Finally coming around, this is still on lively raspberry and cherry fruit combined with pepper and Asian spices. Rayas-lookalike with notes of kirsch, sweet, ripe fruit and white pepper, still with finesse and elegance. This has years to go, really. Enjoyed over 2 days with no deterioration. La Contadine.
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The terroir laden bouquet soared from the glass creating great anticipation of what was in store. The palate did not let us down. It possessed amazing depth, focus, balance and elegance. Like all great bottles of wine, it evolved with each sip and finished with considerable length. Truly a wine with soul!
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Interesting wine of mostly granache light in color with some bricking along the edges. Looks like pinot in the glass. Still some rusticity and red fruit flavors. Probably need to drink up as this is fully mature and maybe a bit over the hill.
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This 2nd bottle certainly stood out as a beauty, which was not so much the case with the 1st bottle. The Grenache and Syrah was integrated and seemed to have a much better balance than earlier bottle. Most noteworthy was the very long finish with every sip. The wine just seemed more daring and exciting this time around.
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I am a big fan of this producer. Medium transparent ruby. Smells of Provençal herbs and muted red fruits. Lovely sweet fruit redolent of garrigue with a long finish. Outstanding!
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Light red with brown edges. Looks like Burgundy and has a lot of Burgundian characteristics. There was a lot of smoked meath, earth and red fruit in the nose. The flavours are all Grenache though, medium rich raspberry and mineral. A nice balanced finish. Drink or hold. Not quite the stunner that 98 Donjon or ste Cosme Valbelle is but close.
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I found this old Vacqueyras in the store and knew I had to try one of such age to test how much the big fruit calms down in this wine. Generally, I find these wines a little too fruit forward, certainly on their own. With big meals they find a place. Even though I like Vacqueyras, it is not my go to wine. So, I wanted to see if an older vintage changes substantially. Not really, at least at 13 years of age. The tannic and acid structure was still substantial, so the wine could go for quite some time in the bottle. I have another one, so maybe I will run the experiment a little longer.
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Decanted off moderate sediment to find a light tawny color. Nose of framboise, tawny port, and alcohol. Palate was pretty much one-note with sweet strawberries and black pepper. Hoping this would start to wake up a bit we gave the last bit a couple hours in the decanter, but it never really amounted to much.
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Bouteille ouverte la veille. La robe est brillante, à peine tuilée. Le nez jaillit, intense et complexe.Sur les épices (cannelle, épices de pain d'épices), confiture de cerises noires, plus framboise que fraise.puis des notes de guarrigue. En bouche le vin est dense tout en restant sur le registre de la finesse, tanins polis avec du corps. La fin de bouche, savoureuse, n'a plus le côté chaleureux de sa jeunesse. Le plus beau vin de la soirée !
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Oh, I really like this wine ;-) Very light in the color - ripe Grenache. In the nose strawberries, licorice, raspberries, leather - also a dark layer of plums and spicies. Fantastic nose. On the palate a very fine acidity - almost Burgundy style - great balance with a fine sweetness and a strong finish. Super traditional Southern Rhone!
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Drank it in the same dinner than 2005 Quinta Vale D. Maria, completely different wine. It was almost death. At least, we had a nice conversation comparing both wines.
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Robe grenat, dense, brillante, à peine tuilée sur le bord du disque. A l'ouverture, le nez est réticent, très terrien, pruneaux à l'eau de vie, épices (muscade, cannelle). L'attaque est légèrement perlante, le vin est ramassé, compact, très terrien, très différent des VDP. Le côté fruits à l'eau de vie, kirsch se confirme. Milieu de bouche rond, suave, mais dense et compact. La finale est un peu chaleureuse, mais moins qu'il y a deux ans. Un vin de repas !
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Tasted this a couple of times in the past week, I really liked it. Deep plum, earth, red fruits and earth. This is beautiful, Southern Grenache. It's powerful without getting remotely sloppy. I think this has a fair amount in reserve, though it's no crime to open at this point.
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9/26/2020 - pbaek wrote:
Finally coming around, this is still on lively raspberry and cherry fruit combined with pepper and Asian spices. Rayas-lookalike with notes of kirsch, sweet, ripe fruit and white pepper, still with finesse and elegance. This has years to go, really. Enjoyed over 2 days with no deterioration. La Contadine.
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9/10/2020 - winemaker Likes this wine: 94 Points
Previous notes apply. Cherry fruit, garrigue, Provençal herbs. Balsam, sandalwood. Delicious!
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9/24/2018 - beatles wrote: 92 Points
Tasted over two days and clearly best on day 2; a core of alcohol, yes, but is both clear cut and creamy Grenache.
#Bagnols de Fôrets #PB
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2/10/2017 - winemaker Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wowzer! Boy is this good. I love the cherry balsam garrigue notes in this wine and the loooong finish. Terrific bottle!
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6/27/2016 - 14frimaire wrote:
Stunning
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11/14/2015 - David J Cooper wrote: 93 Points
Very light bright red. Great nose of plums, violets, earth and stone. Delicious light red fruit flavours. A long dry finish.
