Tough wine to nail down. Label says 14.5 abv but no hint of heat, also not overripe in any way and no browning at all, looks like a 2 year old wine. Red fruited on the nose and a touch of VA. Good acidity on the palate with some drying tannins and a little spritz, but overall well balanced. I liked it rather than loved it.
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The bold and rich characters of this Cornas is no where near settled 17 years on. The powerful tannins are though super ripe making delicious balance. This wine is truly a joy with aromas of dark fruit, olives, smoke, nori and raw reindeer meat.
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Slight spritz on opening but it fades. Massive, thick wine. Raspberry nose, though still youthful. Hint of geraniums but it doesn’t last. Chewy wine, black fruits, youthful still but nice. Good Syrah character. Dense, rustic wine.
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Midnight purple in the center and bright light garnet at the edges. Sharp, beautiful blackberry on the nose with sugar, bay, red fruit, and thyme accents. Notes of sweet, velvety blackberries, vanillin, and very soft Italian herbs around the edges. Long sweet blackberry finish with the faintest basalmic note. It drinks as if it was bottled 5 years ago rather than 15. Absolutely delicious.
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Similar to the last bottle and again with the spritz. We decanted to blow it off and real Cornas after a while. Lots of animal and funk and really enjoyed
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initially almost a little spritz and then the initial shock of Cornas and that animal element. Rounded and filled out some with air. Went well with charcuterie and meat
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Deep coloured, almost black, right to the rim. Fireworks on the nose: -blueberry, black currant, cinnamon, quinine and smoke. Fascinating. Palate seamless and resolved. Full and long. No heat or excessive dryness. This is very, very good. No rush to consume.
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After an amazing bottle of 1990 La Chapelle, this was a tough gear shift. I thought it might be rustic enough to work, but it was just a tough contrast. Pomegranate and sour cherry moved to smoky cherry and a deeper, duskier edge. Really fresh and impressive but fundamentally young and unwieldy in comparison.
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Second bottle within a month, and this one was noticeably more fuller and riper. A slight spritz on the front of the tongue and then deep black fruit, iron, orange peel and pepper. Young as a pup - the fruit and structure are there for some long term aging. Very good.
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Oh man this is good. It has that rusty iron/blood element to it that you get with Cornas but on the palate this is feathery light with brisk red fruit and a slightly acidic finish. The structure and tannins are sitting in a place that gives the whole wine a freshness, structure and balance that is the antithesis of the new world Syrah. Excellent stuff. Medium bodied with a lingering mineral-laden finish. Some 6 hours later this wine is giving up notes of violet and roses. Wonderful.
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Consumed at 28/50 in London for just a 10% markup to low US retail. Notes from memory. This adolescent is now in its drinking window. It's still purple and primary, but accessible, with strong, impressively pure/focused dark fruit. Not overripe despite the vintage. There's enough typicity to know it's Syrah but not enough to turn off people like me who aren't fans of the olive-and-pepper profile.
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Highly perfumed nose of violets, rose petals, white pepper, stems, pomegranate, and cassis. Lacks the finesse of other vintages on the palate, and overall more ripe. Unusual combination of high and bass notes in this wine. Comes across a bit clunky compared to its brethren, but still outstanding.
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As reported by another reviewer, there is a slight effervescence in this wine. Not unpleasant, but it shouldn't be there, and it gives emphasis to the mineral/acidic quality of the wine, which is already strong. Other than that, it's a dark, brooding, powerful wine. It has a roasted quality, if one can talk about roasted plums. The finish is dense and tannic. I have no idea how it will turn out, but I won't open another bottle for at least five years.
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This is a monster. Deep, brooding aromas of black fruit, tar and charcoal. On the palate, it hits you with massive tannins, with flavors of coffee, charcoal, tar and black fruit. There's an undeniable roasted quality to it, but it's not dominated by it. To be sure, this is way too young, and I would not recommend checking in on this one for at least 5 years. I would think that this has good long term aging / development potential, but it is so huge / dense at the moment that it's hard to get your head around it... only time will tell.
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11/19/2021 - smatteo wrote: 90 Points
Tough wine to nail down. Label says 14.5 abv but no hint of heat, also not overripe in any way and no browning at all, looks like a 2 year old wine. Red fruited on the nose and a touch of VA. Good acidity on the palate with some drying tannins and a little spritz, but overall well balanced. I liked it rather than loved it.
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2/14/2020 - Bobhelge wrote: 94 Points
The bold and rich characters of this Cornas is no where near settled 17 years on. The powerful tannins are though super ripe making delicious balance. This wine is truly a joy with aromas of dark fruit, olives, smoke, nori and raw reindeer meat.
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12/13/2019 - kevin h wrote: 92 Points
Slight spritz on opening but it fades. Massive, thick wine. Raspberry nose, though still youthful. Hint of geraniums but it doesn’t last. Chewy wine, black fruits, youthful still but nice. Good Syrah character. Dense, rustic wine.
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5/28/2018 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 93 Points
Midnight purple in the center and bright light garnet at the edges. Sharp, beautiful blackberry on the nose with sugar, bay, red fruit, and thyme accents. Notes of sweet, velvety blackberries, vanillin, and very soft Italian herbs around the edges. Long sweet blackberry finish with the faintest basalmic note. It drinks as if it was bottled 5 years ago rather than 15. Absolutely delicious.
