Last bottle of a case I purchased years ago... warm vintage and ripe yet very enjoyabel with just enough acidity to balance the richness of the fruit. Drinking perfectly!
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Three hour decant. Medium garnet. Muted nose of red cherries and charcoal.
The palate was solid oak several years ago when I opened the last bottle, and that has mostly blown off. But this wine has never lived up to my expectations. It seems watery and unfocused, but also moving past its prime. Three bottles never really did it for me.
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Excellent bottle of CdP. Aged sweet red, properly complements bbq meats. Alcoholic content is rather high. Considering the age and the price these are available at, it's a fantastic value!
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A friend pulled this bottle to share over a book club dinner.
The book: The Devils Playbook
Paired with Lebanese food prepared by Chef Rafael of Craft Pita.
At PNP this was a bit muted and lean but quickly changed as the night went on. Building weight and expressiveness. This really blossomed into a wonderful wine that paired perfectly with our dinner.
If opening now give it some ox in advance and enjoy!
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A wine with great mouth appeal and balance. Drinking beautifully right now. This is truly a gem with velvety tannins and perfect balance of fruit and acidity. Could hardly be better.
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Tasted after a 90 minute decant. Medium to dark ruby in colour with aromas of sweet black fruit, earthy forest floor, leather & slightly herbal. On the palate, full bodied tart, savoury black fruit, blackberry, cherry kirsch, cassis, earthy forest floor, leather, definite floral overtones, high acidity, high soft tannins with a long finish to sour cherry & black pepper. Not sure about further cellar progression, but still exceptional structure & flavour!
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24122022 - brought this to celeb my ❤️ birthday at Restaurant Dominic in KL. I feel this is at its peak now and perhaps another 1-2 years or so. Luscious blackberry, blueberries, hint of licorice with earthy & forest floor nose. Palate; medium to full bodied, well balanced mid + acidity and fine tannins. Giving it an hour in the decanter brought more layers of flavors - perfume spices, prunes & minerals into a very gorgeous and energetic finish. Great QPR hence 4.3
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Wow. Spectacular. Fabulous concentration and long long and exceptionally vivid aftertaste. Plums, prunes, blackberries, complex herbs and minerals, forest, spices, very subtle underlying licorice, all coming together into a just gorgeous whole. A big friendly puppy of a wine. No hurry, but no reason to wait. (Not decanted, tasted from the Jancis Robinson glass.)
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Had my last bottle of this exactly nine years ago, so seeing the evolution was great - didn't need that six hour decant anymore. Rich without being heavy, and the same flavor profile was before - just more seamless. A winner from Wine Access back in the day.
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Drank without decanting though i did pour two large cab glasses and let them sit for an hour. This is a beautiful CdP that I wish I had more off. Great fruit flavor and a long finish.
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Underestimated this last time. A finely balanced CDP. Bravo! Just when I’m losing faith with the post 2001 CDP trend comes this 2010. A commendable effort
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Unfortunately, this bottle was a bit over the hill. Brick color along the edges. Still good, but lacking the complexity and body of a bottle opened a year before. Upon uncorking, this CdP had a pungent barnyard smell, which disappeared to a large extent over time. The palate was pleasant as was the finish, but nothing to write home about. I have one more bottle, which I hope will have fared a little better. By the way, this bottle was kept at room temperature over the last couple years.
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Medium ruby in appearance - going to tawny a bit on the rim- what one would expect from a CDP at age 13 or so.
Pronounced and fully evolved nose of kirsch, candied cherry, baking spice, cinnamon and some herbal elements. A touch oxidized on the nose.
Full bodied on the plate which much more structure, freshness and acidity than the color or nose would suggest. The palate is all about Kirsch and a pot pourri of herbs. The finish is medium plus and savory.
Overall very well done and I would definitely drink up as this is showing some signs of fading. Would have scored a point or two higher if there wasn't that oxidized note on the nose.
Note- this bottle was purchased on release and was stored properly since then.
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Expressive bouquet with sweet licorice, vanilla, dark berries and some smoke. On the palate green herbs, red berries, firm acidity and still slightly sticky tannin.
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I agree with 12/30/2020 - CDT LIKES THIS WINE: description except I think it's a little young and will improve and add complexity with a little more age so I'm going to hold mine a while.
Medium, deep ruby in colour with slightly restrained aromas of sweet black fruit, black cherry/kirsch, earth/forest floor & background oak. On the palate, bold black fruit, black berry/black plum/black cherry, kirsch, earth/forest floor, well integrated background oak with medium to high acidity & medium to high soft tannins. The finish is medium to long ending in spice & pepper. This is balanced lovely wine! One bottle remaining & will consume within a year.
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Medium deep ruby color with a light amber perimeter and a miniscule clear edge. 65/20/15 grenache/mouvedre/syrah. Grape stalks and dried currant seem to drive a nose that is less fruit than wood and earth. Tannins are currently fine, mouth coating, firm and the acidity remains moderately bright. Were there a more fruit driven presence on the palate, this would suggest a need for additional cellar time, but the overwhelming impression on the slurp is one of cedar and cigar box, with notes of chocolate and citrus on the finish. Which is not to say it's not a good quaff, it absolutely is. I'm wondering whether a year or two more in the cellar will improve?
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Coravin'd over three nights. Was strongest actually on the first night after a glass decant. Lovely CdP balance of red and blue fruits, earth, spice, and minerality. Tannins are relatively well-integrated, and nose and palate are suitable medium plus to full. It began to lose steam on the second night, indicating it's probably time to drink up.
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Thought I had finished those last year but found another bottle. Much better than the previous bottle 18 months ago. The harshness and burned dark fruit has disappeared. Still a healthy garnet with a translucent rim in the glass. Initially with a flavor profile somewhat resembling a diluted port, this comes together nicely with more air. Some wood spices, dried dark fruit, round and smooth with fully resolved tannins and a short to medium finish. Will not fall off the cliff but no point in holding much longer either.
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My previous consumption of this was over five years ago, and it was very fruit forward. It has integrated and evolved nicely and this was an elegant though still potent showing. Needed some air and warmth to flower, then delivers a lovely spicy melange of aromas, with morello cherries, brambly dark berries, campfire smoke, licorice, camphor, dried herbs. Savory and satiny on the palate, with a rich compote of dark fruit, dusted spices, cocoa, powdery tannins. Quite fine stuff.
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I'm glad I waited so long to bring this very nice 2007 CDP. It has a full bodied palate, as you would expect, plenty of fruit but not at all overdone, and a lovely long finish, which ends in a blend of velvety tannin and acidity. Truly enjoyable. I have two more bottles, but it is drinking beautifully now and I don't expect it will improve much in the future, but time will tell.
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What a wonderful wine. Fantastic nose of earth, rich fruit and floral notes. The first taste was just amazing with the wonderfully integrated flavors from the grapes and soil that held the vines. Wish it wasn’t the last bottle.
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Cracked one open as its an '07 - lots of life left. Tasted and decanted, which smoothed out nicely. Drinking really good - great fruit that turns to lite spice and earth later on palate. Have some reserve that now I can't wait to try.
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It's been almost 7 years since I last opened this once-jammy monster. It has toned down considerably, but remains chock full of intense CdP characteristics: beef bullion, iodine, tar, burnt plum. It's likely time to drink up the remaining bottles, which will be a pleasure to do.
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Decanted for 15 min., rebottled for quick ride, then drank over 4 hours. More ready/open to drink now than 1 year ago. Subtle nose & taste, minimal fruit, smooth & a touch earthy. Drink now.
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Clear medium ruby; clean medium nose of leather, bacon, red cherries and vanilla; dry; high acidity; medium plus tannins; high alcohol; medium body; medium plus flavor intensity; pfn with addition of sour cherry and black licorice; medium plus finish; very good quality; very muddy - wished for more focus, intensity and complexity
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Opened to breathe and enjoyed over a four-hour window, including dinner. Initially cherry cordial and alcohol dominated the nose and palate, but over time, the alcohol died down and the more complex cedary and leather notes emerged. Very tasty and versatile with food, tonight with Southern fried chicken and potato salad.
My last bottle of '07, with no regrets as I was concerned this was at plateau or in decline. Will focus my attention on the '10 cuvée anonyme in the next few months. My advice to those still with '07 in your cellars is to drink up! 91/92
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Opened, but not decanted, at a NYC restaurant for over 45 minutes before pouring. Not everyone in my wine group enjoyed this, but those that did, loved it. I still don't see WA's 96 point rating, but it seems to be improving with age. It has definitely started showing some secondary aging tasting notes, such as cedar.
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Opened to breathe for 1-2h. On the nose soft berries and cedar. On the palate, round sweet black berries, some coffee notes, spices, black pepper, nice acid to balance the Grenache on the finish. Tannins are long gone. In its drinking window, not sure for how long. I'm going to prioritize my three remaining bottles. The fresh blackberry notes were a perfect pairing for grilled rack of lamb tonight.
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Lovely wine Bit more in your face/new world style than other C9P. Don’t after with the negativity around this cuvée. In my opinion a very well made C9P which is at its peak now. Love the secondary notes
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No notes taken. This is ready and incredibly smooth. No need for food. Aromas of 'herbes de Provence', ripe red fruit...red liquorice. Not Grenache dominated like most CNDP...25% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Mourvèdre & 25% other grape varieties. Round and smooth...drink up...no need to wait!
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Clear medium minus garnet; clean medium minus nose of leather, cedar, dark brambly fruit and savory herbs; dry; medium plus body; pfn; medium plus acidity; medium plus tannins; medium plus finish with cocoa and cinnamon; weak nose and wished for more complexity but otherwise lovely; big powerful wine - great for steak
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Monthly Tasting Group: Old Reds 2008 and Earlier (Tilia, Mpls): Another forgettable bottle of this wine. It continues to be an oak laden, oversized example of what is wrong in the vintage. Oak, pepper, heat, very modern styled. I'm sure there are some who find this attractive though. To my knowledge none of us enjoyed it tonight.
Unlike last time (pnp), I double decanted and brought to a dinner. While the decanting helped to settle the generous oak on the nose when pouring the wine back into the bottle, it also made the fruit retreat a bit. Drank after a nice young 2015 Right Bank Bordeaux, and the bitter tar notes in the black fruit and the lack of freshness of this (and most other) 07 C9dP were very obvious. With the exception of Beaucastel and perhaps Clos des Papes, am really not a fan of 07 C9dP. Would drink now with a short decant to make space for other wine, as I cannot see this improving.
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Decanted for 3+ hours, drank over another 4 hours. Nose is better than the taste. Nose has a sweet fruit/floral smell, while the taste is a bit tart & acidic, minimal fruit.
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This is quite nice, but now I've had a chance to enjoy a variety of '03-'07 CnPs this summer. Relative to those recent experiences, I'm scoring it one point lower. Still delicious. Otherwise consistent with previous notes. Tonight with grilled burgers and chicken.
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Pnp. Clear garnet. Wonderful nose with acidity providing freshness and balancing the herbs and dark fruit. The palate cannot measure up though, the usual 07 C9dP flavor profile with slightly burned dark fruit and tar notes. Not as rich as some other wines and the 15% alcohol does not show. Integrated tannins. Short to medium finish. Nice effort given the vintage. Nose 94, palate 90, overall 92
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Drank at Enrico's Baccanal dinner with the boys. It was decanted and left to breath about an hour. Bold berries nose with some chocolate. Smooth and flavourful but not over powering in the mouth. It's definitely would benefit from more time expos to air.
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Drank at Wine Group dinner at Rob & Claire Assini's house. Much appreciated by Rob and others at group. Nice balance and complexity. Perfect age. Not as rich and heady as I thought a CNP would be. Good for meals or alone in the glass.
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Sampled three times over four hours. Common thread in many notes is time needed to open and that is definitely true for this wine. Minimum two hour decant recommended. Tannins restrained but fruit and subsidiary flavors don't come out until after serious air time. Still think rating too high (can say that about plenty of wines) but average value for a quality CdP.
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Deze wijn is volgens mij erg overgewaardeerd. Prima wijn maar geen 30-40 euro wijn. Erg fruitig niet al te veel diepgang, begint nu wat te ontwikkelen zal met de jaren nog wat verder ontwikelen maar prijs kwaliteit lijkt mij niet op orde.