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8/18/2015 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
The terroir laden bouquet soared from the glass creating great anticipation of what was in store. The palate did not let us down. It possessed amazing depth, focus, balance and elegance. Like all great bottles of wine, it evolved with each sip and finished with considerable length. Truly a wine with soul!
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8/7/2015 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 89 Points
Interesting wine.
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4/2/2015 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 89 Points
Interesting wine of mostly granache light in color with some bricking along the edges. Looks like pinot in the glass. Still some rusticity and red fruit flavors. Probably need to drink up as this is fully mature and maybe a bit over the hill.
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7/17/2014 - winemaker wrote:
Not rated. Ever so slightly corked. Not up to previous bottles. Bummer!
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6/28/2014 - up4wine wrote: 91 Points
This 2nd bottle certainly stood out as a beauty, which was not so much the case with the 1st bottle. The Grenache and Syrah was integrated and seemed to have a much better balance than earlier bottle. Most noteworthy was the very long finish with every sip. The wine just seemed more daring and exciting this time around.
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6/10/2014 - winemaker Likes this wine: 93 Points
I am a big fan of this producer. Medium transparent ruby. Smells of Provençal herbs and muted red fruits. Lovely sweet fruit redolent of garrigue with a long finish. Outstanding!
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3/21/2014 - David J Cooper wrote: 93 Points
Light red with brown edges. Looks like Burgundy and has a lot of Burgundian characteristics. There was a lot of smoked meath, earth and red fruit in the nose. The flavours are all Grenache though, medium rich raspberry and mineral. A nice balanced finish. Drink or hold. Not quite the stunner that 98 Donjon or ste Cosme Valbelle is but close.
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2/28/2014 - up4wine wrote: 89 Points
I found this old Vacqueyras in the store and knew I had to try one of such age to test how much the big fruit calms down in this wine. Generally, I find these wines a little too fruit forward, certainly on their own. With big meals they find a place. Even though I like Vacqueyras, it is not my go to wine. So, I wanted to see if an older vintage changes substantially. Not really, at least at 13 years of age. The tannic and acid structure was still substantial, so the wine could go for quite some time in the bottle. I have another one, so maybe I will run the experiment a little longer.
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12/14/2013 - MotoMannequin wrote:
Decanted off moderate sediment to find a light tawny color. Nose of framboise, tawny port, and alcohol. Palate was pretty much one-note with sweet strawberries and black pepper. Hoping this would start to wake up a bit we gave the last bit a couple hours in the decanter, but it never really amounted to much.
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6/8/2013 - THT wrote: 90 Points
Bouteille ouverte la veille. La robe est brillante, à peine tuilée. Le nez jaillit, intense et complexe.Sur les épices (cannelle, épices de pain d'épices), confiture de cerises noires, plus framboise que fraise.puis des notes de guarrigue. En bouche le vin est dense tout en restant sur le registre de la finesse, tanins polis avec du corps. La fin de bouche, savoureuse, n'a plus le côté chaleureux de sa jeunesse. Le plus beau vin de la soirée !
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9/11/2012 - PhDP wrote:
Emmanuel Reynaud, Fonsalette & cie (groupe du mardi, chez Jérémie Leroy): tbc
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10/27/2011 - MaHaMa wrote: 92 Points
Oh, I really like this wine ;-)
Very light in the color - ripe Grenache.
In the nose strawberries, licorice, raspberries, leather - also a dark layer of plums and spicies. Fantastic nose.
On the palate a very fine acidity - almost Burgundy style - great balance with a fine sweetness and a strong finish.
Super traditional Southern Rhone!
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8/12/2011 - bonjovibon wrote: 88 Points
Drank it in the same dinner than 2005 Quinta Vale D. Maria, completely different wine. It was almost death. At least, we had a nice conversation comparing both wines.
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6/1/2011 - THT wrote: 87 Points
Robe grenat, dense, brillante, à peine tuilée sur le bord du disque. A l'ouverture, le nez est réticent, très terrien, pruneaux à l'eau de vie, épices (muscade, cannelle). L'attaque est légèrement perlante, le vin est ramassé, compact, très terrien, très différent des VDP. Le côté fruits à l'eau de vie, kirsch se confirme. Milieu de bouche rond, suave, mais dense et compact. La finale est un peu chaleureuse, mais moins qu'il y a deux ans. Un vin de repas !
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6/21/2010 - 14frimaire wrote:
A little muddy. Should have let it breathe. D'oh!
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12/25/2009 - 14frimaire wrote:
Showing beautiful, this is lovely wine. Soaring aromatics of pure red fruits; the palate follows the nose. Lovely depth. Prime time.
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9/3/2009 - peteng wrote: 95 Points
Stupendous wine in perfect balance. Liquorice, shoe leather and red berries. Lingering in the mouth
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6/26/2008 - 14frimaire wrote:
Tasted this a couple of times in the past week, I really liked it. Deep plum, earth, red fruits and earth. This is beautiful, Southern Grenache. It's powerful without getting remotely sloppy. I think this has a fair amount in reserve, though it's no crime to open at this point.
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