With Haggis of all things - just lovely. Needed a 90minute decant to open up. Dried/hung meat on the nose and fresh mountain berries(?) on the palate (krekling på norsk). More proof that this wine in a decent vintage (2008 not so much) can take 15-20 years in the cellar and be better for it.
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Red with brownish rim, medium intensity. Medium(-) intensity nose, spicy and fresh, developed dark fruit. On the palate a hint of sweetness, medium(+) acidity, medium tannins, medium body. 13%. Spices, dark blue fruit, mature but not dried. After a while, addition of smoked charcuterie. Very good length with a bit drying afterfeel. Follows over three days, still fresh with accentuated dried fruit, smoke and meaty/charcuterie flavours.
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Dark red with precipitate, high intensity. Mature, medium intensity nose. Vanilla, powder, red dried fruit, some spicy notes. On the palate a touch of sweetness, high acidity, medium(+) tannins, medium(+) body. 13%. Unsophisticated flavours of dried red fruit. Grainy texture. Drying afterfeel. Day 2: Just dull dried fruit and leather.
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Final bottle from a full case purchased in 2014 from the Dutch importer. Bottle No. 044293, 13% ABV. Pristine condition. Still going strong, bright and fresh Syrah fruit, lovely definition, minerally and intense, slender and energetic, just starting to hint at tertiary development. Amazing value and still with a future,
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Decanted off sediment for 1h at 6a, then back into bottle and brought to tasting at 7p. Note is at 10:30p. Mild lactic aromas with roasted game meats, blackberries, herbs, olives, bark and a bit of earth. Palate had a lovely balance with a melange of roasted game meats, juicy ripe blackberries, olives, bark, earth and herbs. Light-medium tannins on a medium body with nice acids. Moderate complexity. Also, just delicious. Drinking well now.
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deep red color, cherry and black pepper on the fiesty nose, palate of cherry and dark fruits and seemingly still a lot of oak, very firm and a bit rought and tumble, full body, good finish with a bit of warmth, simple but substantial, I would drink soon.
**+, maybe *** with more airing, ready to go
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Dark reddish brown delicious color. Big smell of smoked, forest, mushroom. Elegant, delicious mature character. Hints of forest, twig bark, old bark. A little over
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Tenth bottle from a full case purchased in 2014. Bottle No. 044225, 13% ABV. Pristine condition. Today the news broke that Alain Graillot, viticulteur extraordinaire in Crozes-Hermitage and president of the Académie du Vin de France, passed away on Friday 4 March 2022, aged 77.
This 2010 is testament to his work and to the quality of his terroirs. So bright and fresh at (almost) 12 years of age, a very pure expression of northern Rhône Syrah, flowers and fruit (peach, red berry, cherry), hint of forest floor, black pepper and black olives, linear and transparent, energetic and minerally, neither opulent nor austere, well balanced, firm but finely grained tannins, good resonance and length. Drinking well, still a couple of years in the tank. I paid Euro 18.90 at the time. The vignerons who produce such fine quality at such a decent price are the true heroes of French wine. Just saying...
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Serious, well made northern Rhone, highlighting the strengths of the 2010 vintage. Nose dripping with bacon fat, violets, olive tapenade, black fruit - plum, black raspberry, even a hint of currant, and almond. Palate big, but incredibly balanced. Still quite tannic, great acid, strong dark fruit still there, herbal - thyme. Long finish and complex here too. Good minerals. Still young
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Dark red. Developed, high intensity nose dominated of raw meat, charcuterie, black peppar and dark fruit. A tiny sweetness, medium(+) acidity, medium(+) cooked rice grain tannins, full bodied, 13%. Flavours as in nose. Austere generosity. Very typical. Graillot in perfect shape. (Day 3; dried fruit added and flavours deepened, still very good.)
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Ninth bottle from a case purchased in 2014. Bottle No. 044311, 13% ABV. Pristine. So bright and precise and minerally, so energetic and fresh, so youthful - this is really superior Crozes. It is finally starting to develop some tertiary (meaty) complexity, but the focus is still very much on the finely chiselled primary fruit (peach, cherry) and the floral / peppery lift. It is very tight and quite dry - does it lack generosity or does it need more time? I will put my money (i.e. my remaining three bottles) on the latter alternative. Revisit in 2-3 years' time. If anything, more expressive on the second day, with a wonderfully smoky nose.
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Out of mag. Loved it. Super meaty and peppery with lovely black and red fruits coming through. No rush at all in this format. I opened about 6 hours before Christmas dinner
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Eighth bottle from a case purchased in 2014. Bottle no. 044307, 13% ABV. Very similar to my tasting note from 1 January 2020, also slender but with more fruit and generosity. Drinking beautifully, energetic, minerally, fresh and expressive. Impressive length for a humble Crozes.
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I think this was infanticide. Deep purple red, very youthful appearance. Nose is also mostly primary fruit, very little development. Which isn't to say it's not tasty, it's just still surprisingly primary. As in, if you told me it was a 2017, I'd have believed you. Plummy fruit, tobacco. Bright red-fruited palate, nice, cherry, cassis pastille, some floral/perfume. Very pretty, I just wish I'd have waited another 3-5 years, it's bound to be better. - 91?
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This bottle is much better than my previous one. The fruit, which is primarily sour cherry, is pleasant and the minerality is nice. But the wine seems to be entering its final phase.
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Youthful appearance for age and appellation, sombre colour, just starting to brown at the edges; lovely expression on the nose, fresh and youthful, pure and precise and minerally, peach and cherry, black pepper and smoky bacon, gunpowder tea; the palate is still tight coiled, very energetic and youthful, with the classical flavours of Syrah on granite soils, but there is relatively little stuffing to buffer the structural elements; finishes tight and precise, but also slightly dry. Still going strong, but I am not really sure about its future. I suspect that we will have to take this for what it is.
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While still enjoyable, the fruit has faded quite a bit with this bottle. There are nice dark red fruits, some lead pencil, forest floor, good minerality and a medium finish.
