Like others before KC Bloodlines hits the nail: what a delightful surprise: 34 years for a basic CdR! Still alive, no way tired. Not many tannins left, but long aftertaste, charming taste and nose. Got it for next to nothing at an auction
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No formal notes, really. All from memory. Had this at the end of the night. This was a total surprise, especially given the way the wine was stored and the ullage. Effusive aromatics, showing iron, sassafras, cherry cola, warm pine needles and dusty earth, eucalyptus and smoked meats. Palate matched the aromatics. Soft entry and attack but still thoroughly fresh and zingy. Persistence. Tons of turbidity. My fault on the pour. Thought this would die a quick death but it lasted for an hour plus. Well, until the bottle was consumed. An absolute treat.
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No signs of tiredness. Earth, mushrooms, leather, tobacco, meat. Nice sweetness in the nose, still some red fruit left. Palate is intense and persistent, with the same aromas as in the nose. Has kept well and will still keep.
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Tasted alongside the 1990 Beaucastel. The cork was fully saturated but sound. Not a stunning bottle but fairly impressive for age 29. Still some fruit and freshness around, but it’s pretty musty.
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Very expressive and a delight. Still kicking after almost 30 years. Smoked meat, hibiscus, and juicy red fruit. A bit of volatility expressing as nail polish and some funk (quite a bit of brett, maybe a low degree of spoilage). With time after opening some rosemary, sage, and alfalfa starting to come through.
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Holy Crap, this was REALLY nice! Admittedly I have very little/no experience with aged Rhone’s, but this far exceeded my expectations (especially considering I’m a California wine drinker first/foremost). Day 1 was too musty/funky for me. Gave it a shot....but just wasn’t digging it. Re-corked and popped it back into the cellar to see if it somehow improved the next day. Hot damn, did it ever. Funkiness almost completely gone, and was replaced by sweet red fruits on the nose with a bit of leather. On the palate, this is singing. Beautiful mouthfeel with a complex mix of sweet red fruit (feels like aged syrah to me if tasting this blind), wet leaves, and a bit of leather. This is much more lively and vibrant than on day 1, and certainly more so than I was expecting with this wine. Obviously still some secondary characteristics present, but the sweet fruit is taking the lead here in a wonderful way – an ideal mix of sweet and savory. Finish lasts for 45+ seconds, and while this is drinking incredibly well right now, I feel like this could go another 5+ easily (again, I have zero experience with aged Rhone’s.....so take that with a grain of salt). Cheers!
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Weekly tasting group #083; Vertical of 8 vintages Coudoulet de Beaucastel plus a few extra's (@ DJ): Brick color with an orange rim. Mature bouquet with a lot of acidic impressions. On the palate however a complex wine with a lot of garrigue, a touch of barnyard and still very juicy red forest fruits and cherries. There is some sweetness and white pepper, a firm amount of acidity and completely integrated tannin. A mature and complex wine in which the Mourvedre is evident. Fully mature now. Drink within a few years.
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Strong pine needle/ forest floor scent upon opening and an initial acididy that was jarring. With some time open (not decanted), it was smooth, sweet, dark - aged Mourvedre - but light on the palate, like Musar or a Greek Xinomauvro, but with the hint of must that only on old French wine has.
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Kway Chap and Wine on Boxing Day (Natura Loft): Nice stuff. This was another CdR that has held up really well. The nose was a bit unusual at first, showing strong whiffs of honey, almost wild honeycomb-like, and then more typical notes of dried flowers, lavender and garrigue, some meat and, finally, some sweet dried red fruits and haw flake aromas started emerging. Attractive, intriquing stuff. The palate was at a great place. Perfectly balanced, it had juicy acidity lifting more sweet dried red fruit flavours, dried earth seasoned with sweet spice and garrigue notes. This lacked the depth of the Beaucastel CdP, but it was quite lovely in its own right, having softened into a wonderful plush velveteen softness. While rather high-toned on the attack, it was bolstered by a savoury meatiness on the midpalate and a touch of smoky wood spice on the finish. There was just that hint of old Aussie Shiraz in there as well, with its dried fruits and a faint hint of crushed ants. All very nice. Perfect with kway chap braised intestines.
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Very ripe strawberries and morello cherries. Feels a bit like aged Aussie Shiraz with a bit brandied cherries and sweet cassis and a bit of kir liqueur.
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Beautiful, old CDR. This is soft on the palate, and while it has some of the typical mushroom/ forest floor, beef blood characteristics you expect from Beaucastel, it has a strong core of dark fruit, surprising for the Coudoulet at this age. What a treat.
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4/8/2024 - pemazel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Like others before KC Bloodlines hits the nail: what a delightful surprise: 34 years for a basic CdR! Still alive, no way tired. Not many tannins left, but long aftertaste, charming taste and nose. Got it for next to nothing at an auction
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8/17/2021 - KC Bloodlines Likes this wine:
No formal notes, really. All from memory. Had this at the end of the night. This was a total surprise, especially given the way the wine was stored and the ullage. Effusive aromatics, showing iron, sassafras, cherry cola, warm pine needles and dusty earth, eucalyptus and smoked meats. Palate matched the aromatics. Soft entry and attack but still thoroughly fresh and zingy. Persistence. Tons of turbidity. My fault on the pour. Thought this would die a quick death but it lasted for an hour plus. Well, until the bottle was consumed. An absolute treat.
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3/12/2021 - humagne wrote: 95 Points
No signs of tiredness. Earth, mushrooms, leather, tobacco, meat. Nice sweetness in the nose, still some red fruit left. Palate is intense and persistent, with the same aromas as in the nose. Has kept well and will still keep.
