Four years ago, we opened the first of two bottles of this vintage, and we were sad to be so unimpressed by it. This time, we were thrilled to find that the wine came alive. Smooth in the mouth with extremely mild tannins, this wine exhibited a complex structure with medium fruit and lingered pleasantly on the palate. For us, this is a very expensive wine, and we are glad we saved it for a special anniversary.
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From a magnum. One-hour decant through screened and aerating funnel. Black fruit and black licorice sprang forth following decant. After resting, wine was clear; still dark in the bowl and no lightening towards the rim. Nose continued strong: blackberry, black cherries, black licorice, some smoked meat and garrigue – very lively, very fresh. Nice long finish with a floral ending. I did not feel the wine was anywhere near decline.
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Beautifully well crafted and balanced. Still showing big fruit - black fruit, currant, dark cherry & raspberry and strong black licorice - smoked meats and herbs. Drinking very well. Probably could use a longer dent than just 30 - 45 mins.
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Big and opulent with dark fruit basket - black fruit - raspberry, currant and licorice. Sweet fruit and smokiness on the finish. In need of a serious decant and possibly another year or two (or more) in the bottle. Well made but not my favorite from this producer.
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Early tasting note after the first sip. Simply superb. My wife’s utterance of “oh my, this is fantastic right out of the bottle without a single swirl!” says it all! Big and juicy with dark fruits that belie the CDP profile. Great mouthfeel and long finish. Sadly our last bottle! We drank ours based on a few recent notes that expressed concern over longevity. I think this will age for a few more years but it’s exceptional now.
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a bit strange...opens quickly and is everything great about CdP. Floral and muscular fruit with complex spice edges...strange part was the last 1/5 of the bottle was exposed to air for 90 mins or so and started to quickly oxidize...I may drink these sooner rather than later.
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Blind Châteauneuf-du-Pape tasting, were we had 4 CdPs, all opened, bagged (not decanted) for an hour before we poured. We tasted them with dinner over a two hour period. The 4 were: 2001 Clos des Papes, 2006 Château de Beaucastel, 2010 Domaine Grand Veneur, Les Origines, and the 2012 Roger Sabon Cuvée Prestige.
Different than the Beaucastle, it seemed lighter on the palate, but I'll give it the same numerical score, as I liked them both equally. Notes of raspberry and, licorice. For the price I paid, I was very happy with it.
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I was holding this wine for our next big anniversary, but my partner picked it out without checking Cellartracker, so we drank it without either of us realizing which wine it was. That said, this wine did not stand out dramatically from the much less expensive wines we drink regularly.
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This Grenache-based Châteauneuf is accented with 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and dollops of other permitted varietals. Deep ruby in color, it is packed with dark bramble fruits, fennel, dried herbs and earthy black cherries. Full-bodied, fresh and with medium sweet tannins, it stays solid in the middle and shows no heat from its lofty 15% alcohol. The finish is medium-to-long and quite vibrant. This wine will evolve over the next 7-8 years, during which time it will remain extremely enjoyable. The most fun will be had by those who hold several bottles and can enjoy them over their lifetime. Unfortunately this was my only bottle. Drink now-2025.
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Lots of earthy tones with a nice balance of fruit flavors. Hints of cherry and strawberry with enough Tobacco and dust to keep the fruit from taking over during the finish. Opened one hour before drinking which I highly recommend.
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This wine requires a few hours of air. Nose is wet fur but that recedes a bit with time. Once it's had a chance to breathe it displays a medium light body, nice concentration. Smooth. Tastes like dark fruit dusted with coca powder. Medium acidity. Enjoyable. I recall the precious vintage being even better.
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I have to give myself some kudos for staying open-minded. At the time of this review I'm relatively uneducated on French wines but keep wanting to expand past Napa Cabs. My friend told me several times that I would not like Chateauneuf Du Pape but I saw this wine on WTSO and after reading a bit took the plunge on two bottles (about $40 each).
