5/13/2023 - smatteo wrote:

The colour was more of a ruby red, maybe a touch of bricking but no browning at all, still so young. More than enough acidity and tannins were in check, everything in balance. Not the most complex and more red fruited on the nose without much tertiary development but just a pleasure to drink. None of the rusticity that some Gouges from this era can have, almost elegant.

5/6/2023 - smatteo wrote:

Especially red fruited and so young considering it’s age. Graphite, leather with good balance and acidity, really in a good place. Shame it’s my only bottle.

3/12/2023 - smatteo wrote:

In great condition for a 34 year old village wine with hardly any staining on the cork. Some bricking on the edges and on the nose a touch of sous bois but still quite red fruited. Good acidity on the palate still with tannins fully resolved and decent length. Most enjoyable!

11/26/2022 - smatteo wrote:

Not much fruit on the nose, mainly leather and some sous bois. On the palate good acidity and well balanced if lacking a little length and depth. Overall in a good spot and drinking well.

10/21/2022 - smatteo wrote:

Had a coolness on the nose, with some dark fruits and just a touch of oak, and surprisingly no real secondary or tertiary development to speak of. Lots of acidity on the palate and fruit just about holding its own. Amazing condition for its age and while no danger of it falling over I'd say not much to gain by holding further.

9/16/2022 - smatteo wrote:

A bottle drunk a few years ago was much more tannic and rustic. Today the tannins totally resolved and smooth and balanced on the palate. Savory, meaty nose with typical bacon fat and band aid. In the zone!

9/12/2022 - smatteo wrote:

Looking at past reviews this wine can be quite variable to say the least. This bottle was somewhat in the middle as it started out oxidative and a little sweaty, but with air turned more savoury and autumnal. The palate was better, quite well balanced and not tired at all, tho again on the savoury side and not much fruit. Certainly not lived up to its original hype and not worth the current tariff, but went well enough with my Grouse!

8/7/2022 - smatteo wrote:

From a recent selection bought at Les Caves du Forum while passing thru Reims on the way back from Provence. Never heard of the producer, it was part of a mixed case of up and coming producers that Madame recommended. 100% Pinot Noir Rosé de Saignée bottled 2019 and disgorged in 2021. Big, rich, and red fruited, very red wine like. Interesting to try and very tasty, but not sure I'd like to have it all the time!

12/22/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Slox oxed for 3 hours and then decanted and drunk over 3 hours. Nose explodes out of the glass, red fruited. On the palate elegant, rich, good complexity, tannins round and integrated and well balanced. Could have easily passed for a left bank Bordeaux. In a great place but nowhere near decline.

12/22/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Slow oxed for about 3 hours and then drunk over 3 hours. Good acidity, tannins on the dusty side with notes of leather and tobacco but well balanced and in a good place. very enjoyable.

11/19/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Tough wine to nail down. Label says 14.5 abv but no hint of heat, also not overripe in any way and no browning at all, looks like a 2 year old wine. Red fruited on the nose and a touch of VA. Good acidity on the palate with some drying tannins and a little spritz, but overall well balanced. I liked it rather than loved it.

10/23/2021 - smatteo wrote:

First bottle of a newly delivered 6 pack was corked. Gutted!! 2nd bottle drunk over 2 nights. Golden color with a lovely mousse, on the nose lemon, brioche, some apple but no oxidation. Nice length on the palate and in the zone so enjoy them if you have any.

10/23/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Top shoulder fill, cork soaked about 3/4 of the way up. Opened and slow oxed from 2pm and quick sample showed some red fruit, tobacco and a touch of bell pepper. Poured around 7pm and bell pepper has faded, still plenty of Graves cigar/tobacco on the nose and some red fruits. Ruby red with plenty of bricking on the edges, tannins completely resolved but still nice acidity tho not the most complex. Slightly more interesting on the nose and certainly still alive but probably on the way down ever so slightly. Still very enjoyable with a medium rare ribeye!

10/2/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Opened and drunk over the 4 hours or so, I don't drink as much CDP as I used to but still enjoy the odd bottle from traditional wine makers with some age on them. A very clean bottle with no hint of brett, very creamy on the nose, sweet red fruits and Provençal herbs and bricking thru out. No hint of alcohol on the nose or palate and label says 13.5 abv. Not as rich and full on the palate, on the elegant side even for CDP and I slightly preferred the nose, but an enjoyable wine all in all. Mature and ready to drink, but I'm sure well stored bottles will hold for awhile.

10/2/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Purchased on release and stored at Octavian until delivery last week. Drunk over 3 nights and not much change, hardly any signs of maturity in appearance or on the palate but never really opened up. Not a bad wine and certainly didn't seem off, but not much concentration or length on the palate and it just didn't impress. Not sure if an underperforming bottle or just too young, but either way this bottle was very average. A friend who drinks far more champagne than me has drunk thru his case and has never been impressed by this wine, I was hoping I had a better batch so fingers crossed on the rest!

9/27/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Not decanted, pop and pour and enjoyed over 3 hours. Better on the nose, leather, bacon fat and some black fruits. Not as long a finish on the palate, even touch short but a very elegant wine none the less and certainly not past it at all. Label says only 12.5 ABV, those were the days!

8/29/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Bottled under screw cap. Hardly any signs of evolution, citrus and some petrol on the nose. Minerality and good acidity on the palate with enough richness to make it very enjoyable.

5/14/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Ruby Red with just a little browning at the edges. On the palate bursting with cherries and red fruits right from the start, savoury with good acidity. Not as expressive on the nose but as it opens it gives up hints of sous bois, and red fruits. Balanced with a long finish, drinking well, but time in hand.

