Cellared from release. I’m totally going to quote WINEGUYX as he summed it up! “ Fantastic nose of kirsch liqueur, fresh herb de Provence switches and black cherry. Full-bodied and rich, just loadedw ith sweet black cherry juice, kirsch and the sweetest garden herbs. This is absolutely delicious and loaded with ripe fruit juices without being at all heavy or ponderous. This is perfectly mature but will last several more years. Drink now-2027.”
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Fantastic nose of kirsch liqueur, fresh herb de Provence switches and black cherry. Full-bodied and rich, just loadedw ith sweet black cherry juice, kirsch and the sweetest garden herbs. This is absolutely delicious and loaded with ripe fruit juices without being at all heavy or ponderous. This is perfectly mature but will last several more years. Drink now-2027. 93
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Big disappointment here. I thought the wine would be worth at least 90 pts.(Guigal name, you know...) but as you see it's not even close to 89. Short review - no balance here. Red cherry, milk chocolate, dry texture, pop up acidity, unremarkable finish with some bitter notes! No joy to drink it!
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This has always been an excellent wine and excellent example of Gigondas and this bottle is no exception. Loads of Provençal herbs, roasted cherries and blueberries and wild flowers adorn the nose and palate. The palate appears to be thinning so this is likely on the down-swing Drink now-2025 92
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Hartsyard supper (Hartsyard, Newtown): Baked red fruits, leather, slight earthy, sweet spice, slight garrigue, alcohol warmth. Juicy, soft almost non-discernible tannins, alcohol warmth on the finish, dense, baked red fruit. Not really for me.
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Took a few hours for this to express itself. It’s a lovely GSM with lovely blueberry and blackberry with very soft tannins and a long velvety finish. Drinking wonderfully now, just give it time to open up.
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This is the last bottle of a case. I was disappointed in all of the bottles I consumed until a couple of years ago. I followed all of the drink windows I saw online, which suggested drinking this one way too early. There are a couple of other recent reviews on cellartracker.com that confirm this is a very good wine right now.
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Opened on Easter Sunday to have with grilled steak and chicken. Decanted and aired but it was still tight. Finished bottle last night and the fruit in this wine had opened up and it wasn't as "hot" as on Sunday. Plum, black berry, leather and fresh herbs meld making this a balanced and enjoyable wine. Needs lots of air and time to come up.
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Wow - this was unexpectedly more northern than southern Rhone-ish with a rather dark color, broodish meaty, bacon fat aromas, scorched earth, and dense blackberry fruits. You still get some of the raspberry fruit from the Grenache on the palate, but this is a beefy and uber delicious wine that could be easily be evaluated as a Syrah by a blind taster. In a perfect drinking window now! Not quite as good on the second day.
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Had a couple of bottles of this one that were a little off. But it is back to drinking very well. I know most are suggesting a back end year of 2020 for this wine, but it may last just a little longer than that.
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Great wine. Medium to full bodied wine with plum and black currant tasting notes and hints of licorice. Has he long and elegance finish. Drink now or Cellar for another 5 to 8 years. Had 2 bottles and 4 more to go.
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Still a nice fresh food wine, but I liked it better a few years ago. Pepper, dark berries, but too much of the fruit has gone, and not replaced with something else.
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This tastes like a classic Rhone. A bit austere, medium weight, dry, spicy mid palate with sour cherry finish. However, all the other Gigondas I have had, have been darker, fuller and richer. Have I waited too long that it lost its rich "baby fat" as some have noted?
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This is really starting to get lean. Still has a beautiful nose of crunchy black and blueberries, flowers and spice. Some mineral-laden earth as well. Medium-bodied, much like the 2005, this has lost its baby fat and is a bit lean, but still a delightful drink. Ripe flavors of blue and blackberries, spice and minerals. Really good stuff. 90
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I wouldn’t say it is in a dumb phase, but it is in an austere period. Fruit profile has diminished on the palate (less so on the nose), and there is a solid wall of tannin on the finish that suggests additional years of aging before the wine really reveals its secondary notes. Elements of smoke, leather and Herbs de Provence are starting to emerge. I’d wait a few years for this wine to develop further.
First bottle of red wine for 2018. This is my last of 5 bottles of this wine. Paid $23 for it in 2011, what a deal. Everyone on CT who has rated this wine in 2017 gave it 90-93 points. I agree, this wine was delicious with my leftover NYE pepperoni pizza today. Black raspberry and plum on the nose, with intense black pepper flakes and an overriding smoky nuance. The palate echoes the fruits from the nose, with the pepper and smoke, adding a refreshing degree of acidity and mostly resolved tannins after 10 years in bottle. The finish is very nice, this is a very good WFTM. Drink this wine now.
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Opaque black with an inch pour. Generous aromas of blackberry, black cherry, forest floor, and lavender. Glides into the mouth softly, with refreshing acidity and rounded but drying tannin. Has a good acid hit from the swallow, cushioned by integrated and gentle texture, finishing with still firm tannin. No longer has the gushing upfront fruit of the young wine, nor is the feel quite as lushly rich. But does have better integration, a more soothing feel, and finer elegance.
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Very tasty Rhone and no need to drink up yet. One hour decant and wonderful with roasted fall veggies. Lots of spice with the dark fruit and tannins are smoothig out but still grippy. I agree with those who pick up hints of leather and meat. Quite good!
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I’m a 375, stored at 54 F this is fully mature. Dark berry, herbs de Provence, and still a bit of tannin. Drinking well, but I doubt that it will for much longer. In a full bottle, I might not drink up, but the 1/2s are ready to go.
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Always like this wine! Plenty of black cherry and spice in nose. The palate is Provencial through and through. Loads of grilled black cherries, Herbs de Provence and hints of smoked meat. Fine texture a redolent of minerals in the finish. This is still bright and fresh and better than most 2007 Chateauneufs in my cellar as the added elevation helped with the heat of the vintage. Drink now-2021 91
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Quite aromatic and still youthful. Medium-full bodied and loaded with fruit and spice. Sweet and so Provençal!! Loaddd with Herbs de Provence, blueberries, roasted cherries and meat as well as various other spices. Delicious and fully mature, but appears to have a long life ahead. 92. df 9.3
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Dark garnet/damson red, a little bit of age beginning to show. Rich nose of preserved meat (Bresaola), tomato paste,leather and some Agen prune sweetness. Full medium body, peppery. leather, garrigue herbs (bay, rosemary etc). Lingers.
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Upon opening, this syrupy wine smells a bit OTH, which worries me. Upon tasting, there seems to be underlying tannin structure, and even decent acidity, but the underlying fruit seems a bit dried up and maderized. I will need to let this sit, because even in the first 15 mins opened, it seems to be coming around. I have 1 more bottle, so I hope I did not wait too long.
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One of my favourite appellations in the french Rhone Valley. Black currant, herbs, pencil shavings, licorice and spice. A rustic wine with noticable (but "good") tannins. Fully mature and delicious. Cheers!
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Ruby-garnet red with some sediment. Distant red fruits on the nose. This fruit-forward wine is filled with red cherries framed by mild herbal notes. The alcohol is quite strong up front, and the cherry notes last a long time into the finish, where they are joined by a slight fig taste.
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Weekly tasting group #212; GSM: Blend or mono cepage? (@ The factory by JdB): Firm dark berries in the bouquet, garrigue, spices, licorice and some rustic impressions. On the palate also a firm wine with dark berries, herbs and spices, licorice, good acidity and firm, still sticky tannin and some bitterness in the finish. Overall a firm, but not extremely refined wine. Still youthful and might improve a bit with a few more years of ageing. Around 2020? 89+ for tonight.
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Deep purple red with no sign of ageing. Rich alcoholic nose with pepper, cinnamon spice, ripe plums and back notes of leather and vanilla. Full in the mouth, smooth; drinking very well but with 3 to 5 more years; perfumed leather, figs, some tannin to give it backbone; a little lighter than some Gigondas. Lingers.
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Pop and pour. Still miles to go before it is ready but after it took on some air - maybe 30 minutes, it was beginning to open up. This is 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah. The taste indicated more Syrah in the blend to me because there was more spice that fruit, with a meatyness that probably came from the Mourvedre. Quite a nice, sold well-made wine with some complexity. I suspect it needs a two hour decant or perhaps anothe 5 years of age to really blossom.
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A bit uneven on the palate at first (dry and edgy). The nose evolves nicely from fruity to herbal to minty. After a few hours, the wine rounds out on the palate and the nose smells sweet. Add a point after 3 hours. Maybe another if you like that evolving nose thing.
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Solid southern wine, though lacking a bit of personality; the polished style, shines through, the sauvage excitement of Gigondas has been tamed and left is a broad grenache-wine reflecting the overrated vintage. Mature, I don't see it improving, drink up in 2-4 years. Kandestederne.