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We found this little gem at restaurant Brasserie in Trier. Dark, inky yet with a nice shine. In the nose this is typically northern rhone syrah with a precise expression of sweet dark fruits, violets and barnyard. As JM Madtown has commented this indeed started with a slight corkiness, which quickly blew off. In the mouth the wine has still something brooding about it. The tannins are not fully resolved, yet they are not distracting either. And the sweet fruit needed about an hour of air to come on display. Not terribly complex. This is a nicely proportioned, elegantly restrained syrah as you would expect from the northern rhone. Seemingly in a transition phase and with some upside to expect in 2 to 3 years. 90+
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This bottle is so much better than my last one. It certainly is reaching the end of it’s drinking window; however, it is still enjoyable. PnP and I am finding nice berry fruit, and that classic Syrah fuit, good minerality, a full mouthfeel, nice acidity and a medium finish.
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This bottle started out a little ruff with some corkiness, but it blew off after some airtime in a decanter. Now it is drinking very well with some licorice, bell pepper, dark red fruits, and a medium finish.
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Har nu nått en hög mognad som mynnar i toner som får en att tänka på ett amarone. Balansen finns fortfarande men tanninerna är snart utdöda och björnbärstoner tar vid med full kraft.
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On the nose a nice intensity but not quite a fully developed bouquet. Notes of blackcurrant (getting to cassis) and pepper. On the palate: medium bodied, some warmth from the alcohol coming through but the fresh acidity makes it well structured and the wine is very flavorful with a good length finish. Good value for money
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Continues to impress on the nose with the impeccable purity of its lifted Syrah character, all flowers and black pepper; lithe but intense palate, elegant and shapely, mineral and fresh and still with a firm grip from the finely grained tannins. Very good persistence. Should have a few more years in it, but I wonder if the fruit will be as long-lived as the structure. Drink now - 2023+?
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A big Northern Rhone with lots of fruit. Tannins are integrated and this seems to be in a good spot for drinking, though I don't see it tailing off any time soon.
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The wine is drinking well right now as the tannins have melted away. It has nice red fruit, almost like Concord grapes in a way. However, the wine seems to be on the downhill side of its drinking window. I doubt that it will last until 2025.
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Beskjeden etter åpning på duft. To timer på karaffel hjelper mye. Rå potet, urter og blomster. Bjørnebær og drag av pepper i munnen. Noe krekling i finish. Virker drikkeklar nå etter lufting. En enkel og grei syrah som var typeriktig samt kjølig i stilen. Holdbar.
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Dernière bouteille, et la plus impressionnante: pas mal de matière, une pureté et une précision de fruit magnifique, un concentré de framboises avec quelques notes d'évolution, pas mal de matière, finale sur la fraîcheur et des tannins fins. Excellent maintenant, mais pourra durer encore plusieurs années. Je ne suis pas toujours fan des vins d'Alain Graillot (je me rappelle d'un 2007 carrément raté), mais son 2010 est d'une qualité et d'un équilibre exemplaire.
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Intense black pepper, blueberries and pine on the nose. slightly "meaty" and perfumated with oak. Less intense flavor with high acidity and medium tannins. Good length. Interesting but will save my last bottle to at least 2019. Edit: left half the bottle for 24h which made the wine a lot more interesting with less acidity and better merged flavored. Store longer...
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Michael Schuster Fine Wine Course Day 4 (Headspace, Hatton Gardens, London): Whole bunch fermentation, no new wood. Medium purple. Clean nose, black fruit (cassis, bramble), black pepper, smoke, mineral, leather. Developing. Dry, high acidity, medium (+) firm tannins, moderate alcohol, nice length. Benchmark cross-hermitage.
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VinoLaprisco Tasting (Restaurant De Karpendonkse Hoeve *, Eindhoven, Netherlands): Paired with Le Vin des Amis 2014 from Domaine Auguste Clape. This is such a wonderful Crozes. Youthful and vibrant purple colour; great purity of fruit on the nose, black pepper, violets and some warmth and spice from the wood; the palate remains tight and energetic after more than six years, mineral and fresh, pure flavours; very good length. I really enjoyed including this in tonight's tasting, but I will keep my remaining bottles until 2019/2020 at least.
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Had with pasta and homemade tomato sauce, kale salad. Straight from the basement so it was a bit cold, but it opened up nicely. Cherry, Leather, may be at tits of smoke, really good.
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Blind Dinner at The Bristol (Chicago, IL): Served blind (peripherally -- how coincidental that two vintages of this wine ended up at the dinner. Sadly the 1999 was corked). Stuck my nose in this and called young Northern Rhone right away thanks to the lovely red fruit and spice. There's something quite similar to the Gonon Iles Feray, though it's definitely lacking a bit of the oomph. Somewhat coarser tannins with a slightly polished style had me thinking a Paris Cornas.
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Just needed something fine for this Wednesday night to think on. Still very youthful, wish I would have looked at my previous note before diggin into is, but...oh well. On the nose, black olive, raspberry and white pepper. Benefits from a couple hours of air. Lots of charm and punch. Palate gets into a fresh cracked black pepper realm. Went great with my Moraccan stew.
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Diep rode kleur, in de neus cassis, bramen fruit, gemalen peper, toast aroma's, cacao, medium zuren, zachte tannines, lange afdronk, met cacao en kokos tonen
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Very youthful appearance, purple core, not black but with good saturation; beautiful Syrah nose, so pure and precise, primary and fresh, sweet red berries, warm spices, white pepper, mineral depth; wonderfully energetic and fresh palate, juicy and pure, mineral and still a bit tight but with creamy sweet fruit to match, perfect oak integration; hint of green apple on the finish, white peach, liquorice, very good length. A delicious Crozes, still needs two years, I will try to hold off...
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Light red color wine. Easy drinking with good amount of complexity. Tannin are present but do not overwhelm the taste profile. Nice berry notes with good restraint on the residual sugar front.
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Bouche mâte, poussièreuse ? Légèrement boisé avec des notes d'herbes sêchées,poivre noir.Un vin austère et avec de l'amertume. Pas tant plaisant maintenant mais à revoir dans 5-7 ans?? 88pts +
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Note from memory. Tons of pepper on the nose together with some blackberries, light bretty rubber and a little meat. Decent palate with a very dry, high acidity. Medium body, medium intensity and a good long finish. Felt very dry and a bit tightly knit, hard to say if this needs more time to fatten up or if it's not enough filling there from the beginning. 1 bottle to go in 2-3 years.
