Much more mature than the last bottle we had 15 months ago. Browning on the edges, a bit cloudy, a very distinctive old world nose of barnyard, mushroom, leather. Heavy body, still some tannins, very concentrated - dark fruits, some mineral. Slightly out of balance as the alcohol is still noticeable (15%). Drink now or continue to hold short term, I doubt this will improve but it will keep evolving toward a more rustic profile.
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My last bottle. Of the last 4 bottles, 2 have shown some signs of tiring, including this one. I mentioned a while back that I was moving the back end year of the drink window forward for this wine. Also, as I have previous said, I have had a couple of experiences where Chateauneuf-du-Papes rolled over very quickly at the end...….much more quickly than, say, Cabernet Sauvignon based wines. I hope I am proved wrong, but would encourage others that still have bottles of this one to drink up. I have never found this wine to be quite up to the WA rating, but well good enough to be glad I purchased some.
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This wine is still in a great drink window. I had a bottle that showed some signs of tiring a while back, but this bottle, as well as one I drank in between, have not shown that characteristic. I opened it for one hour with no decant. I am going to move the last year of my personal drink window for my last bottle to 2020. I have had one or two other Chateauneuf-du-Papes that have fallen off of a cliff at the end......unlike Cabernets, for example, which tend to have a tailing off period after a drinking peak.
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Delicious. Wine is still solidly in it's prime drinking window. A touch of bricking around the rim, a hint of leather on the nose. Full bodied, yet elegant. Nicely layered with dark berries, tapenade, and licorice flavors. Finish is a wee bit short, but all around a lovely drink. If well cellared, it should hold a good 4-5 more years.
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The last bottle of this one showed signs of tailing off, but not this one. It is mature and should be drunk.....was open for an hour plus with no decant.......but has evolved for the better. This was the best bottle of the 10 I originally had. Some of the changes in where a wine is in terms of the drink experience are real mysteries.
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I recognize that this is approaching the end of its prime, but it delivers beautifully. Opened for 3 hours before trying. Clear fruit, but the pleasure is in the structure and nuance. There is earth, mushroom, leather, a bit of bacon and a touch of mineral notes.
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This wine is definitely tailing off. I have 2 or 3 bottles left and will drink them over the next year. This view is based on tasting more than one bottle. Hence, I would advise the same for those out there that still have some.
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Nice earthy notes. Fruit is a little thin and tired, surprising for an 03. Nice acidic profile went well with food. Pleasant and easy to drink, but lacking in complexity.
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Classic Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Did not need decanting and did not improve after the bottle was open for a while. Went well with a meal that had a lot of complex ingredients.
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Weekly tasting group #053; 4 x 3 red 2003 (@ VD): Dark blood red. In the bouquet some vegetal impressions, bell pepper, some barnyard, smoke and a touch of sweetness. On the palate juicy dark berry fruits, chocolate, licorice, good acidity and quite much bitterness. Overall a very good wine with still some future in it.
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Deep purple color. Wet earth, prune and faint black cherry nose. A bit thin on the palate. Some tart dark fruit, but not much. soft tannin with a hint of graphite grit. Decent length. OK, but over priced.
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Very tasty wine. Improved with about 30 minutes of decanting -- had it open longer than that, but didn't find that additional time had much effect (neither positive nor negative). Drinking nicely now.
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Beautiful darkk fruit, plum, scents of the stuff you seal your driveway with. On the palate upfront fruit, very forward, with a hint of tar (or whatever it is). Delicious stuff.
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Smoky and characteristic CDP, nose of tobacco leaf and red berry, mouthfeel was light to medium bodied, with earthy and berry forest fruit and a medium finish. It was nice.
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This is drinking very well right now with tannins nicely integrated. Not much of a nose, but lovely notes of dark fruit on the palate and a smooth finish. Paired perfectly with standing rib roast.
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Decanted 2hrs. With rare Rib of Beef & Yorkshire pudding.. No significant change between opening & after the 2hr decant. Restrained nose, then very lovely smooth entry with nice round mouthfeel. Velvet. Only medium weight but none the worse for that. Cherries, rasperries & spice box. Oak fully integrated in this bottle. Med, refined finish. Very nice but plenty more to come.
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11/23/2018 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much more mature than the last bottle we had 15 months ago. Browning on the edges, a bit cloudy, a very distinctive old world nose of barnyard, mushroom, leather. Heavy body, still some tannins, very concentrated - dark fruits, some mineral. Slightly out of balance as the alcohol is still noticeable (15%). Drink now or continue to hold short term, I doubt this will improve but it will keep evolving toward a more rustic profile.
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7/10/2018 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
My last bottle. Of the last 4 bottles, 2 have shown some signs of tiring, including this one. I mentioned a while back that I was moving the back end year of the drink window forward for this wine. Also, as I have previous said, I have had a couple of experiences where Chateauneuf-du-Papes rolled over very quickly at the end...….much more quickly than, say, Cabernet Sauvignon based wines. I hope I am proved wrong, but would encourage others that still have bottles of this one to drink up. I have never found this wine to be quite up to the WA rating, but well good enough to be glad I purchased some.