5/7/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Opened at 4 to taste and first glass poured at 7 and drunk over the next 4-5 hours. Deep garnet colour with some bricking at the edges. Wide open from the beginning, very ripe cherries on the nose. Rich, full and savoury on the palate and very concentrated but would have preferred a bit more acidity and energy. Label says 14% alcohol and while not overripe its a big wine, but drinking well and fully mature.

5/1/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Ruby red with a touch of browning at the edges. Started out quite tannic and harsh, a little sour on the nose. With a few hours of air it opened up nicely, still quite structured, slightly drying tannins but plenty of cherries and red fruits with some secondary development. Drinking well at the moment but no rush.

2/13/2021 - smatteo wrote:

Opened and drunk over 4 hours. Ruby with good bricking, a lovely mature Cote-Rotie with plenty of life left. Savoury with a certain meatiness and some leather but still showing some red fruits. Good acidity with some drying tannins but all still in balance.

12/25/2020 - smatteo wrote:

Lovely, although not an epiphany wine. Nose had a certain coolness about it, still plenty of red fruits and usual notes of cigar box but not not too much secondary development yet on this bottle. Deep ruby color with some browning at edges, very fine tannins with alot of depth and some nice complexity on the palate. Overall drinking very well now, but with years in hand. Slow ox-ed in the morning and decanted at 4 just before serving.

12/25/2020 - smatteo wrote:

Sweet ripe fruit on the palate, could easily be confused for a riper vintage of Bordeaux. Still fresh and balanced and more red fruited to me. Maybe not the concentration of a top wine but in a great place and drinking well. Decanted for and hour and drunk over nest 2 hours.

12/25/2020 - smatteo wrote:

Dense, dark core still with just a touch of bricking at the edges. These 80 Granges really do evolve glacially. First impression on the nose is a hit of American oak, then maybe a touch of black pepper and cherry. On the palate tannins fully resolved and drinking very well. Not getting any hotness or stewed fruits mentioned in some other notes. I'm sure it will keep, but fully developed and ready to go for my tastes.

8/23/2020 - smatteo wrote:

Drinking well, tannins completely resolved. Still fresh on the palate with nice acidity and very well balanced, with a touch of sous bois but still red fruited on the palate and the nose. Not a blockbuster but elegant, open and in a great place.

12/5/2019 - smatteo wrote:

Very good fill, cork in good shape. Tawny color, but wine in great shape, no hint of oxidation. Usual tertiary aroma's of bacon fact, maybe a touch of VA, even some fruit left. Tannins resolved, balanced and full on the palate, not lean at all. Only good bottles at this age, but probably the best, and last, of the 4 I've drunk over the last 3 years.

9/27/2019 - smatteo wrote:

Immediately upon opening a very savoury nose, some sous-bois but not a hint of bottle stink or oxidation. Well rounded palate none, with none of the 95 shrillness you can sometimes get. Very smooth and drinkable.

10/4/2019 - smatteo wrote:

Nice ruby center with a touch of bricking on the edges. When first opened the nose was all perfume and red fruits. With air it turned a bit more savoury and the 96 acidity came out, with a touch of sous-bois but no oxidation at all. Still fairly well balanced tho it it seemed best when first opened.

4/27/2008 - smatteo wrote:

On the nose lots of lovely, sweet red fruits with just a touch of secondary aromas developing. Not overly complex but just drinking oh so well w/ decent acidity, nice ripe tannins and resonably long finish and just well balanced.

4/29/2008 - smatteo wrote:

Dinner @ C&J's / Dad.: Could be that this just wasnt a great bottle but I wouldnt hold much longer. No premox but heading that way I think? Also seemed a bit out of balance w/ acidity sticking out and a lack of any fruit. Bottle opened a few weeks ago showed much better but still not a great wine, that said others preferred more than me.

4/29/2008 - smatteo wrote:

Dinner @ C&J's / Dad.: From a really well stored case. deep red color, hardly any bricking. Great nose of bacon, beef blood etc. Finish on a previous bottle was a little short and didnt quite match the nose but this one was full and rich. Stood up to a very good bottle of 85 LLC

4/29/2008 - smatteo wrote:

Dinner @ C&J's / Dad.: Drinking really well at the moment. Nice garnet color, hardly any bricking. Tannins fully resolved, ceder and tobacco on the nose, still some red fruits on the palate. Not a massive wine but very elegant.

4/22/2008 - smatteo wrote:

Client Dinner (L'Etranger): A big, dense wine, especially on the palate. Not as fresh as the 95 Tertre Roteboeuf tasted right after. A meaty nose, almost like a touch of brett? Everything in balance tho so guessing it will improve with time based in its pedigree but didnt shine tonight.

4/22/2008 - smatteo wrote:

Client Dinner (L'Etranger): Nice ruby color, aging nicely w/ no signs of browning. On the nose plenty of sweet dark fruits and spices. No obvious oak with some mocha notes but very fresh, rich and well balanced on the palate and not heavy at all. Open and drinking well tonight, but no rush.

4/22/2008 - smatteo wrote:

Client Dinner (L'Etranger): Drinking really well. Not flabby or over ripe, well balanced with notes of citrus and classic chablis minerality.

4/22/2008 - smatteo wrote:

Client Dinner (L'Etranger): Medium red color, no signs of aging. Initially a touch of oak on nose but disappeared. Quite open and still primary with lots of red fruits and spices on the nose. Good acidity but no hard edges, drinking really well now but lots more to come.

12/31/2004 - smatteo wrote:

Oxidized