Still a black liquorice wine, baked but there is some fruit in the background here. Went well with lamb shank cooked with chilli, cumin, and smoked paprika.
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Beautiful ruby in color, with a very wide reddish rim. Bricking at the very top.
Light nose with red and black fruits, light cedar and tobacco leaf.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black plums, currants, cherries, earth, black coffee, oak, herbs, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates and black tea.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 26 year old from the great 1998 vintage in Southern Rhone is drinking beautifully now. Soft and smooth, elegant and earthy.
Not so good right out of the bottle, and needed 90 minutes of airtime to open up properly, so be patient.
Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 94 points.
Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Showing nice complexity and good balance.
I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
14% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$120 (current vintage).
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Rich nose with hints of espresso roast, some rose hip syrup a little ground white pepper and some cassia bark. Palate is savoury, broad and red fruited. A little lift and some charming spice. Great with a Hawksmoor rib eye.
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Wine dinner for a great charity (Samish Hill, Bellingham, WA): Still very bright and clean. Red fruit and garrigue, licorice, and a little iodine and moist earth. Out of a 750, it's not at all tired, but I won't hold my remaining bottle for long as it won't improve going forward, unless one prefers a purely tertiary CdP.
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Surprisingly fresh at 25. Rumors of its demise are exaggerated. Beautiful fruit dominates the tertiary aromas and flavors. Cherry and grenadine, with licorice and spice notes. I haven't opened a CdP in 3 years, but this bottle brought me back to an old love of Southern Rhone wines.
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Perfect cork. Great nose of cherries and raisins and a little earthy. Palate of red fruits and raisins. Medium length A lovely wine at 25 years and still going strong.
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It took some time, as well as a couple of decantings because the cork fell apart, but this ended up being a superb Chateauneuf du Pape. My experience with VT is that they are lighter-bodied than other CdPs, so at first sips it seemed thin and maybe aged out of its fruit. However, the body and taste of the wine kept building over several hours (I fortunately did open it in the late morning). It finally unfurled itself with plenty of flavor.
The taste was kind of refined with no real funkiness, but with some dusty age. It probably could have remained in the cellar longer without problems, but it is very good now. One of the best CdPs I have ever had.
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Deep garnet in color with bricking edges. Nose of cherries, cola, and tobacco. Tastes of cherries, leather, and hint of vanilla. Resolved tannins, vibrant acidity, and lingering fruit. Showed impressively on day 2. In a nice place, but should continue to age nicely for another 3-5 years.
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I wanted to check on this again because my last experience with this wine - February 27, 2022 - was very discouraging. Decanted 30 minutes. Very solid cork, not penetrated by the wine at all. Appropriate pale red hue - hints of browning. Restrained nose of small red fruits / very pleasant. Unexpectedly austere on the palate - more acidic - and without the generous silky fruit one associates with CNP. But this is nothing like as severe as the prior bottle. There is complexity. Herbal notes. Tannins one senses just beginning to settle down after 25 years and integrate into the wine. Ends with a persistent pleasant sweetness. Perhaps there is some bottle variation here. Was better after an hour. I would wait another five or ten years on this. On this showing with time it might even become something very special. Bought on release - and aging slowly. After two hours in the decanter this has softened quite a bit, but will always be a serious and brooding CNP.
An auction bottle I purchase almost 8 years ago, and it is still drinking great. I'm not sure that I'll wait any longer on the remaining bottles as this seems at its peak. Long finish, with more spices than fruit at this point. It was opened, but not decanted for almost an hour before serving. I shared it with my wine group and it was a big hit!
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This started a bit figgy and weird with really strong dried fruit notes, but after an hour it exploded positively. Stern, licorice, powerful, old-school CDP, pepper, dark, brooding, really proper:
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Ruby red in color. 14% ABV. Gorgeous nose of red fruits, garrigue and leather. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Power and concentration that belies 25 years of bottle age. Kirsch, plums, roasted herbs and blood on the palate. The finish is long and seamless. The saying is that after 20 years there are no longer great vintages but just great bottles. Reports on this wine being past peak are premature. Well stored bottles will drink beautifully for another 3-5 years. I might wait even longer on the magnum in my cellar. For my money, the best Vieux Telegraphe ever made.
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(NB: Actually a 2012) I remember my first try of La Crau as disappointingly lightweight but this bottle was a very solid outing that met expectations.
Not much of an aroma, even when warmed to full room temp overnight, but the flavor and body are pretty big and the finish good. Powerful black fruits, cinnamon and cloves, dark chocolate and tar - a Christmas cake maker driving an asphalt truck. Medium acid and soft tannins - not flabby at all.
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Color is good, but the nose is flat and the flavors on the palate are very muted. Just not a great bottle. Sweat and leather predominate, with earthy mushrooms and soil in the background. Fruit is negligible. Unclear to me whether it’s flawed (TCA is certainly not out of the question), whether it’s over the hill (would not be the most likely option in my view), or whether it’s just the bottle variability that you could expect after 25 years.
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Triple decanted .. 4 hours. Stink blew off. Really not much fruit left. Savoury. Left me wanting Better bottle than the last one, but shouldn’t this be superb? Hmmm!
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The last bottle four years ago was excellent, robust and flavorful. This one, from the same batch, was old. Significant browning, a bit musty, a bit sour, soft, very much like an old, very old, CNdP. Just enough sweetness to make it palatable. With one bottle left, I hope this was just a bad bottle with a cork permitting too much oxidation.
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From a bottle purchased on release, this wine showed some oranging at the rim. The medium- intensity nose showed some plum, cassis, clay soil, and light toffee notes.
In the mouth, this was quite ripe and a bit diluted tasting at first. While this was overall a light bodied wine, it developed mild tannin and and an acidic edge. There was also a bit of alcohol sticking out.
The flavors of this wine seemed a bit restrained. They might emerge further with time. However, the extreme ripeness and extra alcohol are not going to allow for a future time when all the components come into balance.
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Decanted 1 hour before first taste. Edge to edge bricking. Somewhat flat on first taste, but stewed red fruit emerged over the next couple hours to match the savoriness. Still some mild tannis, still acidic and lively. No brett/animal funk. Can't imagine this improves from here and probably slightly past prime.
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Decanted 45 minutes. Some muddled animal notes, From Mourvedre perhaps? Behind this is serious and complex fruit sitting on a frame that is textural and quite limpid. Some garrigue. A certain austerity/hardness on the finish. This wine demonstrates how different CNP becomes after 20 years. This is no longer a wine of pretty fruit and succulent texture. There are very present dark green herbal notes - rosemary ? There is a reason I don't have much CNP stashed away in the cellar - and this wine fairly well represents it. Nothing faulty here - I just find very limited appeal to the flavors. Heralded vintage. "It's a great year but it was complicated in its development. At one point, animal, at another, very hard,' said Daniel Brunier in mid 2020 in a Decanter Review. Seems still right. Bought on release. I hope you like it more than I.
Very light tasting, little tannin left. Notes of tea and menthol on the bouquet. some fruit still present, ripe sweet cherry and black currant. Nicely alcoholic and not too harsh. I think this should be frank right away if you are holding on to any.
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Moderate at best. Very well cellared yet was thick and cloudy. Most unappealing to the eye. Less dirty and bretty on the nose than previous bottles, the fruit is still there, earthy… very earthy. No generosity in this wine, am yet again left wondering why so many others exalt this wine from this otherwise excellent vintage. In a word: pants.
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Absolutely wonderful. I was a little concerned that it might be, like me, rather too elderly - but no problem. Still beautifully clean Châteauneuf with a fine colour - no orangey brickiness whatsoever. One bottle left - next Christmas maybe? We offered our congratulations to Cook and the staff for the excellent roast pork dinner (we didn’t mention the over-done crackling though.)
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Absolutely stunning right now. Opens up with a funky nose with scents of seaweed, licorice pastilles, mint and tea. Well contained on the palate, no signs at all from a warm vintage, quite the contrary. It is cool and upright with tertiary flavors, dusty cherry fruit, garrigue, even tannins that are not fully resolved. Grand vin to me, plenty of life left.
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Browsing colour. Black fruit and liquorice. A touch rusty. This is now past best. Still drinkable, some vestiges of fruit and the tannins have mellowed. Signs of a very hot vintage. Probably needs drinking soon.
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Last bottle in a frustrating case, as more than half of these were corked or as though low-level TCA had stripped the fruit. Not this time! This was fully realized and at something of a tertiary peak. Still needed an hour or two of air to unlock its initial structure, then with zippy, salivating medium-bodied red-fruited mature flavors and exotic aromas of funky wild animal earthiness. Very cool way to finish up a case.
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[Blind] Wild animal and high brett. Horse hair. Palate is soft around the edges but there is a lot of red fruit stuffing. Good power, nicely developed, not overbearing. Big projection and presence. Shockingly expressive and showy. Higher alcohol and very ripe. Everyone called Chateauneuf.
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Still very drinkable, but no better than it was in 2013 when I last tasted this. Not in the same league as the legendary '89 and "90 Beaucastel. Good balance, good fruit and tannin present. A little hot on the finish. Will last least five more years if well stored, but expect no improvement. As it opens, perhaps a 92! Addendum: changed from a 91 to a to a 92 after two hours..Enjoy!
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Beautiful nose with dark fruit still prominent and a multitude of secondary notes. Dark red/purple color with perhaps slight browning at the edges. Soft in the mouth with mollified tannins. Long finish. Surprisingly relatively youthful, in it’s prime and eminently enjoyable. Last bottle.
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I was not thrilled with the last bottle, which was watery and a bit broken, so I decided I would clear some cellar space with low expectations. This bottle was surprisingly good.
Rum, raisins, cologne, dark cherry, heather. Still plenty of fruit and grip. Could improve.
This bottle has the profile becoming of a legendary producer like Vieux Telegraphe. It’s very put together and complex — a great after-dinner wine.
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Magnum. Garnet color. A low but tolerable dose of brett, lovely red fruit and licorice aromas. Medium weight. Pomegranate, plum, spices, and lively acidity. It is hard to believe that 20 years ago, this was thought to be the epitome of ripe vintage excess in the southern Rhône; now it comes across as absolutely elegant compared to wines from more recent warm years such as 2007 and 2009. Wonderful bottle.
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Phenomenal. Barnyard funk (which I love), plum and ripe cherry. Paired beautifully with our bacon wrapped filet. Probably peaking now. Great way to ring in the New Year!
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Orange and bricking for sure, needed about 1.5 hours to open. Those herb de provance notes linger in background, lots of black fruits, hints of raisin and dates. Soft tannin! Enjoyed with some slow cooked roast beef
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Nose had some funk at first. Blew off after 30 minutes or so. Rich tart cherry, raspberry fruit. Definite herbs de Provence, garrigue, clean line of acidity. The wine is rich and savory. You could sip this all night and be very happy. Drink now or leave for a few more years. The tannins will keep this going for awhile longer. I have two more of the ‘98s and am looking forward to enjoying them.
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Such a great wine right now. Relaxed, smooth, mature. Vertical, dark-fruited, notes of seaweed, tea. Good acidity, bright fruit, tertiary notes. In its prime drinking period I think.
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Fig and stewed prune, Christmas cake spice (clove in particular) and some leather. Lots of power left after 22 years, but hard to imagine this being any better than it is now. Delicious and worth the wait.
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CDP Corona Tasting...gotta love it!: This wine was double decanted to get rid of sediment, poured into small jars around 4 pm, transported to individuals for the tasting, poured into glasses and tasted at 6:30 pm, tasted over the course of 2 hours. The wines were tasted single blind (we knew what all the wines were, but not which one we were tasting). The wines in this tasting were as follows:
1. 1998 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 2. 2000 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 3. 2009 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin 4. 2007 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 5. 2003 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The group's top 2 (which received almost all 1st or 2nd place votes) were the 2003 Clos des Papes (Number 1) and the 2000 Pegau (Number 2). My order was as follows: (1) 2000 Pegau, (2) 2003 Clos des Papes, (3) 2009 Janesse, (4) 2007 Beaucastel, and (5) 1998 Telegraphe. As a side note, my number 5 did not end up there because it was a bad, on the contrary, it was good, just happened to like the other wines better!
1998 Telegraphe - I thought this wine was middle of the pack age wise. Never would have pegged it for the oldest wine. All wines were dark, this had a hint of bricking, but I felt it was less than the Pegau and Clos des Pape. Nose was slightly perfumed with dark cherry and spice. Palate showed nice integration of plum, fig and black pepper, with hints of anise. medium finish. Overall a good wine that was facing tough competition. I could see myself enjoying this wine with, or without food. 91-91+ points.
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Single-blind Chateauneuf du Pape (Everyone's House): Single blind covid-style, so each wine delivered in a small jar. Burnt rubber, scorched earth, both ripe and sour red fruit. The palate has a little more anise than I would like. There is nice complexity, yet it remains a big wine that is rustic and burly. This was my bottle at the tasting, and I was certainly hoping for a much better outcome.
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Well worth the wait. Bought on release and babied in our cellar. Cork in perfect condition, nose was addictive. Lots of secondary characteristics. Complex, smooth, long finish. Older CDPs are very different than when they were young and I love that about them. Unique and delicious.
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Virtual Single Blind CdP Tasting (Home): Dark red color with almost no bricking. Splash double decanted and drank a glass single blind 2.5 hours later over 3 hours. This does come off youthful, more brooding on the nose. This opens more gradually, rose, rose hips, high toned garrigue, kirsch and ripe raspberry, spice and oodles of dried herbs. The palate shows red fruits, cherry, tar, pepper and spice. This is a bit more rustic than the others. Thought this was the '98 VT. Still needs time or air and may get somewhat better. My #3 ranked wine. 91+(+?)pts.
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The 1998 is a long-time favorite. We opened it to celebrate my son’s 22nd birthday and, like him, the wine has matured and softened and is more complex. The prominent tannins of its first ten or twelve years have evened out, providing structure but not dominating. The acids remain balanced as always. It is the bouquet that has exploded - sweet cherry and plum burst out of the glass. I rated this 95 but, honestly, I’m not sure I’ve enjoyed a better bottle of CDP ever. Such a gorgeous wine.
At a perfect spot right now, and can last a few more years in the cellar, but I would drink up. Really nice overall. Medium body, balanced tannins. Garrigue, pepper, eucalyptus, quince paste, fig jam. Long finish. Can’t go wrong with this one. Wonderful.
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Nearly 3 years after the prior: bright, indeed brilliantly precise; very enjoyable, and lovely with roasted duck. (If the muddy 2009 ever evolves into this I’ll be happy — and surprised.)
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Perfect cork, with no soak-through or seepage at all. The wine had thrown quite a lot of fine sediment so needed careful decanting. Fine ruby colour, little browning at the edges. A very agreeable nose of warm fruit with a hint of smokiness. The warm fruit continued in the palate, giving a lush, concentrated mid-palate taste and a long, soft aftertaste.
Overall, a wine in excellent condition. It has perhaps lost a little of the herbal/'garrigue' notes it had when younger, but it is lovely still. I can't see it improving further, but no hurry to drink up.
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Had this as part of a "wines bought at auction" night with my wine group at a NYC restaurant. While it was decanted, it was basically a pop 'n pour. This was our first red, out of five, for the night. How much you liked this depended on how much you like wines that are this old. I loved it, and it might have been my favorite (but not the group's) of the night. The fruit is fading, being replaced by spice and some ceder wood notes. Its complex with a lot of subtle flavors going on. Mid length finish, and a light body feel.
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decanted 30 minutes: dark ruby red; complex nose of herbs, red fruits and spices; flavors carried through to the palate with more red plum,cherry/ berry notes; incredibly rich and full bodied, very smooth texture;integrated tannin's, no rough edges; very velvety ,long finish with red cherry fruit to the end.
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I didn't plan to open this tonight but gave up too quickly on a floundering, seemingly fruitless, '89 opened an hour earlier. In the end both wines turned out fine and I ended up with an 89/98 vertical and roughly 1/2 btl of each left over. This 98 is still the better wine and humming along nicely. I decanted and left in the decanter with dinner 30 minutes later. Tonight this was suave, balanced and showed more lift then a previous btl in 2015. Smoky dark fruit and garrigue on the nose. The harmonious palate delivered dark raspberry, earth, more garrigue, leather mineral and spice. Not a major rock star but more akin to CDP of the past even though 98 might have kicked off the more modern riper world of CDP that has gotten out of hand today. In this case maybe 21yrs of btl age has won the day and fought off the worst tendencies of modern CDP. My last 98.
The cork was difficult to open and then the wine seemed a little faded. Seemingly an off bottle as we have had very good ones. Still ok with our roast racks of lamb.
88 if scored.
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From a magnum. Perfect seal. High ullage. First impressions upon opening were very poor - it had a mild bret character, very little fruit and colour was thin. Double decant and left for 2-3 hours. Complete transformation, except the colour. The bret was almost completely gone, some of the winemakers present had trouble detecting it at all. Fruit characters came through, slightly overpowered by oak. Still very enjoyable for an aged CNDP but don’t expect it to get better from here.
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I wish well all those who admire the "funk" dirty bretty pong that emits from VT '98 A wine that never fails to disappoint. And this bottle was unilaterally dissed for what it was. It isn't that this was out of condition - no - it's just a dirty bretti wine that was never very good in the first place.
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Light ruby red in color. 14% ABV. Stunning nose of red fruits, blood, herbs and wet pavement. Medium body with exquisite acidity. There is a tremendous core of dried, sweet fruit on the palate. Flavors of cherry, kirsch, iron, plums and Herbes de Provence. The finish is exceptionally long with ample tannins and gorgeous, plush fruit. The wine exemplifies traditional CdP at its very best. I have followed this vintage over the last decade and this bottle shows no sign of decline. For me, the best VT ever made. Drink over the next 2-4 years.
Not quite up there with the latest bottle, seems a little bit more evolved, lacking the iron fist of precision, more of a tradional neuf here - on the highest level. Grenache speaks louder today ... (from PB) #NYCGroup#Anarki
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Still a young wine, firm, blue intense, concentrated, hitting all cylinders. A Bordeaux-lovers neuf, yes, but lots of local character here. WOTN - no centest. #BistroDinnerChezMoi
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I am going to taste 1998-2003 over the next few days this is the first. Super nose, all dark chocolate covered cherries. Its an old wine but the stamina it has is great. Good balance, the tannins are totally resolved but the texture is sound. The chocolate and cherry note is accented by a vanilla note in the mouth. Great linger, all Grenache and velvet. Definitely still drinking well. Am saving the rest of the bottle for tomorrow with a tasting friend, we will also have the 1999.
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Secondary and tertiary phase now. Slow oxed for 1 hour before drinking.
All herbal and umami flavours with barely a hint of fruit. It is totally up my alley. So elegant despite the high alcohol which probably explains why we finished this in a flash.
Still at least some years left in this so I wouldnt be in a rush to finish them if you have a few bottles remaining in the cellar.
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Magnum. Garnet. Spicy pomegranate and cherry, elegant middle weight, a twist of citrus, excellent acidity, fine soil. Really sensuous, perfect weight. An almost wow wine with 10 years to go from this format. Educational to see how much less more harmonious and balanced a ripe vintage wine was 20 years ago. It makes me sad to have pretty much sworn off contemporary Chateauneuf, but the rising alcohol and sugary sweetness have made them much less appealing as table wines.
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At John and Sharon's for the wine tasting group reunion. 2 hour decant. Spice cake and chocolate on the nose. Black raspberries, black currents, and CdP garrigue in the mouth. Actually slightly more tannic than the bottle I had two years ago. Complex. Still a wonderful wine.
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Nice but not rich as I was hoping for. Lot’s of sweet fruit, no tannins, some fruitcake, no Brett, some alcohol heat. Lot’s, and lot’s of sediment, that’s okay. Time to drink up! With some local lamb sausages.
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Double-decanted about two hours before serving. At first the nose was a bit muted and even green, although on the palate the wine was pristine from the word go. Sweet brambley fruit, reddish-black, with lots of inner sweetness. The bouquet opened up with time in the glass, although it never matched the freshness and appeal of the palate. The alcohol on the finish is a bit overpowering, hinting that the wine may be coming to the end of its peak drinking window.
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Grand vin in the bottle. Opens with a funky nose, old school, mature Neuf. The fruit is light and airy, there are notes of seaweed, tea, garrigue. This is upright, structured, well balanced and complex. Very satisfying wine. More please.
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While the fruit was nearly all gone from this bottle (compared with a bottle I had two years back that was all chocolate covered dark fruit), this was a very enjoyable and cerebral wine, pairing magnificently with our cassoulet. The nose and palate are all about meats, spice, and olives. The most distinctive note that jumped out to me on the palate was Spanish chorizo (pimenton). Hard to believe this started out 20+ years ago as grapes, as now it has transformed into an alchemic conglomeration of various savory foodstuffs.
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Similar to prior bottles; this was still younger than expected and vibrant with dark fruits, garrigue, earth, floral notes, and leather. Nice dense palate with a very good finish. Excellent with herb crusted lamb.
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Served at room temp. Dark garnet color. Light nose of smoke. Fully resolved earthy flavor. Great structure but definitely on the far side of the sine wave! Drink them up. EG #ArchitecturalArtistry #WineArchitect
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Funky at first... showing plenty of bricking; so needed decanting, but softened with time, and mellowed. Purity, and some weight, am sure the next bottle will be much better with an hour in the decanter
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CBCC dinner with wine friends. 67' Carruades de Lafite, 86 Spottswoode Estate Cabernet, 98 Vieux Telegraph, 14 Aston Estate PN, 15' GTS Cabernet, 12' Ben Rye. Started with a 16' Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc.
So let me start be saying that I love old wine. I love its flavor which is unique and unfindable anywhere else but here in old wine. I love the mostly mainly Melancholy juice which only age can deliver.
Here is a 20 year old French charmer (thanks to Gary W. for brining this). Fresh, cherry laiden, and balanced. Mid palette produces classic "Ch. neuf du pape flavor with soil and red berries dominating. Long finish and a beauty worth finding.
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Cellared since release, perfect cork and fill. Cherry, red berries, more earthy complexity on the nose than the last bottle, medium body, fruit is less in the foreground than 3 years ago but still present, well balanced, still excellent.
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Still crimson at the core, but with lightening towards the rim from ruby to amber. Extraordinary wine. Smooth and harmonious, with caramel complements to the red fruits. A showstopper.
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Bought at auction, opened, but not decanted, for about an hour before pouring at a NYC restaurant with my wine group. Cork the cork came out in one piece and was saturated about half way up the cork. Nice purple color, but it was easy to see it was lighter than the 2006s and 2010 CdP's that we also had at dinner. Also much less fruit, with some spice notes replacing the fruit, a beautiful nose, with a long finish. This was a big hit.
Had two bottles--one was outstanding and one was flawed. This review is based on the former. Layers of complexity on the nose--rose petals, raspberries, leather, earth and vanilla. Nice balance and a lengthy finish. Still v much alive and should last at least a few more years.
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I brought this to Nice Matin on the UWS for dinner with James M, Tom G and Fernando. Really good showing. The palate is red to pink hued, no Grenache over-ripeness, with light garrigue notes. It's been a few years since I've had this vintage of VT, and it seems to be aging very nicely. At 20 years past the vintage, it is mature, giving, complex and satisfying. It also speaks softly, gracefully. I'm no longer a fan of most CdP, but this is a very good wine.
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Bought on release. Color is age appropriate, dark ruby with some browning at the edge. Great sauvage nose, forest floor, animal fur. Medium body, complex red fruit flavors resolved tannin, very long finish. This has evolved into something really beautiful.
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Very similar to my prior bottle; excellent. Still dense and rich and seeming younger than 20 years. The nose shows dark fruit, leather, garrigue, damp earth, hints of game. The palate is still remarkably dense, rich and powerful. Long finish and excellent balance. Delicious.
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For the price I am not convinced this is something! The owner with such good vibes producing a good wine with a friendly price tag for real! Perfect cork clean juice! Nose with dry currents sweet fruits, ripe but not heavy, with acids and minerals resolve tannins drinking beautifully!
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Decanted for 2h off sediment. Aromas of lifted kirsch, garrigue, olives, brambles, earth and black- and blueberries. Palate is similar but it's the berries that hits first with a bit of licorice. Nice acids and moderate tannins give the wine lift and some elegance. Finish is long with waves of fruit, bark, earth and garrigue. Not a fan of most CdP as I find many of them overwrought. But this is just beautiful now.
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Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind (Chicago, IL): Tasted blind. Very ripe but clearly showing lots of elegant, Old World character and balance. I thought it older than 1998, but that's what to expect from this vintage. Others liked this more.
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Blind Syrahs at Chevalier (Chicago, IL): Served blind. Full and complex nose has aromas of dried black fruit, meat, olive, black pepper and old leather. The palate is savory and meaty yet fresh and dense. Excellent and should hold, but seems to be in a peak window.
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A very enjoyable bottle. Perfect cork, still only stained on the very bottom. Cork pulled an hour or two before dinner, no decant, no small pour to allow additional air. Not giving much up on the nose initially, but that first taste was a lovely dark red full fruit. A bit of garrigue, but no hint of leather or barnyard, a very clean bottle of CdP. The wine showed better closer to 60º than 70º. Paired with a simply prepared rack of lamb and roasted brussel sprouts and enjoyed over 2-3 hours. Tannins essentially fully resolved, plenty of fruit and no hint of fading. This bottle has 5-10 years in it no problem. I imagine / hope this is how the 05s will eventually turn out in another decade. If so I'll be one happy man. Enjoy now or consume over the next five years.
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Whoah, nelly. That was quite a wine. Not what I was expecting, really. I mean, that sucker was BIG. Rich, very rich, sweet black cherries and raspberries, with complicating notes of iodine, seaweed (no, really), garrigue and other herbs and spices. Rich, dense and layered, yet with enough lift to keep it energetic. So powerful, yet balanced. This could have easily gone another 10 years. A terrific Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
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Deep garnet almost purple with long slow legs shiny glistening. Nose of roasted spices and earth, balanced and quite fresh ripe plump clean plums and just the right amount of spice, fresh earth with delicately balanced acidity and alcohol, tannins soft, silky. Delicious and with elegant finesse. Don't hold much longer 3-5 years at most. peaking.
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First bottle was not quite right on the nose, so opened another. It was superb. Plenty of power, but never heavy. Fruit all there, tannins integrated, not over-sweet, but so easy to drink. Another reminder that VT is one of my very favourite CNDPs. They are so worth holding to maturity. No rush.
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Chapoutier Ermitage Tasting (Alpharetta, GA): Cloudy purple maroon; black pepper, olives, fennel, sweaty, leather in background, finishes a touch short with some bitterness, lacks punch; pretty disappointing.
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Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind (Chicago, IL): Tasted double blind alongside the 1982. Meaty black fruit with savory spice throughout. Dense and clearly ripe, but wonderful balance. Knowing the pair were from the same place, I initially (mistakenly) thought Burgundy.
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Next to the 1978, this is my favorite VT. It's a little different every time I have it, but (after 2008) wonderful every time. Decanted 3 hours prior to bringing to dinner at friend's house. Good nose, deep red in color. Very complex mouth feel. Black currants, black cherries, leather and earth. Tannins have subsided, but enough power remains to last a goodly number of years. Good balance. Fine finish. A beautiful wine.
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Il est superbe! Beau nez de garrigue et de kirsch. Bouche complexe sur les épices, authentique et savoureuse, presque élégante malgré une finale un brin rustique. Il est en pleine forme, délicieux. Superbe. 93 pts
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Drank last nite after coravining this past week. Lovely wine. Lots of earth, dark cherries and smoke on the nose. The wine has a rustic fragrance and appearance in the glass. Lots of dark fruit here, along with some spice, leather and a definite smokiness. Quite earthy and rustic. Tannins are mostly resolved, but the wine remains quite concentrated, with all elements nicely integrated.
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I've tasted this wine many times and it is a great Vieux Telegraphe. There's the classic notes of seaweed here, the style is very upright with pure cherry fruit and some tertiary notes as well. Lovely Chateauneuf but on this particular evening it was outshone by the 3 other wines. With Niels at Kandestederne.
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The English house is here, licorice, minerals and black fruit in the core, this is actually still quite young, tannins presents, very deep and dark, yet fresh. Will keep for many years. Kandestederne#PB-BoysNightOut
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Even better than before. This tasted like it has several years left. I was too impatient to let it sit any longer. Open for 2 hours before pouring; no decant.
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A great bottle of Rhone goodness, smooth, silky yet full of flavour, no heat whatsoever. A trifle of summer fruits, cherries, fresh soil. Deep ruby red hue. Although now approaching 20 years, this is still lively.
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In a word, stellar. Had next to several other aged Chateauneufs and this was as good as any... maybe a tiny bit behind the 90 Beaucastel, but not much. Dark fruits, earth, smoke, leather, violet. The palate is unbelievably concentrated and rich, with still noticeable tannin, but great depth and balance. Great wine no doubt.
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Dinner with Tim, Elliott, and Roger (Tim and Elliott's Place, San Francisco): Light ruby with age-appropriate bricking; nose is highly aromatic with red cherry fruit, white pepper, floral lavender, complex and with depth; palate is light bodied, medium tannins that are still youthful, plenty of red fruits, surprisingly medium-plus acid with freshness throughout, medium alcohol (thought 13-13.5%, bottle says 14%); medium-long finish. A lovely wine with plenty of CnDP character, wonderful depth and complexity on both the palate and the nose, overall an elegantly styled CnDP without brett or dense meatiness but plenty of spice, pepper, floral. Certainly enjoyable to drink now but also seems like it could have years of development ahead. 6.5 years since my last bottle and my experience is similar to last time. One of my favorite '98 Chateaneufs. 93-94
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So much better than the previous bottle, tasted years ago. This is a beauty! All the sweet, juicy kirsch, peppery, black raspberry, earth, herbs and weight, density, length and complexity you could ask for in a Chateauneuf du Pape.
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14% alcohol. Slightly faded colour. The nose gives earthy aromas as well as suggestions of pot-pourri. The mouth is elegant and bears the alcohol level lightly, with more dried flowers flavours; ethereal and refined are words that come to mind. This is a feminine type of Châteauneuf, and all the better for it; if you are looking for a blockbuster, you will be disappointed. At maturity now, and unlikely to improve further. A super wine, well worth the wait in the cellar, and certainly a repeat buy.
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With rib cap and rib eyes, probably would have benefitted from more air time, but this offered virile, youthful, bramble, earthy, olive fruit balanced beautifully by tense and energizing acidity. Regal, lovely and a pleasure.
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Light red in color. Almost translucent. 14% ABV. Restrained nose of red fruits, kirsch, iron and herbes de Provence. Medium body with plenty of acidity. Precise and complex with pure, sweet fruit. Dried cherries, garrigue, iron and game on the palate. The wine picks up weight and becomes more intense with time in the glass. The finish is exceptionally long. Aging beautifully. Well stored bottles will drink well for another 2-4 years.
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Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Attractive nose showing dark fruit, tobacco, earth, touch of black olive. Medium/full bodied, blackcurrant fruit, leather, touch of chocolate, fine tannins, only moderate acidity but this is not heavy or cloying, and has a very good length, expansive finish with black olive and smoke. Excellent, drinking well, no hurry.
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Fabulous, in a perfect place right now. Brick red, showing its age yet strong all the way to the rim. Textbook Chateauneuf nose with red cherry fruit, Provençal herbs, saddle leather and true garrigue. Awesome. Lovely and sleek in the mouth, with still-powerful, unctuous sweet fruit. One hell of a wine. 4-13-17-9: 93/100.
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A manly, English structure, mineral still, but a more local feel is starting to peep through as this is approaching full maturity. Tasted vis-a-vis the Beaucastel 1998, this still seems a bit younger, but they seem very close indeed. Grand Vin, for sure. #SøllerødKro#NC
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Very different now from three-and-a-half years ago. The tannins are now much more integrated, and the dry, dustiness has all but disappeared to leave a mouthful that's layered, intense, but sweet and still fruity and typical of a well-aged CNP. I agree with others' notes that it's now in its ideal drinking window, and should be enjoyed over the next 2 to 5 years.
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Starting to brick at the edges, this lovely mature wine is drinking wonderfully at the moment. Roasted fruit, smoke, earth, meat and leather. Lots of secondary notes, but the fruit is still showing well. Complex, with good length. The tannins are fully resolved and this is in a great drinking window.
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Decanted for about 45 minutes. Tons of sediment. Medium red color with some bricking at the edge. Drank with a rustic, meaty pizza. The wine was silky smooth and had a reasonably long finish. The flavors were mostly forest floor as the fruit is fading. Drink up.
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Charity Auction Tasting for Brigid Collins Family Support Center: A couple of people at the tasting requested a CdP, and after speaking with them, I realized they'd only opened young ones in the past. Uncorked and Andouzed for 8 hours in the cellar. This was the WOTN for many, maybe even me. There are no great wines, only great bottles, and this was better than any of the '98 VT's I've had before. Great red fruit and garrigue, a little iodine and moist earth. I especially loved the floral notes. I haven't opened one for three years, and this was the best I remember. I've been neglecting the CdP's in my cellar, but this bottle may bring me back around.
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Toll gereifter Ch9 ca. 2-3 Jahre vor dem absoluten Höhepunkt! Das ist keine fette Marmelade! Viel kühle dunkelrote Frucht, etwas floral, noch Tannin, Kräuter, Garrigue. Braucht viel Luft. Grosser Sport!!! 95+
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CDP Session (Rayas) (Extra Space): Pop and poured. Drank from bottle over 3 hours. Appearance is clear, deep opaque intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is pronounced, with aromas of Brett, mushrooms, undergrowth, and some slight animals. Black fruits underneath. Developed. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), gum drying high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of black cherries, dark red cherries, dark tarry earth, undergrowth, leather, slight meat. Long finish. Very good quality, although Brett haters might beg to differ. For me, this is still acceptably Bretty. Dark and brooding. This gives me the feeling that the tannins are never really going to soften all that much with further ageing. Drink up before the Brett gets too unbearable.
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Smells quite mature. Roasted cherries and grilled herbs such as rosemary and thyme. Full-bodied and quite rich. High alcohol. Silky palate with just a tug of tannin on the finish. Best now and over the next 2-4 years (will last longer). 93
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Oldest CDP I have had. Loved the complexity and length . Age has muted the flavours but the intensity is still there. Lots of pepper notes with meaty undertones. Paired well with lamb chops.
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Popped, breathed in bottle 60 minutes, consumed over next 90. This is in an excellent drinking window, but still seems like it will continue to benefit from cellaring. Balanced, complex, wonderful intensity, evolving notes of tertiary development, expanding finish. A beauty.
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I loved this again. I got nervous seeing some of the negative recent reviews, but this bottle was in great shape with lots of pepper notes, some tarragon and sage. I have another bottle and will not hesitate to wait a year plus. This went incredibly well with a grilled strip steak that we brushed with olive oil and coated with a spicy rub.
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Dark garnet. Lovely touch of funk on the nose, which came through in taste as well. Balanced. Smoky, earthy, bright, deep & surprisingly rich. Good finish. Very nice stuff -- and it would seem to have much life ahead.
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The wine looks inky colored. The legs are medium. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, raspberry, forest floor, mineral, cedar, toast, vanilla, acacia and black pepper. The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity and sweet tannins.
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VT - Vertical 1983-2012 No formal notes. tasted alongside the 1999, this one had more concentration but both bottles were good. Especially compared to the 2000 - 2001 set which was a huge dissapointment
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Slight heat on the nose but not on the palate. Still a baby. Many years of life left (5+) with the tannic structure I picked up. Slightly short finish and very dry.
Grenache leads the way to a complex mix of umami, dried seaweed, rose pedals, dried cherries, red and blue stone fruit, a terrific sum of its parts.
I've had this wine many times before but not for at least 6 years. This bottle was the best by far of any of the previous 1998's I've consumed.
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This is why we age wines. So smooth, seductive, and mature. A flash of images of old age yet to come, but not this year. Loving that even modest unpretentious wines can reward us so.
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The best of several bottles of this wine I've had. Perfectly mature with some life still left. Smoke, dried herbs and grenache fruit. Smooth and silky in the mouth. Look forward to my remaining bottles.
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Drinking perfectly now. Slightly more austere and refined nose and palate than say a pegau but a trace of fine tannins with some red cherries and mild spice box.
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Wine is in perfect condition. Brick red colour. Medium bodied, tertiair aromas of leather, mushrooms, red fruit. Nice acidity. This wine is at its end of the maturity stage. If you like a nice developed C9dP drink it now. It won't get better.
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Smells and tastes quite old, attic and dried flowers, not necessarily in a bad way, but more interesting than enjoyable, and better I think with more freshness. Seventh bottle in the case, and I've always suspected something like low-level TCA at work. Four-hour slow-ox this time, it needed the air, but I will try with an hour or two next time.
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The wine i clear with a medium red core, developing.
On the nose it is medium+ intense, clean and aromas of flint, hanged meat, estragon, kirch, tobacco, strawberry jam. Developed.
On the palate it is medium acidity and medium rupe tannins, medium+ % body and flavour intensity, aromas of kirch, strawberry jam, tobacco, estragon, hanged meat, some blackberries, long aftertaste.
The wine is very well balanced and has a very deep complexity and concentration, nice fruit and secondary aromas that with the alcohol makes a very good balance with the level of intensity and the maturity. Lenght is solid. Potential for agening drink now - 3years. Outstanding quality, 93p
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Grand Vin. Tasted vis-a-vis the 1999, this wins hands down - not a given, many 98's are disappointing, and many 99's are better than expected. Fullness of fruit here, elegance, harmony, minerals and balance – certainly a neuf for the upper classes, a very British sort of neuf, less southern France joviality, more restrained with a stiff upper lip, but in this vintage with an abundance of fruit hidden just underneath. Will keep, but majestic now. #Christmas Eve
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+: Dull garnet core with paler rim; fig, some age evident though a certain freshness; love the silky texture, meaty; really solid.
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Better than last year. Still black fruited but some sweetness starting to show. Some raspberry on the nose, liquorice, hint of cumin, nice. Tastes classic, dark fruited, plenty of tannin and a bit dry on the finish. Dries in the glass a bit and closes up with air. Still evolving. This is a 25 year wine. No rush. Leave for 2 years.
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Mature, serious deep savoury nose. Purple/garnet colour. Thick legs. Very unctuous and smooth on the palate. Liquorice and Provençe herbs. Some chocolate if you look for it. Still some tannins - will last maybe 5 more years but may start to decline from now. I had an oxidised bottle from the same case 6 months ago that was not good so certainly bottle variation here.
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This continues to underwhelm me. With 17yrs btl age and its pedigree I'd expect this to be a real head turner at this point. Instead its a somewhat better than average CDP tonight. I enjoyed the wine but expected more. Resolved, balanced, red fruit and garrique but not.... stunning. Ok nose, not amazing. Decanted about 45 minutes prior to drinking. 89+ One btl left and I'll wait at least 3yrs to try it.
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First bottle was corked (good that I checked, more frequent with older Rhones), Had this in mind so I went back to the cellar for redemption... decanted for 30 minutes drank over 2 hours. Served this with my pork and butternut squash stew. Great pairing for Fall/Harvest flavors.
Full and vibrant/translucent red color, showing less signs of age than expected, slight bricking at the edges. Coming off a corked bottle I knew this one was in the zone, great aromas of spice and red fruits on the decant, followed by Provencal herbs, orange zest, iodine and forest floor. Palate was classic CdP (perfect for a "harvest" dinner). Palate of dusted cherry fruits, plums, pepper, baking spices, cinnamon, figs, classic garrigue, leather. This was really in the zone, great structure and what you want from a great CdP. Medium mouthfeel and long, layered finish.
Drinking really well now, with good structure to last another 10 years. . Should hold at this level - high incidence of corked bottles notwithstanding - but I don't think it will improve much. Wonderful wine
My 50th extravaganza (Chez moi): Core of kirsch, mineral, lightness, elegant, intensity, still young, but very, very bright, precise and a point. Will keep 10 years, but hard to resist as of now. On the second day equally impressive with consistent notes.
