit, leather, sous bois, lovely acidity, earth and lush California fruit in balance. Paired marvelously with grilled steak. — 5 years ago

Nicolas Duchesneau

9.0

Nez typique bordelais, tabac, graphite, un peu de sous-bois. En bouche on reconnait le millésisme un peu vert, mais cela s’estompe fil de la soirée. En bouche, on retrouve le tabac, boite à cigare, mine à crayon, C’est bien, rien n’accroche mais il n’y pas ce petit oumff des grandes années bordelaises. Finale de longueur moyenne, tannins fondus. — 6 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby garnet, quite thin garnet terracotta rim . Quite rich , with ripe red fruits , some tobacco , warm spiciness , cigar box , ripe cassis , sous bois , after a while touch of coffee. On the palate this also shows good roundness with ripe red and dark fruits, cassis , red plum , grafite , touch of earthiness . Balanced acidity and rounded sweet tannin . Quite juicy with a grafite edged finish . Pretty good length. This is at peak now . For now and over the next 5 -8 years. Quite generous and showy , ripe but balanced, a good showing. — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Medium deep garnet , medium terracotta rim . A very healthy looking colour. Quite mature and venerable on the nose , sous bois , iodine, plum, old wood , earthy with herbal touches and fresh tobacco . Reasonable volume on the palate with light sous bois and nori notes , quite fresh acidity and slightly gritty tannins still. Tobacco , grafite slightly short finish. Quite a good showing for a wine of almost 80 years old, enough interest and volume on the palate . Probably better a few decades ago , but certainly more than a curiosity as the wine stayed with us well for over 2 hours . Drink now . This was an ex chateau bottle that had been reconditioned at some point , I would imagine by the looks of the cork , about 20-25 years ago. No mention of this on the bottle however . Into neck fill. — a year ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.3

Wow, this second wine from the famous #apalta producer is stunning. Nose is supremely elegant black/purple fruit, sous bois and dried herbs. The rich beam of dark fruit is offset by the perfect level of acidity on the palate with velvety tannins on the finish. — 2 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.1

Ruby color, translucent, clear. Charming nose, red fruits, spices and evolution, humus undergrowth, with this small particular character of low interventionist and unfiltered wines, without being "natural". Mouth is delicate, and lively. We delight as much in the nose as in the dress, and we come to next glass with great pleasure. 2015 is to drink. Fans of Pinot Noir or gamay will appreciate. Superb for its price.

Robe rubis, translucide, limpide. Nez charmeur, fruits rouges, épices et évolution, sous-bois humus, avec ce petit caractère particulier des vins peu interventionnistes et non filtrés, sans être « nature » pour autant. En bouche c’est délicat, et vif. On se délecte autant du nez, que de la robe, et on y revient avec grand plaisir. 2015 est à boire. Superbe pour son prix. — 4 years ago

Sylvain Rhainds

9.3

1983
Performance tres honnete vs son age. Texte book avec des note de cuir, mine a crayon, sous bois, prune confit etc. Manque un petit wow pour etre un grand grand vin. — 6 years ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.2

Note to the Vinous team, this is a “Monthelie premier cru LES CLOUS Jean-Philippe Fichet 2015”

Very Light colour. Reduction on the nose at first but then opens up beautifully with some air, red berries, spices, a touch of wood it seems or cigar box but not dominant. The palate has superb energy, freshness and such pure delicious fruit, classy and elegant, drinks like a charm. My fourth or fifth bottle of this Monthelie premier cru and each one was great. This master of white wine succeeds also with his reds. 91-92+



Nez avec un peu de réduction qui s’estompe et se dévoile de façon magistrale, fruits rouges, épices, touche de bois il me semble mais sans dérangé, boite à cigares un tout petit peu étrangement. Une bouche d’une superbe énergie, gourmandise et fraîcheur, tellement pur comme vin, classe et élégance, ça se boit tout seul. Un maître du vin blanc qui réussit aussi ses rouges et je l’ai constaté avec plusieurs bouteilles de cette cuvée déjà. 91-92 + — 6 years ago

Sébastien F

9.3

C'est du haut niveau sur du fruit mur. La mûre, les notes viandées, le sous bois, une bouche tapissante, une longueur folle.
Un tout petit excès d'alcool à peine domageable. — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Medium light garnet , terracotta with terracotta rim . Quite herbal and cedary, light sous bois , earthy . On the palate this has quite fresh acidity , slightly herbal character, light sous bois and tobacco notes, grafite , quite light tannins . Alright length and balance . Drink now , probably would have been better some years (decade ?) ago . However quite commendable for a difficult vintage from a petit chateau . Tasted at Hedonism Wines , London . — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

medium ruby with quite wide terracotta rim . Quite light spice filled nose at first , allspice , clove , nutmeg with some liquorice and herbal , tobacco and red plum touches. On the palate a bit leaner than the 1993 , but light dried red fruits, sous bois , tobacco and herbal notes. Good length, really nice balance and intensity with fresh acidity and melted sweet tannins . This is still showing well and can last perhaps a further 5 years or so . Quite elegant and classic in style . — 2 years ago

Gor

9.3

Fantastic concentration and balance. Opaque purple color with nose of cherry liqueur, roses, dark chocolate and hint of sous bois. Persistent palate with dark fruits and floral elements that drives to a long finish. This is still tightly wound and needs time in a glass or decanter but will sing with a few hours of air. — 4 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

8.9

Light and translucent ruby dress. Typical Bourguignon Pinot-noir nose: tangy red berries, undergrowth mushrooms, mild spices. The mouth confirms the aromas perceived on the nose, in a nice general balance. The primary notes are respected, combined with a small discreet toasted side and mineral notes. It drinks very well. 2017 is ready to drink. To be tasted again over 5 years for curious/amateur people.

Robe rubis claire et translucide. Nez typique Bourguignon Pinot-noir: petits fruits rouges acidulés, champignons sous-bois, épices douces. La bouche confirme les arômes perçus au nez, dans un bel équilibre général. Les notes primaires sont respectées, associées à un petit côté toasté discret et des notes minérales. Ça se boit très bien. 2017 est prêt à boire. A retester sur 5 ans pour les curieux/amateurs. — 5 years ago

Scott Kahn

9.3

Sous bois and forrest floor on the nose gives way to a nicely balanced and integrated Cabernet. Tannic structure was still present but did not distract from our enjoyment of this wine. — 6 years ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.5

Very complex, elegant and rich flowery nose with some white fruit, some new oak too a little bit as well with those hints of mint and that light smokey side. The palate is absolutely magnificent with a roundness on the attack, giving the palate a soft smooth rich and classy enveloping texture, yet lively vibrant acidity adding energy and backbone with some saline minerality, ending with a very long magnificent finish. Might be even better with 2-3 years in the cellar although excellent right now.

Un nez complexe, élégant, riche de fleurs blanches, fruits blancs, une touche de bois neuf au nez aussi avec des arômes légèrement sur la menthe avec un petit côté fumé. La bouche est tout simplement magnifique, attaque ronde donnant une impression de richesse, ample avec du gras mais sans excès, texture veloutée et caressante mais aussi avec une acidité vive, vibrante, donnant tout ce qu’il faut comme colonne vertébrale, beaucoup d’énergie, un côté salin et minéral aussi, avec une très longue finale savoureuse. Sera encore meilleur avec 2-3 and en cave. Superbe bouteille. 94-95 — 6 years ago