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Pnp: 1st impression was that it hadn't changed much from the bottle 2 yrs ago...... underwhelming. But after 1-2 hrs open this wine really starts to blossom. Ripe dark fruit, cocoa, mocha, cured and roasted meats, very savory nose. Palate is rich and lush, still feel the alcohol in weight and heat but has achieved much better balance than before. If I had to guess this wine is just starting to hit stride, drink now to maybe 7 yrs from now.
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Pop and poured. At home. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of black pepper, underbrush earth, garrigue, violets, sweet baking spices, dark red cherries, blackcurrant, blackberries. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol (15%), smooth medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet baking spices, fruit black cherries, dark red cherries, blackcurrant, blackberries, savoury earth, black pepper. Short finish. Good quality. Nose like Old World, palate like New World. Clean and polished style. Fruity alright, but neither do they go very deep, nor are they layered. No complaints about the smoothness of the mouth-feel. 15% alcohol shows. Finish is lacking. Ends so fast and feels so clean! Well, this will definitely last a good 4-5 years more. But if you ask me if this is going to develop into something brilliant, I doubt so. I scratch my head at WA's 96 points too. According to Xavier Vignon, this is made from a selection of the best old vine fruit from nearly 120 different parcels in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation. 3 years in a combination of demi-muids and small oak barrels.
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I still don't get WA's 96 point rating on this, but it is an enjoyable wine. Had it with spicy chicken and sausage Jambalaya and it stood up to it very well. Not your typical CdP. The Syrah seems to take a more prominent role than in other CdP wines. Probably still has years of life ahead of it.
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This one is getting a bit long in the tooth. It still tastes pretty good, but there was no verve like the last several bottles. All in all, this bottle tasted very good and showed very good CdP structures and flavors.
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This gets dinged on QPR. Totally unjustified at $45-50. The wine is more $20-30 range. Nice barnyard nose but as others point out, a bit monotone in flavor. Big fruit for sure but lack of depth at this price point. Some sediment in bottle. somewhat chewy. Medium length finish.
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Same notes as last week with an added bit of wet iron on the nose. Also feel like the alcohol pop out a little more on this bottle. A little bit more tart on the finish.
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A really nice CdP but perhaps not in a traditional or classic way. So smooth and everything this bottle has is very well integrated by now but imagine it will drink well for many years. Nose of dark fruit, cedar, orange / orange peel, some spice, bit of leather. Drinking ahhh so smooth over the entire palate. I think for what it is, a very well balanced wine at this stage. Rich smooth from first sip to mid palate and its medium long finish. Blue fruits, hint of oak, spice, cherries, bit of pepper, dark smooth chocolate, Did not decant but through a vinturi. A really good bottle with a modern crowd pleasing style.
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Theme was Chateauneuf, we had the misfortune of following a 2001 La Nerthe and a 1990 Beaucastel. This was quite approachable, a good wine, just suffered in comparison. Dark garnet, no signs of age. Nose was more traditional, bud modern style on the palate, good balance, nice finish.
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This wine has a very good balance, but is rather 'flat'. It lacks complexity, typicity and power, has little content. For this price I had expected more...
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Opened to breathe for 1h. Aromatic nose of chocolate fondant, oak, and roses. On the palate a very chiseled, silky smooth black fruit experience, with polished oak and an acid finish. Super classy and elegant. This seems youthful but quite ready to drink. I'm sure it will be even better in a few years but why wait. Excellent now.
This was scored blind to my previous review. It's amusing to see that I use the same adjectives to describe this wine as when I tasted it back in 2014. Surprisingly consistent, yet I scored it a point higher today.
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DTC Chateauneuf du Pape (@ SS): Beautiful dark berries, garrigue, rustic and barnyard flavors. On the palate ripe dark forest fruits, a beautiful balance between acidity and sweetness, juicy, lush, round and slightly sticky tannin. Harmonious wine, delicious now and with a future until 2023+. Hope to taste again around 2021. Blind scored it the same as in 2013.
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Very dark red color. Subdued nose. Ripe dark fruits, fairly smooth, modest acidity, a bit of pepper, with some remaining structure. Has reached its maturity zone and should hold up for several more years. Decent wine.
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Late Afternoon Wines (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 2 hours and drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. Cedar, spicebox, black fruits, savory later, garrigue, green edge. The palate is consistent and the green edge takes another hour to mellow mostly, though it remains to an extent, pepper, savory, black fruits, becomes more round, full bodied, round tannins. 90(+?)pts.
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I'm with Rickspicks on this one. Not necessarily a great CdP but a very good red wine. I do get a bit of savory notes ala pepper and leather but its overwhelmed by the rich ripe dark fruit flavors. 89-90 for a CdP rating but about 91-92 for overall enjoyment.
Mind you, this is very good wine.
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Mixed feelings about this wine - it has many of the things I like in a CdP, but lacks the characteristic CdP flavor profile. Very much in a modern style, it is medium to full bodied and lush with a smooth, velvety texture, rich, ripe fruits and low acidity. While it had plenty of ripe cherry fruit, it was missing the expected garrigue, gamey, leather or licorice flavors. Enjoyable, but not much typicity. 90-91
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Stunning CdP, even for a 2007 (not my fav vintage). Nice spicy notes, pure fruit and complex with good concentration, but not heavy or gooey. Best CdP of the night. B&J's (96 RP)
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Much better than last time. Still not like Parker's description, though. The best part is the endless finish (that pushes the rating higher) Good fruit and balance, but not particularly special. Tannins still prominent, so there's plenty of evolution remaining.
11/16/2014 Note: Decanted about 5 hrs, then drank before and with dinner (beef brisket). Was not impressed at any point. Parker says, "Full, thick, unctuously textured..." but I disagree in all respects. Bottle variation is my prime suspect. I agree with Aidyl, who wrote on 8/30/14, in most respects as to nose and flavors.
Disappointing.
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Not as good as the other bottle we had previously. Sampled it twice via Coravin, then opened and finished it today, it was the same all three times. Kind of boring, not interesting enough.
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Deep garnet with a hint of purple (some Syrah?). Medium intense aromas of ripe, almost candied strawberries and cherries, with chocolate. Dry, full-bodied, low acid and medium plus, well integrated, tannins. Medium plus finish with some pepper and spices.
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Wow! Xavier's CdP is really, really good right now! No flaws and off flavors whatsoever. Xavier is an interesting and generous man. His wines reflect his personality. Bravo!
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Decanted for 2 hours. While i thought it was fine, it was far from the Parker and friends ratings. Drunk by several with mixed reviews, but safe to say no one would have given it much more than a 90.
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Much improved over previous bottles of this wine. We had not trouble finishing this one off! It has the potential to be really a stunner in a few years so we'll hold off on drinking the rest. There is a hint of rusticity in the wine right now that makes is quite charming. Tastes of dark red fruits and spice. Medium aftertaste in the mouth. No nose that I recall.
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Big wine with powerful fruit. It slowly evolves in the glass such that what was a huge fruit nose to more brambly chaparral, which I find typical of an interesting Grenache. Great balance with a fine tannic backbone. On the palate, it was smooth with a little bite on entry and progressed to a deep, rich mouthful in mid palate. It finished long and steady.
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Decanted an hour before tasting, I was almost ready to shrug it off at the 90 minute mark, but it definitely started to wake up around hour two. Vibrant dark purple in color, long legs. Nose of strawberries and violets. Balanced red and black fruit to the taste, maybe a little thin mid-palate, suggestions of some good structure. Long finish with some expectedly rustic tannins. I suspect I drank this too soon in terms of both hours and years, glad I have more. Cautiously optimistic.
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Another stellar bottle of XA CdP, a year after enjoying my first bottle. Once again, this still takes hours to open. Patience rewards the nose and palate with rich aromas and lush flavors. This is a CdP that asks you to lean in, rather than snapping your head back. Cherries, blackberries, spices, and chocolates reward the attentive. Forget about Parker's stratospheric praise; simply pay attention to what is here and be very well satisfied.
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so smooth and elegant ... we had with simple pasta and i would be worried that with something stronger the wine would be overwhelmed ... not your typical CNP but a very nicely done wine
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Nose of cedar and a little spice, stewed fruit, floral notes that are almost Pinot like. But the taste is oxidized, I expected it to last longer. Medium tannins and acid. Tastes past its life. Better with a big steak.
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Great color and a big nose that rose right out of the bottle. Some cherry and soft red fruit but not like a grenache based CDP. Not "big" and while well balanced it comes off more like a pinot with a kick. I feel like it haw great balance for aging that will enable it to get to some really good leather, earth and cigar box places but we will see. Drinking well now but I think it has a chance to go to more complex. 92 for now.
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Decanted for 1+ hours than returned to the bottle to slow ox for another 1+ hours. Never would guessed CdP if tested blind. No Rhone characteristics at all. Smooth cherry fruit with a mellow back end. Enjoyable wine but don't expect CdP.
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nose - oaky mouth - bright red fruit with a very clean minerally midapalte that segways into a dry tannic finish. I am struck by how tightly wound up this is even on day 2. there is no denying this has tremendous stuffing, and the laser focus and purity of the fruit and cleanness of the wine is remarkable. i think it will be better at a future date. reminds me of a high end priorat
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CdP dinner. 9 people, 6 CdPs. 2000 and 2006 Beaucastel, 1998 and 2006 Vieux Telegraphe, 2001 Janasse Vielles Vignes and 2007 Xavier Anonyme. All Opened and than sat for at least 30 minutes before pouring. All tasted blind.
Everyone liked this, but I think its it bit overrated by WA (96 points).
Wednesday Afternoon Mini (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Very dark red color. Decanted for an hour plus; drank 1+ glass over 3 hours. Maybe I'm missing the boat on this wine. First, it doesn't taste like CDP, and second, it doesn't taste like a Rhone wine. If I drank this blind I would guess a South American blend. It had that typical green, herbaceousness that I'm not particularly fond of. Plenty of ripe black cherry fruit and vanilla go with the modern style, new wood and astringent tannins. Two of the 3 of us felt underwhelmed, though we all felt it got better with more glass time. However, the green element did not change significantly. I'm not convinced this will be better with more age.
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Somewhat boisterous in the mouth and disjointed, but shows great potential. Nice deep color and grenache on the nose. Still seems young, but we didn't decant and let it breath out.
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Very nice wine. Lot's of black fruit. I would definitely decant for one hour and serve at about 60-65 degrees. Could use another 3-5 years of aging. Quite tannic, even though tannins are soft you can definitely taste them and a few more years of aging may help that.
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Mas d'en Compte 2010 vs Xavier Anonyme 2007: - Farbe: Beide tiefrot und konzentriert. Der Xavier mit ein wenig bräunlicher Färbung aber nicht dominierend. - Der Xavier ist ein schöner Wein, schmeckt aber doch etwas "sprittig". Nicht ungewöhnlich für einen CdP, trotzdem nicht so mein Geschmack. - Der Compte ist runder, integrierter und balancierter. Allerdings auch konzentriert und vollmundig. - Compte für mich der klare Sieger. Xavier ist okay aber reicht nicht an die Erwartungen in den Beschreibungen heran.
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Double decanted for 2 hours. Very little on the nose, a bit of fruit. Nice and rich on the palate and nice fruit, impressive concentration. Nothing in the way of secondary flavours. Smooth finish with very tame tannins. Disappointing given the $65 price tag and the hype in the wine press. Will wait a bit on the remaining bottles and decant longer.
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On PnP, it was pretty thin and I would have said 88-89. It definitely benefited from a 3 hour decant. It definitely is not as good as the hype. I have 4 more bottles and will report on them over the next few months/years.
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nothing exciting here. for all the buzz, I was expecting fireworks. But in all, a fairly innocuous wine (ok muddled fruit, smooth tannins, low acidity). Doesn't bode well for the anonyme line. I mean, don't get me wrong, an 88 isn't "bad", but for $60, it isn't good, either.
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Decanted several hours before drinking. Lovely purple-ruby colour, awesome nose of black fruits, spices and wood. On the palate, glossy and layered, with waves of sweet fruit and flavour. The air did the wine a lot of good. Drinking now.
