Cork was so dry it broke which made me panic (it was well stored laying down in a cellar, not sure how that happened) yet despite that the wine was actually still tannic and closed! Could have easily spent another couple of years in the cellar if not more. After more than 1 hour it really started opening up and showing its colours, probably the best of the chateau neuf du pape out of the 30 or more I bought in 2009! Lots of personality and the high alcohol gives it some bite. Beautiful aromatic nose, well balanced, fruity but not jammy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 2-3 hours. It had plenty of plum and currant at the front of the wine with still good tannins in the finish. It also had a smokiness and a bit of black pencil. It was drinking very well, but could likely still be cellared for a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light red. Strong cherry and raspberry aromas. Medium weight. Nice Chateauneuf mix of flowers, red fruit, lavender, and tobacco. Just about completely mature, low tannins. Very good and I didn't sense the heat and overripeness I'd noted several years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby. Darker aromatics than Les Cailloux. Medium weight, figgy fruit with a touch of herbs. Wood apparent and tannic finish. Modern style and somewhat earthy. This could still use a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark, nicely spicy, but in the end, too alcoholic and pruny. Hard to believe this degree of surmaturite came from the 2004 vintage which is not generally made in this overripe style. They had to try hard to make a wine like this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet. Boysenberry, spice, pepper and garrigue nose. Nice dry dark fruit flavours and a longtannic finish. Probably just starting to go secondary. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
-- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over 2 days -- -- TN is from Day 2 --
NOSE: extremely closed nose shows hints of dark fruits, but not much of anything else.
BODY: medium-full bodied; rustic mahogany color medium-deep depth.
TASTE: leather; smoky plum; a bit alcoholic tasting and a bit hot; for how closed the nose is it's somewhat surprising how open and flashy this is on the palate: tastes similar to an Aussie shiraz with moderate age on it; a bit loose knit. I get the sense this is in a closed phase and needs more time. Hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red, some hint of brownish hue(?); nose is somewhat sharp and spiced; slightly tannic, lacking some body, spiced, some licorice in the aftertaste; nice everyday wine but certainly not a blockbuster
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice medium-to- light-bodied CdP. Floral notes, red fruits, and rhubarb on nose and early palate, with tar and herbs/garrigue on the late palate and finish. Had a vaguely medicinal nose and finish that reminded me of some Burgundy/pinot. This was probably a bit lighter and more pinot-like than I prefer, but still a very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. A no nonsense, workman like CdP, that relied on old fashioned common sense vs. that of modern concessions to achieve its place next to my NY strip and couscous. Spice laden and very snappy red fruits lead the charge, as do a fair amount of fresh herbs, very firm in structure, sound acidity, and very little oak detected, make that no oak. Shades of leather were felt around the edges, in fact I might have guess an old school Rioja had this been served blind. Drink now and over the next 5 years. I believe this was the debut vintage for this producer, and certainly an impressive one at that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright red with purple edges. Too young to drink would be my first impression. Tight but what's there is very good. Red fruit, pepper and a tiny bit of earth. The entry is a bit sweet and there is some tannin but it's pretty soft. I think RMP is pretty close with his score for this. I have one more but will let it languish in the Vintagekeeper for another 5 or so years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped into decanter 30 minutes before dinner. Initially quite tight and unyielding which tended to make alcohol more visible. This softened with time and the cherry grenache came forward and I liked the wine quite a bit more. I did not find it overly modern. More time in the decanter would be a positive. I thought this was quite pure, not a a ton of garrigue if you like that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
