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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 87.4 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 38 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by pape du neuf on 4/25/2020 & rated 84 points: Nose of over-ripe fruit and a hit of alcohol. Seems higher than the stated 14.7. There is more freshness to the fruit than the nose indicates, and also more acidity, but the entire impression is spoiled by an underlying bitterness. This is not tannic astringency, and I don't quite understand where it comes from. Drink soon, if ever. (4495 views) | | | Tasted by Magnolian on 3/30/2020 & rated 75 points: Nose of something rotting, mixed with dirty laundry. Musty and vegetal, with vinegar notes. Pretty disgusting. (1415 views) | | | Tasted by skifree on 5/4/2019 & rated 83 points: This has not aged well. A lot of stewed fruit on the nose and at the initial onset, then some nice fruit, violet, and herb behind it. I am not a fan of the stewed fruit notes. (2441 views) | | | Tasted by srh on 9/14/2018: Friday Tasting Group; Unthemed (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Grenache 74%, Syrah 16%, Counoise 5%, & Vaccarèse 5%; Typically, aged for 12 mos, 75% in large 30-48 hl barrels, & 25% in vats
N: An earthiness with just a hint of mustiness? Rest tough to parse
P: MF body; Very RNDISH entry with NICE frt firmed by a bitterish astringency which pretty much mitigates as it slowly, fairly seamlessly transitions into quite a LONG, very, VERY slightly bitter finish with a DEFINITE swtness to what very, VERY fine tannins still remain. For now & should hold into its '15th. 14.5% ABV; My EXC/EXC+, although others liked it WAY < I. 91 pts RJonWine, 15.5/20 Jancis Robinson, 3/5* drinkrhone.com, and Bronze @ '09 Challenge International du Vin. (2397 views) | | | Tasted by woodsylord on 3/25/2018 & rated 87 points: Way over the hill. Nose - stewed prune, Madeira, tar. Palate - flabby, more prune notes, tired. Alcohol too forward, faded. Eaten with charred honey rosemary lamb ribs and managed to decently compliment.. wish I had drank this about 5 years ago. (2718 views) | | | Tasted by Connecticut Wino on 3/14/2017 & rated 86 points: Tasting notes consistent with those from 3/2016. (3484 views) | | | Tasted by drdebs on 3/5/2017 & rated 88 points: Never really improved past the last tasting--which was some time ago. Loved the name, and it's a solid wine but nothing memorable. Good with food, but another one of those "if it sounds too good to be true..." Garagiste offerings. (2164 views) | | | Tasted by sergiozy on 1/29/2017 & rated 85 points: very ripe on the mouth almost prune
will try one more but it could be done (2266 views) | | | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 10/29/2016 & rated 86 points: I like the deep old-vine concentration here, but don't like the ripeness coming across somewhere between very ripe and over-ripe, plus slightly more advanced than I'd expect at less than 10 yo. (2792 views) | | | Tasted by cse on 10/13/2016 & rated 82 points: Stewed plums on the nose. Ripe vintage--too ripe. One dimensional on the palate. Secondary evolution has happened but not in an interesting way. Won't last many more years. Disappointing. (1822 views) | | | Tasted by Connecticut Wino on 3/29/2016 & rated 86 points: All of our 2007 Southern Rhone wines seem to have turned from fresh to fading almost overnight. This one is showing pretty well, but it is fully mature and ready to finish up. Nose and palate alike show leather, tobacco leaf, cedar, and a lingering core of plummy fruit. Structure is still intact. (2283 views) | | | Tasted by borneman on 9/2/2015: Wow, what difference 5 years makes since last tasted. Properly cellared since 2009 purchase. "Fresh" Grenache primary flavors and spice have all given way to loads of over-ripe plum and leather. Way too young to drink this old. I'd expect this more from the '03 vintage. (3076 views) | | | Tasted by wormfarmer on 2/17/2015 & rated 88 points: Much better than last time; liked it best on pop-and-pour. (3552 views) | | | Tasted by SteveG on 8/28/2014 & rated 87 points: Garnet to barely orangy rim. Modest nose of blackberry, plums, a little graphite. The palate is very ripe in flavor but not thick, pleasant black fruit if a little monolithic. The finish is nicely tart, however a little warm and slightly candied. This seems a pretty good wine, perhaps I don't really like grenache so much. (4071 views) | | | Tasted by wormfarmer on 2/18/2014 & rated 84 points: Flat. Eminently drinkable, but not much of interest happening here. Whether this has entered an awkward middle phase, or whether it's in decline, I don't know. Did the hot year spell a short life for this one? In any case, a disappointing showing from a winemaker I've liked in the past. (4211 views) | | | Tasted by jayw on 8/11/2013: Pretty perfumed