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this is drinking superb right now ... it was brought from cellar, opened and drank within 4 hours of leaving the cellar (assume it will be even better tomorrow) ... had with rice and a spicy - fabulous. the wine is so elegant and yet jammy complex - a nice balance. a treat (i do not even usually like anything w/ grenache)
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Popped and poured. This is a darker red wine, moving lighter at the rim, but without a speck of sediment in the entire bottle or in a single glass (not a good trait -- how filtered is this wine?). On the nose, I get sand, rosehips, and some lime-cherry Jolly Ranchers. This is smooth and spicy in the mouth, leaving a modest twang and slightly citrusy finish. Overall, this is not distinctive or characteristic of good CdP -- it certainly fits the name. This is very disappointing in light of the annoyingly large bottle; if I am going to use a spot in my magnum rack, I expect a much better wine than this. Would not buy again. 87 points with a bland and "anonyme" future.
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A silky wine characterized by subtle fruits on the front end that evaporates, leaving a wonderful spice and leather foundation. A really great wine that shows equal parts complexity and subtlety.
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Part of this months wine tasting event. Grabbed 2nd place with the crowd, but I still put it in first. Every time I come back to this wine I am so impressed with the near perfect balance and how well the whole thing is integrated. Upon opening, it always shows a little rambunctiousness, but as it calms down the fruits come together and there are wonderful floral, perfume notes mixed with some pleasant sweetness and a little smoke.
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Slow O'd for about an hour and enjoyed over 2 hours. A rich nose of garrigue, licorice and dark berries that followed through on the full rich mouth, with nice tannin. The wine evolved over the evening and these notes all starred at one point during the night.
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Just a spectacular wine. With every bottle I have, I am more committed to the vision of the winemaker. There is great brambly fruit up front and a rich full flavor on the finish. The wine has a smooth elegance that shows off its balance and highly integrated state. Probably can be aged for a long time, but it is drinking great, today.
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Decanted two hours. Lovely deep ruby colour, not showing much age on the appearance. Nose of smoke, black fruits, meat. On the palate, a little tight and in need of time. The fruit is there, and the 15% alcohol does not dominate. After time in the glass, a stewed character emerged. Give this a year or two to fully integrate.
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Ruby with maybe the slightest browning toward the edge. Spicy nose, with hints of leather, carrying through to pallette. Peppery, ripe fruit and a touch of licorice. Beautiful balance and finish.
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Double decanted, then drank over 3 hrs. Last glass was a 92. Prior to that, a bit overwhelming pepper, garrique w some licorice. Fruit hidden, but came out in the end although I doubt this has enough fruit to warrant an outstanding score in the future. I'd dd, or hold for several yrs, projection 92-93.
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Impressive Anonyme. Dark ruby in the glass, with light rouge edges. Takes at least an hour to open. Then, succulent fruits on the nose, with notes of leather, cedar, and spices. On the palate, dark cherries and blackberries dance with dark chocolate and touches of vanilla. This is not Parker's 96 yet, but as a solid 92 from me, it may be on the way up. Time will tell.
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This wine is an infant with vibrance and the grip that firmly straddles the sweet side in near prefect balance. As I understand, this 2007 wine was bottled and released in 2013, when the maker felt it was ready..If so, it worked, because this baby is round and plush with no noticeable edges of oak or the 15%+ alcohol it is rocking in the pocket!
Flavors of red licorice, cola, and strawberry with a whiff of cocoa and coffee ground along the long lingering finish. Being a Bordeaux junkie, a bit too sweet for me, but I think others that like more fruit will love it!
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The alcohol is slightly dominant. The wine seems a touch unstructured and slightly tannic, but I suspect it might be due to the alcohol being out of balance. I believe this wine will improve with a couple of years of age, though it might never be an excellent wine in my eyes. The finish is the best part of this wine. Try again in 2-3 years.
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Consistent with previous notes. This wine is a gem. It goes down so easy with such pinache and elegance that I am saddened every time the glass is empty.
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Second tasting with consistent notes. No sediment. Strong aromatic flavors, woody, but not highly tannic. Interesting phenolic notes. Light in color, juicy & luscious. Nice change of pace from my usual CA cabs. Reminds me of a pinot.
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Dark, opaque purple in color, this wine showed tar, blackberry liqueur, iron, white pepper and baking spices on the nose. The mouth feel was supple and added elements of grilled meats and plums. The finish was long and focused with the softening tannins and acidity perfectly complimenting the fruit and secondary tastes.
Purchased for $50US, this wine is in a really good place right now. Decanted for 2 hours before returning it to the bottle, this wine was ideal for my Christmas dinner of cheese at home. Not aggressive on the nose, it leaned toward the feminine side in a sexy, seductive way.
Imported by Petit Pois Corp., t/a Sussex Wine Merchants, Moorestown, NJ.
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Continue to be impressed by how different this is from Parker's description. Not massive, but long finish. Very floral for such a young CDP, but starting to get more interesting. Will wait a couple years before trying the next bottle.
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Decanted for 2h before Thanksgiving dinner. This was my favorite wine of the evening! Very smooth, elegant, with vibrant black fruit. Great pairing with turkey and all the fixings. Agree with other reviews that this is a young teenager, but with so much promise for the future.
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Decanted for 4 hours, and drank over the course of 2 days.
This is a new world style CDP. Big wine. Actually, it is huge. Bright Grenache fruit that just punches you in the face and coats your mouth. I wasn't sure whether or not I liked this wine at first, but it great one me.
Even better on day two. I think I will give my other bottles a few years. Drink 2016++
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Pop-n-pour then consumed over the next 24. I'm not a Chateauneuf-du-Pape expert, so take this review with a grain of salt. No sediment. Strong aromatic flavors, woody, but not highly tannic. Interesting phenolic notes. Flowers. Light in color, juicy & luscious. Improved as it opened up. Not a ton of depth or intensity. Enjoyable, but I don't see RP's 96 rating here. Nice change of pace from my usual suspects.
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This wine is in a great spot....not a monster nose....but nice notes of flowers and blackberry....very elegant in the mouth....soft and velvety with great balance....perfect right now...I'm sure it will be good for years
Pleasantly surprised by this one....PnP'd this one tonight; feminine character; the nose doesn't reveal much but very faint floral scents with a hint of berry, drawing you in. On the palate some dark blueberry, currants, and a hint of vanilla on the finish with fairly soft tannins and lots of life ahead. This is the second one I've opened and have noticed a slight bit of bottle variation with the last one showing a bit more tannic with more of a licorice and spice complex in addition to the aforementioned characteristics. This is drinking very well right now. A great QPR in my books, and glad I've got more in the cellar.
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Wine in Black Bewertung: 95 P Die ‘Magie des Terroirs’ nennt Xavier Vignon, der verantwortliche Önologe, die Grundlage für diesen exzeptionellen Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Nur streng handselektioniertes Lesegut aus unzähligen, uralten Parzellen wird für diesen luxuriösen Wein verwandt. Nach sorgfältiger, separater Fermentation aller Rebsorten und der Assemblage reift der Wein satte 48 Monate in neuen Barriques und gebrauchten Fudern, um sich seinen Feinschliff zu holen. Das ist allerhöchste Winzerkunst, die sich zu einem enorm dichten, ganz großen und zu Recht mit überragenden 96 Parker Punkte dotierten Rhône-Rouge der Grand Cru-Klasse verdichtet. Im Glas zeigt der Wein eine sehr dunkle violette, fast schwarze Farbe. Das weiträumige Bouquet weist eine spektakuläre Intensität mit wilden Brombeeren, Schwarze Johannisbeeren, Kräutergarten, Süßholz, Unterholz, Steinpilzen und dunkler Schokolade auf. Am Gaumen würzig, kräftig, dicht, lang, phänomenale Tanninstruktur, unglaubliche Tiefe, ein überwältigendes Lehrstück an ausgewogener Größe. Sehr beeindruckend kommt das Finale daher, der Wein will und will sich nicht verabschieden. Wohl dem, der eine Flasche diesen genialen Stoffes ergattern kann. Faszinierend... und einer der besten Rhône-Weine des Jahrgangs 2007!!
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Double decanted after the initial taste verified that it was indeed still too young to drink without air. However, even after double decanting and breathing for 2 hours, this CdP...for which I had such high hopes...was extremely disappointing. Medium garnet color with an almost clear ring at the edge and medium forming legs. The nose was muted and subdued, limited primarily to paving stone and garrigue. The attack was all minerality with almost no fruit whatsoever. An extremely underwhelming showing that was surprising in its austerity. There was some complexity in the mid-palate and finish, but they were flavors that neither stood well on their own nor did they compliment our food. Perhaps I am just not a fan of this particular style, but I absolutely love the 2010 Chateau de Beaucastel CdP, so I'm not sure where the disconnect lies. My dinner companion and I were so underwhelmed we poured the remaining 1/2 carafe back into the bottle and tried it again on day 2. There were some differences, notably a new bouquet of sugared cranberry, but the mid palate was still primarily minerals and forest floor. The mouth feel was hardly "unctuous" and quite far from "stunning", as Robert Parker described it, and it did not stand up to our mushroom ravioli or prime burger and fries. Perhaps it is simply not my style, but we both found this quite disappointing considering the rating.
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Beautiful wine; just after the decant the wine starts with a strong Grenache character. This is a little wildness in the nose and palate with a stronger acid sensation. As the wine opens up the wine becomes a little more tame and oozes a smokiness that hints of a roaring campfire or a dark, mysterious bar. The fruit is always strong and grows in intensity with a little more time. Finally, there is a dried fruit nose and a smooth syrah palate that commands your attention as the Grenache steps into the background. Great nuances and fun trajectory to follow in an excellent wine.
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Dark ruby turning violet at the rim with a transparent edge. The nose gives off dried currant, meat, suede leather, and herbal scents. The palate is dry with a silky texture on finely-grained tannin. Flavors of black currant, blackberry, rare lamb meat, black tea, hoisin sauce, spice box and dried rosemary. Finishes long and chunky with hints of clove, leather and Herbs de Provence. Drink now with 30 minutes of decanting until 2022.
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Drinking well now with a long, long decant. Score will likely increase with more age time. Smooth and mellow, it's what you'd expect from a well made CdP.
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $50+ (Bin 75): Darker core with lighter ruby rim; dense, chocolaty, date, Grenache, meaty, mesquite, cooked red fruit, bitter finish, tobacco, blackberry, hard on finish, grainy tannin; bottle really not given enough airtime which made this showing less than stellar- a little ticked off.
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Dark, opaque purple in color, this wine showed tar, blackberry liqueur, iron, white pepper and baking spices on the nose. The mouth feel was supple and added elements of grilled meats and plums. The finish was long and focused with the softening tannins and acidity perfectly complimenting the fruit and secondary tastes.
Purchased for $50US, this wine is in a really good place right now. Decanted for 3 hours before returning it to the bottle to take with us to Will BYOB in Philly (an outstanding restaurant), the wine was a sublime pairing for our entrees of duck and dorade. Not aggressive on the nose, it leaned toward the feminine side in a sexy, seductive way.
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Our first bottle from the case was a pleasant surprise. Big, brawny CDP with notable fruit and long finish. Still a little early but very impressive bottling.
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This is definitley getting better. Opened this after a medium body sponsor priorat which is Grenache based. This had more depth and complexity to it vs the priorat. Definitely more distinguishable on the nose. The black fruit drives this with a hint of leather and almost a touch of barnyard funk which I liked. In reality this is a nice wine for the price. It I wouldn't pay over $45-50 dollars for. Some reviews by professional wine critics gave this 94pts which I still don't get but this is a medium to heavy body (weighted slightly to medium) GSM that pairs well with food but alone doesn't have enough backbone to stand alone.
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Donkerpaars. Uitbundige, fruitige geur, kirsch, kruiden, wat prikkelend door de alcohol. In de mond dik, wat hitte, een moderne wijn. Een stuk opener en uitbundiger dan de vorige fles. 92+
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Really fine. I generally feel, when I pay 60USD for a wine, that I am more often than not disappointed by what I get for the money. But this seemed spot on. A little shy on the nose, the palate was rich with strawberry flesh, thyme, black pepper, and licorice. Both soft and rich and drinking wonderfully now. Would think the nose would open up with a little more time.
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Was a long time to come round , decanted 3 hours . Red berries and forest floor with a long lingering taste . Will wait another 2 years to see improvement .
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I don't normally describe a Chateauneuf du Pape as elegant or reserved, but such is the case with this. This is so polished, clean, light and seductive. Also, it drinks great by itself and doesn't need food. Drinking well now, already, it may not need more time. Beautiful.
