7/8/2019 - d'Artagnan wrote:

Visite au Domaine Auguste Clape (Au domaine): Dégustation sur fûts des différents terroirs avant assemblage.

Patou 18 coteau sud du villages
Très noir belle attaque mûre.

Reynard 18: 2 producteurs seulement embouteillent du Reynard (l'autre est Allemand)
Jeunes vignes qui vont dans Renaissance
Magnifique fruit noir, bonne fraîcheur et profondeur.

40 ans Petite Côte
Plus serré, petite sucrosité mais c’est sec.
Beau jus, droit bonne trame tannique

Sabarotte: acheté de verset en 2002.
Serré, long et belle profondeur. Beau potentiel, finale tannique. Plus rustique et structurée, comme d’habitude. Pierre l’attribue au cépage planté, pas de diversité.

La Côte reste plus de 6 grammes sucre

Reynard moyenne env 80 ans, plus de 110 ans pour certains pieds.

Mûr et droit, long et profond, grande cuvée.

4/2/2024 - EvoPeteMTL Likes this wine:

Pop and pour, sort of. Much more open than the '09. Again, the strawberry and red orange is there. There is definitely more age\evolution on this one. Vs. the 2009 we felt this has the lesser potential. But more open for business now. Great wine.

9/1/2022 - EvoPeteMTL Likes this wine:

Drinking this alongside with the 2001 - 10 years older - made me realize how much you need to wait for this cuvée. Remember this wine is only made on the best vintages... it's made for the long haul. 15-25 years is the peak depending on the vintage.

8/15/2022 - EvoPeteMTL Likes this wine:

Again, another wine out of the ordinary that Lopez de Heredia produces. Just like their rosé, this white wine has that typical Rioja vanilla oak. The wine is still quite bold, could use some time within the bottle. It does not have the oxidative side of the rosé.

7/25/2022 - clayfu wrote:

Powerful stem aromatics, spicy and sweet stem backed by a kaleidoscope array of dark fragrant fruit. Absolutely intoxicating.
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The initial attack on the palate was a bit light and tannic but with air it started to unfurl with more of the acidity coming into the foreground. You still get that edge of wood due to the 100% new oak treatment but it seems to add more cedar notes than oppressive oak texture. Fruit starts to blossom with dark red fruit. Finish gets weighty and deep. Not as overtly ripe as I expected based on the prior 18s I’ve had from Bizot. Enjoyed this more than the 17, which I felt was a bit too light on the palate.

7/18/2022 - clayfu wrote:

Chillingly dry and crisp on the palate with oxidative almond notes like xìngrén dòufǔ on the nose. The wine runs more savory than fruity with smoke and savory bacon notes intermingly with the almond spice when you first take a wiff. Tart Strawberry, soft bubbles, oxidative brace with a elegant persistent finish. Not sure how much more it'll age before the oxidative notes fully consume the wine but there's still some excitement left.

3/1/2022 - EvoPeteMTL Likes this wine:

This wine is in a great drinking phase right now. Brownish color, showing age. Beautiful vanilla nose. Typical rioja. Drinking beautifully after 30 minutes of air, melted tannins, a bit of acidity and mostly on tertiary notes. First time with this wine, reminds me a lot their greater cuvée 904. Matter fact, this is so good I probably could not tell the difference. 75th anniversary release and first year Rioja Alta introduced grenache from the La Pedriza vineyard.

2/20/2021 - EvoPeteMTL Likes this wine:

Love this producer. This is his negociant wine, and this is already a top quality red Loire wine in my opinion.

11/24/2021 - EvoPeteMTL Likes this wine:

Once again I could not resist the temptation and opened my second to last bottle. There's something about this crop, this vintage, this bottle. The predominant smell of violets and it's lingering finish. This is a great Côte Rotie that will show even better in a few years. Really excited to taste more of this producer in the future.

7/13/2021 - EvoPeteMTL Likes this wine:

So good for the price. I wish I had bought more of these. Even with hefty tannins and oak present this is enjoyable. Rain check for next vintage.

5/20/2021 - EvoPeteMTL Likes this wine:

Ok wine. I think my expectations were too high because of the name Pax Mahle. People told me this is a Northern Rhone wine with a twist, but this is clearly American. Reminds me of a Crozes-Hermitage but more jammy, less complex, and more expensive. Still a good wine but might not purchase again.