Further deserving of kudos, my first smell of the wine in a glass all I could think of was it smelled like urine...like majorly. It was the most prominent smell. I was considering dumping it down the sink. So I mean come on...I took a drink of what initially smelled like urine! That's open-minded! I still tried and found that smell is not always indicative of taste and the taste was actually kinda good, and that was cool (straight out of my wine fridge). As the wine began to open and warm it got even better, dare I say delicious. I can't compare it to other wines of the same varietal but will say I'm open to trying more Chateauneuf du Pape. Also, this particular bottle needed time to breathe and not be served cool to best enjoy, but it is a very nice wine. I didn't have with food so can't comment on how it pairs. Would love others to try and comment (do you smell urine? LOL)
2012 Chateauneuf du Pape (Trent's): Purple/ruby in color. Tight nose. Spice, cedar. With air, some raspberries and a bit of beef jerky. Medium bodied. Nice black cherry fruit. Heat on the finish. Got 1 first and 2 seconds.
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9/18/2023 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a magnum. Similar service and profile in my note of 11-10-2022. Wine is still going strong and has at least another 5 years in the magnum format.
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9/4/2023 - gkarlsson Likes this wine: 89 Points
Four years ago, we opened the first of two bottles of this vintage, and we were sad to be so unimpressed by it. This time, we were thrilled to find that the wine came alive. Smooth in the mouth with extremely mild tannins, this wine exhibited a complex structure with medium fruit and lingered pleasantly on the palate. For us, this is a very expensive wine, and we are glad we saved it for a special anniversary.
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7/24/2023 - Robwild wrote: 93 Points
Full bodied. Leather, anise, licorice, plum and oak. Gripy tannin. Well balanced.
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3/25/2023 - andydevillers wrote:
Chocolate andLicorice faded at the end
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11/10/2022 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 91 Points
From a magnum. One-hour decant through screened and aerating funnel. Black fruit and black licorice sprang forth following decant. After resting, wine was clear; still dark in the bowl and no lightening towards the rim. Nose continued strong: blackberry, black cherries, black licorice, some smoked meat and garrigue – very lively, very fresh. Nice long finish with a floral ending. I did not feel the wine was anywhere near decline.
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11/9/2022 - eags25fla wrote: 92 Points
Beautifully well crafted and balanced. Still showing big fruit - black fruit, currant, dark cherry & raspberry and strong black licorice - smoked meats and herbs. Drinking very well. Probably could use a longer dent than just 30 - 45 mins.
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7/15/2021 - eags25fla wrote: 90 Points
Big and opulent with dark fruit basket - black fruit - raspberry, currant and licorice. Sweet fruit and smokiness on the finish. In need of a serious decant and possibly another year or two (or more) in the bottle. Well made but not my favorite from this producer.
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4/30/2021 - Hover low 64 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Early tasting note after the first sip. Simply superb. My wife’s utterance of “oh my, this is fantastic right out of the bottle without a single swirl!” says it all! Big and juicy with dark fruits that belie the CDP profile. Great mouthfeel and long finish. Sadly our last bottle! We drank ours based on a few recent notes that expressed concern over longevity. I think this will age for a few more years but it’s exceptional now.
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1/17/2021 - wardamnwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid but drink up, this one will fade soon.
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6/15/2020 - DesMarteau Likes this wine: 94 Points
a bit strange...opens quickly and is everything great about CdP. Floral and muscular fruit with complex spice edges...strange part was the last 1/5 of the bottle was exposed to air for 90 mins or so and started to quickly oxidize...I may drink these sooner rather than later.
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2/19/2020 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 92 Points
Part of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Pinot Noir night with my wine group. This was the favorite CdP of the night. Great nose, long finish, full bodied.