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Donkerpaars, tranend. Behoorlijk op slot, met flink lucht en walsen blauwe bes, kirsch, garrigue, drop en gesteente in geur en smaak. Bittere chocolade en rozemarijn en enorme tannines in de zeer lange, verwarmende afdronk. Mooie, moderne Chateauneuf. Nu absoluut kindermoord, vanaf 2018 waarschijnlijk geweldig. 92++
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--- COLOR: opaque purple w/purple-garnet rim NOTE: Still tight and primary, but gives off flirts of blackberry liqueur, tar, roast beef, cherry pipe tobacco, baking spices, grilled plum, braised short rib and a hint of heat. Mouth is rich and plush. First impression is of pure blackberry liqueur followed by tobacco and baking spices. On the finish there is a load of 60% dark cocoa powder mingled with blackberry/raspberry juice, some rosewood dust. It's very elegant. Needs 3+ years to see what it turns in to. Great structure. Too bad it was my only bottle.
DECANT: 1-6 hours GLASS USED: Pinot Noir TASTE: 9.3+ COST: 60 VALUE: 7.9 TRY AGAIN: 2016 - 2025 PAIRING: Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net ---
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Monthly Tasting Group HWS #083; Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 vs 2007 (By AH): Beautiful still somewhat reticent bouquet with cherries and garrigue. On the palate ripe dark cherries, other dark fruits and garrigue. Good acidity and a touch of sweetness. The tannin is round and powerful with a good bite. A complex, harmonious and outstanding wine, still in its early youth. 93+ for tonight and around 2020 this will probably be higher. Great wine.
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Loved this. Popped one to think about getting more and I'm in!
Ran it through the Vinturi and gave it an hour in the decanter. Had it with some chocolate and Sharfe Maxx cheese. Nose was a little closed but found dark fruit and asphalt. Wine was rich, no hard edges, very balanced with a nice, full mid palate. Blackberries, a little licorice, herbs. I savored this tasty bottle.
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I just don't get what people are seeing in this. Ran through a menu decanter and to me its not a 95 pointer at all. Domaine pegau is 95, but this is not there. Fruit dominated, with mild-moderate tannins. Some nice black & purple fruit. You can pick up on the fig, plum & some oak. I miss the serious power of the CDP. I like them to be massive and this was just not quite there. Maybe a few years in the cellar will allow this to open up and fill out but I don't think it has the body or structure to become something great. I hope I'm wrong bec I have quite a few of these that I bought after seeing WA's rating. Shame on me for buying so many off a review.
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Decanted for 4+ hours. Enjoyed with home-made fresh Crawfish Etouffe in New Orleans. A very good pairing. This is a middleweight CdP that, with decanting, is drinking very well right now. All the good characteristics of CdP and no defects, just not as big and rambunctious as some of the big guys.
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This 07 CdP is surprisingly open after a trip through the Vinturi. That said, its best days are ahead. Prominent notes of licorice, dark berries and garrigue, with noteworthy acidity. Sealed half the bottle up for a night. Second day retained the original notes, along with a prominent vanilla profile. Bit more of a New World style to this one, but it's top-class CdP. Excellent now, will be even better in 5+ years. Glad I have a few more.
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Decent mid weight chateau neuf. Cherry, vanilla, nutmeg & oak on the nose. Black licorice & plum on the initial taste. Ran through a menu decanter & it softened the tannins. Not a heavy hitter & I'm not sure why Parker rated this so high. Domaine Pegau blows this away. Decent finish but nothing spectacular. I have an opportunity to acquire more & Ill pass it up.
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Definitely a nicer wine than the 2005, this Anonyme 2007 is, thankfully, open for business, displaying a full basket of dark berries, and a sweet final one some similar but smashed notes. I downgraded this beauty from a point because its nose was very quiet, a factor that might change depending on the circumstance. 94 points
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I took a sip upon opening and it was like drinking water -- it gave up nothing. After an hour in the decanter, I had some small sense of it -- cherries, a mid-weight feel to it, a long sort of astringency and little else. The next day, however, WOW. Licorice. Smoke. Complexity. Not at all heavy and not at all subtle, but right in between. If you must taste this now, decant 6 hours. Otherwise, let's all wait a few years. I really enjoyed it.
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Big, bold, jammy, fruity CdP, with tastes of earth, dark berries, leather, smoke, tar and tobacco. This Anonyme epitomizes why the best CdP's are an enophile's dream. It would be great to taste how this wine evolves in 20-30 years.
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Dark purple with ruby rim; fig and raspberry pastry, cool nose; fig and hot stone on the palate, ripe fruit and brandy warmth, delicious, lithe, and drinking well now. Balanced for '07. Good decision for them to release this with some age.
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12/11/2023 - Rogier - TimoVino Likes this wine: 91 Points
Last bottle of a case I purchased years ago... warm vintage and ripe yet very enjoyabel with just enough acidity to balance the richness of the fruit.
Drinking perfectly!
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11/11/2023 - hckschr40 wrote: 85 Points
Three hour decant. Medium garnet. Muted nose of red cherries and charcoal.
The palate was solid oak several years ago when I opened the last bottle, and that has mostly blown off. But this wine has never lived up to my expectations. It seems watery and unfocused, but also moving past its prime. Three bottles never really did it for me.
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10/14/2023 - hsunch@yahoo.com Likes this wine:
Excellent bottle of CdP. Aged sweet red, properly complements bbq meats. Alcoholic content is rather high. Considering the age and the price these are available at, it's a fantastic value!
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10/9/2023 - stomini Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great red fruit, raspberry, good balance and subtle tannins. Good value I think.
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9/19/2023 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:
A friend pulled this bottle to share over a book club dinner.
The book: The Devils Playbook
Paired with Lebanese food prepared by Chef Rafael of Craft Pita.
At PNP this was a bit muted and lean but quickly changed as the night went on. Building weight and expressiveness. This really blossomed into a wonderful wine that paired perfectly with our dinner.
If opening now give it some ox in advance and enjoy!
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8/24/2023 - vitroman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well, round and delicious.
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3/17/2023 - Tony Poli wrote: 94 Points
This has come around. Worth the wait.
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2/19/2023 - wetlandwino wrote: 98 Points
A wine with great mouth appeal and balance. Drinking beautifully right now. This is truly a gem with velvety tannins and perfect balance of fruit and acidity. Could hardly be better.
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12/30/2022 - CDT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted after a 90 minute decant.
Medium to dark ruby in colour with aromas of sweet black fruit, earthy forest floor, leather & slightly herbal.
On the palate, full bodied tart, savoury black fruit, blackberry, cherry kirsch, cassis, earthy forest floor, leather, definite floral overtones, high acidity, high soft tannins with a long finish to sour cherry & black pepper.
Not sure about further cellar progression, but still exceptional structure & flavour!
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12/24/2022 - Romz Likes this wine: 92 Points
24122022 - brought this to celeb my ❤️ birthday at Restaurant Dominic in KL. I feel this is at its peak now and perhaps another 1-2 years or so. Luscious blackberry, blueberries, hint of licorice with earthy & forest floor nose. Palate; medium to full bodied, well balanced mid + acidity and fine tannins. Giving it an hour in the decanter brought more layers of flavors - perfume spices, prunes & minerals into a very gorgeous and energetic finish. Great QPR hence 4.3
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9/6/2022 - vinodolphin Likes this wine: 92 Points
I really like this wine. Happy to have a couple more bottles.
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7/29/2022 - SpenceP wrote: 96 Points
Wow. Spectacular. Fabulous concentration and long long and exceptionally vivid aftertaste. Plums, prunes, blackberries, complex herbs and minerals, forest, spices, very subtle underlying licorice, all coming together into a just gorgeous whole. A big friendly puppy of a wine. No hurry, but no reason to wait. (Not decanted, tasted from the Jancis Robinson glass.)
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6/10/2022 - vinodolphin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice. Hadn't planned to finish the bottle in one sitting but did!
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5/30/2022 - Janstan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Went well grilled steak
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5/8/2022 - oncocyte wrote: 92 Points
Garrigue and tannins in balance. Well constructed, serious, but pas de joie.
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3/20/2022 - RJWallis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Time to drink up!
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2/18/2022 - RJWallis Likes this wine: 93 Points
Benefits from some air, one hour decant and improved throughout the course of dinner and after dinner.
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12/22/2021 - ledocq Likes this wine:
Had my last bottle of this exactly nine years ago, so seeing the evolution was great - didn't need that six hour decant anymore. Rich without being heavy, and the same flavor profile was before - just more seamless. A winner from Wine Access back in the day.
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12/15/2021 - acheng wrote: 90 Points
Very nice right now. Juicy ripe kirsch and no need to wait.
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11/19/2021 - Montana Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank without decanting though i did pour two large cab glasses and let them sit for an hour. This is a beautiful CdP that I wish I had more off. Great fruit flavor and a long finish.
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7/21/2021 - acheng wrote: 92 Points
Underestimated this last time. A finely balanced CDP. Bravo! Just when I’m losing faith with the post 2001 CDP trend comes this 2010. A commendable effort
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6/5/2021 - wetlandwino wrote: 90 Points
Unfortunately, this bottle was a bit over the hill. Brick color along the edges. Still good, but lacking the complexity and body of a bottle opened a year before. Upon uncorking, this CdP had a pungent barnyard smell, which disappeared to a large extent over time. The palate was pleasant as was the finish, but nothing to write home about. I have one more bottle, which I hope will have fared a little better. By the way, this bottle was kept at room temperature over the last couple years.
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5/22/2021 - Vancouver Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium ruby in appearance - going to tawny a bit on the rim- what one would expect from a CDP at age 13 or so.
Pronounced and fully evolved nose of kirsch, candied cherry, baking spice, cinnamon and some herbal elements. A touch oxidized on the nose.
Full bodied on the plate which much more structure, freshness and acidity than the color or nose would suggest. The palate is all about Kirsch and a pot pourri of herbs. The finish is medium plus and savory.
Overall very well done and I would definitely drink up as this is showing some signs of fading. Would have scored a point or two higher if there wasn't that oxidized note on the nose.
Note- this bottle was purchased on release and was stored properly since then.
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4/22/2021 - elevwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good but was fading seriously on Day 2. I would recommend drinking soon
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4/12/2021 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 93 Points
Smooth as silk. Lush as velvet. Day 2 upped to 93. Super Suave.
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3/10/2021 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Expressive bouquet with sweet licorice, vanilla, dark berries and some smoke. On the palate green herbs, red berries, firm acidity and still slightly sticky tannin.
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2/3/2021 - wylee wrote: 92 Points
wine is in a good place now!
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2/2/2021 - pmk wrote: 94 Points
ready to go and in a perfect place - harmonizing fruit, seamless layers of terroir and spice. Don't miss this one!
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1/18/2021 - brianakrin wrote: 91 Points
I agree with 12/30/2020 - CDT LIKES THIS WINE: description except I think it's a little young and will improve and add complexity with a little more age so I'm going to hold mine a while.
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12/30/2020 - CDT Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium, deep ruby in colour with slightly restrained aromas of sweet black fruit, black cherry/kirsch, earth/forest floor & background oak. On the palate, bold black fruit, black berry/black plum/black cherry, kirsch, earth/forest floor, well integrated background oak with medium to high acidity & medium to high soft tannins. The finish is medium to long ending in spice & pepper. This is balanced lovely wine! One bottle remaining & will consume within a year.
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12/27/2020 - bbakove Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium deep ruby color with a light amber perimeter and a miniscule clear edge.
65/20/15 grenache/mouvedre/syrah.
Grape stalks and dried currant seem to drive a nose that is less fruit than wood and earth.
Tannins are currently fine, mouth coating, firm and the acidity remains moderately bright.
Were there a more fruit driven presence on the palate, this would suggest a need for additional cellar time, but the overwhelming impression on the slurp is one of cedar and cigar box, with notes of chocolate and citrus on the finish.
Which is not to say it's not a good quaff, it absolutely is. I'm wondering whether a year or two more in the cellar will improve?
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12/9/2020 - Stufts Likes this wine: 91 Points
Coravin'd over three nights. Was strongest actually on the first night after a glass decant. Lovely CdP balance of red and blue fruits, earth, spice, and minerality. Tannins are relatively well-integrated, and nose and palate are suitable medium plus to full. It began to lose steam on the second night, indicating it's probably time to drink up.
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8/21/2020 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely loved this. Had it alongside a Rack of Lamb. The extra Syrah (compared to other CdP producers), is evident.
