Syrah from Les Eygas (late-1980s-late 1990s), some low slopes Chaillot (1970s), & Saint-Pierre (late 1980s-early 2000s); Destemmed; 75% new oak?
N: RIPE berries, probably smoke
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringency which ULT resolves by the LONG, bitter/swt (40:60) finish with the swtness gaining the upper hand over time. Needs/DESERVES another 2 yrs, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. 13.5% ABV; My EXC, quite poss more in several yrs. 75 pts WS (tasted 11/30/99).
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Typically, 70% Grenache, 18-20% Syrah, & 10% Mourvèdre; Partially destemmed prior to a 15-20 day vinification; Aged in oncrete vats for 10-12 mos, then in large 60 hl barrels for 8-12 mos; Unfiltered
N: FRAGRANT, but tough to parse; Some pyrazines?
P: LM body; NICE frt met by puckerish astringency which only slightly loses its grip as it transitions into a LONG finish with a potentially quasi-bitter flatness & a sense of swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS another 2 yrs or so (i.e., through '20), then making its 20th. 14.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, others tending to like it > I. 93 pts WS, 91 Tanzer, 17-17.5/20 (2x) winedoctor.com, 16.5/20 La Revue du Vin de France and Gault & Millau, & 14.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve. [One wine-searcher source still shows it for sale @ $30.]
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
[Info from the Kermit Lynch website]: “'En Pallud' is a particularly well-suited lieu-dit just S of the village on the slope, below the premier cru Les Corbeaux, and at the same elevation & exposure as the grand crus." Grapes are from older P.N. vinestocks with great clonal diversity grown in clay & limestone soils; Typically, the clusters are 100% de-stemmed, & the wine is aged "18-20 months in mostly older barrels." Neither fined nor filtered.
N: Showing oxygenation, but NOT oxidation; Smoke, spice, with notes of straws, poss cherries
P: LM body; Rndish etry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a very, VERY slightly puckerish astringency which slowly transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish with an elegantly refined swtness & OCCASIONAL *glimpses* of a very, VERY slight bitterness. At its peak, but should hold for a couple of yrs more. My EXCEPTIONAL-, particularly so given the way it held in the small tasting glass for 2-1/2 hrs! Moreover, STILL has the wherewithal to accompany food! An **awesome** tasting experience! :)
Planted to 60% C.S., 30% Merlot, 7% C.F., & 3% Petit Verdot (though the last may not have yet been planted in '89) grown in mostly gravel soil with clay; Vinification & malolactic in s/s vats, then typically aged for 18-20 mos in FR oak barrels (50-60% new).
N: Ripely FRAGRANT, but LOTS going on -- & tough to parse. :(
P: LM, poss Med, body; LOVELY frt met by puckerish tannins which morph into the LONG, still puckerish finish with a swtness dueling with a quasi-bitter flatness. I'd cellar this through '20 in HOPES the finish "comes together". 12.8% ABV; My EXC-/EXC, with the higher (or even more) a DEFINITE possibility. 95 pts WA, 91 Jeannie Cho Lee, 90 ea WS & Jeff Leve, 87 Jean-Marc Quarin, 18+/20 winedoctor.com, and 16/20 ea Vunum & La Revue du Vin de France. [Surprisingly (at least to me), this appears to still be available from numerous wine-searcher sources.]
P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt quickly met by an astringent pucker which DOES show a swtness as it morphs into a LONG, puckerish finish with a definite swtness to those tannins. NEEDS (guessing) through '21, poss longer, but has LOTS of potential given its sense of frt. 14.0% ABV; My EXC- now, who KNOWS later? 17/20 pts Jancis Robinson. [I did not see a U.S. source listed on wine-searcher.]
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: RIPE, but can't parse; Intensity lurking!
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt met by some astringent pucker which transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a tangy/swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. NEEDS through '20, then EASILY making its '10th. My EXC-, more down the line? [This vendor's $55.95 is $6 < the next lowest listed U.S. source on wine-searcher, with the other 2 being skewed.]
Note: Unlike when I tasted this on 8/4/2018, I'd now advocate giving this some cellar time. [FYI, others' comments seemed to corroborate needed aging.] Also, my most recent TN of 3/23/19 pretty much aligns with this one.
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
20,000 cs made
N: RIPE, earthy, almost funky, but with a certain attractiveness
P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE frt fairly quickly met by a puckerish astringency which somewhat resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly puckerish, VERY slightly finish with glimpses of EVENTUAL swtness? NEEDS through '21, I'm guessing, then making its 15th without problem. 14.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, with substantially more a DISTINCT possibility. 93 pts WS, 92 ea Wine & Spirits, Vinous, & WE @ $55, 17.5/20 Decanter's Panel, 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, and 16/20 Vinum. [Wine-searcher still shows it as available in the U.S. for as low as $43.]
1997 Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas Les Terres Brulees
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
Syrah from Les Eygas (late-1980s-late 1990s), some low slopes Chaillot (1970s), & Saint-Pierre (late 1980s-early 2000s); Destemmed; 75% new oak?