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1/8/2018 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is still in a great drink window. I had a bottle that showed some signs of tiring a while back, but this bottle, as well as one I drank in between, have not shown that characteristic. I opened it for one hour with no decant. I am going to move the last year of my personal drink window for my last bottle to 2020. I have had one or two other Chateauneuf-du-Papes that have fallen off of a cliff at the end......unlike Cabernets, for example, which tend to have a tailing off period after a drinking peak.
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8/28/2017 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Wine is still solidly in it's prime drinking window. A touch of bricking around the rim, a hint of leather on the nose. Full bodied, yet elegant. Nicely layered with dark berries, tapenade, and licorice flavors. Finish is a wee bit short, but all around a lovely drink. If well cellared, it should hold a good 4-5 more years.
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6/10/2017 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 93 Points
The last bottle of this one showed signs of tailing off, but not this one. It is mature and should be drunk.....was open for an hour plus with no decant.......but has evolved for the better. This was the best bottle of the 10 I originally had. Some of the changes in where a wine is in terms of the drink experience are real mysteries.
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10/30/2016 - whudock Likes this wine: 92 Points
drinking very well. complex, still good fruit, but more structure driven.
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7/30/2016 - whudock Likes this wine: 93 Points
I recognize that this is approaching the end of its prime, but it delivers beautifully. Opened for 3 hours before trying. Clear fruit, but the pleasure is in the structure and nuance. There is earth, mushroom, leather, a bit of bacon and a touch of mineral notes.
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3/6/2016 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine is definitely tailing off. I have 2 or 3 bottles left and will drink them over the next year. This view is based on tasting more than one bottle. Hence, I would advise the same for those out there that still have some.
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3/16/2014 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well. Opened for a while with no decant.....and, was fine. 8th bottle.....have enjoyed every one of them.
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12/16/2013 - ews3 wrote: 88 Points
Nice earthy notes. Fruit is a little thin and tired, surprising for an 03. Nice acidic profile went well with food. Pleasant and easy to drink, but lacking in complexity.
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9/5/2013 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Did not need decanting and did not improve after the bottle was open for a while. Went well with a meal that had a lot of complex ingredients.
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11/26/2012 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Weekly tasting group #053; 4 x 3 red 2003 (@ VD): Dark blood red. In the bouquet some vegetal impressions, bell pepper, some barnyard, smoke and a touch of sweetness. On the palate juicy dark berry fruits, chocolate, licorice, good acidity and quite much bitterness. Overall a very good wine with still some future in it.
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5/27/2010 - ChasDSM wrote: 87 Points
Deep purple color. Wet earth, prune and faint black cherry nose. A bit thin on the palate. Some tart dark fruit, but not much. soft tannin with a hint of graphite grit. Decent length. OK, but over priced.
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12/30/2009 - SeaBud wrote: 87 Points
Barnyard on the nose. Not much fruit on the nose or mouth. Dark tarry wine. Very old world CDP so points for that, but better QPRs can be found.
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12/24/2009 - dannykoz wrote: 90 Points
Barnyard and faint dirty socks, but with decent fruit and even a touch of graphite. Soft and pleasant.
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12/6/2009 - blueiguana wrote: 92 Points
Very tasty wine. Improved with about 30 minutes of decanting -- had it open longer than that, but didn't find that additional time had much effect (neither positive nor negative). Drinking nicely now.
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10/14/2009 - caboychuck wrote:
Beautiful darkk fruit, plum, scents of the stuff you seal your driveway with. On the palate upfront fruit, very forward, with a hint of tar (or whatever it is). Delicious stuff.
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7/7/2009 - mmyette wrote: 89 Points
Smoky and characteristic CDP, nose of tobacco leaf and red berry, mouthfeel was light to medium bodied, with earthy and berry forest fruit and a medium finish. It was nice.
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3/6/2009 - wdb001 wrote: 92 Points
This is drinking very well right now with tannins nicely integrated. Not much of a nose, but lovely notes of dark fruit on the palate and a smooth finish. Paired perfectly with standing rib roast.
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2/8/2009 - dave747400 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2hrs. With rare Rib of Beef & Yorkshire pudding..
No significant change between opening & after the 2hr decant.
Restrained nose, then very lovely smooth entry with nice round mouthfeel. Velvet. Only medium weight but none the worse for that. Cherries, rasperries & spice box. Oak fully integrated in this bottle. Med, refined finish.
Very nice but plenty more to come.
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12/6/2007 - NPBWineGuy wrote: 86 Points
I found the wood flavors to be overpowering. I will not buy again.
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2/19/2007 - french16 wrote: 90 Points
Very good although a little bit young.
Nose and mouth of typical grenache. Good acidity with lots of cherry, kirsh. Ripe.
Good length.
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