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Great bottle. Had this together with a 1998 Pegau (the latter being my personal favourite). Great nose which did not indicate a very mature wine. Very vibrant and fruity nose. Beautiful colour. Medium bodied on the palate, with figs and leather notes. Quite long lasting on the palate. Outstanding balance. Accompanied woodpigeons very well.
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A great example of an older Chateauneuf in the classical mold. Dusty cherry fruit, mineral notes, a vibrant spine of acidity and a sense of freshness to it that stood in contrast to the bricking evident at the edges. Tannins were silky smooth, giving the wine a velvety feel. Great fun to drink and a point as far as my tastes go.
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Really lovely. Aging well, this presents a completely integrated mouthful of tarragon, loam, vanilla bean and dried cherry with a whiff of desert air. It has a fabulous smooth and long finish and tastes like a meal.
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375ml bottle cellared since release. Seepage on cork was perhaps 1/16", maybe less. Dark, still quite a bit of red in color with a bit of orange on rim. Forest floor nose -- not unpleasant, but not very precise. Smooth, medium-weight, some tannins still, but little not much flavor. Something wrong with this bottle, perhaps low level TCA (it was the worst period for TCA).
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Cellared since release, perfect cork and fill. Cherry, red berries, clean earth on the nose right from the start, a bit of leather and iodine come out over time, med-full body, well balanced, drinking well now but wouldn't be surprised to see more complexity in 5 more years, excellent.
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Great showing, the best so far. Needs decanting for sediment, and a few minutes of air for the funk to blow off -- but not too much. After double decanting and traveling an hour and then waiting maybe another hour, it didn't show as well.
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Less good than my last reviewed bottle (April 2014) which I think confirms the bottle variation of this often great wine in this vintage. This was good but not singing........
Opened two (then three) '98 Chateauneuf's for a nice roasted chicken dinner at home with the wife and all the boys. This and Vieux Telegraph disappointing so I had to open a third (and the best) -- Beaucastel.
Color: light/medium ruby core -> diffuse garnet rim. C O R K E D ! ! !
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Terrific bottle. Lots of vigor left here, bright red fruits with notes of iodine and peat - very VT - James says Shiso leaf. The tannins are nicely integrated and the wine has a smooth texture in the mouth with an array of flavors atop. Still shows good freshness. Bought on release and cellared for many years, to terrific results. At James and Nancy's.
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Some red berry notes such as raspberry on the nose, but a large amount of barnyard and earthy presence, especially forest floor and mushroom. Very rich but elegant. Loved this wine, paired very well with a mushroom in black bean sauce dish served at our wine tasting event.
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Decanted about one hour before dinner. The color is a deep garnet with a little brown on the rim. The nose is showing a lot of barnyard and dusty library, with some black fruit, red fruit, blue fruit, tobacco, herbs and leather. The palate is dry, with medium acidity. The alcohol appears just medium but is 14%. The tannins are medium to medium plus and well integrated. This bottle is drinking surprisingly well considering the owner did not keep it in a climate-controlled environment. With proper cellaring, this wine should do very well for several more years.
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Dinner at Donna T's House (Princeton, NJ): A tasty wine. Lovely dark and red fruit, plums, a touch of strawberry, dried herbs, garrigue, violets and a little tar on the finish, i was surprised there were also fine tannins upon opening, but they unwound with some time. This was the most herbal and rustic wine of the night. Delicious with the grilled leg of lamb and surprisingly with the farro salad as well. The wine is definitely in the drinking window - but has some more time, too. At Donna T's house, with Doreen, Jen, Tash and Ursula
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Bought on release and perfectly stored. The color is a youthful red at the center, with slight bricking at the rim. The nose was a bit tight at first, but opened up with air. Lovely, silky and complex, with grilled meat, iodine, red fruits, stones and herbs. Very savory. Based on this bottle, perfectly stored examples have a way to go.
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Decanted about one hour before dinner. Funkiness on the nose, slightly barnyardy, some dark fruit, plums, spices, earth. On the palate at first some fruit remaining, slightly tired from the off, but with time becoming more and more unbalanced with the fruit drying out. A bit of alcohol on the finish as well as rough acidity. Falling apart completely with more time in the glass. Past its best based on this bottle. Drink up.
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Medium-deep reddish-violet garnet in color with some slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward, fragrant & attractive nose of complex, developed & mature ripe fruits aromas of dark cherries, blueberries & plums with lovely floral overtones of violets & lavender & cedar, classic garrigue notes, earthy, savory dried Provencal herb notes, peppery, dusty, aged leather, anise, tar & minerals. Medium-full to full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced, silky smooth textured, complex, mature & developed, well integrated, seamless, lush, ripe fruit flavors of sweet cherries, strawberries, raspberries & red plums with spices, herbs, anise/tar, earthy & minerals. Long lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present and should hold for several more years although any further development would be limited. An absolutely wonderful wine!
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PnP. Perfect cork. Lovely translucent red with slight browning. Initially a bit musty on the nose but with some air this comes to life. Typical VT characteristics as per previous notes. Nice medium weight on the palate although this one seems a bit more advanced especially on the finish which perhaps has more prominent acidity and tannins with the fruit fading. However, with more air this actually integrates more and the fruit balances better. Not sure there is much upside here at age 17 - drink up.
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Ruby red with slight bricking. Airy nose of red berries, forest-floor, herbs and asian spice gives way to a silky and balanced medium bodied wine with crushed red fruits, smoke, licorice, medium acidity and no evidence of tannins on a long earthy finish.
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Dark red color. Wonderful nose of garrigue, red fruits, earth, mineral and dried seaweed. The palate delivers too with pepper, cherry, leather, garrigue and spice. The nose was more intense and the palate more balanced and interesting than any other 98 that I've had (and all have been good). It was a great VT experience. Outstanding.
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Three decades of Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Barnyard, pungent, peppery red fruits on the nose, white pepper, some human skin notes. Medium to full bodied, classic, traditional CdP.
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Ahhh.... this is my kind of Chateauneuf. Plenty of elegance, no cooked fruit nor esctraction! A bright, fresh, transparent, ariy bouquet (full of funk, red cherry, dried herbs, touches of mocca and kirsch) is creeping up my flu-infrected nostrils. Beautiful, harmonious, old-fashioned palate oozes the good-life: hot terracotta tiles, dry lavender branches, black olives, tomato tapenae, grilled paprika, lambchops on the BBQ. Wishing I was right there....
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Decanted and Served. Does not need a long decant as the wine is open from the pop. 2 years since we had it last (Same Batch and then rated 92) and remains true to form. Tasted blind and guessed early 90s (not 1990) CdP. Herbs de provence on the nose, light red fruit, earthy, mushroomy, forest floor . Well evolved and on the palate has none of the 98 over-ripeness and is quite balanced. Missing a bit of depth unfort and definitely one to drink sooner than later. Pretty solid 92.
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Decanted two hours ahead of first sip. Really nice nose of dirt, forest floor?, and dark fruit upon pouring into the decanter. It really didn't get any better than this. It was pleasant, but not any better. It seemed at times like higher than the 14% alc that is on the bottle. WHen the alc wasn't showing early on, it sometimes seemed like the oak was heavier than I usually get from a CDP. Fruit never came around so as to be enjoyable. My expectations were up, so the TN and score reflect disappointment as well.
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Cellared since release. Perfect fill and cork. Dark red core, lightening towards rim with no bricking. Why nose at first but opens nicely after about 90 minutes to show dark fruits, cherry, leather, and clean earth. No Brett. Medium body, palate follows the nose, great balance. Outstanding.
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Absolutely beautiful showing for my last bottle of this vintage. Purchased on release from Kermit Lynch and perfectly stored. Fully mature,"old school" Chateauneuf...It could last longer but I would not keep them as they seem to be showing extremely well right now. Excellent mouth feel, in beautiful balance with no elements out of place. Slightly "animal" with briary, dark fruit. A touch of Provencal spice, showing rosemary, pine and even lavender . To me, everything in its' proper place.
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VVW Tasting of 1998 CDP. Lovely mature nose of seaweed, black fruit and herbs. Very elegant and at the same time full of perfectly ripe fruit. Has a medium weight mouthfeel, a silky texture and a long finish. Utterly compelling and showing wonderful today.
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Delicious and evocative Vieux Telegraphe. Had been well-maintained in my cellar since original purchase. Decanted for 30 minutes before tasting. Was tightly wound for a 15 year old wine and it needed another 2 hours to open up. But, man oh man, was it stunning when it did. Ruby red with an ever-so-slight bricking at the edge. The nose was classic CDP and it was billowing out of the glass - you could pick up the nose about a foot away from the rim. Heady and redolent of lavender, spices, meat and that nori-seaweed thing, it was a knock-out. Smooth and silky, it boasted flavors of red fruits (plums, maybe?), garrigue, more spices (asian five spice came to mind, curry), leather, bacon and white pepper. Seamless and beautifully put-together, this was classic CDP. Just wish I had a few more bottles...
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Very little bricking. Youthful even. Lavender and Rosemary on the nose, even a bit oily. Then in the mouth, complex, evolving waves of bright red cherries. Really gorgeous. A big wine but with everything there and not out of balance.
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The 1998 Vieux Telegraphe is coming around and is indeed a great wine in the making. Old-school Chateauneuf, opens up with a nose of pine needles, animal fur and rustic red fruit. This is very funky, earthy, a bit wild. Very structured, well knitted wine on the palate with a good deal of acidity going for it as well. Reminds me a bit of the 1995 I drank in PKnut's apartment with Brad some years ago. There is a long life ahead for this wine, well done!
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This was an extraordinary bottle tonight! Soft, round, dark and red fruit up front, with earth, licorice, garrigue, baking spice and leather in the mid palate and finishing long with firm, chalky tannins. Deep and rich, but sadly, my last bottle.
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Bad showing. Not flowed but nothing is together. Some acidity, aged cedar and heat. I don't know if it will come back to something better, but this was not a very good bottle and definitely a disappointment compared to other 98 CdP I had in the past.
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PnP Mark's btl and like Jeremy's note, from the same nigh but drank thousands of miles away, this seemed to be in a less than perfect place right now. Not flawed but kind of lacking something. Never fell in love with it. The cork and btl were in pristine condition. I think these wines hit spots where they go backward and then reemerge better latter with more cellar time. I've tasted some stellar btls from the mid 90s and 80s so I wouldn't panic about tonight's showing.
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Quite medicinal and also showing some dank, dirty traits. Chewy in the mouth, some sweet meats and cedar flavours but just too funky and a disappointing showing.
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Purple-brown color with some unbalanced acidity and a modest plum bouquet and flavor. Drinkable but clearly headed south. Second bottle tasted at the same time was worse.
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Nose: Raisin, prunes, mushroom, earth, and astringent
Palate: Blueberry, raspberry, plum, leather, black peppercorn, garrigue, prunes, eucalyptus, dried violet and lavendar, cassis
Tannins were smooth as silk. Medium body and medium finish. Very elegant bottle but I wish it had more body to it. Maybe 16 years has been a bit too long for this. Drink up, the window is only getting shorter!
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A bit muted when first decanted but came good an hour or so post - decant. For me, this was the weakest of my 3 bottles. whether it was age or bottle variation I'm not sure, still very classy and a good effort in 1998. This was too drying and a notch below the previous bottle tasted a year ago.
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Darth Vader having lost his slippers. Black wine, slight nose, dark bitter fruit. Distinctly CNDP a but lacking anything animale which is when I find them interesting. A touch dry. Drink or keep.
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Russk K&A's Group at Vienna Cafe. Wow. One of the best CdP I have ever had. Barnyard, iron. Seems like a great cote rotie. Sweet liquid mouth. Craving more. My 2nd WOTN. 92+.
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Color: pale medium red Nose: needs time in the glass to open to a complex & compelling nose of classic mature cdp. Having had the 98 VT in both magnum & std size bottles I must say this is one of the best from this estate, drinking perfectly now but will hold for at least close to decade Palate: full bodied, powerful, rich & absolutely delicious, as Broadbent commented "slips down easily & delicious"
Magnum format = 95 Std bottle 93/94
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Perfectly nice, but a little unexciting (and from this magnum at least, not as complex as a number of 750ml bottles I've had). I have found lots of bottle variation in this wine, even from the time of release, with (excluding a higher than normal rate of corked bottles) some being like this one, just "good", and others being truly outstanding (4-5 points higher on my "rating" scale).
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PnP. Perfect cork and fill from the same case purchased upon release. Light red with clearing at the rim. Classic nose of spice and garrigue; lovely soft mouthfeel with just a touch of unresolved tannins on the finish. Will see how this develops. After a couple of hours this integrates better and shows no signs of falling apart. Excellent drinking now.
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Gorgeous. Beautiful garnet crimson currant color fresh and shiny and healthy in appearance. Nose is complex with roasted toasted cherries big full body, herbaceous and fruity with huge tannins gripping at finish with a bit of velcro astringency. Drinking pretty well now although we don't know what's to become of these intense tannins
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Rhone Dinner (The Bristol - Chicago, IL): I closed my eyes, and thought to myself, "wow, this is what Chateauneuf-de-Pape smell like?" I opened my eyes and saw the 1998 Vieux Télégraphe. So much brambly red fruit with dried floral notes, and earth. Still had a really nice power to it, too. Was a big fan of this wine...and it has a lot of upside to it, too.
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60 minute decant. Showed well but I felt slighly corked. Nice, ripe fruit with plenty of body, kirsch, and very expressive. I would be drinking now. A-
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Light ruby. Gorgeous blend of fresh raspberry and plum fruit with complex herbs and lavender. Medium weight, just perfect natural sweetness of fruit without excess alcohol, offset by anise/tar undertone. This is at its optimal state of maturity, and interestingly was more alive than 2 bottles earlier in the year. One of the best Chateauneufs I've had over the past several years, it made me reflect upon the difference between the wines of this ripe year versus more recent very ripe years such as 2007-this really had no trace of alcoholic heat and managed to preserve its acidity, which made it a far more drinkable, enjoyable bottle. Last of this wine for me in 750 format from a case purchased upon release. Luckily, a few magnums remain.
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Another excellent bottle. Drinking consistently well, now with a touch more brick red showing at rim and warm secondary aromas coming through. Long life still.
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Mature garnet. All tobacco, leather and garrigue on the nose. Medium body, fine acidity. Savory, complex, a bit dry on first taste, but then impressive awakening of plum and cherry fruit. Still, at least out a 750 ml. format, this was autumnal. Old style Chateauneuf showing some delicacy and structure even in a riper vintage. Very, very good but on the verge of decline. The last few bottles over the past year or so tell the same story.
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A very good bottle in perfect condition. Decanted and delicious. Just about ready but will certainly last and cements its reputation as possibly the best Chateauneuf of the vintage. Full, long and satisfying. Tremendous
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Decanted one hour. Dark purple with little/no signs of bricking. Heady nose of dark cherry, nori. Smooth, plush entry with licorice, dark cherry, tingly spices with seemingly never ending finish. Still youthful. Another great bottle
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Very prominent nose with dark fruit, saddle leather and a significant earthiness. Brambly fruit on the palate, balanced and complex, this is drinking really well right now.
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At home with Maggie and Brian after the wine delivery...had two bottles of this over the weekend.
Decanted first bottle, PnP on second. Definitely benefits from the decant, needs at least 45 minutes to unwind. Ruby red, some cloudiness and bricking. Nose is a little reticent, some barnyard and funk, some orange and floral notes coming through. Rich palate, red fruits, Provencal herbs, iodine, orange zest, soy. Red raspberry and bright fruits on mid palate.
Tannins mostly resolved. Drinks really well now, with good structure to last another 10 years. First bottle was better than second (two different days), not sure if it was how we prepped or bottle variation - common IMO with Rhones.
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Darker garnet color. Hoge nose of smokey guarigue and lovely flavors to match. A bit northern Rhone-like in essence. Drinking quite well at this point. Wish I had another case now! EG #WineArchitect
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Needed 4-5 hours to open up. Then, fantastically fresh, tannins still firm, lots of time left. But this is classic CdP, just ripe enough, a bit rustic ... drink or hold.
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Took about 2 hours to open up. Nose is expressive but a bit subtle. On the palate however, wow! Full, rich, robust, expressive wine with lots of delicious grenache fruit. Notes of blood orange, licorice, iodine and herbs. Some tannic structure on the back end then a long, delicious finish of fruit and herbs. I noticed just a touch of heat. This can certainly go for a few years but really drinking great now.
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What a wine! Decanted for four hours, this shows a coolness and intensity that is almost unrivaled in this (often overrated) vintage; lively fruit, nerves of steel, accented minerality and yet the generousness, that is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Tasted tonight vis-à-vis a MG of Vieux Donjon 2000 (also very good) this came out the winner for its sheer class and aristocratic profile. Years to go, certainly, and all the other bottles, that we’ve opened earlier, are half wasted, but yes, things are starting to come around. N's 70th Birthday. - NB - I see that many people have had corked bottles - the host tonight served four perfect bottles - but there had been a fifth, flawed - ....
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Ruby red with slight bricking. The wine opens up in the glass with aromas of red berries, licorice, provencal herbs, incense and soy sauce. A medium bodied palate reveals silky smooth red raspberry liquer, forest floor and a lovely umami/savory component to the long and spherical finish. All the components in the wine are perfectly balanced. Nice.
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Popped and poured. This is a medium cherry red with some modest sediment, particularly toward the end of the bottle. On the nose, there is garrigue, cherry, and some stony overtones. In the mouth, there is moderate fruit – less than I would like – with decent acid and structure. The wine finishes with lingering smoothness. Overall, this is a nice CdP that may be slightly over the hill; I found it much better with food than on a standalone basis. 91 points.
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Slightly cloudy garnet. Mulled red fruit. Medium weight. Complex savory and earthy feel with ever so slightly faded fruit. Not quite as fresh and exciting as the last bottle 6 months ago.
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Appearance : Garnet,bright,clear Nose: jammy, earthy,spicy, pleasant Palate: Melange of jammy fruits, soft tannins, balanced , good acidity, spicy, hot , mouth filing , multilayer continuously evolving in the glass and on the palate, long and delicious finish , excellent bottle , with time over an hour got better. Should be decanted & still many years of life in it
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CdP tasting dinner. This stole the show for my palate. The least advanced though oldest wine there, closed at first, a bit simple and one dimensional to start, then becoming very ripe and full fruited. Some heat, excellent dry suave tannins, impeccable balance that let this unfold all night long. Super long. While not as flashy as the 98 Pegau Reservee, this is solid and understated. A winner. 93+pts.
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An absolutely delicious bottle of wine. Very classic CdP with a wonderful mix of fruit and earth. The body is a little on the lighter side than what I normally expect from Vieux Telegraphe, but still silky and smooth nonetheless.
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To me VT is all about warmth -- of ripe fruit, of hot summer sun beating down on dry rocks and vines, of long and windy evenings. CDP is all about sunshine, which in some years does push some wines over the edge and into the stewpot, but thankfully the 1998 is not one of these. Nicely balanced, with complex fruity notes and just a hint of roast at the edge of the finish, the 1998 VT is in a nice place right now
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Cellared since release. Perfect cork and fill. Poured off 1/4 off the bottle for a beef stew and slow-oxed the rest for 3 hours, then consumed over 2 days. Dark red core, lighter at rim but no browning. Intense nose of dark fruits, cherry, leather, game and clean earth. Some floral notes as well on day two. No Bretty notes as found by others, perhaps due to cool cellaring since release. Medium body, dark fruits and cherries, game and smoke on the palate, great balance. Presence of some tannins along with nice fresh balancing acidity, good fruit and the very beginning of some serious aged complexity promises even further improvement but this is drinking beautifully now. A great match with the beef stew. Outstanding.
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There was not much fruit left in this but rather the earth driven tones. From the nose, which was barnyard and moldy cellar or closet to the initial taste which reminded me of grass, mildew and mold. The wine was not corked but simply the old and earthy. You can tell this has some depth to it but just not my style. There needs to be some fruit in there left and it was so masked I was not a fan.
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A tough yet mature wine. Masculine and serious in character, it is a great wine work a cold night and hearty meal. Drinking very well tonight though should last a while. Not flashy at all. (91)
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opened 3 hours, slow-ox one hour (not decanted.) red, deepening to garnet center, paling to umber at rim; quite garrigue-y at the start, dusty herbs & wild red fruit compote, becoming more dried fruit & incense w/air; med/+ weight, not at all dense; dried strawberries & red currants, pronounced seaweed, iron oxide minerality, dried thyme & moss. seems to be in its peak range, w/tannins resolved, balance & integration of all components. (paired w/'98 Beaucastel)
Solid VT, consistent across 2 bottles with good fruit still remaining and tannin mostly resolved. Just developing secondary aromas on the nose, but less so on palate. No rush yet.
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I opened a bottle exactly three years ago, on our first Halloween in Westport, after taking the kids trick-or-treating at the beach. Tonight, Halloween, three years later, I pulled another from the cellar while I waited for D and the kids to come back from the beach once again. Upon uncorking, there is a lot of brett, and I am instantly reminded of the '09 Pegau I opened before the Phish show earlier this week. I let the glass sit for half an hour and thankfully the brett dissipated to a great extent. Now, this wine shows cola, red fruit tones and dried spice. This is very VT - lots of iodine and peat notes. It doesn't show any over-ripeness, and the tannins have all but disappeared. While this wine is very savory, secondary (maybe tertiary) and certainly interesting, it is thinner and weaker than in the past. It reminds me of a parent getting older, and a little weaker. I've been lucky to have had many bottles of the 1995 Vieux Telegraphe over the past decade, and I think that three years ago, the '95 was stronger than this '98 is today.
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Davids btl. Opened just 20 minutes before diinner....bummer! Would like to see how this would have drank with a 3 hour decant and at a slightly cooler temp. That said, it was still promising but a bit tightly wound. Smooth tanins but not showing a lot. Have 2 left myself that I'll hold onto for another year or 2 before trying. Give this a decant and I suspect it will be more impressive.
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this is an excellent wine with a good bouquet and all the classic VT flavours but...... the whole is not quite the sum of the parts and I was, ultimately, a little disappointed
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This bottle was very good. Needs a good hour to really hit its stride, but good after 30 minutes, showing plenty of dark, ripe fruit along with barnyard, leather, and plenty of supporting tannin on the finish. This will be around for a while. A-
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Long lunch at Asia Grand (Asia Grand, Odeon Towers): Really nice. This was very tight, almost surly when first popped-and-poured, all deep black-fruited tones and leathery funk on the nose, almost like a gruff, young Beaucastel. With time though, it opened up beautifully – roses and violets, licorice, spice and mineral, savoury meat and deep tones of blackberries and plums shade of sandy earth. Very nice. The palate, in classic VT style, was marked by cool black fruit - blackberries and dark cherries this time, maybe a touch of black prune, with side-notes of licorice and violet petals, still lightly cloaked by fine, slightly chewy tannins and woven with seamless acidity. A very focused, precise, almost linear style. The finish was long and cool, with a nice undertone of mineral and sandy earth and little touch of funk alongside the black fruit. Right at the end, there was a slightly smoky char and a dash of bittersweet, licorice root and wood spice finish. A very serious, noble wine. Enjoyable on the day with some sautéed duck, but this can still afford a few years of age. It felt like a wine just coming to the end of its adolescence, with the palate still needing some time to catch-up with the verve and complexity displayed on the nose. Try again in 5 years. 92+
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Initially very funky barnyardish with peppery notes but juicy black fruits and nsg like structure and tannins. However the second glass which had more time to air showed totally different floral chambolle like roses and Barolo like nuances. At first hard then firmly soft. An evolving wine. Should need another 5 years.
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Medium ruby to edge. Ripe red fruit and caramel joined by rising menthol. Full, figgy but not overly ripe. Long, round and complete with secondary perfume that you feel more in the mouth than the nose. Marvelous and not completely mature.
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Consistent with previous bottles. Very funky, meaty, full of rich fruit, and baking spices. The palate is very balanced and declious. Ready to drink but with no risk of decline. Maybe even room for a little upside.
Update. 10 days later with 1/2 fill, cork on, in the fridge. Like the 01 Beaucastel opened the same time, more meat and funk aromas. Fruit is still persistent and sweet. This should easily make it to it's 20 year anniversary.
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Notes consistent with last bottle: a Brett-laden behemoth with garrigue and baking spice galore. Great now, but I think it will be even better in a couple of years.
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Popped and poured. Perfect cork and fill; from a case purchased on release and stored at 58 degrees since. Medium deep red with signs of browning on the edge. Nose of garrigue, brown sugar, and wet leather, although not dramatic or intense. On the palate - this is very smooth with completely resolved tannins; reminds me a bit of the 85 in texture, lovely flavors with a savory quality which persists in the long finish. Classic bottle of VT; ready to drink.
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Cinnamon, asian spice, and raspberries combined for a beautiful and expressive nose. Also got dried dark fruits and slight black licorice. Medium intensity on the palette and, although the fruit has aged beautifully and displays many secondary notes, has the texture and grip of a young wine. Dusty and (very) dry finish.
Changed a lot in the glass and became somewhat one dimensional after a while. Wonderfully enjoyable and right in the middle of its drinking window.
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Quite evolved and mature, the warm fruit character dominates to the point I'm detecting raisiny stewed fruit notes. I was hoping for some of the usual VT mineral complexity but didn't find much. Still, it is great wine to drink and enjoy
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Euro Themed Lunch - Rhones (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Whoaa! Really impressive nose with red fruits, licorice, spices and a significant amount of leather. Palate is soft and very well integrated with herbs, cherry, some chocolate. This is the type of wine that I could sip by itself for hours or pair with a juicy medium-rare steak. 94-95 pts.
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Ruby red, just beginning to fade to brick at the edges. Nose is an explosion of red fruit (redcurrant, cassis), pepper, mushroom, forest floor, pencil lead and fresh farmyard smells. Hugely promising ! Unfortunately the promise of the bouquet does not carry through to the palate where initial sensation is first and foremost dry and dusty (rather than tannic). There is sweetness and fruit, but it's overwhelmed by the dryness, and the finish, though relatively long, is very tannic. Even after a couple of hours of breathing. Maybe leave for a year and try again.
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Tuesday Night with a Special Guest (Dave's House): First bottle was corked. Replacement bottle popped. Garnet, with a light brick. On the nose, a touch raisined, with some prune notes, lavendar, earth, mushroom, undergrowth, smoke and spice. On the palate, medium acidity, with moderate tannins that dry the moderate length, bitter finish. Raisined notes carry through on the palate, seemingly a touch stewed in this hot vintage.
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A Casual Tuesday (Dave's House): Decanted for sediment and poured shortly after. Smelled pleasant in the decanter, but out of the glass felt a bit simple. Fruit is solidly in the stewed spectrum, which I don't particularly care for. Having said that it has started to develop a few secondary characteristics which are pleasant. Some cured meat and spice were nice. Palate is round and ripe but sadly repeats the stewed elements. This bottle was perfectly drinkable but didn't live up to expectations on this night.
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Garnet color with distinct bricking at edges. Nose showed meatiness but also a distinct whiff of TCA that sadly I have noticed to varying degrees on several other bottles. In this case, it didn't totally ruin the wine, but it followed thru on the palate leaving wine thin and disappointing. The few bottles that I've tasted without this have been far superior. Sadly this wasn't one of them.
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Really noticed the brett in this bottle. Additional notes of licorice, tart cherry, plum, beets and baking spice. Great wine, coming into a nice drinking phase now, but with the stuffing to last another 5-6 years. Glad I have a few more.
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Tasted blind. I picked out VT right off the bat but Warren never gives me props. A nicely cared for, aged example. Love the VT profile of balanced fruit, meaty elements, and hillside herbs (the brown, end of summer kind). Not saying the G word. What more can I say - quality juice.
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Grand Crew Bellingham raids my cellar; Huet, Rhys, Ceritas, Breton, Charvin, VT and others (Bellingham, WA): An old and still current favorite (along with the '01 Charvin which followed). Elegant mature CDP. Fruit giving way to secondary elements on the nose and palate, with dark berries framed by iodine, garrigue, moist earth. A little Southern Rhone funk. Perfect balance of generous fruit and acidity. Still tannic; improved in the glass through the night.
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Medium brick color. Several layers on the nose, incorporating salt, limestone, shaved fennell bulb and dusty cherry, with a bit of musty Roquefort-like funk. The palate is concentrated and very fecund, incorporating a hint of garrigue, and ending with a whisper of sedate tannin. This is good and mature, and is now beginning to recede a bit on the finish. Drink soon.
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Howard Camhi returns to NY and we celebrate with Champagne, Burgundy, Barolo, Rhones and a German Riesling. (My place.): Another terrific, youthful showing. The wine seems to just be hitting peak now and shows a wonderful core of black briary fruit, game, licorice, garrigue and even tarry/burnt tire notes one often gets from young grenache, which is quite a feat at age fifteen. Layered with wonderful balance and freshness and sweetness to the fruit that carries through to the long finish. My WOTN. Low A.
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Fresh med red ruby; floral, menthol, and cedary notes on nose; aromas buoyed and focused on tart and luxuriously tannic palate. This is the kind of wine that vindicates the nutty notion of having a cellar.
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Tannins not fully resolved, but still ready to drink. Well balanced, and having that old world intensity without the weight. Could use a little more complexity.
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Magnum. Light ruby. A whiff of funk but mostly herbs and gorgeous lower pitched red fruit. Wonderfully caressing texture, perfect southern Rhone weight, and a balance of sweet (but not overripe) fruit, savory elements and just a touch of cocoa. Beautiful and hard to imagine it getting much better from here.
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Beautiful nose, classic CDP. Palette doesn't support, little thin and past peak. Dark fruit, blackberry, cassis, tobacco, chocolate. Still nice colour from this magnum.
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Garnet color, licorice, meat, leather, cherry on the nose, no brett detected. Nice texture, smooth and velvety with nice minerality and acid to carry the fruit through on the palate. Fruit is fully integrated, with nice round tannin structure, drinking nicely now. Classic CdP
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This bottle was taken from my personal cellar, double-decanted and brought to a walk-around Super Bowl party. My independent impressions are similar to those from my most recent tasting 11/9/12, although this bottle shows just a bit more finesse. Drink now-12/17.
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Still fairly dark in color with slight brick rim. Not real forthcoming in the nose. A pleasant drink now but probably won't improve much. Always thought this would turn into something more majestic.
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Dark smoky red color with limited transparency. Aromas of leather, smoke, licorice, herbs, meat, and cherries. Palate is austere with leather, licorice, smoked meat, and herbal cherry notes that don't yet come together into a harmonious whole. This comes off as a rustic, slightly coarse wine and it isn't clear if it will come together with more time in the cellar or if it is destined for permanent rusticity. I was looking for something other than I got from this bottle. Hold?
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The wine is red at the core with some bricking on the edge of the glass. Brooding with dark fruits, iodine, granite, seaweed, wet pavement and blood on the nose. There is nothing delicate or subdued about this 14 year old wine. Medium bodied and rich on the palate. Flavors of garrigue, pepper, kirsch, asian spices, tar, underbrush, black cherry liqueur, and plum. Great mouthfeel and texture. The finish is long with still substantial tannin.
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Fourth Bottle. Still better than the previous two which ran in the 92 range. Improves steadily in the glass, layers of complexity I never find in those pure Grenache CdP's. Impressive fruit, minerality and lengh, acidity subdued but no signs of a tiring wine. This is one of the few CdP I really like and at 40 € a strong buy.
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First from a case stored for about a decade. In good condition, liquorice, black fruits and earth on the nose. Complex, peppery and very black fruited flavour. Should develop further complexity. After about 3 hours some harsh tannin shows itself - suggesting it still needs more time, the fruit is certainly there. Darth Vader in a bad mood.
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Medium garnet. A touch of funk and then, raspberry and plum with anise and a bit of herbs. Medium weight, beautifully balanced mature fruit and acidity. Suave and complete. Another bottle at its apogee. Good enough to rekindle one's faith in the potential elegance and ageworthiness of Chateauneuf.
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Kirsch and some slight meat aromas. Not as nice as previous bottles. I thought I detected some low level TCA so I popped another 375ml which basically showed the same. Just not as nice as previous bottles. Outclassed by the 1996 tonight.
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This wine was tasted in double-blind fashion with our Friday tasting group. The bottle was kindly provided by D.B. The robe is medium-to-deep garnet and the nose shows moderately intense aromas of raspberries, underbrush, garrigue, clove and black pepper. Medium-bodied on the palate, with low-to-medium acidity, light-to-medium supple tannins and slightly hot alcohol. The flavors mirror the nose and the middle palate is solid. Medium-length, smooth finish. This wine is drinking well at this point, with the tannins having settled down since my last tasting 10/8/10. It should continue to drink well for another five years or so, although I would not expect it to substantially improve from its current status. Drink now-12/17.
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Popped and poured; perfect cork and excellent fill. Brick red., perhaps a touch of browning on the rim. A little musty on first sniff and then a bit reticent with some spice and a bit of alcohol. On the palate - very nice full body with classic Vt flavors of garrigue and stones; still a bit of tannin on the finish. This has integrated nicely and has excellent persistence on the palate; develops more richness and almost a liqueur like quality. One of the better showings for this wine in my experience, although it still hasn't developed the complexity I think it will.
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I bought this wine on release and cellared it properly for the last thirteen years. I was rewarded with some low-level TCA, which obscured what I could sense would be an otherwise excellent wine under the TCA.
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Mostly Châteauneuf-du-Pape at Dinosaur BBQ (Dinosaur BBQ NYC.): A beautiful, youthful showing and easily the best aromatics of the night. The wine was extremely fragrant with strong floral/violet notes, black and red fruit, spice and licorice. Beautiful ripe, though nicely restrained black and red fruit, with the edge going to the blacker fruit. Plenty of licorice, a touch of herb and nicely spicy, the tannins still show a lot of grip and the acidity seems higher here than in a lot of '98s. I've seen notes that suggest that this wine is mature, but if this and another bottle I've had recently are any indication, well-stored bottles are still on the upswing. My WOTN. A/A-.
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Decanted and poured about 30 minutes later, this wine is at or around its maturity. The wine has thrown a mix of fine and chunky sediment and does benefit form decanting. This bottle gave another outstanding showing. It gives a more mature impression than bottles tasted in the past few years. This should continue to drink well over the next 3 to 5 years. Purchased on release. Imported by Kermit Lynch.
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A Chateauneuf Papies-Odyssey (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): Good bottle and cork. Decanted for 1.5 hrs. On open it was very big and full and decanting helped it open up so we would advise it at this stage. Side by Side with the Clos des Papes. The usually "feminine" , well to our expirience with other VT 90s vintages, came out all gung ho, powerfull, dense and full on the fruit. Decanting helped to relax it but still pretty interesting to see the density of fruit and the power. Nice, spicy on the nose, very syrah-esque and quite enjoyable. 92 and drink now but with good aging capacity.
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Great wine. Fully mature, drinking great, probably plenty of life left. Great stinky and smoky nose, lots of dark fruit on the palate. Very nice finish.
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Magnum. Medium saturation. Gorgeous black cherry fruit complicated by soil. Alluring texture, crisp acid and just beautifully balanced for a '98 Chateauneuf. Unusually silky. This does not taste like a hot vintage wine at all-perfect ripeness with complexity and a good acid structure. Looking back, this has been in a consistently great place over the past couple of years from both bottle and magnum formats. A classic VT.
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Brought this to the CC. Some brett, though not offensive (didn't find any in previous bottles). Didn't take any notes, but some dark fruit, still quite youthful, nice wine.
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Epic Boys Trip; 6/13/2012-6/17/2012 (Napa and San Francisco): Slowest to open up (vs 98 Beaucastel, 98 Pegau, 98 Clos Papes), but it did slightly though it stayed subtle and slightly closed for most of night. Restrained red fruits with garrigue… some minerality, no new barrique aromas, minimal brett. On the palate firm acids, a firmish midpalate, moderate amount of fine, bitey tannins. Good balance and length, ok intensity, average complexity. Has some finesse, a slightly coarse texture, very good expression of place. A disappointing wine that seemed a little atypical... for some reason I don’t seem to find anything but underperforming bottles of this. Weakest of the 4 cdp's tonight by a significant margin.
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45 minute decant (benefited). Still dark garnet but with evident bricking. Nose is as expressive as previous bottles but with spice/garrique notes pulling more even to the fruit. Silky texture with lingering complex notes. Balanced well by mild tannins and a little acid lift. Seems very harmonious and hitting its optimum drinking window for my taste. Thanks to CT and WB again for alerting me to pull a bottle.
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This was a little closed after decanting, about an hour later it had opened-up. Nice herb, leather scented nose, good fruit and light tannins on the finish. This wine clearly has time still to develop but was drinking very well after being opened a bit.
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This was thrown into a CNDP flight on boys weekend at the cabin after a disappointing bottle of Gerardin generations. So into a big decanter it went. There were definitely strong notes of barnyard but this was a very sound bottle based on the very garnet color. There is good tension here, dark red fruit, funk, forest floor pine needles. A real nice mineral note on the finish. This was a good bottle, classic VT which is just getting into the sweet drinking window. I like this a lot but am going to roll the dice and let my other bottles benefit from more cellar time.
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Decanted drank over 2 nights. Surprisingly NO FUNK for a 14 yr old CdP. The 1st time I have identified a Soy note in a wine. Really good from a great vintage.
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Enjoyed earlier this week at the monthly Hickory Wine Club wine tasting. Has softened and matured very beautifully, in a great drinking window right now, I highly recommend this wine and it does have plenty more cellar life left but not sure it will significantly improve from this point. At the current price point not a good QPR wine but for lovers of mature French rhones this is just beautiful. Very dark purple, no bricking, full bodied but elegant and surprisingly soft, very well balanced and a beautiful lingering aftertaste. Fragrant dark nose of allspice, blackberry and smoke with primary flavors of loam, mushroom, terroir, dark berries and on the late palate a more smoky peppery grilled meat aftertaste comes through. Drink up people!
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Good mature CDP but unremarkable. Drank it with the 99, which was fresher and more pleasurable. Not nearly as good as the 98 Pegau I had last year. The cork was in perfect shape and the bottle was stored in my cellar at 58 F since release.
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Perfect bottle, perfect cork. Very classic La Crau nose with leather, garrigue, cherries etc. There is certainly some of the manly barnyard-feel, that one so often finds i neuf, it is rustic rather than elegant and burgundian, but the wines is well balanced and fresh, and there is plenty sense of place here. I don’t find the heat, that others complain about, on the contrary, the wine still has some fresh primary fruit, and the fruit grows with air. Still some tannin – and plenty of life left. Will wait 2-3 years before trying another, it will keep for ten, I think. With AD at Formel B (BYO).
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Cassoulet and Vieux Telegrape 98-01 (Reno, NV): This wine’s “corkiness” was not obvious at first and was much more noticeable on the palate than on the nose… One of the tasters could smell “corkiness” more than the others… suspect the culprit was more TBA or fungal must in nature based on what I know about my sensitivities to the most common compounds that lead to a corked wine. A good reminder that taste is as valuable as smell in making the “wine is corked” call.
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Huge disappointment next to '96, '00. Nose was more reticent. Prune, fig, 10-year tawny. Big whiff of alcohol. Bummer and like many '98's (except Beaucastel maybe...). Palate is still massive w overripe red fruits. Not fresh and a big alcohol tinged spicy finish. Pass
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Southern Rhone wines from 1998 (Regional wines and spirits): One of the darker wines at the tasting. Definite spirt and port tones, but not nearly as pronounced as some of the others. A wee hint of jamminess with a bit of subtle oak in the finish
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Opened this 98 and an 06 telegraphe to compare for Easter dinner. 06 decanted for 2 hours; 98 popped and poured. 98 was much more expressive and still somewhat youthful. Plenty of fruit with the classic barnyard garrigue of a classic la crau. Awesome!