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Vinturied into a decanter and let sit for 3+ hours. Colour is deep garnet-medium ruby. Nose of dark red fruits and black currants. Cassis, black licorice, and a hint of black earth and black tea are detected on the palate; getting some black plums as well; fleshy and tannic on the entry and dry at the end but has a nice long finish to accompany it.
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Provided by a running friend: a perfectly matured Gigondas that maaaaybe lacked personality, but a little difficult to know for sure after the very long PN tasting of 20+ wines.
Nose was bland, clean and calm. Nothing to write home about, yet inviting.
Palate is halfway balanced, needs a little more acids for food and a bit more tannins for the perfect balance. Fully matured and difficult to imagine that it has a brighter future.
However, this wine was enjoyed over ~3 hrs together w/my eldest daughter. Thus: oitferkingstanding :-)
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Coravined. Ruby red with slight bricking. Reddish-black fruits, pepper, and new saddle leather on the nose. A structured and earthy palate reveals medium acidity, supple tannins and peppery red fruits on the finish.
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No specific TN. But wow, this is a tasty wine. Made all the better watching OSU take down Oregon. Nice red fruit, with notes of earth and spice. The tannins of this 8 yr old wine are finally softening, and the med acidity is ample for the size of this wine. Drinking beautifully now, with room to grow through 2020.
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Well aged and ready... Upon opening was light and smooth like a Pinot noir, but opened up to be a well rounded Rhone with enough acid and back bone to accompany a grilled pork tenderloin.
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I've always considered myself mostly neutral on brett, but this wine is a major brett bomb! There is fruit in here, but it is largely hidden behind the wall of brettanomyces. Yeast cleanup on aisle 5!
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This took a looong time (4-5 hours) to come around in the decanter, initially showing lots of bitter tannin and unpleasant bite. By the end of the night it was showing some sweet/tart red fruit on the nose. Brambly black licorice and earth on the palette. Hold to 2017.
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Like many Rhone wines from the 2007 vintage, on release this wine was dark, fruity, lush, and mouth filling. A classic GMS blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah, except that the amount of Mourvedre is unusually high. The main changes 7 years later are that the feel in the mouth has evolved to show more of the drying but smooth tannins from the Mourvedre, plus better integration, balance, and savoriness. Will continue to drink deliciously for at least another 4 years.
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Second Sunday Group: 2009 Bordeaux (Augie's): Aromas of tar, tapenade and black fruits with underlying spice and pepper qualities. Full-bodied and ripe but not overly so, with flavors of black fruit, licorice, tapenade and pepper. Long finish. Much better than I expected it to be.
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Used a third of bottle w/garlic and thyme to marinate an eye roast which worked well. Drank the remainder over 2 days. At first slightly rough with mostly minerals. After an hour or so the fruit emerged and drank nicely. Lots of dark fruits pepper and spice with a nose much of the same.
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Deep red with purple highlights. Tight initially, then the nose opens to reveal dark red plums, berries, leather, wet earth and a touch of pepper. A full bodied palate follows through with masculine dark red fruits, new saddle leather, medium-low acidity and a structured, firm finish. This could use more time in the bottle.
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warm/alcohol, cinnamon, roast coffee on the nose, long finish. Pop and pour, got better over two hours, still OK next day. Keep or drink. Cork was fine BTW, despite another comment.
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Typical Gigondas. Earthy tone with notes of black pepper and spice. Also, dark fruits, but cannot identify them. Loved it with grilled meat. Pulled the cork 1-2 hours before drinking. Did not decant, but did not seem to need more than pulling the cork early. One pro reviewer says it will last until 2025. I am not sure it will last that long. I would use a back end year of something in the 2018-2020 range.
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Deep red in color. Aromas of raspberries, black plums, moist earth , indian spice and white pepper. A medium bodied and lush palate reveals good depth to the sweet red berry fruit, wet soil and low acidity. This is a very good QPR.
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Very nice med intensity notes of black pepper, moist soil, red cherry and raspberry fruit. Med bodied with med alcohol and nice, fairly rounded tannins at this point, supported by ample med acidity, leading into the red fruit and peppery finish. A good quality wine, drinking really nicely now, but will likely further improve with 1-2 more years bottle age, and drink well til around 2020.
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PHMG WAG: the Southern Rhones (Chez Lyon in Eugene, OR): This bridges the gap a little between "old rustic" and "new fruit driven". Earth and forest floor complement the red and black fruit, while the texture is right down the center of the fairway. I don't see this getting a lot better, put it on your "to do" list.
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Nice spicy character earthy barnyard aromas, leathery with ripe plum, and cherries.. Very pleasant wine .. This wine has great potential. Full bodied with concentration of fruits. Pleasant with a fine finish. This wine is very nice now but has the stuff to go 5-10 years...
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Moderate duration and palate. Predominant taste is a mixture of raspberry, cumin, and smoke. It is dry but not acidic or signifcantly tannic. Pairs well with medium bodied foods.
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decent, more like a cote du rhone in enjoyability, Guigal must make millions of these and a tidy sum. qpr- My 'expert' opinion says these aren't going to age well.
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I absolutely love drinking this wine. Very aromatic earthy bouquet- meaty, mushroom, leather with nice red fruit. The thing that just grabs me with this wine is the lively, energetic personality. For a wine with little to no noticeable tannin it has amazing body. This wine needs no age and I hope to keep drinking them until they fade as every bottle has hit the mark. For my palate I would go as far as to say this is the best sub $25 wine I've ever bought.
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Decanted for an hour...strawberry, cherry, and black raspberry with tons of lavender and violets backed up with garrigue, tar, and crushed stone. Moderately tannic with good acidity and a mineral/tar finish. Probably has five more years to go before decline, but drinking well now with at least this much decant...we'll see where we are in an hour or two.
At 3 hours, getting sour cherry, blackberry, pepper, loads of violet, asphalt, and roasted herbs with black olive and ash emerging on the finish.
After 6 hours, syrah coming through... blueberry, cassis, fig, wild strawberries, white pepper, violets, and lavender compete with tar, tobacco, and tapenade.
Opened this bottle earlier than I had intended due to extenuating circumstances, but it is drinking nicely now. If I end up with another, I'll be sure to hold it for another 2 years though.
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I've generally liked all the 2007 Rhones that I've taste and I was certainly looking forward to this one. The nose was very disappointing on opening with very little fruit apparent. In the mouth it was smooth with surprisingly uncomplicated tannins. There ware hints of strawberry and plum with a hint of forest floor. Finish medium short. Very restrained. I decanted this overnight and by the second day it had opened up appreciably. A fruit forward Rhone, this had great fruit character with a blend of red currants and strawberry. The savoury components were still a little lacking and the finish hadn't improved much. I was hoping that after 5 years this bottle would be approaching drinkability, I still think this needs a further three years to fully integrate.
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Solid Rhone wine and huge QPR @ $20! Drank one last night wine homemade chicken soup great pairing that made each better. Drank good on its own. Definitely recommend. A little too acidic on opening, but just got better as the night went on. Decant or wait 2 years.
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Big wine, needs air. First impression was dark and bitter but left bottle resealed for a couple of days and it got much better. Rhone violets and spice, long finish.
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Very approachable, tasty and well suited to dry rubbed pork roast or king salmon. I've had this twice now and think I'll put some away for a year or two... the wine shop says it is nearly gone... I recommend it. Well balanced for food, delicisous to sip alone.
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Red 2007 Guigal Masterclass (Stockholm): Deep red colour with some purplish notes and slightly faded edge. Nose in a rather fruity style with dark and red berries, some spice, some graphite notes, initially some oak barrel notes. Palate with red and dark berries, powerful concentration of fruit, noticeable spice, rather present tannins, balancing acidity, almost "barnyard-tasting". Somewhat young, would gain from cellaring. 90+ p Compared to the other two Guigal southern Rhône 2007s, this has the most discrete nose and actually a bit of Mourvèdre feeling.
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This felt a little early, and I am hoping it will come more together. Nose of dark fruits and garrigue. Medium palate. Acidity and tannins suggest cellaring a bit may be a good idea.
PS Love the different drinking windows between Jeb Dunnuck and the Speculator.
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Full bodied, concentrated wine with tons of earth and underbrush backed up by understated bur concentrated fruits. Great balance and probably could benefit from more bottle age, but good with an hour decanting.
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Popped and poured at 11 am for the NY Jet's tailgate this Sunday. An excellent wine with reasonable multi-flavor complexity that went down very smoothly. I'll pass on the nose because we were outside in the parking lt with grills all around us drinking out of Martha Stewart tulip wine glasses. The palate was pepper spice, meat juices and raspberry, with some dark tart cherry. I looked for the emergence of the raspberry since this is a grenache-based wine and it was there, but a bit on the light side. I checked the Guigal web site this morning at the blend is 50% grenache, 20% syrah and 30% mourvedre, which I think explains the lighter raspberry component mixing with syrah pepper spice and meaty mourvedre. This wine did not quite get the WOW 90+ points but it is a pleasure to drink it.
