April 16, 2024 - Did not decant.
It opened up after 20 min in the glass, swirling occasionally.
From Coravin. First sample.
I think it might need a bit more air. Will update when we pull the cork.
From a bottle that was kept in the Wine Society cellars in optimal conditions in the last 8 years or so. Cork in top shape for a 16-year old wine.
March 12, 2024 - Beautiful! Still some mouth-filling fruit! But surrounded by menthol, garrigue, spice and “old library “ on the nose. The palate is rich, but balanced and the finish is long. Popped and poured and it did not need decanting.
October 27, 2023 - I can’t imagine this getting better because it was just spectacular. Right away, the nose was showing meat, tobacco, and leather, which all showed up on the palette in spades. Just enough fruit left to enjoy, but the wine is well into its secondary and tertiary phases. Tannins are resolved and add just a light touch of grip to keep the wine balanced and beautiful. The acid is medium, but never lacking for this warmer climate wine. Thrilled with how this bottle showed.
February 19, 2023 - Not quite ruby-red, tinge of brown at the edges, a bit cloudy, garrigue and briar notes on the nose, medium-bodied, and not as young or fresh as it once was. Prunier than expected. And it still is hairy enough to spur near-immediate bursts of chest hair!
January 21, 2023 - Les moins bonne du lot!
Un peu de chauffe avec un
peu de sucrosité.
Un peu trop de tout en ce moment
cette bouteille!
January 21, 2023 - Medium red, a bit rusty tones; nose not that prominent, a bit of pepper and strawberry; an elegant CdP, medium concentrated body with a nice soft freshness; seems to be at its prime - really delicious (so much different from when it was young - based on previous notes)
January 11, 2023 - Monthly Tasting Group HWS: Clos des Papes (By AH): Beautiful and creamy, not very expressive bouquet with red berries and light herbs and spices. On the palate the same impressions, red berries like strawberries and some cherries, good and fresh acidity, some bitterness and hardly any tannin left. Subtle wine. Nice and easy drinking wine at its peak.
October 12, 2022 - Served blind as part of an informal tasting, this was opened about two hours before we got to it, but not decanted.
Two things were obvious from the first sniff - ripe red fruits and sweaty horse. The brett element didn't completely dominate on the nose, but it was always there. On the palate there was more red fruit and some herbal tones, with a bit of dustiness. The brett didn't become notable until there was a metallic edge on the finish, which I have always picked up on bretty wines. The overall texture of the wine was incredibly smooth to the point of sexy, but then there was the horse. My blind guess was 2012 Southern Rhone Grenache, so not bad at all.
June 25, 2022 - Small glass around the bonfire. No formal note taken.
I find these "off vintages" of CDP more in my wheelhouse of the more acclaimed high-alcohol vintage. I liked the restraint on this. Integrated darker fruits, black pepper, some cured meats.
In a good spot. Last of three for me and probably near peak.
June 25, 2022 - Rose's on the Deck: A Summer Party (Matt and Brenda's, Minneapolis, MN): Another bonus red at the end of the night thanks to Matt and Brenda. Really even handed and showing beautifully, classic and understated style of CdP that I love. 92+ to 93pts.