stunningly young with a deep red color. tannic and firm with an immediately available nose. not at all roasted. weak points were a lack of complexity in the nose and concentration to balance out but overall an amazing effort for $14.
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Perfect corks, no seepage in both bottles. Drinking nicely at the moment. Rich GSM blend. Typical herbs, garrigue in a grenache-dominated blend. Certainly typical of the vintage as well. Doesn't taste as appealing after 24h. Drink or hold to 2020. 14.5% abv
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This is showing really well. Warm, breezy and ripe, this screams of Grenache with a certain cherry and pine breeze aspect. The 2003 personality is also obvious: roasted fig dances with white pepper. This wine is usually a lot more edgy in other vintages, but the ripeness here is considerable and screams of the heat of 2003. Maybe there a touch of acidification with a tart element on the finish? Still, this is simply delicious with an easy, garrigue laden personality. This bottle was a recent acquisition from a friend who was moving and had to empty his cellar in January. I had purchased and consumed a couple of bottles very quickly after release in 2008, so it is very fun to see a bottle with a few more years of age. At this stage, if I had more, I would be drinking these for the sheer joy of the current ripeness. I am not sure how this will age, but it is very alluring and delicious RIGHT NOW as far as I'm concerned.
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QUITE DARK. FRUIT DRIVEN ALMOST ROASTED IN CHARACTER. SOFT IN THE MOUTH WITH A LONG FINISH. NOSE WAS STRAIGHT FORWARD BUT SIMPLE. WOULD RE-TASTE IN ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS
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This has a sweet, fruity bouquet, which straddles a line somewhere between raspberries and blackberries, the light side of medium-bodied. There was a smooth delivery of flavours with the fruit coming first, then a lengthy, elegant spicy finish. Interesting but easy enough to be a crowd-pleaser. Quite a feminine wine rather than the expected alcoholic brute. (oct ’06).
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Cherry red at the rim with a dark red / purple tinged core. I detected a hint of strawberry and black berry on the nose as well as a slight woody aroma. The tannins coated the palate and are very strong. The wine has medium body. After breathing for a little over an hour the tannins rounded out a bit and were less harsh. The wine has a slightly tart finish that is fairly short. After breathing for a few more hours I felt the wine was starting to go down hill with a slightly oxidized taste on the palate.
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Decanted for 40 minutes. Color is dark ruby and purple, and body is medium to light in weight. Very expressive nose with chambord and floral notes. On the palate, blackberry liqueur and a touch of licorice that turns somewhat sweet, though not quite cloying. The tannins start off ferocious, and it takes a good 90 minutes before this wine becomes enjoyable. The balance is tilted towards a frontal attack, and the finish proves a bit light (though average in length at 15-20 seconds). To my palate, this wine lacks the depth and complexity of a good CdP or a great CdR. Overall, a decent wine, but not that great a QPR at $17.
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It has a purple colour I associate with Cote Rotie. A heady nose and vibrant primary fruit. It's very full, in every sense of the word, with a chewy texture and mouthfell from the abundant tannins. Tannins are a very strong feature of this wine; they coat the mouth with a finish that stays and stays. Fortunately they are perfectly palatable - on the dry side but enjoyable if you appreciate tannin, (which I do.) I am finishing it two days after opening, with no noticable deterioration. dg
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4/29/2024 - Montecalvo Likes this wine: 89 Points
stunningly young with a deep red color. tannic and firm with an immediately available nose. not at all roasted. weak points were a lack of complexity in the nose and concentration to balance out but overall an amazing effort for $14.
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1/22/2016 - Tony Molester wrote:
Perfect corks, no seepage in both bottles.
Drinking nicely at the moment. Rich GSM blend.
Typical herbs, garrigue in a grenache-dominated blend.
Certainly typical of the vintage as well.
Doesn't taste as appealing after 24h.
Drink or hold to 2020.
14.5% abv
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7/13/2012 - Eric Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is showing really well. Warm, breezy and ripe, this screams of Grenache with a certain cherry and pine breeze aspect. The 2003 personality is also obvious: roasted fig dances with white pepper. This wine is usually a lot more edgy in other vintages, but the ripeness here is considerable and screams of the heat of 2003. Maybe there a touch of acidification with a tart element on the finish? Still, this is simply delicious with an easy, garrigue laden personality. This bottle was a recent acquisition from a friend who was moving and had to empty his cellar in January. I had purchased and consumed a couple of bottles very quickly after release in 2008, so it is very fun to see a bottle with a few more years of age. At this stage, if I had more, I would be drinking these for the sheer joy of the current ripeness. I am not sure how this will age, but it is very alluring and delicious RIGHT NOW as far as I'm concerned.
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5/29/2008 - Montecalvo wrote: 87 Points
QUITE DARK. FRUIT DRIVEN ALMOST ROASTED IN CHARACTER. SOFT IN THE MOUTH WITH A LONG FINISH. NOSE WAS STRAIGHT FORWARD BUT SIMPLE. WOULD RE-TASTE IN ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS
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9/25/2006 - Spencer wrote: 88 Points
Very nice. Ripe and loaded with fruit, but balanced. Good value. Enjoyable now, but there's no rush to drink it.
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1/10/2006 - markfitz wrote:
This has a sweet, fruity bouquet, which straddles a line somewhere between raspberries and blackberries, the light side of medium-bodied. There was a smooth delivery of flavours with the fruit coming first, then a lengthy, elegant spicy finish. Interesting but easy enough to be a crowd-pleaser. Quite a feminine wine rather than the expected alcoholic brute. (oct ’06).
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9/25/2005 - kris.h wrote: 83 Points
Cherry red at the rim with a dark red / purple tinged core. I detected a hint of strawberry and black berry on the nose as well as a slight woody aroma. The tannins coated the palate and are very strong. The wine has medium body. After breathing for a little over an hour the tannins rounded out a bit and were less harsh. The wine has a slightly tart finish that is fairly short. After breathing for a few more hours I felt the wine was starting to go down hill with a slightly oxidized taste on the palate.
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7/21/2005 - DFC wrote: 87 Points
Decanted for 40 minutes. Color is dark ruby and purple, and body is medium to light in weight. Very expressive nose with chambord and floral notes. On the palate, blackberry liqueur and a touch of licorice that turns somewhat sweet, though not quite cloying. The tannins start off ferocious, and it takes a good 90 minutes before this wine becomes enjoyable. The balance is tilted towards a frontal attack, and the finish proves a bit light (though average in length at 15-20 seconds). To my palate, this wine lacks the depth and complexity of a good CdP or a great CdR. Overall, a decent wine, but not that great a QPR at $17.
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6/20/2005 - Jeff W wrote:
It has a purple colour I associate with Cote Rotie. A heady nose and vibrant primary fruit. It's very full, in every sense of the word, with a chewy texture and mouthfell from the abundant tannins. Tannins are a very strong feature of this wine; they coat the mouth with a finish that stays and stays. Fortunately they are perfectly palatable - on the dry side but enjoyable if you appreciate tannin, (which I do.) I am finishing it two days after opening, with no noticable deterioration. dg
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