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3/17/2019 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 91 Points
Blind Châteauneuf-du-Pape tasting, were we had 4 CdPs, all opened, bagged (not decanted) for an hour before we poured. We tasted them with dinner over a two hour period. The 4 were: 2001 Clos des Papes, 2006 Château de Beaucastel, 2010 Domaine Grand Veneur, Les Origines, and the 2012 Roger Sabon Cuvée Prestige.
Different than the Beaucastle, it seemed lighter on the palate, but I'll give it the same numerical score, as I liked them both equally. Notes of raspberry and, licorice. For the price I paid, I was very happy with it.
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2/15/2019 - gkarlsson Likes this wine: 85 Points
I was holding this wine for our next big anniversary, but my partner picked it out without checking Cellartracker, so we drank it without either of us realizing which wine it was. That said, this wine did not stand out dramatically from the much less expensive wines we drink regularly.
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4/20/2018 - WineBri Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pop n pour. Strong pretense of thyme with black fruit and a bit of leather. Better on day 2 - thyme much more evident on the palate on day 2.
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8/22/2017 - rickwunderwood@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Really nice nose - just the slightest intriguing CdP funk. Smooth and mellow.
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5/5/2017 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 91 Points
This Grenache-based Châteauneuf is accented with 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and dollops of other permitted varietals. Deep ruby in color, it is packed with dark bramble fruits, fennel, dried herbs and earthy black cherries. Full-bodied, fresh and with medium sweet tannins, it stays solid in the middle and shows no heat from its lofty 15% alcohol. The finish is medium-to-long and quite vibrant. This wine will evolve over the next 7-8 years, during which time it will remain extremely enjoyable. The most fun will be had by those who hold several bottles and can enjoy them over their lifetime. Unfortunately this was my only bottle. Drink now-2025.
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3/4/2017 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 88 Points
ST Wine Fair (St Regis Singapore): rich dark fruits on nose, savoury and structured
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11/12/2016 - Gandrews wrote: 90 Points
Lots of earthy tones with a nice balance of fruit flavors. Hints of cherry and strawberry with enough Tobacco and dust to keep the fruit from taking over during the finish. Opened one hour before drinking which I highly recommend.
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8/23/2016 - Iceman611 wrote: 92 Points
This wine requires a few hours of air. Nose is wet fur but that recedes a bit with time. Once it's had a chance to breathe it displays a medium light body, nice concentration. Smooth. Tastes like dark fruit dusted with coca powder. Medium acidity. Enjoyable. I recall the precious vintage being even better.
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5/28/2016 - trevor.gillespie wrote:
I have to give myself some kudos for staying open-minded. At the time of this review I'm relatively uneducated on French wines but keep wanting to expand past Napa Cabs. My friend told me several times that I would not like Chateauneuf Du Pape but I saw this wine on WTSO and after reading a bit took the plunge on two bottles (about $40 each).
Further deserving of kudos, my first smell of the wine in a glass all I could think of was it smelled like urine...like majorly. It was the most prominent smell. I was considering dumping it down the sink. So I mean come on...I took a drink of what initially smelled like urine! That's open-minded! I still tried and found that smell is not always indicative of taste and the taste was actually kinda good, and that was cool (straight out of my wine fridge). As the wine began to open and warm it got even better, dare I say delicious. I can't compare it to other wines of the same varietal but will say I'm open to trying more Chateauneuf du Pape. Also, this particular bottle needed time to breathe and not be served cool to best enjoy, but it is a very nice wine. I didn't have with food so can't comment on how it pairs. Would love others to try and comment (do you smell urine? LOL)
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5/23/2016 - clubs Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good nose
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11/18/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 88 Points
2012 Chateauneuf du Pape (Trent's): Purple/ruby in color. Tight nose. Spice, cedar. With air, some raspberries and a bit of beef jerky. Medium bodied. Nice black cherry fruit. Heat on the finish. Got 1 first and 2 seconds.
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3/3/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 91 Points
En primeur tasting. Finer nose, spicy, rich cherry fruit, good length. 90-92
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