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Nose is briny with a mature vinous quality. Palate has an austere leafy quality as a counterpoint to the red fruit. Still somewhat tannic. Faded a bit after a couple hours after first pouring.
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Wonderful aged cndp. Nose of leather, eucalyptus, smoke, earth, forest floor. Continued to open the entire night. 30-40 sec finish. Polished tannins. Wonderful bottle of wine!
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Top of its game, a perfect time to drink what you have left. Decanted for 30 minutes, opened nicely. Lovely color and nose, still lots of fruit, nice complexity.
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Easily the best of the CdPs poured; complex and fragrant with developed black tea, leather and other savoury elements around a core of rich red and dark fruited flavours. Nicely balanced and polished texturally, medium weight in the mouth with tannins mostly resolved and good length.
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Gorgeous dark transparent ruby in color. Smells of forest floor and that lovely mature note from grenache. Tastes of tea, leather, earth. Fairly complex.
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Very smooth body, plum and earthiness on the palate with some pepper. Finish which came off a little sweet, like skittles or cotton candy. Slight acidity and subtle tannins but still enough for a decent grip and linger on the finish. Overall a very nice wine. My tastes would prefer this wine slightly younger. Still has time left but I would drink now, no decant needed.
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Medium ruby. This has developed significant complexity at this point. Excellent mix of fruit and secondary perfume along with herbs de Provence. As with other bottles, a whiff of funk that is held in check so that it does not overwhelm. Alluring texture and length, no heaviness whatsoever. At a lovely point in its lifespan, far more open and resolved than it was a couple of years ago. Drink with great pleasure now and for at least the next 5 years.
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Montréal Passion Vin Un nez animal, avec de la viande, des notes de figues. Expressif mais pas si charmeur. La bouche me semble plus structurée, moins gourmande qu’en jeunesse, avec une certaine amertume. Il parait plus tannique sans cet enrobage de fruit habituel, de sortes que je me demande s’il n’est pas entre deux âges, à attendre quelques années. C’est un vin profond et sans doute le meilleur du groupe, mais pas le coup de cœur habituel. 92-93 pts
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Good color, few signs of age. Rich garrigue on the nose, ripe and inviting. Beautiful. Excellent in the mouth. Big, rich, good grip, tons of fruit. Really evolves and lasts on the long, voluptuous finish. Gorgeous, still young, with many years of life ahead. 4-12-18-8: 92/100.&
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In Crillon-le-Brave. Rich nose with confit, prunes, black currants and wood tones like twigs. Concentrated, kirsch and earth tones on the palate, but somewhat short finish.
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I seem to have one of these every 10 months or so... there are two things I have consistently noted about this wine 1. there is a fair amount of variability in the bottles (decanted for 30 minutes recorked and drank an hour later...this one had less brett than the first, the fruit was less muddled than the second... color seemed darker, wine seemed younger, tighter with better focus) and 2. the absence of 90+, "outstanding" or "extraordinary" or "singing" bottles...
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Absolutely outstanding. Opened and let breathe in the bottle for about 30 minutes. Incredible nose. Slight browning at the edges. This will undoubtedly last for 5+ more years but I cannot see it improving much more. Wish I had more of these
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This was really singing tonight - med carmine w orangey tints - glorious, wonderful aged nose that just kept getting better over three hours - raspberry ganache, leather, spices, but the whole bouquet is much nicer than the sum of the parts - wine-y palate, balanced and eloquent, in a great place right now, might last a while but I'm likely to drink my remaining bottle this side of 2015.
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Popped and poured; perfect cork and fill. Medium ruby red with perhaps a hint? of browning at the edge. Classic V-T stink and garrigue on the nose. On the palate good depth of flavor with lots of herbs and acidity but a whiplash of tannins on the finish which are not subtle - is this losing fruit/depth before the tannins resolve or just still too young at 13? Over some time in the glass puts on more weight and the finish smoothes out but the tannins are still there. Could be much better tomorrow.
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An extraordinary old world styled CdP. Full bodied but not at all heavy. Bursting with black and red fruit on opening that evolved into bright red cherry after a couple of hours in the decanter with deep rich garrigue, old leather and licorice with fine grained chalky tannins on the 30 second finish. This is drinking beautifully today, fully mature but still retaining it's youthful exuberance. A really outstanding bottle of wine.
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14% ABV. Translucent ruby garnet with a slightly amber/tawny hue and a fair amount of sediment. Aged smelling with leathery dark cherry fruit and a slight funkiness of licorice and garrigue. Medium bodied and mature on the palate with a trace of red fruit, but otherwise pretty much past prime, but not yet dead. Tasting another splash the second day and it remained pretty much unchanged after spending the night in the fridge, so I suspect it isn't in serious jeopardy of further quick decline, if this bottle is representative of anything.
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Gorgeous ruby color. Intense, beautiful nose filled with sweet red and black fruits, garrigue and spice. This bottle is right on tonight. Sweet, full yet balanced and long. A memorable bottle of CdP. Drinking perfectly right now, another example of "regular" CdP that I would choose over many luxury cuvees any day. I am glad to have a good stash left. Awesome. (95)
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Rhone dinner at home with Jada, David, Vkoo and Carman: A fine CDP made very much in the traditional style. Mineral, licorice, dates and dark fruit notes were very noticeable, and the wine is quite full bodied with layer upon layer of flavours washing over the palate. The warmth of the La Crau micro-climate is very much in evidence, esp. in comparison with the 1998 Rayas opened alongside -- the two could not be more different in style and character, quite an amusing contrast
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San Antonio Wine Geeks (The Monterey): Decanted an hour prior to tasting. Wonderful, exotic nose, with kirsch, asian spices, orange peel, and an interesting acetone/plastic character that I can't really explain but didn't detract. Palate with fine tannin, but otherwise soft and round, coating the mouth. Great anise, spice, dried fruit palate, with lengthy leather, sandlewood, and mineral finish. Drinking perfectly, fresher and better than the previous bottle, and opened up through the evening gaining layers of spice. Perfect cork, obviously well treated bottle bought at auction.
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Horizontale 1998 Robe au pourtour orangé mais sombre au centre. Joli nez épicé, avec de la confiture. Un vin doté d’une belle richesse, avec de la fraicheur, dans un style traditionnel. Encore vigoureux, solide, mais d’un bel équilibre. Un de mes préférés de la soirée. J’ai cru au Hautes Garrigue. 92-93 pts
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Nice nose with cherry, strawberry and red fruit. On the palate was hints of honey and sweetness along with strawberry and cherry. Hints of brett but not as much as paul jaboulet. We could have let this sit longer though the night to see if it would open up even more.
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Elegant mature CDP from a great producer in a good year. Fruit giving way to secondary notes on the nose and palate, with dark berries framed by iodine, garrigue, moist earth. A little Southern Rhone funk. Perfect balance of generous fruit, acidity and tannins.
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As noted twice last year, this has continued to march along to maturity. Some upfront funk, but then really glorious licorice, red fruit, brown spice and caramel. Terrific enlivening acidity for a '98 and not in the least cooked or alcoholic-together this gives it great freshness and drive. Impressive power and presence without that much weight. Garrigue inserts itself late. This must be the best bottle of this I've had so far, and I can see it holding at this high level for years.
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This is the 10th bottle of this I have had in 3 years. This one had a very tight cork and perfect color. Prior bottles (some of them) were cloudy and seemed over the hill. On this one however the tannins were perfectly integrated into the fruit....you might confuse this wine with a much younger one. If every bottle were like this, I would give it another 10+ years of life, but I suspect that many of these are at their prime and are declining.
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Dinner at the Milones - 1998s: 98's. This was wine of the evening Giacosa Falletto Barolo 98 vs Asili 98 - not much difference and nothing exciting. I clearly don't like Giacosa wines. . Beaucastel corked
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Popped and poured. Extremely tight cork; no wetting except on the bottom. Bottle cellared since release at 57 degrees. Medium-light ruby red; no browning. Quite muted on the nose initially; on the palate classic garrigue but significant tannins. Will decant. Consumed a few more glasses during dinner of steak and pasta w pesto; wine has softened significantly and developed excellent depth; the Provencal flavors have become more pronounced. Doesn't yet have the softness or complexity that the best vintages of V-T have but needs another few years; good showing. Will see how it fares on day 2.
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Decanted and drank over the next 4 hours. Very green & vegetal smell that was not appealing. Taste also green and harsh acidity. After about 3+ hours in the decanter, it started to show a bit of dark fruit aroma and flavor, but still very green for the most part. Not sure if this needs more time or not, but I would be amazed if this really turned around, unless this was just an off bottle. Regardless, I have to score it as I tasted it.
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Oh my, can I get CdP like this more often? Understated, elegant, cool tones, balanced. Old school wine coming beautifully into its own right now. This is the CdP that made me fall in love with S. Rhone. If you are looking for size, scale, ripeness, oak, fruit oriented wine .. move on, nothing going on here. No hurry.
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now this was the real deal after the corked bottle....just terrific...nicely mature but still sweet kirsch....no rush but no reason tg wait either...delish
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An elegant, beautifully poised VT. It showed no baby fat on night one, no exuberant fruit, yet it still drank very young and lacked secondary characteristics. Was also very clean, with no hint of brett or funk. It has advanced significantly on night two – there's lots of tobacco and earth, the umami is cranking, with soy and mushroom notes entangling the fresh purple berry fruit, and the tannins have turned leathery. I won't pretend to understand this wine based on just one bottle but I get the sense this wine will have a lot to say over the next 10+ years as its tannins resolve and its fruit fades.
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Dark garnet color. Very nice nose of garrigue, market spice, pepper, red fruit. Smooth and seamless on the palate with strawberries and plum mixed with pepper amidst dusty tannins and low acidity. Moderate finish. Concentration a bit lacking but a nice drink. From a 375.
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Verticale Vieux Télégraphe La couleur la moins évoluée (sûrement 1998!) Nez animal, presque bretté. La bouche a la richesse magnifique du 1998, l’équilibre d’une bête bien dressée, la gourmandise, mais la finale me semble un brin liégeuse, imparfaite. Je mise qu’il s’agit d’une bouteille imparfaite du 1998. Pas la meilleure de ce grand VT. 91+ pts
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Decanted 1 hour prior to dinner. Took a sip of what was left in the bottle after decanting. Distinct aromas of tobacco, leather and animal fur on the nose. Dried out fruit. No uber-ripeness here for sure. Then with dinner, grilled rib-eye, a wine that shows classic mature Chateauneuf flavors of tobacco, garrigue, licorice, underbrush with animal nuances. The fruit, now firming up a bit, is dried in red and dark nuances. The tannins are still very firm suggesting that this wine is still finding its way. A classic Vieux Telegraphe in the making. Chateauneuf du Pape without bells and whistles - just the way I like it. Great wine.
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Boys nite II, fall 2010 (Reno, NV): This bottle had much less brett than the last and no textural issues... however, I don't think that 1998 is a good vintage for this producer (and many others) as I find the flavors in this wine (and several other 1998s) to be very muddled and lacking clarity in their expression. I don't think it is as simple as ripeness, as this is less ripe than other vintages of VT that have aged much more gracefully... maybe many of the wines from this vintage should have been consumed younger... I don't know but there is a disconnect between the reported quality of this vintage and many of the wines at this point in their evolution IMO. 'Very good' wine at best... disappointing though.
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Clear, candy apple red color with a brownish, brickish rim. Nose of saddle leather, sweet berry, cola, wet leaves. Palate very rich and balanced. Great mouthfeel. Great structure. Can feel the focus and the balance between fruit, earth, and acidity. Mouthcoating and long palate. Leather, dried fruit, a touch of raisin (in a good way). Very interesting wine. Drinking great now - not sure how it could improve. I'm concerned that the remaining fruit will disappear and the wine will lose depth.
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Ruby red colored. Nose is bright with red raspberries and strawberries, hints of black licorice and cinnamon. After a bit of time, some truffle aromas. Nice hint of Brett, certainly not overwhelming. Palate is huge with explosive fruit but acidity that keeps it light. Still has strong tannins. A bit peppery, spicy on the palate. Will wait 2 yrs before the next one.
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Classic autumn, chilly Halloween on the beach in CT drove me to reach for what I thought would be perfect for the occasion. Cellared since release, this is showing a cloudy yet very deep color, with lots of fine sediment swimming around. Initially, a forward palate of nori, light liquorice and warm, resolved red and brown Grenache fruit, a bit of cedar, and showing no over-ripeness which I was concerned about, given the vintage. Spices on the finish. Classic palate, very unadulterated CdP, gentle and soft with age, yet at the same time dusty and rugged with wild blackberry fruit and leather. The tannin has thinned. Long finish of dusty fruit and classic VT notes of seaweed. In its prime. Fine wine, indeed.
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CH9 1998 Horisontal (MG work): Nose: Full-bodied cherry but a little sweet but still very nice. Palate: Very young sweet cherries with a powerful acidity and loads of very young tannins. A little black pepper in the mid-palate. A solid performance!
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Classic old world styled CdP. Med bodied with dark fruit, licorice, leather and garrique. Well balanced, well integrated and in a very good drinking window. There seems to be alot of bottle variation in the 98's. This is the best bottle of 98 Vieux Telegraphe that I've had in two years. There was just abit of brett that blew off after about an hour in the decanter leaving an outstanding bottle of wine. Some past bottles had such a dominant brett component as to render them nearly undrinkable.
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This bottle was purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion. It was double-decanted, allowing minimal aeration in decanter before funneling back into the cleaned bottle. The wine was then presented in double-blind fashion to our tasting group and serially tasted over the ensuing 2-3 hours. My taste was unblinded. The wine shows a deep garnet robe with garnet rim. The nose displays quite intense aromas of raspberries, garrigue, tar, black pepper, tobacco and a whiff of spice. Full-bodied on the palate, with low-to-medium acidity and medium firm tannins. The middle palate is full and is characterized by a whiff of heat (from the alcohol) that carries through to the finish. Definitely a ripe year! Drink now-12/15.
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Still quite primary looking. Again, a bit of brett at a very tolerable level, and great complexity with licorice, toffee, wax, and crunchy red fruit. Outstanding mixture of ripe red fruit, gorgeous texture, and invigorating acidity. What a delight to witness the continued development of this wine over the past few years. In my eyes, it has reached the outstanding level predicted for it at the outset.
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Southern Rhone WIMPS (The Ledbury, London): Full ruby, quite a fruity nose but also a sense of alcohol or volatility on the nose. Seems quite spirity and hot on the palate. Not sure what time may do to this; rather shaded by the 94 & 90. ***(?)
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Relatively weak showing...nice enough, but very "generic CdP" in nature, and a little lacking in fruit...again, I think there is either some significant bottle variation here or many of these are just very slightly corked.
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Blind Red 3 - Translucent dark garnet in the glass. Old world, old wood nose that honestly reminded me of Bordeaux initially. A secondary licorice nuance. Medium bodied with ripe but savory/sweet black cherry fruit. I was all over the map with my guesses, and no where close to CdP. Overall though, I enjoyed this and think it is probably right at peak.
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corked (NOTE: Out of 12 bottles of this wine tasted, six (including this one) have been horribly corked, and another 3-4 showed as significantly "lesser" than the 2-3 terrific bottles (and thus were probably slightly affected as well). Something must have been wrong with V.T.s corks this year. Unless there is also some bottle variation here, I suspect a LOT of the scores below in the 88 to 91 point range (many which reflect comments such as "too bretty" or "too musty", or a belief that the wine needs more time) are not representative of the best this wine would have been either in its non-corked state or in a better bottle (if bottle variation is at play in addition to a high level of cork rate). The several great bottles I've had showed absolutely ZERO character of brett or mustiness...
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Pretty dark color, initially nose of cherries, spices, pepper, slight barnyard note, very deep. Medium body, very sweet ripe fruit, not too much acidity, finish a tad short. Good for the price and still got lots of life ahead.
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Decided it was time to crack a second bottle from a case. Deep red ruby with perhaps a touch of browning on the edge. Quite closed initially on the nose; on the palate nice garrigue flavors and still a tannic kick at the end. Will let it evolve; after an hour or so the tannins have smoothed somewhat but are still present but the palate impression has come together in an intense way. Seems to be a bit awkward at this juncture, lacking the flesh this had in its youth but not yet developing the secondary characteristics which will come. Wait a bit (longer).
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Maybe its the Route Napoleon or the fact that we were 30km from CdP but this bottle jumped out of the carte du vin. Beautiful wine, well aged and at a good time. Maybe needs some decanting but we didn't decant. Well rounded, silky and smooth with lots of fruit, earth and some leather. Open on the nose straight from the bottle and for sure will keep you smiling for a long time.
If you like VT also try 1995 (and if you are very lucky the 1978). Both 95&98 are great value wines at a great time in their life.
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Really enjoyed this bottle. Smokey and musty, with cherries and black pepper. Improved significantly over an hour of being opened. Went quite nicely with grilled duck breast.
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OK. I admit the first whiff of an open bottle of VT can sometimes confuse me- Had to let a small glass sit for a bit and get a second opinion to make sure this was not corked. But that did blow off- Seemed pretty tight still, so took a run through a vinturi aerator and then decanted back into the bottle (NO, I have NO idea if the vinturi makes any difference- this is about perception, not the scientific method). Still a ton of power and structure here- very classic old school CdP and distinctively VT once it started opening up. Some funky barnyard and that sappy/piney/earthy nose. Very dark fruit- A really nice wine even on a ROOT day- needs more time to the tune of 3-5 years though.
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Damn, this needs serious time. At first totally closed and tight. It opened a little bit throughout the dinner toshow some kirsh and light garrigue notes. Right now it's quite big, powerful and forward. This is a wine to leave alone in the cellar for a good 10 years.
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Two bottles drunk. Very similar in their mature appearance, slight barnyard funk upfront, light, sleek weight, and spiciness. The second bottle had noticeably brighter red raspberry fruit. Excellent acidity and a middle weight-this will never be confused with an alcoholic, overextracted '98. It has definitely progressed from being too young to arriving at its drinking window over the past 2 to 3 years, perhaps more quickly than I had anticipated. If you have multiple bottles, it's time to try one and decide where it is vis a vis your expectations of optimal maturity.
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Leather and spice in the nose, but a bit more subtle than the best of the VT's. Good balance, and improved in the glass over an hour or so. I've got about half a case of this remaining, and am marking them to drink by 2012, as I don't think they are going to get any better with time.
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Briefly decanted at party (sketchy note). This struck me as very well balanced, well constructed and nicely textured. Brett noted before not detectable (or noticed much after the Tempier). Loved the bright fruit and asian spice notes on nose and palate.
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Superbe nez de garrigue. La bouche m'a semblé plus puissante et moins aboutie que les deux précédentes, moins prêt à boire. Plein et prometteur. 91+ pts
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From my cellar via Premier Cru, brought to Boat Street Restaurant in Seattle. Opened, and I thought "oh no." Gave it 5 minutes to blow of the CdP funk, but it's not funk, it's corked.
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Decanted for a little over an hour, this was showing young but very well. No crime to start in on these now. The tannins are still present, but they've softened enough to reveal a beautiful, leathery, authentic beauty. No rush.
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At first opening, I'd have given this ~90 or so. Very nice CduP, but not stellar. Then after ~1 hr opening, it blossomed into a much richer, fuller and more complex wine. Mostly more depth and complexity came in after opening. Not a hint of jamminess (a good thing from my perspective), dark fruit, excellent combo of fruit/tannin/alcohol. Med long finish that evolves...
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Drank a 2006 VT yesterday at a friend's house, which was great, and inspired me to pull this one. Good bit of stank on the nose - a must for me for a good CnP. Mixed with blueberry and leather. Amazingly fresh, good structure, litltle musty, earth and backbone of fruit in the mouth. Long finish, allowing that great tatste to go on and on.
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Long overdue boy's nite (Reno, NV): Light color, reddish brown clearing rim. Aromatically dominated by brett with plenty of leather, horsey aromas... spice and red fruits come forward with time as do Provencial herb aromas. On the palate the wine has a firm and aggressive ascent with moderate + acidity... the midpalate while having plenty of depth of flavor and extract is a little bit firm/metallic, the wine transitions smoothly into a low to moderate tannic finish that is quite integrated... the wine has moderate + ETOH. Good balance between moderate + ripeness of fruit and acidity/tannins... very good persistence, intensity of flavor, and complexity. Wine has decent finesse, has a slight textural issue with that hardness/metallic note in the midpalate, and is very expressive of place. I was a bit disappointed in this wine and I think the metallic hardness on the palate, which isn't on the nose, may be a sign there is some mousiness going on (Brettanomyces production of tetrahydropyridine) which may account for the mouvedre notes some are perceiving in this wine. At any rate there is a lot of stuffing in here and it will be interesting to see how this wine develops and how other bottles present themselves brett-wise... I'm not as convinced as others this wine will gain much in complexity over the mid to long term but perhaps this bottle was on the high end of the brett scale?
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Decanted into two 375s. One to be consumed now, the other tomorrow. Tasted in a Schott Zwiesel Forte Burgundy glass. A bit cool coming out of the cellar so I am letting it warm up. Brick red, transparent at the rim. Nose of funk, earth, leather with a tiny bit of sweet fruit sneaking through on the end of the sniff. The 15% Mourvedre in this wine is showing big time on the nose. This wine really does appear young compared to many of its 1998 brethren. This needs time to open up and show its stuff. With air some of the earth and funk subsides letting some of the stoniness and fruits peek through. This is a very complex wine. I think the brett adds some complexity to this to go along with the Mourvedre. Those that don't like the earthy, minerally, leathery aspect should steer clear. Those that love those characteristics will love this wine. It is smooth however and has firm tannins. This bottle isn't as good as the last one that I had, but it is still very enjoyable. I will hold the rest of mine for a few more years to see if they will soften further. If drinking this now I would slow O it for about 8-12 hours.
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Opened with an immediate taste and a half bottle reserve in the decater (one to three hours of air time). Most striking characteristic was the sense of remaining heat. At almost ten years in bottle, it was surprising. Not sure if it's going through a dead phase, but the main CdP characteristics (spices, bacon, barnyard) weren't THERE as expected. Is it just still needing another 6-10 years? Or is it just a character of the '98 vintage? Compared to notes from same wine drank in 2000, it wasn't what I was expecting at age 10. Most disappointing part was the thinness of the mid palate and the shorter finish (under 15 secods). Ninety-two mostly on the fact that it still seems so young. If I had more on hand I would wait until 2017 or later.
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Goûté deux fois depuis deux semaines, ce VT est dans une phase absolument splendide! Le fruit et la matière y sont toujours aussi présents mais il a développé un coté aérien envoûtant qui donne le goût de toujours y retourner. Savoureux, long, ample et complexe. il afffiche toute la pleinitude souhaitée d'un Châteauneuf à maturité dans un grand millésime. Magique. 93-94 pts
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Dark garnet with some amber on the edge. Great nose of dark fruits, tar and leather with a little bit of animale. Medium to full bodied, rich, well integrated soft tannins. Still very nice fruit..Just a lovely long finish...Drinking perfectly at this time.
his wine shows wonderful aromatics of campfire embers, ash, raspberry, granite, tar and leather. The bouquet demonstrates complexity, nuance and remains balanced while transforming over the course of the wines consumption. The color is a dark brick red that is appropriate for the wines age. The medium/full bodied palate shows balance and length on the finish. The wine retains a rich core of fruit and tannins continue to provide structure. This is at or around it peak. The wine may not benefit from additional bottle age but should continue to drink well for the next 5 - 10 ye
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Decanted 3 hours. Little hot on the nose, but balanced wine. Vibrant and belies it's age. Excellent dark fruit, over dinner the raspberry became more pronounced. Secondary notes beginning to show, garrigue and provencal herbs. The next day the hotness was gone. Probably won't drink this again for several years.
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Wow, what a wine. Stood up in cellar for a few days to settle sediment, then opened for New Years dinner to pair with Rack of Lamb and Risotto. Didn't decant, but opened about 2.5 hours before eating. Clear, vibrant garnet color. Initial Nose was Funkalicious - Lots of Barnyard, wet autumn leaves, mushroom. Palate was initially pretty tight, some red fruits, campfire smoke, meat. Had several short pours while cooking dinner, this continually evolved even to 5 hours later. Funk blew off in about an hour and the nose settled in on cedar, spearmint, and trademark Rhone minerality and game. Palate went through a peppery phase, gained a bit of mint, and by the end of the dinner and into the eve had settled on Kirsch, mint, campfire smoke. Saved a bit in the bottle for night two, will see what tonight brings. I think this is in a great drinking window and well stored bottles probably have many more years of good drinking. 50+5+12+16+10=93
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A 1998 Chateauneuf Dinner (Rivoli Restaurant, Albany, California): Man, was this full of minerality and stoniness. It reminded me of an Angerville Volnay to begin with but then fleshed out with some sinuous red fruit,spearmint, and a distinctive sealing wax note. Overall, this bottle was still tight and quite tannic but just got better and better with more air.
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Similar to last note, this is young, tight. Still showing a lot of tannin. But it has a lot in store, and with some time it shows it. Needs some cellar time, but should be worth it. A-/A
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Decent fruit. Lots of pepper and a little booze when opened but settled down after a few hours. The color on this one has begun to brick a little. 2nd night this has smoothed out and is soft and smooth. Very nice tonight and probably a point or two higher than last night.
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Trip to Napa/Sonoma; 11/7/2009-11/14/2009 (Napa/Sonoma): Initially upon opening had a menthol/band-aid nose that made me question whether the bottle was off. This blew off after 15-20mins and left a distinctly mature Rhone nose of barnyard, cherries, and kirsch. Palate was lush and light, with a distinct liqueur-like quality and was slightly hot, but this gave way to dense layers of spice and stewed fruit, and hung on the palate for nearly a minute. Tannins were nearly completely integrated with a slight fine tannin background. Absolutely fantastic bottle, and maybe the best CdP I've had.
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Duck Dinner; 11/5/2009-11/6/2009 (Peter Pratt's Inn): A mature wine, lots of earth, manure, sour cherry and minerals. The body was soft but not too flabby. I liked it very much, but didn't offer a guess as to what it was.
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4BOW: 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape: Dark ruby color. Black fruit nose with some brett that seemed to blow off as the evening wore on. Tastes of blackberry, charred cedar, earth and spice. Rich finish with some depth. The worst showing for this wine for me ever. Unfortunate as it can be a spectacular wine. 14% alcohol.
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not decanted, certainly could be as it benefited from time in the glass. solid performance, but not up to a couple of previous times i've swooned over this wine. seemed unevolved, but not closed. nice fruit, per usual
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Decanted a half hour before tasting. Nose had camphor and gasoline. I thought it was corked at first. But with an additional half hour of breathing it opened up and revealed spice, pepper, red fruits, bacon fat. We served it over the course of a couple of hours with dinner and it continued to smooth out and gain elegance. A great bottle of Chateauneuf. I came away very impressed with it. I don't think this is going to bottom out any time soon in a properly stored environment. I'd say the professional's estimate of another 10 years is pretty accurate. Interesting was the taste comparison to a 2007 1/2 bottle of the same wine we tried the same night. Huge fruit and a thick, one-dimensional wine. Even after a couple of hours it kept it's best attributes close to the vest. I think all the elements are there to blossom into a profound wine, but it was interesting contrast to an aged wine's ability to intrigue and interest the palette on so many more levels.
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This wine was decanted and poured. It showed as expected based on a magnum tasted last year. This wine shows wonderful aromatics of campfire embers, ash, raspberry, granite, tar and leather. The bouquet demonstrates complexity, nuance and remains balanced while transforming over the course of the wines consumption. The color is a dark brick red that is appropriate for the wines age. The medium/full bodied palate shows balance and length on the finish. The wine retains a rich core of fruit and tannins continue to provide structure. This is at or around it peak. The wine may not benefit from additional bottle age but should continue to drink well for the next 5 - 10 years.
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Mini-verticale à la pêche (97-98-01) Nez un peu plus animal, belle concentration et style plus tannique et fougueux que les précédents. C’est un excellent CNP au style traditionnel, ample et généreux, avec alcool à noyaux, épices, garrigue. Concentré, puissant et savoureux, mon préféré. Le 1998? 93 pts
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Decanted maybe 90min. Color was bright ruby. Very floral nose, some plum and berry. Still pretty dry but not harsh, fit together nicely. Also seemed to gain slightly more body later in the night.
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Really great juice--just primed and ready to go. Seamless, well balanced and full throttle--earth, scents of provencial herbs and tasty/spicy fruit. This is a wine to savor and enjoy and a reward for patience. Do not hesitate to drink now: will it get better? I do not know==but I am not waiting to find out either!
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Delicious. Still rich fruit with some secondary development/complexity, some smoke, leather, pepper and maybe a vague hint of brett...I suspect there may be something going on here (cork? or bottle variation?) as I recently had a terrific, 95-96 point experience with this, and have also had LOTS of bottles that showed obvious (and disgusting) TCA...
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Tightly wound right now and showing plummy dark fruited flavours over hints of earth and meaty elements. Still feels very primary now with a core of firm tannins underneath and tremendous density.
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Opened a 375ml. Showing some age with crimson brick colour. An open nose of cherry, leather, barnyard and soy sauce. Subtle syrah pepper with oak and some tightness on the palate and finish. It’s ready but has got some legs to last. This is a complex and classy wine. Good value.
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1998 CdP tasting at Il Corso, NY. $%@&#! Slightly corked...too bad, I love the '98 Vieux Telegraphe and it would have been interesting to see how it would fare in this line-up.
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Some bricking at the rim. A bit disjointed at first, but improved with time, air and food. A nice wine, but didn't seem special. This particular bottle seemed like it might be a litttle past its peak.
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after having this wine several times, with each experience being stellar, wouldn't you know it, i take this to an offline, and it's a dud. comments around the table centered on a vegetal note. sadly, an off bottle.
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And this time, it was great out of magnum. Some brett showing as shoe polish, but enormously long, rich, mineral, with blood on the palate along with loads of fruit. Perfect combo with lots of pork.
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Very good and mature CdP enjoyed earlier tonight with the third flite of all CdP wines at the Hickory Wine Club tasting at Lake Hickory CC. RP rated 93. Typically one of our favorite CdP's but tonight overshadowed by some of the other stable mates in this flite. Very dark purple, big and still very concentrated with good mouth feel but still plenty of tannins left for further development for at least 5-10 more years. Big nose of allspice and blackberry with primary flavors of blackberry, tar and strong black pepper. Highly recommend this wine and this will clearly mature, develop and improve further, decant if drunk now.
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Starting to peek through but nowhere close to ready from 750 again. I am thinking that the amazing 3L I had 2 years ago pre-maturely aged because of the hand cut cork. This will be a great wine, but even with decanting and a couple of hours still tasted of black and red fruits with a touch of smoke but no generousity. More balanced than my last bottle, but VT just takes a long long time to mature to where I want it to get to.
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old world funk, leather, wet soil, hints of pepper, clove and anise. palate has great structure, dry, with smooth yet strong tannins indicating it still has a long life ahead. mineral notes plus grape tomatoes on the palate coupled with licorice laden strawberry.
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French Bakery 2nd Chateauneuf de Papes BYO Dinner (The French Bakery, 1023 Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands, FL): Mark's wine(Me). 3 of 10 1sts, ave 90.7. Decanted for 1 hr in am. Jerry-94. Richard-94 nice perfume classic. David-91 hard to differentiate(all the same wine, different vintages)John-90 like it. Charlie-91 game, leather, brett. Deirdre and I realized this flight was tight, and so we used the Vinturi Aerator on them, and they all changed for the better.
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This is a rocking bottle of wine. Needs some air to allow the sulphites to blow off. The Mourvedre in this wine really gives it additional depth and smoothness, not to mention earth and leather. Very long finish. Tannins are still quite noticeable. This wine, if stored properly is only beginning to round into form. I am glad I have a bunch of this left. This wine has a lot of complexity with flavor changes throughout the palate.
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Begins with a huge blast of black pepper on the nose. That receeds somewhat and allows other elements to emerge, such as red Grenache fruit, burnt fireplace embers, peat, iodine (I'm sticking with the Lagavulin comparison from my TN from last March) and significant barnyard. The barnyard is not off-putting to me, but it is a significant part of the palate profile, and when the black pepper smooths out, one is left with equal parts red Grenache fruit and barnyard. The tannins are smooth and the mouthfeel is smooth, and while the wine has gained the smoothness of time, I don't think it has grown especially complex. A good wine, a pleasurable wine (assuming that one is not averse to barnyard), but not a wine that is especially cerebral, especially when the initial burst of pepper, peat and iodine smooth out and the palate shows red fruit and barnyard but little additional depth. UPDATE: A glass saved overnight showed much cleaner on the nose 24 hours later, with the barnyard completely gone. On the palate, however, that barnyard comes across as pigeon coop. The palate is otherwise smooth and, dare I say it, not that expressive. It's soft, shows some elegance, but seems to be missing garrigue, lavender, complexity and energy.
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Solid, but not an outstanding showing for V-T. A bottle of both this one ('98) and a '95 I had about six months ago were much more exciting than this (both closer to 95 points).
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Wine Salon - Rhone (Chez Brian): Unfortunately, this bottle was ever so slightly corked. Drinkable, but the fruit was stripped of its suppleness, and the finish was dulled.
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This is a classic CdP but I felt it's flavors and aromas were very subtle after decanting for two hours. The tannins are apparant on the tongue at first taste. I think it needs more aging time in the cellar.
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My favorite vintage of VT, drinking a point right now - deep ruby and very pure after a one hour decant off of heavy sediment, held up wonderfully over next three hours, great complexity and good length. Nose a bit shy of outstanding.
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Brought on as an emergency to replace another flawed bottle. Clear wine with heavy sediment. No ullage or seepage. Powerful dark grape nose. Full impact of fruit in balance with tannin in spite of being a little too cold. Opened up gloriously.
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This is the second bottle I've had of this wine within the last 3 months. Interesting to taste next to the 1988. This is a spectacular wine. It obviously shows much more red, fresh fruit than the 1988 but there is also a bit more depth in this wine compared to the 1988. I get some distinct notes of red sour cherries, barnyard, pepper, licorice and smoke. It's a traditional wine all right. A bit on the rustic side, but not nearly as much as the 1995 for example. I think this wine is still finding its way. Will be interesting to follow. I am happy to own this.
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I don't write public tasting notes, but this wine was so sublime with our Veal Chops (24oz) w/ a wild mushroom Balsamic reduction that I couldn't resist. Incredible nose of forest and licorice, roasted herbs and meats, with a mid-palate of dark fruits and nose qualities , with a finish that married all the aromas and flavors to linger endlessly on the finish. Beautiful...this is why I drink wine!
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Bought about 8 bottles ( splits ) some time in the past year and have been popping them every other month....very good mature Rhone , did i say very good ? I think these have been amongst some of my better purchases of good red rhone over the past 10 years i have had. Just good mature juice very very enjoyable.
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This really needed to be decanted. Complex funky changing nose with notes of brett, BBQ, roasted meats and cigars. Tight with a good grip there was nice fruit concentration and balance but couldn't get it to unwind before dinner was over. An our or two of decant recommended to open this one yet.
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Anyhow--the wine is specatacular! Nose of iodine, brambly underbrush and roasted meats with a garnet color. Dusty tannins, silky finish, sweet fruit and a deep core than lingers on the palate. Harry Karis--I think this is a wine you would (do) love! Plenty of barnyard on the nose--and I find it enticing as it takes me to a mental state of relaxation and hits the mood on a dry autumn night. I also think this validates the idea of cellaring CdP--if you can keep out of the cellar... Drink thru 2015
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Decanted 2 hours. Cherries, leather, spice, earth and more than a hint of brett on the nose. Rich, layered, fruit with soft (but firm) tannins and nice acidity which makes up for the slight brett on the nose. Long complex aftertaste.
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why i enjoyed a bottle of wine that smells so much like a Barn is beyond me but , it was very very good . the last bottle i had from stash needed a good 1.5 hours to open up , i gave this an hour and it was ready to go .i think this might have many more years left to go as well. Alc. on the nose was not overpowering but was certainly evident. very very good , from 375L. bottle.
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A bit tight and needed two hours of decanting to open. Still an understated CNP, with the elegance and profile of a bordeaux, but with more alcohol and different flavors. Still a long way to go, and if I had another bottle, I'd wait five years.
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it's difficult to fault this wine, which i have previously extolled upon. it has the complete package of beautiful fruit, richly textured mouthfeel, and a long finish. i presume this will hold for 20 more years? deliciously satisfying now.
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G7 (Kevin): Dark ruby color. Spicy red fruit on the nose. Tastes of blackberry, blueberry, cherry and earth. Medium bodied. Great balance. Amazing structure with a nice backbone that will allow this wine to age gracefully for another 10-20 years. Amazing complexity and elegance. Always one of my favorite years from Vieux Telegraphe. My personal WOTF followed closely by the 1995.
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A lovely bottle of Chateauneuf. Deep ruby red in color. The nose was nicely complex with scents of leather, dark fruit, berries, etc. On the palate the tannins are starting to integrate nicely, there is moderate acidity and medium to full body. I don't recall the finish being particularly long but it was very pleasant. This wine is drinking well now and should continue for several more years.
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Nez riche, sur le kirsch et les épices. Attaque ample, structure imposante, un vin puissant, capiteux, savoureux mais à la finale un peu rustique. Manque un peu de finesse. Très bon mais moins impressionnant que les dernières bouteilles.
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Drank from a 1.5L bottle. The bottle was decanted and poured. Excellent ten year old Vieux Telegraphe! This wine showed wonderful aromatics of granite, dried herbs, black fruits with subtle secondary notes of leather and cigar ash. The color is a dark brick red and correct for its age. The medium/full bodied palate shows great balance and the right combination of youthful intensity and maturity. The long finish still has grip from the tannins and acidity. This was outstanding and the perfect wine for last nights dinner.
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I bought these through various retailers and auctions, so the bottle variation doesn't surprise me. This bottle was dominated more by barnyard aromas than the last three, detracting from the iodine, blackberry, and iron notes. The previous bottles had the cow field in the background, making them more enjoyable. A slightly flawed beauty.
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Ce vin a changé depuis deux ans, il est arrivé à destination.
Nez complexe et suave….d’abord sanguin, de la viande et des mûres…puis du tabac, du poivre et des épices.
La bouche est superbe! Attaque d’une belle fraicheur, ample et généreuse avec de belles saveurs de garrigue et de fraises, un très bel équilibre. C’est long et savoureux, il y a encore beaucoup de fruit, c’est un vin typé et « traditionnel », non dénué d’une certaine rusticité, avec une finale sur les cerises à noyaux.
Voilà un vin qui semble entrer dans sa période de maturité et qui y restera longtemps. Il se boit très bien en ce moment mais il sera aussi intéressant de le voir évoluer sur une dizaine d’année, peut-être plus. S’il ne me restait qu’une bouteille, je conseillerais de la boire dans les prochains deux ans car il traverse une belle période.
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Open for business. This wine is truly at its best right now. Animal, anise, earth, mature fruit, terrific balance, and an ever changing nose and palate; popped about a half-hour before starting on it, and it just got better and better over the course of over an hour. Sublime, and the highlight of the night.
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Nicest bottle yet, has fully hit stride. Blackberries, iodine, iron, and mildly funky moist earth dominate both the nose and palate. I'll drink most of my remaining stock over the next 3 or 4 years.
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Took about 10-20 minutes after opening for the wine to bring to sing but once it began it was awesome. This wine is just beginning to hit its peak. This year, 2009 and 2010 will be be awesome.
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Popped and poured for a Summer's eve dinner. A glorious bottle that showed a nose of iodine, flavor of beef broth and iodine mixed with herbs. Very smooth and full in body. I am so glad to have a few more as this seems to be entering a fantastic stage!
Enjoy!
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Agree completely with many others that this is really starting to sing. Decanted one hour prior to drinking. Best of the bottles I have had, great secondary characteristics on top of still evident fruit. Wonderful nose, wonderful palate, very good length. A pleasure from first glass to last.
