November 23, 2018 - Much more mature than the last bottle we had 15 months ago. Browning on the edges, a bit cloudy, a very distinctive old world nose of barnyard, mushroom, leather. Heavy body, still some tannins, very concentrated - dark fruits, some mineral. Slightly out of balance as the alcohol is still noticeable (15%). Drink now or continue to hold short term, I doubt this will improve but it will keep evolving toward a more rustic profile.
July 10, 2018 - My last bottle. Of the last 4 bottles, 2 have shown some signs of tiring, including this one. I mentioned a while back that I was moving the back end year of the drink window forward for this wine. Also, as I have previous said, I have had a couple of experiences where Chateauneuf-du-Papes rolled over very quickly at the end...….much more quickly than, say, Cabernet Sauvignon based wines. I hope I am proved wrong, but would encourage others that still have bottles of this one to drink up. I have never found this wine to be quite up to the WA rating, but well good enough to be glad I purchased some.
January 8, 2018 - This wine is still in a great drink window. I had a bottle that showed some signs of tiring a while back, but this bottle, as well as one I drank in between, have not shown that characteristic. I opened it for one hour with no decant. I am going to move the last year of my personal drink window for my last bottle to 2020. I have had one or two other Chateauneuf-du-Papes that have fallen off of a cliff at the end......unlike Cabernets, for example, which tend to have a tailing off period after a drinking peak.
August 28, 2017 - Delicious. Wine is still solidly in it's prime drinking window. A touch of bricking around the rim, a hint of leather on the nose. Full bodied, yet elegant. Nicely layered with dark berries, tapenade, and licorice flavors. Finish is a wee bit short, but all around a lovely drink. If well cellared, it should hold a good 4-5 more years.
June 10, 2017 - The last bottle of this one showed signs of tailing off, but not this one. It is mature and should be drunk.....was open for an hour plus with no decant.......but has evolved for the better. This was the best bottle of the 10 I originally had. Some of the changes in where a wine is in terms of the drink experience are real mysteries.
October 30, 2016 - drinking very well. complex, still good fruit, but more structure driven.
July 30, 2016 - I recognize that this is approaching the end of its prime, but it delivers beautifully. Opened for 3 hours before trying. Clear fruit, but the pleasure is in the structure and nuance. There is earth, mushroom, leather, a bit of bacon and a touch of mineral notes.
March 6, 2016 - This wine is definitely tailing off. I have 2 or 3 bottles left and will drink them over the next year. This view is based on tasting more than one bottle. Hence, I would advise the same for those out there that still have some.
March 16, 2014 - Drinking well. Opened for a while with no decant.....and, was fine. 8th bottle.....have enjoyed every one of them.
December 16, 2013 - Nice earthy notes. Fruit is a little thin and tired, surprising for an 03. Nice acidic profile went well with food. Pleasant and easy to drink, but lacking in complexity.