N: RIPE berries, probably smoke
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringency which ULT resolves by the LONG, bitter/swt (40:60) finish with the swtness gaining the upper hand over time. Needs/DESERVES another 2 yrs, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. 13.5% ABV; My EXC, quite poss more in several yrs. 75 pts WS (tasted 11/30/99).
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Domaine des 3 Cellier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Alchimie
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
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.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2005 Famille Brunier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine La Roquète
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Typically, 70% Grenache, 18-20% Syrah, & 10% Mourvèdre; Partially destemmed prior to a 15-20 day vinification; Aged in oncrete vats for 10-12 mos, then in large 60 hl barrels for 8-12 mos; Unfiltered
N: FRAGRANT, but tough to parse; Some pyrazines?
P: LM body; NICE frt met by puckerish astringency which only slightly loses its grip as it transitions into a LONG finish with a potentially quasi-bitter flatness & a sense of swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS another 2 yrs or so (i.e., through '20), then making its 20th. 14.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, others tending to like it > I. 93 pts WS, 91 Tanzer, 17-17.5/20 (2x) winedoctor.com, 16.5/20 La Revue du Vin de France and Gault & Millau, & 14.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve. [One wine-searcher source still shows it for sale @ $30.]
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1983 Domaine Maume Gevrey-Chambertin En Pallud
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
[Info from the Kermit Lynch website]: “'En Pallud' is a particularly well-suited lieu-dit just S of the village on the slope, below the premier cru Les Corbeaux, and at the same elevation & exposure as the grand crus." Grapes are from older P.N. vinestocks with great clonal diversity grown in clay & limestone soils; Typically, the clusters are 100% de-stemmed, & the wine is aged "18-20 months in mostly older barrels." Neither fined nor filtered.
N: Showing oxygenation, but NOT oxidation; Smoke, spice, with notes of straws, poss cherries
P: LM body; Rndish etry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a very, VERY slightly puckerish astringency which slowly transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish with an elegantly refined swtness & OCCASIONAL *glimpses* of a very, VERY slight bitterness. At its peak, but should hold for a couple of yrs more. My EXCEPTIONAL-, particularly so given the way it held in the small tasting glass for 2-1/2 hrs! Moreover, STILL has the wherewithal to accompany food! An **awesome** tasting experience! :)
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1989 Château Rausan-Ségla
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Planted to 60% C.S., 30% Merlot, 7% C.F., & 3% Petit Verdot (though the last may not have yet been planted in '89) grown in mostly gravel soil with clay; Vinification & malolactic in s/s vats, then typically aged for 18-20 mos in FR oak barrels (50-60% new).
N: Ripely FRAGRANT, but LOTS going on -- & tough to parse. :(
P: LM, poss Med, body; LOVELY frt met by puckerish tannins which morph into the LONG, still puckerish finish with a swtness dueling with a quasi-bitter flatness. I'd cellar this through '20 in HOPES the finish "comes together". 12.8% ABV; My EXC-/EXC, with the higher (or even more) a DEFINITE possibility. 95 pts WA, 91 Jeannie Cho Lee, 90 ea WS & Jeff Leve, 87 Jean-Marc Quarin, 18+/20 winedoctor.com, and 16/20 ea Vunum & La Revue du Vin de France. [Surprisingly (at least to me), this appears to still be available from numerous wine-searcher sources.]
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Diego Conterno Barolo
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
N: Closed; Roses, poss vanilla? Intensity lurking?
P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt quickly met by an astringent pucker which DOES show a swtness as it morphs into a LONG, puckerish finish with a definite swtness to those tannins. NEEDS (guessing) through '21, poss longer, but has LOTS of potential given its sense of frt. 14.0% ABV; My EXC- now, who KNOWS later? 17/20 pts Jancis Robinson. [I did not see a U.S. source listed on wine-searcher.]
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 El Enemigo Gran Enemigo
Argentina, Mendoza
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: RIPE, but can't parse; Intensity lurking!
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE frt met by some astringent pucker which transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a tangy/swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. NEEDS through '20, then EASILY making its '10th. My EXC-, more down the line? [This vendor's $55.95 is $6 < the next lowest listed U.S. source on wine-searcher, with the other 2 being skewed.]
Note: Unlike when I tasted this on 8/4/2018, I'd now advocate giving this some cellar time. [FYI, others' comments seemed to corroborate needed aging.] Also, my most recent TN of 3/23/19 pretty much aligns with this one.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Tenuta Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
20,000 cs made
N: RIPE, earthy, almost funky, but with a certain attractiveness
P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE frt fairly quickly met by a puckerish astringency which somewhat resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly puckerish, VERY slightly finish with glimpses of EVENTUAL swtness? NEEDS through '21, I'm guessing, then making its 15th without problem. 14.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, with substantially more a DISTINCT possibility. 93 pts WS, 92 ea Wine & Spirits, Vinous, & WE @ $55, 17.5/20 Decanter's Panel, 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, and 16/20 Vinum. [Wine-searcher still shows it as available in the U.S. for as low as $43.]
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue