January 9, 2024 - Fairly deep color with little browning after 29 years.
Intense nose with evolved plum and white pepper notes.
when first opened, it came across fairly rustic, in a positive sense, with earthy and spicy notes and still some tannin.
Re-tasted the next day, it came across softer and more complex and less rustic. This suggests a decanting would be in order now.
There is just a hint that the fruit will start to dry up, so I would say drink within the next couple of years.
Quite extraordinary for a Crozes...
August 28, 2023 - This pours light garnet in the glass with light bricking. The nose is just gorgeous blasting black peppercorn, green peppercorn, creosote, smoked meat, crushed slate, dried blueberry, dried plum, and dried cranberry. The palate comes across quite lean, but fans out with air showing cranberry on entry turning to medium plus, firm, green tinged tannin, and medium plus cranberry acid. The fish turns a tad green replaying the green peppercorn and in the end clipping the profile. All in all this is a nice and very alive and classically styled Northern Rhone. I absolutely love the aromatics with the intense pepper and smoke character. The fruit and the palate are quite lean which certainly detracts a fair bit, but is an aspect I can forgive given how complex the nose is. Notably, 24 hours of air really allowed the fruit to come forward, so I'd recommend plenty of air. Really enjoyable stuff.
May 19, 2018 - Great fill level and perfect capsule. New upon pouring that wine was in great shape. Sappy. Still very bright but lacquered. This wine is terrific for the age and appellation but no surprise for the producer. Exotic spice with just ripen plum. So good!
February 25, 2018 - Slightly cloudy mahogany color.
High toned, quite feral nose. Touch of violets, smoke, bacon fat, under brush.
Tart red fruits with a strawberry liqueur like finish. Tannins are resolved and fruit is starting to fall away leaving the wines acidity as its lasting impression. Good, but probably on a gentle downslope at this point.
December 5, 2016 - The Syrah is quite evident. Lots of varietal character. There's a Niçoise olive note that is so good, along with earthy notes of garrigue, sage, lavender and dry cured meats. On the palate, it is bright, assertive but weightless, with a core of somewhat unripe red fruit. This rivals some hearty Burgundies I've had. Very good effort.
PAIRING: Stuffed Bell Peppers with meat and rice. [A]
September 9, 2016 - OTH just too bad but expected
June 20, 2016 - thought I had drunk these, worried too old. Turns out I didn’t like, but not especially old or oxidized tasting. Moderate acids,plenty of fruit, but a real roasted character to the fruit, tasted like a hot vintage CdP with acid addition. I liked this many years ago. C+
March 28, 2015 - Medium brick red colour with clear/tawny edge. Upfront bouquet showing lots of damson and other red fruit character with an oaky edge. On the palate - lots of red fruit, plenty of fruity acidity and very light tannin. Tastes much younger than a 20 year old wine but the prominent acidity suggests it may be just OTT. Still a lovely wine and remarkably fresh
February 1, 2015 - This is brick red in colour with slightly orange-red rim. Nose has slight menthol character. Palate has full soft fruit with mineral core. Notes of meat, silky smooth finish. Got better with more air after about 45 min.
Much better than I expected.
January 2, 2014 - I was not expecting too much from a 18 years old simple Crozes but this was holding up very well and it was a pleasure to drink this wine.
Smoke, earthy notes with a mix of red and dark fruits. Not a lot of structure on the mid-palate but it firms up on the finish with a light tannic grip. Good acidity.