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Black pepper, spice. Allot of this is apperently Mourvedre. And you feel that on the back -- grippy and dark in that Mourvedre kinda way. Only 60% grenache. Really tarry. Nate notes "beef stock". Very umami braised meat thing going on. Its a year and half in 500 liter barrels apperently. Nate carries on "it has that whole sticky tounge thing. Apperently the feeling is that Gigondas makes the best Mourvedre. "
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Delicious, a great example of the vintage - Dark, full bodied with a nose of cherry, plum, spice, pepper and vanilla, amazing structure and balance, silky smooth on the palate with excellent length, awesome (91 Points).
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Aroma of earth, mushroom, soy sauce. Tastes of charred cherries. Leather, spice and minerals. Great balance and very long tangy finish. Nice grippy pronounced tannins. This wine just kept getting better with aeration too.
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Rhone tasting (retailer): Melted cherries on the nose, dark fruits with iron on the finish. Rich and full quite well integrated but the finish is still firm. Needs to age a few more years. 89-90
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This wine is definitely hitting its stride now. Such a beautiful nose of red and black fruit, asian spices, hoisin sauce and garrigue. The palate was phenomenal to boot. This was really tasting very CdP right at this moment. I'm tempted to go back and by a 6 pack. Nice smooth tannins are very well integrated with the acidity and the finish last medium to long. about 45 seconds.
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Meaty, rocks, gravel, and earth and of course blackberries; rich, soft and velvety with reduced acidity and somewhat rustic tannins; this had a little herbal aspect and a medium finish. Nice, classic, and par for the course for the vintage.
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Splash decanted and drank over 1.5 hrs. A little old world on the nose with some earthy mushroom aromas joining the red fruits. Meaty and earthy notes on the palate compliment with slightly tart red fruits, red licorice, and some raspberry syrup, though there is little impression of sugar. Fleshed out as it opened and the fruit unfurled. Sound structure with firm, fine tannins and good acidity make this excellent with food. Recommend decanting for at least an hour at this point.
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Crimson garnet. Full and juicy, with a hint of moss and mushroom on the nose. Loads of cherry, a touch of blueberry, and a pleasingly smooth finish. Well worth the tariff.
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Little tied up at first (without decanting), but came around something smooth two / three hours later. The nose-to-first-taste is seamless - all about some dark berries. Tannins obvious throughout, sticking to my cheeks and gums, but smooth in the way I like. Some good minerals, a little game. High-profile balance and a good sip of earth.
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Violets, raspberries and herbal notes. Lovely mineral balance. A hint of lightly smoked meat and just starting to develop forest floor aromas. Will leave for another 3-5 years.
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Very well made hearty Gigondas that achieves all the full body and everything else that you want in a Rhone wine without high alcohol. I'm definitely buying more.
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Always a winner. Lots of fruit smell when you pop the cork with hint of lavender. I de-canted for 2 hours and it really mellowed. We had lamb chops with a chimi churri sauce. A sort of olive oil, parsley, lemon mix. We also had Swiss chard from the garden with onion and garlic. The wine had the taste of the earth, the smell of southern France and lots of fruit.
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Adecent, but light Gigondas, with dark berries in the wine which is much thinner than the CdP, though almost the same blend. A bit of underbrush and some cooking spice with a short to medium finish. smooth tannins made this a popular wine, but lacking a bit on acidity. Again I would not choose this again because Perrin & Fils gigondas was a couple bucks less and much bigger in the taste, tannin and acid parts.
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Consistent with previous bottle after another 6 months. Sensed this is a lighter Gigondas compared to some of the bigger guns I have had. Still quite enjoyable and great value.
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Um jovem e estruturado Gigondas. Cor rubi escuro brilhante. Ao nariz ainda se mostra discretamente fechado, mas já complexo e com boa tipicidade, tem um agradável toque apimentado, frutas vermelhas, notas de tabaco e um fundo mineral. Na boca é encorpado, com sabor agradável mas relativamente contido, ainda falta uma maior expansão que deverá aparecer com a idade. Os taninos se fazem notar, mas são finos. Acho que esse vinho ganhará muito com uma guarda de pelo menos mais uns 3 anos. É bom deixar respirar por mais de 1 hora. Deve aguentar bem por até 2020 (+?).
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Very good typical wine from southern rhone. Powerful, pure, medium body, red fruits, hint of spicy, smooth tannin after 2 hours. Good value. Guigal never disappoint me.
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- Crimsom color with fast forming legs and aromas of black currant. It's overly acidic and has flavours of geranium with a medium body. Juicy texture with a medium finish.
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The most reliable negociant in the Rhone - North or South, is probably Guigal. Great wine at good QPR. This is a well balanced Gigondas which offers a bouquet of spice, pepper and black currants. Palate is smooth with lively tannins and bright acidity. instead of a typical fruity white, surprise yourself by pairing this Gigondas with a spicy dish like a stir fry pepper steak.
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14% abv, 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah. It is purple-black in color. Nose of saddle leather, wet soil, charcoal, plums, and blueberries. The fruit aromas are echoed on the palate, with ripened cassis and plums, then notes of wet gravel and smoke. The mid palate is nicely balanced, with ample acidity for mouth watering tartness, then a medium-length finish with dusty & chalky tannins. Matched beautifully with sirloin steaks this evening. This wine is only going to get better. Has 10+ years still ahead of it. What a nice QPR @ $25. Wow.
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Good wine and definitely worth the money. More subdued and lower on the fruit than I remember from the last time I had the wine. Popped and poured so more oxygen might have helped. Otherwise well built with good structure.
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Well structured, smoke and spice over plummy dark fruit, with acid and tannin in balance. Good QPR. Will benefit from more time in cellar. From 375 ml.
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Had this 375mL bottle while watching some good Sunday afternoon football at the condo - specifically, watching Tim Tebow, the biggest joke of a first round QB pick that I can recall, sucking it up against the Lions. I don't know if watching that bozo's clown show on the turf made this wine much better, but I just might have given it an extra point for the appeal of the situation in which it was drunk. As a disclaimer, I am a New York Giants fan, and have no stock in the AFC West in general; it is so amusing to me to see Tebow fulfill the experts' predictions though...
As for the wine... it makes me think of a pitcher who is right at the peak of his windup, about to deliver what looks to be a perfect strike. All of the elements are in the nose, palate, and finish, that one would expect from a Gigondas from such a full, ripe, and monumental vintage - garrigue, woody notes, kitchen spice, purple fruits, blueberry/blackberry, sweet cherry, a bit of olive, gaminess, nice minerality, and such. However, for the time being, these flavors are all bound into one tight package just waiting to develop into something more complex. This wine does have the tannic structure and acidity to lay down for a couple of years or more, and right now there is just too much energy bound into each sip. Enjoyable now, but this should greatly reward moderate term cellaring on the order of 2-5+(?) years.
88 for the wine - 89 if you include the Tebow debacle in the equation - with at least 2-3 points of upside potential. Great QPR at under $25 for a 750.
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Very nice indeed! Good dark color and very boisterous aromatically. Smells of some rich red berry pie, blueberry, ripe plum and smoky black cherry. It's all candy. The Grenache really shows forward. Medium body with sturdy acidity to balance but the fruit keeps comin'. Flavors match with same candy like red fruit but with a twist of blackpepper and minerals. There is a sense of intensity and willingness to play ball with this specimen. Exquisite wine!
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Dark ruby and quite lively in the glass The nose opens up with sweet cherries, raspberries, minerals and herbs, a tad knit. In the mouth it has a good balance and the fruit is well harnessed by good acidity, finish is medium. Drinks fine now and within 4 years.
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Ordered at a restaurant, popped and poured, brought home and finished there. Note from at home a few hours after being originally opened. Dusty nose with a bit of cured meats and some spices. Taste is more red fruit than dark with a good amount of pepper. Fair acids up front though the tannins still dominate now. This needs some time but should work out to be an extremely solid Gigondas.
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The nose is more savory in direction, with aromas of topsoil, game, and mushrooms overshadowing tart black fruit. On the palate the wine opens with ripe and focused red fruits. More distinct elements of raspberry and strawberry arise on the lush mid-palate, as well as hints of sundried tomato. The wine finishes with firm tannins and medium length, showing components of leather, charcoal, and black pepper. The fruit has good focus, but the wine itself seems to lack a corresponding level of linear structure. All things considered, however, it has the potential to evolve with some time in the bottle. R&M 85
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A very fine Southern Rhone. A bit of pepper, but not as distinct as some other Gigondas wines. Excellent balance and blend is well integrated with bright fruit at the front, a good level of acid and tannin to stay with the meal, and a medium long finish. I think it will improve with a 2-3 more years of bottle time.