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8/9/2020 - Iam Redwood wrote: 90 Points
Drink up
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7/10/2020 - pavel_p wrote: 90 Points
Thought I had finished those last year but found another bottle. Much better than the previous bottle 18 months ago. The harshness and burned dark fruit has disappeared. Still a healthy garnet with a translucent rim in the glass. Initially with a flavor profile somewhat resembling a diluted port, this comes together nicely with more air. Some wood spices, dried dark fruit, round and smooth with fully resolved tannins and a short to medium finish.
Will not fall off the cliff but no point in holding much longer either.
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7/6/2020 - MindMuse Likes this wine: 93 Points
My previous consumption of this was over five years ago, and it was very fruit forward. It has integrated and evolved nicely and this was an elegant though still potent showing. Needed some air and warmth to flower, then delivers a lovely spicy melange of aromas, with morello cherries, brambly dark berries, campfire smoke, licorice, camphor, dried herbs. Savory and satiny on the palate, with a rich compote of dark fruit, dusted spices, cocoa, powdery tannins. Quite fine stuff.
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7/4/2020 - wetlandwino wrote: 92 Points
I'm glad I waited so long to bring this very nice 2007 CDP. It has a full bodied palate, as you would expect, plenty of fruit but not at all overdone, and a lovely long finish, which ends in a blend of velvety tannin and acidity. Truly enjoyable. I have two more bottles, but it is drinking beautifully now and I don't expect it will improve much in the future, but time will tell.
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4/18/2020 - mrmikemtr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Definitely peaking. Smooth and integrated. Abv of 15 would be strong but this drinks well.
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4/12/2020 - jrglm Likes this wine: 93 Points
What a wonderful wine. Fantastic nose of earth, rich fruit and floral notes. The first taste was just amazing with the wonderfully integrated flavors from the grapes and soil that held the vines. Wish it wasn’t the last bottle.
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4/5/2020 - Farnelicous Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cracked one open as its an '07 - lots of life left. Tasted and decanted, which smoothed out nicely. Drinking really good - great fruit that turns to lite spice and earth later on palate. Have some reserve that now I can't wait to try.
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3/8/2020 - elevwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lush, smooth, long finish. May be peaking.
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2/5/2020 - Tbarsi Likes this wine:
Pinot like and drinking very nicely. Kim liked.
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1/19/2020 - Reblin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great depth, with plenty of fruit and a long finish. Smooth.
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12/29/2019 - NutmegNative Likes this wine: 93 Points
It's been almost 7 years since I last opened this once-jammy monster. It has toned down considerably, but remains chock full of intense CdP characteristics: beef bullion, iodine, tar, burnt plum. It's likely time to drink up the remaining bottles, which will be a pleasure to do.
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12/26/2019 - Iam Redwood wrote: 93 Points
Xmas dinner 2019. Still on par with last review
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10/4/2019 - patwjr wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 15 min., rebottled for quick ride, then drank over 4 hours. More ready/open to drink now than 1 year ago. Subtle nose & taste, minimal fruit, smooth & a touch earthy. Drink now.
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9/28/2019 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Clear medium ruby; clean medium nose of leather, bacon, red cherries and vanilla; dry; high acidity; medium plus tannins; high alcohol; medium body; medium plus flavor intensity; pfn with addition of sour cherry and black licorice; medium plus finish; very good quality; very muddy - wished for more focus, intensity and complexity
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9/23/2019 - Montana Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprisingly smooth fruit forward wine. Flavor remained on my palate for a remarkably long time.
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9/21/2019 - Montana Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprisingly smooth fruit forward wine. Flavor remained on my palate for a remarkably long time.
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8/24/2019 - skurtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened to breathe and enjoyed over a four-hour window, including dinner. Initially cherry cordial and alcohol dominated the nose and palate, but over time, the alcohol died down and the more complex cedary and leather notes emerged. Very tasty and versatile with food, tonight with Southern fried chicken and potato salad.
My last bottle of '07, with no regrets as I was concerned this was at plateau or in decline. Will focus my attention on the '10 cuvée anonyme in the next few months. My advice to those still with '07 in your cellars is to drink up! 91/92
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7/21/2019 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened, but not decanted, at a NYC restaurant for over 45 minutes before pouring. Not everyone in my wine group enjoyed this, but those that did, loved it. I still don't see WA's 96 point rating, but it seems to be improving with age. It has definitely started showing some secondary aging tasting notes, such as cedar.
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7/14/2019 - RJWallis Likes this wine: 92 Points
Two hour decant really did the trick. Terrific CDP!
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7/5/2019 - RJWallis Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully. Pop and Pour, next time will decant for an hour as it opened up significantly over the course of dinner.
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7/3/2019 - skurtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened to breathe for 1-2h. On the nose soft berries and cedar. On the palate, round sweet black berries, some coffee notes, spices, black pepper, nice acid to balance the Grenache on the finish. Tannins are long gone. In its drinking window, not sure for how long. I'm going to prioritize my three remaining bottles. The fresh blackberry notes were a perfect pairing for grilled rack of lamb tonight.
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6/20/2019 - acheng wrote: 91 Points
Distinctly in the dark fruit spectrum with sweet fruit held in check.
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6/2/2019 - mterheijden Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely wine
Bit more in your face/new world style than other C9P. Don’t after with the negativity around this cuvée. In my opinion a very well made C9P which is at its peak now.
Love the secondary notes
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5/22/2019 - mrmikemtr Likes this wine: 90 Points
2 years have passed and little improvement. Some secondary herbal flavors beginning to come through. Still overrated in my opinion.
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3/7/2019 - Petrusha wrote: 92 Points
PnP. Very easy drinking and lovely wine. Had it with chicken and rice, will probably go well with most food.
Great value every day wine
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12/25/2018 - Amalinsk wrote:
Good for beef and lamb
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12/21/2018 - nowine4u Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful aroma, very smooth entry. Sweet red flavor, full body and mouthfeel with medium length flavors. Drink now.
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12/9/2018 - pouncey wrote: 89 Points
Deep, rich aromas of over ripe fruit. Somewhat meaty. An enjoyable wine, but certainly in need of a hearty meal to complement.
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12/3/2018 - ChateauDutremble Likes this wine: 92 Points
No notes taken. This is ready and incredibly smooth. No need for food. Aromas of 'herbes de Provence', ripe red fruit...red liquorice. Not Grenache dominated like most CNDP...25% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Mourvèdre & 25% other grape varieties. Round and smooth...drink up...no need to wait!
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12/1/2018 - Brent25 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Clear medium minus garnet; clean medium minus nose of leather, cedar, dark brambly fruit and savory herbs; dry; medium plus body; pfn; medium plus acidity; medium plus tannins; medium plus finish with cocoa and cinnamon; weak nose and wished for more complexity but otherwise lovely; big powerful wine - great for steak
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11/18/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 87 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Old Reds 2008 and Earlier (Tilia, Mpls): Another forgettable bottle of this wine. It continues to be an oak laden, oversized example of what is wrong in the vintage. Oak, pepper, heat, very modern styled. I'm sure there are some who find this attractive though. To my knowledge none of us enjoyed it tonight.
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11/17/2018 - pavel_p Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Unlike last time (pnp), I double decanted and brought to a dinner. While the decanting helped to settle the generous oak on the nose when pouring the wine back into the bottle, it also made the fruit retreat a bit. Drank after a nice young 2015 Right Bank Bordeaux, and the bitter tar notes in the black fruit and the lack of freshness of this (and most other) 07 C9dP were very obvious. With the exception of Beaucastel and perhaps Clos des Papes, am really not a fan of 07 C9dP. Would drink now with a short decant to make space for other wine, as I cannot see this improving.
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9/13/2018 - patwjr wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 3+ hours, drank over another 4 hours. Nose is better than the taste. Nose has a sweet fruit/floral smell, while the taste is a bit tart & acidic, minimal fruit.
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8/25/2018 - matthew.gluth wrote: 86 Points
A bit quiet, needs some time to open up.
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7/22/2018 - bonedoc wrote:
bitter, burnt, skunky nose - have never liked this wine.
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7/13/2018 - zlasker Likes this wine:
big and smooth low oak. newer style
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6/16/2018 - skurtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is quite nice, but now I've had a chance to enjoy a variety of '03-'07 CnPs this summer. Relative to those recent experiences, I'm scoring it one point lower. Still delicious. Otherwise consistent with previous notes. Tonight with grilled burgers and chicken.
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6/1/2018 - Dalton_Noble Likes this wine: 92 Points
Slow oxed for 24 hours. Very solid. Has more years in it though.
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4/11/2018 - pavel_p wrote: 92 Points
Pnp. Clear garnet. Wonderful nose with acidity providing freshness and balancing the herbs and dark fruit. The palate cannot measure up though, the usual 07 C9dP flavor profile with slightly burned dark fruit and tar notes. Not as rich as some other wines and the 15% alcohol does not show. Integrated tannins. Short to medium finish.
Nice effort given the vintage. Nose 94, palate 90, overall 92
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3/6/2018 - Radio60 wrote: 92 Points
This wine is at it's peak. the fruit flavor and acids are perfectly balanced. Has such a wonderful nose. A delight to drink right now
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2/18/2018 - Philippe_C wrote: 92 Points
Very black nose, very powerful... Very powerful taste, lacking complexity, a bit too much...
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1/26/2018 - Iam Redwood wrote: 92 Points
Drank at Enrico's Baccanal dinner with the boys. It was decanted and left to breath about an hour. Bold berries nose with some chocolate. Smooth and flavourful but not over powering in the mouth. It's definitely would benefit from more time expos to air.
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1/21/2018 - CieloVista wrote: 92 Points
....very smooth; needed to decant for a couple of hours
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12/23/2017 - skurtz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened to breathe, gorgeous blackberries, oak, and chocolate. Silky and well integrated. Fantastic wine, consistent with my previous note.
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12/9/2017 - vpenico wrote:
Drank at Wine Group dinner at Rob & Claire Assini's house. Much appreciated by Rob and others at group. Nice balance and complexity. Perfect age. Not as rich and heady as I thought a CNP would be. Good for meals or alone in the glass.
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11/11/2017 - elevwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Sampled three times over four hours. Common thread in many notes is time needed to open and that is definitely true for this wine. Minimum two hour decant recommended. Tannins restrained but fruit and subsidiary flavors don't come out until after serious air time. Still think rating too high (can say that about plenty of wines) but average value for a quality CdP.
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10/29/2017 - Dalton_Noble wrote: 88 Points
Got better with air. Needs way more time.
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10/19/2017 - Lahiri Likes this wine: 92 Points
Started at 86, finished at 92 after day 3. Hold for a few years.
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10/18/2017 - Chateau T. wrote: 89 Points
Deze wijn is volgens mij erg overgewaardeerd. Prima wijn maar geen 30-40 euro wijn. Erg fruitig niet al te veel diepgang, begint nu wat te ontwikkelen zal met de jaren nog wat verder ontwikelen maar prijs kwaliteit lijkt mij niet op orde.
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10/11/2017 - rm97 wrote: 91 Points
Perfectly enjoyable but struggle to understand why this has garnered such high WA rating.
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7/29/2017 - Janstan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Anise,sweet tobacco,leather, elderberry or huckleberry (a dark briary fruit). Had alone
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7/13/2017 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 91 Points
Pnp: 1st impression was that it hadn't changed much from the bottle 2 yrs ago...... underwhelming. But after 1-2 hrs open this wine really starts to blossom. Ripe dark fruit, cocoa, mocha, cured and roasted meats, very savory nose. Palate is rich and lush, still feel the alcohol in weight and heat but has achieved much better balance than before. If I had to guess this wine is just starting to hit stride, drink now to maybe 7 yrs from now.
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7/6/2017 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Perfumed, silky, bright, medium-bodied, has a bit of a cedar profile. This is attractive but a bit limited in scope.
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7/3/2017 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 91 Points
Pop and poured. At home.
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of black pepper, underbrush earth, garrigue, violets, sweet baking spices, dark red cherries, blackcurrant, blackberries. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol (15%), smooth medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of sweet baking spices, fruit black cherries, dark red cherries, blackcurrant, blackberries, savoury earth, black pepper. Short finish.
Good quality. Nose like Old World, palate like New World. Clean and polished style. Fruity alright, but neither do they go very deep, nor are they layered. No complaints about the smoothness of the mouth-feel. 15% alcohol shows. Finish is lacking. Ends so fast and feels so clean!