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Took delivery today of the case I bought and just had to open a bottle. It is tight and fresh, marrying amazing mineral energy and drive with the purest, ripe Syrah fruit; aromatic and peppery with a note of red meat and a pleasing creamy quality; very good length. Very attractive already with (spicy) food if decanted; should be at peak from 2017-2020. Excellent wine, great QPR. Complete unchanged on day 2, which confirms that it needs a few years in the cellar to reach its apogee.
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Insane! Best Graillot I've ever had. Tart cherries and briney, briney, briney olives. Bloody meat. Have been sitting on this for a couple of years and it really paid off. Really fantastic - interesting and delicious.
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Perhaps at an awkward stage in its evolution. All the bits that I remember from previous experiences with this producer were there, but it seemed a bit disjointed. These wines have always skirted close to the edge of being a bit too oak-influenced for me, but usually the integration works. This time the oak seemed a bit too noticeable. The fruit was there but a bit tart. But I have faith and expect it will be better in the future so will wait before trying another.
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La robe est pourpre & bien profonde. Le nez est sur les petits fruits foncés, le poivre & la fumée. Le temps apporte un peu plus d'ampleur à l'ensemble. En bouche, de manière générale, j'ai trouvé l'attaque ok, sur le fruit & le poivre mais malheureusement tout s'estompe rapidement, l'acidité prends plus de place, le milieu de bouche & & la finale sont minces. Déception, je présume que la bouteille était "off". 2/2 dans mon cas.
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Count me among the "too funky" camp for this wine. A light-bodied, fresh take on Rhone Syrah, with some meaty aromas and good peppery fruit, was essentially undercut by a woody funk that never dissipated over two nights. Disappointing.
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A bit brooding on the palate at the pop though the nose was immediately rocking. The palate fleshed out after about an hour in the decanter, and became considerably more supple with pepper, purple flowers, blackberries, and an intense, refreshing acidity that was neither sour nor bitter and buffered with ripe, melting tannin. Though the flavors are dark and opulent with notable midpalate intensity, it's neither heavy nor ponderous. And by the second glass, an absolute joy to drink.
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Nez très intense, épices et fruits noirs. Bouche très charnue, tanins fins et soyeux. Beaucoup de plaisir, charme immédiat mais sans beaucoup de complexité à ce stade.
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Au nez, c'est très agréables, fruits bleu, très poivré, une touche de bois. Un peu d'herbes. Belle fraîcheur. En bouche... Acide, mince, peu ou pas de fruit... Très astringent... Débalancé... Après 48 heures, aussi peu plaisant... Bref, à mon avis, bouteille défectueuse.
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Un nez de viande avec du fruit rouge et de la violette. Un vin dense, gorgé de fruit, une petite bombe! Il montre une réelle profondeur et une structure qui évoque les grands frères d'Hermitage. Délicieux et charmeur, il plait à tout public. 92 pts
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DAY 2. elegant and fine black pepper aroma. exotic spice. olive and mineral. dark red fruit aromas, orange citrus notes. ripe fruit, but not jammy. harmonious aromas. palate shows med/+ body, med acid with some bitter edges. open aromas, but really needs 4 more years to fall into place. great potential. Day 3. Ripe dark cherry aroma. Harmonious herb spice aroma. A freshness on the palate that the aromas on the third day do not display. Fine black pepper. Really rocking wine tonight.
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Graduation Dinner (Restaurant Lulu, San Francisco): Deep purple color; spicy dark fruit, needs time to open, minerality; medium density, fresh acid, not much concentration of fruit on the palate. This is a good northern rhone styled Syrah, perhaps lacking a bit in concentration and intensity but is a nice positive surprise for the price ($30 retail, $60 on wine list but $40 after another bottle's corkage was waived for purchasing). Very good. 89
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Nez explosif de violettes, avec du fruit frais et quelques notes viandeuses, voire un petit coté "fermier" à l'ouverture. Le millésime est très réussi: une petite bombe de fruit croquant, avec un style classique, assez droit, moins expansif et baroque que le 2009. Il se termine par une finale suave, de belle précision, avec une charmante pointe herbacée qui apporte de la fraîcheur. Superbe qualité pour le prix, c'est la Côte Rôtie du pauvre (plus qu'Hermitage il me semble). Très ouvert et charmeur en ce moment, avec un bon potentiel de garde. 91 pts
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Second bottle, just as good as the first. I found this ready to go from the start. So much pepper on the nose, olive and fruit on the palate. Medium bodied, good acidity. What more could you ask for in a young Rhone syrah?
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The real essence of Syrah? Could well be this. Classic dark berries with an earthy feeling and black pepper. Quite young when first opened, dusty tannins drying your mouth. Two hours of decanting open it up nicely, making the wine more enjoyable. Very tasty and very recommendable at this price point.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Lively, dark colour with purple rim. Lots of flowers, dark fruit, spice, hay and medicine. Classic nose with nice complexity! Juicy, elegant and fresh style with nicely integrated tannins and good length, although it could be longer. Black peppertones in the end. Nicely made, but of course too young at the moment.
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This is a terrific bottle of syrah. Brambly red fruit with some savory elements on the nose. Medium bodied, zinging acidity. So lively! Tannins are indeed a bit rough, but to me they add to the fun. This will likely be excellent in a few years, but it's hard to do better for youthful exuberance now. Awesome.
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Dark inky blue-black color. Soy sauce, bouillon, spice. Good acidity and medium tannins. Tart finish. This was delicious, but possibly too young. Would like to see what it's doing in a few years. Jennifer liked it.
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Compact blue-red colour. Rather berry-domainated nose with blackberries, dark cherries, and forest raspberries, some liquorice and discrete floweriness, some spice with notes of cloves, some pine needles and resin, and a hint of oak barrels. Medium bodied, the attack is dominated by fruit and in particular cherries, notably acidic (sour cherries) from the attack, a rather strong pepperiness sets in mid-palate after which medium tannins progressively take over, in combination with “sour berries”. The finish is fresh. The tannins definitely kick in late on the palate. A fresh and well made Crozes, drinkable now.
