Medium-plus ruby-red. The nose is deep with wider mineral notes, an edge of spice and just a little uncouth ‘lifted’ alcoholic top-notes. A little fat that overlays plenty of tannin – it’s quite fine though. Good depth and a good length. This is reminiscent more of 1997’s with a slight lack of freshness – though funnily most of Rion’s 97 are almost good. It’s okay but I wouldn’t buy more.
Bright, shiny, medium, medium-plus ruby-red colour. The nose starts with quite a waft of spicy, toasty oak but fortunately this hangs around for only 10 minutes or-so. The end result is wide, with higher tones and mainly red fruits that have just an edge of black about them. There is good concentration with even an extra kick in the mid-palate – it’s all coupled with good, smooth texture too. Excellent acidity and long finishing – very successful and better than many a 1er cru.
Medium-plus ruby-red colour. The nose still shows plenty of woodsmoke and a trace of ash – time in the glass brings higher tones and fainter red fruits to fill the scene. Very good texture with a real extra dimension of creamy black fruit on the mid-palate and into a finish that still shows a little bitter oak. The oak is far from dominant on the palate but is still a loud voice. The tannins remain grainy and a little astringent. For my taste the oak is one or two notches too high – still.
Medium-plus ruby colour. The nose is sharper and more focused than that of the 99, higher toned with a little cedar. Still drying tannin, but not with the volume of my last tasting about 3 years ago. Fresher, perhaps less concentrated but with good length. This is a better drink today than the 99, the extra density of the latter will probably give it a longer, if not more interesting, life.
The back label suggests that this should be reaching it’s peak 3-5 years from the vintage – hopefully it’s not past its peak! Medium-plus ruby-red colour – looks very purposeful. The nose is deep, a little meaty, sugar coated fruit and short-lived oak-toast. The palate is clean and precise with plenty of acidity and fruit that’s starting to show some maturity. No really dense fruit here so it’s better with food, but very svelte tannins for a 98. Super price at ~12 Euro.
Medium-plus ruby-red colour. The nose starts with lots of char effects and cigarette ash – not particularly appealing. Given time (needs 2 hours) the fruit becomes purer and coffee edged – plums and macerated red cherry. Very nicely textured with good acidity and high-toned fruit, the tannins have some grain if you chew long enough. The finish has an edge of licorice with medium-plus length for the cru. Thirty minutes of air is all that’s needed for this to show very well.
A bright medium colour, somewhere between cherry and ruby-red. To start, the nose is an absorbing and deep mix of faint mushroom, absorbed creamy oak and a sweet, almost impenetrably deep, musky fruit. Good acidity, if perhaps a tad tart, and a real kick of intensity in the mid-palate onwards. No rough or astringent tannins here, just a very above average finish.
Beautifully clear medium ruby-red colour. The nose is a mix of faintly old oak and wonderfully pure red berry. Fresh palate shows very good acidity and slightly dry – but well – managed tannin. There’s an impression of oak on the palate too, in that slightly drying sense, though the fruit is well concentrated enough to cope. Actually reminds me of a 1996, and a reasonably forward one at that. Enjoyable, but not a ‘re-buy’.
Medium ruby-red. The nose is a lovely bright pinot, high-toned sweet red cherry, though eventually a hint of volatility comes through. A fresh, sweet palate with a lovely burst of interest on the mid-palate and no harshness to the tannins. Lingers mouthwateringly into the finish. This is a tasty, well-made and very drinkable wine that’s just lacking that nth dimension to reach the very highest level.
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