Touch of brick at the rim, clear red, 10 years outside its recommended drinking window but still enjoyable. Delicate forest notes. See how it emerges in the next two hours. Afternote. Opens out, delicate, but not drying out. Enjoyable, but lacking the normal punch.
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Definitely a challenge to accept and not for everyone. Pouring a medium ruby color with orange bricking and long legs, the wine seems innocuous enough on first inspection. On the nose, it tells a different story. Almost devoid of fruit, the bouquet consists mainly of hay, fermented prune juice, coriander, damp earth, used teabags and mulch. Only at the slightest suggestion of blackberries do I pick that nose up. On the palate, the wine is quite supple as the tannins have long been integrated. Though the body is somewhat thin, the wine's flavors are generous and yield a bit more fruit than the nose. Flavors of tobacco, hay, truffles, forest floor and sour cherries are present. The wine ends in a somewhat acidic and smoky note, with a bit of alcoholic bite even. Interesting in profile, this bottle is certainly a challenging wine to enjoy.
Dark red centre, orange rim, heavy sediment. Old leather on the nose, with alcohol coming through. Medium weight, drying out, but fantastic tobacco and leather finish. Lost the fruit of its youth, but still delightful. Fire in the finish, chewy and tannic. Fascinating, but best drunk younger. Agree with the recommended curve.
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Solid sediment. Dark brick red going translucent. Smell of farmyard decay, smooth, medium weight in the mouth. Tobacco and leather dominate the finish. Great, if you like the taste of old Rhone. Delicate and harmonious. Lingers for a couple of minutes. Not thin or dry, just elegant. Drink up.
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Really lovely meaty, savoury nose with aromas of old leather chairs and cedar wood. Still a bit of red fruit on the palate, it’s smoky and almost fragrant and fully mature; dominated by a leathery, gamey, meaty character. There is a little touch of sourness hidden in the back of the palate which feels a little off compared to the balance through the rest of the flavours.
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This is mature but showing no sign of fading. Great leathery, gamey nose with a peppery herbal and dark berry note. All in balance and kept fresh with a gentle streak of acidity. Very true to the region. Moderate to good length and great value for money. This is one of the better 90's thalaberts and am glad that I have several left. I have kept this wine in a cool cellar since purchase which I think is reflected in its longevity.
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Deep red colour, more brick on the edge - surprisingly dark still. The nose consists of dark berries, blackberries, fresh meat and hints of oak. Some pepper and other "Christmas" spices. The nose is surprisingly complex. Lacks some fruit on the palate however OK acid still - medium finish.
I have to face that it was as expected - it peaked a few years ago. Still an OK glass of wine, but nothing more. This is the price for forgetting a bottle that once was fine. Drink up!
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Medium/deep garnet core, medium pale garnet rim. Very developed, slightly past it nose, with some attractive bloody meat, plenty of earth, soy sauce and some oxidised notes. Medium bodied and slightly attenuated on the palate, drying out a tad, with some savoury red fruit but very earthy, some bitterness, also with soy sauce and tomatoey notes, shortish/medium length finish with some firm tannins. Still drinkable just - but nowhere near as good as it was 4 or 5 years ago.
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PWS 2010-01: Rhône varietals. (@ My place): Not decanted. Just after opening there were still some fruits like strawberries, cherries and cassis. Two hours later there was oxidation in the taste. Furthermore quite acidic. Past its prime.
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Ink, a melange of red hedgerow fruit and mulberry buried in dungy straw, tobacco. Bitterness on the finish. This is at a lovely old wine decadent peak right now. Drink! (For ref. the 98 tastes much younger - in early peak to my taste, but nowhere near as tertiary).
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Second bottle. Not as tertiary as the first. But also this one is not giving much real pleasure. There is too much acidity from unripe fruits. Hard to recognize as a Rhone wine. The second day it was completely oxidised and no fun at all anymore. Drink asap.
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sfwine: Northern Rhône Syrah (San Francisco): Developing nose, with funky, cooked/baked fruit aromas, with iron and animale. Sweet baked red fruits in the mouth with blood/iron and a pleasing savory salami-like flavor. Good balancing acid. Nice concentration and length; rustic and old-fashioned, but nonetheless a successful mature Crozes.
