December 24, 2023 - Vinegar even with a good fill
March 17, 2023 - Supper with Frank (Porcine, Oxford Street): Savoury, perhaps a little cellar stink, meaty, sour and sweet red fruits, garrigue, leather, peppery and sweet spice, a little darker fruit here as well. Juicy, talc textured tannins, slightly baked red fruits, earth, that cellar stink is a slight tinge in the under palate, savoury, meaty, a little black pepper...good to tidy up now
October 7, 2022 - Totally singing. Complete. Fully integrated. Earl Grey tea, red fruit compote, diminshed garrigue, velvety texture, and zero hard edges. This is a great bottle that was in a super spot. Made 8 peoples jaw hit the floor with lamb dinner. When Pape is on, it's on, and this one was ON. Super.
November 27, 2021 - Down to my last couple of bottles. Kirsch notes, raspberry, quite sweet-fruited. Airy, almost elegant, sprinkles of pepper. Great wine, love this domaine for its purity of fruit in the wines.
August 25, 2021 - Was the 1995. Lovely wine. Plum, blackberry. Leather and earth on the secondary. 2 hours plus decant.
July 12, 2021 - Dried red cherries, dried cherries, dried raspberries and dried roses. Just the right amount of new French oak and maturation creates a pronounced spiciness and earth quality to this wine with black pepper, cloves, smoke, tobacco, cigar box, forest floor, game meat, figs and chocolate flavors. The finish is long and spicy with a lingering tangy sensation behind the jaw in the back palate. The tannins here have a sharp quality, and the oak spice + sharp tannin + elevated alcohol all accentuate one another in a way that presents itself as a lot of spice (rather than an unpleasant burning sensation). Looking forward to enjoying this one again soon.
March 12, 2021 - Fresh and energetic, with strawberries, blood orange, smoked meats and some iron. Clean and quaffable. Impressive longevity.
October 29, 2020 - Latest bottle much better than previous, hour decanted and well worth a try. Some menthol and a little herb but classic CNDP underneath. It’s not a classic but bery enjoyable
August 23, 2020 - Chateauneuf du Pape lunch (Frank's place in Matraville): From Coravin. Initially there is a bit of cellar stink and slight volatility, then red currant and red berry fruit, leather, charcuterie, earth, mushroom and a touch of raisins with time. In the mouth there is juicy acidity, it's savoury and meaty with red currants and red berry fruit, still has chalky tannins but proves wetly enjoyable.
July 14, 2020 - Phil's Birthday tasting (Phil's place, Putney, Sydney): From Coravin. Farmyard, leather, volatile acidity, raspberries, a little asian five spice. Juicy, red fruit, spice, leathery tannins. The VA note not so obvious on the palate. Nice but also a touch of damp stink on the finish. Perhaps drink up now.