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Nose had some cherries, baking spice and a little heat. Juicy but sour red fruit on the palate with some wet earth and chalky tannins on the finish. Still showing young with a good amount of acidic structure...much better with food.
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Full jammy fruit that at first made my think of Australian GSM wines. Aside from the fuller body / 14% alcohol, the nose is almost reminiscent of a Beaujolais, but it is distinctive Rhone varietals on the palate. Ultimately, a nice drinker, but not a very complex or deep wine. Very little tannins if any but some acidity. Good for the price but nothing memorable.
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I would describe this as fancy CdR versus cheap CdP, with the proviso that in some vintages it can be the reverse.
As with other the Southern Rhone 07's I've tasted it exhibits very full jammy fruit indicative of the hot vintage. But very little structure and complexity. I would not likely guess that this was Gigondas if tasted blind. I've tasted a number of the Guigal Gigondas blends and this vintage is very different. Stated otherwise, varietal characteristics were lacking (IMO).
Second day and some fruit receding slightly and I can taste some of the more typical peppery tannic notes.
Not to say that this wine isn't delicious, but it is essentially an improved version of the CdR (which is quite good) for more than twice the price (almost 3x).
Will be interested to try the Guigal CdP when it is finally released to compare.
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Like a BRICK of coal-smoke and black pepper. Great dencity, but too much alcohol and tannins for my taste. I know this is a Parker94 or something like that, but just too much oomph for me. I think '07 Gigondas in general is just too tight and heavy in comparison to '06 and '05 vintages. Maybe this evolves into a 90+ wine, but right now it's just not in the comfort-zone of my palate.
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No formal notes taken so I will not score. I do remember a very focused, streamlined Rhone with tons of red fruit and minerality. It was missing some of the showiness of other '07s I have had recently but that was definitely not a flaw. A little tight with med-high acid tannins that should relax and unveil some complexity over time.
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3/16/2024 - Wamrod wrote: 92 Points
Cellared from release. I’m totally going to quote WINEGUYX as he summed it up! “ Fantastic nose of kirsch liqueur, fresh herb de Provence switches and black cherry. Full-bodied and rich, just loadedw ith sweet black cherry juice, kirsch and the sweetest garden herbs. This is absolutely delicious and loaded with ripe fruit juices without being at all heavy or ponderous. This is perfectly mature but will last several more years. Drink now-2027.”
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3/2/2024 - jgh123 Likes this wine: 89 Points
OK but disappointing in comparison to previous bottles. Drink up.
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7/10/2023 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic nose of kirsch liqueur, fresh herb de Provence switches and black cherry. Full-bodied and rich, just loadedw ith sweet black cherry juice, kirsch and the sweetest garden herbs. This is absolutely delicious and loaded with ripe fruit juices without being at all heavy or ponderous. This is perfectly mature but will last several more years. Drink now-2027. 93
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4/16/2023 - jgh123 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bought on release and appropriately cellered. Nice; fully mature; drink up while it's still holding. It's approaching the edge...
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1/5/2023 - WojteG Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Big disappointment here.
I thought the wine would be worth at least 90 pts.(Guigal name, you know...) but as you see it's not even close to 89. Short review - no balance here. Red cherry, milk chocolate, dry texture, pop up acidity, unremarkable finish with some bitter notes!
No joy to drink it!
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12/10/2022 - roasted hill wrote:
I found this 1/2 bottle of a wine that I advised drinking in 2017. Consistent notes and still going strong....
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9/25/2022 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 92 Points
This has always been an excellent wine and excellent example of Gigondas and this bottle is no exception. Loads of Provençal herbs, roasted cherries and blueberries and wild flowers adorn the nose and palate. The palate appears to be thinning so this is likely on the down-swing Drink now-2025 92
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8/22/2022 - chatters wrote:
Hartsyard supper (Hartsyard, Newtown): Baked red fruits, leather, slight earthy, sweet spice, slight garrigue, alcohol warmth. Juicy, soft almost non-discernible tannins, alcohol warmth on the finish, dense, baked red fruit. Not really for me.
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4/24/2022 - ihavezinned wrote: 91 Points
Took a few hours for this to express itself. It’s a lovely GSM with lovely blueberry and blackberry with very soft tannins and a long velvety finish. Drinking wonderfully now, just give it time to open up.
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3/10/2021 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is the last bottle of a case. I was disappointed in all of the bottles I consumed until a couple of years ago. I followed all of the drink windows I saw online, which suggested drinking this one way too early. There are a couple of other recent reviews on cellartracker.com that confirm this is a very good wine right now.
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1/24/2021 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
A little better than recent bottles over the last couple of years.
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11/24/2020 - Rcolella Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent wine. Aged great. Drinking nicely now!!
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9/11/2020 - Rcolella wrote:
Gave bottle to Beniot at Nelligan Hotel in Old Montreal
Aug 28, 2020.
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4/14/2020 - frasoo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened on Easter Sunday to have with grilled steak and chicken. Decanted and aired but it was still tight. Finished bottle last night and the fruit in this wine had opened up and it wasn't as "hot" as on Sunday. Plum, black berry, leather and fresh herbs meld making this a balanced and enjoyable wine. Needs lots of air and time to come up.
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3/7/2020 - BHRH Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow - this was unexpectedly more northern than southern Rhone-ish with a rather dark color, broodish meaty, bacon fat aromas, scorched earth, and dense blackberry fruits. You still get some of the raspberry fruit from the Grenache on the palate, but this is a beefy and uber delicious wine that could be easily be evaluated as a Syrah by a blind taster. In a perfect drinking window now! Not quite as good on the second day.
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1/16/2020 - colin107 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is absolutely delicious with air. Even better on day 2.
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10/13/2019 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still good, but I am going to drink up my last 3 bottles.
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4/3/2019 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had a couple of bottles of this one that were a little off. But it is back to drinking very well. I know most are suggesting a back end year of 2020 for this wine, but it may last just a little longer than that.
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3/30/2019 - Rcolella Likes this wine: 92 Points
Some tasting notes as other bottle had on the same day.
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3/30/2019 - Rcolella Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great wine. Medium to full bodied wine with plum and black currant tasting notes and hints of licorice. Has he long and elegance finish. Drink now or Cellar for another 5 to 8 years. Had 2 bottles and 4 more to go.
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7/22/2018 - larsum Likes this wine: 88 Points
In accordance with earlier notes this was post peak but still enjoyable.
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6/7/2018 - casoe wrote: 88 Points
Still a nice fresh food wine, but I liked it better a few years ago. Pepper, dark berries, but too much of the fruit has gone, and not replaced with something else.
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3/10/2018 - Kentw wrote: 88 Points
This tastes like a classic Rhone. A bit austere, medium weight, dry, spicy mid palate with sour cherry finish. However, all the other Gigondas I have had, have been darker, fuller and richer. Have I waited too long that it lost its rich "baby fat" as some have noted?
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1/12/2018 - Racer117 wrote: 88 Points
Not as enjoyable as the '10 we had a few nights prior. Primary fruit, herbs, and a floral note. Not simple, but not complex either.
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1/8/2018 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is really starting to get lean. Still has a beautiful nose of crunchy black and blueberries, flowers and spice. Some mineral-laden earth as well. Medium-bodied, much like the 2005, this has lost its baby fat and is a bit lean, but still a delightful drink. Ripe flavors of blue and blackberries, spice and minerals. Really good stuff. 90
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1/2/2018 - urban_dk Likes this wine: 90 Points
I wouldn’t say it is in a dumb phase, but it is in an austere period. Fruit profile has diminished on the palate (less so on the nose), and there is a solid wall of tannin on the finish that suggests additional years of aging before the wine really reveals its secondary notes. Elements of smoke, leather and Herbs de Provence are starting to emerge. I’d wait a few years for this wine to develop further.
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1/1/2018 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
First bottle of red wine for 2018.
This is my last of 5 bottles of this wine. Paid $23 for it in 2011, what a deal.
Everyone on CT who has rated this wine in 2017 gave it 90-93 points.
I agree, this wine was delicious with my leftover NYE pepperoni pizza today.
Black raspberry and plum on the nose, with intense black pepper flakes and an overriding smoky nuance.
The palate echoes the fruits from the nose, with the pepper and smoke, adding a refreshing degree of acidity and mostly resolved tannins after 10 years in bottle. The finish is very nice, this is a very good WFTM. Drink this wine now.
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11/19/2017 - Mossrose wrote: 93 Points
Opaque black with an inch pour. Generous aromas of blackberry, black cherry, forest floor, and lavender. Glides into the mouth softly, with refreshing acidity and rounded but drying tannin. Has a good acid hit from the swallow, cushioned by integrated and gentle texture, finishing with still firm tannin. No longer has the gushing upfront fruit of the young wine, nor is the feel quite as lushly rich. But does have better integration, a more soothing feel, and finer elegance.
