5/9/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Seems to be still underdeveloped. Dark color. Red fruit nose. More a statue of a c9dP than a c9dP itself… Nice garrigue aromas, spices, fruitiness but not as voluptuous as I experienced Clos des Papes from other years. Very young. All in all a bit restrained. I think this wine needs some more time for development.

5/6/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Deep golden, sweet nose. Bouquet of honey, honey… and a bit of orange, pineapple, roasted almonds. Thick texture but not overly concentrated. Good length. Will hold for some more years.

5/5/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Deep and ripe. Very complex bouquet of honey, apple crumble, brioche. A bit of a sherry note. Long finish. Elegant.

5/5/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Still young. Dark color, elegant nose. Fresh bouquet of dark berries, nicely integrated wood. Not overly opulent, more elegant, more Bordeaux than Napa. Will hold a couple of more years.

5/5/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Mature, full bodied wine. Dark color, complex nose. Very ripe dark fruits, chocolate, vanilla, all wonderfully balanced. Long finish. The bottle was marvelous with lamb rack. In a good spot right now, would not keep it too long.

5/2/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Still young. Dark color, fruity nose. Bouquet of dark fruit, some chocolate. Medium finish, not overly complex. But good pqr.

4/29/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Powerful wine at age 24. Deep dark color, complex nose. Bouquet of dark berries, chocolate, espresso, vanilla. Oily consistence. Round and harmonious. Long and silky finish.

4/22/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Still young at age 25! Deep dark color, fruity nose. Very ripe dark fruit, chocolate, espresso, vanilla. Powerful. Nice length. Will keep some more years.

4/14/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Probably not the best stored bottle.Light red color. Red fruit bouquet plus leather, tobacco. Quite light, on the way to dry out… Not as good as other years.

4/14/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Same as last time: round, harmonious and fully developed. Nice and ripe on the palate. Silky finish. Wouldn’t recommend to give too much air, nose on decline on day 2. Drink up.

4/14/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Still fresh after 30 years! Medium to dark color, fruity nose. No decant. When the cork was out, a smell of ripe fruits, cherry, blackberry and leather, tobacco filled the environment. Very balanced and silky finish. Will definitely hold a couple of more years.

4/14/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Better than last time: smoot and open. Like a fresh and young C9dP. Good length. Will hold many more years.

4/14/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Wonderful bottle after30 years.Dark golden color, sweet nose. Honey, caramelized fruits, apple crumble, vanilla. Thick and oily texture. Long, sweet and hard finish. Wow.

4/13/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Super pqr. Deep dark,color, fruity nose. Dark fruit with a sweet finish. A bargain.

4/10/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

A noble wine. Straw yellow color, elegant nose. Notes of lemon, white peach, tropical fruit, vanilla. Superb elegance, creamy, good length. Probably not as concentrated and powerful as the Belle Cote of the same year - this one is more elegant, feminine. No signs of age, will hold many more years.

4/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Unbelievable wine! Still young after 30 years! My fourth bottle, and the best: deep, deep dark color, supercomplex nose. On the palate an explosion of dark fruit accompanied by chocolate, vanilla, coffee, tobacco and an overlay of wonderful sweetness. And additional layers of cedar, sandalwood, exotic spices…. Depth and freshness plus power (14% alc only…) Very long, elegant and silky finish. A legend! Will enjoy winelovers for another decade!

4/5/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Light yellow, very fresh nose. Green apple and lemon notes, pineapple, guava, vanilla on the palate. Crisp and fresh with a strong acidic backbone but all elements in balance. Will hold for some more years.

3/31/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Two hours decant, absolute accessibly then. Complex bouquet of some red and much more dark fruit, mocca, vanilla and some notes of tobacco. Elegant and deep. Long and silky finish. Will hold for many more years.

3/31/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Dark color, opulent nose. Dark fruits with coffee, dark chocolate and vanilla. Long and charming finish.

3/31/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Better than last bottle. Opulent wine where all elements are in balance. Engaging bouquet of tropical fruits, white peach, honey, almond, lemon, vanilla, brioche and white chocolate. Long and elegant finish. Can still go for some more years.

3/28/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Even better than last time. Deep dark, black color. Super ripe nose. Intense dark fruit, dark chocolate, some tobacco. Powerful. Highly concentrated, long and silky finish with a wonderful sweetness in the aftertaste. No signs of age at all, will hold for some more years ( good news for a vintage I experienced some disappointments from, f.e. Hillside select…). Bravo!

3/15/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Wonderful after 28 years. Dark red with some brownish boundaries. Elegant nose. Red and dark fruit cocktail, espresso and chocolate, vanilla. Good length. Harmonious and silky finish.

3/15/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Very dark color, quite spicy nose. Bouquet of dark fruits, coffee, chocolate. Sweet finish, medium length. Not too deep. Not too complex. Quite nice.

3/12/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Fruit driven. Very dark color. Fruity nose. Bouquet of dark and red cherry. Vanilla. Fresh. Medium finish. Not sure how this is going to develop secondary notes. Will test again in a couple of years

3/12/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Ripeness pairs sweetness. Fully developed wine in a great spot. Dark color with some brownish boundaries. Complex nose. Wonderful ripeness on the palate, dark berries, chocolate, vanilla. Good length. Marvelous sweetness in the finish. In the right place to drink up.