unfortunately due to screaming kids and labor day activities did not get a chance to focus on this wine...was surprised how open it was and new world style...not excessive alcohol like one note below. I thought wine was good nothing wrong just nothing overly compelling either. Will be interested to try other bottle and 05 to get perspective on Barroche as this was my first wine from the domaine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bon CNP fougueux, aux arômes de réglisse, de cerise et de poivre. Assez puissant mais possédant tout de même une bonne fraicheur. Seul hic, il y a trop d'alcool, ce qui nuit à l'harmonie de l'ensemble à ce stade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic CDP, cherry + powder sugar on the nose with a smooth elegant style mouth-feel. The alcohol however really lowers the score for this wine, bitter vodka like finish that keeps me from loving this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear medium ruby. Forward, led off with red fruits, but as it opened, complex herbs and violets took charge. Palate is also medium weight with a beautiful core of dark fruit and acidity, some transient sappiness, and natural but restrained sweetness. Very elegant, multifaceted wine which I much preferred to the '04 Pure that I tried recently. As with the Pure, this bottle showed notable florality, but here this was much less dominant and integrated well with the garrigue notes, excellent fruit, and overall greater complexity. For the short to intermediate term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened (but not decanted) for 6 hours. A beam of fresh raspberry on the nose, supported by scents of lavender and a touch of wood. The black cherry fruit had a nice vibrant feel and texture, lots of energy and structure. With time in the glass and aggressive swirling, Provencal herbs and asphalt would make periodic appearances. This reminded me of a Vieux Donjon bottling, though without that domain’s superb minerality and depth. The wine actually seemed to shut down over the course of an hour or so, leading me to believe that this will need a few years to come around.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/22/2016 - Kusanagi Likes this wine: 91 Points
Cork was so dry it broke which made me panic (it was well stored laying down in a cellar, not sure how that happened) yet despite that the wine was actually still tannic and closed! Could have easily spent another couple of years in the cellar if not more. After more than 1 hour it really started opening up and showing its colours, probably the best of the chateau neuf du pape out of the 30 or more I bought in 2009! Lots of personality and the high alcohol gives it some bite. Beautiful aromatic nose, well balanced, fruity but not jammy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2016 - Ntaft Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted 2-3 hours. It had plenty of plum and currant at the front of the wine with still good tannins in the finish. It also had a smokiness and a bit of black pencil. It was drinking very well, but could likely still be cellared for a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
Light red. Strong cherry and raspberry aromas. Medium weight. Nice Chateauneuf mix of flowers, red fruit, lavender, and tobacco. Just about completely mature, low tannins. Very good and I didn't sense the heat and overripeness I'd noted several years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2013 - KAP wrote: 88 Points
Fruity fruity
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2013 - drwine2001 wrote:
Ruby. Darker aromatics than Les Cailloux. Medium weight, figgy fruit with a touch of herbs. Wood apparent and tannic finish. Modern style and somewhat earthy. This could still use a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2012 - drwine2001 wrote:
Dark, nicely spicy, but in the end, too alcoholic and pruny. Hard to believe this degree of surmaturite came from the 2004 vintage which is not generally made in this overripe style. They had to try hard to make a wine like this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2011 - David J Cooper wrote:
Dark garnet. Boysenberry, spice, pepper and garrigue nose. Nice dry dark fruit flavours and a longtannic finish. Probably just starting to go secondary. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2011 - whinenut wrote: 89 Points
Good easy drinking wine. Best part is the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2010 - Mr T wrote:
never really got going....not much sweetness or garrigue
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2010 - pme wrote:
Drinking well right now. Not too much varietal character but a lot of fun to drink. Goes down easy and is good with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2010 - grafstrb wrote:
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over 2 days --
-- TN is from Day 2 --
NOSE: extremely closed nose shows hints of dark fruits, but not much of anything else.
BODY: medium-full bodied; rustic mahogany color medium-deep depth.