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10/21/2017 - Smudge4! Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very tasty Rhone and no need to drink up yet. One hour decant and wonderful with roasted fall veggies. Lots of spice with the dark fruit and tannins are smoothig out but still grippy. I agree with those who pick up hints of leather and meat. Quite good!
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9/22/2017 - roasted hill wrote:
I’m a 375, stored at 54 F this is fully mature. Dark berry, herbs de Provence, and still a bit of tannin. Drinking well, but I doubt that it will for much longer. In a full bottle, I might not drink up, but the 1/2s are ready to go.
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5/27/2017 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 91 Points
Always like this wine! Plenty of black cherry and spice in nose. The palate is Provencial through and through. Loads of grilled black cherries, Herbs de Provence and hints of smoked meat. Fine texture a redolent of minerals in the finish. This is still bright and fresh and better than most 2007 Chateauneufs in my cellar as the added elevation helped with the heat of the vintage. Drink now-2021 91
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5/9/2017 - candyman wrote:
balanced, though foreword fruit is mostly gone, some tannic back bone still their with some sweet prune fully mature
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2/14/2017 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 92 Points
Quite aromatic and still youthful. Medium-full bodied and loaded with fruit and spice. Sweet and so Provençal!! Loaddd with Herbs de Provence, blueberries, roasted cherries and meat as well as various other spices. Delicious and fully mature, but appears to have a long life ahead. 92. df 9.3
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2/9/2017 - VinoPKM wrote: 91 Points
All the funk is gone and just a great Grenache. This one cellared well.
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11/20/2016 - derekjohn Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark garnet/damson red, a little bit of age beginning to show. Rich nose of preserved meat (Bresaola), tomato paste,leather and some Agen prune sweetness. Full medium body, peppery. leather, garrigue herbs (bay, rosemary etc). Lingers.
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9/12/2016 - snarfglk wrote: 88 Points
88+
Pretty good but not as good as expected.
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8/15/2016 - drrobvino wrote: 85 Points
Upon opening, this syrupy wine smells a bit OTH, which worries me.
Upon tasting, there seems to be underlying tannin structure, and even decent acidity, but the underlying fruit seems a bit dried up and maderized.
I will need to let this sit, because even in the first 15 mins opened, it seems to be coming around. I have 1 more bottle, so I hope I did not wait too long.
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7/31/2016 - DerSchonWieder Likes this wine: 91 Points
One of my favourite appellations in the french Rhone Valley. Black currant, herbs, pencil shavings, licorice and spice. A rustic wine with noticable (but "good") tannins. Fully mature and delicious. Cheers!
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5/15/2016 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 88 Points
Ruby-garnet red with some sediment. Distant red fruits on the nose. This fruit-forward wine is filled with red cherries framed by mild herbal notes. The alcohol is quite strong up front, and the cherry notes last a long time into the finish, where they are joined by a slight fig taste.
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5/11/2016 - WineGuyFL wrote: 89 Points
Disappointing......not nearly up to the WA ratings. An OK wine but not the value it seemed when I bought it.
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5/2/2016 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Weekly tasting group #212; GSM: Blend or mono cepage? (@ The factory by JdB): Firm dark berries in the bouquet, garrigue, spices, licorice and some rustic impressions. On the palate also a firm wine with dark berries, herbs and spices, licorice, good acidity and firm, still sticky tannin and some bitterness in the finish. Overall a firm, but not extremely refined wine. Still youthful and might improve a bit with a few more years of ageing. Around 2020? 89+ for tonight.
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3/28/2016 - derekjohn Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep purple red with no sign of ageing. Rich alcoholic nose with pepper, cinnamon spice, ripe plums and back notes of leather and vanilla. Full in the mouth, smooth; drinking very well but with 3 to 5 more years; perfumed leather, figs, some tannin to give it backbone; a little lighter than some Gigondas. Lingers.
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12/27/2015 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 89 Points
Pop and pour. Still miles to go before it is ready but after it took on some air - maybe 30 minutes, it was beginning to open up. This is 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah. The taste indicated more Syrah in the blend to me because there was more spice that fruit, with a meatyness that probably came from the Mourvedre. Quite a nice, sold well-made wine with some complexity. I suspect it needs a two hour decant or perhaps anothe 5 years of age to really blossom.
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12/4/2015 - ksde wrote: 88 Points
A bit uneven on the palate at first (dry and edgy). The nose evolves nicely from fruity to herbal to minty. After a few hours, the wine rounds out on the palate and the nose smells sweet. Add a point after 3 hours. Maybe another if you like that evolving nose thing.
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11/21/2015 - Frederyck Likes this wine:
Following on the trend of a visit to the Rhône valley, this wine makes me want to go back. Full of life, complexity and such lovely tastes!
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8/7/2015 - beatles wrote: 89 Points
Solid southern wine, though lacking a bit of personality; the polished style, shines through, the sauvage excitement of Gigondas has been tamed and left is a broad grenache-wine reflecting the overrated vintage. Mature, I don't see it improving, drink up in 2-4 years. Kandestederne.
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6/13/2015 - AMC Eagle wrote: 91 Points
Vinturied into a decanter and let sit for 3+ hours. Colour is deep garnet-medium ruby. Nose of dark red fruits and black currants. Cassis, black licorice, and a hint of black earth and black tea are detected on the palate; getting some black plums as well; fleshy and tannic on the entry and dry at the end but has a nice long finish to accompany it.
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4/6/2015 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine: 84 Points
Provided by a running friend: a perfectly matured Gigondas that maaaaybe lacked personality, but a little difficult to know for sure after the very long PN tasting of 20+ wines.
Nose was bland, clean and calm. Nothing to write home about, yet inviting.
Palate is halfway balanced, needs a little more acids for food and a bit more tannins for the perfect balance. Fully matured and difficult to imagine that it has a brighter future.
However, this wine was enjoyed over ~3 hrs together w/my eldest daughter. Thus: oitferkingstanding :-)
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2/4/2015 - madvitale Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent bottle of wine. Classy, smooth and appealing from nose to finish.
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1/29/2015 - devraj Likes this wine: 91 Points
Coravined. Ruby red with slight bricking. Reddish-black fruits, pepper, and new saddle leather on the nose. A structured and earthy palate reveals medium acidity, supple tannins and peppery red fruits on the finish.
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1/12/2015 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
No specific TN.
But wow, this is a tasty wine. Made all the better watching OSU take down Oregon.
Nice red fruit, with notes of earth and spice. The tannins of this 8 yr old wine are finally softening, and the med acidity is ample for the size of this wine.
Drinking beautifully now, with room to grow through 2020.
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1/4/2015 - Kevdog Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well aged and ready... Upon opening was light and smooth like a Pinot noir, but opened up to be a well rounded Rhone with enough acid and back bone to accompany a grilled pork tenderloin.
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12/28/2014 - Eric Anderson Does not like this wine: 87 Points
I've always considered myself mostly neutral on brett, but this wine is a major brett bomb! There is fruit in here, but it is largely hidden behind the wall of brettanomyces. Yeast cleanup on aisle 5!
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10/16/2014 - DaddyNeedsPow Likes this wine: 90 Points
This took a looong time (4-5 hours) to come around in the decanter, initially showing lots of bitter tannin and unpleasant bite. By the end of the night it was showing some sweet/tart red fruit on the nose. Brambly black licorice and earth on the palette. Hold to 2017.
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10/13/2014 - Mossrose wrote: 93 Points
Like many Rhone wines from the 2007 vintage, on release this wine was dark, fruity, lush, and mouth filling. A classic GMS blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah, except that the amount of Mourvedre is unusually high. The main changes 7 years later are that the feel in the mouth has evolved to show more of the drying but smooth tannins from the Mourvedre, plus better integration, balance, and savoriness. Will continue to drink deliciously for at least another 4 years.
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9/23/2014 - daveste Likes this wine: 89 Points
Lost big fruit but nice mature Rhone. Wish I had more. Good with spaghetti with meat sauce. Tannin light to moderate, acid still OK, good nose.
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9/14/2014 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Second Sunday Group: 2009 Bordeaux (Augie's): Aromas of tar, tapenade and black fruits with underlying spice and pepper qualities. Full-bodied and ripe but not overly so, with flavors of black fruit, licorice, tapenade and pepper. Long finish. Much better than I expected it to be.
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8/1/2014 - cos82 wrote: 87 Points
Used a third of bottle w/garlic and thyme to marinate an eye roast which worked well. Drank the remainder over 2 days. At first slightly rough with mostly minerals. After an hour or so the fruit emerged and drank nicely. Lots of dark fruits pepper and spice with a nose much of the same.
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6/13/2014 - TexasTwo Likes this wine: 89 Points
bold start with a nice mellow finish. Nice for a charcuterie. Cork looked like it might not have much time left but the wine tasted just fine.