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a touch of barnyard, earth raspberry. nice attack but a touch of heat. poped and pourd and as the bottle progress slight improvement but not much. good finish. ? off bottle (bought in store in Arles)
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Along side a 98 Olivet-Papet this was much younger, tighter, and in need of some additional cellar time. It can go now, but should be better with some additional age. A-/A
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Auction bottle, held for a couple of months, in fine shape. This vintage has such depth and breadth. Poured without decanting, and sampled over a couple of hours. Firm, fine, and eminently satisfying CdP, an easy one to share. Long finish, evolving 2ndary aromas of mushroom and earth following the dark fruit and garrigue; bright acidity and balanced throughout. Opened up with time, and held interest. Also consumed faster than expected. So, this is a wonderful wine to drink and share, and built to gain with another 5+ years easily.
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This was decanted for 4 hours. Very barny nose that was not overwhelming due to the richness and depth of fruit. Black cherry with leather, tobacco, iron and long firm tannins. This is definitely youthful and will likely improve.
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Showing well. Great color, nose of berries with a touch of brett, leather, bit of spicebox. Medium weight on the palate, with integrated similar flavors, medium length. A burgundian version of CNP. Drink or hold.
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Lovely CdP, but doesn't have the "wow" factor of a great year of Beau or Pegau. Good fruit, medium-bodied, but seemed a bit delicate. Finish is not terribly long (though cannot be termed short).
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With Spencer and Lisa. The 1998 VT came out on the brawny, meaty, smoky side than a bottle enjoyed in December which had broader and more generous fruit. Tonight, notes of peat, smoke, black pepper and a whiff of iodine, it was a nose borrowed from Lagavulin, along with a whole lot of poop and funk and diaper pale. Rich on the palate, showing raw meat, pork sausage and fresh tilled dirt, the tannins are softening which leads to a worsted texture, softer around the edges but still showing plenty of youth and vigor. There is a lot happening here, the wine has a lot to say, but I think a few more years in the cellar are needed. Right now it is an awkward teenager, all pimply faced and prone to spastic outbursts.
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Wow--this was really fun to drink! Lots of sweat and horse on the front end with a cool sweet finish that showed spice and bramble and iodine. A nice pairing with veggie lasagna; medium in body and ruby in color that is really showing well at this point. I may have to open a '98 Beau to catch up on its progress. Still lots of time to enjoy these--but with such fulfillment, it will be hard to stay away.
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Vieux Telegraph at Chez Moi: No notes tasted. Tasted after the '82, '86, '89 and '94. This was my first time with this wine since shortly after release and it has improved considerably. While still primary and youthful, the smells and tastes are much more in line with classic CdP. On the palate this delivers very concentrated fruit, good flavor intensity, perfect balance and a long, satisfying finish. This just needs more time in the cellar to allow secondary elements to become more integral to the overall experience.
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Tasting Group Dinner - Vieux Telegraphe (Dave's House): Third time I've had this. Decanted about 2 hours. Much tighter and more primal than the bottle I opened last year. Intense dark, floral/violet nose. Tight and smoky. Dark inky fruit, garrigue, loads of structure. Lots of ripe tannins. If poured blind, I would have guessed this was the '01. Seems to have excellent raw material and a long evolutionary path ahead. Based on this bottle, I would wait at least a few more years, or decent for several hours at a minimum.
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Pulled the cork (and recorked) in the cellar for several hours with no apparent benefit, decanted and drunk right away...definitely smoothed out over the course of several hours, but was still tight at first. Good, round, red fruit nose, tho it was pretty tannic on it's own; with a big steak this was excellent. We can clearly wait a long time on this one.
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don't know the bottle prep. superb wine, probably the best bottle of this i have ever experienced, although it has always been a wine i enjoy. very complex palate consisting of blackberry, raspberry, multiple spices. highly recommended.
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The nose of this wine was exploding out the glass. Blackberries, cherries, dried flowers, raspberries, pepper, spice and garrigue. Medium bodied. Extremely well balanced with beautiful acidity. Possessing a layered mid palate with incredible depth and complexity. Powerful and elegant finish that lasts for almost a minute. This wine was on fire tonight. The pinnacle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape IMHO.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Rich dark fruits, slightly medicinal, with overtones of black pepper and tobacco. Palate heavily tannic despite decanting, but resolute and finely balanced. More to come I'm sure!
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Red berries and roses on the nose. Tastes of cherries, raspberries, black pepper, leather, earth and Herbs de Provence. Excellent mid palate complexity. Very well balanced with good acidity. Medium bodied. A youthful and powerful finish that is still quite elegant. A fantastic wine that will only get better with time.
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Far too young. Amazing that it was my wine of the year from double magnum in 2006 and it could show this poorly/closed a year later from 750. A solid base but too much acid to get to 90. I hope this morphs into what I have seen from large format. A perplexing showing.
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Decanted and drank with steak au poivre. Dark ruby. Grenache nose. Tannins still a little harsh, but mostly resolved. Very nice, but not quite knock your socks off.
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From 375ml, popped and poured. Deep garnet color. Aromas of raspberry and plum along with faint meaty and garrigue notes. The garrigue note became more pronounced as the wine sat in the glass. Flavors of plum, lavender and spicy red fruit with noticeable tannins. Still very young and in need of time.
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CdP/Rhone Offline, Cavaillon Restaurant, SD: opened one hour prior to leaving home but not decanted. Dark color, distinctive CdP nose, still young. Will let my last bottle rest for several years.
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Dark red, very slight bricking at rim, nose developing, full palate with very nice length. Drinking well now, but still some tannin and youthfulness that leads me to believe that the best is still a few years in the future.
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Still pretty tannic and needs at least two hours to open up. Good fruit but still seemed a little closed. Day 2 - too acidic to drink even with a piece of beef.
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Because of the level of brett on this wine, this was the only contraversial wine at the table. I loved it. To me the small amount of brett was just enough to go with the Poussin Noir that we drank it with.
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Drinking well now, though will likely continue to evolve nicely. Classic CduP flavors, with a certain spiciness that worked well with a spicy beef dish.
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Classic CDP, with full-bodied Grenache red fruit and garrigue flavors. Fine concentration and structure. Really hit its stride 2 hours after the bottle was opened. Darkened and picked up some coffee/espresso notes with air time. Drinking well now.
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Terrific wine! Firing on all cylinders. Double decanted about 2 hours before serving with dinner at Harvest Moon; threw a moderate amount of sediment. Quite dark in color. Some funk, animal, meat, leather and herbs, all backed up by lovely dark fruit. Wonderfully integrated on the palate, with moderate tannins; rich and round with excellent balancing acidity. The nose is simply sublime, and keeps me coming back for more. A real winner, in a traditional mold; this is my style of Chateauneuf. With the excellent food and company, this made for a great evening!
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I think I opened this too early, and finished the bottle before it could sing. The last glass showed a blossoming nose, with dark berries, iodine, earth, a little tobacco and scant barnyard aromas. Elegant palate with buffered tannins. Unfortunately, I'm an impulsive wine drinker. I rarely think to open a bottle early and decant. My modus operandi is cellar to glass, giving the wine mouth-to-mouth rather than letting it breathe.
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very swelte and sweet with some minerality on the back end. Dusty tannins and decent fruit; more of a mature wine than I expected, perhaps it should be drunk in the next 5 years. I pumped and saved half the bottle for tonights lamb dinner.
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A bit of heat on the palate. Still unresolved tannins that give the black fruit plenty of grip. This wine could use 3-5 more years in the cellar to smooth out.
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(Tasted blind) Very stinky, barnyard nose. Nearly the entire group complained about the brett here, with one person even refusing to put the wine in his mouth. I found that it partly blew off or at least diminished considerably with aggressive swirling, revealing a delicate, fresh red fruit liqueur, quite subtle. Unfortunately it seemed to fall apart quickly in the glass. Or was that my palate?
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Very tight with faint nose but wonderful dark garnet color with a tinge of brown at the edge. Overnight the nose opened slightly but this still requires lots more time in bottle I think. Peppery Rhone taste with hints of jam in a traditional style though a bit light and somewhat short. I wonder if this has enough fruit to resolve into a great V.T.? Taste again in a year or two.
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Very young. Should have decanted. Has some really lovely, dusty, garrigue-esque fruit and fairly impressive structure. I expected this to be much looser knit than it is. I won't touch another bottle for at least a couple of years.
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3rd Annual Year-End Wine Tasting (34th Street Cafe (Austin, TX)): To me, this was the stunner of the night. I am a self-proclaimed Rhone fanatic, but this was way better than I thought it would be. The nose was rich with sweet fruit and garrigue, plum, leather and a hint of truffle. Really meaty flavors and some roasted notes of pain grille. Superb mouthfeel and it was lighter on its feet than the description to this point would leave one to believe. Long finish. My Co-WOTN.
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Tasted side by side with the 1994 and 2004 VT (see TNs). The '94 and '98 were popped and poured, and the '04 was decanted for over 3 hours. Neither the '94 nor the '04 had the same depth and underlying minerality as the '98, but all three did show a somewhat similar red fruit profile. The '98 will clearly be the best of the three in the long run... The nose on the '98 opened dramitically with time in the glass, revealing sweet red fruit and garrigue on the nose. On the palate, meaty, with terrific structure and mineral depth. Really impressive, classic Chateauneuf, though probably another five+ years away from really starting to sing. I remember tasting this on release, when it seemed a bit austere and wasn't showing much of anything - yet you could still tell there was substantial underlying material that would be great once it finally started to unwind... I'd say it's on its way!
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Presented to the Vintage Wines, Ltd. tasting group in double-blind fashion. The bottle was taken from my personal cellar, and my note is therefore unblinded. Bright disc. Deep red/garnet robe with red rim. Clean and very intense nose of roasted herbs, black pepper, black fruits and licorice. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity and medium sweet tannins. The middle is full, supple in texture and shows flavors which mirror the nose. Long, smooth finish. Very nice!
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Very ripe red fruit flavors....outstanding concentration and palate pentration....a nose with some secondary flavors...slightly drying tannins on the finish.
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A beautiful, maturing CDP from a great producer in a good year. Some barnyard aromas and flavors, which dominated initially, but settled to the backround with aeration. Fruit is still prominent on the nose and palate, with dark berries framed by iodine, earth, and tobacco. Perfect balance of generous fruit, acidity and tannins. No signs of decline; shows great potential.
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tasting along with 98 Beau and 98 Vieux Donjon - Huge wine, great aromatics starting, still significant tannins, youngest of the three tasted, needs a couple more years to really open up.
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Ordered a bunch of Bordeaux 2005 futures, so it gave me the itch to drink a nice bottle. Opened the View Telegraphe, but did not decant. Very predictable nice Chateuneuf; could certainly sit for a few more years. No negative signs of aging and just starting to take on character.
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I really committed infanticide here. Wine is semi hugh, smooth tannis, but still a little thin. Needs another 5 years or so. Sweet cassis, some seaweed on the nose, deep funky and got a good "barnyard" smell. Flavor is smooth black fruit. At this point, aroma trumps flavor. Hopefully that changes. Overall, very nice.
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Did nor decant. Cherry, tobacco, spice and herbs with nice concentration and ripe fruit flavors. The tannins are subdued but you know they are there. Drinking very nice now and will probably not improve much more, but will last a long time. Having said that, I would not open another bottle until (at least) 2008.
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Opened from 375ml...poured into decanter an hour ahead of consuming...opened pretty quickly great primary and seconary flavors. Really good CDP at this point but not great...still a bit thin which could build with time. This wine has along way to go especially if in 750ml or larger.
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Dark garnet. Elegant and somewhat typical CNDP nose with black berries and faint hints of barnyard, provence spices and bacon. Taste very elegant with same elements as nose although somewhat hesitant. Stylewise a mix of Beaucastel and Pegau, but without the clear and distinctive styles of the two. Rating: 92
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Simply one of the best CdPs I have ever drunk. Surprisingly mature out of a double magnum, with loads of meaty/iodine flavors along with huge amounts of ripe fruit. No intrusive tannins and well balanced. Extremely long. Exactly what wine should be. Easily the best VT I have ever tasted, which includes all the major vintages from '83.
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Ruby red, strong funky nose of anise, rasin, and earth, with some fruits hiding. I love the gererally enjoy the funk in wines like these, but this one confused me. I gave it a 88-90?? rating. This received no votes(0,0,0). Some in the group thought there was something wrong with this bottle.
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Drank with guys at the Hamilton Airport with a catered meal. Was quite nice ... what you woudl expect in a good year chateauneuf du pape ... glycerin and a good finish ... still some fruit.
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Great wine in the making, but needs at least another 5 years. Tannins are beginning to resolve and the beautiful cherry fruit is beginning to peek out, but the complexity and depth that this wine will eventually show are still covered up. I keep testing this every couple of years, and I think in the end it will be great. But I think it won't start drinking well until at least 2010, and probably will be at its peak in large format in the 2015-2020 range.
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Wow! Has this wine come together! The grenache is hitting on all cylinders and the tannins are silky. This seems a little atypical for a VT from the 90's given it's tremendous fruit-forward nature, but I loved it! Clearly it's window for drinking started last night.
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Tasted before the 94 Dominus (and qualitatively speaking barely a notch below the Dominus), this thick, rich beauty displays aromas of earth, tar, cocoa, herbs and spice. Reminded me of the 01 Beuacastel (is there any Mouvedre in this?), but not as expansive. Full bodied with exceptional length in the finish. This has got structure and potential. My favorite VT thus far.
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This was served out of a magnum with 3 hours of decanting for a large post-holiday gathering. Even, medium ruby color without any fading. Mellow, gradually opening nose with hints of black cherry, clove, and toffee. No alcohol or over-ripeness here. Lovely, balanced, medium weight on the palate, poised, and seemingly having time and potential for more complexity in hand. A bit of noticeable tannin on the finish that did not interfere with a moderately long finish. Overall, a refreshingly elegant Grenache-based example from this year, and a wonderful food wine. The strangest thing was that it tasted more open from this larger format than a 750 ml bottle was 3 months ago--go figure.
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From 375. Definite alcohol mixed with red fruit on the nose. In time the aromas became more complex with an almost gamy element coming into play. Everything I love in CdP in the mouth. Full bodied (incredible slow legs in the glass) with a nice balance of fruit, earth, spices and leather. Finish clocked at 35 seconds. Tannins still very evident. This wine is still young. Give it a couple years.
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Big, burly with lots of tannins left. This guy opened up about halfway through dinner to revel some marvelous fruit, pepper, smokey flavors that matched the grilled meat perfectly. Let the rest sit for a few more years.
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Dark ruby colour. Aromas of raspberry, alcohol, currant, spice, dried violet, red licorice. Medium-full bodied, quite primary. Juicy, with raspberry, currant, spice, and red licorice. Just a little green. Moderate-length finish, 30-35s, with raspberry and a touch of herbs.
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Not decanted. I definitely opened this too young, but curiousity got the better of me and I popped two bottles to serve with charcoal grilled chicken. Initially very green and herbaceous, with inky acidic flavors and very little fruit. 2+ hours of air did the trick; the fruit came out of hibernation, and the wine showed an interesting combination of flavors, especially blackberries, pepper, and Provencal herbs. I don't remember the exact varietal blend but it tasted like there was a fair amount of Syrah since the wine picked up a roasted game/bacon component on the finish. The wine smoothed out nicely and showed no signs of oxidation after being open for 4+ hours. I'm guessing this needs about 5 more years.
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Looking for something interesting for a "valentines day" dinner with wife at Restaurant Zoe. The 98 VT on release was the catalyst for our foray into the world of CDP fanship. First thing noticed was the lack of the eggy/sulfur smell on opening that both the 98 and 99 had- this may be a component of youth. Nose is very earthy, mushroomy, with some hints of pepper, damp forest floor, and pine. Very little fruit on the nose. Palate is still quite tight with a strong tannin presence, some muted dark fruit hiding in the background. Overall well balanced and kept getting better until we finished after 5 hours of airtime. This is still quite closed and should be given until at least 2008-2010 to open again.
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Dark ruby color with earthy, tar, jammy black fruit and fresh cracked pepper scents. Concentrated, dense but without any special reason to like the wine. At the end of the day, it was dull.
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Taverna - Chateauneuf du Pape: Blind Red 2 - Some wax and gamey funk on the nose, then cherry kirsch and a hint of cinnamon. Moderate to high acidity. Tightish on the palate. Pretty good.
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Tasted as an add-on at a vertical Beaucastel tasting at the home of Amy Weinberg. Bright disc. Deep ruby robe with red rim. Clean, very intense nose of blackberries, spices, pepper, bacon and licorice. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity, big ripe tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish. Extraordinary!
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Deep purple colored and full bodied. Drank immediately after opening and seemed pretty closed down and tannic. Lacks the bright fruit and openness of the Le Nerthe. 6/00
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3/30/2024 - ed-k Likes this wine: 89 Points
Brick red. Bright flavours. Cork came out intact.
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3/29/2024 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
Still a black liquorice wine, baked but there is some fruit in the background here. Went well with lamb shank cooked with chilli, cumin, and smoked paprika.
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1/30/2024 - Odedis.Wine.reviews Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful ruby in color, with a very wide reddish rim. Bricking at the very top.
Light nose with red and black fruits, light cedar and tobacco leaf.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with black plums, currants, cherries, earth, black coffee, oak, herbs, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates and black tea.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 26 year old from the great 1998 vintage in Southern Rhone is drinking beautifully now. Soft and smooth, elegant and earthy.
Not so good right out of the bottle, and needed 90 minutes of airtime to open up properly, so be patient.
Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 94 points.
Will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.
Showing nice complexity and good balance.
I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
14% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$120 (current vintage).
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12/11/2023 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich nose with hints of espresso roast, some rose hip syrup a little ground white pepper and some cassia bark. Palate is savoury, broad and red fruited. A little lift and some charming spice. Great with a Hawksmoor rib eye.
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11/4/2023 - WST Likes this wine:
Wine dinner for a great charity (Samish Hill, Bellingham, WA): Still very bright and clean. Red fruit and garrigue, licorice, and a little iodine and moist earth. Out of a 750, it's not at all tired, but I won't hold my remaining bottle for long as it won't improve going forward, unless one prefers a purely tertiary CdP.
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10/22/2023 - WST Likes this wine:
Surprisingly fresh at 25. Rumors of its demise are exaggerated. Beautiful fruit dominates the tertiary aromas and flavors. Cherry and grenadine, with licorice and spice notes. I haven't opened a CdP in 3 years, but this bottle brought me back to an old love of Southern Rhone wines.
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8/29/2023 - rm97 wrote: 91 Points
Had hoped for more. Opened for an hour and was muted.
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8/6/2023 - Beachfan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Scrumptious, still can age for longer but drinking well now.
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6/9/2023 - JohnLI Likes this wine: 94 Points
Perfect cork. Great nose of cherries and raisins and a little earthy. Palate of red fruits and raisins. Medium length A lovely wine at 25 years and still going strong.
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5/30/2023 - Tranquility Base Likes this wine: 97 Points
It took some time, as well as a couple of decantings because the cork fell apart, but this ended up being a superb Chateauneuf du Pape. My experience with VT is that they are lighter-bodied than other CdPs, so at first sips it seemed thin and maybe aged out of its fruit. However, the body and taste of the wine kept building over several hours (I fortunately did open it in the late morning). It finally unfurled itself with plenty of flavor.
The taste was kind of refined with no real funkiness, but with some dusty age. It probably could have remained in the cellar longer without problems, but it is very good now. One of the best CdPs I have ever had.
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5/17/2023 - efeldhake@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep garnet in color with bricking edges. Nose of cherries, cola, and tobacco. Tastes of cherries, leather, and hint of vanilla. Resolved tannins, vibrant acidity, and lingering fruit. Showed impressively on day 2. In a nice place, but should continue to age nicely for another 3-5 years.
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5/4/2023 - rm97 wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful
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4/30/2023 - MuddyBoots wrote:
I wanted to check on this again because my last experience with this wine - February 27, 2022 - was very discouraging. Decanted 30 minutes. Very solid cork, not penetrated by the wine at all. Appropriate pale red hue - hints of browning. Restrained nose of small red fruits / very pleasant. Unexpectedly austere on the palate - more acidic - and without the generous silky fruit one associates with CNP. But this is nothing like as severe as the prior bottle. There is complexity. Herbal notes. Tannins one senses just beginning to settle down after 25 years and integrate into the wine. Ends with a persistent pleasant sweetness. Perhaps there is some bottle variation here. Was better after an hour. I would wait another five or ten years on this. On this showing with time it might even become something very special. Bought on release - and aging slowly. After two hours in the decanter this has softened quite a bit, but will always be a serious and brooding CNP.
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3/29/2023 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 94 Points
An auction bottle I purchase almost 8 years ago, and it is still drinking great. I'm not sure that I'll wait any longer on the remaining bottles as this seems at its peak. Long finish, with more spices than fruit at this point. It was opened, but not decanted for almost an hour before serving. I shared it with my wine group and it was a big hit!
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2/22/2023 - asgerG wrote: flawed
Corked.
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2/7/2023 - winemaker Likes this wine: 93 Points
Old school CdP! Earthy, leathery, structured and gorgeous. No rush!
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1/29/2023 - Eric wrote:
This started a bit figgy and weird with really strong dried fruit notes, but after an hour it exploded positively. Stern, licorice, powerful, old-school CDP, pepper, dark, brooding, really proper:
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1/29/2023 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still going strong, though probably on gentle decline. Good mix of older fruit and secondary flavors. Tannins and earth are gone.
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1/14/2023 - tomlee wrote: 98 Points
Ruby red in color. 14% ABV. Gorgeous nose of red fruits, garrigue and leather. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Power and concentration that belies 25 years of bottle age. Kirsch, plums, roasted herbs and blood on the palate. The finish is long and seamless. The saying is that after 20 years there are no longer great vintages but just great bottles. Reports on this wine being past peak are premature. Well stored bottles will drink beautifully for another 3-5 years. I might wait even longer on the magnum in my cellar. For my money, the best Vieux Telegraphe ever made.
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1/8/2023 - Volleyball Likes this wine: 92 Points
(NB: Actually a 2012) I remember my first try of La Crau as disappointingly lightweight but this bottle was a very solid outing that met expectations.
Not much of an aroma, even when warmed to full room temp overnight, but the flavor and body are pretty big and the finish good. Powerful black fruits, cinnamon and cloves, dark chocolate and tar - a Christmas cake maker driving an asphalt truck. Medium acid and soft tannins - not flabby at all.
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1/1/2023 - bhouk wrote:
Color is good, but the nose is flat and the flavors on the palate are very muted. Just not a great bottle. Sweat and leather predominate, with earthy mushrooms and soil in the background. Fruit is negligible. Unclear to me whether it’s flawed (TCA is certainly not out of the question), whether it’s over the hill (would not be the most likely option in my view), or whether it’s just the bottle variability that you could expect after 25 years.
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12/11/2022 - kevin h wrote: flawed
Corked. Poured away.
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11/27/2022 - sooper65 wrote: 89 Points
Triple decanted .. 4 hours. Stink blew off. Really not much fruit left. Savoury.
Left me wanting
Better bottle than the last one, but shouldn’t this be superb? Hmmm!
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11/17/2022 - Beachfan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pnp, splendid classic CdP, garrigues, a lukewarm creosote, long finish
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10/1/2022 - asgerG wrote: 94 Points
DnP. Beautiful brick colour, wide orange edged, 4. Wonderful meaty, spicy, mature complex ethereal bouquet. Harmonious palate, lT, h-A, mB, almost totally resolved tannins, the acidity gives good structure, ripe fruit, long elegant finish. Drink now-onwards.
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9/1/2022 - ChrisR Likes this wine:
The last bottle four years ago was excellent, robust and flavorful. This one, from the same batch, was old. Significant browning, a bit musty, a bit sour, soft, very much like an old, very old, CNdP. Just enough sweetness to make it palatable. With one bottle left, I hope this was just a bad bottle with a cork permitting too much oxidation.
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8/14/2022 - fclarity wrote: 90 Points
From a bottle purchased on release, this wine showed some oranging at the rim. The medium- intensity nose showed some plum, cassis, clay soil, and light toffee notes.
In the mouth, this was quite ripe and a bit diluted tasting at first. While this was overall a light bodied wine, it developed mild tannin and and an acidic edge. There was also a bit of alcohol sticking out.
The flavors of this wine seemed a bit restrained. They might emerge further with time. However, the extreme ripeness and extra alcohol are not going to allow for a future time when all the components come into balance.
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6/15/2022 - vinolovers wrote: 94 Points
Medium garnet coloring. Impressive nose of red fruit. Incredibly smooth with no tannins, after notes of red fruit, some caramel, and tea.
Delicious
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6/7/2022 - Intbusesq Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 1 hour before first taste. Edge to edge bricking. Somewhat flat on first taste, but stewed red fruit emerged over the next couple hours to match the savoriness. Still some mild tannis, still acidic and lively. No brett/animal funk. Can't imagine this improves from here and probably slightly past prime.
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2/27/2022 - MuddyBoots wrote:
Decanted 45 minutes. Some muddled animal notes, From Mourvedre perhaps? Behind this is serious and complex fruit sitting on a frame that is textural and quite limpid. Some garrigue. A certain austerity/hardness on the finish. This wine demonstrates how different CNP becomes after 20 years. This is no longer a wine of pretty fruit and succulent texture. There are very present dark green herbal notes - rosemary ? There is a reason I don't have much CNP stashed away in the cellar - and this wine fairly well represents it. Nothing faulty here - I just find very limited appeal to the flavors. Heralded vintage. "It's a great year but it was complicated in its development. At one point, animal, at another, very hard,' said Daniel Brunier in mid 2020 in a Decanter Review. Seems still right. Bought on release. I hope you like it more than I.
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2/12/2022 - Aj2k wrote: 95 Points
Very light tasting, little tannin left. Notes of tea and menthol on the bouquet. some fruit still present, ripe sweet cherry and black currant. Nicely alcoholic and not too harsh. I think this should be frank right away if you are holding on to any.
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1/2/2022 - sooper65 wrote: 84 Points
Moderate at best. Very well cellared yet was thick and cloudy. Most unappealing to the eye. Less dirty and bretty on the nose than previous bottles, the fruit is still there, earthy… very earthy. No generosity in this wine, am yet again left wondering why so many others exalt this wine from this otherwise excellent vintage. In a word: pants.
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12/30/2021 - AlanM68 Likes this wine: 86 Points
Past due. Brown beyond the edge No sense of fruit Little length. Not corked, or tainted. Just old.
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12/25/2021 - calculon Likes this wine:
Absolutely wonderful. I was a little concerned that it might be, like me, rather too elderly - but no problem. Still beautifully clean Châteauneuf with a fine colour - no orangey brickiness whatsoever. One bottle left - next Christmas maybe? We offered our congratulations to Cook and the staff for the excellent roast pork dinner (we didn’t mention the over-done crackling though.)
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11/26/2021 - Cmainardi wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely wonderful now. Some Brett and earth flavors. Bright red fruits. Tannins present but barely detectable. Drink up.
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10/25/2021 - Lma1969 wrote:
Beautiful ripe cherry fruit. Needs about 20-30 minutes to open. In a perfect window now.
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10/15/2021 - pbaek wrote:
Absolutely stunning right now. Opens up with a funky nose with scents of seaweed, licorice pastilles, mint and tea. Well contained on the palate, no signs at all from a warm vintage, quite the contrary. It is cool and upright with tertiary flavors, dusty cherry fruit, garrigue, even tannins that are not fully resolved. Grand vin to me, plenty of life left.
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10/3/2021 - kevin h wrote: 89 Points
Browsing colour. Black fruit and liquorice. A touch rusty. This is now past best. Still drinkable, some vestiges of fruit and the tannins have mellowed. Signs of a very hot vintage. Probably needs drinking soon.
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10/3/2021 - Force5 Likes this wine:
Last bottle in a frustrating case, as more than half of these were corked or as though low-level TCA had stripped the fruit. Not this time! This was fully realized and at something of a tertiary peak. Still needed an hour or two of air to unlock its initial structure, then with zippy, salivating medium-bodied red-fruited mature flavors and exotic aromas of funky wild animal earthiness. Very cool way to finish up a case.
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9/16/2021 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 93 Points
[Blind] Wild animal and high brett. Horse hair. Palate is soft around the edges but there is a lot of red fruit stuffing. Good power, nicely developed, not overbearing. Big projection and presence. Shockingly expressive and showy. Higher alcohol and very ripe. Everyone called Chateauneuf.
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9/6/2021 - Beachfan wrote: 92 Points
Classic, with slightly less oomph than the last bottle (from 375)
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9/2/2021 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
Still very drinkable, but no better than it was in 2013 when I last tasted this. Not in the same league as the legendary '89 and "90 Beaucastel. Good balance, good fruit and tannin present. A little hot on the finish. Will last least five more years if well stored, but expect no improvement. As it opens, perhaps a 92! Addendum: changed from a 91 to a to a 92 after two hours..Enjoy!
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8/21/2021 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 95 Points
Garnet, deep. Nose was garrigue and deep fruits. Taste smooth, similar to nose. Delish and at peak if cellared well.
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6/18/2021 - Frijole wrote:
inky black burgundy, little clarity, brickish hue
Nose: cranberries, black cherry, violets, cigar box, tar, tobacco, green pepper, licorice, fennel, mint, dirt, earth, garrigue, minerals, oak
Pal: black cherry, cranberries, cigar box, tar, tobacco, licorice, clove, earth, dust, garrigue, minerals, oak
Feel: medium, savory, astringent
Finish: medium, long
T9
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5/15/2021 - Cmainardi wrote: 93 Points
Absolutely ready to drink. Tannins almost completely integrated. This is all fruit. You can hold but not more than a year or so
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5/6/2021 - Geoff Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful nose with dark fruit still prominent and a multitude of secondary notes. Dark red/purple color with perhaps slight browning at the edges. Soft in the mouth with mollified tannins. Long finish. Surprisingly relatively youthful, in it’s prime and eminently enjoyable. Last bottle.
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4/21/2021 - magyarsvensk Likes this wine: 94 Points
I was not thrilled with the last bottle, which was watery and a bit broken, so I decided I would clear some cellar space with low expectations. This bottle was surprisingly good.
Rum, raisins, cologne, dark cherry, heather. Still plenty of fruit and grip. Could improve.
This bottle has the profile becoming of a legendary producer like Vieux Telegraphe. It’s very put together and complex — a great after-dinner wine.
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3/13/2021 - drwine2001 wrote:
Magnum. Garnet color. A low but tolerable dose of brett, lovely red fruit and licorice aromas. Medium weight. Pomegranate, plum, spices, and lively acidity. It is hard to believe that 20 years ago, this was thought to be the epitome of ripe vintage excess in the southern Rhône; now it comes across as absolutely elegant compared to wines from more recent warm years such as 2007 and 2009. Wonderful bottle.
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2/12/2021 - magyarsvensk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ripe berries, underbrush, black olives, citrus oil, graham cracker. Plenty of mature grand vin character. Could use more concentration.
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12/31/2020 - lindauer7 wrote: 94 Points
Phenomenal. Barnyard funk (which I love), plum and ripe cherry. Paired beautifully with our bacon wrapped filet. Probably peaking now. Great way to ring in the New Year!
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12/16/2020 - Winewhiskeyfood Likes this wine: 89 Points
Orange and bricking for sure, needed about 1.5 hours to open. Those herb de provance notes linger in background, lots of black fruits, hints of raisin and dates. Soft tannin! Enjoyed with some slow cooked roast beef
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10/24/2020 - Lma1969 wrote: 93 Points
Nose had some funk at first. Blew off after 30 minutes or so. Rich tart cherry, raspberry fruit. Definite herbs de Provence, garrigue, clean line of acidity. The wine is rich and savory. You could sip this all night and be very happy. Drink now or leave for a few more years. The tannins will keep this going for awhile longer. I have two more of the ‘98s and am looking forward to enjoying them.
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9/29/2020 - 14frimaire wrote:
delicious
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9/19/2020 - WST Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outdoor socially distanced charity wine tasting; 13 wines including '06 Comte, '08 DP, '09 Cristal, '01 Sudiuraut, '98 Vieux Telegraph, more.: I don't drink much CdP anymore, but I've always found the '98 vintage of VT to be special. This bottle was no exception. Red berries and cherries, garrigue, and showing similar summer spices and gaminess as the pan seared lamb chops it accompanied.
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9/15/2020 - pbaek wrote:
Such a great wine right now. Relaxed, smooth, mature. Vertical, dark-fruited, notes of seaweed, tea. Good acidity, bright fruit, tertiary notes. In its prime drinking period I think.
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9/6/2020 - SimonS wrote: flawed
corked.
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8/23/2020 - norsktorsk wrote: 94 Points
Funky at first. Decanted. After a couple hours this rounded out to a rich full bodied long finish wine. one of my favorite CDP's
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7/4/2020 - Uncle Pops Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fig and stewed prune, Christmas cake spice (clove in particular) and some leather. Lots of power left after 22 years, but hard to imagine this being any better than it is now. Delicious and worth the wait.
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5/30/2020 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
CDP Corona Tasting...gotta love it!: This wine was double decanted to get rid of sediment, poured into small jars around 4 pm, transported to individuals for the tasting, poured into glasses and tasted at 6:30 pm, tasted over the course of 2 hours. The wines were tasted single blind (we knew what all the wines were, but not which one we were tasting). The wines in this tasting were as follows:
1. 1998 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau
2. 2000 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée
3. 2009 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin
4. 2007 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
5. 2003 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The group's top 2 (which received almost all 1st or 2nd place votes) were the 2003 Clos des Papes (Number 1) and the 2000 Pegau (Number 2). My order was as follows: (1) 2000 Pegau, (2) 2003 Clos des Papes, (3) 2009 Janesse, (4) 2007 Beaucastel, and (5) 1998 Telegraphe. As a side note, my number 5 did not end up there because it was a bad, on the contrary, it was good, just happened to like the other wines better!
1998 Telegraphe - I thought this wine was middle of the pack age wise. Never would have pegged it for the oldest wine. All wines were dark, this had a hint of bricking, but I felt it was less than the Pegau and Clos des Pape. Nose was slightly perfumed with dark cherry and spice. Palate showed nice integration of plum, fig and black pepper, with hints of anise. medium finish. Overall a good wine that was facing tough competition. I could see myself enjoying this wine with, or without food. 91-91+ points.
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5/30/2020 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points
Single-blind Chateauneuf du Pape (Everyone's House): Single blind covid-style, so each wine delivered in a small jar. Burnt rubber, scorched earth, both ripe and sour red fruit. The palate has a little more anise than I would like. There is nice complexity, yet it remains a big wine that is rustic and burly. This was my bottle at the tasting, and I was certainly hoping for a much better outcome.
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5/29/2020 - wine4ever Likes this wine:
Well worth the wait. Bought on release and babied in our cellar. Cork in perfect condition, nose was addictive. Lots of secondary characteristics. Complex, smooth, long finish. Older CDPs are very different than when they were young and I love that about them. Unique and delicious.
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5/28/2020 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Virtual Single Blind CdP Tasting (Home): Dark red color with almost no bricking. Splash double decanted and drank a glass single blind 2.5 hours later over 3 hours. This does come off youthful, more brooding on the nose. This opens more gradually, rose, rose hips, high toned garrigue, kirsch and ripe raspberry, spice and oodles of dried herbs. The palate shows red fruits, cherry, tar, pepper and spice. This is a bit more rustic than the others. Thought this was the '98 VT. Still needs time or air and may get somewhat better. My #3 ranked wine. 91+(+?)pts.
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5/26/2020 - Hollowine wrote:
fantastic juice. Really showing well at this age, but no reason to keep holding them.
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5/6/2020 - eudora Likes this wine: 95 Points
The 1998 is a long-time favorite. We opened it to celebrate my son’s 22nd birthday and, like him, the wine has matured and softened and is more complex. The prominent tannins of its first ten or twelve years have evened out, providing structure but not dominating. The acids remain balanced as always. It is the bouquet that has exploded - sweet cherry and plum burst out of the glass. I rated this 95 but, honestly, I’m not sure I’ve enjoyed a better bottle of CDP ever. Such a gorgeous wine.
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3/28/2020 - Aris1a Likes this wine: 93 Points
At a perfect spot right now, and can last a few more years in the cellar, but I would drink up. Really nice overall. Medium body, balanced tannins. Garrigue, pepper, eucalyptus, quince paste, fig jam. Long finish. Can’t go wrong with this one. Wonderful.
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3/7/2020 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Nearly 3 years after the prior: bright, indeed brilliantly precise; very enjoyable, and lovely with roasted duck. (If the muddy 2009 ever evolves into this I’ll be happy — and surprised.)
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3/6/2020 - cfk49 wrote: 92 Points
Fresh, precise dark fruits, surprisingly young.
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3/6/2020 - slanum wrote: flawed
Another really bretty bottle.
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2/29/2020 - Richard Nabavi Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last of a dozen bought on release.
Perfect cork, with no soak-through or seepage at all. The wine had thrown quite a lot of fine sediment so needed careful decanting. Fine ruby colour, little browning at the edges. A very agreeable nose of warm fruit with a hint of smokiness. The warm fruit continued in the palate, giving a lush, concentrated mid-palate taste and a long, soft aftertaste.
Overall, a wine in excellent condition. It has perhaps lost a little of the herbal/'garrigue' notes it had when younger, but it is lovely still. I can't see it improving further, but no hurry to drink up.
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2/18/2020 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had this as part of a "wines bought at auction" night with my wine group at a NYC restaurant. While it was decanted, it was basically a pop 'n pour. This was our first red, out of five, for the night. How much you liked this depended on how much you like wines that are this old. I loved it, and it might have been my favorite (but not the group's) of the night. The fruit is fading, being replaced by spice and some ceder wood notes. Its complex with a lot of subtle flavors going on. Mid length finish, and a light body feel.
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2/7/2020 - jordanj Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Really disappointing. Very closed, singular and held none of my interest. Tasted over 2 days.
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1/27/2020 - vinojones wrote: 97 Points
decanted 30 minutes: dark ruby red; complex nose of herbs, red fruits and spices; flavors carried through to the palate with more red plum,cherry/ berry notes; incredibly rich and full bodied, very smooth texture;integrated tannin's, no rough edges; very velvety ,long finish with red cherry fruit to the end.
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11/23/2019 - chablis28 wrote: 93 Points
I didn't plan to open this tonight but gave up too quickly on a floundering, seemingly fruitless, '89 opened an hour earlier. In the end both wines turned out fine and I ended up with an 89/98 vertical and roughly 1/2 btl of each left over. This 98 is still the better wine and humming along nicely. I decanted and left in the decanter with dinner 30 minutes later. Tonight this was suave, balanced and showed more lift then a previous btl in 2015. Smoky dark fruit and garrigue on the nose. The harmonious palate delivered dark raspberry, earth, more garrigue, leather mineral and spice. Not a major rock star but more akin to CDP of the past even though 98 might have kicked off the more modern riper world of CDP that has gotten out of hand today. In this case maybe 21yrs of btl age has won the day and fought off the worst tendencies of modern CDP. My last 98.
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10/26/2019 - TashNYC wrote:
The cork was difficult to open and then the wine seemed a little faded. Seemingly an off bottle as we have had very good ones. Still ok with our roast racks of lamb.
88 if scored.
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10/21/2019 - SimonS wrote: 95 Points
Quite superb. At the peak of its powers. Took a few minutes in the glass to display its bouquet. Smooth and delicious. Hard to stop sipping.
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9/23/2019 - Darke Peak Likes this wine: 93 Points
From a magnum. Perfect seal. High ullage. First impressions upon opening were very poor - it had a mild bret character, very little fruit and colour was thin. Double decant and left for 2-3 hours. Complete transformation, except the colour. The bret was almost completely gone, some of the winemakers present had trouble detecting it at all. Fruit characters came through, slightly overpowered by oak. Still very enjoyable for an aged CNDP but don’t expect it to get better from here.
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9/9/2019 - sooper65 wrote: 79 Points
I wish well all those who admire the "funk" dirty bretty pong that emits from VT '98
A wine that never fails to disappoint. And this bottle was unilaterally dissed for what it was.
It isn't that this was out of condition - no - it's just a dirty bretti wine that was never very good in the first place.
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8/24/2019 - tomlee wrote: 97 Points
Light ruby red in color. 14% ABV. Stunning nose of red fruits, blood, herbs and wet pavement. Medium body with exquisite acidity. There is a tremendous core of dried, sweet fruit on the palate. Flavors of cherry, kirsch, iron, plums and Herbes de Provence. The finish is exceptionally long with ample tannins and gorgeous, plush fruit. The wine exemplifies traditional CdP at its very best. I have followed this vintage over the last decade and this bottle shows no sign of decline. For me, the best VT ever made. Drink over the next 2-4 years.
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8/15/2019 - beatles wrote: 94 Points
Not quite up there with the latest bottle, seems a little bit more evolved, lacking the iron fist of precision, more of a tradional neuf here - on the highest level. Grenache speaks louder today ... (from PB)
#NYCGroup#Anarki
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8/8/2019 - beatles wrote: 97 Points
Still a young wine, firm, blue intense, concentrated, hitting all cylinders. A Bordeaux-lovers neuf, yes, but lots of local character here. WOTN - no centest.
#BistroDinnerChezMoi
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8/4/2019 - Woodbridge Brad Likes this wine: 93 Points
I am going to taste 1998-2003 over the next few days this is the first. Super nose, all dark chocolate covered cherries. Its an old wine but the stamina it has is great. Good balance, the tannins are totally resolved but the texture is sound. The chocolate and cherry note is accented by a vanilla note in the mouth. Great linger, all Grenache and velvet. Definitely still drinking well. Am saving the rest of the bottle for tomorrow with a tasting friend, we will also have the 1999.
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7/27/2019 - rnellans wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful. Amber edge. Very good structure and balance.
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6/20/2019 - heymamalow Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dinner at Imperial Treasure Teochew - GE birthday
Secondary and tertiary phase now. Slow oxed for 1 hour before drinking.
All herbal and umami flavours with barely a hint of fruit. It is totally up my alley. So elegant despite the high alcohol which probably explains why we finished this in a flash.
Still at least some years left in this so I wouldnt be in a rush to finish them if you have a few bottles remaining in the cellar.
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6/8/2019 - wsammons Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very smooth and cool if memory serves; lots of good fruit that is well integrated with little to no burn on the back end
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4/19/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
Magnum. Garnet. Spicy pomegranate and cherry, elegant middle weight, a twist of citrus, excellent acidity, fine soil. Really sensuous, perfect weight. An almost wow wine with 10 years to go from this format. Educational to see how much less more harmonious and balanced a ripe vintage wine was 20 years ago. It makes me sad to have pretty much sworn off contemporary Chateauneuf, but the rising alcohol and sugary sweetness have made them much less appealing as table wines.
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4/14/2019 - mhudes Likes this wine: 93 Points
At John and Sharon's for the wine tasting group reunion. 2 hour decant. Spice cake and chocolate on the nose. Black raspberries, black currents, and CdP garrigue in the mouth. Actually slightly more tannic than the bottle I had two years ago. Complex. Still a wonderful wine.
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3/16/2019 - Brain Capers Likes this wine:
Nice but not rich as I was hoping for. Lot’s of sweet fruit, no tannins, some fruitcake, no Brett, some alcohol heat. Lot’s, and lot’s of sediment, that’s okay. Time to drink up! With some local lamb sausages.
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3/9/2019 - kevinacohn wrote:
Double-decanted about two hours before serving. At first the nose was a bit muted and even green, although on the palate the wine was pristine from the word go. Sweet brambley fruit, reddish-black, with lots of inner sweetness. The bouquet opened up with time in the glass, although it never matched the freshness and appeal of the palate. The alcohol on the finish is a bit overpowering, hinting that the wine may be coming to the end of its peak drinking window.
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3/4/2019 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent. Complex and balanced. Drinks very well now.
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2/23/2019 - SadEdjo wrote: flawed
Corked
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2/23/2019 - gwilliams68 wrote: 88 Points
Not a great showing. All somewhat muted. Was hoping for more.
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2/4/2019 - sooper65 wrote: 88 Points
total stinker on opening.
next day, at lunch, funk had blown off. Gone savoury. Mid-weight.
This is just not a great wine. Never was in my opinion
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1/21/2019 - kevin h wrote: 89 Points
Still dark and sulky but seems to be losing its fruit. A dry, tannic style. A bit disappointing and I have 8 left...
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1/11/2019 - pbaek wrote:
Grand vin in the bottle. Opens with a funky nose, old school, mature Neuf. The fruit is light and airy, there are notes of seaweed, tea, garrigue. This is upright, structured, well balanced and complex. Very satisfying wine. More please.
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1/10/2019 - Everything Ahead Likes this wine: 93 Points
While the fruit was nearly all gone from this bottle (compared with a bottle I had two years back that was all chocolate covered dark fruit), this was a very enjoyable and cerebral wine, pairing magnificently with our cassoulet. The nose and palate are all about meats, spice, and olives. The most distinctive note that jumped out to me on the palate was Spanish chorizo (pimenton). Hard to believe this started out 20+ years ago as grapes, as now it has transformed into an alchemic conglomeration of various savory foodstuffs.
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12/15/2018 - JazzManWine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really good and a pleasure to drink. No decanting. Paired well with chicken marinated within piment D'espelette (Basque style) and potato gratin.
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12/10/2018 - Beachfan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic textbook cdp at a perfect age, sill fresh but mature
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11/27/2018 - jnewman77 wrote:
Similar to prior bottles; this was still younger than expected and vibrant with dark fruits, garrigue, earth, floral notes, and leather. Nice dense palate with a very good finish. Excellent with herb crusted lamb.
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11/21/2018 - rmalloy wrote: flawed
Slightly corked. Otherwise, this bottle was promising with its mouth-coating red and black fruit and spicy aromas.
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11/18/2018 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 92 Points
Served at room temp. Dark garnet color. Light nose of smoke. Fully resolved earthy flavor. Great structure but definitely on the far side of the sine wave! Drink them up. EG #ArchitecturalArtistry #WineArchitect
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10/26/2018 - sooper65 wrote: 91 Points
Funky at first... showing plenty of bricking; so needed decanting, but softened with time, and mellowed.
Purity, and some weight, am sure the next bottle will be much better with an hour in the decanter
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10/18/2018 - tomoem Likes this wine: 93 Points
CBCC dinner with wine friends. 67' Carruades de Lafite, 86 Spottswoode Estate Cabernet, 98 Vieux Telegraph, 14 Aston Estate PN, 15' GTS Cabernet, 12' Ben Rye. Started with a 16' Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc.
So let me start be saying that I love old wine. I love its flavor which is unique and unfindable anywhere else but here in old wine. I love the mostly mainly Melancholy juice which only age can deliver.
Here is a 20 year old French charmer (thanks to Gary W. for brining this). Fresh, cherry laiden, and balanced. Mid palette produces classic "Ch. neuf du pape flavor with soil and red berries dominating. Long finish and a beauty worth finding.
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10/14/2018 - dbg wrote:
Cellared since release, perfect cork and fill. Cherry, red berries, more earthy complexity on the nose than the last bottle, medium body, fruit is less in the foreground than 3 years ago but still present, well balanced, still excellent.
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9/23/2018 - bobvictor Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful CDP. Drinking perfectly
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7/25/2018 - bhouk wrote:
Still crimson at the core, but with lightening towards the rim from ruby to amber. Extraordinary wine. Smooth and harmonious, with caramel complements to the red fruits. A showstopper.
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7/10/2018 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bought at auction, opened, but not decanted, for about an hour before pouring at a NYC restaurant with my wine group. Cork the cork came out in one piece and was saturated about half way up the cork. Nice purple color, but it was easy to see it was lighter than the 2006s and 2010 CdP's that we also had at dinner. Also much less fruit, with some spice notes replacing the fruit, a beautiful nose, with a long finish. This was a big hit.
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6/9/2018 - J. Vino Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had two bottles--one was outstanding and one was flawed. This review is based on the former. Layers of complexity on the nose--rose petals, raspberries, leather, earth and vanilla. Nice balance and a lengthy finish. Still v much alive and should last at least a few more years.
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6/7/2018 - Pknut wrote:
I brought this to Nice Matin on the UWS for dinner with James M, Tom G and Fernando. Really good showing. The palate is red to pink hued, no Grenache over-ripeness, with light garrigue notes. It's been a few years since I've had this vintage of VT, and it seems to be aging very nicely. At 20 years past the vintage, it is mature, giving, complex and satisfying. It also speaks softly, gracefully. I'm no longer a fan of most CdP, but this is a very good wine.
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5/26/2018 - djs Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bought on release. Color is age appropriate, dark ruby with some browning at the edge. Great sauvage nose, forest floor, animal fur. Medium body, complex red fruit flavors resolved tannin, very long finish. This has evolved into something really beautiful.
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5/21/2018 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
Very similar to my prior bottle; excellent. Still dense and rich and seeming younger than 20 years. The nose shows dark fruit, leather, garrigue, damp earth, hints of game. The palate is still remarkably dense, rich and powerful. Long finish and excellent balance. Delicious.
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4/27/2018 - Aromatic wrote: 93 Points
For the price I am not convinced this is something! The owner with such good vibes producing a good wine with a friendly price tag for real! Perfect cork clean juice! Nose with dry currents sweet fruits, ripe but not heavy, with acids and minerals resolve tannins drinking beautifully!
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2/20/2018 - mattiasjansson wrote: 94 Points
Rhone dinner in Boston (Boston): Violet/licorice
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2/4/2018 - James Kim Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 2h off sediment. Aromas of lifted kirsch, garrigue, olives, brambles, earth and black- and blueberries. Palate is similar but it's the berries that hits first with a bit of licorice. Nice acids and moderate tannins give the wine lift and some elegance. Finish is long with waves of fruit, bark, earth and garrigue. Not a fan of most CdP as I find many of them overwrought. But this is just beautiful now.
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2/3/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind (Chicago, IL): Tasted blind. Very ripe but clearly showing lots of elegant, Old World character and balance. I thought it older than 1998, but that's what to expect from this vintage. Others liked this more.
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2/3/2018 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Blind Syrahs at Chevalier (Chicago, IL): Served blind. Full and complex nose has aromas of dried black fruit, meat, olive, black pepper and old leather. The palate is savory and meaty yet fresh and dense. Excellent and should hold, but seems to be in a peak window.
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1/27/2018 - snipes Likes this wine:
A very enjoyable bottle. Perfect cork, still only stained on the very bottom. Cork pulled an hour or two before dinner, no decant, no small pour to allow additional air. Not giving much up on the nose initially, but that first taste was a lovely dark red full fruit. A bit of garrigue, but no hint of leather or barnyard, a very clean bottle of CdP. The wine showed better closer to 60º than 70º. Paired with a simply prepared rack of lamb and roasted brussel sprouts and enjoyed over 2-3 hours. Tannins essentially fully resolved, plenty of fruit and no hint of fading. This bottle has 5-10 years in it no problem. I imagine / hope this is how the 05s will eventually turn out in another decade. If so I'll be one happy man. Enjoy now or consume over the next five years.
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1/24/2018 - ChrisR Likes this wine: 94 Points
Whoah, nelly. That was quite a wine. Not what I was expecting, really. I mean, that sucker was BIG. Rich, very rich, sweet black cherries and raspberries, with complicating notes of iodine, seaweed (no, really), garrigue and other herbs and spices. Rich, dense and layered, yet with enough lift to keep it energetic. So powerful, yet balanced. This could have easily gone another 10 years. A terrific Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
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12/23/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delightful and fully mature.
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12/15/2017 - Bacchus&Ceres Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep garnet almost purple with long slow legs shiny glistening. Nose of roasted spices and earth, balanced and quite fresh ripe plump clean plums and just the right amount of spice, fresh earth with delicately balanced acidity and alcohol, tannins soft, silky. Delicious and with elegant finesse. Don't hold much longer 3-5 years at most. peaking.
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12/2/2017 - SimonS wrote: 96 Points
First bottle was not quite right on the nose, so opened another. It was superb. Plenty of power, but never heavy. Fruit all there, tannins integrated, not over-sweet, but so easy to drink. Another reminder that VT is one of my very favourite CNDPs. They are so worth holding to maturity. No rush.
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10/13/2017 - SimonS wrote: 94 Points
Superb wine. A step up from Clos des Papes 1998. Can last quite a few more years.
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9/25/2017 - Rezy13 wrote:
Chapoutier Ermitage Tasting (Alpharetta, GA): Cloudy purple maroon; black pepper, olives, fennel, sweaty, leather in background, finishes a touch short with some bitterness, lacks punch; pretty disappointing.
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8/30/2017 - tewino Likes this wine: 91 Points
Awesome. Fresh
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8/30/2017 - tewino wrote: flawed
Corked. The one before was stewed and port like. The one after was superb.
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8/5/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind (Chicago, IL): Tasted double blind alongside the 1982. Meaty black fruit with savory spice throughout. Dense and clearly ripe, but wonderful balance. Knowing the pair were from the same place, I initially (mistakenly) thought Burgundy.
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8/4/2017 - mhudes Likes this wine: 95 Points
Next to the 1978, this is my favorite VT. It's a little different every time I have it, but (after 2008) wonderful every time. Decanted 3 hours prior to bringing to dinner at friend's house. Good nose, deep red in color. Very complex mouth feel. Black currants, black cherries, leather and earth. Tannins have subsided, but enough power remains to last a goodly number of years. Good balance. Fine finish. A beautiful wine.
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7/27/2017 - d'Artagnan wrote: 93 Points
Il est superbe! Beau nez de garrigue et de kirsch. Bouche complexe sur les épices, authentique et savoureuse, presque élégante malgré une finale un brin rustique. Il est en pleine forme, délicieux. Superbe. 93 pts
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6/3/2017 - slanum wrote: flawed
Terribly subpar bottle, too marred by brett to be drinkable.
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5/29/2017 - cephomer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank last nite after coravining this past week. Lovely wine. Lots of earth, dark cherries and smoke on the nose. The wine has a rustic fragrance and appearance in the glass. Lots of dark fruit here, along with some spice, leather and a definite smokiness. Quite earthy and rustic. Tannins are mostly resolved, but the wine remains quite concentrated, with all elements nicely integrated.
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5/10/2017 - pbaek wrote:
I've tasted this wine many times and it is a great Vieux Telegraphe. There's the classic notes of seaweed here, the style is very upright with pure cherry fruit and some tertiary notes as well. Lovely Chateauneuf but on this particular evening it was outshone by the 3 other wines. With Niels at Kandestederne.
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5/10/2017 - beatles wrote: 96 Points
The English house is here, licorice, minerals and black fruit in the core, this is actually still quite young, tannins presents, very deep and dark, yet fresh. Will keep for many years.
Kandestederne#PB-BoysNightOut
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5/6/2017 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Even better than before. This tasted like it has several years left. I was too impatient to let it sit any longer. Open for 2 hours before pouring; no decant.
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5/4/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dusky and murky in color but nice fruit and earthiness. Enjoyable but certainly on the decline so drink up
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4/16/2017 - rm97 wrote: 93 Points
4 hour open before drinking
Keeps getting better
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4/15/2017 - bengti Likes this wine: 95 Points
A great bottle of Rhone goodness, smooth, silky yet full of flavour, no heat whatsoever. A trifle of summer fruits, cherries, fresh soil. Deep ruby red hue. Although now approaching 20 years, this is still lively.
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4/11/2017 - citizen1 wrote: 93 Points
Needed 30 minutes to open up. Beautiful. Smoke initially. Then dark plum.
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3/25/2017 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
In a word, stellar. Had next to several other aged Chateauneufs and this was as good as any... maybe a tiny bit behind the 90 Beaucastel, but not much. Dark fruits, earth, smoke, leather, violet. The palate is unbelievably concentrated and rich, with still noticeable tannin, but great depth and balance. Great wine no doubt.
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3/19/2017 - aagrawal wrote: 94 Points
Dinner with Tim, Elliott, and Roger (Tim and Elliott's Place, San Francisco): Light ruby with age-appropriate bricking; nose is highly aromatic with red cherry fruit, white pepper, floral lavender, complex and with depth; palate is light bodied, medium tannins that are still youthful, plenty of red fruits, surprisingly medium-plus acid with freshness throughout, medium alcohol (thought 13-13.5%, bottle says 14%); medium-long finish. A lovely wine with plenty of CnDP character, wonderful depth and complexity on both the palate and the nose, overall an elegantly styled CnDP without brett or dense meatiness but plenty of spice, pepper, floral. Certainly enjoyable to drink now but also seems like it could have years of development ahead. 6.5 years since my last bottle and my experience is similar to last time. One of my favorite '98 Chateaneufs. 93-94
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2/24/2017 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
So much better than the previous bottle, tasted years ago. This is a beauty! All the sweet, juicy kirsch, peppery, black raspberry, earth, herbs and weight, density, length and complexity you could ask for in a Chateauneuf du Pape.
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2/12/2017 - Eudemis Likes this wine:
14% alcohol. Slightly faded colour. The nose gives earthy aromas as well as suggestions of pot-pourri. The mouth is elegant and bears the alcohol level lightly, with more dried flowers flavours; ethereal and refined are words that come to mind. This is a feminine type of Châteauneuf, and all the better for it; if you are looking for a blockbuster, you will be disappointed. At maturity now, and unlikely to improve further. A super wine, well worth the wait in the cellar, and certainly a repeat buy.
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2/11/2017 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:
With rib cap and rib eyes, probably would have benefitted from more air time, but this offered virile, youthful, bramble, earthy, olive fruit balanced beautifully by tense and energizing acidity. Regal, lovely and a pleasure.
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1/28/2017 - Hypersphere wrote: 90 Points
Somewhat disappointing - enjoyed over 2 hours but didn't seem to evolve that well further
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12/16/2016 - rupertg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great nose of leather and leaves, dark red, but translucent. Good length and spicy finish. Extraordinary transformation from its youth.
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11/26/2016 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
Light red in color. Almost translucent. 14% ABV. Restrained nose of red fruits, kirsch, iron and herbes de Provence. Medium body with plenty of acidity. Precise and complex with pure, sweet fruit. Dried cherries, garrigue, iron and game on the palate. The wine picks up weight and becomes more intense with time in the glass. The finish is exceptionally long. Aging beautifully. Well stored bottles will drink well for another 2-4 years.
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11/10/2016 - Ebrim Likes this wine: 92 Points
see first tasting note, somewhat weaker bottle but still outstanding quality and ripe for drinking
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11/6/2016 - Paul D Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium/deep garnet core, pale garnet rim. Attractive nose showing dark fruit, tobacco, earth, touch of black olive. Medium/full bodied, blackcurrant fruit, leather, touch of chocolate, fine tannins, only moderate acidity but this is not heavy or cloying, and has a very good length, expansive finish with black olive and smoke. Excellent, drinking well, no hurry.
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11/2/2016 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fabulous, in a perfect place right now. Brick red, showing its age yet strong all the way to the rim. Textbook Chateauneuf nose with red cherry fruit, Provençal herbs, saddle leather and true garrigue. Awesome. Lovely and sleek in the mouth, with still-powerful, unctuous sweet fruit. One hell of a wine. 4-13-17-9: 93/100.
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10/9/2016 - beatles wrote: 95 Points
A manly, English structure, mineral still, but a more local feel is starting to peep through as this is approaching full maturity. Tasted vis-a-vis the Beaucastel 1998, this still seems a bit younger, but they seem very close indeed. Grand Vin, for sure. #SøllerødKro#NC
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10/7/2016 - RISM Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very different now from three-and-a-half years ago. The tannins are now much more integrated, and the dry, dustiness has all but disappeared to leave a mouthful that's layered, intense, but sweet and still fruity and typical of a well-aged CNP. I agree with others' notes that it's now in its ideal drinking window, and should be enjoyed over the next 2 to 5 years.
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10/7/2016 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
Starting to brick at the edges, this lovely mature wine is drinking wonderfully at the moment. Roasted fruit, smoke, earth, meat and leather. Lots of secondary notes, but the fruit is still showing well. Complex, with good length. The tannins are fully resolved and this is in a great drinking window.
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10/7/2016 - brentb Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for about 45 minutes. Tons of sediment. Medium red color with some bricking at the edge. Drank with a rustic, meaty pizza. The wine was silky smooth and had a reasonably long finish. The flavors were mostly forest floor as the fruit is fading. Drink up.
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8/20/2016 - WST Likes this wine:
Charity Auction Tasting for Brigid Collins Family Support Center: A couple of people at the tasting requested a CdP, and after speaking with them, I realized they'd only opened young ones in the past. Uncorked and Andouzed for 8 hours in the cellar. This was the WOTN for many, maybe even me. There are no great wines, only great bottles, and this was better than any of the '98 VT's I've had before. Great red fruit and garrigue, a little iodine and moist earth. I especially loved the floral notes. I haven't opened one for three years, and this was the best I remember. I've been neglecting the CdP's in my cellar, but this bottle may bring me back around.
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8/17/2016 - mchrist wrote: 92 Points
Delicious. Drink up.
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8/10/2016 - champussi Likes this wine: 95 Points
Toll gereifter Ch9 ca. 2-3 Jahre vor dem absoluten Höhepunkt! Das ist keine fette Marmelade! Viel kühle dunkelrote Frucht, etwas floral, noch Tannin, Kräuter, Garrigue. Braucht viel Luft. Grosser Sport!!! 95+
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8/8/2016 - brentb Likes this wine: 95 Points
Paired perfectly with Osso Buco.
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7/5/2016 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 93 Points
CDP Session (Rayas) (Extra Space): Pop and poured. Drank from bottle over 3 hours.
Appearance is clear, deep opaque intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is pronounced, with aromas of Brett, mushrooms, undergrowth, and some slight animals. Black fruits underneath. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14%), gum drying high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of black cherries, dark red cherries, dark tarry earth, undergrowth, leather, slight meat. Long finish.
Very good quality, although Brett haters might beg to differ. For me, this is still acceptably Bretty. Dark and brooding. This gives me the feeling that the tannins are never really going to soften all that much with further ageing. Drink up before the Brett gets too unbearable.
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6/26/2016 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smells quite mature. Roasted cherries and grilled herbs such as rosemary and thyme. Full-bodied and quite rich. High alcohol. Silky palate with just a tug of tannin on the finish. Best now and over the next 2-4 years (will last longer). 93
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6/19/2016 - PlanetX wrote: 94 Points
Oldest CDP I have had. Loved the complexity and length . Age has muted the flavours but the intensity is still there. Lots of pepper notes with meaty undertones. Paired well with lamb chops.
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6/4/2016 - rsbeck wrote: 95 Points
Popped, breathed in bottle 60 minutes, consumed over next 90. This is in an excellent drinking window, but still seems like it will continue to benefit from cellaring. Balanced, complex, wonderful intensity, evolving notes of tertiary development, expanding finish. A beauty.
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5/28/2016 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Got to taste this lovely aged CdP at a recent event. Seemed fully mature and really pleasant to drink now.
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5/28/2016 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 93 Points
I loved this again. I got nervous seeing some of the negative recent reviews, but this bottle was in great shape with lots of pepper notes, some tarragon and sage. I have another bottle and will not hesitate to wait a year plus. This went incredibly well with a grilled strip steak that we brushed with olive oil and coated with a spicy rub.
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5/7/2016 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Dark garnet. Lovely touch of funk on the nose, which came through in taste as well. Balanced. Smoky, earthy, bright, deep & surprisingly rich. Good finish. Very nice stuff -- and it would seem to have much life ahead.
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5/1/2016 - Geoff Likes this wine: 95 Points
The wine looks inky colored. The legs are medium. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, raspberry, forest floor, mineral, cedar, toast, vanilla, acacia and black pepper. The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity and sweet tannins.
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5/1/2016 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent mature Rhone GSM blend. Nice lighter mouthfeel, strong fruit and gentle tannins. Just enough acidity and long spiced finish.
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3/11/2016 - MrMoose wrote: flawed
slightly corked
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3/10/2016 - brihprivat wrote: 92 Points
VT - Vertical 1983-2012
No formal notes. tasted alongside the 1999, this one had more concentration but both bottles were good. Especially compared to the 2000 - 2001 set which was a huge dissapointment
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3/8/2016 - beatles Likes this wine: 95 Points
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1998 (Chez moi): Elegant, aristocratic, powerful real VT, cool stuff - comme l’habitude, does not disappoint. Will live on.
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3/4/2016 - Pinotphile123 wrote: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully but definately at peak if not little past. Still good colour.
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2/21/2016 - Birorganic Likes this wine: 94 Points
Spectacular wine. A total home run.
Slight heat on the nose but not on the palate. Still a baby. Many years of life left (5+) with the tannic structure I picked up. Slightly short finish and very dry.
Grenache leads the way to a complex mix of umami, dried seaweed, rose pedals, dried cherries, red and blue stone fruit, a terrific sum of its parts.
I've had this wine many times before but not for at least 6 years. This bottle was the best by far of any of the previous 1998's I've consumed.
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2/13/2016 - stephen locke Likes this wine: 88 Points
Suffered following the Janasse. Not as much life or energy in this - the fruit is fading and secondary garrigue and woodspice is dominating.
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2/13/2016 - Obpoet Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is why we age wines. So smooth, seductive, and mature. A flash of images of old age yet to come, but not this year. Loving that even modest unpretentious wines can reward us so.
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2/12/2016 - 14frimaire wrote:
Damit, need to check prior notes before opening. Smells fantastic on opening.
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2/11/2016 - Geoff Likes this wine: 94 Points
Medium body, beautiful fruit, striking complex nose, a bit of bret, not obnoxious. Long finish. Delightful wine.
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1/31/2016 - michael47 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The best of several bottles of this wine I've had. Perfectly mature with some life still left. Smoke, dried herbs and grenache fruit. Smooth and silky in the mouth. Look forward to my remaining bottles.
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1/29/2016 - cnichelson Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking perfectly now. Slightly more austere and refined nose and palate than say a pegau but a trace of fine tannins with some red cherries and mild spice box.
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1/21/2016 - ifishtoo Likes this wine: 93 Points
A lovely CdP. Ready but can go longer.
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1/8/2016 - WilD wrote: 92 Points
Wine is in perfect condition. Brick red colour. Medium bodied, tertiair aromas of leather, mushrooms, red fruit. Nice acidity. This wine is at its end of the maturity stage. If you like a nice developed C9dP drink it now. It won't get better.
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12/25/2015 - Force5 wrote: 89 Points
Smells and tastes quite old, attic and dried flowers, not necessarily in a bad way, but more interesting than enjoyable, and better I think with more freshness. Seventh bottle in the case, and I've always suspected something like low-level TCA at work. Four-hour slow-ox this time, it needed the air, but I will try with an hour or two next time.
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12/25/2015 - Ebrim Likes this wine: 93 Points
The wine i clear with a medium red core, developing.
On the nose it is medium+ intense, clean and aromas of flint, hanged meat, estragon, kirch, tobacco, strawberry jam. Developed.
On the palate it is medium acidity and medium rupe tannins, medium+ % body and flavour intensity, aromas of kirch, strawberry jam, tobacco, estragon, hanged meat, some blackberries, long aftertaste.
The wine is very well balanced and has a very deep complexity and concentration, nice fruit and secondary aromas that with the alcohol makes a very good balance with the level of intensity and the maturity. Lenght is solid. Potential for agening drink now - 3years. Outstanding quality, 93p
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12/25/2015 - Hypersphere Likes this wine: 91 Points
actually better than the previous one. More of a CNDP, maybe the first bottle was corked. very smooth, gamey taste.
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12/24/2015 - beatles Likes this wine: 96 Points
Grand Vin. Tasted vis-a-vis the 1999, this wins hands down - not a given, many 98's are disappointing, and many 99's are better than expected. Fullness of fruit here, elegance, harmony, minerals and balance – certainly a neuf for the upper classes, a very British sort of neuf, less southern France joviality, more restrained with a stiff upper lip, but in this vintage with an abundance of fruit hidden just underneath. Will keep, but majestic now. #Christmas Eve
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12/23/2015 - Frijole wrote:
medium plum red, medium clarity, brickish hue
Nose: cranberry, sweet tobacco, cigar box, dust, vanilla, milk chocolate, herbs, green pepper, earth, garrigue, touch oak
Pal: cranberry, musk, sweet tobacco, cigar box, leather, dust, vanilla, tarragon, milk chocolate, herbs, green pepper, earth, garrigue, touch oak, complex
Feel: full, light, minerals, acidic
Finish: long
T9 (could be a 10)
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12/22/2015 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+: Dull garnet core with paler rim; fig, some age evident though a certain freshness; love the silky texture, meaty; really solid.
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12/13/2015 - Shoebox wrote: flawed
Oxidised and horrible.
Down the sink
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12/10/2015 - rm97 wrote: 93 Points
Lovely mouth feel
Great balance
Tannins present but soft
I minute finish
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12/6/2015 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
Better than last year. Still black fruited but some sweetness starting to show. Some raspberry on the nose, liquorice, hint of cumin, nice. Tastes classic, dark fruited, plenty of tannin and a bit dry on the finish. Dries in the glass a bit and closes up with air. Still evolving. This is a 25 year wine. No rush. Leave for 2 years.
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11/23/2015 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Great fruit, integrated tannins.
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11/3/2015 - Shoebox Likes this wine: 93 Points
Mature, serious deep savoury nose. Purple/garnet colour. Thick legs. Very unctuous and smooth on the palate. Liquorice and Provençe herbs. Some chocolate if you look for it. Still some tannins - will last maybe 5 more years but may start to decline from now. I had an oxidised bottle from the same case 6 months ago that was not good so certainly bottle variation here.
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10/29/2015 - MDM73 wrote:
Last bottle of a case purchased in 2008. Stored well. Oxidized like the previous. Have heard there have been similar issues with other '98s. Sigh.
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10/29/2015 - MDM73 wrote: flawed
Oxidized. Penultimate of a case stored well.
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10/24/2015 - wine65 wrote: 92 Points
No formal note. Drinking wonderfully nice stage between fruit and tertiary notes of garigue, leather..
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10/10/2015 - chablis28 wrote: 89 Points
This continues to underwhelm me. With 17yrs btl age and its pedigree I'd expect this to be a real head turner at this point. Instead its a somewhat better than average CDP tonight. I enjoyed the wine but expected more. Resolved, balanced, red fruit and garrique but not.... stunning. Ok nose, not amazing. Decanted about 45 minutes prior to drinking. 89+ One btl left and I'll wait at least 3yrs to try it.
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10/9/2015 - Hypersphere wrote: 90 Points
disappointing despite time to breathe
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10/4/2015 - walkerjfw wrote: 94 Points
First bottle was corked (good that I checked, more frequent with older Rhones), Had this in mind so I went back to the cellar for redemption... decanted for 30 minutes drank over 2 hours. Served this with my pork and butternut squash stew. Great pairing for Fall/Harvest flavors.
Full and vibrant/translucent red color, showing less signs of age than expected, slight bricking at the edges. Coming off a corked bottle I knew this one was in the zone, great aromas of spice and red fruits on the decant, followed by Provencal herbs, orange zest, iodine and forest floor. Palate was classic CdP (perfect for a "harvest" dinner). Palate of dusted cherry fruits, plums, pepper, baking spices, cinnamon, figs, classic garrigue, leather. This was really in the zone, great structure and what you want from a great CdP. Medium mouthfeel and long, layered finish.
Drinking really well now, with good structure to last another 10 years. . Should hold at this level - high incidence of corked bottles notwithstanding - but I don't think it will improve much. Wonderful wine
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10/4/2015 - walkerjfw wrote: flawed
corked...risk you run with older Rhones...
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9/22/2015 - beatles Likes this wine: 96 Points
My 50th extravaganza (Chez moi): Core of kirsch, mineral, lightness, elegant, intensity, still young, but very, very bright, precise and a point. Will keep 10 years, but hard to resist as of now. On the second day equally impressive with consistent notes.
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9/21/2015 - madflyfisher Likes this wine:
Great bottle. Had this together with a 1998 Pegau (the latter being my personal favourite). Great nose which did not indicate a very mature wine. Very vibrant and fruity nose. Beautiful colour. Medium bodied on the palate, with figs and leather notes. Quite long lasting on the palate. Outstanding balance. Accompanied woodpigeons very well.
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8/29/2015 - MLipton wrote:
A great example of an older Chateauneuf in the classical mold. Dusty cherry fruit, mineral notes, a vibrant spine of acidity and a sense of freshness to it that stood in contrast to the bricking evident at the edges. Tannins were silky smooth, giving the wine a velvety feel. Great fun to drink and a point as far as my tastes go.
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7/16/2015 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really lovely. Aging well, this presents a completely integrated mouthful of tarragon, loam, vanilla bean and dried cherry with a whiff of desert air. It has a fabulous smooth and long finish and tastes like a meal.
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7/14/2015 - cfk49 wrote:
375ml bottle cellared since release. Seepage on cork was perhaps 1/16", maybe less. Dark, still quite a bit of red in color with a bit of orange on rim. Forest floor nose -- not unpleasant, but not very precise. Smooth, medium-weight, some tannins still, but little not much flavor. Something wrong with this bottle, perhaps low level TCA (it was the worst period for TCA).
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6/27/2015 - dbg wrote:
Cellared since release, perfect cork and fill. Cherry, red berries, clean earth on the nose right from the start, a bit of leather and iodine come out over time, med-full body, well balanced, drinking well now but wouldn't be surprised to see more complexity in 5 more years, excellent.
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6/27/2015 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 93 Points
Allemand, Jamet, Burgs, Barolo, Yquem, and more: Herbs, a little earth, and savory fruit, a lovely classic Chateauneuf that only shows the vintage in a little sweetness on the back.
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6/7/2015 - 14frimaire wrote:
Great showing, the best so far. Needs decanting for sediment, and a few minutes of air for the funk to blow off -- but not too much. After double decanting and traveling an hour and then waiting maybe another hour, it didn't show as well.
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5/30/2015 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 90 Points
Less good than my last reviewed bottle (April 2014) which I think confirms the bottle variation of this often great wine in this vintage. This was good but not singing........
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5/26/2015 - Sennma wrote: 88 Points
Not as good as other bottles that I've had of the 98 VT. Nothing wrong per se but just didn't hit the heights of the last experience.
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5/21/2015 - JonnyG wrote: flawed
A Pre-Birthday Dinner with the Guys (SY Kitchen, Santa Ynez Valley): Unlike past bottles, this one was overwhelmed by barnyard brett, which never blew off. Drinkable, but barely.
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5/18/2015 - BVal wrote: flawed
Opened two (then three) '98 Chateauneuf's for a nice roasted chicken dinner at home with the wife and all the boys. This and Vieux Telegraph disappointing so I had to open a third (and the best) -- Beaucastel.
Color: light/medium ruby core -> diffuse garnet rim.
C O R K E D ! ! !
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5/17/2015 - Pknut wrote:
Terrific bottle. Lots of vigor left here, bright red fruits with notes of iodine and peat - very VT - James says Shiso leaf. The tannins are nicely integrated and the wine has a smooth texture in the mouth with an array of flavors atop. Still shows good freshness. Bought on release and cellared for many years, to terrific results. At James and Nancy's.
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5/14/2015 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine: 94 Points
Some red berry notes such as raspberry on the nose, but a large amount of barnyard and earthy presence, especially forest floor and mushroom. Very rich but elegant. Loved this wine, paired very well with a mushroom in black bean sauce dish served at our wine tasting event.
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5/10/2015 - jeremy@ Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice. Lots of leather tobacco and earth spices with some dark fruits. Medium tannins.
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4/26/2015 - TannicBeast Likes this wine:
Decanted about one hour before dinner. The color is a deep garnet with a little brown on the rim. The nose is showing a lot of barnyard and dusty library, with some black fruit, red fruit, blue fruit, tobacco, herbs and leather. The palate is dry, with medium acidity. The alcohol appears just medium but is 14%. The tannins are medium to medium plus and well integrated. This bottle is drinking surprisingly well considering the owner did not keep it in a climate-controlled environment. With proper cellaring, this wine should do very well for several more years.
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4/16/2015 - rm97 wrote: 93 Points
Delicious
Many more years left
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3/29/2015 - TashNYC wrote: 92 Points
Dinner at Donna T's House (Princeton, NJ): A tasty wine. Lovely dark and red fruit, plums, a touch of strawberry, dried herbs, garrigue, violets and a little tar on the finish, i was surprised there were also fine tannins upon opening, but they unwound with some time. This was the most herbal and rustic wine of the night. Delicious with the grilled leg of lamb and surprisingly with the farro salad as well. The wine is definitely in the drinking window - but has some more time, too. At Donna T's house, with Doreen, Jen, Tash and Ursula
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3/17/2015 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
Bought on release and perfectly stored. The color is a youthful red at the center, with slight bricking at the rim. The nose was a bit tight at first, but opened up with air. Lovely, silky and complex, with grilled meat, iodine, red fruits, stones and herbs. Very savory. Based on this bottle, perfectly stored examples have a way to go.
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3/16/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 87 Points
Decanted about one hour before dinner. Funkiness on the nose, slightly barnyardy, some dark fruit, plums, spices, earth. On the palate at first some fruit remaining, slightly tired from the off, but with time becoming more and more unbalanced with the fruit drying out. A bit of alcohol on the finish as well as rough acidity. Falling apart completely with more time in the glass. Past its best based on this bottle. Drink up.
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3/10/2015 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium-deep reddish-violet garnet in color with some slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward, fragrant & attractive nose of complex, developed & mature ripe fruits aromas of dark cherries, blueberries & plums with lovely floral overtones of violets & lavender & cedar, classic garrigue notes, earthy, savory dried Provencal herb notes, peppery, dusty, aged leather, anise, tar & minerals. Medium-full to full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced, silky smooth textured, complex, mature & developed, well integrated, seamless, lush, ripe fruit flavors of sweet cherries, strawberries, raspberries & red plums with spices, herbs, anise/tar, earthy & minerals. Long lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present and should hold for several more years although any further development would be limited. An absolutely wonderful wine!
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3/2/2015 - rosenst1 wrote: 91 Points
PnP. Perfect cork. Lovely translucent red with slight browning. Initially a bit musty on the nose but with some air this comes to life. Typical VT characteristics as per previous notes. Nice medium weight on the palate although this one seems a bit more advanced especially on the finish which perhaps has more prominent acidity and tannins with the fruit fading. However, with more air this actually integrates more and the fruit balances better. Not sure there is much upside here at age 17 - drink up.
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3/1/2015 - steinersing wrote: 90 Points
Decanted. Enjoyable wine with interesting nose, still a bit of over maturity there for me, which is not unpleasant.
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2/24/2015 - devraj Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ruby red with slight bricking. Airy nose of red berries, forest-floor, herbs and asian spice gives way to a silky and balanced medium bodied wine with crushed red fruits, smoke, licorice, medium acidity and no evidence of tannins on a long earthy finish.
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2/22/2015 - theRealPepe Likes this wine:
Dark red color. Wonderful nose of garrigue, red fruits, earth, mineral and dried seaweed. The palate delivers too with pepper, cherry, leather, garrigue and spice. The nose was more intense and the palate more balanced and interesting than any other 98 that I've had (and all have been good). It was a great VT experience. Outstanding.
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2/10/2015 - AV2012 wrote: 89 Points
Three decades of Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Barnyard, pungent, peppery red fruits on the nose, white pepper, some human skin notes. Medium to full bodied, classic, traditional CdP.