TASTE: leather; smoky plum; a bit alcoholic tasting and a bit hot; for how closed the nose is it's somewhat surprising how open and flashy this is on the palate: tastes similar to an Aussie shiraz with moderate age on it; a bit loose knit. I get the sense this is in a closed phase and needs more time. Hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2010 - astrauss wrote: 75 Points
closed nose...tannic and harsh on the palate....not corked but not enjoyable at all....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2010 - Miceri wrote: 86 Points
Dark red, some hint of brownish hue(?); nose is somewhat sharp and spiced; slightly tannic, lacking some body, spiced, some licorice in the aftertaste; nice everyday wine but certainly not a blockbuster
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2009 - kingb22 wrote: 90 Points
Good wine. Rich fruit, some tar and smoke. Probably won't last forever, but really good right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2009 - Sijan wrote: 91 Points
Very nice medium-to- light-bodied CdP. Floral notes, red fruits, and rhubarb on nose and early palate, with tar and herbs/garrigue on the late palate and finish. Had a vaguely medicinal nose and finish that reminded me of some Burgundy/pinot. This was probably a bit lighter and more pinot-like than I prefer, but still a very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2009 - Dale M wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. A no nonsense, workman like CdP, that relied on old fashioned common sense vs. that of modern concessions to achieve its place next to my NY strip and couscous. Spice laden and very snappy red fruits lead the charge, as do a fair amount of fresh herbs, very firm in structure, sound acidity, and very little oak detected, make that no oak. Shades of leather were felt around the edges, in fact I might have guess an old school Rioja had this been served blind. Drink now and over the next 5 years. I believe this was the debut vintage for this producer, and certainly an impressive one at that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2009 - David J Cooper wrote:
Bright red with purple edges. Too young to drink would be my first impression. Tight but what's there is very good. Red fruit, pepper and a tiny bit of earth. The entry is a bit sweet and there is some tannin but it's pretty soft. I think RMP is pretty close with his score for this. I have one more but will let it languish in the Vintagekeeper for another 5 or so years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2009 - LeechDogg wrote:
Spicy
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2009 - Miceri wrote: 86 Points
Nice fruity smell and taste, however, lacks zest / structure. A nice glass for an everyday dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2008 - Mr T wrote:
Popped into decanter 30 minutes before dinner. Initially quite tight and unyielding which tended to make alcohol more visible. This softened with time and the cherry grenache came forward and I liked the wine quite a bit more. I did not find it overly modern. More time in the decanter would be a positive. I thought this was quite pure, not a a ton of garrigue if you like that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2008 - JBVino wrote:
unfortunately due to screaming kids and labor day activities did not get a chance to focus on this wine...was surprised how open it was and new world style...not excessive alcohol like one note below. I thought wine was good nothing wrong just nothing overly compelling either. Will be interested to try other bottle and 05 to get perspective on Barroche as this was my first wine from the domaine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2008 - d'Artagnan wrote: 87 Points
Bon CNP fougueux, aux arômes de réglisse, de cerise et de poivre. Assez puissant mais possédant tout de même une bonne fraicheur. Seul hic, il y a trop d'alcool, ce qui nuit à l'harmonie de l'ensemble à ce stade.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2008 - pakabear wrote: 90 Points
Classic CDP, cherry + powder sugar on the nose with a smooth elegant style mouth-feel. The alcohol however really lowers the score for this wine, bitter vodka like finish that keeps me from loving this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2007 - LeechDogg wrote:
Really surprising. Clean, smooth and slightly more fruity than your average Rhone. Drinking well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2007 - PathDoc wrote:
christmas eve.... good but nothing overwhelming
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2007 - drwine2001 wrote:
Clear medium ruby. Forward, led off with red fruits, but as it opened, complex herbs and violets took charge. Palate is also medium weight with a beautiful core of dark fruit and acidity, some transient sappiness, and natural but restrained sweetness. Very elegant, multifaceted wine which I much preferred to the '04 Pure that I tried recently. As with the Pure, this bottle showed notable florality, but here this was much less dominant and integrated well with the garrigue notes, excellent fruit, and overall greater complexity. For the short to intermediate term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2007 - Dale M wrote: 89 Points
Opened (but not decanted) for 6 hours. A beam of fresh raspberry on the nose, supported by scents of lavender and a touch of wood. The black cherry fruit had a nice vibrant feel and texture, lots of energy and structure. With time in the glass and aggressive swirling, Provencal herbs and asphalt would make periodic appearances. This reminded me of a Vieux Donjon bottling, though without that domain’s superb minerality and depth. The wine actually seemed to shut down over the course of an hour or so, leading me to believe that this will need a few years to come around.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2007 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
32 Chateauneuf du Papes tasted, mainly '05 - inc'g Janasse, Mordoree, Usseglio (Beltramo's in Menlo Park, California): Nice dried cherry and incense nose; tasty, medium bodied, balanced brambly red fruit and sage with depth, integrated oak; medium finish 92+ pts. (66% Grenache, 23% Mourvedre, 9% Cinsault, 8% Syrah)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment