There is aged Roussanne and then there is just 16 years old, unfortunately this is old and over the hill. Cork was dry, but was easily removed with the Durant. Consumed over three days, vac u vin and refrigerated. Very dark honey color, good clarity with evidence of oxidation. Perfumed floral aromas of honeysuckle, peach, and pear; soft flavors of apricot, pear, and lichee nut with a long flavorful mineral rich finish. Normally Roussanne will age gracefully, this one probably peaked years ago. Good estate fruit and winemaking. I still have one bottle of this vintage remaining that I am saving for a 2001-2006 Tablas Creek Roussanne vertical tasting.
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Fabulous aged Cali-Roussanne. Gold color, viscose in the glass; upon opening the nutty, almond flavors predominated with perfect acidity that kept if fresh and lively. 2 hours later, the nose is minerals, baked nuts and a honey-spice fragrance. Very well balanced, creamy yet lively acid. No alcohol to throw off the balance, the flavors are almonds, walnut, mineral, light-spicey pears. Some marshmallow and lively sharp nutmeg maybe some marshmallow or heliotrope too. 1 minute finish that's long, but not totally seamless. Drinks great, possibly another year or 2 of interest before any 'aged' or old flavors pop up. But it's new territory for Rousanne from Paso that's this old and it's doing fine.
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Wow, wine is at a great place: big nose, very fragrant and complex. Has become deep gold and viscous with age. Flavors are lively and incredibly rich and oily. Stone fruits and honey with a creamy yet structured mouthfeel. Really stunning wine. Maybe 1 more year to peak. Rousanne is great ager for white wine and the winery did a great job this.
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Popped and poured. Paired with steamed artichokes served with citron buerre blanc sauce. No notes taken, but this proved to be an inspired pairing as the oiliness of the wine paired well with the texture and weight of the food. Tasted fresh and vibrant with good fruit, mineral and toasted nut notes. Did I mention how well it paired with the artichokes?
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I gotta go for it again. I think it is just in the right place, right now. Although this bottle is definately more sherried than the last. Definately harder to take. But I am man enough.
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Pear but more an expression of texture, or maybe tertiary aromas at this point. Certainly still lively acidity in the body. Creamy smooth. Racy finish for such an unctious wine. Lengthy, weighty finish. Open about 30 minutes: strong minerality and marzipan. By no means fading, just entering a different stage of its life. Very interesting.
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I really enjoyed this--even more so then last year. True gold in color. Reticent aromas of mineral. As the wine warmed and opened, flavors of pear, melon, and mineral with a touch of beeswax in the finish. Soft and round. No alcoholic aromas or sense of heat. Just terrific. Had with sea scallops with tomato-ginger-lemongrass orzo.
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Light gold color, a little stone fruit and floral nuances on the nose. Simple entry and a medium grip of sweet fruit framed and balanced, but with a short finish. The fruit grip also fell off over time leaving a pronounced tartness with a slight edge on the end.
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Crushed minerals the nose followed by honeyed fig, sea salt, lanolin texture and a slightly bitter finish. There was a hint of mustiness which I felt was fading fruit more than cork taint. This was a very complex wine, intellectually satisfying if not completely pleasurable.
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A bit more integrated than last tasting, but lacks depth / complexity. A perfectly servicable wine for the upcoming summer season. Agree with another taster re: a bit too heavy on the alcohol.
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14.3% All the roussanne wines (including the Esprit blanc) are held for six months more ageing. This is partly barrel fermented and part in stainless steel. This has a minerally, nutty nose with quite moderated roussanne characteristics. The minerally notes recur on the palate too. This is a very interesting wine with lots of quite character. It actually seems quite French.
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Golden, shiny yellow in color. The nose shows pear, wax, and floral (honeysuckle?) influences. The classy, flowery palate has a delicate flavor, rich mouthfeel, and crisp acid. However, even when served cool, the finish tastes of alcohol and is too hot; more so than the '03 despite the same content (14.3%). If not for the excess of alcohol, this wine would score in the 90's.
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This one has not come together yet. Seems out of sorts. Good wine for the ABC crowd, but hopefully it will get better with a little time in the bottle. The 2003 Esprit de Beaucastel (91) blew this one away tonight in a side-by-side.
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7/24/2021 - bdhanna Likes this wine: 89 Points
There is aged Roussanne and then there is just 16 years old, unfortunately this is old and over the hill.
Cork was dry, but was easily removed with the Durant. Consumed over three days, vac u vin and refrigerated. Very dark honey color, good clarity with evidence of oxidation. Perfumed floral aromas of honeysuckle, peach, and pear; soft flavors of apricot, pear, and lichee nut with a long flavorful mineral rich finish. Normally Roussanne will age gracefully, this one probably peaked years ago. Good estate fruit and winemaking. I still have one bottle of this vintage remaining that I am saving for a 2001-2006 Tablas Creek Roussanne vertical tasting.
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4/22/2016 - risaacs Likes this wine: 93 Points
So much better than I thought it would be. Would say this aged perfect. Really wish this wasn't my last one.
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7/28/2012 - dino_mike wrote: 92 Points
Fabulous aged Cali-Roussanne. Gold color, viscose in the glass; upon opening the nutty, almond flavors predominated with perfect acidity that kept if fresh and lively. 2 hours later, the nose is minerals, baked nuts and a honey-spice fragrance. Very well balanced, creamy yet lively acid. No alcohol to throw off the balance, the flavors are almonds, walnut, mineral, light-spicey pears. Some marshmallow and lively sharp nutmeg maybe some marshmallow or heliotrope too. 1 minute finish that's long, but not totally seamless. Drinks great, possibly another year or 2 of interest before any 'aged' or old flavors pop up. But it's new territory for Rousanne from Paso that's this old and it's doing fine.
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5/15/2010 - EMichels wrote: 85 Points
Nice nose; Tight; Rich; Caramel flavor
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4/3/2010 - dino_mike wrote: 94 Points
Wow, wine is at a great place: big nose, very fragrant and complex. Has become deep gold and viscous with age. Flavors are lively and incredibly rich and oily. Stone fruits and honey with a creamy yet structured mouthfeel. Really stunning wine. Maybe 1 more year to peak. Rousanne is great ager for white wine and the winery did a great job this.
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9/1/2008 - aktormedic wrote: flawed
flawed, corked, tasted like vodka and paper....eerggghhh!! Second one to taste like this!
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8/26/2008 - Dave Dalluge wrote:
Popped and poured. Paired with steamed artichokes served with citron buerre blanc sauce. No notes taken, but this proved to be an inspired pairing as the oiliness of the wine paired well with the texture and weight of the food. Tasted fresh and vibrant with good fruit, mineral and toasted nut notes. Did I mention how well it paired with the artichokes?
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6/23/2008 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
I gotta go for it again. I think it is just in the right place, right now. Although this bottle is definately more sherried than the last. Definately harder to take. But I am man enough.
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6/17/2008 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Pear but more an expression of texture, or maybe tertiary aromas at this point. Certainly still lively acidity in the body. Creamy smooth. Racy finish for such an unctious wine. Lengthy, weighty finish. Open about 30 minutes: strong minerality and marzipan. By no means fading, just entering a different stage of its life. Very interesting.
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6/6/2008 - drdebs wrote: 90 Points
I really enjoyed this--even more so then last year. True gold in color. Reticent aromas of mineral. As the wine warmed and opened, flavors of pear, melon, and mineral with a touch of beeswax in the finish. Soft and round. No alcoholic aromas or sense of heat. Just terrific. Had with sea scallops with tomato-ginger-lemongrass orzo.
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5/16/2008 - CallahanCellar wrote: 90 Points
Apricot and honey. The fruit is fading a bit, so the mineral qualities seem strong. This was very good, but I think is starting to decline. drink up.
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11/24/2007 - aktormedic wrote: flawed
very badly corked
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11/23/2007 - Tejano wrote:
Light gold color, a little stone fruit and floral nuances on the nose. Simple entry and a medium grip of sweet fruit framed and balanced, but with a short finish. The fruit grip also fell off over time leaving a pronounced tartness with a slight edge on the end.
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9/28/2007 - sosgoodjhu wrote: 90 Points
very bold, with lots of honey and caramel. interesting.
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9/27/2007 - rmodak wrote: 89 Points
Crushed minerals the nose followed by honeyed fig, sea salt, lanolin texture and a slightly bitter finish. There was a hint of mustiness which I felt was fading fruit more than cork taint. This was a very complex wine, intellectually satisfying if not completely pleasurable.
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9/24/2007 - the godfather wrote: 92 Points
super tasty, I love the rhone white varieties
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7/16/2007 - jrslhughes wrote: 89 Points
Very nice...not as good as the 2003 vintage.
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5/5/2007 - MeMyself&I wrote: 83 Points
Not as please with this vintage as previous years. It does seem a mite over done in the alcohol department. Fruit wasn't apparent as well.
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4/15/2007 - vanpe003 wrote: 87 Points
A bit more integrated than last tasting, but lacks depth / complexity. A perfectly servicable wine for the upcoming summer season. Agree with another taster re: a bit too heavy on the alcohol.
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3/21/2007 - drdebs wrote: 87 Points
FamilyWinemakers of California; 3/20/2007-3/21/2007 (Pasadena, CA): Fabulous melon aromas are pronounced in this very good white. These aromas are echoed in the palate, along with some floral and citrus notes. Heavy, rich mouthfeel.
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2/13/2007 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 89 Points
14.3%
All the roussanne wines (including the Esprit blanc) are held for six months more ageing. This is partly barrel fermented and part in stainless steel.
This has a minerally, nutty nose with quite moderated roussanne characteristics. The minerally notes recur on the palate too. This is a very interesting wine with lots of quite character. It actually seems quite French.
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2/7/2007 - VegasTony wrote: 86 Points
Golden, shiny yellow in color. The nose shows pear, wax, and floral (honeysuckle?) influences. The classy, flowery palate has a delicate flavor, rich mouthfeel, and crisp acid. However, even when served cool, the finish tastes of alcohol and is too hot; more so than the '03 despite the same content (14.3%). If not for the excess of alcohol, this wine would score in the 90's.
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9/17/2006 - vanpe003 wrote: 86 Points
This one has not come together yet. Seems out of sorts. Good wine for the ABC crowd, but hopefully it will get better with a little time in the bottle. The 2003 Esprit de Beaucastel (91) blew this one away tonight in a side-by-side.
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