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5/16/2014 - devraj Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep red with purple highlights. Tight initially, then the nose opens to reveal dark red plums, berries, leather, wet earth and a touch of pepper. A full bodied palate follows through with masculine dark red fruits, new saddle leather, medium-low acidity and a structured, firm finish. This could use more time in the bottle.
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1/24/2014 - daveste wrote: 92 Points
warm/alcohol, cinnamon, roast coffee on the nose, long finish. Pop and pour, got better over two hours, still OK next day. Keep or drink. Cork was fine BTW, despite another comment.
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1/20/2014 - Andrew H wrote: 91 Points
Odd hint of mothballs on nose but lovely cherry light vanilla and hint of oak with modest tannins that softened with air.
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9/16/2013 - dfitzg2 Likes this wine: 92 Points
mellow and yet interesting. fine finish. Made a pasta dinner memorable.
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9/2/2013 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Typical Gigondas. Earthy tone with notes of black pepper and spice. Also, dark fruits, but cannot identify them. Loved it with grilled meat. Pulled the cork 1-2 hours before drinking. Did not decant, but did not seem to need more than pulling the cork early. One pro reviewer says it will last until 2025. I am not sure it will last that long. I would use a back end year of something in the 2018-2020 range.
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8/19/2013 - zoom34 wrote: 88 Points
Decent wine but not worth the money. Medium body and fine but no finish
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8/17/2013 - ParisFan wrote: 91 Points
Rich smooth taste. Earthy and berry mix. Perfect with salad and cheese.
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8/3/2013 - Sambotron2000 Likes this wine: 93 Points
What a lovely wine.
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7/8/2013 - BMG Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
This one needed a ton of air time! Decant overnight and reap the rewards!
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6/21/2013 - devraj Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep red in color. Aromas of raspberries, black plums, moist earth , indian spice and white pepper. A medium bodied and lush palate reveals good depth to the sweet red berry fruit, wet soil and low acidity. This is a very good QPR.
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6/1/2013 - drrobvino wrote: 90 Points
Very nice med intensity notes of black pepper, moist soil, red cherry and raspberry fruit. Med bodied with med alcohol and nice, fairly rounded tannins at this point, supported by ample med acidity, leading into the red fruit and peppery finish.
A good quality wine, drinking really nicely now, but will likely further improve with 1-2 more years bottle age, and drink well til around 2020.
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5/25/2013 - Wining around the world Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep dark garnet colour. Strong berry fruit nose. Repeated strong berry fruit on the palate, with licorice and pepper. Long finish. wDelicious.
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5/16/2013 - Double D wrote: 91 Points
Time to drink up.
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5/4/2013 - Grinner wrote: 91 Points
PHMG WAG: the Southern Rhones (Chez Lyon in Eugene, OR): This bridges the gap a little between "old rustic" and "new fruit driven". Earth and forest floor complement the red and black fruit, while the texture is right down the center of the fairway. I don't see this getting a lot better, put it on your "to do" list.
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4/30/2013 - Highmountain Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good quality Gigondas from a reliable producer. Well balanced and soft tannins. Have aged well and good to drink now.
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4/28/2013 - profiler54 wrote: 93 Points
Nice spicy character earthy barnyard aromas, leathery with ripe plum, and cherries.. Very pleasant wine .. This wine has great potential. Full bodied with concentration of fruits. Pleasant with a fine finish. This wine is very nice now but has the stuff to go 5-10 years...
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4/28/2013 - VinoPKM wrote: 90 Points
Similar notes to last time- a little funk on the nose this time- blew off with about 20-30 minutes of air.
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3/3/2013 - Dust wrote:
deelicious on poppin da cork. dang!
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2/10/2013 - cyak wrote: 85 Points
Moderate duration and palate. Predominant taste is a mixture of raspberry, cumin, and smoke. It is dry but not acidic or signifcantly tannic. Pairs well with medium bodied foods.
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1/25/2013 - ob2s wrote: 85 Points
decent, more like a cote du rhone in enjoyability, Guigal must make millions of these and a tidy sum. qpr- My 'expert' opinion says these aren't going to age well.
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1/9/2013 - Andrew H wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyable, with light cherry nose and an earthy mid-palate. Some tannins and heat on the finish, perhaps worth holding a bit longer.
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1/4/2013 - DaddyNeedsPow Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tightly wound and ready to pounce on opening, unwinds to make a concentrated (but not over the top), dark, and brooding wine. Big and complex.
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1/3/2013 - sdezutti wrote: 93 Points
I absolutely love drinking this wine. Very aromatic earthy bouquet- meaty, mushroom, leather with nice red fruit. The thing that just grabs me with this wine is the lively, energetic personality. For a wine with little to no noticeable tannin it has amazing body. This wine needs no age and I hope to keep drinking them until they fade as every bottle has hit the mark. For my palate I would go as far as to say this is the best sub $25 wine I've ever bought.
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12/31/2012 - liberlibri Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour...strawberry, cherry, and black raspberry with tons of lavender and violets backed up with garrigue, tar, and crushed stone. Moderately tannic with good acidity and a mineral/tar finish. Probably has five more years to go before decline, but drinking well now with at least this much decant...we'll see where we are in an hour or two.
At 3 hours, getting sour cherry, blackberry, pepper, loads of violet, asphalt, and roasted herbs with black olive and ash emerging on the finish.
After 6 hours, syrah coming through... blueberry, cassis, fig, wild strawberries, white pepper, violets, and lavender compete with tar, tobacco, and tapenade.
Opened this bottle earlier than I had intended due to extenuating circumstances, but it is drinking nicely now. If I end up with another, I'll be sure to hold it for another 2 years though.
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12/28/2012 - Wine Mothership wrote: 87 Points
I've generally liked all the 2007 Rhones that I've taste and I was certainly looking forward to this one. The nose was very disappointing on opening with very little fruit apparent. In the mouth it was smooth with surprisingly uncomplicated tannins. There ware hints of strawberry and plum with a hint of forest floor. Finish medium short. Very restrained.
I decanted this overnight and by the second day it had opened up appreciably.
A fruit forward Rhone, this had great fruit character with a blend of red currants and strawberry. The savoury components were still a little lacking and the finish hadn't improved much. I was hoping that after 5 years this bottle would be approaching drinkability, I still think this needs a further three years to fully integrate.
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12/22/2012 - davudvl wrote: 88 Points
Fairly good, but had better at lower price point.
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12/15/2012 - VinoPKM wrote: 91 Points
Solid Rhone wine and huge QPR @ $20! Drank one last night wine homemade chicken soup great pairing that made each better. Drank good on its own. Definitely recommend. A little too acidic on opening, but just got better as the night went on. Decant or wait 2 years.
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11/20/2012 - slippytoad wrote: 89 Points
Starts weak but develops quite nicely over a few hours. Not great though, quite lacking in depth and complexity
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11/13/2012 - EMTAME wrote: 88 Points
Needed 45-60 minutes to show its best and still left something to be desired. Competent in every way, just not alluring.
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10/13/2012 - Andrew H wrote: 88 Points
A modest fruit nose gives way to earthy notes and a rather tannic finish. Perhaps give more time.
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10/4/2012 - weingutwilhelm wrote: 91 Points
Dense, dusty plummy, brambly garrigue. Dusty, concentrated fruit, lots of raw extract, zest acidity. Dark mineral, grip.
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10/1/2012 - daveste wrote: 89 Points
Big wine, needs air. First impression was dark and bitter but left bottle resealed for a couple of days and it got much better. Rhone violets and spice, long finish.
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9/29/2012 - stevenc.rees@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Very approachable, tasty and well suited to dry rubbed pork roast or king salmon. I've had this twice now and think I'll put some away for a year or two... the wine shop says it is nearly gone...
I recommend it. Well balanced for food, delicisous to sip alone.
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9/24/2012 - Vintomas wrote: 90 Points
Red 2007 Guigal Masterclass (Stockholm): Deep red colour with some purplish notes and slightly faded edge. Nose in a rather fruity style with dark and red berries, some spice, some graphite notes, initially some oak barrel notes. Palate with red and dark berries, powerful concentration of fruit, noticeable spice, rather present tannins, balancing acidity, almost "barnyard-tasting". Somewhat young, would gain from cellaring. 90+ p
Compared to the other two Guigal southern Rhône 2007s, this has the most discrete nose and actually a bit of Mourvèdre feeling.
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9/23/2012 - danielbleier wrote: 86 Points
felt like this wine was muted, not bad in any way, just no clarity of fruit or spice.
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9/14/2012 - Lessthanzero wrote: 90 Points
This felt a little early, and I am hoping it will come more together. Nose of dark fruits and garrigue. Medium palate. Acidity and tannins suggest cellaring a bit may be a good idea.
PS
Love the different drinking windows between Jeb Dunnuck and the Speculator.