nose. Berry-cherry fruit, with a cola undercurrent and spicy finish. Someone mentioned roast root vegetables. I'd say parsnips. Velvety soft textures makes for a terrific mouthfeel. Very nice, understated CdP. (4315 views) | | | Tasted by JimVan on 4/24/2013 & rated 90 points: Lovely wine which got better after an hour of air time. I didn't analyze it heavily, but it went exceedingly well with roasted root vegetables and salad. Nice depth of fruit, interesting flavors, good acidity. My wife just said "that was a lovely wine". I agree. (3511 views) | | | Tasted by Vinsant on 2/3/2013: Decent Grenache red fruit nose with some spice and heat. Raisin-y fruit on the palate that I'm not diggin. Not a lot of depth or balance here for my tastes. Did not enjoy nor did the wife. (3723 views) | | | Tasted by jayw on 9/8/2012: Not an in your face CdP. Blackberry fruit, fur, garrique, licorice. Spicy finish. Good balance and not too heavy. (4115 views) | | | Tasted by skifree on 6/23/2012 & rated 89 points: Think Mr. Jennings got this right. Deep black fruit, root vegetable (stem?), a bit of pepper on the medium finish. Very dark color. (3216 views) | | | Tasted by Barnaby33 on 11/13/2011: Ditto linserge, a "hot mess." (4203 views) | | | Tasted by Veloman on 9/30/2011: Dinner at Mark's (3884 views) | | | Tasted by linserge on 6/25/2011: Hot fruit bomb. Totally primary, high alcohol, and yet lacking structure or nuance. (3832 views) | | | Tasted by ronlite on 2/15/2011 & rated 90 points: Excellent (4105 views) | | | Tasted by rjonwine@gmail.com on 2/12/2011 & rated 91 points: Very dark red violet color; tart black fruit, roasted black fruit, beets nose; tasty, tart black fruit, horseradish, mineral, beet root palate; medium-plus finish (74% Grenache, 16% Syrah, 5% Counoise, 5% Vaccarèse) (3458 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (12/10/2008)
(Dom des 3 Cellier, Alchimie Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (2/12/2011)
(Domaine des 3 Cellier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Alchimie) Very dark red violet color; tart black fruit, roasted black fruit, beets nose; tasty, tart black fruit, horseradish, mineral, beet root palate; medium-plus finish (74% Grenache, 16% Syrah, 5% Counoise, 5% Vaccarèse) 91 points | By Jon Rimmerman
Garagiste (10/27/2009)
(ALCHIMIE 3 Cellier CdP) Cellier du Pape Dear Friends, This item will undoubtedly make my short list for 2009 Wine of the Year - not as much for the individual wine (which is certainly good) but more for the winery. This entity changes the game in Chateauneuf du Pape and it ushers in a new era where the underground has a very loud voice. I don't know if I've saved the best for last but I've definitely saved the rarest. If Amazon and Google can dominate the markets, where the old school continues to spin its wheels, Les 3 Cellier is set to do the same. This is the future of wine and it is in the hands of two rogue winemakers that would not be out of place at The Good Fork in Red Hook. While you should be prepared to be pummeled by 2007 Rhone offerings over the next 2-3 days, I doubt you will see this wine on any of them. As a true garage operation, housed in their father's old winery, 3 Cellier reminds me of Barroche or Cedric Bouchard when we debuted their wares in the US: entities that were immediate stars among the progressive but also the collector. If you are looking for wine that will be nearly impossible to find in the US, only a few hundred cases were produced of their 2007s and every bottle is already spoken for at the winery. The 2007 Alchimie is why I set out on the path of discovery everyday. It is why I never get bored with this "job" you've so entrusted me with. While rare to have the beacon of change presented before your eyes, it still happens on occasion and the one in a million is why I taste thousands of wines each year to only offer a few...which brings us to the Alchimie. If you could swirl a mouthful of Vosne-Romanee, youth, vibrancy, old-vine traditional varietals and soil-inflected southern elements and continue to swirl until every last pocket was saturated with the silky elegance of this feminine wine, it would be the 3 Cellier. Nothing is out of place - nothing grotesque, no carnivals or freak-shows of 2007 fruit. With heirloom varietals woven into the base of Grenache and Syrah (Vaccar_se and Counoise), this wine is simply different than everything else. It is not the biggest example and it's not going to win any blind tastings but it doesn't follow or copy any other winery (except possibly Roumier) - it sets a new standard in finesse that has been sorely lacking in the post-luxury cuvee era of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Even at this bargain price-level, it is a sure-fire collectable that will be even harder to find a week from now. From the winery: "Soils: more or less deep, very stony, they are constituted for the main part of big rolled quartz mixed in some sandy red clay. The grape varieties are traditional - 13 grape varieties are admitted. The grapes mostly used are Grenache, Cinsault, Mourv_dre, Syrah, Muscardin, Counoise, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Vaccar_se. Tasting note for the 2007 Alchimie: Such as alchemists making gold with lead, Julien and Ludovic melted different terroirs and grape varieties (Grenache, Counoise, Syrah, Vaccar_se) from their vineyard of Chëteauneuf-du-Pape in order to obtain an elegant and luxurious wine, with red fruit notes but also blackcurrant and blackberry. This is a full-bodied wine balanced with softness - excellent with red meats. It could be kept in a good cellar from 10 to 15 years and it should be drunk at a temperature between 18í and 20í C." Parker always takes a lot of heat for one thing or another (which he masterfully deflects) but give him credit for somehow tasting a few of the wines from this source - this is as underground as it gets in the Rhone and I was quite surprised when I saw this review last year. As an example, this would be like Parker stumbling down the streets of the Lower East Side, venturing into a wayward alley and finding a glowing door at the end with 3 Cellier scratched into it: Domaine des 3 Cellier is set to jump on the world stage with a feline purr instead of the typical adolescent roar of massive fruit and oak. As their own main attraction, they don't need to prove anything to anyone except themselves. Thankfully, I'll be along for the ride. This parcel is directly from the winery cellar with perfect provenance. ONE SHIPMENT ONLY at this cellar-door price. Domaine des 3 Cellier is not available in the US and barely available anywhere - we cannot get a second shipment (the winery is sold out of all the 2007s): 2007 Domaine des 3 Celliers Chateauneuf du Pape "Alchimie" Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Rhone8671 |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JancisRobinson.com and RJonWine.com and Garagiste. (manage subscription channels) |
| Domaine des 3 Cellier Producer website - Read about Domaine des 3 CellierRed Rhone Blend Read about the different grapes used to produce red and white Rhone wines
On CellarTracker, Red Rhone Blend is the term for a wine consisting of two or more of the traditional 13 Southern Rhone grape varieties. Typically it's the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre or Cinsault grapes, but can also contain the Muscardin, Counoise, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Picpoul, Roussanne, Terret Noir, Picardan or Vaccarese grapes.
A 'food' wine. Lacking pretension and intended for local consumption with local cuisine. Lacks the 'high' notes on a Bordeaux, more earthy and sharper so often a better partner to meat dishes with a sauce. France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comRhône Guide to the wines, wineries and appellations in the Rhone Valley The Rhône Valley/Le Vins de la Vallée du Rhône (Comité Interprofession des vins AOC Côtes et vallée du Rhône)
### Wine Scholar Guild's Rhône valley vintage charts & ratings ###Southern Rhône Guide to the wines, wineries and appellations in the Southern Rhone Valley
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Châteauneuf-du-Pape Appellation - Read more about Chateauneuf du Pape
Another site on this appellation
Vineyards on weinlagen-info
"As I have written many times in the past, the sweet spot for drinking Châteauneuf du Papes is usually the first 5-6 years after the vintage. Then they seem to go through an adolescent, awkward, and sometimes dormant stage, only to re-emerge around year 10-12, where the majority of wines are often fully mature. The best of them will continue to hold on to life (but rarely improving) beyond 15-20 years. It is only the exceptional Châteauneuf du Papes that will evolve for 20-25+ years, and those are indeed a rarity. However, things may be improving dramatically in terms of the longevity of Châteauneuf du Pape, although Grenache-dominated wines, the vast majority of wines produced in the appellation, are wines that do not have the polyphenol (extract and tannin) content of top Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, or Syrah-based wines. Nevertheless, the younger generation in Châteauneuf du Pape has taken seriously the farming in the vineyards. There are more organic and biodynamically run vineyards here than in any other appellation of France. The yields, which were already low, are even lower today (20-35 hectoliters per hectare), and of course, the proliferation of top luxury and/or old-vine cuvées gives a significant boost to the number of wines that will evolve past 25 or 30 years. The advantage of these wines is their broad window of drinkability." - Robert Parker
Vintage Chart 1978 to Today
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