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Although too young the wine was pleasant and approachable after some hours of decant. Bouquet of dark berries, chocolate, vanilla. Will get some more complexity over the years. Medium to long, silky finish.

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 wrote:

Pale color, thight nose. Citrus notes, a bit too saline for my taste. Short to Medium length. I wouldn’t recommend to drink without food.

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Impressive! Has already a ripeness combined with depth. Bouquet of dark fruit, chocolate, vanilla. Long and silky finish although the tannins still have some grip.

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

I was impressed. Deep dark color, more complex bouquet than I expected. Still too young but approachable. Lovely mix from dark fruit, espresso, tobacco, vanilla. Medium to long finish with remarkable tannins.

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Not a big wine, but quite nice. Tight bouquet of dark fruit, medium and tannic finish. Slim, more European than Californian.

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Young but drinkable. Raspberry driven bouquet, lots of sweetness. Not very big. Medium finish with a bit too much sweetness for my taste but quite nice.

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Astonishing open for a Monte Bello at this stage, but of course too young. Complex bouquet of black currant, dark fruit, coffee, vanilla, spices. Long but tannic finish. Wait 6-7 more years and you will be rewarded. Potential for 95+

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Very new world Chardonnay. Apple and lemon, honey and vanilla. Delicate sweetness in the finish. Will hold for a couple of more years but will not be a long distance runner.

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Far too young. Very deep color, spicy nose. Very complex bouquet dominated by dark fruits plus nice sweetness. Long but tannic finish. Minimum of 5 -6 more years.

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Still very young. Deep color. Dark fruit, blackberries, dark chocolate. Very balanced. Medium finish with remarkable tannins. Would recommend to hold for 3-4 more years.

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Too young but promising. Deep dark color, complex nose. Bouquet of dark fruit, coffee, plus wonderful sweetness. Deep.
Medium to long finish with remarkable but polished tannins. Would wait for 5 more years.

3/8/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Now in the last quarter of drinking window: riper and more golden than last time. Panda Cotta and baked friut is added to the complex bouquet. Oily texture. Balsamic and velvet finish. Very balanced and harmonious.

3/2/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Wonderful wine in a great spot right now. Deep color, complex nose. Spicy bouquet of dark fruit, cassis, cedar, tobacco, vanilla. Very ripe fruit, very balanced. Long and silky finish with a sweet aftertaste. In a blind tasting I might have guessed this to be an Almaviva, very similar profile.

2/26/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

In a great place right now. Light color, honeyed nose. Big, muscular and buttery Chardonnay. Loverly notes of grilled melon, brioche, apple tart, white chocolate, vanilla, honey with some sweetness. Mouthfilling and very present. Nice length. A pleasure.

2/24/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

A wine for a second ( and third+) sip, a bit introvert. Seems young. Needed lots of air to unfold, better after 2 hours, fabulous on day 2. Deep color, elegant and complex nose. Dark fruit, delicate notes of cedar, sandalwood, tobacco, vanilla. Round and well balanced, not too big. Harmonious long finish with some silky tannins. Bordeaux-ish. Will hold for many more years.

2/24/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Still fresh and youthful. Big and buttery wine in a great place right now. Light yellow color, very complex nose. Delicate notes of pear, honey melon, lemon, honey, almond and even crispy white chocolate. Fills easily a big glas, very intense. Very long, well balanced and elegant finish. No signs of age. Went very well with fish but is also a stand-alone-monument. Even better on day two.

2/21/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

In a great place right now. Dark color, complex nose. Dark fruit, vanilla, coffee, chocolate. Very harmonious and round. Medium to long finish with silky tannins. 2 or 3 more years.

2/18/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Deep color, smokey nose. Intense bouquet of dark fruit, cassis, tobacco, vanilla. Strong and mouthfilling, dominant. Very balanced and silky finish with polished tannins. Ripe but only at the beginning of drinking window. Many more years ahead.

2/17/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Very similar to last time. A fruit driven wine, powerful. Dark color, fruity nose. Dark berries and plum dominate the palate accompanied by mocca and vanilla. Wonderful sweetness in the finish, nice length.

2/16/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Same as last time: wonderful wine, excellent pqr. Opulent and mouthfilling. Attractive bouquet of white peach and lemon with bourbon vanilla. Harmonious finish, good length.

2/13/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

A positive surprise. Eighteen years of age the wine is in a wonderful spot. Deep dark color! Spicy and sweet nose. Complex bouquet of dried fruit, cherries, raisins embedded in an overall sweetness. Light on the tongue but with great depth in the aftertaste. Great length. A joy to drink. Will hold for some more years but why wait?

2/13/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Still too young. Light yellow, acidic nose. Grapefruit, green apple, lots of acidity, which is not yet completely in balance. Better on day two. Give it 2-3 more years.

2/13/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Fresh and peppery. A fun wine. Light yellow. Fresh nose. Spicy bouquet, stone fruit, pepper, vanilla. Elegant. Medium finish. Wonderful with fish.

2/4/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Similar to last time: concentrated and intense wine. No decant. It took hours to let unfold what the wine has to offer: power and Charme. Deep dark fruit, herbs, lovers sweetness.

2/2/2024 - shafer1994 Likes this wine:

Wonderful freshness. Light green. Elegant and fresh nose. Potpourri of lemon gras, apple, mandarin, white peach, honey melon. Medium to long finish. At the beginning of drinking window.