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9/10/2012 - burgbob wrote: 90 Points
Full bodied, concentrated wine with tons of earth and underbrush backed up by understated bur concentrated fruits. Great balance and probably could benefit from more bottle age, but good with an hour decanting.
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9/9/2012 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured at 11 am for the NY Jet's tailgate this Sunday. An excellent wine with reasonable multi-flavor complexity that went down very smoothly. I'll pass on the nose because we were outside in the parking lt with grills all around us drinking out of Martha Stewart tulip wine glasses. The palate was pepper spice, meat juices and raspberry, with some dark tart cherry. I looked for the emergence of the raspberry since this is a grenache-based wine and it was there, but a bit on the light side. I checked the Guigal web site this morning at the blend is 50% grenache, 20% syrah and 30% mourvedre, which I think explains the lighter raspberry component mixing with syrah pepper spice and meaty mourvedre. This wine did not quite get the WOW 90+ points but it is a pleasure to drink it.
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8/27/2012 - K&J Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great wine! Needs some air time to fully open up. Consider decanting.
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7/16/2012 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Black pepper, spice. Allot of this is apperently Mourvedre. And you feel that on the back -- grippy and dark in that Mourvedre kinda way. Only 60% grenache. Really tarry. Nate notes "beef stock". Very umami braised meat thing going on. Its a year and half in 500 liter barrels apperently. Nate carries on "it has that whole sticky tounge thing. Apperently the feeling is that Gigondas makes the best Mourvedre. "
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7/9/2012 - Tarrant wrote: 91 Points
Delicious, a great example of the vintage - Dark, full bodied with a nose of cherry, plum, spice, pepper and vanilla, amazing structure and balance, silky smooth on the palate with excellent length, awesome (91 Points).
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7/8/2012 - Night Thief wrote: 89 Points
Aroma of earth, mushroom, soy sauce. Tastes of charred cherries. Leather, spice and minerals. Great balance and very long tangy finish. Nice grippy pronounced tannins. This wine just kept getting better with aeration too.
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6/23/2012 - dke wrote: 90 Points
Rhone tasting (retailer): Melted cherries on the nose, dark fruits with iron on the finish. Rich and full quite well integrated but the finish is still firm. Needs to age a few more years. 89-90
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6/12/2012 - Champagneinhand wrote: 92 Points
This wine is definitely hitting its stride now. Such a beautiful nose of red and black fruit, asian spices, hoisin sauce and garrigue. The palate was phenomenal to boot. This was really tasting very CdP right at this moment. I'm tempted to go back and by a 6 pack. Nice smooth tannins are very well integrated with the acidity and the finish last medium to long. about 45 seconds.
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6/6/2012 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Meaty, rocks, gravel, and earth and of course blackberries; rich, soft and velvety with reduced acidity and somewhat rustic tannins; this had a little herbal aspect and a medium finish. Nice, classic, and par for the course for the vintage.
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6/3/2012 - Redguy wrote: 90 Points
Splash decanted and drank over 1.5 hrs. A little old world on the nose with some earthy mushroom aromas joining the red fruits. Meaty and earthy notes on the palate compliment with slightly tart red fruits, red licorice, and some raspberry syrup, though there is little impression of sugar. Fleshed out as it opened and the fruit unfurled. Sound structure with firm, fine tannins and good acidity make this excellent with food. Recommend decanting for at least an hour at this point.
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6/3/2012 - flyinburrito wrote: 91 Points
Pure dark ruby. Intriguing savory nose of lavender, cinnamon, cigar ash and black cherry. Black cherry, black raspberry palate. Nicely dry finish.
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5/13/2012 - Nothumbleyet wrote: 87 Points
Earthy tobacco fig, nice depth but lacking any fruit
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5/12/2012 - smphelps wrote: 90 Points
Crimson garnet. Full and juicy, with a hint of moss and mushroom on the nose. Loads of cherry, a touch of blueberry, and a pleasingly smooth finish. Well worth the tariff.
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4/27/2012 - ajberni wrote: 92 Points
Little tied up at first (without decanting), but came around something smooth two / three hours later. The nose-to-first-taste is seamless - all about some dark berries. Tannins obvious throughout, sticking to my cheeks and gums, but smooth in the way I like. Some good minerals, a little game. High-profile balance and a good sip of earth.
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4/20/2012 - DavidDay wrote: 91 Points
Aroma of red raspberries and smoked meat, red ripe fruit on the palate.
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4/12/2012 - Polarper wrote: 91 Points
Violets, raspberries and herbal notes. Lovely mineral balance. A hint of lightly smoked meat and just starting to develop forest floor aromas. Will leave for another 3-5 years.
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4/11/2012 - mckillop Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very minerally and earthy. Looking forward to trying it again in a few years.
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4/3/2012 - suchitoto wrote:
Sexy, doesn't clear palate, went great with chorizo and eggs.
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3/17/2012 - Number51 wrote: 92 Points
Very well made hearty Gigondas that achieves all the full body and everything else that you want in a Rhone wine without high alcohol.
I'm definitely buying more.
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3/11/2012 - RBOND wrote: 91 Points
Always a winner. Lots of fruit smell when you pop the cork with hint of lavender. I de-canted for 2 hours and it really mellowed. We had lamb chops with a chimi churri sauce. A sort of olive oil, parsley, lemon mix. We also had Swiss chard from the garden with onion and garlic. The wine had the taste of the earth, the smell of southern France and lots of fruit.
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3/10/2012 - jperez68 wrote: 90 Points
excellent example of a gigondas blend. Very tasty and a great value . Oaky earth taste with hints of roubard,slight tobacco and hint of cherry.
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3/2/2012 - epicred wrote: 90 Points
Excellent QPR. I can drink this 3-4x/week.
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2/24/2012 - Jona wrote: 88 Points
Delicious and well structured.
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2/14/2012 - The Vinsider wrote: 87 Points
Solid, but not particularly memorable.
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2/11/2012 - Champagneinhand wrote: 88 Points
Adecent, but light Gigondas, with dark berries in the wine which is much thinner than the CdP, though almost the same blend. A bit of underbrush and some cooking spice with a short to medium finish. smooth tannins made this a popular wine, but lacking a bit on acidity. Again I would not choose this again because Perrin & Fils gigondas was a couple bucks less and much bigger in the taste, tannin and acid parts.
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2/10/2012 - Oskar Nyman wrote: 85 Points
Not what I expected, extremely boring performance last night - bottle variation, or just a groundless hype?
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2/9/2012 - up4wine wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with previous bottle after another 6 months. Sensed this is a lighter Gigondas compared to some of the bigger guns I have had. Still quite enjoyable and great value.
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2/3/2012 - mschede wrote: 90 Points
Um jovem e estruturado Gigondas. Cor rubi escuro brilhante. Ao nariz ainda se mostra discretamente fechado, mas já complexo e com boa tipicidade, tem um agradável toque apimentado, frutas vermelhas, notas de tabaco e um fundo mineral. Na boca é encorpado, com sabor agradável mas relativamente contido, ainda falta uma maior expansão que deverá aparecer com a idade. Os taninos se fazem notar, mas são finos. Acho que esse vinho ganhará muito com uma guarda de pelo menos mais uns 3 anos. É bom deixar respirar por mais de 1 hora. Deve aguentar bem por até 2020 (+?).
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1/26/2012 - wkkan wrote: 89 Points
Very good typical wine from southern rhone. Powerful, pure, medium body, red fruits, hint of spicy, smooth tannin after 2 hours. Good value. Guigal never disappoint me.
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1/26/2012 - jfmontreal wrote: 87 Points
- Crimsom color with fast forming legs and aromas of black currant. It's overly acidic and has flavours of geranium with a medium body. Juicy texture with a medium finish.
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1/22/2012 - Bellissimo wrote:
Friend popped and poured. Darker fruits, brush, coffee, and spice. Drinking well.
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1/19/2012 - Penguino212 wrote:
Great QPR.
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1/15/2012 - fdizzy wrote: 80 Points
flat and uninspired. very hot on the finish.
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1/14/2012 - ihavezinned wrote: 91 Points
tight nose of raspberry, wood, and blueberry. on the palate plum, raspberry, blueberry with a long finish. very nice.
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1/14/2012 - mattyboy_ Likes this wine: 89 Points
The most reliable negociant in the Rhone - North or South, is probably Guigal. Great wine at good QPR. This is a well balanced Gigondas which offers a bouquet of spice, pepper and black currants. Palate is smooth with lively tannins and bright acidity. instead of a typical fruity white, surprise yourself by pairing this Gigondas with a spicy dish like a stir fry pepper steak.
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1/3/2012 - n2wine wrote: 90 Points
A musty earth flavor. Steady tannins.
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12/23/2011 - snaff wrote: 90 Points
A great Rhone with complex layers of spice, red fruit and earth. Lingering spicy finish.