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2/5/2015 - jkoenen wrote: 93 Points
Ahhh.... this is my kind of Chateauneuf. Plenty of elegance, no cooked fruit nor esctraction! A bright, fresh, transparent, ariy bouquet (full of funk, red cherry, dried herbs, touches of mocca and kirsch) is creeping up my flu-infrected nostrils. Beautiful, harmonious, old-fashioned palate oozes the good-life: hot terracotta tiles, dry lavender branches, black olives, tomato tapenae, grilled paprika, lambchops on the BBQ. Wishing I was right there....
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1/23/2015 - jbeshars Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of my favorites over the years. I loved this one. Decanted just before dinner
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1/9/2015 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and Served. Does not need a long decant as the wine is open from the pop. 2 years since we had it last (Same Batch and then rated 92) and remains true to form. Tasted blind and guessed early 90s (not 1990) CdP. Herbs de provence on the nose, light red fruit, earthy, mushroomy, forest floor . Well evolved and on the palate has none of the 98 over-ripeness and is quite balanced. Missing a bit of depth unfort and definitely one to drink sooner than later. Pretty solid 92.
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1/4/2015 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 92 Points
Elegant and fresh, with layered waves of plum, leather and pepper. I don't see much further evolution from here myself.
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1/2/2015 - marka wrote: 89 Points
Decanted two hours ahead of first sip. Really nice nose of dirt, forest floor?, and dark fruit upon pouring into the decanter. It really didn't get any better than this. It was pleasant, but not any better. It seemed at times like higher than the 14% alc that is on the bottle. WHen the alc wasn't showing early on, it sometimes seemed like the oak was heavier than I usually get from a CDP. Fruit never came around so as to be enjoyable. My expectations were up, so the TN and score reflect disappointment as well.
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12/27/2014 - dbg wrote:
Cellared since release. Perfect fill and cork. Dark red core, lightening towards rim with no bricking. Why nose at first but opens nicely after about 90 minutes to show dark fruits, cherry, leather, and clean earth. No Brett. Medium body, palate follows the nose, great balance. Outstanding.
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12/23/2014 - M&D24 wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely beautiful showing for my last bottle of this vintage. Purchased on release from Kermit Lynch and perfectly stored. Fully mature,"old school" Chateauneuf...It could last longer but I would not keep them as they seem to be showing extremely well right now. Excellent mouth feel, in beautiful balance with no elements out of place. Slightly "animal" with briary, dark fruit. A touch of Provencal spice, showing rosemary, pine and even lavender . To me, everything in its' proper place.
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12/22/2014 - llink wrote: 93 Points
VVW Tasting of 1998 CDP. Lovely mature nose of seaweed, black fruit and herbs. Very elegant and at the same time full of perfectly ripe fruit. Has a medium weight mouthfeel, a silky texture and a long finish. Utterly compelling and showing wonderful today.
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12/6/2014 - mojotojo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious and evocative Vieux Telegraphe. Had been well-maintained in my cellar since original purchase. Decanted for 30 minutes before tasting. Was tightly wound for a 15 year old wine and it needed another 2 hours to open up. But, man oh man, was it stunning when it did. Ruby red with an ever-so-slight bricking at the edge. The nose was classic CDP and it was billowing out of the glass - you could pick up the nose about a foot away from the rim. Heady and redolent of lavender, spices, meat and that nori-seaweed thing, it was a knock-out. Smooth and silky, it boasted flavors of red fruits (plums, maybe?), garrigue, more spices (asian five spice came to mind, curry), leather, bacon and white pepper. Seamless and beautifully put-together, this was classic CDP. Just wish I had a few more bottles...
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11/25/2014 - pwillen1 wrote:
Very little bricking. Youthful even. Lavender and Rosemary on the nose, even a bit oily. Then in the mouth, complex, evolving waves of bright red cherries. Really gorgeous. A big wine but with everything there and not out of balance.
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11/22/2014 - pbaek wrote:
The 1998 Vieux Telegraphe is coming around and is indeed a great wine in the making. Old-school Chateauneuf, opens up with a nose of pine needles, animal fur and rustic red fruit. This is very funky, earthy, a bit wild. Very structured, well knitted wine on the palate with a good deal of acidity going for it as well. Reminds me a bit of the 1995 I drank in PKnut's apartment with Brad some years ago. There is a long life ahead for this wine, well done!
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11/16/2014 - mmcdds Likes this wine: 95 Points
This was an extraordinary bottle tonight! Soft, round, dark and red fruit up front, with earth, licorice, garrigue, baking spice and leather in the mid palate and finishing long with firm, chalky tannins. Deep and rich, but sadly, my last bottle.
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11/16/2014 - Pierre-Yves wrote: 80 Points
Bad showing. Not flowed but nothing is together. Some acidity, aged cedar and heat. I don't know if it will come back to something better, but this was not a very good bottle and definitely a disappointment compared to other 98 CdP I had in the past.
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11/15/2014 - chablis28 wrote: 87 Points
PnP Mark's btl and like Jeremy's note, from the same nigh but drank thousands of miles away, this seemed to be in a less than perfect place right now. Not flawed but kind of lacking something. Never fell in love with it. The cork and btl were in pristine condition. I think these wines hit spots where they go backward and then reemerge better latter with more cellar time. I've tasted some stellar btls from the mid 90s and 80s so I wouldn't panic about tonight's showing.
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11/15/2014 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Quite medicinal and also showing some dank, dirty traits. Chewy in the mouth, some sweet meats and cedar flavours but just too funky and a disappointing showing.
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11/14/2014 - tcosgriff wrote: 85 Points
Purple-brown color with some unbalanced acidity and a modest plum bouquet and flavor. Drinkable but clearly headed south. Second bottle tasted at the same time was worse.
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11/10/2014 - ZachF88 Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP/30 mins in glass/consumed over 2 hours.
Nose: Raisin, prunes, mushroom, earth, and astringent
Palate: Blueberry, raspberry, plum, leather, black peppercorn, garrigue, prunes, eucalyptus, dried violet and lavendar, cassis
Tannins were smooth as silk. Medium body and medium finish. Very elegant bottle but I wish it had more body to it. Maybe 16 years has been a bit too long for this. Drink up, the window is only getting shorter!
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11/4/2014 - Gannet2013 Likes this wine: 89 Points
A bit muted when first decanted but came good an hour or so post - decant. For me, this was the weakest of my 3 bottles. whether it was age or bottle variation I'm not sure, still very classy and a good effort in 1998. This was too drying and a notch below the previous bottle tasted a year ago.
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10/26/2014 - kevin h wrote: 89 Points
Darth Vader having lost his slippers. Black wine, slight nose, dark bitter fruit. Distinctly CNDP a but lacking anything animale which is when I find them interesting. A touch dry. Drink or keep.
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10/25/2014 - RussK wrote: 92 Points
Russk K&A's Group at Vienna Cafe. Wow. One of the best CdP I have ever had. Barnyard, iron. Seems like a great cote rotie. Sweet liquid mouth. Craving more. My 2nd WOTN. 92+.
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9/20/2014 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 94 Points
Color: pale medium red
Nose: needs time in the glass to open to a complex & compelling nose of classic mature cdp. Having had the 98 VT in both magnum & std size bottles I must say this is one of the best from this estate, drinking perfectly now but will hold for at least close to decade
Palate: full bodied, powerful, rich & absolutely delicious, as Broadbent commented "slips down easily & delicious"
Magnum format = 95
Std bottle 93/94
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8/20/2014 - Employee500 wrote: 88 Points
Perfectly nice, but a little unexciting (and from this magnum at least, not as complex as a number of 750ml bottles I've had). I have found lots of bottle variation in this wine, even from the time of release, with (excluding a higher than normal rate of corked bottles) some being like this one, just "good", and others being truly outstanding (4-5 points higher on my "rating" scale).
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8/19/2014 - rosenst1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP. Perfect cork and fill from the same case purchased upon release. Light red with clearing at the rim. Classic nose of spice and garrigue; lovely soft mouthfeel with just a touch of unresolved tannins on the finish. Will see how this develops. After a couple of hours this integrates better and shows no signs of falling apart. Excellent drinking now.
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8/17/2014 - Sennma wrote: 92 Points
This was so lovely...pure and focused. Still on the upswing.
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8/15/2014 - Bacchus&Ceres Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gorgeous. Beautiful garnet crimson currant color fresh and shiny and healthy in appearance. Nose is complex with roasted toasted cherries big full body, herbaceous and fruity with huge tannins gripping at finish with a bit of velcro astringency. Drinking pretty well now although we don't know what's to become of these intense tannins
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8/12/2014 - tooch wrote: 94 Points
Rhone Dinner (The Bristol - Chicago, IL): I closed my eyes, and thought to myself, "wow, this is what Chateauneuf-de-Pape smell like?" I opened my eyes and saw the 1998 Vieux Télégraphe. So much brambly red fruit with dried floral notes, and earth. Still had a really nice power to it, too. Was a big fan of this wine...and it has a lot of upside to it, too.
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7/24/2014 - rm97 wrote: flawed
bad bottle
costco wholesale was the last seller
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7/20/2014 - MC wrote:
60 minute decant. Showed well but I felt slighly corked. Nice, ripe fruit with plenty of body, kirsch, and very expressive. I would be drinking now. A-
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7/14/2014 - Dave Dalluge wrote: flawed
Corked.
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7/13/2014 - drwine2001 wrote:
Light ruby. Gorgeous blend of fresh raspberry and plum fruit with complex herbs and lavender. Medium weight, just perfect natural sweetness of fruit without excess alcohol, offset by anise/tar undertone. This is at its optimal state of maturity, and interestingly was more alive than 2 bottles earlier in the year. One of the best Chateauneufs I've had over the past several years, it made me reflect upon the difference between the wines of this ripe year versus more recent very ripe years such as 2007-this really had no trace of alcoholic heat and managed to preserve its acidity, which made it a far more drinkable, enjoyable bottle. Last of this wine for me in 750 format from a case purchased upon release. Luckily, a few magnums remain.
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7/8/2014 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
Enjoyed with friends. Still going strong at 16. Unfortunately my only bottle.
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5/13/2014 - Flemming69 wrote: 94 Points
- Garnet color with fast forming legs. It's in total harmony with a medium/full body. Linear texture with a long finish.
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5/10/2014 - lebo9968@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Color medium to dark cherry red with moderate bricking; orange rim. Initial review: Tight nose and palate. Needs aeration.
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5/10/2014 - brittain wrote: 92 Points
Another excellent bottle. Drinking consistently well, now with a touch more brick red showing at rim and warm secondary aromas coming through. Long life still.
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5/7/2014 - drwine2001 wrote:
Mature garnet. All tobacco, leather and garrigue on the nose. Medium body, fine acidity. Savory, complex, a bit dry on first taste, but then impressive awakening of plum and cherry fruit. Still, at least out a 750 ml. format, this was autumnal. Old style Chateauneuf showing some delicacy and structure even in a riper vintage. Very, very good but on the verge of decline. The last few bottles over the past year or so tell the same story.
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4/25/2014 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 93 Points
A very good bottle in perfect condition. Decanted and delicious. Just about ready but will certainly last and cements its reputation as possibly the best Chateauneuf of the vintage. Full, long and satisfying. Tremendous
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4/20/2014 - SadEdjo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted one hour. Dark purple with little/no signs of bricking. Heady nose of dark cherry, nori. Smooth, plush entry with licorice, dark cherry, tingly spices with seemingly never ending finish. Still youthful. Another great bottle
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4/13/2014 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 92 Points
Very prominent nose with dark fruit, saddle leather and a significant earthiness. Brambly fruit on the palate, balanced and complex, this is drinking really well right now.
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4/6/2014 - walkerjfw wrote: 94 Points
At home with Maggie and Brian after the wine delivery...had two bottles of this over the weekend.
Decanted first bottle, PnP on second. Definitely benefits from the decant, needs at least 45 minutes to unwind. Ruby red, some cloudiness and bricking. Nose is a little reticent, some barnyard and funk, some orange and floral notes coming through. Rich palate, red fruits, Provencal herbs, iodine, orange zest, soy. Red raspberry and bright fruits on mid palate.
Tannins mostly resolved. Drinks really well now, with good structure to last another 10 years. First bottle was better than second (two different days), not sure if it was how we prepped or bottle variation - common IMO with Rhones.
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4/2/2014 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 92 Points
Darker garnet color. Hoge nose of smokey guarigue and lovely flavors to match. A bit northern Rhone-like in essence. Drinking quite well at this point. Wish I had another case now! EG #WineArchitect
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3/17/2014 - antiwood wrote:
Needed 4-5 hours to open up. Then, fantastically fresh, tannins still firm, lots of time left. But this is classic CdP, just ripe enough, a bit rustic ... drink or hold.
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3/2/2014 - davergny Likes this wine: 94 Points
Took about 2 hours to open up. Nose is expressive but a bit subtle. On the palate however, wow! Full, rich, robust, expressive wine with lots of delicious grenache fruit. Notes of blood orange, licorice, iodine and herbs. Some tannic structure on the back end then a long, delicious finish of fruit and herbs. I noticed just a touch of heat. This can certainly go for a few years but really drinking great now.
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3/2/2014 - beatles Likes this wine: 96 Points
What a wine! Decanted for four hours, this shows a coolness and intensity that is almost unrivaled in this (often overrated) vintage; lively fruit, nerves of steel, accented minerality and yet the generousness, that is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Tasted tonight vis-à-vis a MG of Vieux Donjon 2000 (also very good) this came out the winner for its sheer class and aristocratic profile. Years to go, certainly, and all the other bottles, that we’ve opened earlier, are half wasted, but yes, things are starting to come around. N's 70th Birthday. - NB - I see that many people have had corked bottles - the host tonight served four perfect bottles - but there had been a fifth, flawed - ....
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2/25/2014 - devraj Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ruby red with slight bricking. The wine opens up in the glass with aromas of red berries, licorice, provencal herbs, incense and soy sauce. A medium bodied palate reveals silky smooth red raspberry liquer, forest floor and a lovely umami/savory component to the long and spherical finish. All the components in the wine are perfectly balanced. Nice.
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2/8/2014 - whitmanlholt wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. This is a medium cherry red with some modest sediment, particularly toward the end of the bottle. On the nose, there is garrigue, cherry, and some stony overtones. In the mouth, there is moderate fruit – less than I would like – with decent acid and structure. The wine finishes with lingering smoothness. Overall, this is a nice CdP that may be slightly over the hill; I found it much better with food than on a standalone basis. 91 points.
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2/7/2014 - sehill wrote: flawed
Corked!!!
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2/2/2014 - 14frimaire wrote:
In a pretty good place, though showing a little hot -- could have been the less than optimal stemware.
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2/1/2014 - drwine2001 wrote:
Slightly cloudy garnet. Mulled red fruit. Medium weight. Complex savory and earthy feel with ever so slightly faded fruit. Not quite as fresh and exciting as the last bottle 6 months ago.
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1/31/2014 - Veritas 53 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Appearance : Garnet,bright,clear
Nose: jammy, earthy,spicy, pleasant
Palate: Melange of jammy fruits, soft tannins, balanced , good acidity, spicy, hot , mouth filing , multilayer continuously evolving in the glass and on the palate, long and delicious finish , excellent bottle , with time over an hour got better. Should be decanted & still many years of life in it
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1/12/2014 - sawira wrote: 93 Points
CdP tasting dinner. This stole the show for my palate. The least advanced though oldest wine there, closed at first, a bit simple and one dimensional to start, then becoming very ripe and full fruited. Some heat, excellent dry suave tannins, impeccable balance that let this unfold all night long. Super long. While not as flashy as the 98 Pegau Reservee, this is solid and understated. A winner. 93+pts.
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1/1/2014 - rcurlee Likes this wine: 92 Points
An absolutely delicious bottle of wine. Very classic CdP with a wonderful mix of fruit and earth. The body is a little on the lighter side than what I normally expect from Vieux Telegraphe, but still silky and smooth nonetheless.
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12/16/2013 - ilee Likes this wine: 92 Points
To me VT is all about warmth -- of ripe fruit, of hot summer sun beating down on dry rocks and vines, of long and windy evenings. CDP is all about sunshine, which in some years does push some wines over the edge and into the stewpot, but thankfully the 1998 is not one of these. Nicely balanced, with complex fruity notes and just a hint of roast at the edge of the finish, the 1998 VT is in a nice place right now
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12/3/2013 - dbg wrote:
Cellared since release. Perfect cork and fill. Poured off 1/4 off the bottle for a beef stew and slow-oxed the rest for 3 hours, then consumed over 2 days. Dark red core, lighter at rim but no browning. Intense nose of dark fruits, cherry, leather, game and clean earth. Some floral notes as well on day two. No Bretty notes as found by others, perhaps due to cool cellaring since release. Medium body, dark fruits and cherries, game and smoke on the palate, great balance. Presence of some tannins along with nice fresh balancing acidity, good fruit and the very beginning of some serious aged complexity promises even further improvement but this is drinking beautifully now. A great match with the beef stew. Outstanding.
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11/23/2013 - MC wrote:
Similar to my last note. In a good spot, but going to be around for a while and may improve a bit. A-
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11/22/2013 - JDV.DDSPHD Likes this wine: 88 Points
There was not much fruit left in this but rather the earth driven tones. From the nose, which was barnyard and moldy cellar or closet to the initial taste which reminded me of grass, mildew and mold. The wine was not corked but simply the old and earthy. You can tell this has some depth to it but just not my style. There needs to be some fruit in there left and it was so masked I was not a fan.
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11/18/2013 - dbkitc wrote: 91 Points
A tough yet mature wine. Masculine and serious in character, it is a great wine work a cold night and hearty meal. Drinking very well tonight though should last a while. Not flashy at all. (91)
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11/10/2013 - pigdaddy wrote: 92 Points
opened 3 hours, slow-ox one hour (not decanted.) red, deepening to garnet center, paling to umber at rim; quite garrigue-y at the start, dusty herbs & wild red fruit compote, becoming more dried fruit & incense w/air; med/+ weight, not at all dense; dried strawberries & red currants, pronounced seaweed, iron oxide minerality, dried thyme & moss. seems to be in its peak range, w/tannins resolved, balance & integration of all components. (paired w/'98 Beaucastel)
chanterelle ragout w/rosemary & crispy shredded confit turkey neck, creamy Anson Mills antebellum grits, roasted root vegetables w/gremolata, sauteed market greens
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11/5/2013 - brittain Likes this wine: 92 Points
Solid VT, consistent across 2 bottles with good fruit still remaining and tannin mostly resolved. Just developing secondary aromas on the nose, but less so on palate. No rush yet.
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10/31/2013 - Pknut wrote:
I opened a bottle exactly three years ago, on our first Halloween in Westport, after taking the kids trick-or-treating at the beach. Tonight, Halloween, three years later, I pulled another from the cellar while I waited for D and the kids to come back from the beach once again. Upon uncorking, there is a lot of brett, and I am instantly reminded of the '09 Pegau I opened before the Phish show earlier this week. I let the glass sit for half an hour and thankfully the brett dissipated to a great extent. Now, this wine shows cola, red fruit tones and dried spice. This is very VT - lots of iodine and peat notes. It doesn't show any over-ripeness, and the tannins have all but disappeared. While this wine is very savory, secondary (maybe tertiary) and certainly interesting, it is thinner and weaker than in the past. It reminds me of a parent getting older, and a little weaker. I've been lucky to have had many bottles of the 1995 Vieux Telegraphe over the past decade, and I think that three years ago, the '95 was stronger than this '98 is today.
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10/13/2013 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Davids btl. Opened just 20 minutes before diinner....bummer! Would like to see how this would have drank with a 3 hour decant and at a slightly cooler temp. That said, it was still promising but a bit tightly wound. Smooth tanins but not showing a lot. Have 2 left myself that I'll hold onto for another year or 2 before trying. Give this a decant and I suspect it will be more impressive.
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10/7/2013 - jcoleman wrote: 91 Points
this is an excellent wine with a good bouquet and all the classic VT flavours but...... the whole is not quite the sum of the parts and I was, ultimately, a little disappointed
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10/6/2013 - rupertg wrote: 93 Points
Still dark but losing lustre and edge orange. Full, rich, complex. Tannin coming to the fore, but plum, damson, spice and leather on the finish.
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9/27/2013 - MC wrote:
This bottle was very good. Needs a good hour to really hit its stride, but good after 30 minutes, showing plenty of dark, ripe fruit along with barnyard, leather, and plenty of supporting tannin on the finish. This will be around for a while. A-
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9/26/2013 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
Long lunch at Asia Grand (Asia Grand, Odeon Towers): Really nice. This was very tight, almost surly when first popped-and-poured, all deep black-fruited tones and leathery funk on the nose, almost like a gruff, young Beaucastel. With time though, it opened up beautifully – roses and violets, licorice, spice and mineral, savoury meat and deep tones of blackberries and plums shade of sandy earth. Very nice. The palate, in classic VT style, was marked by cool black fruit - blackberries and dark cherries this time, maybe a touch of black prune, with side-notes of licorice and violet petals, still lightly cloaked by fine, slightly chewy tannins and woven with seamless acidity. A very focused, precise, almost linear style. The finish was long and cool, with a nice undertone of mineral and sandy earth and little touch of funk alongside the black fruit. Right at the end, there was a slightly smoky char and a dash of bittersweet, licorice root and wood spice finish. A very serious, noble wine. Enjoyable on the day with some sautéed duck, but this can still afford a few years of age. It felt like a wine just coming to the end of its adolescence, with the palate still needing some time to catch-up with the verve and complexity displayed on the nose. Try again in 5 years. 92+
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9/26/2013 - Alex H wrote: 89 Points
Initially very funky barnyardish with peppery notes but juicy black fruits and nsg like structure and tannins. However the second glass which had more time to air showed totally different floral chambolle like roses and Barolo like nuances. At first hard then firmly soft. An evolving wine. Should need another 5 years.
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9/21/2013 - MC wrote:
Second corked bottle in a row. Too bad, as there was a lot of lush, concentrated fruit showing, but not drinkable.
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9/11/2013 - MC wrote:
I feel this bottle had a tainted cork, so will withold rating, but clearly outclassed by the '98 Pegau tonight.
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8/29/2013 - europat55 wrote: 93 Points
Spicy, meaty. Gorgeous!
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8/12/2013 - drwine2001 wrote:
Medium ruby to edge. Ripe red fruit and caramel joined by rising menthol. Full, figgy but not overly ripe. Long, round and complete with secondary perfume that you feel more in the mouth than the nose. Marvelous and not completely mature.
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8/11/2013 - FYC wrote:
Consistent with previous bottles. Very funky, meaty, full of rich fruit, and baking spices. The palate is very balanced and declious. Ready to drink but with no risk of decline. Maybe even room for a little upside.
Update. 10 days later with 1/2 fill, cork on, in the fridge. Like the 01 Beaucastel opened the same time, more meat and funk aromas. Fruit is still persistent and sweet. This should easily make it to it's 20 year anniversary.
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7/16/2013 - urban_dk wrote: 96 Points
Notes consistent with last bottle: a Brett-laden behemoth with garrigue and baking spice galore. Great now, but I think it will be even better in a couple of years.
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7/1/2013 - rosenst1 wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Perfect cork and fill; from a case purchased on release and stored at 58 degrees since. Medium deep red with signs of browning on the edge. Nose of garrigue, brown sugar, and wet leather, although not dramatic or intense. On the palate - this is very smooth with completely resolved tannins; reminds me a bit of the 85 in texture, lovely flavors with a savory quality which persists in the long finish. Classic bottle of VT; ready to drink.
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6/26/2013 - drwine2001 wrote: flawed
One of the most strangely flawed bottles ever. Fine until the finish, then alkaline and frankly salty. Who knows what the problem was here.
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5/31/2013 - overhill wrote: 91 Points
Cinnamon, asian spice, and raspberries combined for a beautiful and expressive nose. Also got dried dark fruits and slight black licorice. Medium intensity on the palette and, although the fruit has aged beautifully and displays many secondary notes, has the texture and grip of a young wine. Dusty and (very) dry finish.
Changed a lot in the glass and became somewhat one dimensional after a while. Wonderfully enjoyable and right in the middle of its drinking window.
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5/21/2013 - ilee wrote: 91 Points
Quite evolved and mature, the warm fruit character dominates to the point I'm detecting raisiny stewed fruit notes. I was hoping for some of the usual VT mineral complexity but didn't find much. Still, it is great wine to drink and enjoy
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5/16/2013 - anonymoose12345 Does not like this wine: 82 Points
This is not good. Sorry, but that's the truth. Stewed fruit, overripe and overdone. I'd rather drink Mad Dog.
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5/5/2013 - europat55 wrote: 94 Points
Euro Themed Lunch - Rhones (Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA): Whoaa! Really impressive nose with red fruits, licorice, spices and a significant amount of leather. Palate is soft and very well integrated with herbs, cherry, some chocolate. This is the type of wine that I could sip by itself for hours or pair with a juicy medium-rare steak. 94-95 pts.
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5/4/2013 - GalvezGuy wrote: 92 Points
CT Texas V - North Dallas Forty and then some; 5/3/2013-5/5/2013 (McKinney, North Dallas, TX): #15 Great nose, red fruit, black pepper, spice, hints of funk. On the palate, rich red fruits, game, pepper, smoke, herbs. Long balanced finish. Group #3. My guess - 2000 CdP.
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4/19/2013 - RISM Likes this wine: 89 Points
Ruby red, just beginning to fade to brick at the edges. Nose is an explosion of red fruit (redcurrant, cassis), pepper, mushroom, forest floor, pencil lead and fresh farmyard smells. Hugely promising ! Unfortunately the promise of the bouquet does not carry through to the palate where initial sensation is first and foremost dry and dusty (rather than tannic). There is sweetness and fruit, but it's overwhelmed by the dryness, and the finish, though relatively long, is very tannic. Even after a couple of hours of breathing. Maybe leave for a year and try again.
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4/3/2013 - tewino wrote: 88 Points
Ho hum. I've had a few great 98's, but many many meh bottles. This is one of those. Ho Hum. Nothing exciting. Simple.
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4/2/2013 - alittle wrote: 89 Points
Tuesday Night with a Special Guest (Dave's House): First bottle was corked. Replacement bottle popped. Garnet, with a light brick. On the nose, a touch raisined, with some prune notes, lavendar, earth, mushroom, undergrowth, smoke and spice. On the palate, medium acidity, with moderate tannins that dry the moderate length, bitter finish. Raisined notes carry through on the palate, seemingly a touch stewed in this hot vintage.
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4/2/2013 - Wine Canuck wrote: 89 Points
A Casual Tuesday (Dave's House): Decanted for sediment and poured shortly after. Smelled pleasant in the decanter, but out of the glass felt a bit simple. Fruit is solidly in the stewed spectrum, which I don't particularly care for. Having said that it has started to develop a few secondary characteristics which are pleasant. Some cured meat and spice were nice. Palate is round and ripe but sadly repeats the stewed elements. This bottle was perfectly drinkable but didn't live up to expectations on this night.
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4/2/2013 - Wine Canuck wrote: flawed
A Casual Tuesday (Dave's House): First bottle was corked.
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3/30/2013 - DemonC2H5OH wrote: flawed
Garnet color with distinct bricking at edges. Nose showed meatiness but also a distinct whiff of TCA that sadly I have noticed to varying degrees on several other bottles. In this case, it didn't totally ruin the wine, but it followed thru on the palate leaving wine thin and disappointing. The few bottles that I've tasted without this have been far superior. Sadly this wasn't one of them.
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3/29/2013 - urban_dk wrote: 95 Points
Really noticed the brett in this bottle. Additional notes of licorice, tart cherry, plum, beets and baking spice. Great wine, coming into a nice drinking phase now, but with the stuffing to last another 5-6 years. Glad I have a few more.
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3/23/2013 - theRealPepe Likes this wine:
This has grown in elegance over the years and is drinking very well. Excellent to Outstanding.
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3/23/2013 - WST wrote: 92 Points
MB's Bday; '96 DP, '07 Dauvissat GC, '86 Figeac, '96 Lynch B, '98 Telegraphe, '63 Grahams (Le Crocodile, Vancouver, BC): Lucky me, my second bottle of '98 VT this month. A dignified rather than garish CdP, she followed the Bordeaux's with no apologies. Dark slightly gamy berries, iodine, dry brown hillside summertime herbs (props to Chaz for the latter descriptor).
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3/17/2013 - Chaz Bham wrote:
Tasted blind. I picked out VT right off the bat but Warren never gives me props. A nicely cared for, aged example. Love the VT profile of balanced fruit, meaty elements, and hillside herbs (the brown, end of summer kind). Not saying the G word. What more can I say - quality juice.
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3/16/2013 - WST Likes this wine: 92 Points
Grand Crew Bellingham raids my cellar; Huet, Rhys, Ceritas, Breton, Charvin, VT and others (Bellingham, WA): An old and still current favorite (along with the '01 Charvin which followed). Elegant mature CDP. Fruit giving way to secondary elements on the nose and palate, with dark berries framed by iodine, garrigue, moist earth. A little Southern Rhone funk. Perfect balance of generous fruit and acidity. Still tannic; improved in the glass through the night.
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3/9/2013 - NineteenEightyTwo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium brick color. Several layers on the nose, incorporating salt, limestone, shaved fennell bulb and dusty cherry, with a bit of musty Roquefort-like funk. The palate is concentrated and very fecund, incorporating a hint of garrigue, and ending with a whisper of sedate tannin. This is good and mature, and is now beginning to recede a bit on the finish. Drink soon.
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3/8/2013 - BradKNYC wrote:
Howard Camhi returns to NY and we celebrate with Champagne, Burgundy, Barolo, Rhones and a German Riesling. (My place.): Another terrific, youthful showing. The wine seems to just be hitting peak now and shows a wonderful core of black briary fruit, game, licorice, garrigue and even tarry/burnt tire notes one often gets from young grenache, which is quite a feat at age fifteen. Layered with wonderful balance and freshness and sweetness to the fruit that carries through to the long finish. My WOTN. Low A.
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3/4/2013 - Tgood wrote: 95 Points
Fresh med red ruby; floral, menthol, and cedary notes on nose; aromas buoyed and focused on tart and luxuriously tannic palate. This is the kind of wine that vindicates the nutty notion of having a cellar.
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3/2/2013 - melzar wrote: 91 Points
Tannins not fully resolved, but still ready to drink. Well balanced, and having that old world intensity without the weight. Could use a little more complexity.
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3/1/2013 - drwine2001 wrote:
Magnum. Light ruby. A whiff of funk but mostly herbs and gorgeous lower pitched red fruit. Wonderfully caressing texture, perfect southern Rhone weight, and a balance of sweet (but not overripe) fruit, savory elements and just a touch of cocoa. Beautiful and hard to imagine it getting much better from here.
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3/1/2013 - Pinotphile123 wrote: 89 Points
Beautiful nose, classic CDP. Palette doesn't support, little thin and past peak. Dark fruit, blackberry, cassis, tobacco, chocolate. Still nice colour from this magnum.
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2/17/2013 - Shapnyc Likes this wine: 89 Points
Cherry, tobacco. V good but I think a year or two past its peak
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2/16/2013 - bonedocnine wrote: 91 Points
Still quite fresh and alive. Classic southern Rhone flavors that are well integrated at this time.
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2/12/2013 - JOEABR wrote:
Garnet color, licorice, meat, leather, cherry on the nose, no brett detected. Nice texture, smooth and velvety with nice minerality and acid to carry the fruit through on the palate. Fruit is fully integrated, with nice round tannin structure, drinking nicely now. Classic CdP
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2/5/2013 - Jack wrote: 94 Points
This has finally opened up and is drinking beautifully. Best by far out of the 6 consumed.
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2/3/2013 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle was taken from my personal cellar, double-decanted and brought to a walk-around Super Bowl party. My independent impressions are similar to those from my most recent tasting 11/9/12, although this bottle shows just a bit more finesse. Drink now-12/17.
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1/13/2013 - westside wrote: 90 Points
Still fairly dark in color with slight brick rim. Not real forthcoming in the nose. A pleasant drink now but probably won't improve much. Always thought this would turn into something more majestic.
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1/6/2013 - fredb wrote:
Dark smoky red color with limited transparency. Aromas of leather, smoke, licorice, herbs, meat, and cherries. Palate is austere with leather, licorice, smoked meat, and herbal cherry notes that don't yet come together into a harmonious whole. This comes off as a rustic, slightly coarse wine and it isn't clear if it will come together with more time in the cellar or if it is destined for permanent rusticity. I was looking for something other than I got from this bottle. Hold?
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12/30/2012 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
The wine is red at the core with some bricking on the edge of the glass. Brooding with dark fruits, iodine, granite, seaweed, wet pavement and blood on the nose. There is nothing delicate or subdued about this 14 year old wine. Medium bodied and rich on the palate. Flavors of garrigue, pepper, kirsch, asian spices, tar, underbrush, black cherry liqueur, and plum. Great mouthfeel and texture. The finish is long with still substantial tannin.
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12/23/2012 - smcg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Leather, spice, plums. Fruit fading. At peak; drink now.
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12/22/2012 - steinersing Likes this wine: 89 Points
some slight overripeness but still balanced with acidity and structure. really good with the spicy food we had it today. Great contrast.
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12/18/2012 - Eubulos Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fourth Bottle. Still better than the previous two which ran in the 92 range. Improves steadily in the glass, layers of complexity I never find in those pure Grenache CdP's. Impressive fruit, minerality and lengh, acidity subdued but no signs of a tiring wine. This is one of the few CdP I really like and at 40 € a strong buy.
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12/2/2012 - pkatz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with previous notes.
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11/19/2012 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
First from a case stored for about a decade. In good condition, liquorice, black fruits and earth on the nose. Complex, peppery and very black fruited flavour. Should develop further complexity. After about 3 hours some harsh tannin shows itself - suggesting it still needs more time, the fruit is certainly there. Darth Vader in a bad mood.
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11/18/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Medium garnet. A touch of funk and then, raspberry and plum with anise and a bit of herbs. Medium weight, beautifully balanced mature fruit and acidity. Suave and complete. Another bottle at its apogee. Good enough to rekindle one's faith in the potential elegance and ageworthiness of Chateauneuf.
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11/13/2012 - FYC wrote:
Kirsch and some slight meat aromas. Not as nice as previous bottles. I thought I detected some low level TCA so I popped another 375ml which basically showed the same. Just not as nice as previous bottles. Outclassed by the 1996 tonight.
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11/9/2012 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine was tasted in double-blind fashion with our Friday tasting group. The bottle was kindly provided by D.B. The robe is medium-to-deep garnet and the nose shows moderately intense aromas of raspberries, underbrush, garrigue, clove and black pepper. Medium-bodied on the palate, with low-to-medium acidity, light-to-medium supple tannins and slightly hot alcohol. The flavors mirror the nose and the middle palate is solid. Medium-length, smooth finish. This wine is drinking well at this point, with the tannins having settled down since my last tasting 10/8/10. It should continue to drink well for another five years or so, although I would not expect it to substantially improve from its current status. Drink now-12/17.
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11/5/2012 - Ricky99 wrote: 94 Points
Big right out of bottle, meaty, lusty mouthfeel was terrific and lasted nicely.
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10/13/2012 - rosenst1 wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured; perfect cork and excellent fill. Brick red., perhaps a touch of browning on the rim. A little musty on first sniff and then a bit reticent with some spice and a bit of alcohol. On the palate - very nice full body with classic Vt flavors of garrigue and stones; still a bit of tannin on the finish. This has integrated nicely and has excellent persistence on the palate; develops more richness and almost a liqueur like quality. One of the better showings for this wine in my experience, although it still hasn't developed the complexity I think it will.
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10/7/2012 - 14frimaire wrote:
Nothing much until two hours in the decanter, and then beauty. The tannin is mostly resolved, but this has plenty of life left.
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10/6/2012 - Pknut wrote: flawed
I bought this wine on release and cellared it properly for the last thirteen years. I was rewarded with some low-level TCA, which obscured what I could sense would be an otherwise excellent wine under the TCA.
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10/5/2012 - BradKNYC wrote:
Mostly Châteauneuf-du-Pape at Dinosaur BBQ (Dinosaur BBQ NYC.): A beautiful, youthful showing and easily the best aromatics of the night. The wine was extremely fragrant with strong floral/violet notes, black and red fruit, spice and licorice. Beautiful ripe, though nicely restrained black and red fruit, with the edge going to the blacker fruit. Plenty of licorice, a touch of herb and nicely spicy, the tannins still show a lot of grip and the acidity seems higher here than in a lot of '98s. I've seen notes that suggest that this wine is mature, but if this and another bottle I've had recently are any indication, well-stored bottles are still on the upswing. My WOTN. A/A-.
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8/24/2012 - sehill Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted and poured about 30 minutes later, this wine is at or around its maturity. The wine has thrown a mix of fine and chunky sediment and does benefit form decanting. This bottle gave another outstanding showing. It gives a more mature impression than bottles tasted in the past few years. This should continue to drink well over the next 3 to 5 years. Purchased on release. Imported by Kermit Lynch.
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8/18/2012 - Jack wrote: 92 Points
Very nice. Light and fresh.
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8/14/2012 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
A Chateauneuf Papies-Odyssey (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): Good bottle and cork. Decanted for 1.5 hrs. On open it was very big and full and decanting helped it open up so we would advise it at this stage. Side by Side with the Clos des Papes. The usually "feminine" , well to our expirience with other VT 90s vintages, came out all gung ho, powerfull, dense and full on the fruit. Decanting helped to relax it but still pretty interesting to see the density of fruit and the power. Nice, spicy on the nose, very syrah-esque and quite enjoyable. 92 and drink now but with good aging capacity.
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8/9/2012 - EGunderson wrote: 93 Points
Great wine. Fully mature, drinking great, probably plenty of life left. Great stinky and smoky nose, lots of dark fruit on the palate. Very nice finish.
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8/1/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Magnum. Medium saturation. Gorgeous black cherry fruit complicated by soil. Alluring texture, crisp acid and just beautifully balanced for a '98 Chateauneuf. Unusually silky. This does not taste like a hot vintage wine at all-perfect ripeness with complexity and a good acid structure. Looking back, this has been in a consistently great place over the past couple of years from both bottle and magnum formats. A classic VT.
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7/19/2012 - xwine wrote:
Brought this to the CC. Some brett, though not offensive (didn't find any in previous bottles). Didn't take any notes, but some dark fruit, still quite youthful, nice wine.
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6/13/2012 - markjanes wrote: 88 Points
Epic Boys Trip; 6/13/2012-6/17/2012 (Napa and San Francisco): Slowest to open up (vs 98 Beaucastel, 98 Pegau, 98 Clos Papes), but it did slightly though it stayed subtle and slightly closed for most of night. Restrained red fruits with garrigue… some minerality, no new barrique aromas, minimal brett. On the palate firm acids, a firmish midpalate, moderate amount of fine, bitey tannins. Good balance and length, ok intensity, average complexity. Has some finesse, a slightly coarse texture, very good expression of place. A disappointing wine that seemed a little atypical... for some reason I don’t seem to find anything but underperforming bottles of this. Weakest of the 4 cdp's tonight by a significant margin.
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6/10/2012 - thomaskeil wrote: 92 Points
45 minute decant (benefited). Still dark garnet but with evident bricking. Nose is as expressive as previous bottles but with spice/garrique notes pulling more even to the fruit. Silky texture with lingering complex notes. Balanced well by mild tannins and a little acid lift. Seems very harmonious and hitting its optimum drinking window for my taste. Thanks to CT and WB again for alerting me to pull a bottle.
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6/8/2012 - wine65 wrote: 93 Points
This was a little closed after decanting, about an hour later it had opened-up. Nice herb, leather scented nose, good fruit and light tannins on the finish. This wine clearly has time still to develop but was drinking very well after being opened a bit.
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6/3/2012 - bon vivant wrote:
This was thrown into a CNDP flight on boys weekend at the cabin after a disappointing bottle of Gerardin generations. So into a big decanter it went. There were definitely strong notes of barnyard but this was a very sound bottle based on the very garnet color. There is good tension here, dark red fruit, funk, forest floor pine needles. A real nice mineral note on the finish. This was a good bottle, classic VT which is just getting into the sweet drinking window. I like this a lot but am going to roll the dice and let my other bottles benefit from more cellar time.
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5/27/2012 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Decanted drank over 2 nights. Surprisingly NO FUNK for a 14 yr old CdP. The 1st time I have identified a Soy note in a wine. Really good from a great vintage.
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5/16/2012 - ikkaariainen wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed earlier this week at the monthly Hickory Wine Club wine tasting. Has softened and matured very beautifully, in a great drinking window right now, I highly recommend this wine and it does have plenty more cellar life left but not sure it will significantly improve from this point. At the current price point not a good QPR wine but for lovers of mature French rhones this is just beautiful. Very dark purple, no bricking, full bodied but elegant and surprisingly soft, very well balanced and a beautiful lingering aftertaste. Fragrant dark nose of allspice, blackberry and smoke with primary flavors of loam, mushroom, terroir, dark berries and on the late palate a more smoky peppery grilled meat aftertaste comes through. Drink up people!
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5/14/2012 - matro wrote: 88 Points
Good mature CDP but unremarkable. Drank it with the 99, which was fresher and more pleasurable. Not nearly as good as the 98 Pegau I had last year. The cork was in perfect shape and the bottle was stored in my cellar at 58 F since release.
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5/13/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Pretty much identical to note from about 6 months ago. Fully mature, great drinking now with something still in reserve for the next few years.
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5/9/2012 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
Perfect bottle, perfect cork. Very classic La Crau nose with leather, garrigue, cherries etc. There is certainly some of the manly barnyard-feel, that one so often finds i neuf, it is rustic rather than elegant and burgundian, but the wines is well balanced and fresh, and there is plenty sense of place here.
I don’t find the heat, that others complain about, on the contrary, the wine still has some fresh primary fruit, and the fruit grows with air. Still some tannin – and plenty of life left. Will wait 2-3 years before trying another, it will keep for ten, I think. With AD at Formel B (BYO).
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5/8/2012 - pbaek wrote: flawed
From magnum. Corked. Bummer.
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5/2/2012 - markjanes wrote: flawed
Cassoulet and Vieux Telegrape 98-01 (Reno, NV): This wine’s “corkiness” was not obvious at first and was much more noticeable on the palate than on the nose… One of the tasters could smell “corkiness” more than the others… suspect the culprit was more TBA or fungal must in nature based on what I know about my sensitivities to the most common compounds that lead to a corked wine. A good reminder that taste is as valuable as smell in making the “wine is corked” call.
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4/27/2012 - SadEdjo wrote: 94 Points
Translucent ruby. Heady melted tar nose. Smooth tar, iodine, seaweed entry, lingering, citric, minerally finish. It doesn't get much better than this.
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4/26/2012 - liteagilis wrote: 85 Points
Huge disappointment next to '96, '00. Nose was more reticent. Prune, fig, 10-year tawny. Big whiff of alcohol. Bummer and like many '98's (except Beaucastel maybe...). Palate is still massive w overripe red fruits. Not fresh and a big alcohol tinged spicy finish. Pass
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4/19/2012 - forecaster wrote: 91 Points
Southern Rhone wines from 1998 (Regional wines and spirits): One of the darker wines at the tasting. Definite spirt and port tones, but not nearly as pronounced as some of the others. A wee hint of jamminess with a bit of subtle oak in the finish
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4/8/2012 - Seantyrrell wrote: 93 Points
Opened this 98 and an 06 telegraphe to compare for Easter dinner. 06 decanted for 2 hours; 98 popped and poured. 98 was much more expressive and still somewhat youthful. Plenty of fruit with the classic barnyard garrigue of a classic la crau. Awesome!
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4/3/2012 - HenryW wrote: 92 Points
Nose is briny with a mature vinous quality. Palate has an austere leafy quality as a counterpoint to the red fruit. Still somewhat tannic. Faded a bit after a couple hours after first pouring.
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3/29/2012 - Geoff wrote: 95 Points
Wonderful aged cndp. Nose of leather, eucalyptus, smoke, earth, forest floor. Continued to open the entire night. 30-40 sec finish. Polished tannins. Wonderful bottle of wine!
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3/25/2012 - JPB27 wrote: 93 Points
Top of its game, a perfect time to drink what you have left. Decanted for 30 minutes, opened nicely. Lovely color and nose, still lots of fruit, nice complexity.
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3/7/2012 - 14frimaire wrote:
I don't think it was corked, but this bottle was not very expressive.
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3/6/2012 - Didman wrote: 93 Points
A lovely wine at perfect maturity. Just turning a touch bricky.
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2/23/2012 - MC wrote:
Really hitting its stride. Plenty of structure to hold, but very good now. A-
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2/19/2012 - shemmy wrote: 94 Points
Drank at Stone Barns. In a great spot right now.
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2/16/2012 - salil wrote: 90 Points
Easily the best of the CdPs poured; complex and fragrant with developed black tea, leather and other savoury elements around a core of rich red and dark fruited flavours. Nicely balanced and polished texturally, medium weight in the mouth with tannins mostly resolved and good length.
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2/16/2012 - smcg wrote: 90 Points
Leather, tar, tea, plums. Fruit thinning a bit versus a year ago. Probably peaking or slightly on the decline.
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2/16/2012 - winemaker wrote: 92 Points
Gorgeous dark transparent ruby in color. Smells of forest floor and that lovely mature note from grenache. Tastes of tea, leather, earth. Fairly complex.
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2/14/2012 - J2K Likes this wine:
Very smooth body, plum and earthiness on the palate with some pepper. Finish which came off a little sweet, like skittles or cotton candy. Slight acidity and subtle tannins but still enough for a decent grip and linger on the finish. Overall a very nice wine. My tastes would prefer this wine slightly younger. Still has time left but I would drink now, no decant needed.
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12/31/2011 - Tgood wrote: 91 Points
Dark ruby with faint amber edge, generous grenache nose, little secondary complexity, smooth rich palate, probably at long peaking plateau
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12/6/2011 - VHJV wrote: 92 Points
Very open immediately with a very nice nose and a lovely mouthfeel. Ripe. Loses some of its freshness with time in the glass.
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12/5/2011 - Eubulos wrote: 91 Points
Maybe a little bit too fruity, but very good nonetheless. No signs of tiring, can last at least another 5 years.
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12/3/2011 - 14frimaire wrote:
Prime time. Intense aromatics, high-toned fruit, baking spices, some anise.
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11/28/2011 - drwine2001 wrote:
Medium ruby. This has developed significant complexity at this point. Excellent mix of fruit and secondary perfume along with herbs de Provence. As with other bottles, a whiff of funk that is held in check so that it does not overwhelm. Alluring texture and length, no heaviness whatsoever. At a lovely point in its lifespan, far more open and resolved than it was a couple of years ago. Drink with great pleasure now and for at least the next 5 years.
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11/26/2011 - d'Artagnan wrote: 92 Points
Montréal Passion Vin
Un nez animal, avec de la viande, des notes de figues. Expressif mais pas si charmeur. La bouche me semble plus structurée, moins gourmande qu’en jeunesse, avec une certaine amertume. Il parait plus tannique sans cet enrobage de fruit habituel, de sortes que je me demande s’il n’est pas entre deux âges, à attendre quelques années. C’est un vin profond et sans doute le meilleur du groupe, mais pas le coup de cœur habituel. 92-93 pts
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11/19/2011 - EGunderson wrote: 93 Points
Great wine, really drinking well now but a lot of life left.
Wonderful earthy nose, tons of fruit on the palate, nice finish
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11/15/2011 - AllRed wrote: flawed
375ml. Corked.
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11/1/2011 - MicklethePickle wrote: 92 Points
Good color, few signs of age. Rich garrigue on the nose, ripe and inviting. Beautiful. Excellent in the mouth. Big, rich, good grip, tons of fruit. Really evolves and lasts on the long, voluptuous finish. Gorgeous, still young, with many years of life ahead. 4-12-18-8: 92/100.&
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10/31/2011 - Ary wrote: 90 Points
In Crillon-le-Brave. Rich nose with confit, prunes, black currants and wood tones like twigs. Concentrated, kirsch and earth tones on the palate, but somewhat short finish.
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10/27/2011 - markjanes wrote: 89 Points
I seem to have one of these every 10 months or so... there are two things I have consistently noted about this wine 1. there is a fair amount of variability in the bottles (decanted for 30 minutes recorked and drank an hour later...this one had less brett than the first, the fruit was less muddled than the second... color seemed darker, wine seemed younger, tighter with better focus) and 2. the absence of 90+, "outstanding" or "extraordinary" or "singing" bottles...
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10/23/2011 - Oskiwawa wrote: 94 Points
Absolutely outstanding. Opened and let breathe in the bottle for about 30 minutes. Incredible nose. Slight browning at the edges. This will undoubtedly last for 5+ more years but I cannot see it improving much more. Wish I had more of these
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10/12/2011 - norsktorsk wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful wine.
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10/6/2011 - winot wrote: 93 Points
This was really singing tonight - med carmine w orangey tints - glorious, wonderful aged nose that just kept getting better over three hours - raspberry ganache, leather, spices, but the whole bouquet is much nicer than the sum of the parts - wine-y palate, balanced and eloquent, in a great place right now, might last a while but I'm likely to drink my remaining bottle this side of 2015.
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9/25/2011 - rosenst1 wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured; perfect cork and fill. Medium ruby red with perhaps a hint? of browning at the edge. Classic V-T stink and garrigue on the nose. On the palate good depth of flavor with lots of herbs and acidity but a whiplash of tannins on the finish which are not subtle - is this losing fruit/depth before the tannins resolve or just still too young at 13? Over some time in the glass puts on more weight and the finish smoothes out but the tannins are still there. Could be much better tomorrow.
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9/4/2011 - mmcdds wrote: 95 Points
An extraordinary old world styled CdP. Full bodied but not at all heavy. Bursting with black and red fruit on opening that evolved into bright red cherry after a couple of hours in the decanter with deep rich garrigue, old leather and licorice with fine grained chalky tannins on the 30 second finish. This is drinking beautifully today, fully mature but still retaining it's youthful exuberance. A really outstanding bottle of wine.
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8/26/2011 - MRichman wrote:
Lush, round, full and beautiful. Really really nice and in a good place.
A-
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8/6/2011 - goofy Yno wrote: flawed
corked #2
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8/6/2011 - goofy Yno wrote: flawed
corked
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7/17/2011 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
14% ABV. Translucent ruby garnet with a slightly amber/tawny hue and a fair amount of sediment. Aged smelling with leathery dark cherry fruit and a slight funkiness of licorice and garrigue. Medium bodied and mature on the palate with a trace of red fruit, but otherwise pretty much past prime, but not yet dead. Tasting another splash the second day and it remained pretty much unchanged after spending the night in the fridge, so I suspect it isn't in serious jeopardy of further quick decline, if this bottle is representative of anything.
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7/11/2011 - dbkitc wrote: 95 Points
Gorgeous ruby color. Intense, beautiful nose filled with sweet red and black fruits, garrigue and spice. This bottle is right on tonight. Sweet, full yet balanced and long. A memorable bottle of CdP. Drinking perfectly right now, another example of "regular" CdP that I would choose over many luxury cuvees any day. I am glad to have a good stash left. Awesome. (95)
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7/10/2011 - ilee wrote: 91 Points
Rhone dinner at home with Jada, David, Vkoo and Carman: A fine CDP made very much in the traditional style. Mineral, licorice, dates and dark fruit notes were very noticeable, and the wine is quite full bodied with layer upon layer of flavours washing over the palate. The warmth of the La Crau micro-climate is very much in evidence, esp. in comparison with the 1998 Rayas opened alongside -- the two could not be more different in style and character, quite an amusing contrast
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7/1/2011 - kantmakem wrote: 90 Points
SA winegeeks tasting. Josh brought this one I think. earthy nose. subtle, restrained berry and dried fruit palate with a complex finish.
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7/1/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 94 Points
San Antonio Wine Geeks (The Monterey): Decanted an hour prior to tasting. Wonderful, exotic nose, with kirsch, asian spices, orange peel, and an interesting acetone/plastic character that I can't really explain but didn't detract. Palate with fine tannin, but otherwise soft and round, coating the mouth. Great anise, spice, dried fruit palate, with lengthy leather, sandlewood, and mineral finish. Drinking perfectly, fresher and better than the previous bottle, and opened up through the evening gaining layers of spice. Perfect cork, obviously well treated bottle bought at auction.
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6/23/2011 - d'Artagnan wrote: 93 Points
Horizontale 1998
Robe au pourtour orangé mais sombre au centre. Joli nez épicé, avec de la confiture.
Un vin doté d’une belle richesse, avec de la fraicheur, dans un style traditionnel. Encore vigoureux, solide, mais d’un bel équilibre. Un de mes préférés de la soirée. J’ai cru au Hautes Garrigue. 92-93 pts
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5/14/2011 - WST wrote: flawed
Mildly corked
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5/14/2011 - eliotfagley wrote:
Drank this our first night home with our new daughter. Impossible to score - too perfect a night.
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4/25/2011 - mcease wrote: 94 Points
Nice nose with cherry, strawberry and red fruit. On the palate was hints of honey and sweetness along with strawberry and cherry. Hints of brett but not as much as paul jaboulet. We could have let this sit longer though the night to see if it would open up even more.
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4/15/2011 - WST wrote: 93 Points
Elegant mature CDP from a great producer in a good year. Fruit giving way to secondary notes on the nose and palate, with dark berries framed by iodine, garrigue, moist earth. A little Southern Rhone funk. Perfect balance of generous fruit, acidity and tannins.
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3/17/2011 - drwine2001 wrote:
As noted twice last year, this has continued to march along to maturity. Some upfront funk, but then really glorious licorice, red fruit, brown spice and caramel. Terrific enlivening acidity for a '98 and not in the least cooked or alcoholic-together this gives it great freshness and drive. Impressive power and presence without that much weight. Garrigue inserts itself late. This must be the best bottle of this I've had so far, and I can see it holding at this high level for years.
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3/10/2011 - Highlander wrote:
This is the 10th bottle of this I have had in 3 years. This one had a very tight cork and perfect color. Prior bottles (some of them) were cloudy and seemed over the hill. On this one however the tannins were perfectly integrated into the fruit....you might confuse this wine with a much younger one. If every bottle were like this, I would give it another 10+ years of life, but I suspect that many of these are at their prime and are declining.
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3/8/2011 - Dimitris wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at the Milones - 1998s: 98's. This was wine of the evening
Giacosa Falletto Barolo 98 vs Asili 98 - not much difference and nothing exciting. I clearly don't like Giacosa wines. . Beaucastel corked
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3/7/2011 - rosenst1 wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Extremely tight cork; no wetting except on the bottom. Bottle cellared since release at 57 degrees. Medium-light ruby red; no browning. Quite muted on the nose initially; on the palate classic garrigue but significant tannins. Will decant. Consumed a few more glasses during dinner of steak and pasta w pesto; wine has softened significantly and developed excellent depth; the Provencal flavors have become more pronounced. Doesn't yet have the softness or complexity that the best vintages of V-T have but needs another few years; good showing. Will see how it fares on day 2.
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3/2/2011 - Wine Sparty wrote: 81 Points
Decanted and drank over the next 4 hours. Very green & vegetal smell that was not appealing. Taste also green and harsh acidity. After about 3+ hours in the decanter, it started to show a bit of dark fruit aroma and flavor, but still very green for the most part. Not sure if this needs more time or not, but I would be amazed if this really turned around, unless this was just an off bottle. Regardless, I have to score it as I tasted it.
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2/15/2011 - TheGreenFrog wrote: 91 Points
A good example of a mature CNdP. Fruit is muted but wine is well balanced. Won't improve but will last a little while yet.
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2/12/2011 - pkatz wrote: 91 Points
Still relatively youthful and tasty.
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1/23/2011 - antiwood wrote:
Oh my, can I get CdP like this more often? Understated, elegant, cool tones, balanced. Old school wine coming beautifully into its own right now. This is the CdP that made me fall in love with S. Rhone. If you are looking for size, scale, ripeness, oak, fruit oriented wine .. move on, nothing going on here. No hurry.
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1/19/2011 - Mr T wrote:
now this was the real deal after the corked bottle....just terrific...nicely mature but still sweet kirsch....no rush but no reason tg wait either...delish
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1/9/2011 - Mr T wrote:
moderately corked....too bad
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1/2/2011 - Wicker Parker wrote:
An elegant, beautifully poised VT. It showed no baby fat on night one, no exuberant fruit, yet it still drank very young and lacked secondary characteristics. Was also very clean, with no hint of brett or funk. It has advanced significantly on night two – there's lots of tobacco and earth, the umami is cranking, with soy and mushroom notes entangling the fresh purple berry fruit, and the tannins have turned leathery. I won't pretend to understand this wine based on just one bottle but I get the sense this wine will have a lot to say over the next 10+ years as its tannins resolve and its fruit fades.
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1/2/2011 - DougLee wrote: 89 Points
Dark garnet color. Very nice nose of garrigue, market spice, pepper, red fruit. Smooth and seamless on the palate with strawberries and plum mixed with pepper amidst dusty tannins and low acidity. Moderate finish. Concentration a bit lacking but a nice drink. From a 375.
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12/24/2010 - pkatz wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours. A lovely, mature CDP. Really nice clean flavors with fruit holding up well.
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12/14/2010 - d'Artagnan wrote: 91 Points
Verticale Vieux Télégraphe
La couleur la moins évoluée (sûrement 1998!)
Nez animal, presque bretté. La bouche a la richesse magnifique du 1998, l’équilibre d’une bête bien dressée, la gourmandise, mais la finale me semble un brin liégeuse, imparfaite. Je mise qu’il s’agit d’une bouteille imparfaite du 1998. Pas la meilleure de ce grand VT. 91+ pts
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12/8/2010 - pbaek wrote:
Decanted 1 hour prior to dinner. Took a sip of what was left in the bottle after decanting. Distinct aromas of tobacco, leather and animal fur on the nose. Dried out fruit. No uber-ripeness here for sure. Then with dinner, grilled rib-eye, a wine that shows classic mature Chateauneuf flavors of tobacco, garrigue, licorice, underbrush with animal nuances. The fruit, now firming up a bit, is dried in red and dark nuances. The tannins are still very firm suggesting that this wine is still finding its way. A classic Vieux Telegraphe in the making. Chateauneuf du Pape without bells and whistles - just the way I like it. Great wine.
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12/4/2010 - rnellans wrote: 93 Points
Similar note to 1/18/10
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11/22/2010 - saturnaisland wrote: 90 Points
Rich dark fruit mixed with leather, and with strong tannins in the background. Hints of garrigue and a tinge of iodine. Good wine.
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11/19/2010 - markjanes wrote:
Boys nite II, fall 2010 (Reno, NV): This bottle had much less brett than the last and no textural issues... however, I don't think that 1998 is a good vintage for this producer (and many others) as I find the flavors in this wine (and several other 1998s) to be very muddled and lacking clarity in their expression. I don't think it is as simple as ripeness, as this is less ripe than other vintages of VT that have aged much more gracefully... maybe many of the wines from this vintage should have been consumed younger... I don't know but there is a disconnect between the reported quality of this vintage and many of the wines at this point in their evolution IMO. 'Very good' wine at best... disappointing though.
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11/13/2010 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Clear, candy apple red color with a brownish, brickish rim. Nose of saddle leather, sweet berry, cola, wet leaves. Palate very rich and balanced. Great mouthfeel. Great structure. Can feel the focus and the balance between fruit, earth, and acidity. Mouthcoating and long palate. Leather, dried fruit, a touch of raisin (in a good way). Very interesting wine. Drinking great now - not sure how it could improve. I'm concerned that the remaining fruit will disappear and the wine will lose depth.
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11/12/2010 - indiscriminate palate wrote: flawed
Berserkerfest very brief retrospective notes (PDH NYC): Corked.
blackberry & pepper; medium-plus acidity, fading tannin
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11/10/2010 - sharonandroland wrote: 90 Points
Drank at the annual truffle dinner. Tasted blind. Came 5th out of 11 wines. Very complex and long.
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11/6/2010 - aagrawal wrote: 92 Points
Ruby red colored. Nose is bright with red raspberries and strawberries, hints of black licorice and cinnamon. After a bit of time, some truffle aromas. Nice hint of Brett, certainly not overwhelming. Palate is huge with explosive fruit but acidity that keeps it light. Still has strong tannins. A bit peppery, spicy on the palate. Will wait 2 yrs before the next one.
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10/31/2010 - Pknut wrote:
Classic autumn, chilly Halloween on the beach in CT drove me to reach for what I thought would be perfect for the occasion. Cellared since release, this is showing a cloudy yet very deep color, with lots of fine sediment swimming around. Initially, a forward palate of nori, light liquorice and warm, resolved red and brown Grenache fruit, a bit of cedar, and showing no over-ripeness which I was concerned about, given the vintage. Spices on the finish. Classic palate, very unadulterated CdP, gentle and soft with age, yet at the same time dusty and rugged with wild blackberry fruit and leather. The tannin has thinned. Long finish of dusty fruit and classic VT notes of seaweed. In its prime. Fine wine, indeed.
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10/30/2010 - Niagara wrote: 93 Points
Nice. Bottoms up -- time to pop that cork.
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10/29/2010 - canan wrote: 93 Points
CH9 1998 Horisontal (MG work): Nose: Full-bodied cherry but a little sweet but still very nice.
Palate: Very young sweet cherries with a powerful acidity and loads of very young tannins. A little black pepper in the mid-palate.
A solid performance!
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10/9/2010 - mmcdds wrote: 93 Points
Classic old world styled CdP. Med bodied with dark fruit, licorice, leather and garrique. Well balanced, well integrated and in a very good drinking window. There seems to be alot of bottle variation in the 98's. This is the best bottle of 98 Vieux Telegraphe that I've had in two years. There was just abit of brett that blew off after about an hour in the decanter leaving an outstanding bottle of wine. Some past bottles had such a dominant brett component as to render them nearly undrinkable.
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10/8/2010 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 91 Points
This bottle was purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion. It was double-decanted, allowing minimal aeration in decanter before funneling back into the cleaned bottle. The wine was then presented in double-blind fashion to our tasting group and serially tasted over the ensuing 2-3 hours. My taste was unblinded. The wine shows a deep garnet robe with garnet rim. The nose displays quite intense aromas of raspberries, garrigue, tar, black pepper, tobacco and a whiff of spice. Full-bodied on the palate, with low-to-medium acidity and medium firm tannins. The middle palate is full and is characterized by a whiff of heat (from the alcohol) that carries through to the finish. Definitely a ripe year! Drink now-12/15.
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10/2/2010 - drwine2001 wrote:
Still quite primary looking. Again, a bit of brett at a very tolerable level, and great complexity with licorice, toffee, wax, and crunchy red fruit. Outstanding mixture of ripe red fruit, gorgeous texture, and invigorating acidity. What a delight to witness the continued development of this wine over the past few years. In my eyes, it has reached the outstanding level predicted for it at the outset.
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9/24/2010 - SimonG wrote:
Southern Rhone WIMPS (The Ledbury, London): Full ruby, quite a fruity nose but also a sense of alcohol or volatility on the nose. Seems quite spirity and hot on the palate. Not sure what time may do to this; rather shaded by the 94 & 90. ***(?)
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9/23/2010 - Employee500 wrote: 89 Points
Relatively weak showing...nice enough, but very "generic CdP" in nature, and a little lacking in fruit...again, I think there is either some significant bottle variation here or many of these are just very slightly corked.
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9/14/2010 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 91 Points
Blind Red 3 - Translucent dark garnet in the glass. Old world, old wood nose that honestly reminded me of Bordeaux initially. A secondary licorice nuance. Medium bodied with ripe but savory/sweet black cherry fruit. I was all over the map with my guesses, and no where close to CdP. Overall though, I enjoyed this and think it is probably right at peak.
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9/13/2010 - Employee500 wrote: flawed
corked (NOTE: Out of 12 bottles of this wine tasted, six (including this one) have been horribly corked, and another 3-4 showed as significantly "lesser" than the 2-3 terrific bottles (and thus were probably slightly affected as well). Something must have been wrong with V.T.s corks this year. Unless there is also some bottle variation here, I suspect a LOT of the scores below in the 88 to 91 point range (many which reflect comments such as "too bretty" or "too musty", or a belief that the wine needs more time) are not representative of the best this wine would have been either in its non-corked state or in a better bottle (if bottle variation is at play in addition to a high level of cork rate). The several great bottles I've had showed absolutely ZERO character of brett or mustiness...
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9/8/2010 - Pacalet wrote: 92 Points
Pretty dark color, initially nose of cherries, spices, pepper, slight barnyard note, very deep. Medium body, very sweet ripe fruit, not too much acidity, finish a tad short. Good for the price and still got lots of life ahead.
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8/30/2010 - rosenst1 wrote: 90 Points
Decided it was time to crack a second bottle from a case. Deep red ruby with perhaps a touch of browning on the edge.
Quite closed initially on the nose; on the palate nice garrigue flavors and still a tannic kick at the end. Will let it evolve; after an hour or so the tannins have smoothed somewhat but are still present but the palate impression has come together in an intense way. Seems to be a bit awkward at this juncture, lacking the flesh this had in its youth but not yet developing the secondary
characteristics which will come. Wait a bit (longer).
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7/13/2010 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
Maybe its the Route Napoleon or the fact that we were 30km from CdP but this bottle jumped out of the carte du vin.
Beautiful wine, well aged and at a good time. Maybe needs some decanting but we didn't decant. Well rounded, silky and smooth with lots of fruit, earth and some leather. Open on the nose straight from the bottle and for sure will keep you smiling for a long time.
If you like VT also try 1995 (and if you are very lucky the 1978). Both 95&98 are great value wines at a great time in their life.
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7/4/2010 - smcg wrote: 91 Points
Really enjoyed this bottle. Smokey and musty, with cherries and black pepper. Improved significantly over an hour of being opened. Went quite nicely with grilled duck breast.
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6/24/2010 - Niagara wrote: 93 Points
Forward, ready to drink, nicely balanced. In its prime.
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6/11/2010 - ScottG wrote: 94 Points
OK. I admit the first whiff of an open bottle of VT can sometimes confuse me- Had to let a small glass sit for a bit and get a second opinion to make sure this was not corked. But that did blow off- Seemed pretty tight still, so took a run through a vinturi aerator and then decanted back into the bottle (NO, I have NO idea if the vinturi makes any difference- this is about perception, not the scientific method). Still a ton of power and structure here- very classic old school CdP and distinctively VT once it started opening up. Some funky barnyard and that sappy/piney/earthy nose. Very dark fruit- A really nice wine even on a ROOT day- needs more time to the tune of 3-5 years though.
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5/31/2010 - french16 wrote:
Damn, this needs serious time. At first totally closed and tight. It opened a little bit throughout the dinner toshow some kirsh and light garrigue notes.
Right now it's quite big, powerful and forward. This is a wine to leave alone in the cellar for a good 10 years.
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5/22/2010 - drwine2001 wrote:
Two bottles drunk. Very similar in their mature appearance, slight barnyard funk upfront, light, sleek weight, and spiciness. The second bottle had noticeably brighter red raspberry fruit. Excellent acidity and a middle weight-this will never be confused with an alcoholic, overextracted '98. It has definitely progressed from being too young to arriving at its drinking window over the past 2 to 3 years, perhaps more quickly than I had anticipated. If you have multiple bottles, it's time to try one and decide where it is vis a vis your expectations of optimal maturity.
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5/9/2010 - beachbum wrote: 93 Points
still needs some time, not up to the 1995, but a very nice cdp
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4/25/2010 - placecarnot wrote: 83 Points
Brett dominated this wine, impossible (for me at least) to see the fruit through the rogue yeast.
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4/25/2010 - smcg wrote: 90 Points
Leather and spice in the nose, but a bit more subtle than the best of the VT's. Good balance, and improved in the glass over an hour or so. I've got about half a case of this remaining, and am marking them to drink by 2012, as I don't think they are going to get any better with time.
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4/9/2010 - thomaskeil Likes this wine: 91 Points
Briefly decanted at party (sketchy note). This struck me as very well balanced, well constructed and nicely textured. Brett noted before not detectable (or noticed much after the Tempier). Loved the bright fruit and asian spice notes on nose and palate.
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4/2/2010 - d'Artagnan wrote: 91 Points
Superbe nez de garrigue. La bouche m'a semblé plus puissante et moins aboutie que les deux précédentes, moins prêt à boire. Plein et prometteur. 91+ pts
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3/28/2010 - robw wrote: 91 Points
These 2 bottles fell short of my expectations. My guess is that wine makers are just better at what they do today. Quality has come a long way.
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3/21/2010 - WST wrote: flawed
From my cellar via Premier Cru, brought to Boat Street Restaurant in Seattle. Opened, and I thought "oh no." Gave it 5 minutes to blow of the CdP funk, but it's not funk, it's corked.
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3/20/2010 - 14frimaire wrote:
Decanted for a little over an hour, this was showing young but very well. No crime to start in on these now. The tannins are still present, but they've softened enough to reveal a beautiful, leathery, authentic beauty. No rush.
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3/7/2010 - Happybob wrote: 92 Points
At first opening, I'd have given this ~90 or so. Very nice CduP, but not stellar. Then after ~1 hr opening, it blossomed into a much richer, fuller and more complex wine. Mostly more depth and complexity came in after opening. Not a hint of jamminess (a good thing from my perspective), dark fruit, excellent combo of fruit/tannin/alcohol. Med long finish that evolves...
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2/27/2010 - Winevestor wrote: 95 Points
Drank a 2006 VT yesterday at a friend's house, which was great, and inspired me to pull this one. Good bit of stank on the nose - a must for me for a good CnP. Mixed with blueberry and leather. Amazingly fresh, good structure, litltle musty, earth and backbone of fruit in the mouth. Long finish, allowing that great tatste to go on and on.
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2/23/2010 - markjanes wrote: 88 Points
Long overdue boy's nite (Reno, NV): Light color, reddish brown clearing rim. Aromatically dominated by brett with plenty of leather, horsey aromas... spice and red fruits come forward with time as do Provencial herb aromas. On the palate the wine has a firm and aggressive ascent with moderate + acidity... the midpalate while having plenty of depth of flavor and extract is a little bit firm/metallic, the wine transitions smoothly into a low to moderate tannic finish that is quite integrated... the wine has moderate + ETOH. Good balance between moderate + ripeness of fruit and acidity/tannins... very good persistence, intensity of flavor, and complexity. Wine has decent finesse, has a slight textural issue with that hardness/metallic note in the midpalate, and is very expressive of place. I was a bit disappointed in this wine and I think the metallic hardness on the palate, which isn't on the nose, may be a sign there is some mousiness going on (Brettanomyces production of tetrahydropyridine) which may account for the mouvedre notes some are perceiving in this wine. At any rate there is a lot of stuffing in here and it will be interesting to see how this wine develops and how other bottles present themselves brett-wise... I'm not as convinced as others this wine will gain much in complexity over the mid to long term but perhaps this bottle was on the high end of the brett scale?
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2/21/2010 - Ibetian wrote: 89 Points
Fairly light color for CduP, a pretty ruby. Tannins well resolved, a nice wine, drinking well now, but just lacks a bit of umpff for me.
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2/2/2010 - winemaker wrote: 92 Points
Decanted into two 375s. One to be consumed now, the other tomorrow. Tasted in a Schott Zwiesel Forte Burgundy glass. A bit cool coming out of the cellar so I am letting it warm up. Brick red, transparent at the rim. Nose of funk, earth, leather with a tiny bit of sweet fruit sneaking through on the end of the sniff. The 15% Mourvedre in this wine is showing big time on the nose. This wine really does appear young compared to many of its 1998 brethren. This needs time to open up and show its stuff. With air some of the earth and funk subsides letting some of the stoniness and fruits peek through. This is a very complex wine. I think the brett adds some complexity to this to go along with the Mourvedre. Those that don't like the earthy, minerally, leathery aspect should steer clear. Those that love those characteristics will love this wine. It is smooth however and has firm tannins. This bottle isn't as good as the last one that I had, but it is still very enjoyable. I will hold the rest of mine for a few more years to see if they will soften further. If drinking this now I would slow O it for about 8-12 hours.
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1/24/2010 - the godfather wrote:
less fruit and more earth than other VT 98's I've had but extremely complex
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1/23/2010 - Mr.Overhill wrote: 92 Points
Opened with an immediate taste and a half bottle reserve in the decater (one to three hours of air time). Most striking characteristic was the sense of remaining heat. At almost ten years in bottle, it was surprising. Not sure if it's going through a dead phase, but the main CdP characteristics (spices, bacon, barnyard) weren't THERE as expected. Is it just still needing another 6-10 years? Or is it just a character of the '98 vintage? Compared to notes from same wine drank in 2000, it wasn't what I was expecting at age 10. Most disappointing part was the thinness of the mid palate and the shorter finish (under 15 secods). Ninety-two mostly on the fact that it still seems so young. If I had more on hand I would wait until 2017 or later.
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1/22/2010 - d'Artagnan wrote: 93 Points
Goûté deux fois depuis deux semaines, ce VT est dans une phase absolument splendide!
Le fruit et la matière y sont toujours aussi présents mais il a développé un coté aérien envoûtant qui donne le goût de toujours y retourner. Savoureux, long, ample et complexe. il afffiche toute la pleinitude souhaitée d'un Châteauneuf à maturité dans un grand millésime. Magique. 93-94 pts
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1/18/2010 - rnellans wrote: 93 Points
Dark garnet with some amber on the edge. Great nose of dark fruits, tar and leather with a little bit of animale. Medium to full bodied, rich, well integrated soft tannins. Still very nice fruit..Just a lovely long finish...Drinking perfectly at this time.
his wine shows wonderful aromatics of campfire embers, ash, raspberry, granite, tar and leather. The bouquet demonstrates complexity, nuance and remains balanced while transforming over the course of the wines consumption. The color is a dark brick red that is appropriate for the wines age. The medium/full bodied palate shows balance and length on the finish. The wine retains a rich core of fruit and tannins continue to provide structure. This is at or around it peak. The wine may not benefit from additional bottle age but should continue to drink well for the next 5 - 10 ye
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1/16/2010 - KingSlacker999 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Little hot on the nose, but balanced wine. Vibrant and belies it's age. Excellent dark fruit, over dinner the raspberry became more pronounced. Secondary notes beginning to show, garrigue and provencal herbs. The next day the hotness was gone. Probably won't drink this again for several years.
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1/9/2010 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
Football & Chateauneuf du Papes @ Howard's 2010 (Old Greenwich, CT): This is holding up quite nicely. Ripe cherries, raspberries and tar. A fun gravely texture. Loved it.
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1/1/2010 - Hollowine wrote: 93 Points
Wow, what a wine. Stood up in cellar for a few days to settle sediment, then opened for New Years dinner to pair with Rack of Lamb and Risotto. Didn't decant, but opened about 2.5 hours before eating. Clear, vibrant garnet color. Initial Nose was Funkalicious - Lots of Barnyard, wet autumn leaves, mushroom. Palate was initially pretty tight, some red fruits, campfire smoke, meat. Had several short pours while cooking dinner, this continually evolved even to 5 hours later. Funk blew off in about an hour and the nose settled in on cedar, spearmint, and trademark Rhone minerality and game. Palate went through a peppery phase, gained a bit of mint, and by the end of the dinner and into the eve had settled on Kirsch, mint, campfire smoke. Saved a bit in the bottle for night two, will see what tonight brings. I think this is in a great drinking window and well stored bottles probably have many more years of good drinking. 50+5+12+16+10=93
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12/31/2009 - sithinfiltrator wrote: 95 Points
Herbfarm New Years 2009. Tobacco and sour cherry on the nose. Smooth leather and cranberries with brandy on the palate.
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12/16/2009 - drwine2001 wrote:
A 1998 Chateauneuf Dinner (Rivoli Restaurant, Albany, California): Man, was this full of minerality and stoniness. It reminded me of an Angerville Volnay to begin with but then fleshed out with some sinuous red fruit,spearmint, and a distinctive sealing wax note. Overall, this bottle was still tight and quite tannic but just got better and better with more air.
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11/24/2009 - MC wrote:
Similar to last note, this is young, tight. Still showing a lot of tannin. But it has a lot in store, and with some time it shows it. Needs some cellar time, but should be worth it. A-/A
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11/9/2009 - Jack wrote: 90 Points
Decent fruit. Lots of pepper and a little booze when opened but settled down after a few hours. The color on this one has begun to brick a little. 2nd night this has smoothed out and is soft and smooth. Very nice tonight and probably a point or two higher than last night.
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11/9/2009 - Nutty08 wrote: 94 Points
Trip to Napa/Sonoma; 11/7/2009-11/14/2009 (Napa/Sonoma): Initially upon opening had a menthol/band-aid nose that made me question whether the bottle was off. This blew off after 15-20mins and left a distinctly mature Rhone nose of barnyard, cherries, and kirsch. Palate was lush and light, with a distinct liqueur-like quality and was slightly hot, but this gave way to dense layers of spice and stewed fruit, and hung on the palate for nearly a minute. Tannins were nearly completely integrated with a slight fine tannin background. Absolutely fantastic bottle, and maybe the best CdP I've had.
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11/6/2009 - Vinomarcus wrote: 90 Points
Duck Dinner; 11/5/2009-11/6/2009 (Peter Pratt's Inn): A mature wine, lots of earth, manure, sour cherry and minerals. The body was soft but not too flabby. I liked it very much, but didn't offer a guess as to what it was.
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11/4/2009 - kstoddard wrote: 91 Points
4BOW: 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape: Dark ruby color. Black fruit nose with some brett that seemed to blow off as the evening wore on. Tastes of blackberry, charred cedar, earth and spice. Rich finish with some depth. The worst showing for this wine for me ever. Unfortunate as it can be a spectacular wine. 14% alcohol.
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11/4/2009 - jeff nowak wrote: 90 Points
not decanted, certainly could be as it benefited from time in the glass. solid performance, but not up to a couple of previous times i've swooned over this wine. seemed unevolved, but not closed. nice fruit, per usual
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11/3/2009 - wine guy wrote: 93 Points
Decanted a half hour before tasting. Nose had camphor and gasoline. I thought it was corked at first. But with an additional half hour of breathing it opened up and revealed spice, pepper, red fruits, bacon fat. We served it over the course of a couple of hours with dinner and it continued to smooth out and gain elegance. A great bottle of Chateauneuf. I came away very impressed with it. I don't think this is going to bottom out any time soon in a properly stored environment. I'd say the professional's estimate of another 10 years is pretty accurate. Interesting was the taste comparison to a 2007 1/2 bottle of the same wine we tried the same night. Huge fruit and a thick, one-dimensional wine. Even after a couple of hours it kept it's best attributes close to the vest. I think all the elements are there to blossom into a profound wine, but it was interesting contrast to an aged wine's ability to intrigue and interest the palette on so many more levels.
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10/11/2009 - sehill wrote: 94 Points
This wine was decanted and poured. It showed as expected based on a magnum tasted last year. This wine shows wonderful aromatics of campfire embers, ash, raspberry, granite, tar and leather. The bouquet demonstrates complexity, nuance and remains balanced while transforming over the course of the wines consumption. The color is a dark brick red that is appropriate for the wines age. The medium/full bodied palate shows balance and length on the finish. The wine retains a rich core of fruit and tannins continue to provide structure. This is at or around it peak. The wine may not benefit from additional bottle age but should continue to drink well for the next 5 - 10 years.
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10/2/2009 - echriste wrote: 93 Points
Lovely soft tannins, integrated fruit, drinking well.
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9/27/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 90 Points
Delicious red fruits on the palate, with spice and cherry liqueur hints, funky nose with a touch of brett, will last a long time.