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5/24/2017 - wine65 wrote: 92 Points
Color dark ruby no fade. Dark fruit dried flowers on the nose. Medium weight nice acidity throughout, dark berries, a little sweet spice in finish.
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2/16/2017 - wine65 wrote: 90 Points
A little funk good fruit. Drink or hold
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9/29/2016 - Mr T wrote:
Similar to the last bottle and again with the spritz. We decanted to blow it off and real Cornas after a while. Lots of animal and funk and really enjoyed
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6/14/2016 - Mr T wrote:
initially almost a little spritz and then the initial shock of Cornas and that animal element. Rounded and filled out some with air. Went well with charcuterie and meat
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6/20/2015 - rwpalmer wrote: flawed
Immediate smell and taste of acetone.
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1/30/2014 - 560 B&W wrote: 91 Points
Yummy, but odd due to the crazy hot year
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11/24/2013 - rwpalmer wrote: 93 Points
Deep coloured, almost black, right to the rim. Fireworks on the nose: -blueberry, black currant, cinnamon, quinine and smoke. Fascinating. Palate seamless and resolved. Full and long. No heat or excessive dryness. This is very, very good. No rush to consume.
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10/4/2013 - LFCHALA wrote: 92 Points
Very elegant for a wine from the 2003 harvest and for young cornas young. Surprised and very pleased
Drunk at the restaurant Eleven Madison Park - New York
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5/10/2012 - Eric wrote:
After an amazing bottle of 1990 La Chapelle, this was a tough gear shift. I thought it might be rustic enough to work, but it was just a tough contrast. Pomegranate and sour cherry moved to smoky cherry and a deeper, duskier edge. Really fresh and impressive but fundamentally young and unwieldy in comparison.
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1/20/2012 - pjaines wrote:
Second bottle within a month, and this one was noticeably more fuller and riper. A slight spritz on the front of the tongue and then deep black fruit, iron, orange peel and pepper. Young as a pup - the fruit and structure are there for some long term aging. Very good.
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12/25/2011 - pjaines wrote:
Oh man this is good. It has that rusty iron/blood element to it that you get with Cornas but on the palate this is feathery light with brisk red fruit and a slightly acidic finish. The structure and tannins are sitting in a place that gives the whole wine a freshness, structure and balance that is the antithesis of the new world Syrah. Excellent stuff. Medium bodied with a lingering mineral-laden finish. Some 6 hours later this wine is giving up notes of violet and roses. Wonderful.
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8/9/2011 - cooberp wrote: 89 Points
Consumed at 28/50 in London for just a 10% markup to low US retail. Notes from memory. This adolescent is now in its drinking window. It's still purple and primary, but accessible, with strong, impressively pure/focused dark fruit. Not overripe despite the vintage. There's enough typicity to know it's Syrah but not enough to turn off people like me who aren't fans of the olive-and-pepper profile.
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2/23/2011 - Carteran Likes this wine: 90 Points
Spices, pain d'epice. Deep, sweet fruit and mature tannins
On the edge - these need drinking up.
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5/1/2010 - br wrote:
meaty, black raspberries, blood orange and all that woodsmoke stuff. the citris really adds a nice freshness to the wine. ready now, ready later.
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4/2/2010 - Eric wrote:
Mmm bloody. Not mindblowing but a darned nice bottle of Syrah. You just can't go wrong with Allemand.
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12/23/2009 - Haltermr wrote: 91 Points
Highly perfumed nose of violets, rose petals, white pepper, stems, pomegranate, and cassis. Lacks the finesse of other vintages on the palate, and overall more ripe. Unusual combination of high and bass notes in this wine. Comes across a bit clunky compared to its brethren, but still outstanding.
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2/19/2008 - Jeff W wrote:
As reported by another reviewer, there is a slight effervescence in this wine. Not unpleasant, but it shouldn't be there, and it gives emphasis to the mineral/acidic quality of the wine, which is already strong. Other than that, it's a dark, brooding, powerful wine. It has a roasted quality, if one can talk about roasted plums. The finish is dense and tannic. I have no idea how it will turn out, but I won't open another bottle for at least five years.
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9/10/2007 - ajp wrote:
Significant VA and a slight effervescense lead me to think that this was a flawed bottle, however, it was still drinkable but disappointing.
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4/11/2007 - SimonG wrote:
Uncorked Rhone Tasting (Uncorked, Exchange Arcade, London): Beautiful nose of black olives with hints of garrigue. Lavender too almost. Smooth, elegant. Really lovely. 5. On revisiting, a little more high-toned.
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8/8/2006 - Ben Andersen wrote:
This is a monster. Deep, brooding aromas of black fruit, tar and charcoal. On the palate, it hits you with massive tannins, with flavors of coffee, charcoal, tar and black fruit. There's an undeniable roasted quality to it, but it's not dominated by it. To be sure, this is way too young, and I would not recommend checking in on this one for at least 5 years. I would think that this has good long term aging / development potential, but it is so huge / dense at the moment that it's hard to get your head around it... only time will tell.
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