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10/22/2019 - wardamnwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Shocked at how well this has held up, what a delight!
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8/2/2019 - jviz wrote:
Tasted alongside the 1990 Beaucastel. The cork was fully saturated but sound. Not a stunning bottle but fairly impressive for age 29. Still some fruit and freshness around, but it’s pretty musty.
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11/20/2018 - humagne wrote: 94 Points
Intense on earth, mushrooms, leather, with some attractive sweetness. Palate has intense aromatics and vibrant acidity. Not much tannins. Long finish.
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7/17/2018 - andtheodor wrote: 93 Points
Bretty, sanguine, feral, antiseptic, rubbed fresh herbs, rust, pretty far out stuff for the funk tolerant. I loved it.
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7/10/2018 - S. Grace wrote: 90 Points
Very expressive and a delight. Still kicking after almost 30 years. Smoked meat, hibiscus, and juicy red fruit. A bit of volatility expressing as nail polish and some funk (quite a bit of brett, maybe a low degree of spoilage). With time after opening some rosemary, sage, and alfalfa starting to come through.
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7/9/2018 - Doc90 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is so good. Old-school, drinks like a Chateauneuf, plenty of earth and horse stable. Soulful. A truly special wine.
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12/29/2015 - RichEB1 Likes this wine:
Holy Crap, this was REALLY nice! Admittedly I have very little/no experience with aged Rhone’s, but this far exceeded my expectations (especially considering I’m a California wine drinker first/foremost). Day 1 was too musty/funky for me. Gave it a shot....but just wasn’t digging it. Re-corked and popped it back into the cellar to see if it somehow improved the next day. Hot damn, did it ever. Funkiness almost completely gone, and was replaced by sweet red fruits on the nose with a bit of leather. On the palate, this is singing. Beautiful mouthfeel with a complex mix of sweet red fruit (feels like aged syrah to me if tasting this blind), wet leaves, and a bit of leather. This is much more lively and vibrant than on day 1, and certainly more so than I was expecting with this wine. Obviously still some secondary characteristics present, but the sweet fruit is taking the lead here in a wonderful way – an ideal mix of sweet and savory. Finish lasts for 45+ seconds, and while this is drinking incredibly well right now, I feel like this could go another 5+ easily (again, I have zero experience with aged Rhone’s.....so take that with a grain of salt). Cheers!
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8/12/2013 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Weekly tasting group #083; Vertical of 8 vintages Coudoulet de Beaucastel plus a few extra's (@ DJ): Brick color with an orange rim. Mature bouquet with a lot of acidic impressions. On the palate however a complex wine with a lot of garrigue, a touch of barnyard and still very juicy red forest fruits and cherries. There is some sweetness and white pepper, a firm amount of acidity and completely integrated tannin. A mature and complex wine in which the Mourvedre is evident. Fully mature now. Drink within a few years.
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9/16/2012 - ekenneth wrote: 94 Points
Strong pine needle/ forest floor scent upon opening and an initial acididy that was jarring. With some time open (not decanted), it was smooth, sweet, dark - aged Mourvedre - but light on the palate, like Musar or a Greek Xinomauvro, but with the hint of must that only on old French wine has.
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12/26/2011 - Paul S wrote: 90 Points
Kway Chap and Wine on Boxing Day (Natura Loft): Nice stuff. This was another CdR that has held up really well. The nose was a bit unusual at first, showing strong whiffs of honey, almost wild honeycomb-like, and then more typical notes of dried flowers, lavender and garrigue, some meat and, finally, some sweet dried red fruits and haw flake aromas started emerging. Attractive, intriquing stuff. The palate was at a great place. Perfectly balanced, it had juicy acidity lifting more sweet dried red fruit flavours, dried earth seasoned with sweet spice and garrigue notes. This lacked the depth of the Beaucastel CdP, but it was quite lovely in its own right, having softened into a wonderful plush velveteen softness. While rather high-toned on the attack, it was bolstered by a savoury meatiness on the midpalate and a touch of smoky wood spice on the finish. There was just that hint of old Aussie Shiraz in there as well, with its dried fruits and a faint hint of crushed ants. All very nice. Perfect with kway chap braised intestines.
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12/26/2011 - Alex H wrote: 84 Points
Very ripe strawberries and morello cherries. Feels a bit like aged Aussie Shiraz with a bit brandied cherries and sweet cassis and a bit of kir liqueur.
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6/19/2011 - jdlee1232 wrote: 86 Points
OK, maybe this would have been better 5 years ago. Or more. But still intriguing -- got a zip to it, if a little dried out
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4/12/2011 - ekenneth wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful, old CDR. This is soft on the palate, and while it has some of the typical mushroom/ forest floor, beef blood characteristics you expect from Beaucastel, it has a strong core of dark fruit, surprising for the Coudoulet at this age. What a treat.
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3/27/2011 - Ali wrote:
Lots of brett in this bottle. I usually don't mind it, but this was too much for me
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5/20/2006 - Russell Faulkner wrote:
Beaucastel Offline (Snow on the Green - London): A bit whiffy, very light, nice sweet fruit, fully mature and soft. ~88 pts.
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8/31/1997 - Zweder wrote: 88 Points
This is truly a very good wine. Complex soft spices and fruit. Soft tannin. In a perfect drinking stage at this moment.
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5/16/1992 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 87 Points
The Oddbins Old World Wine Fair; 5/16/1992-5/17/1992 (London): This has a youngish good colour. Very fresh and young on the nose and on the palate. Very young, yet still attractive.
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