Well, this will definitely last a good 4-5 years more. But if you ask me if this is going to develop into something brilliant, I doubt so. I scratch my head at WA's 96 points too.
According to Xavier Vignon, this is made from a selection of the best old vine fruit from nearly 120 different parcels in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation. 3 years in a combination of demi-muids and small oak barrels.
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7/1/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 91 Points
I still don't get WA's 96 point rating on this, but it is an enjoyable wine. Had it with spicy chicken and sausage Jambalaya and it stood up to it very well. Not your typical CdP. The Syrah seems to take a more prominent role than in other CdP wines. Probably still has years of life ahead of it.
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5/26/2017 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 91 Points
This one is getting a bit long in the tooth. It still tastes pretty good, but there was no verve like the last several bottles. All in all, this bottle tasted very good and showed very good CdP structures and flavors.
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4/29/2017 - mrmikemtr Likes this wine: 90 Points
This gets dinged on QPR. Totally unjustified at $45-50. The wine is more $20-30 range. Nice barnyard nose but as others point out, a bit monotone in flavor. Big fruit for sure but lack of depth at this price point. Some sediment in bottle. somewhat chewy. Medium length finish.
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4/7/2017 - Golf_Wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Same notes as last week with an added bit of wet iron on the nose. Also feel like the alcohol pop out a little more on this bottle. A little bit more tart on the finish.
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3/28/2017 - Golf_Wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
A really nice CdP but perhaps not in a traditional or classic way. So smooth and everything this bottle has is very well integrated by now but imagine it will drink well for many years. Nose of dark fruit, cedar, orange / orange peel, some spice, bit of leather. Drinking ahhh so smooth over the entire palate. I think for what it is, a very well balanced wine at this stage. Rich smooth from first sip to mid palate and its medium long finish. Blue fruits, hint of oak, spice, cherries, bit of pepper, dark smooth chocolate, Did not decant but through a vinturi. A really good bottle with a modern crowd pleasing style.
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2/17/2017 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 91 Points
Theme was Chateauneuf, we had the misfortune of following a 2001 La Nerthe and a 1990 Beaucastel. This was quite approachable, a good wine, just suffered in comparison. Dark garnet, no signs of age. Nose was more traditional, bud modern style on the palate, good balance, nice finish.
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2/13/2017 - jaybird1234 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smooth tannins. Easy and smooth. Give another year in cellar and should be perfect
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1/15/2017 - WimHH wrote: 88 Points
This wine has a very good balance, but is rather 'flat'. It lacks complexity, typicity and power, has little content. For this price I had expected more...
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1/9/2017 - skurtz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened to breathe for 1h. Aromatic nose of chocolate fondant, oak, and roses. On the palate a very chiseled, silky smooth black fruit experience, with polished oak and an acid finish. Super classy and elegant. This seems youthful but quite ready to drink. I'm sure it will be even better in a few years but why wait. Excellent now.
This was scored blind to my previous review. It's amusing to see that I use the same adjectives to describe this wine as when I tasted it back in 2014. Surprisingly consistent, yet I scored it a point higher today.
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12/18/2016 - Love Good Wine wrote: 94 Points
A lovely bottle
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10/7/2016 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
DTC Chateauneuf du Pape (@ SS): Beautiful dark berries, garrigue, rustic and barnyard flavors. On the palate ripe dark forest fruits, a beautiful balance between acidity and sweetness, juicy, lush, round and slightly sticky tannin. Harmonious wine, delicious now and with a future until 2023+. Hope to taste again around 2021. Blind scored it the same as in 2013.
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10/6/2016 - pmorin wrote:
Aweful
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10/1/2016 - CHINACAT wrote: 90 Points
Very dark red color. Subdued nose. Ripe dark fruits, fairly smooth, modest acidity, a bit of pepper, with some remaining structure. Has reached its maturity zone and should hold up for several more years. Decent wine.
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9/28/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Late Afternoon Wines (Rocknroller's (Kevin & Vicki's Place)): Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 2 hours and drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. Cedar, spicebox, black fruits, savory later, garrigue, green edge. The palate is consistent and the green edge takes another hour to mellow mostly, though it remains to an extent, pepper, savory, black fruits, becomes more round, full bodied, round tannins. 90(+?)pts.
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9/19/2016 - rebs1 wrote: 88 Points
boring, a little hot, just nothing going on except smooth palate and some dark fruit. way overpriced
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8/20/2016 - Philippe_C wrote: 92 Points
Very black nose, very porwerful... tastes very powerful, lacking complexity, a bit too hard!
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7/17/2016 - Jshire Likes this wine: 92 Points
Full on black fruit, well balanced. Almost no tannin with aquick finsh.
Very enjoyable and food friendly.
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7/15/2016 - Racer117 wrote:
I'm with Rickspicks on this one. Not necessarily a great CdP but a very good red wine. I do get a bit of savory notes ala pepper and leather but its overwhelmed by the rich ripe dark fruit flavors. 89-90 for a CdP rating but about 91-92 for overall enjoyment.
Mind you, this is very good wine.
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6/26/2016 - rickspicks wrote: 91 Points
Mixed feelings about this wine - it has many of the things I like in a CdP, but lacks the characteristic CdP flavor profile. Very much in a modern style, it is medium to full bodied and lush with a smooth, velvety texture, rich, ripe fruits and low acidity. While it had plenty of ripe cherry fruit, it was missing the expected garrigue, gamey, leather or licorice flavors. Enjoyable, but not much typicity. 90-91
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6/19/2016 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Stunning CdP, even for a 2007 (not my fav vintage). Nice spicy notes, pure fruit and complex with good concentration, but not heavy or gooey. Best CdP of the night. B&J's (96 RP)
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5/18/2016 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 91 Points
Definitely a Rhone! Very flavorful but not over the top. could go a few more years but drinking well now.
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4/25/2016 - Pedroel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better than last time. Still not like Parker's description, though. The best part is the endless finish (that pushes the rating higher) Good fruit and balance, but not particularly special. Tannins still prominent, so there's plenty of evolution remaining.
11/16/2014 Note: Decanted about 5 hrs, then drank before and with dinner (beef brisket). Was not impressed at any point. Parker says, "Full, thick, unctuously textured..." but I disagree in all respects. Bottle variation is my prime suspect. I agree with Aidyl, who wrote on 8/30/14, in most respects as to nose and flavors.
Disappointing.
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3/30/2016 - Coachron13 wrote: 88 Points
Not as good as the other bottle we had previously. Sampled it twice via Coravin, then opened and finished it today, it was the same all three times. Kind of boring, not interesting enough.
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3/28/2016 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice. Despite blend, the mourvedre really comes through. Has plenty of life in it but definitely enjoyable now.
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3/18/2016 - Vino Monkeys Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep garnet with a hint of purple (some Syrah?). Medium intense aromas of ripe, almost candied strawberries and cherries, with chocolate. Dry, full-bodied, low acid and medium plus, well integrated, tannins. Medium plus finish with some pepper and spices.
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3/4/2016 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow! Xavier's CdP is really, really good right now! No flaws and off flavors whatsoever. Xavier is an interesting and generous man. His wines reflect his personality. Bravo!
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2/16/2016 - carlsport Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. While i thought it was fine, it was far from the Parker and friends ratings. Drunk by several with mixed reviews, but safe to say no one would have given it much more than a 90.
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1/31/2016 - jdfrench wrote: 89 Points
Underwhelming
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1/26/2016 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 93 Points
Much improved over previous bottles of this wine. We had not trouble finishing this one off! It has the potential to be really a stunner in a few years so we'll hold off on drinking the rest. There is a hint of rusticity in the wine right now that makes is quite charming. Tastes of dark red fruits and spice. Medium aftertaste in the mouth. No nose that I recall.
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1/22/2016 - up4wine wrote: 91 Points
Big wine with powerful fruit. It slowly evolves in the glass such that what was a huge fruit nose to more brambly chaparral, which I find typical of an interesting Grenache. Great balance with a fine tannic backbone. On the palate, it was smooth with a little bite on entry and progressed to a deep, rich mouthful in mid palate. It finished long and steady.
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1/19/2016 - jaybird1234 wrote: 87 Points
No fruit, very bland on the palate. Improved after 3 hours, but woul decant longer if drinking now
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1/17/2016 - jsapping Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour. Cherries and chocolate with a smooth medium/long finish. Even better on day two. Very impressed.
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1/15/2016 - finlero Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted an hour before tasting, I was almost ready to shrug it off at the 90 minute mark, but it definitely started to wake up around hour two. Vibrant dark purple in color, long legs. Nose of strawberries and violets. Balanced red and black fruit to the taste, maybe a little thin mid-palate, suggestions of some good structure. Long finish with some expectedly rustic tannins. I suspect I drank this too soon in terms of both hours and years, glad I have more. Cautiously optimistic.
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1/12/2016 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 92 Points
Another stellar bottle of XA CdP, a year after enjoying my first bottle. Once again, this still takes hours to open. Patience rewards the nose and palate with rich aromas and lush flavors. This is a CdP that asks you to lean in, rather than snapping your head back. Cherries, blackberries, spices, and chocolates reward the attentive. Forget about Parker's stratospheric praise; simply pay attention to what is here and be very well satisfied.
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1/3/2016 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 91 Points
so smooth and elegant ... we had with simple pasta and i would be worried that with something stronger the wine would be overwhelmed ... not your typical CNP but a very nicely done wine
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1/1/2016 - ChristyLeighNY wrote:
Nose of cedar and a little spice, stewed fruit, floral notes that are almost Pinot like. But the taste is oxidized, I expected it to last longer. Medium tannins and acid. Tastes past its life. Better with a big steak.
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12/30/2015 - Skip4wine wrote: 92 Points
Great color and a big nose that rose right out of the bottle. Some cherry and soft red fruit but not like a grenache based CDP. Not "big" and while well balanced it comes off more like a pinot with a kick. I feel like it haw great balance for aging that will enable it to get to some really good leather, earth and cigar box places but we will see. Drinking well now but I think it has a chance to go to more complex. 92 for now.
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12/28/2015 - PSUSteve wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 1+ hours than returned to the bottle to slow ox for another 1+ hours. Never would guessed CdP if tested blind. No Rhone characteristics at all. Smooth cherry fruit with a mellow back end. Enjoyable wine but don't expect CdP.
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12/17/2015 - soyhead wrote:
nose - oaky
mouth - bright red fruit with a very clean minerally midapalte that segways into a dry tannic finish. I am struck by how tightly wound up this is even on day 2. there is no denying this has tremendous stuffing, and the laser focus and purity of the fruit and cleanness of the wine is remarkable. i think it will be better at a future date. reminds me of a high end priorat
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12/4/2015 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 88 Points
87-88 pts, PNP, really could have used a decant. A little hot, black cherry, sharp tannins.
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10/4/2015 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 90 Points
CdP dinner. 9 people, 6 CdPs. 2000 and 2006 Beaucastel, 1998 and 2006 Vieux Telegraphe, 2001 Janasse Vielles Vignes and 2007 Xavier Anonyme. All Opened and than sat for at least 30 minutes before pouring. All tasted blind.
Everyone liked this, but I think its it bit overrated by WA (96 points).
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9/30/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 88 Points
Wednesday Afternoon Mini (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Very dark red color. Decanted for an hour plus; drank 1+ glass over 3 hours. Maybe I'm missing the boat on this wine. First, it doesn't taste like CDP, and second, it doesn't taste like a Rhone wine. If I drank this blind I would guess a South American blend. It had that typical green, herbaceousness that I'm not particularly fond of. Plenty of ripe black cherry fruit and vanilla go with the modern style, new wood and astringent tannins. Two of the 3 of us felt underwhelmed, though we all felt it got better with more glass time. However, the green element did not change significantly. I'm not convinced this will be better with more age.
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9/29/2015 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 92 Points
Somewhat boisterous in the mouth and disjointed, but shows great potential. Nice deep color and grenache on the nose. Still seems young, but we didn't decant and let it breath out.
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9/27/2015 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice wine. Lot's of black fruit. I would definitely decant for one hour and serve at about 60-65 degrees. Could use another 3-5 years of aging. Quite tannic, even though tannins are soft you can definitely taste them and a few more years of aging may help that.
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9/25/2015 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just lovely expression of CDP. Soft tannins and long finish with a touch of spice.
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9/6/2015 - s******n Likes this wine: 89 Points
Mas d'en Compte 2010 vs Xavier Anonyme 2007:
- Farbe: Beide tiefrot und konzentriert. Der Xavier mit ein wenig bräunlicher Färbung aber nicht dominierend.
- Der Xavier ist ein schöner Wein, schmeckt aber doch etwas "sprittig". Nicht ungewöhnlich für einen CdP, trotzdem nicht so mein Geschmack.
- Der Compte ist runder, integrierter und balancierter. Allerdings auch konzentriert und vollmundig.
- Compte für mich der klare Sieger. Xavier ist okay aber reicht nicht an die Erwartungen in den Beschreibungen heran.
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8/24/2015 - rm97 wrote: 91 Points
Easy drinking, nicely balanced though restrained wine. Not sure it rates the big score - maybe will develop over the years.
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8/19/2015 - webbaker Likes this wine: 92 Points
Third tasting with consistent notes. Light, fruity, & luscious. Enjoyable summertime alternative to a heavier red.
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8/15/2015 - ccarter5181 wrote: 89 Points
Double decanted for 2 hours. Very little on the nose, a bit of fruit. Nice and rich on the palate and nice fruit, impressive concentration. Nothing in the way of secondary flavours. Smooth finish with very tame tannins. Disappointing given the $65 price tag and the hype in the wine press. Will wait a bit on the remaining bottles and decant longer.
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7/19/2015 - acheng wrote: 91 Points
Very expressive notes of cherry liqueur and herbs. Drinking well now. But should improve.
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7/17/2015 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasty, but not profound.
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6/22/2015 - H2OGEO wrote: 89 Points
Nice wine but a bit of off character, which may have been related to the bottle.
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6/7/2015 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 91 Points
On PnP, it was pretty thin and I would have said 88-89. It definitely benefited from a 3 hour decant. It definitely is not as good as the hype. I have 4 more bottles and will report on them over the next few months/years.
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6/4/2015 - BadOyster wrote: 88 Points
nothing exciting here. for all the buzz, I was expecting fireworks. But in all, a fairly innocuous wine (ok muddled fruit, smooth tannins, low acidity). Doesn't bode well for the anonyme line. I mean, don't get me wrong, an 88 isn't "bad", but for $60, it isn't good, either.
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6/2/2015 - CRAUBER4242 wrote: flawed
Corked
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5/24/2015 - la turque wrote: 94 Points
Decanted several hours before drinking. Lovely purple-ruby colour, awesome nose of black fruits, spices and wood. On the palate, glossy and layered, with waves of sweet fruit and flavour. The air did the wine a lot of good. Drinking now.
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5/22/2015 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 92 Points
this is drinking superb right now ... it was brought from cellar, opened and drank within 4 hours of leaving the cellar (assume it will be even better tomorrow) ... had with rice and a spicy - fabulous. the wine is so elegant and yet jammy complex - a nice balance. a treat (i do not even usually like anything w/ grenache)
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5/17/2015 - whitmanlholt Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Popped and poured. This is a darker red wine, moving lighter at the rim, but without a speck of sediment in the entire bottle or in a single glass (not a good trait -- how filtered is this wine?). On the nose, I get sand, rosehips, and some lime-cherry Jolly Ranchers. This is smooth and spicy in the mouth, leaving a modest twang and slightly citrusy finish. Overall, this is not distinctive or characteristic of good CdP -- it certainly fits the name. This is very disappointing in light of the annoyingly large bottle; if I am going to use a spot in my magnum rack, I expect a much better wine than this. Would not buy again. 87 points with a bland and "anonyme" future.
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5/9/2015 - Robertjohnkane wrote: 93 Points
A silky wine characterized by subtle fruits on the front end that evaporates, leaving a wonderful spice and leather foundation. A really great wine that shows equal parts complexity and subtlety.
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4/9/2015 - up4wine wrote: 93 Points
Part of this months wine tasting event. Grabbed 2nd place with the crowd, but I still put it in first. Every time I come back to this wine I am so impressed with the near perfect balance and how well the whole thing is integrated. Upon opening, it always shows a little rambunctiousness, but as it calms down the fruits come together and there are wonderful floral, perfume notes mixed with some pleasant sweetness and a little smoke.
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3/30/2015 - CRAUBER4242 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Slow O'd for about an hour and enjoyed over 2 hours. A rich nose of garrigue, licorice and dark berries that followed through on the full rich mouth, with nice tannin. The wine evolved over the evening and these notes all starred at one point during the night.
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3/23/2015 - wetlandwino wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very nice now but will, of course, age beautifully.
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3/8/2015 - up4wine wrote: 93 Points
Just a spectacular wine. With every bottle I have, I am more committed to the vision of the winemaker. There is great brambly fruit up front and a rich full flavor on the finish. The wine has a smooth elegance that shows off its balance and highly integrated state. Probably can be aged for a long time, but it is drinking great, today.
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3/1/2015 - la turque wrote: 93 Points
Decanted two hours. Lovely deep ruby colour, not showing much age on the appearance. Nose of smoke, black fruits, meat. On the palate, a little tight and in need of time. The fruit is there, and the 15% alcohol does not dominate. After time in the glass, a stewed character emerged. Give this a year or two to fully integrate.
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2/24/2015 - Vino Monkeys Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ruby with maybe the slightest browning toward the edge. Spicy nose, with hints of leather, carrying through to pallette. Peppery, ripe fruit and a touch of licorice. Beautiful balance and finish.
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2/13/2015 - bonedoc wrote:
Double decanted, then drank over 3 hrs. Last glass was a 92. Prior to that, a bit overwhelming pepper, garrique w some licorice. Fruit hidden, but came out in the end although I doubt this has enough fruit to warrant an outstanding score in the future. I'd dd, or hold for several yrs, projection 92-93.
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1/29/2015 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 92 Points
Impressive Anonyme. Dark ruby in the glass, with light rouge edges. Takes at least an hour to open. Then, succulent fruits on the nose, with notes of leather, cedar, and spices. On the palate, dark cherries and blackberries dance with dark chocolate and touches of vanilla. This is not Parker's 96 yet, but as a solid 92 from me, it may be on the way up. Time will tell.
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1/22/2015 - KAP wrote: 93 Points
Great wine. Less than a cab more than a pinot.
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1/11/2015 - Purple Tooth wrote: 92 Points
This wine is an infant with vibrance and the grip that firmly straddles the sweet side in near prefect balance. As I understand, this 2007 wine was bottled and released in 2013, when the maker felt it was ready..If so, it worked, because this baby is round and plush with no noticeable edges of oak or the 15%+ alcohol it is rocking in the pocket!
Flavors of red licorice, cola, and strawberry with a whiff of cocoa and coffee ground along the long lingering finish. Being a Bordeaux junkie, a bit too sweet for me, but I think others that like more fruit will love it!
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1/10/2015 - fournet wrote: 89 Points
The alcohol is slightly dominant. The wine seems a touch unstructured and slightly tannic, but I suspect it might be due to the alcohol being out of balance. I believe this wine will improve with a couple of years of age, though it might never be an excellent wine in my eyes. The finish is the best part of this wine. Try again in 2-3 years.
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12/28/2014 - up4wine wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with previous notes. This wine is a gem. It goes down so easy with such pinache and elegance that I am saddened every time the glass is empty.
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12/27/2014 - webbaker Likes this wine: 92 Points
Second tasting with consistent notes. No sediment. Strong aromatic flavors, woody, but not highly tannic. Interesting phenolic notes. Light in color, juicy & luscious. Nice change of pace from my usual CA cabs. Reminds me of a pinot.
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12/25/2014 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark, opaque purple in color, this wine showed tar, blackberry liqueur, iron, white pepper and baking spices on the nose. The mouth feel was supple and added elements of grilled meats and plums. The finish was long and focused with the softening tannins and acidity perfectly complimenting the fruit and secondary tastes.
Purchased for $50US, this wine is in a really good place right now. Decanted for 2 hours before returning it to the bottle, this wine was ideal for my Christmas dinner of cheese at home. Not aggressive on the nose, it leaned toward the feminine side in a sexy, seductive way.
Imported by Petit Pois Corp., t/a Sussex Wine Merchants, Moorestown, NJ.
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12/25/2014 - MadTownWine wrote: 92 Points
Continue to be impressed by how different this is from Parker's description. Not massive, but long finish. Very floral for such a young CDP, but starting to get more interesting. Will wait a couple years before trying the next bottle.
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11/29/2014 - Niagara wrote: 92 Points
Excellent QPR! Really tasty, balanced wine.
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11/27/2014 - skurtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 2h before Thanksgiving dinner. This was my favorite wine of the evening! Very smooth, elegant, with vibrant black fruit. Great pairing with turkey and all the fixings. Agree with other reviews that this is a young teenager, but with so much promise for the future.
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11/21/2014 - BordeauxBuff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 4 hours, and drank over the course of 2 days.
This is a new world style CDP. Big wine. Actually, it is huge. Bright Grenache fruit that just punches you in the face and coats your mouth. I wasn't sure whether or not I liked this wine at first, but it great one me.
Even better on day two. I think I will give my other bottles a few years. Drink 2016++
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11/20/2014 - webbaker Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop-n-pour then consumed over the next 24. I'm not a Chateauneuf-du-Pape expert, so take this review with a grain of salt. No sediment. Strong aromatic flavors, woody, but not highly tannic. Interesting phenolic notes. Flowers. Light in color, juicy & luscious. Improved as it opened up. Not a ton of depth or intensity. Enjoyable, but I don't see RP's 96 rating here. Nice change of pace from my usual suspects.
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11/14/2014 - jimmyrice14 wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic.
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11/1/2014 - CCestaro wrote: 93 Points
This wine is in a great spot....not a monster nose....but nice notes of flowers and blackberry....very elegant in the mouth....soft and velvety with great balance....perfect right now...I'm sure it will be good for years
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10/7/2014 - J_Smallwood Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pleasantly surprised by this one....PnP'd this one tonight; feminine character; the nose doesn't reveal much but very faint floral scents with a hint of berry, drawing you in. On the palate some dark blueberry, currants, and a hint of vanilla on the finish with fairly soft tannins and lots of life ahead. This is the second one I've opened and have noticed a slight bit of bottle variation with the last one showing a bit more tannic with more of a licorice and spice complex in addition to the aforementioned characteristics. This is drinking very well right now. A great QPR in my books, and glad I've got more in the cellar.
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8/31/2014 - Ebitrg wrote:
Wine in Black Bewertung: 95 P
Die ‘Magie des Terroirs’ nennt Xavier Vignon, der
verantwortliche Önologe, die Grundlage für diesen
exzeptionellen Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Nur streng
handselektioniertes Lesegut aus unzähligen, uralten
Parzellen wird für diesen luxuriösen Wein verwandt.
Nach sorgfältiger, separater Fermentation aller
Rebsorten und der Assemblage reift der Wein satte 48
Monate in neuen Barriques und gebrauchten Fudern,
um sich seinen Feinschliff zu holen. Das ist
allerhöchste Winzerkunst, die sich zu einem enorm
dichten, ganz großen und zu Recht mit überragenden
96 Parker Punkte dotierten Rhône-Rouge der Grand
Cru-Klasse verdichtet.
Im Glas zeigt der Wein eine sehr dunkle violette, fast
schwarze Farbe. Das weiträumige Bouquet weist eine
spektakuläre Intensität mit wilden Brombeeren,
Schwarze Johannisbeeren, Kräutergarten, Süßholz,
Unterholz, Steinpilzen und dunkler Schokolade auf.
Am Gaumen würzig, kräftig, dicht, lang, phänomenale
Tanninstruktur, unglaubliche Tiefe, ein
überwältigendes Lehrstück an ausgewogener Größe.
Sehr beeindruckend kommt das Finale daher, der
Wein will und will sich nicht verabschieden. Wohl
dem, der eine Flasche diesen genialen Stoffes
ergattern kann.
Faszinierend... und einer der besten Rhône-Weine
des Jahrgangs 2007!!