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A slight nutty and peppery nose with dark fruit hints. The dark fruit (currant, blackberry followed through on the pallette). Slightly oily and nicely balanced , very nice dinner wine as it paired well with both evening dinners.
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Decanted and poured, this bottle was notable for it detailed, expressive aromatics. The bouquet offer black fruits, pepper, spice, black olive and floral notes. The color is a dark ruby to purple that is concentrated and youthful. The medium (plus) bodied palate fails to deliver on the promise of the bouquet. The wine seems somewhat unbalanced and short on the finish. This wine could give an outstanding showing if the palate can show better harmony and length.
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Almost impenetrably dark. Beautiful violets on the nose. Medium weight, certainly not as thick as it looks. Adequately ripe with olive fruit. Not that long. Today, I thought that this promised more on the nose than it actually delivered in the mouth. Looking back, I see that I said the same thing about the '09 last year but have not retasted that wine.
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Needs a fair amount of air to emerge from its dark, brooding underground cave, and even then its a bit sulky and ornery. With dark, reserved, blackberry/boysenberry fruit, some tar and creosote, prominent acidity, medium fine tannins on the finish. Drinkable now with a long decant, probably better in a year or two.
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Dark syrah color. Some alcohol on the nose, and leather. The palate shows slightly overpowering tannins and leather, coffee and hints of tobacco. Wait 3 years!
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Beautifully balanced and proportioned but also quite tight and unyielding. The taut berry fruits are laced with dried flowers and herbs. There are some earthy savoury notes and the tannins sneak up on you, making their presence felt just as the last glass slides down oh so effortlessly.
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Really young and tightly wound right now, one of those wines that shows very little initially but does open up after a couple of days in the fridge. First impressions are all olives and dark fruited flavours, but with time peppery and gamey elements emerge. There's a lot of fine grained tannin and a nice acid spine here, and the flavours have a sense of real freshness to them. Very nice (with air), though very much about potential now.
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1/26/2024 - akspres Likes this wine: 90 Points
With Haggis of all things - just lovely.
Needed a 90minute decant to open up.
Dried/hung meat on the nose and fresh mountain berries(?) on the palate (krekling på norsk). More proof that this wine in a decent vintage (2008 not so much) can take 15-20 years in the cellar and be better for it.
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8/27/2023 - Anna@WineCellar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Red with brownish rim, medium intensity. Medium(-) intensity nose, spicy and fresh, developed dark fruit. On the palate a hint of sweetness, medium(+) acidity, medium tannins, medium body. 13%. Spices, dark blue fruit, mature but not dried. After a while, addition of smoked charcuterie. Very good length with a bit drying afterfeel.
Follows over three days, still fresh with accentuated dried fruit, smoke and meaty/charcuterie flavours.
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4/23/2023 - Anna@WineCellar wrote: 87 Points
Dark red with precipitate, high intensity. Mature, medium intensity nose. Vanilla, powder, red dried fruit, some spicy notes. On the palate a touch of sweetness, high acidity, medium(+) tannins, medium(+) body. 13%. Unsophisticated flavours of dried red fruit. Grainy texture. Drying afterfeel.
Day 2: Just dull dried fruit and leather.
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3/4/2023 - danielito Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful. Medium weight, strong fruit offset by chalky tannins. Dry but with a hint of sweetness, just what I seek in syrah.
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2/6/2023 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Final bottle from a full case purchased in 2014 from the Dutch importer. Bottle No. 044293, 13% ABV. Pristine condition. Still going strong, bright and fresh Syrah fruit, lovely definition, minerally and intense, slender and energetic, just starting to hint at tertiary development. Amazing value and still with a future,
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1/19/2023 - James Kim Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted off sediment for 1h at 6a, then back into bottle and brought to tasting at 7p. Note is at 10:30p. Mild lactic aromas with roasted game meats, blackberries, herbs, olives, bark and a bit of earth. Palate had a lovely balance with a melange of roasted game meats, juicy ripe blackberries, olives, bark, earth and herbs. Light-medium tannins on a medium body with nice acids. Moderate complexity. Also, just delicious. Drinking well now.
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1/19/2023 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
deep red color, cherry and black pepper on the fiesty nose, palate of cherry and dark fruits and seemingly still a lot of oak, very firm and a bit rought and tumble, full body, good finish with a bit of warmth, simple but substantial, I would drink soon.
**+, maybe *** with more airing, ready to go
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12/22/2022 - Ardross Likes this wine: 91 Points
A much better bottle - no signs of drying out - lovely balance all round . excellent .
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9/8/2022 - christian.tellvik@limab.se Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark reddish brown delicious color. Big smell of smoked, forest, mushroom. Elegant, delicious mature character. Hints of forest, twig bark, old bark. A little over
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4/16/2022 - AndersThoresson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Syrah singing all the notes you like. Packed with chewy small black olives and herbs of every kind. Made the Easter lamb very happy.
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3/7/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Tenth bottle from a full case purchased in 2014. Bottle No. 044225, 13% ABV. Pristine condition. Today the news broke that Alain Graillot, viticulteur extraordinaire in Crozes-Hermitage and president of the Académie du Vin de France, passed away on Friday 4 March 2022, aged 77.
This 2010 is testament to his work and to the quality of his terroirs. So bright and fresh at (almost) 12 years of age, a very pure expression of northern Rhône Syrah, flowers and fruit (peach, red berry, cherry), hint of forest floor, black pepper and black olives, linear and transparent, energetic and minerally, neither opulent nor austere, well balanced, firm but finely grained tannins, good resonance and length. Drinking well, still a couple of years in the tank. I paid Euro 18.90 at the time. The vignerons who produce such fine quality at such a decent price are the true heroes of French wine. Just saying...
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11/14/2021 - lake.vino Likes this wine: 94 Points
Serious, well made northern Rhone, highlighting the strengths of the 2010 vintage. Nose dripping with bacon fat, violets, olive tapenade, black fruit - plum, black raspberry, even a hint of currant, and almond. Palate big, but incredibly balanced. Still quite tannic, great acid, strong dark fruit still there, herbal - thyme. Long finish and complex here too. Good minerals. Still young
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7/17/2021 - Anna@WineCellar Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark red. Developed, high intensity nose dominated of raw meat, charcuterie, black peppar and dark fruit. A tiny sweetness, medium(+) acidity, medium(+) cooked rice grain tannins, full bodied, 13%. Flavours as in nose. Austere generosity. Very typical. Graillot in perfect shape.
(Day 3; dried fruit added and flavours deepened, still very good.)
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2/11/2021 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Ninth bottle from a case purchased in 2014. Bottle No. 044311, 13% ABV. Pristine. So bright and precise and minerally, so energetic and fresh, so youthful - this is really superior Crozes. It is finally starting to develop some tertiary (meaty) complexity, but the focus is still very much on the finely chiselled primary fruit (peach, cherry) and the floral / peppery lift. It is very tight and quite dry - does it lack generosity or does it need more time? I will put my money (i.e. my remaining three bottles) on the latter alternative. Revisit in 2-3 years' time. If anything, more expressive on the second day, with a wonderfully smoky nose.
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12/25/2020 - dpc123 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Out of mag. Loved it. Super meaty and peppery with lovely black and red fruits coming through. No rush at all in this format. I opened about 6 hours before Christmas dinner
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11/1/2020 - Ardross Likes this wine: 90 Points
Young fruit has faded but now a liquorice and black fruit palate. Longish finish but probably drying out a bit and minded to drink up my last two
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6/9/2020 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Eighth bottle from a case purchased in 2014. Bottle no. 044307, 13% ABV. Very similar to my tasting note from 1 January 2020, also slender but with more fruit and generosity. Drinking beautifully, energetic, minerally, fresh and expressive. Impressive length for a humble Crozes.
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4/18/2020 - winot Likes this wine: 91 Points
I think this was infanticide. Deep purple red, very youthful appearance. Nose is also mostly primary fruit, very little development. Which isn't to say it's not tasty, it's just still surprisingly primary. As in, if you told me it was a 2017, I'd have believed you. Plummy fruit, tobacco. Bright red-fruited palate, nice, cherry, cassis pastille, some floral/perfume. Very pretty, I just wish I'd have waited another 3-5 years, it's bound to be better. - 91?
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3/23/2020 - JM_MadTown wrote: 87 Points
This bottle is much better than my previous one. The fruit, which is primarily sour cherry, is pleasant and the minerality is nice. But the wine seems to be entering its final phase.
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1/1/2020 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
Youthful appearance for age and appellation, sombre colour, just starting to brown at the edges; lovely expression on the nose, fresh and youthful, pure and precise and minerally, peach and cherry, black pepper and smoky bacon, gunpowder tea; the palate is still tight coiled, very energetic and youthful, with the classical flavours of Syrah on granite soils, but there is relatively little stuffing to buffer the structural elements; finishes tight and precise, but also slightly dry. Still going strong, but I am not really sure about its future. I suspect that we will have to take this for what it is.
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11/17/2019 - JM_MadTown wrote: 84 Points
While still enjoyable, the fruit has faded quite a bit with this bottle. There are nice dark red fruits, some lead pencil, forest floor, good minerality and a medium finish.
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11/5/2019 - B Paul wrote:
Similar to bottle a year ago. Drinking very well right now.
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10/26/2019 - jhw425 wrote: 91 Points
From Coravin. Very good and very classic. sauvage, olives, sweat. Loved it
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10/25/2019 - Puteljen! Likes this wine: 90 Points
Masses of black olives. Serious. Nice stuff!
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8/25/2019 - Eric Becker Likes this wine: 90 Points
We found this little gem at restaurant Brasserie in Trier. Dark, inky yet with a nice shine. In the nose this is typically northern rhone syrah with a precise expression of sweet dark fruits, violets and barnyard. As JM Madtown has commented this indeed started with a slight corkiness, which quickly blew off. In the mouth the wine has still something brooding about it. The tannins are not fully resolved, yet they are not distracting either. And the sweet fruit needed about an hour of air to come on display. Not terribly complex. This is a nicely proportioned, elegantly restrained syrah as you would expect from the northern rhone. Seemingly in a transition phase and with some upside to expect in 2 to 3 years. 90+
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8/24/2019 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
This bottle is so much better than my last one. It certainly is reaching the end of it’s drinking window; however, it is still enjoyable. PnP and I am finding nice berry fruit, and that classic Syrah fuit, good minerality, a full mouthfeel, nice acidity and a medium finish.
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7/1/2019 - glou.sf Likes this wine:
No formal notes, but this was a delicious entry level Northern Rhone that's drinking quite well right now and has easily 5-10 years to go.
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7/1/2019 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
This bottle started out a little ruff with some corkiness, but it blew off after some airtime in a decanter. Now it is drinking very well with some licorice, bell pepper, dark red fruits, and a medium finish.
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6/29/2019 - eljocco Likes this wine: 91 Points
Har nu nått en hög mognad som mynnar i toner som får en att tänka på ett amarone. Balansen finns fortfarande men tanninerna är snart utdöda och björnbärstoner tar vid med full kraft.
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6/5/2019 - jhw425 wrote: 90 Points
Good wine. Classic Graillot with the pretty nose. Tannins fully resolved and kind of between primary and secondary fruit.
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3/2/2019 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
Another nice bottle.
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2/20/2019 - tmagsmaken wrote: 91 Points
On the nose a nice intensity but not quite a fully developed bouquet. Notes of blackcurrant (getting to cassis) and pepper.
On the palate: medium bodied, some warmth from the alcohol coming through but the fresh acidity makes it well structured and the wine is very flavorful with a good length finish. Good value for money
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2/6/2019 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Continues to impress on the nose with the impeccable purity of its lifted Syrah character, all flowers and black pepper; lithe but intense palate, elegant and shapely, mineral and fresh and still with a firm grip from the finely grained tannins. Very good persistence. Should have a few more years in it, but I wonder if the fruit will be as long-lived as the structure. Drink now - 2023+?
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2/2/2019 - hprphf wrote:
La Tablee 2019: Enchanting elegance.
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2/2/2019 - LW31 wrote:
Quite fresh, good syrah notes, strong tannins still. I disagree with other notes and would wait another year or two.
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12/11/2018 - B Paul wrote:
A big Northern Rhone with lots of fruit. Tannins are integrated and this seems to be in a good spot for drinking, though I don't see it tailing off any time soon.
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11/1/2018 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 87 Points
Same notes as last bottle: Some black pepper, iodine, tar, leather, minerals, and dark red fruits. But the fruit is starting to fade.
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10/7/2018 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 89 Points
Notes of black pepper, iodine, tar, leather, minerals, and dark red fruits. I agree that its acidity is a little high, but not troublesome.
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9/14/2018 - Markus IWC wrote: 90 Points
Northern Rhone 2010 tasting #4: classic producer with great value for money.
Semi-bright fruit, blackberries, blueberry, licorice, black pepper, coffee, earthy notes, chocolate and herbs.
Loads of tannins, nice acidity and some green notes on the palate.
Less developed than the 09, restrained and too young to drink now. Uncharming at the moment. 90p
1 BV, 2 WV.
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9/14/2018 - Ardross Likes this wine: 88 Points
A bit bretty on the nose cleared a bit after a while to that rubber tyre liquorice note. Good but not as good as usual .
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8/22/2018 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 88 Points
The wine is drinking well right now as the tannins have melted away. It has nice red fruit, almost like Concord grapes in a way. However, the wine seems to be on the downhill side of its drinking window. I doubt that it will last until 2025.
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5/26/2018 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
Nice precision, clean fruit and delineated flavors.
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5/7/2017 - kfinsrud wrote: 88 Points
Beskjeden etter åpning på duft. To timer på karaffel hjelper mye. Rå potet, urter og blomster. Bjørnebær og drag av pepper i munnen. Noe krekling i finish. Virker drikkeklar nå etter lufting. En enkel og grei syrah som var typeriktig samt kjølig i stilen. Holdbar.
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5/7/2017 - Villon wrote: 92 Points
Dernière bouteille, et la plus impressionnante: pas mal de matière, une pureté et une précision de fruit magnifique, un concentré de framboises avec quelques notes d'évolution, pas mal de matière, finale sur la fraîcheur et des tannins fins. Excellent maintenant, mais pourra durer encore plusieurs années. Je ne suis pas toujours fan des vins d'Alain Graillot (je me rappelle d'un 2007 carrément raté), mais son 2010 est d'une qualité et d'un équilibre exemplaire.
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4/29/2017 - Hoogey wrote:
Intense black pepper, blueberries and pine on the nose. slightly "meaty" and perfumated with oak. Less intense flavor with high acidity and medium tannins. Good length. Interesting but will save my last bottle to at least 2019.
Edit: left half the bottle for 24h which made the wine a lot more interesting with less acidity and better merged flavored. Store longer...
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2/22/2017 - Andrewbdc wrote: 88 Points
Michael Schuster Fine Wine Course Day 4 (Headspace, Hatton Gardens, London): Whole bunch fermentation, no new wood.
Medium purple.
Clean nose, black fruit (cassis, bramble), black pepper, smoke, mineral, leather. Developing.
Dry, high acidity, medium (+) firm tannins, moderate alcohol, nice length. Benchmark cross-hermitage.
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1/19/2017 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
VinoLaprisco Tasting (Restaurant De Karpendonkse Hoeve *, Eindhoven, Netherlands): Paired with Le Vin des Amis 2014 from Domaine Auguste Clape. This is such a wonderful Crozes. Youthful and vibrant purple colour; great purity of fruit on the nose, black pepper, violets and some warmth and spice from the wood; the palate remains tight and energetic after more than six years, mineral and fresh, pure flavours; very good length. I really enjoyed including this in tonight's tasting, but I will keep my remaining bottles until 2019/2020 at least.
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12/3/2016 - chrisanderika Likes this wine: 89 Points
Really well-made and true to the appellation. Broad shouldered Syrah.
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11/4/2016 - erroltrout Likes this wine: 80 Points
Couleur violacee sombre. Assez tendu. Quelques tannins. Assez bien.
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10/24/2016 - nadwop Likes this wine: 89 Points
Had with pasta and homemade tomato sauce, kale salad. Straight from the basement so it was a bit cold, but it opened up nicely. Cherry, Leather, may be at tits of smoke, really good.
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7/21/2016 - Envall Likes this wine: 84 Points
Still Young. Opened up after decanting. Required food to be really good. Pepper and acid.
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1/25/2016 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
Blind Dinner at The Bristol (Chicago, IL): Served blind (peripherally -- how coincidental that two vintages of this wine ended up at the dinner. Sadly the 1999 was corked). Stuck my nose in this and called young Northern Rhone right away thanks to the lovely red fruit and spice. There's something quite similar to the Gonon Iles Feray, though it's definitely lacking a bit of the oomph. Somewhat coarser tannins with a slightly polished style had me thinking a Paris Cornas.
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1/6/2016 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Just needed something fine for this Wednesday night to think on. Still very youthful, wish I would have looked at my previous note before diggin into is, but...oh well. On the nose, black olive, raspberry and white pepper. Benefits from a couple hours of air. Lots of charm and punch. Palate gets into a fresh cracked black pepper realm. Went great with my Moraccan stew.
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1/4/2016 - Andre-Raafs wrote: 92 Points
Diep rode kleur, in de neus cassis, bramen fruit, gemalen peper, toast aroma's, cacao, medium zuren, zachte tannines, lange afdronk, met cacao en kokos tonen
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10/15/2015 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Very youthful appearance, purple core, not black but with good saturation; beautiful Syrah nose, so pure and precise, primary and fresh, sweet red berries, warm spices, white pepper, mineral depth; wonderfully energetic and fresh palate, juicy and pure, mineral and still a bit tight but with creamy sweet fruit to match, perfect oak integration; hint of green apple on the finish, white peach, liquorice, very good length. A delicious Crozes, still needs two years, I will try to hold off...
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8/20/2015 - herivor wrote:
Rubi.
Frutas Vermelhas. Cereja. Empireumático.
Encorpado, estilo auestero.
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6/5/2015 - Boutip Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light red color wine. Easy drinking with good amount of complexity. Tannin are present but do not overwhelm the taste profile. Nice berry notes with good restraint on the residual sugar front.
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5/4/2015 - Gargantua Likes this wine:
What a giant, feral, delicious blackberry treat. Num.
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3/5/2015 - phil the agony wrote: 88 Points
Bouche mâte, poussièreuse ? Légèrement boisé avec des notes d'herbes sêchées,poivre noir.Un vin austère et avec de l'amertume.
Pas tant plaisant maintenant mais à revoir dans 5-7 ans??
88pts +
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12/30/2014 - Lilja wrote:
Note from memory.
Tons of pepper on the nose together with some blackberries, light bretty rubber and a little meat. Decent palate with a very dry, high acidity. Medium body, medium intensity and a good long finish. Felt very dry and a bit tightly knit, hard to say if this needs more time to fatten up or if it's not enough filling there from the beginning. 1 bottle to go in 2-3 years.
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11/11/2014 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Took delivery today of the case I bought and just had to open a bottle. It is tight and fresh, marrying amazing mineral energy and drive with the purest, ripe Syrah fruit; aromatic and peppery with a note of red meat and a pleasing creamy quality; very good length. Very attractive already with (spicy) food if decanted; should be at peak from 2017-2020. Excellent wine, great QPR. Complete unchanged on day 2, which confirms that it needs a few years in the cellar to reach its apogee.
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10/25/2014 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Wijnkoperij Okhuysen Annual Tasting (Haarlem, NL): Rich colour, deep and structured, an essence of Syrah, powerful but charming, red meat. Really beautiful Crozes, excellent QPR. I bought a case.
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10/17/2014 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark purple, almost black. Lots of fruit on the nose and palate. This definitely needs more time, but it will be good.
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9/1/2014 - geeky? not sure wrote:
Insane! Best Graillot I've ever had. Tart cherries and briney, briney, briney olives. Bloody meat. Have been sitting on this for a couple of years and it really paid off. Really fantastic - interesting and delicious.
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7/11/2014 - saturnaisland wrote: 86 Points
Perhaps at an awkward stage in its evolution. All the bits that I remember from previous experiences with this producer were there, but it seemed a bit disjointed. These wines have always skirted close to the edge of being a bit too oak-influenced for me, but usually the integration works. This time the oak seemed a bit too noticeable. The fruit was there but a bit tart. But I have faith and expect it will be better in the future so will wait before trying another.
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3/30/2014 - vassnesen wrote: 90 Points
Great Rhone. Fantastic with raindeer filet.
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1/14/2014 - sidaga wrote: flawed
La robe est pourpre & bien profonde.
Le nez est sur les petits fruits foncés, le poivre & la fumée. Le temps apporte un peu plus d'ampleur à l'ensemble.
En bouche, de manière générale, j'ai trouvé l'attaque ok, sur le fruit & le poivre mais malheureusement tout s'estompe rapidement, l'acidité prends plus de place, le milieu de bouche & & la finale sont minces.
Déception, je présume que la bouteille était "off".
2/2 dans mon cas.
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10/30/2013 - Billigan wrote: 86 Points
Count me among the "too funky" camp for this wine. A light-bodied, fresh take on Rhone Syrah, with some meaty aromas and good peppery fruit, was essentially undercut by a woody funk that never dissipated over two nights. Disappointing.
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10/3/2013 - mwneil Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Funky. Too much funk for my taste. Asked the sommelier and he said it smelled fine to him. Oh Well. Had a glass at les 110 de Taillevent in Paris.
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9/4/2013 - Riccardo Malocchio wrote: 91 Points
A bit brooding on the palate at the pop though the nose was immediately rocking. The palate fleshed out after about an hour in the decanter, and became considerably more supple with pepper, purple flowers, blackberries, and an intense, refreshing acidity that was neither sour nor bitter and buffered with ripe, melting tannin. Though the flavors are dark and opulent with notable midpalate intensity, it's neither heavy nor ponderous. And by the second glass, an absolute joy to drink.
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7/29/2013 - Jeanda Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nez très intense, épices et fruits noirs. Bouche très charnue, tanins fins et soyeux. Beaucoup de plaisir, charme immédiat mais sans beaucoup de complexité à ce stade.
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7/19/2013 - sidaga wrote: flawed
Au nez, c'est très agréables, fruits bleu, très poivré, une touche de bois. Un peu d'herbes. Belle fraîcheur.
En bouche... Acide, mince, peu ou pas de fruit... Très astringent... Débalancé...
Après 48 heures, aussi peu plaisant...
Bref, à mon avis, bouteille défectueuse.
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6/15/2013 - d'Artagnan wrote: 92 Points
Un nez de viande avec du fruit rouge et de la violette. Un vin dense, gorgé de fruit, une petite bombe! Il montre une réelle profondeur et une structure qui évoque les grands frères d'Hermitage. Délicieux et charmeur, il plait à tout public. 92 pts
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5/21/2013 - nzinkgraf wrote:
DAY 2. elegant and fine black pepper aroma. exotic spice. olive and mineral. dark red fruit aromas, orange citrus notes. ripe fruit, but not jammy. harmonious aromas. palate shows med/+ body, med acid with some bitter edges. open aromas, but really needs 4 more years to fall into place. great potential.
Day 3. Ripe dark cherry aroma. Harmonious herb spice aroma. A freshness on the palate that the aromas on the third day do not display. Fine black pepper. Really rocking wine tonight.
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5/16/2013 - aagrawal wrote: 89 Points
Graduation Dinner (Restaurant Lulu, San Francisco): Deep purple color; spicy dark fruit, needs time to open, minerality; medium density, fresh acid, not much concentration of fruit on the palate. This is a good northern rhone styled Syrah, perhaps lacking a bit in concentration and intensity but is a nice positive surprise for the price ($30 retail, $60 on wine list but $40 after another bottle's corkage was waived for purchasing). Very good. 89
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5/9/2013 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Right off the cork pull very big black pepper.
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4/29/2013 - d'Artagnan wrote: 91 Points
Nez explosif de violettes, avec du fruit frais et quelques notes viandeuses, voire un petit coté "fermier" à l'ouverture.
Le millésime est très réussi: une petite bombe de fruit croquant, avec un style classique, assez droit, moins expansif et baroque que le 2009. Il se termine par une finale suave, de belle précision, avec une charmante pointe herbacée qui apporte de la fraîcheur. Superbe qualité pour le prix, c'est la Côte Rôtie du pauvre (plus qu'Hermitage il me semble). Très ouvert et charmeur en ce moment, avec un bon potentiel de garde. 91 pts
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4/19/2013 - godx wrote: 87 Points
France 2013 – Northern Rhone; 4/17/2013-4/19/2013 (Ampuis): No formal notes. Nice juicy red fruits. Decent structure. Very approachable. Good.
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4/10/2013 - Michael Davidson wrote:
Second bottle, just as good as the first. I found this ready to go from the start. So much pepper on the nose, olive and fruit on the palate. Medium bodied, good acidity. What more could you ask for in a young Rhone syrah?
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3/16/2013 - Antti wrote:
The real essence of Syrah? Could well be this. Classic dark berries with an earthy feeling and black pepper. Quite young when first opened, dusty tannins drying your mouth. Two hours of decanting open it up nicely, making the wine more enjoyable. Very tasty and very recommendable at this price point.
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2/8/2013 - Winelover84 Likes this wine:
Decanted for 2 hours. Lively, dark colour with purple rim. Lots of flowers, dark fruit, spice, hay and medicine. Classic nose with nice complexity! Juicy, elegant and fresh style with nicely integrated tannins and good length, although it could be longer. Black peppertones in the end. Nicely made, but of course too young at the moment.
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11/28/2012 - Michael Davidson wrote:
This is a terrific bottle of syrah. Brambly red fruit with some savory elements on the nose. Medium bodied, zinging acidity. So lively! Tannins are indeed a bit rough, but to me they add to the fun. This will likely be excellent in a few years, but it's hard to do better for youthful exuberance now. Awesome.
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11/18/2012 - Night Thief wrote: 90 Points
Dark inky blue-black color. Soy sauce, bouillon, spice. Good acidity and medium tannins. Tart finish. This was delicious, but possibly too young. Would like to see what it's doing in a few years.
Jennifer liked it.
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10/17/2012 - danstrings wrote: 89 Points
Calming down some, more brambly red fruit and spice now vs reductive. Solid red.
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10/1/2012 - Vintomas wrote: 88 Points
Compact blue-red colour. Rather berry-domainated nose with blackberries, dark cherries, and forest raspberries, some liquorice and discrete floweriness, some spice with notes of cloves, some pine needles and resin, and a hint of oak barrels. Medium bodied, the attack is dominated by fruit and in particular cherries, notably acidic (sour cherries) from the attack, a rather strong pepperiness sets in mid-palate after which medium tannins progressively take over, in combination with “sour berries”. The finish is fresh. The tannins definitely kick in late on the palate. A fresh and well made Crozes, drinkable now.
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9/15/2012 - toineton wrote: 89 Points
Good but tanins are too young. 2009 is much more pleasurable now.
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7/20/2012 - winetaste wrote: 89 Points
A slight nutty and peppery nose with dark fruit hints. The dark fruit (currant, blackberry followed through on the pallette). Slightly oily and nicely balanced , very nice dinner wine as it paired well with both evening dinners.
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7/8/2012 - danstrings wrote: 88 Points
Showing a tad reductive/sulfury, but nice core of juicy inky fruit.
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6/23/2012 - sehill wrote: 88 Points
Decanted and poured, this bottle was notable for it detailed, expressive aromatics. The bouquet offer black fruits, pepper, spice, black olive and floral notes. The color is a dark ruby to purple that is concentrated and youthful. The medium (plus) bodied palate fails to deliver on the promise of the bouquet. The wine seems somewhat unbalanced and short on the finish. This wine could give an outstanding showing if the palate can show better harmony and length.
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6/16/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Almost impenetrably dark. Beautiful violets on the nose. Medium weight, certainly not as thick as it looks. Adequately ripe with olive fruit. Not that long. Today, I thought that this promised more on the nose than it actually delivered in the mouth. Looking back, I see that I said the same thing about the '09 last year but have not retasted that wine.
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5/1/2012 - alanr wrote: 90 Points
Needs a fair amount of air to emerge from its dark, brooding underground cave, and even then its a bit sulky and ornery. With dark, reserved, blackberry/boysenberry fruit, some tar and creosote, prominent acidity, medium fine tannins on the finish. Drinkable now with a long decant, probably better in a year or two.
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4/28/2012 - Shiaxonna wrote: 88 Points
Dark syrah color. Some alcohol on the nose, and leather.
The palate shows slightly overpowering tannins and leather, coffee and hints of tobacco. Wait 3 years!
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4/8/2012 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Beautifully balanced and proportioned but also quite tight and unyielding. The taut berry fruits are laced with dried flowers and herbs. There are some earthy savoury notes and the tannins sneak up on you, making their presence felt just as the last glass slides down oh so effortlessly.
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4/7/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Random Notes from Travels in France; 4/6/2012-4/14/2012 (Paris, Loire, Alsace): Deep color. Absolutely gorgeous, soaring aromas of violets-pure essence of Syrah. Medium weight, great acidity, strong fruit. Not nearly as weighty and overripe as the '09. Bravo!
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3/15/2012 - salil wrote: 89 Points
Really young and tightly wound right now, one of those wines that shows very little initially but does open up after a couple of days in the fridge. First impressions are all olives and dark fruited flavours, but with time peppery and gamey elements emerge. There's a lot of fine grained tannin and a nice acid spine here, and the flavours have a sense of real freshness to them. Very nice (with air), though very much about potential now.
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