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8/22/2009 - VoteferPedro wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed with friends at Canary Cafe; no formal note.Deliscious, lovely wine now but could have used an hour of air.
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8/20/2009 - d'Artagnan wrote: 93 Points
Mini-verticale à la pêche (97-98-01)
Nez un peu plus animal, belle concentration et style plus tannique et fougueux que les précédents. C’est un excellent CNP au style traditionnel, ample et généreux, avec alcool à noyaux, épices, garrigue. Concentré, puissant et savoureux, mon préféré. Le 1998? 93 pts
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8/16/2009 - City Wine Journal wrote: 93 Points
Affirming previous tasting note on another auction bottle held for over a year. Wonderful and still a long life to live. Satisfying in every way.
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8/9/2009 - wfdeacon wrote: 91 Points
Decanted maybe 90min. Color was bright ruby. Very floral nose, some plum and berry. Still pretty dry but not harsh, fit together nicely. Also seemed to gain slightly more body later in the night.
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7/5/2009 - cellarid wrote: 90 Points
very good, perhaps a notch below the last bottle. fruit seems more mature than the structure. lots of sediment.
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7/3/2009 - robkuhling wrote: 92 Points
Decanter for 1 hour. Delicious fruit. Still youthful.
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6/4/2009 - BradA wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured for a lovely HOT june dinner.
Really great juice--just primed and ready to go. Seamless, well balanced and full throttle--earth, scents of provencial herbs and tasty/spicy fruit. This is a wine to savor and enjoy and a reward for patience. Do not hesitate to drink now: will it get better? I do not know==but I am not waiting to find out either!
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6/2/2009 - onewineheaven wrote: 93 Points
Terrific. Still youthful.
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6/1/2009 - Employee500 wrote: 93 Points
Delicious. Still rich fruit with some secondary development/complexity, some smoke, leather, pepper and maybe a vague hint of brett...I suspect there may be something going on here (cork? or bottle variation?) as I recently had a terrific, 95-96 point experience with this, and have also had LOTS of bottles that showed obvious (and disgusting) TCA...
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5/21/2009 - salil wrote: 90 Points
Tightly wound right now and showing plummy dark fruited flavours over hints of earth and meaty elements. Still feels very primary now with a core of firm tannins underneath and tremendous density.
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5/16/2009 - scoll wrote: 88 Points
A great wine for CDP lovers. Still pretty big, a fair amount of tannin.
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5/8/2009 - rpenn77 wrote: 85 Points
Disappointing
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4/27/2009 - thequaffer wrote: 92 Points
Opened a 375ml. Showing some age with crimson brick colour. An open nose of cherry, leather, barnyard and soy sauce. Subtle syrah pepper with oak and some tightness on the palate and finish. It’s ready but has got some legs to last. This is a complex and classy wine. Good value.
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4/7/2009 - pbaek wrote: flawed
1998 CdP tasting at Il Corso, NY. $%@&#! Slightly corked...too bad, I love the '98 Vieux Telegraphe and it would have been interesting to see how it would fare in this line-up.
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4/2/2009 - vulgar little monkey wrote: flawed
OK, that's 2 1998 Chateauneuf corked within a week. WTF?
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2/23/2009 - Ibetian wrote: 89 Points
Some bricking at the rim. A bit disjointed at first, but improved with time, air and food. A nice wine, but didn't seem special. This particular bottle seemed like it might be a litttle past its peak.
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2/19/2009 - jeff nowak wrote:
after having this wine several times, with each experience being stellar, wouldn't you know it, i take this to an offline, and it's a dud. comments around the table centered on a vegetal note. sadly, an off bottle.
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2/9/2009 - Tree512 wrote: 95 Points
And this time, it was great out of magnum. Some brett showing as shoe polish, but enormously long, rich, mineral, with blood on the palate along with loads of fruit. Perfect combo with lots of pork.
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2/9/2009 - ikkaariainen wrote: 90 Points
Very good and mature CdP enjoyed earlier tonight with the third flite of all CdP wines at the Hickory Wine Club tasting at Lake Hickory CC. RP rated 93. Typically one of our favorite CdP's but tonight overshadowed by some of the other stable mates in this flite. Very dark purple, big and still very concentrated with good mouth feel but still plenty of tannins left for further development for at least 5-10 more years. Big nose of allspice and blackberry with primary flavors of blackberry, tar and strong black pepper. Highly recommend this wine and this will clearly mature, develop and improve further, decant if drunk now.
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1/31/2009 - Tree512 wrote: 91 Points
Starting to peek through but nowhere close to ready from 750 again. I am thinking that the amazing 3L I had 2 years ago pre-maturely aged because of the hand cut cork. This will be a great wine, but even with decanting and a couple of hours still tasted of black and red fruits with a touch of smoke but no generousity. More balanced than my last bottle, but VT just takes a long long time to mature to where I want it to get to.
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1/31/2009 - angryphoton wrote: 92 Points
old world funk, leather, wet soil, hints of pepper, clove and anise. palate has great structure, dry, with smooth yet strong tannins indicating it still has a long life ahead. mineral notes plus grape tomatoes on the palate coupled with licorice laden strawberry.
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1/28/2009 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
French Bakery 2nd Chateauneuf de Papes BYO Dinner (The French Bakery, 1023 Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands, FL): Mark's wine(Me). 3 of 10 1sts, ave 90.7. Decanted for 1 hr in am. Jerry-94. Richard-94 nice perfume classic. David-91 hard to differentiate(all the same wine, different vintages)John-90 like it. Charlie-91 game, leather, brett. Deirdre and I realized this flight was tight, and so we used the Vinturi Aerator on them, and they all changed for the better.
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1/24/2009 - winemaker wrote: 93 Points
This is a rocking bottle of wine. Needs some air to allow the sulphites to blow off. The Mourvedre in this wine really gives it additional depth and smoothness, not to mention earth and leather. Very long finish. Tannins are still quite noticeable. This wine, if stored properly is only beginning to round into form. I am glad I have a bunch of this left. This wine has a lot of complexity with flavor changes throughout the palate.
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1/18/2009 - Pknut wrote:
Begins with a huge blast of black pepper on the nose. That receeds somewhat and allows other elements to emerge, such as red Grenache fruit, burnt fireplace embers, peat, iodine (I'm sticking with the Lagavulin comparison from my TN from last March) and significant barnyard. The barnyard is not off-putting to me, but it is a significant part of the palate profile, and when the black pepper smooths out, one is left with equal parts red Grenache fruit and barnyard. The tannins are smooth and the mouthfeel is smooth, and while the wine has gained the smoothness of time, I don't think it has grown especially complex. A good wine, a pleasurable wine (assuming that one is not averse to barnyard), but not a wine that is especially cerebral, especially when the initial burst of pepper, peat and iodine smooth out and the palate shows red fruit and barnyard but little additional depth. UPDATE: A glass saved overnight showed much cleaner on the nose 24 hours later, with the barnyard completely gone. On the palate, however, that barnyard comes across as pigeon coop. The palate is otherwise smooth and, dare I say it, not that expressive. It's soft, shows some elegance, but seems to be missing garrigue, lavender, complexity and energy.
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1/12/2009 - Employee500 wrote: 91 Points
Solid, but not an outstanding showing for V-T. A bottle of both this one ('98) and a '95 I had about six months ago were much more exciting than this (both closer to 95 points).
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1/11/2009 - steffenpelz wrote:
Wine Salon - Rhone (Chez Brian): Unfortunately, this bottle was ever so slightly corked. Drinkable, but the fruit was stripped of its suppleness, and the finish was dulled.
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1/6/2009 - WineArchitect wrote: 90 Points
This is a classic CdP but I felt it's flavors and aromas were very subtle after decanting for two hours. The tannins are apparant on the tongue at first taste. I think it needs more aging time in the cellar.
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1/5/2009 - Rechrom wrote: 95 Points
My favorite vintage of VT, drinking a point right now - deep ruby and very pure after a one hour decant off of heavy sediment, held up wonderfully over next three hours, great complexity and good length. Nose a bit shy of outstanding.
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1/4/2009 - austincarty wrote: 94 Points
Brought on as an emergency to replace another flawed bottle. Clear wine with heavy sediment. No ullage or seepage. Powerful dark grape nose. Full impact of fruit in balance with tannin in spite of being a little too cold. Opened up gloriously.
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1/3/2009 - pbaek wrote:
This is the second bottle I've had of this wine within the last 3 months. Interesting to taste next to the 1988. This is a spectacular wine. It obviously shows much more red, fresh fruit than the 1988 but there is also a bit more depth in this wine compared to the 1988. I get some distinct notes of red sour cherries, barnyard, pepper, licorice and smoke. It's a traditional wine all right. A bit on the rustic side, but not nearly as much as the 1995 for example. I think this wine is still finding its way. Will be interesting to follow. I am happy to own this.
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12/25/2008 - philbeh wrote:
I don't write public tasting notes, but this wine was so sublime with our Veal Chops (24oz) w/ a wild mushroom Balsamic reduction that I couldn't resist. Incredible nose of forest and licorice, roasted herbs and meats, with a mid-palate of dark fruits and nose qualities , with a finish that married all the aromas and flavors to linger endlessly on the finish. Beautiful...this is why I drink wine!
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12/24/2008 - jsebiri wrote: 91 Points
Bought about 8 bottles ( splits ) some time in the past year and have been popping them every other month....very good mature Rhone , did i say very good ? I think these have been amongst some of my better purchases of good red rhone over the past 10 years i have had. Just good mature juice very very enjoyable.
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12/23/2008 - WetRock wrote:
This really needed to be decanted. Complex funky changing nose with notes of brett, BBQ, roasted meats and cigars. Tight with a good grip there was nice fruit concentration and balance but couldn't get it to unwind before dinner was over. An our or two of decant recommended to open this one yet.
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12/14/2008 - wap4u wrote: 89 Points
Nicely integrated Chateauneuf with lots of years to go in the cellar.
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11/22/2008 - BradA wrote: 93 Points
Popped for a post Husky football loss... argh.
Anyhow--the wine is specatacular! Nose of iodine, brambly underbrush and roasted meats with a garnet color. Dusty tannins, silky finish, sweet fruit and a deep core than lingers on the palate. Harry Karis--I think this is a wine you would (do) love! Plenty of barnyard on the nose--and I find it enticing as it takes me to a mental state of relaxation and hits the mood on a dry autumn night. I also think this validates the idea of cellaring CdP--if you can keep out of the cellar... Drink thru 2015
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11/10/2008 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Cherries, leather, spice, earth and more than a hint of brett on the nose. Rich, layered, fruit with soft (but firm) tannins and nice acidity which makes up for the slight brett on the nose. Long complex aftertaste.
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11/9/2008 - Grinner wrote: 93 Points
Another great showing, with it's fruit integrating well with some classic non-fruit flavors of leather/blood/underbrush. Great depth!
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11/9/2008 - jsebiri wrote: 91 Points
why i enjoyed a bottle of wine that smells so much like a Barn is beyond me but , it was very very good . the last bottle i had from stash needed a good 1.5 hours to open up , i gave this an hour and it was ready to go .i think this might have many more years left to go as well. Alc. on the nose was not overpowering but was certainly evident. very very good , from 375L. bottle.
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11/6/2008 - ginfizz wrote: 89 Points
This bottle overly bretty. Disappointing, but good with a bit of air.
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11/6/2008 - burgbob wrote: 92 Points
A bit tight and needed two hours of decanting to open. Still an understated CNP, with the elegance and profile of a bordeaux, but with more alcohol and different flavors. Still a long way to go, and if I had another bottle, I'd wait five years.
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10/27/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 95 Points
it's difficult to fault this wine, which i have previously extolled upon. it has the complete package of beautiful fruit, richly textured mouthfeel, and a long finish. i presume this will hold for 20 more years? deliciously satisfying now.
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10/27/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 95 Points
G7 (Kevin): Dark ruby color. Spicy red fruit on the nose. Tastes of blackberry, blueberry, cherry and earth. Medium bodied. Great balance. Amazing structure with a nice backbone that will allow this wine to age gracefully for another 10-20 years. Amazing complexity and elegance. Always one of my favorite years from Vieux Telegraphe. My personal WOTF followed closely by the 1995.
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10/23/2008 - HenryW wrote: 88 Points
Rustic style. Understated nose is quite attractive. But the palate finishes on a harsh astringent note.
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10/15/2008 - kris.h wrote: 93 Points
A lovely bottle of Chateauneuf. Deep ruby red in color. The nose was nicely complex with scents of leather, dark fruit, berries, etc. On the palate the tannins are starting to integrate nicely, there is moderate acidity and medium to full body. I don't recall the finish being particularly long but it was very pleasant. This wine is drinking well now and should continue for several more years.
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10/3/2008 - d'Artagnan wrote: 90 Points
Nez riche, sur le kirsch et les épices. Attaque ample, structure imposante, un vin puissant, capiteux, savoureux mais à la finale un peu rustique. Manque un peu de finesse. Très bon mais moins impressionnant que les dernières bouteilles.
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9/21/2008 - sehill wrote: 95 Points
Drank from a 1.5L bottle. The bottle was decanted and poured. Excellent ten year old Vieux Telegraphe! This wine showed wonderful aromatics of granite, dried herbs, black fruits with subtle secondary notes of leather and cigar ash. The color is a dark brick red and correct for its age. The medium/full bodied palate shows great balance and the right combination of youthful intensity and maturity. The long finish still has grip from the tannins and acidity. This was outstanding and the perfect wine for last nights dinner.
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8/16/2008 - WST wrote: 92 Points
I bought these through various retailers and auctions, so the bottle variation doesn't surprise me. This bottle was dominated more by barnyard aromas than the last three, detracting from the iodine, blackberry, and iron notes. The previous bottles had the cow field in the background, making them more enjoyable. A slightly flawed beauty.
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8/16/2008 - Grinner wrote: 95 Points
A classic in every way, the edges have smoothed, the earth and fruit have integrated, and the balance is excellent. Still has 10 years but why wait.
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8/6/2008 - envirovino wrote: 90 Points
Was pretty good, though did not love. Balanced but maybe a little thin. Shorter finish. Was expecting a more depth of flavor.
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7/26/2008 - d'Artagnan wrote: 93 Points
Ce vin a changé depuis deux ans, il est arrivé à destination.
Nez complexe et suave….d’abord sanguin, de la viande et des mûres…puis du tabac, du poivre et des épices.
La bouche est superbe! Attaque d’une belle fraicheur, ample et généreuse avec de belles saveurs de garrigue et de fraises, un très bel équilibre. C’est long et savoureux, il y a encore beaucoup de fruit, c’est un vin typé et « traditionnel », non dénué d’une certaine rusticité, avec une finale sur les cerises à noyaux.
Voilà un vin qui semble entrer dans sa période de maturité et qui y restera longtemps. Il se boit très bien en ce moment mais il sera aussi intéressant de le voir évoluer sur une dizaine d’année, peut-être plus. S’il ne me restait qu’une bouteille, je conseillerais de la boire dans les prochains deux ans car il traverse une belle période.
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7/24/2008 - xwine wrote:
Open for business. This wine is truly at its best right now. Animal, anise, earth, mature fruit, terrific balance, and an ever changing nose and palate; popped about a half-hour before starting on it, and it just got better and better over the course of over an hour. Sublime, and the highlight of the night.
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7/20/2008 - doctoroflaws wrote:
slightly tainted.
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7/15/2008 - WST wrote: 94 Points
Nicest bottle yet, has fully hit stride. Blackberries, iodine, iron, and mildly funky moist earth dominate both the nose and palate. I'll drink most of my remaining stock over the next 3 or 4 years.
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6/28/2008 - doctoroflaws wrote: 94 Points
Took about 10-20 minutes after opening for the wine to bring to sing but once it began it was awesome. This wine is just beginning to hit its peak. This year, 2009 and 2010 will be be awesome.
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6/27/2008 - BradA wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured for a Summer's eve dinner. A glorious bottle that showed a nose of iodine, flavor of beef broth and iodine mixed with herbs. Very smooth and full in body. I am so glad to have a few more as this seems to be entering a fantastic stage!
Enjoy!
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6/21/2008 - Rechrom wrote: 94 Points
Agree completely with many others that this is really starting to sing. Decanted one hour prior to drinking. Best of the bottles I have had, great secondary characteristics on top of still evident fruit. Wonderful nose, wonderful palate, very good length. A pleasure from first glass to last.
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6/18/2008 - goofy Yno wrote: 94 Points
barnyard, mushroom nose, tight mouth with lots of fruit , good balance. hold if you got. (obviously my last bottle was bad)
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6/12/2008 - goofy Yno wrote: 88 Points
a touch of barnyard, earth raspberry. nice attack but a touch of heat. poped and pourd and as the bottle progress slight improvement but not much. good finish. ? off bottle (bought in store in Arles)
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6/11/2008 - MC wrote:
Along side a 98 Olivet-Papet this was much younger, tighter, and in need of some additional cellar time. It can go now, but should be better with some additional age. A-/A
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5/27/2008 - City Wine Journal wrote: 93 Points
Auction bottle, held for a couple of months, in fine shape. This vintage has such depth and breadth. Poured without decanting, and sampled over a couple of hours. Firm, fine, and eminently satisfying CdP, an easy one to share. Long finish, evolving 2ndary aromas of mushroom and earth following the dark fruit and garrigue; bright acidity and balanced throughout. Opened up with time, and held interest. Also consumed faster than expected. So, this is a wonderful wine to drink and share, and built to gain with another 5+ years easily.
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5/18/2008 - the godfather wrote: 95 Points
this has to be the best telegraphe to date, flawless balance and purity, simply fantastic is an old school classic way
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5/18/2008 - rmodak wrote: 91 Points
This was decanted for 4 hours. Very barny nose that was not overwhelming due to the richness and depth of fruit. Black cherry with leather, tobacco, iron and long firm tannins. This is definitely youthful and will likely improve.
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4/29/2008 - ginfizz wrote: 91 Points
Showing well. Great color, nose of berries with a touch of brett, leather, bit of spicebox. Medium weight on the palate, with integrated similar flavors, medium length. A burgundian version of CNP. Drink or hold.
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4/12/2008 - BeavisCC wrote: 91 Points
Lovely CdP, but doesn't have the "wow" factor of a great year of Beau or Pegau. Good fruit, medium-bodied, but seemed a bit delicate. Finish is not terribly long (though cannot be termed short).
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3/31/2008 - Geoffrey Carter wrote: 89 Points
Better the second day, but it never reached its potential.
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3/15/2008 - Pknut wrote:
With Spencer and Lisa. The 1998 VT came out on the brawny, meaty, smoky side than a bottle enjoyed in December which had broader and more generous fruit. Tonight, notes of peat, smoke, black pepper and a whiff of iodine, it was a nose borrowed from Lagavulin, along with a whole lot of poop and funk and diaper pale. Rich on the palate, showing raw meat, pork sausage and fresh tilled dirt, the tannins are softening which leads to a worsted texture, softer around the edges but still showing plenty of youth and vigor. There is a lot happening here, the wine has a lot to say, but I think a few more years in the cellar are needed. Right now it is an awkward teenager, all pimply faced and prone to spastic outbursts.
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3/12/2008 - BradA wrote: 93 Points
Wow--this was really fun to drink! Lots of sweat and horse on the front end with a cool sweet finish that showed spice and bramble and iodine. A nice pairing with veggie lasagna; medium in body and ruby in color that is really showing well at this point. I may have to open a '98 Beau to catch up on its progress. Still lots of time to enjoy these--but with such fulfillment, it will be hard to stay away.
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3/11/2008 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 93 Points
Vieux Telegraph at Chez Moi: No notes tasted. Tasted after the '82, '86, '89 and '94. This was my first time with this wine since shortly after release and it has improved considerably. While still primary and youthful, the smells and tastes are much more in line with classic CdP. On the palate this delivers very concentrated fruit, good flavor intensity, perfect balance and a long, satisfying finish. This just needs more time in the cellar to allow secondary elements to become more integral to the overall experience.
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3/11/2008 - Siggy wrote: 93 Points
Tasting Group Dinner - Vieux Telegraphe (Dave's House): Third time I've had this. Decanted about 2 hours. Much tighter and more primal than the bottle I opened last year. Intense dark, floral/violet nose. Tight and smoky. Dark inky fruit, garrigue, loads of structure. Lots of ripe tannins. If poured blind, I would have guessed this was the '01. Seems to have excellent raw material and a long evolutionary path ahead. Based on this bottle, I would wait at least a few more years, or decent for several hours at a minimum.
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3/3/2008 - toomuchwine wrote: 92 Points
Pulled the cork (and recorked) in the cellar for several hours with no apparent benefit, decanted and drunk right away...definitely smoothed out over the course of several hours, but was still tight at first. Good, round, red fruit nose, tho it was pretty tannic on it's own; with a big steak this was excellent. We can clearly wait a long time on this one.
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2/9/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 96 Points
don't know the bottle prep. superb wine, probably the best bottle of this i have ever experienced, although it has always been a wine i enjoy. very complex palate consisting of blackberry, raspberry, multiple spices. highly recommended.
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2/9/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 97 Points
The nose of this wine was exploding out the glass. Blackberries, cherries, dried flowers, raspberries, pepper, spice and garrigue. Medium bodied. Extremely well balanced with beautiful acidity. Possessing a layered mid palate with incredible depth and complexity. Powerful and elegant finish that lasts for almost a minute. This wine was on fire tonight. The pinnacle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape IMHO.
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1/19/2008 - Ibetian wrote: 90 Points
From 375, popped and poured. Drinking well now, with a pleasant sweetness to the fruit and a rich, ripe cherry nose.
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1/10/2008 - Cheryl wrote:
I preferred the 98 to the 95 as the 98 was less "cdp-like". This was toast and fruity. It seemed much younger than the 95. Not just three years.
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12/31/2007 - sosgoodjhu wrote: 92 Points
clear ruby hue, well structured, good finish. nice CdP. classic.
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12/31/2007 - JOsgood wrote: 94 Points
Drinking absolutely gorgeous right now. Powerful yet elegant. Great finish on this wine.
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12/31/2007 - the godfather wrote: 93 Points
one of my favorite 98's, still very youthful and primary, everything you want in a CDP
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12/29/2007 - cellarid wrote: 92 Points
Surprisingly very serious and structured. Hold for a few more years at least.
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12/16/2007 - Madidus wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Rich dark fruits, slightly medicinal, with overtones of black pepper and tobacco. Palate heavily tannic despite decanting, but resolute and finely balanced. More to come I'm sure!
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12/2/2007 - JPBone wrote: flawed
2 for 2 on corked bottles
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11/22/2007 - kstoddard wrote: 94 Points
Red berries and roses on the nose. Tastes of cherries, raspberries, black pepper, leather, earth and Herbs de Provence. Excellent mid palate complexity. Very well balanced with good acidity. Medium bodied. A youthful and powerful finish that is still quite elegant. A fantastic wine that will only get better with time.
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11/10/2007 - Tree512 wrote: 89 Points
Far too young. Amazing that it was my wine of the year from double magnum in 2006 and it could show this poorly/closed a year later from 750. A solid base but too much acid to get to 90. I hope this morphs into what I have seen from large format. A perplexing showing.
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11/9/2007 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90. Lunch at Salumi. No notes.
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11/9/2007 - Ibetian wrote: 90 Points
Decanted and drank with steak au poivre. Dark ruby. Grenache nose. Tannins still a little harsh, but mostly resolved. Very nice, but not quite knock your socks off.
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11/5/2007 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
From 375ml, popped and poured. Deep garnet color. Aromas of raspberry and plum along with faint meaty and garrigue notes. The garrigue note became more pronounced as the wine sat in the glass. Flavors of plum, lavender and spicy red fruit with noticeable tannins. Still very young and in need of time.
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11/1/2007 - blondon wrote:
CdP/Rhone Offline, Cavaillon Restaurant, SD: opened one hour prior to leaving home but not decanted. Dark color, distinctive CdP nose, still young. Will let my last bottle rest for several years.
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10/6/2007 - Rechrom wrote: 91 Points
Dark red, very slight bricking at rim, nose developing, full palate with very nice length. Drinking well now, but still some tannin and youthfulness that leads me to believe that the best is still a few years in the future.
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9/26/2007 - Jack wrote: 90 Points
Still pretty tannic and needs at least two hours to open up. Good fruit but still seemed a little closed. Day 2 - too acidic to drink even with a piece of beef.
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7/22/2007 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 91 Points
Because of the level of brett on this wine, this was the only contraversial wine at the table. I loved it. To me the small amount of brett was just enough to go with the Poussin Noir that we drank it with.
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6/10/2007 - Ibetian wrote: 91 Points
Drinking well now, though will likely continue to evolve nicely. Classic CduP flavors, with a certain spiciness that worked well with a spicy beef dish.
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5/20/2007 - Siggy wrote: 92 Points
Classic CDP, with full-bodied Grenache red fruit and garrigue flavors. Fine concentration and structure. Really hit its stride 2 hours after the bottle was opened. Darkened and picked up some coffee/espresso notes with air time. Drinking well now.
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5/14/2007 - drwine2001 wrote: flawed
Vieux Telegraphe Vertical Dinner (Rubicon, San Francisco): Corked magnum, not tasted. What a pity.
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5/11/2007 - xwine wrote:
Terrific wine! Firing on all cylinders. Double decanted about 2 hours before serving with dinner at Harvest Moon; threw a moderate amount of sediment. Quite dark in color. Some funk, animal, meat, leather and herbs, all backed up by lovely dark fruit. Wonderfully integrated on the palate, with moderate tannins; rich and round with excellent balancing acidity. The nose is simply sublime, and keeps me coming back for more. A real winner, in a traditional mold; this is my style of Chateauneuf. With the excellent food and company, this made for a great evening!
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4/19/2007 - WST wrote: 92 Points
I think I opened this too early, and finished the bottle before it could sing. The last glass showed a blossoming nose, with dark berries, iodine, earth, a little tobacco and scant barnyard aromas. Elegant palate with buffered tannins. Unfortunately, I'm an impulsive wine drinker. I rarely think to open a bottle early and decant. My modus operandi is cellar to glass, giving the wine mouth-to-mouth rather than letting it breathe.
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4/5/2007 - BradA wrote: 91 Points
very swelte and sweet with some minerality on the back end. Dusty tannins and decent fruit; more of a mature wine than I expected, perhaps it should be drunk in the next 5 years. I pumped and saved half the bottle for tonights lamb dinner.
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3/12/2007 - 82bordeaux wrote: 93 Points
A bit of heat on the palate. Still unresolved tannins that give the black fruit plenty of grip. This wine could use 3-5 more years in the cellar to smooth out.
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2/11/2007 - 5laton wrote:
(Tasted blind) Very stinky, barnyard nose. Nearly the entire group complained about the brett here, with one person even refusing to put the wine in his mouth. I found that it partly blew off or at least diminished considerably with aggressive swirling, revealing a delicate, fresh red fruit liqueur, quite subtle. Unfortunately it seemed to fall apart quickly in the glass. Or was that my palate?
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2/4/2007 - asiabear wrote: 89 Points
Very tight with faint nose but wonderful dark garnet color with a tinge of brown at the edge. Overnight the nose opened slightly but this still requires lots more time in bottle I think. Peppery Rhone taste with hints of jam in a traditional style though a bit light and somewhat short. I wonder if this has enough fruit to resolve into a great V.T.? Taste again in a year or two.
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1/9/2007 - vulgar little monkey wrote:
Very young. Should have decanted. Has some really lovely, dusty, garrigue-esque fruit and fairly impressive structure. I expected this to be much looser knit than it is. I won't touch another bottle for at least a couple of years.
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12/19/2006 - Winetex wrote:
Probably a 94; No rating due to a head cold. Tasted at Steffen Pelz's 3rd Annual Year-End Wine Tasting. Rather horsey but a lovely example of a quality Rhone. It was just starting to acquire secondary flavors. Tasty as hell.
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12/19/2006 - steffenpelz wrote: 96 Points
3rd Annual Year-End Wine Tasting (34th Street Cafe (Austin, TX)): To me, this was the stunner of the night. I am a self-proclaimed Rhone fanatic, but this was way better than I thought it would be. The nose was rich with sweet fruit and garrigue, plum, leather and a hint of truffle. Really meaty flavors and some roasted notes of pain grille. Superb mouthfeel and it was lighter on its feet than the description to this point would leave one to believe. Long finish. My Co-WOTN.
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12/3/2006 - Ben Andersen wrote:
Tasted side by side with the 1994 and 2004 VT (see TNs). The '94 and '98 were popped and poured, and the '04 was decanted for over 3 hours. Neither the '94 nor the '04 had the same depth and underlying minerality as the '98, but all three did show a somewhat similar red fruit profile. The '98 will clearly be the best of the three in the long run... The nose on the '98 opened dramitically with time in the glass, revealing sweet red fruit and garrigue on the nose. On the palate, meaty, with terrific structure and mineral depth. Really impressive, classic Chateauneuf, though probably another five+ years away from really starting to sing. I remember tasting this on release, when it seemed a bit austere and wasn't showing much of anything - yet you could still tell there was substantial underlying material that would be great once it finally started to unwind... I'd say it's on its way!
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12/2/2006 - PhDP wrote:
Chez Christine & Michel (Chez Michel & Christine): Servi frais (et c'est très bien ainsi), rond, assez élégant, un peu chocolat.
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12/1/2006 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 94 Points
Presented to the Vintage Wines, Ltd. tasting group in double-blind fashion. The bottle was taken from my personal cellar, and my note is therefore unblinded. Bright disc. Deep red/garnet robe with red rim. Clean and very intense nose of roasted herbs, black pepper, black fruits and licorice. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity and medium sweet tannins. The middle is full, supple in texture and shows flavors which mirror the nose. Long, smooth finish. Very nice!
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11/30/2006 - Alpine wrote: 91 Points
Very ripe red fruit flavors....outstanding concentration and palate pentration....a nose with some secondary flavors...slightly drying tannins on the finish.
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11/26/2006 - WST wrote: 94 Points
A beautiful, maturing CDP from a great producer in a good year. Some barnyard aromas and flavors, which dominated initially, but settled to the backround with aeration. Fruit is still prominent on the nose and palate, with dark berries framed by iodine, earth, and tobacco. Perfect balance of generous fruit, acidity and tannins. No signs of decline; shows great potential.
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11/15/2006 - the godfather wrote: 95 Points
The best 98 cndp I have tasted yet
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10/11/2006 - Rechrom wrote: 92 Points
tasting along with 98 Beau and 98 Vieux Donjon - Huge wine, great aromatics starting, still significant tannins, youngest of the three tasted, needs a couple more years to really open up.
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10/5/2006 - wood wrote: 87 Points
Mostly shiraz. Good fruit and balance. A little hot after setting in the glass.
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10/3/2006 - lumber1 wrote: 92 Points
Ordered a bunch of Bordeaux 2005 futures, so it gave me the itch to drink a nice bottle. Opened the View Telegraphe, but did not decant. Very predictable nice Chateuneuf; could certainly sit for a few more years. No negative signs of aging and just starting to take on character.
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9/7/2006 - WStucker wrote: 93 Points
I really committed infanticide here. Wine is semi hugh, smooth tannis, but still a little thin. Needs another 5 years or so. Sweet cassis, some seaweed on the nose, deep funky and got a good "barnyard" smell. Flavor is smooth black fruit. At this point, aroma trumps flavor. Hopefully that changes. Overall, very nice.
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9/6/2006 - SMG wrote: 93 Points
Did nor decant. Cherry, tobacco, spice and herbs with nice concentration and ripe fruit flavors. The tannins are subdued but you know they are there. Drinking very nice now and will probably not improve much more, but will last a long time. Having said that, I would not open another bottle until (at least) 2008.
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8/10/2006 - JBVino wrote:
Opened from 375ml...poured into decanter an hour ahead of consuming...opened pretty quickly great primary and seconary flavors. Really good CDP at this point but not great...still a bit thin which could build with time. This wine has along way to go especially if in 750ml or larger.
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7/29/2006 - dd wrote:
great wine after 2hrs really nice red fruits and lite sweet tannins
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7/20/2006 - gorm wrote: 92 Points
Dark garnet. Elegant and somewhat typical CNDP nose with black berries and faint hints of barnyard, provence spices and bacon. Taste very elegant with same elements as nose although somewhat hesitant. Stylewise a mix of Beaucastel and Pegau, but without the clear and distinctive styles of the two. Rating: 92
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7/12/2006 - kstoddard wrote: 96 Points
Vieux Telegraphe Dinner with Henri Brunier's daughter Catherine (Backstreet Wine Salon, Phoenix): I’ve had this wine 3-4 times over its life and this is by far its best showing to date. Huge dark cherry fruit with lots of leather, spice and white pepper. This wine is built to last and has a long glorious life ahead of it. Easily my red WOTN.
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7/9/2006 - Tree512 wrote: 97 Points
Simply one of the best CdPs I have ever drunk. Surprisingly mature out of a double magnum, with loads of meaty/iodine flavors along with huge amounts of ripe fruit. No intrusive tannins and well balanced. Extremely long. Exactly what wine should be. Easily the best VT I have ever tasted, which includes all the major vintages from '83.
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6/24/2006 - shiv wrote: 92 Points
lots of tannins and tobacco. could keep for a while longer but great with meats. big wine.
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6/20/2006 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Chateauneuf du Pape at Daniele: Corked.
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6/12/2006 - ChillyWino wrote: flawed
Ruby red, strong funky nose of anise, rasin, and earth, with some fruits hiding. I love the gererally enjoy the funk in wines like these, but this one confused me. I gave it a 88-90?? rating. This received no votes(0,0,0). Some in the group thought there was something wrong with this bottle.
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4/30/2006 - lumber1 wrote: 90 Points
Drank with guys at the Hamilton Airport with a catered meal. Was quite nice ... what you woudl expect in a good year chateauneuf du pape ... glycerin and a good finish ... still some fruit.
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2/26/2006 - Tree512 wrote: 92 Points
Great wine in the making, but needs at least another 5 years. Tannins are beginning to resolve and the beautiful cherry fruit is beginning to peek out, but the complexity and depth that this wine will eventually show are still covered up. I keep testing this every couple of years, and I think in the end it will be great. But I think it won't start drinking well until at least 2010, and probably will be at its peak in large format in the 2015-2020 range.
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2/12/2006 - nomerlot wrote: 94 Points
Wow! Has this wine come together! The grenache is hitting on all cylinders and the tannins are silky. This seems a little atypical for a VT from the 90's given it's tremendous fruit-forward nature, but I loved it! Clearly it's window for drinking started last night.
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1/14/2006 - pgordon62 wrote: 91 Points
Great weight. Meaty and dense. Seemed rather closed at this stage. Give it another 3-4 years. Lots of potential.
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12/25/2005 - Dteng wrote: 94 Points
Tasted before the 94 Dominus (and qualitatively speaking barely a notch below the Dominus), this thick, rich beauty displays aromas of earth, tar, cocoa, herbs and spice. Reminded me of the 01 Beuacastel (is there any Mouvedre in this?), but not as expansive. Full bodied with exceptional length in the finish. This has got structure and potential. My favorite VT thus far.
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12/1/2005 - tawd wrote: 88 Points
soil, earth, grip, minerals... not much fruit showing... would likely enjoy with dinner.
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11/26/2005 - drwine2001 wrote:
This was served out of a magnum with 3 hours of decanting for a large post-holiday gathering. Even, medium ruby color without any fading. Mellow, gradually opening nose with hints of black cherry, clove, and toffee. No alcohol or over-ripeness here. Lovely, balanced, medium weight on the palate, poised, and seemingly having time and potential for more complexity in hand. A bit of noticeable tannin on the finish that did not interfere with a moderately long finish. Overall, a refreshingly elegant Grenache-based example from this year, and a wonderful food wine. The strangest thing was that it tasted more open from this larger format than a 750 ml bottle was 3 months ago--go figure.
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11/21/2005 - plitton wrote: 90 Points
BYO Rhone Dinner (Cyrano's Bistro): Ripe fruit in nose. Earthy, rich, ripe fruit in pallette. A very enjoyable wine that will cellar well.
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11/13/2005 - PurpleHaze wrote: 92 Points
From 375. Definite alcohol mixed with red fruit on the nose. In time the aromas became more complex with an almost gamy element coming into play. Everything I love in CdP in the mouth. Full bodied (incredible slow legs in the glass) with a nice balance of fruit, earth, spices and leather. Finish clocked at 35 seconds. Tannins still very evident. This wine is still young. Give it a couple years.
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10/21/2005 - Calprof wrote: 94 Points
Thick and velvety on the tongue.
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9/21/2005 - vinolovers wrote: 92 Points
Big, burly with lots of tannins left. This guy opened up about halfway through dinner to revel some marvelous fruit, pepper, smokey flavors that matched the grilled meat perfectly. Let the rest sit for a few more years.
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7/27/2005 - futronic wrote: 89 Points
Dark ruby colour. Aromas of raspberry, alcohol, currant, spice, dried violet, red licorice. Medium-full bodied, quite primary. Juicy, with raspberry, currant, spice, and red licorice. Just a little green. Moderate-length finish, 30-35s, with raspberry and a touch of herbs.
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6/12/2005 - Siggy wrote: 92 Points
Not decanted. I definitely opened this too young, but curiousity got the better of me and I popped two bottles to serve with charcoal grilled chicken. Initially very green and herbaceous, with inky acidic flavors and very little fruit. 2+ hours of air did the trick; the fruit came out of hibernation, and the wine showed an interesting combination of flavors, especially blackberries, pepper, and Provencal herbs. I don't remember the exact varietal blend but it tasted like there was a fair amount of Syrah since the wine picked up a roasted game/bacon component on the finish. The wine smoothed out nicely and showed no signs of oxidation after being open for 4+ hours. I'm guessing this needs about 5 more years.
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2/13/2005 - ScottG wrote: 90 Points
Looking for something interesting for a "valentines day" dinner with wife at Restaurant Zoe. The 98 VT on release was the catalyst for our foray into the world of CDP fanship. First thing noticed was the lack of the eggy/sulfur smell on opening that both the 98 and 99 had- this may be a component of youth. Nose is very earthy, mushroomy, with some hints of pepper, damp forest floor, and pine. Very little fruit on the nose. Palate is still quite tight with a strong tannin presence, some muted dark fruit hiding in the background. Overall well balanced and kept getting better until we finished after 5 hours of airtime. This is still quite closed and should be given until at least 2008-2010 to open again.
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1/16/2005 - peternelson wrote: 89 Points
Vineyard Terrace: Leather, w/ lite berry notes. Good
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12/15/2004 - Jeff Leve wrote: 85 Points
Dark ruby color with earthy, tar, jammy black fruit and fresh cracked pepper scents. Concentrated, dense but without any special reason to like the wine. At the end of the day, it was dull.
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12/4/2004 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Taverna - Chateauneuf du Pape: Blind Red 2 - Some wax and gamey funk on the nose, then cherry kirsch and a hint of cinnamon. Moderate to high acidity. Tightish on the palate. Pretty good.
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7/9/2004 - Frijole wrote:
dark, red, chalk, bricky edges
Nose: spice, cloves, smoke, complexity, age, pepper
Pal: cranberries, earth, rocks, chalk, smoke, age, complexity, pepper
Feel: savory, full pepper
Finish: long and savory
TC9 (maybe a 10)
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4/19/2004 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 95 Points
Tasted as an add-on at a vertical Beaucastel tasting at the home of Amy Weinberg. Bright disc. Deep ruby robe with red rim. Clean, very intense nose of blackberries, spices, pepper, bacon and licorice. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with low acidity, big ripe tannins and similar flavors as for the nose. Long, smooth finish. Extraordinary!
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5/4/2002 - kstoddard wrote:
From half bottle. Very tannic and too young. Hold.
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6/1/2000 - winefool wrote: 89 Points
Deep purple colored and full bodied. Drank immediately after opening and seemed pretty closed down and tannic. Lacks the bright fruit and openness of the Le Nerthe. 6/00
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