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Decanted 1 hr. Youthful appearance, medium/deep ruby core, narrow pale ruby rim. Nose very closed at first, slowly opening to reveal blackberry and fresh red berry fruits, spice and pepper. Medium bodied on the palate, elegant with attractive blackberry and red berry fruit, good depth, with pepper and spice notes. This has lovely soft, velvety tannins, fresh acidity and a good length finish. Very good indeed and drinking really well.
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Tasted in Montreal with lamb - an excellent match. The nose was incredible - layer upon layer of berry - and opened up beautifully in the glass. Smooth, heady, delicious. We had the vieilles vignes bottling.
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Medium/deep ruby core, purple tints, narrow strawberry red rim, still looks youthful. Medium intense nose, baked red fruits, hints of leather and spice. On the palate, medium acidity and soft tannins wrap around well concentrated red and black fruit, pepper and leather. Good length, well balanced, savoury finish. Very good, approachable now will probably go on for at least another 5-7 yrs.
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3/19/2024 - rupertg Likes this wine: 88 Points
Touch of brick at the rim, clear red, 10 years outside its recommended drinking window but still enjoyable. Delicate forest notes. See how it emerges in the next two hours. Afternote. Opens out, delicate, but not drying out. Enjoyable, but lacking the normal punch.
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12/10/2017 - nphase wrote:
Challenging. On the other side of the hill.
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4/28/2017 - emzee.mc wrote: 85 Points
Definitely a challenge to accept and not for everyone. Pouring a medium ruby color with orange bricking and long legs, the wine seems innocuous enough on first inspection. On the nose, it tells a different story. Almost devoid of fruit, the bouquet consists mainly of hay, fermented prune juice, coriander, damp earth, used teabags and mulch. Only at the slightest suggestion of blackberries do I pick that nose up. On the palate, the wine is quite supple as the tannins have long been integrated. Though the body is somewhat thin, the wine's flavors are generous and yield a bit more fruit than the nose. Flavors of tobacco, hay, truffles, forest floor and sour cherries are present. The wine ends in a somewhat acidic and smoky note, with a bit of alcoholic bite even. Interesting in profile, this bottle is certainly a challenging wine to enjoy.
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7/7/2016 - townjbc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely! Subdued but pleasant nose. Heavy sediment. But what flavour! Lovely light soft fruit, with a great finish. Not going to get any better.
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7/2/2016 - townjbc wrote: flawed
Stinks. An off bottle.
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6/7/2016 - rupertg Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark red centre, orange rim, heavy sediment. Old leather on the nose, with alcohol coming through. Medium weight, drying out, but fantastic tobacco and leather finish. Lost the fruit of its youth, but still delightful. Fire in the finish, chewy and tannic. Fascinating, but best drunk younger. Agree with the recommended curve.
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8/2/2015 - rupertg Likes this wine: 89 Points
Solid sediment. Dark brick red going translucent. Smell of farmyard decay, smooth, medium weight in the mouth. Tobacco and leather dominate the finish. Great, if you like the taste of old Rhone. Delicate and harmonious. Lingers for a couple of minutes. Not thin or dry, just elegant. Drink up.
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3/24/2015 - Biggsy wrote: 87 Points
Really lovely meaty, savoury nose with aromas of old leather chairs and cedar wood. Still a bit of red fruit on the palate, it’s smoky and almost fragrant and fully mature; dominated by a leathery, gamey, meaty character. There is a little touch of sourness hidden in the back of the palate which feels a little off compared to the balance through the rest of the flavours.
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3/20/2015 - theonlylittledog wrote: 92 Points
Cracking wine. Mature, light, leathery. Just as hoped for.
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11/14/2013 - Elegance Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is mature but showing no sign of fading. Great leathery, gamey nose with a peppery herbal and dark berry note. All in balance and kept fresh with a gentle streak of acidity. Very true to the region. Moderate to good length and great value for money. This is one of the better 90's thalaberts and am glad that I have several left. I have kept this wine in a cool cellar since purchase which I think is reflected in its longevity.
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2/9/2013 - rupertg wrote: 84 Points
Dark ruby, still red at rim. Lovely taste of old tobacco leaf, but slightly burnt finish. On the way out, thinning, but still good. 10 year peak.
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12/11/2010 - rSyver wrote: 82 Points
Consistent with previous note.
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11/19/2010 - rSyver wrote: 82 Points
Deep red colour, more brick on the edge - surprisingly dark still. The nose consists of dark berries, blackberries, fresh meat and hints of oak. Some pepper and other "Christmas" spices. The nose is surprisingly complex. Lacks some fruit on the palate however OK acid still - medium finish.
I have to face that it was as expected - it peaked a few years ago. Still an OK glass of wine, but nothing more. This is the price for forgetting a bottle that once was fine. Drink up!
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5/22/2010 - Paul D wrote: 81 Points
Medium/deep garnet core, medium pale garnet rim. Very developed, slightly past it nose, with some attractive bloody meat, plenty of earth, soy sauce and some oxidised notes. Medium bodied and slightly attenuated on the palate, drying out a tad, with some savoury red fruit but very earthy, some bitterness, also with soy sauce and tomatoey notes, shortish/medium length finish with some firm tannins. Still drinkable just - but nowhere near as good as it was 4 or 5 years ago.
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4/3/2010 - Zweder wrote: 81 Points
PWS 2010-01: Rhône varietals. (@ My place): Not decanted. Just after opening there were still some fruits like strawberries, cherries and cassis. Two hours later there was oxidation in the taste. Furthermore quite acidic. Past its prime.
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2/7/2010 - GMatt wrote:
Ink, a melange of red hedgerow fruit and mulberry buried in dungy straw, tobacco. Bitterness on the finish. This is at a lovely old wine decadent peak right now. Drink! (For ref. the 98 tastes much younger - in early peak to my taste, but nowhere near as tertiary).
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1/8/2010 - Zweder wrote: 83 Points
Second bottle. Not as tertiary as the first. But also this one is not giving much real pleasure. There is too much acidity from unripe fruits. Hard to recognize as a Rhone wine. The second day it was completely oxidised and no fun at all anymore. Drink asap.
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12/29/2009 - Zweder wrote: 80 Points
Occasional tasting with PZ and JvT: Nebbiolo plus some extra's. (@ PZ): Quite tertiary. There are still some strawberries but overall the wine is well past its prime. Hope it is the bottle, because I have two more. Try the next one soon.
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1/28/2009 - 5laton wrote:
sfwine: Northern Rhône Syrah (San Francisco): Developing nose, with funky, cooked/baked fruit aromas, with iron and animale. Sweet baked red fruits in the mouth with blood/iron and a pleasing savory salami-like flavor. Good balancing acid. Nice concentration and length; rustic and old-fashioned, but nonetheless a successful mature Crozes.
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7/18/2007 - pea wrote: 88 Points
Developed Syrah nose with rubber and red fruit. Medium bodied with spicy fruit and decent finish.
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12/17/2006 - Paul D wrote: 88 Points
Decanted 1 hr. Youthful appearance, medium/deep ruby core, narrow pale ruby rim. Nose very closed at first, slowly opening to reveal blackberry and fresh red berry fruits, spice and pepper. Medium bodied on the palate, elegant with attractive blackberry and red berry fruit, good depth, with pepper and spice notes. This has lovely soft, velvety tannins, fresh acidity and a good length finish. Very good indeed and drinking really well.
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12/10/2006 - LotionInTheBasket wrote: 90 Points
Stinky on the nose. Thick, Dark berry fruits, tar, slight menthol, leather on the mid-palette. Velvety tannis on a solid finish.
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7/22/2004 - DianeR wrote: 91 Points
Tasted in Montreal with lamb - an excellent match. The nose was incredible - layer upon layer of berry - and opened up beautifully in the glass. Smooth, heady, delicious. We had the vieilles vignes bottling.
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4/25/2004 - Paul D wrote: 87 Points
Medium/deep ruby core, purple tints, narrow strawberry red rim, still looks youthful. Medium intense nose, baked red fruits, hints of leather and spice. On the palate, medium acidity and soft tannins wrap around well concentrated red and black fruit, pepper and leather. Good length, well balanced, savoury finish. Very good, approachable now will probably go on for at least another 5-7 yrs.
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