Another mature claret that promises satisfaction - even for those steeped in the new world.

As with Chateau Picard, La Couronne is also owned by Mähler-Besse, see my tasting notes on Chat Picard last week.

At 8.99 for a multi buy, this 2002 is a real snip. The wine has a lovely nose, fragrant right bank, and tastes of nice mature and figgy sweet fruited St-Emillion. Well made wine with a lovely flavour. Not a perceived amount of body (but dont be fooled by only 12.5% ABV), medium length - But a this price - a bargain.

Contrary to Majestic's tasting note, this wine is great as an evening apperatif, or with nibbles. Not a food wine per se', Supper yes, just not quite enough tannic structure for a rich dinner. Another claret to seduce those who have been messed about by unripe, green and unready bulk tank and overdry supermarket offerings. I won't say the names.

ABV 12.5%, so a nice and enjoyable wine. Tribs, you will like this, so will you GK, your sweet tooth will be quite at home with this St-Emilion.

La Couronne link for interested folks

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Duncan

I missed this originally, due to the website changeover. I found it after Duncan mentioned he had recommended 2 clarets and I could only remember one.

I picked up a couple last week and got round to trying one last night. Mmmm. I can't add too much to what Duncan has already said. I detected a little blackcurrant on the nose and it is quite light, but I like that in this wine. The wife was very impressed. She isn't keen on a lot of the heavier, more oaked reds. I thought that maybe there was just enough structure for food, but I can confirm that Duncan is correct and this is actually better on its own or with nibbles. It was good with cheese last night.

It has softened overnight and I actually preferred the tannins on the first night, but it is still delicious. I have ordered another six.

Thanks Dunc, this was a quality nod on your part. I look forward to your trying the Picard next.

Cheers

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tribs

Glad you like this one, all the more so, for your Misses's enjoyment.

The wine's grip is definitely best on the night. But, it wont be till I've consumed them all, that I will settle on fixed conclusions

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Duncan

I opened a bottle of 5yo homemade blackberry wine last night, delicious.

Would it beat your Couronne in a blind testing I wonder.......

Your creation GK, so if good, nothing will beat it in your mind's eye.

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Duncan

Tribs, I've been to Majestic on Sunday 30th, to check out other vintages.

The 1998 Picard St. Estephe is now on offer at £8.99 for a pair. The price is 60% of that in other merchants when converting the Euro, or US dollars, when you look it up. I would avoid the '97 when the 98 is available. Not yet tried, but I liked the '96 as you know. The '98 will be as firm as the '96 but a little less ripe I suspect - I shall see.

The '02 La Couronne St-Emilion- changes from one bottle to the next....so far !
Enjoyed one on Sunday for supper. More old world, peppery tannins, some cigar box and more cut to the palate, a little dryer than I remember. Next day the last glass and a half was softer. Good with roast chicken in BBQ marinade (you find them at M&S). This one was a bit darker, and a tad fuller, had some sediment and tartaric chrystals.
Significant bottle variance on these 2002's so far. But no complaints at all.

I may try double decanting and waiting two hours, to see if it is all down to airing and chambre'ing

If I was writing up this wine on Cellar tracker, they'd think I was pretty unreliable.

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Duncan

I have noticed a couple of bottles have their corks extruding from the top of the bottle (underneath the foil). Is it worth getting these exchanged while there is stock available? Or is it likely to be ok?

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tribs

A couple of bottles - how unusual to get 2 in a case !

There is No way of telling if the wine is spoilt until you remove the cork, I'm assuming the foil is not split and no weeping, which idicates that the cork has not moved since bottling.

You may have to drink one La Couronne this week

Remove the foil from one of them and see if there is any wine creep or staining high-up on the cork, then remove the cork. La Couronne has a longish cork, so I would place odds on the wine being perfectly fine, even if there were some initial creep / staining, it would still be A ok.

My relationship with Maj is so good, all I have to do is call them, they'd say, "open and try" in the meantime we'll put two aside for you. Please give us a call if you think the wine has suffered from oxidation, and we'll swap these for you.... No bother. Except you have to drive over to see them of course.

You could call them on an advisory basis (no sweat) and then open one with a proud cork in the week. My local are great people to buy from.

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Duncan

Great advice, Duncan.

Some bottles were pulled from the "Fine Wine" rack, which could be the culprits.

I think they are probably ok, so I will call them as suggested.

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tribs

Tried one with the cork extruding last night. Absolutely fine and truly delicious. Mmmm.

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tribs

3rd night and still good. Yum.

The new kitchen has a nice fitted glass cabinet with liquor storage underneath. It's great to showcase my cheap yet attractive wine glasses and my selection of Belgian and German beer glasses. The Kwak glass is probably the most spectacular. I digress . I've been putting open reds in the liquor cabinet. Cool and dark. Seems to do the trick.

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tribs