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8/30/2014 - aidyl wrote: 88 Points
Double decanted after the initial taste verified that it was indeed still too young to drink without air. However, even after double decanting and breathing for 2 hours, this CdP...for which I had such high hopes...was extremely disappointing. Medium garnet color with an almost clear ring at the edge and medium forming legs. The nose was muted and subdued, limited primarily to paving stone and garrigue. The attack was all minerality with almost no fruit whatsoever. An extremely underwhelming showing that was surprising in its austerity. There was some complexity in the mid-palate and finish, but they were flavors that neither stood well on their own nor did they compliment our food. Perhaps I am just not a fan of this particular style, but I absolutely love the 2010 Chateau de Beaucastel CdP, so I'm not sure where the disconnect lies. My dinner companion and I were so underwhelmed we poured the remaining 1/2 carafe back into the bottle and tried it again on day 2. There were some differences, notably a new bouquet of sugared cranberry, but the mid palate was still primarily minerals and forest floor. The mouth feel was hardly "unctuous" and quite far from "stunning", as Robert Parker described it, and it did not stand up to our mushroom ravioli or prime burger and fries. Perhaps it is simply not my style, but we both found this quite disappointing considering the rating.
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8/2/2014 - up4wine wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful wine; just after the decant the wine starts with a strong Grenache character. This is a little wildness in the nose and palate with a stronger acid sensation. As the wine opens up the wine becomes a little more tame and oozes a smokiness that hints of a roaring campfire or a dark, mysterious bar. The fruit is always strong and grows in intensity with a little more time. Finally, there is a dried fruit nose and a smooth syrah palate that commands your attention as the Grenache steps into the background. Great nuances and fun trajectory to follow in an excellent wine.
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8/2/2014 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby turning violet at the rim with a transparent edge. The nose gives off dried currant, meat, suede leather, and herbal scents. The palate is dry with a silky texture on finely-grained tannin. Flavors of black currant, blackberry, rare lamb meat, black tea, hoisin sauce, spice box and dried rosemary. Finishes long and chunky with hints of clove, leather and Herbs de Provence. Drink now with 30 minutes of decanting until 2022.
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7/31/2014 - kenv Likes this wine: 93 Points
WCC 2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reds Blind (Dorato's Resturant, Guilderland, NY): [Double-decanted around 10am.] Big, juicy. Very young and rich. Tasty. Will probably improve for 5 or more years. 93-?
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7/3/2014 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking well now with a long, long decant. Score will likely increase with more age time. Smooth and mellow, it's what you'd expect from a well made CdP.
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7/2/2014 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Balanced, missing some concentration but poised with a gentle, caressing style. Quality stuff. The last glass was particularly striking and meaty.
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6/25/2014 - jaybird1234 wrote: 87 Points
Shallow on the palate. Continue to hold
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5/27/2014 - Rezy13 wrote:
Tuesday Night Double Blind $50+ (Bin 75): Darker core with lighter ruby rim; dense, chocolaty, date, Grenache, meaty, mesquite, cooked red fruit, bitter finish, tobacco, blackberry, hard on finish, grainy tannin; bottle really not given enough airtime which made this showing less than stellar- a little ticked off.
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5/3/2014 - jrglm wrote: 92 Points
Very nice, even with just a pop & pour. Decanting would make this even better.
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4/29/2014 - Domred1? wrote: 91 Points
good but not as good as expected, cork broke off in bottle
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4/5/2014 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark, opaque purple in color, this wine showed tar, blackberry liqueur, iron, white pepper and baking spices on the nose. The mouth feel was supple and added elements of grilled meats and plums. The finish was long and focused with the softening tannins and acidity perfectly complimenting the fruit and secondary tastes.
Purchased for $50US, this wine is in a really good place right now. Decanted for 3 hours before returning it to the bottle to take with us to Will BYOB in Philly (an outstanding restaurant), the wine was a sublime pairing for our entrees of duck and dorade. Not aggressive on the nose, it leaned toward the feminine side in a sexy, seductive way.
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2/26/2014 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Not quite as impressive as the last one I had, but lovely lush stuff nonetheless.
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2/25/2014 - JMLoree Likes this wine: 93 Points
Equally impressive as our first sampling earlier in the month.
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2/5/2014 - JMLoree Likes this wine: 93 Points
Our first bottle from the case was a pleasant surprise. Big, brawny CDP with notable fruit and long finish. Still a little early but very impressive bottling.
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1/31/2014 - scheune wrote: 91 Points
zu X max
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1/30/2014 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 89 Points
This is definitley getting better. Opened this after a medium body sponsor priorat which is Grenache based. This had more depth and complexity to it vs the priorat. Definitely more distinguishable on the nose. The black fruit drives this with a hint of leather and almost a touch of barnyard funk which I liked. In reality this is a nice wine for the price. It I wouldn't pay over $45-50 dollars for. Some reviews by professional wine critics gave this 94pts which I still don't get but this is a medium to heavy body (weighted slightly to medium) GSM that pairs well with food but alone doesn't have enough backbone to stand alone.
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1/25/2014 - Strikermax wrote: 92 Points
Donkerpaars. Uitbundige, fruitige geur, kirsch, kruiden, wat prikkelend door de alcohol. In de mond dik, wat hitte, een moderne wijn. Een stuk opener en uitbundiger dan de vorige fles. 92+
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1/12/2014 - smphelps wrote: 94 Points
Really fine. I generally feel, when I pay 60USD for a wine, that I am more often than not disappointed by what I get for the money. But this seemed spot on. A little shy on the nose, the palate was rich with strawberry flesh, thyme, black pepper, and licorice. Both soft and rich and drinking wonderfully now. Would think the nose would open up with a little more time.
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12/25/2013 - smidler wrote: 94 Points
Lovely.
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12/14/2013 - Mark Finn Likes this wine: 92 Points
Was a long time to come round , decanted 3 hours . Red berries and forest floor with a long lingering taste . Will wait another 2 years to see improvement .
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12/8/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
I don't normally describe a Chateauneuf du Pape as elegant or reserved, but such is the case with this. This is so polished, clean, light and seductive. Also, it drinks great by itself and doesn't need food. Drinking well now, already, it may not need more time. Beautiful.
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12/6/2013 - Strikermax wrote: 92 Points
Donkerpaars, tranend. Behoorlijk op slot, met flink lucht en walsen blauwe bes, kirsch, garrigue, drop en gesteente in geur en smaak. Bittere chocolade en rozemarijn en enorme tannines in de zeer lange, verwarmende afdronk. Mooie, moderne Chateauneuf. Nu absoluut kindermoord, vanaf 2018 waarschijnlijk geweldig. 92++
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11/28/2013 - MadTownWine wrote: 92 Points
Very mild tannins. Moderate dark berry fruit. Not massive but worth waiting a few years and revisiting.
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11/23/2013 - tp096255 Likes this wine: 93 Points
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COLOR: opaque purple w/purple-garnet rim
NOTE: Still tight and primary, but gives off flirts of blackberry liqueur, tar, roast beef, cherry pipe tobacco, baking spices, grilled plum, braised short rib and a hint of heat. Mouth is rich and plush. First impression is of pure blackberry liqueur followed by tobacco and baking spices. On the finish there is a load of 60% dark cocoa powder mingled with blackberry/raspberry juice, some rosewood dust. It's very elegant. Needs 3+ years to see what it turns in to. Great structure. Too bad it was my only bottle.
DECANT: 1-6 hours
GLASS USED: Pinot Noir
TASTE: 9.3+
COST: 60
VALUE: 7.9
TRY AGAIN: 2016 - 2025
PAIRING:
Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net
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11/22/2013 - Robwild wrote: 94 Points
Deep purple color. Fruit forward nice berries, and currant. Well balanced. Mild tannins. A beautiful bottle. "Breathless"
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11/13/2013 - Zweder Likes this wine: 93 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #083; Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 vs 2007 (By AH): Beautiful still somewhat reticent bouquet with cherries and garrigue. On the palate ripe dark cherries, other dark fruits and garrigue. Good acidity and a touch of sweetness. The tannin is round and powerful with a good bite. A complex, harmonious and outstanding wine, still in its early youth. 93+ for tonight and around 2020 this will probably be higher. Great wine.
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11/1/2013 - Buffy the Wine Slayer Likes this wine: 95 Points
Loved this. Popped one to think about getting more and I'm in!
Ran it through the Vinturi and gave it an hour in the decanter. Had it with some chocolate and Sharfe Maxx cheese. Nose was a little closed but found dark fruit and asphalt. Wine was rich, no hard edges, very balanced with a nice, full mid palate. Blackberries, a little licorice, herbs. I savored this tasty bottle.
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10/22/2013 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 86 Points
I just don't get what people are seeing in this. Ran through a menu decanter and to me its not a 95 pointer at all. Domaine pegau is 95, but this is not there. Fruit dominated, with mild-moderate tannins. Some nice black & purple fruit. You can pick up on the fig, plum & some oak. I miss the serious power of the CDP. I like them to be massive and this was just not quite there. Maybe a few years in the cellar will allow this to open up and fill out but I don't think it has the body or structure to become something great. I hope I'm wrong bec I have quite a few of these that I bought after seeing WA's rating. Shame on me for buying so many off a review.
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9/13/2013 - Votefordennis Does not like this wine: 89 Points
An over inky disappointment on this particular night.
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8/24/2013 - Daftari wrote: 93 Points
Licorice and dark cherry
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8/11/2013 - grapist wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 4+ hours. Enjoyed with home-made fresh Crawfish Etouffe in New Orleans. A very good pairing. This is a middleweight CdP that, with decanting, is drinking very well right now. All the good characteristics of CdP and no defects, just not as big and rambunctious as some of the big guys.
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6/30/2013 - urban_dk wrote: 96 Points
This 07 CdP is surprisingly open after a trip through the Vinturi. That said, its best days are ahead. Prominent notes of licorice, dark berries and garrigue, with noteworthy acidity. Sealed half the bottle up for a night. Second day retained the original notes, along with a prominent vanilla profile. Bit more of a New World style to this one, but it's top-class CdP. Excellent now, will be even better in 5+ years. Glad I have a few more.
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6/29/2013 - Santamonicawine Likes this wine: 98 Points
I love it!!! Will only get better with time. I went and bought more
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6/28/2013 - JDV.DDSPHD wrote: 89 Points
Decent mid weight chateau neuf. Cherry, vanilla, nutmeg & oak on the nose. Black licorice & plum on the initial taste. Ran through a menu decanter & it softened the tannins. Not a heavy hitter & I'm not sure why Parker rated this so high. Domaine Pegau blows this away. Decent finish but nothing spectacular. I have an opportunity to acquire more & Ill pass it up.
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6/5/2013 - sancor20 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very pleasing. Mid weight, smooth tannins, well balanced, lingering finish. Tasted better after an hour or so of air.
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4/20/2013 - cr84 wrote: 94 Points
Definitely a nicer wine than the 2005, this Anonyme 2007 is, thankfully, open for business, displaying a full basket of dark berries, and a sweet final one some similar but smashed notes. I downgraded this beauty from a point because its nose was very quiet, a factor that might change depending on the circumstance. 94 points
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3/26/2013 - ledocq Likes this wine:
I took a sip upon opening and it was like drinking water -- it gave up nothing. After an hour in the decanter, I had some small sense of it -- cherries, a mid-weight feel to it, a long sort of astringency and little else. The next day, however, WOW. Licorice. Smoke. Complexity. Not at all heavy and not at all subtle, but right in between. If you must taste this now, decant 6 hours. Otherwise, let's all wait a few years. I really enjoyed it.
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3/24/2013 - NutmegNative Likes this wine: 96 Points
Big, bold, jammy, fruity CdP, with tastes of earth, dark berries, leather, smoke, tar and tobacco. This Anonyme epitomizes why the best CdP's are an enophile's dream. It would be great to taste how this wine evolves in 20-30 years.
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3/1/2013 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark purple with ruby rim; fig and raspberry pastry, cool nose; fig and hot stone on the palate, ripe fruit and brandy warmth, delicious, lithe, and drinking well now. Balanced for '07. Good decision for them to release this with some age.
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2/22/2013 - Heybuddychi@yahoo.com wrote: 82 Points
I drank it too early. Definitely needs to cellar. It got better after a couple hours, but still not great. Seems to have the potential if cellared.
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2/2/2013 - drummer Likes this wine: 91 Points
very good now but definitely needs some age....I'll probably wait a couple years for the next one
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1/26/2013 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
@ NEW WORLD SYMPHONY WALLCAST W CHARLES & Lourdes, Sy & Sondra, and Steve & Joyce
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1/6/2013 - Rsilvester47 Likes this wine: 95 Points
big full of flavor
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