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12/17/2011 - drrobvino wrote: 90 Points
14% abv, 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah. It is purple-black in color. Nose of saddle leather, wet soil, charcoal, plums, and blueberries. The fruit aromas are echoed on the palate, with ripened cassis and plums, then notes of wet gravel and smoke. The mid palate is nicely balanced, with ample acidity for mouth watering tartness, then a medium-length finish with dusty & chalky tannins. Matched beautifully with sirloin steaks this evening. This wine is only going to get better. Has 10+ years still ahead of it. What a nice QPR @ $25. Wow.
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12/9/2011 - fdizzy Does not like this wine: 75 Points
not very flavorful and has a hot finish.
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12/3/2011 - Highmountain wrote: 87 Points
Good wine and definitely worth the money. More subdued and lower on the fruit than I remember from the last time I had the wine. Popped and poured so more oxygen might have helped. Otherwise well built with good structure.
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11/26/2011 - FLI wrote: 88 Points
Textbook southern Rhone. A little earth and spice. Good Grenache fruit. Not a standout, but good
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11/20/2011 - Cal Bear wrote: 89 Points
Well structured, smoke and spice over plummy dark fruit, with acid and tannin in balance. Good QPR. Will benefit from more time in cellar. From 375 ml.
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11/1/2011 - Double-A Likes this wine: 93 Points
White pepper, horsehide, rubbed herb, and black currant fruit nose. Earthy and savoury flavours with warming alcohol and a dry, firm finish.
4.5/5
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10/30/2011 - Rossodio wrote: 88 Points
Had this 375mL bottle while watching some good Sunday afternoon football at the condo - specifically, watching Tim Tebow, the biggest joke of a first round QB pick that I can recall, sucking it up against the Lions. I don't know if watching that bozo's clown show on the turf made this wine much better, but I just might have given it an extra point for the appeal of the situation in which it was drunk. As a disclaimer, I am a New York Giants fan, and have no stock in the AFC West in general; it is so amusing to me to see Tebow fulfill the experts' predictions though...
As for the wine... it makes me think of a pitcher who is right at the peak of his windup, about to deliver what looks to be a perfect strike. All of the elements are in the nose, palate, and finish, that one would expect from a Gigondas from such a full, ripe, and monumental vintage - garrigue, woody notes, kitchen spice, purple fruits, blueberry/blackberry, sweet cherry, a bit of olive, gaminess, nice minerality, and such. However, for the time being, these flavors are all bound into one tight package just waiting to develop into something more complex. This wine does have the tannic structure and acidity to lay down for a couple of years or more, and right now there is just too much energy bound into each sip. Enjoyable now, but this should greatly reward moderate term cellaring on the order of 2-5+(?) years.
88 for the wine - 89 if you include the Tebow debacle in the equation - with at least 2-3 points of upside potential. Great QPR at under $25 for a 750.
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10/28/2011 - Baggio wrote: 89 Points
I've had this wine twice and both times it was better on the first night than the second, when it faded noticeably. Nice though. I'd buy again.
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10/28/2011 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 89 Points
Hennepin Lake's Annual Tasting (Tons of Napa Cabs) (Minneapolis, MN): A good wine overall with spice, brush, Garrique, wood and coffee. Medium finish and drinking well now.
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10/17/2011 - ekenneth wrote: 91 Points
Excellent, value Gigondas with dark fruit and good structure.
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10/11/2011 - linuhage wrote: 90 Points
Dag ett var det framförallt mörk frukt i doften och ganska stram med utmärkt längd i munnen. Mer ursprungstypisk dag två.
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9/28/2011 - GreatLibations wrote: 92 Points
Very nice indeed! Good dark color and very boisterous aromatically. Smells of some rich red berry pie, blueberry, ripe plum and smoky black cherry. It's all candy. The Grenache really shows forward. Medium body with sturdy acidity to balance but the fruit keeps comin'. Flavors match with same candy like red fruit but with a twist of blackpepper and minerals. There is a sense of intensity and willingness to play ball with this specimen. Exquisite wine!
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9/22/2011 - Silveradoup wrote: 91 Points
Smells like a boysenberry pie, tastes as good as it smells.
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9/16/2011 - ecnemergut wrote: 90 Points
Very elegant.
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9/3/2011 - DanielN wrote: 88 Points
Dark ruby and quite lively in the glass
The nose opens up with sweet cherries, raspberries, minerals and herbs, a tad knit.
In the mouth it has a good balance and the fruit is well harnessed by good acidity, finish is medium.
Drinks fine now and within 4 years.
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8/20/2011 - Bellissimo wrote:
Ordered at a restaurant, popped and poured, brought home and finished there. Note from at home a few hours after being originally opened. Dusty nose with a bit of cured meats and some spices. Taste is more red fruit than dark with a good amount of pepper. Fair acids up front though the tannins still dominate now. This needs some time but should work out to be an extremely solid Gigondas.
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8/19/2011 - ecnemergut wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. Silky. Not quite "jammy" but with more ripe fruit than I was expecting: A bit of a New World style.
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8/9/2011 - SonomaWilliam wrote: 87 Points
Best to sit for a few years
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7/26/2011 - Rob and Meg wrote: 85 Points
The nose is more savory in direction, with aromas of topsoil, game, and mushrooms overshadowing tart black fruit. On the palate the wine opens with ripe and focused red fruits. More distinct elements of raspberry and strawberry arise on the lush mid-palate, as well as hints of sundried tomato. The wine finishes with firm tannins and medium length, showing components of leather, charcoal, and black pepper. The fruit has good focus, but the wine itself seems to lack a corresponding level of linear structure. All things considered, however, it has the potential to evolve with some time in the bottle. R&M 85
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7/17/2011 - up4wine wrote: 88 Points
A very fine Southern Rhone. A bit of pepper, but not as distinct as some other Gigondas wines. Excellent balance and blend is well integrated with bright fruit at the front, a good level of acid and tannin to stay with the meal, and a medium long finish. I think it will improve with a 2-3 more years of bottle time.
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7/15/2011 - pete s. wrote: 88 Points
Nose had some cherries, baking spice and a little heat. Juicy but sour red fruit on the palate with some wet earth and chalky tannins on the finish. Still showing young with a good amount of acidic structure...much better with food.
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7/10/2011 - Fateful Destiny wrote: 89 Points
Full jammy fruit that at first made my think of Australian GSM wines. Aside from the fuller body / 14% alcohol, the nose is almost reminiscent of a Beaujolais, but it is distinctive Rhone varietals on the palate. Ultimately, a nice drinker, but not a very complex or deep wine. Very little tannins if any but some acidity. Good for the price but nothing memorable.
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7/1/2011 - AZ Cat wrote:
(NR) Monica drank but didn't enjoy.
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6/26/2011 - joshwoodward wrote: 91 Points
Good structure, solid wine with some age left in it.
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6/9/2011 - MusignyBlanc wrote: 87 Points
I would describe this as fancy CdR versus cheap CdP, with the proviso that in some vintages it can be the reverse.
As with other the Southern Rhone 07's I've tasted it exhibits very full jammy fruit indicative of the hot vintage. But very little structure and complexity. I would not likely guess that this was Gigondas if tasted blind. I've tasted a number of the Guigal Gigondas blends and this vintage is very different. Stated otherwise, varietal characteristics were lacking (IMO).
Second day and some fruit receding slightly and I can taste some of the more typical peppery tannic notes.
Not to say that this wine isn't delicious, but it is essentially an improved version of the CdR (which is quite good) for more than twice the price (almost 3x).
Will be interested to try the Guigal CdP when it is finally released to compare.
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6/6/2011 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful bright yet deep and round earthy fruit...
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5/7/2011 - izzy_z wrote: 87 Points
Nice Rhone aroma of dark fruit and meat...but flavor just thin...mineral notes, good acidity, but not enough fruit or depth
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5/7/2011 - plitton wrote:
Starts strong but finishes weak and unfulfilling. Low QPR.
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4/23/2011 - alr6767 wrote: 85 Points
Demonstrates the power and ripeness of the vintage, but I prefer the 2006 for the aromatics and balance.
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3/23/2011 - trayhumphrey wrote: 89 Points
Yum! Very drinkable right now. Understated, not showy, but smooth, gentle.
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1/18/2011 - JN wrote: 88 Points
Like a BRICK of coal-smoke and black pepper. Great dencity, but too much alcohol and tannins for my taste. I know this is a Parker94 or something like that, but just too much oomph for me. I think '07 Gigondas in general is just too tight and heavy in comparison to '06 and '05 vintages. Maybe this evolves into a 90+ wine, but right now it's just not in the comfort-zone of my palate.
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12/10/2010 - pete s. wrote:
No formal notes taken so I will not score. I do remember a very focused, streamlined Rhone with tons of red fruit and minerality. It was missing some of the showiness of other '07s I have had recently but that was definitely not a flaw. A little tight with med-high acid tannins that should relax and unveil some complexity over time.
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