January 21, 2024 - My three bottles of this have been quite variable. This shows quite a lot of richness and complexity (cherry, leather and spice) with a refreshing varnish note which is, I think, less obtrusive than in the previous bottle. The wine slipped down graciously but I would have appreciated a bit more firmness on the finish. My best bottle was the first about 5 years ago, which had that. Still very good, though.
December 26, 2023 - This bottle exhibited elegance, softness, and smoothness, almost resembling a mature Burgundy. The nose teased with notes of cherries, leather, and herbs, exuding sophistication. Its palate featured great peppery nuances, capturing the essence of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. As it was from my birth year, this bottle held sentimental value. Complex yet approachable, it proved to be a delightful and pleasurable drink.
December 4, 2023 - Fantastic
November 25, 2023 - new and aged Rhones: dark garnet, somewhat opaque and medium plus body. tertiary nose of hung game, soy sauce, stewing plums, leather and black olives. it takes time in the glass to evolve from the savoury meat and soy to a macerated fruit vein that brightens to red cherry. liquorice, spice, puehr tea, and balsamic notes grace the fruit layers and persist on the moderate finish.
fully matured (and perhaps more), it seemed like this bottle was a day away from going over the cliff… even so, it was a pleasure to catch it, and wondered how it showed just a couple of years back. drink up!
14.5% AbV; 65% Grenache/ 20% Mourvèdre/ 10% Syrah/ 5% Vaccarèse, Counoise and Muscardin; aged for fifteen months in old foudres.
November 25, 2023 - A Rhône Rapture (K&L Wine Merchant - San Francisco): Nose of sweet aromas of something like a port (gentle and not heavy though), coffee if it was naturally sweet (but not because of added sugar and cream), aged prunes that has a light weight to it with a nice freshness.
Matches the nose completely. This almost was like a desert wine but in a good way. Not heavy nor too sweet, just right. Damp mulch with wet stones trail into the finish.
Tasted with a friend and he thought this was funky on the nose, something like blue cheese, which I did not get at all. Maybe this wasn't showing as it was supposed to. Maybe cooked? Starting to think there's no way this was made to taste like a port. Take my score with a handful of salt, this was almost like a dessert wine which doesn't seem to make much sense.
November 25, 2023 - Seemed a bit past its prime to me, though Somm said it was drinking perfectly.
November 25, 2023 - Premium Rhône Tasting (K&L Wines, San Francisco): Light tawny colored core. Stewed scents with obvious VA. Medium weight. Still some sweetness but prickly feel with a short finish. I'm sure there are better bottles of this out there.
May 30, 2023 - Black cherry, brushed steel, dried Provence herbs, burnt ends, star anise, on the nose. Transferring to the palette impeccably. This is a spectacular producer.
May 28, 2023 - Decanted for an hour. A medium ruby core fading to a medium garnet outer edge. Black cherry, campfire smoke, dried herbs, and a touch of red liquorice jump from the glass. The palate quite literally mirrors the nose in every possible sense with a superb level of intensity and concentration.
April 24, 2023 - brown rim, light ruby in color. sweet red fruit nose. the mouth is sweet like red candy apple, softly coating the full tongue. the wine lingers nicely. it's past its peak but delicious. drink now...