Decanted off minimal sediment 8 hours in advance, left in open decanter. Soft alluring nose with ripe French plum/black cherry edge. On the palate nearly perfect in flavors, balance. Tannins faded into the background with just a slight drying edge on the finish. This bottle is close to Vacqueyras perfection. No rush to drink up but the palate is so open and accessible (with air) I'll say it's in the middle of a long peak.
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Here we are, two years later, and this wine is still going (very) strong. Extended aeration is still its friend. Big flavors, alcohol present, tannins rounded but strong. Paired this with grilled duck breast as we usually do with Reynaud wines - but for this wine beef would have been better. It was a day of powder skiing at Alta but this bottle brings to mind a hot day in Vacqueyras, with the sound of cigales and the aroma of garrigue. Bottom line - for enjoying now, hours of aeration and full-flavor meat. Or let continue to round out & evolve in a cool cellar...
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Opened an hour in advance, decanted off sediment and ran through an aerator back into the bottle. It then took another hour of drawing down the bottle and lots of swirling in the glass to finally come together and start hitting its stride. Last sip was the glorious best. In a great place (with sufficient air) now but will wait a couple years before checking in again.
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Hate giving Tours wines numerical scores - score vs. Tours or vs. other southern Rhones? Other Grenache wines in general? This bottle was in a great place, definitely not over the hill. Structure still solid so will last for years at this level if not get better. Has the characteristic Tours perfume and lifted nuance on the palate. A great bottle to medicate with after another tough day in America...
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Harmonious. Muted nose. This bottle seems somewhat subdued compared to the last one. A bit soft, bit still has the cherry and balsam. Not getting the burnt sugar on the finish of this bottle. Still, pretty nice.
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The bouquet was earthy with a mature and nicely balanced palate. The finish was a bit short however, suggesting that the wine has seen its best years. Drank alongside the 2001, and it was a distant second.
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Southern Rhone wines from 1998 (Regional wines and spirits): Borderline flawed with volatile acid. Medium coloured. Very porty on the nose. A bit thin initially then builds to a very porty, raisiny flavour. A quite unpleasant aftertaste. Was rated bottom wine of the night by the room.
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Candied fruit nose, pomegranate, strawberry, grape leaves, fresh dill midpalate, vegetal but pleasant. Spicy and hot, mild tannins that are well-integrated and a solid but soft finish. Drinking beautifully, probably the only one I'll ever find.
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A little more mature than the last bottle consumed but plenty of spunk left. Licorice, tar, tobacco, red fruit, and smoked plums on the nose. A mix of bright and mature red fruit on the palate as well as herbs, tar, iron, smoked meats, mushroom, and earth. Paired nicely with grilled lamb chops. Thanks again Martin!
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Sat in the decanter for 2 hours in the cellar and then got plenty of air time swirling and in an open bottle. Really came into its onw around the 4 hour mark. Earth, smoked meats, herbs, underbrush, tar, and black licorice. A really nice pairing with Osso Bucco and Saffron risotto. Would love to try this blind against some Cdps. Thanks Martin!
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This wine was rocking after a good 3+ hr decant. Was very interesting tasting this next the 04 Rayas reserve. Nose of clay, sage brush, melted licorice, more earth, smoke, and high toned red fruits. Really balanced but rustic on the palate. Vac through and through. Went really well with Osso Bucco and Saffron risitto.
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bit acidic, but decanted to see if it improved. some nice fruit there, and drinkable, but suspect bottle variation given the last one i opened was undrinkable.
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Let's hope every bottle on the planet has been consumed; my last, and it was about 2 years over the hill; $17 on release, and it was a fine reminder that every bottle is a living thing: the nose went from highly extracted to stewed prunes to vegetal, and the flavor went from flat to luscious to pureed lettuce, all in about an hour; for a moment, the wine was sublime, but that moment was short-lived
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3/23/2024 - DBdeParis Likes this wine:
Decanted off minimal sediment 8 hours in advance, left in open decanter. Soft alluring nose with ripe French plum/black cherry edge. On the palate nearly perfect in flavors, balance. Tannins faded into the background with just a slight drying edge on the finish. This bottle is close to Vacqueyras perfection. No rush to drink up but the palate is so open and accessible (with air) I'll say it's in the middle of a long peak.
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3/27/2023 - DBdeParis Likes this wine:
Here we are, two years later, and this wine is still going (very) strong. Extended aeration is still its friend. Big flavors, alcohol present, tannins rounded but strong. Paired this with grilled duck breast as we usually do with Reynaud wines - but for this wine beef would have been better. It was a day of powder skiing at Alta but this bottle brings to mind a hot day in Vacqueyras, with the sound of cigales and the aroma of garrigue. Bottom line - for enjoying now, hours of aeration and full-flavor meat. Or let continue to round out & evolve in a cool cellar...
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2/8/2021 - DBdeParis Likes this wine:
Opened an hour in advance, decanted off sediment and ran through an aerator back into the bottle. It then took another hour of drawing down the bottle and lots of swirling in the glass to finally come together and start hitting its stride. Last sip was the glorious best. In a great place (with sufficient air) now but will wait a couple years before checking in again.
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8/26/2020 - DBdeParis Likes this wine: 91 Points
Hate giving Tours wines numerical scores - score vs. Tours or vs. other southern Rhones? Other Grenache wines in general? This bottle was in a great place, definitely not over the hill. Structure still solid so will last for years at this level if not get better. Has the characteristic Tours perfume and lifted nuance on the palate. A great bottle to medicate with after another tough day in America...
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11/20/2018 - Sen4469 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Muted on the nose. A bit close. Will try another one in 5/7 years.
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6/18/2017 - winemaker Likes this wine: 90 Points
Harmonious. Muted nose. This bottle seems somewhat subdued compared to the last one. A bit soft, bit still has the cherry and balsam. Not getting the burnt sugar on the finish of this bottle. Still, pretty nice.
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2/12/2017 - winemaker Likes this wine: 93 Points
Terrific bottle. Lovely cherry kirsch fruit with garrigue, balsam and a hint of burnt sugar. Vibrant and very much alive. Glad I have one left.
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8/18/2015 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
The bouquet was earthy with a mature and nicely balanced palate. The finish was a bit short however, suggesting that the wine has seen its best years. Drank alongside the 2001, and it was a distant second.
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6/18/2014 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 90 Points
Chateau Rayas and others (Grace Restaurant Chicago, IL): A bit muted on the inital nose and taste lagged behind. Good fragrant nose and great color.
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4/19/2012 - forecaster wrote: 83 Points
Southern Rhone wines from 1998 (Regional wines and spirits): Borderline flawed with volatile acid. Medium coloured. Very porty on the nose. A bit thin initially then builds to a very porty, raisiny flavour. A quite unpleasant aftertaste. Was rated bottom wine of the night by the room.
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3/9/2012 - Mezz wrote: 87 Points
Candied fruit nose, pomegranate, strawberry, grape leaves, fresh dill midpalate, vegetal but pleasant. Spicy and hot, mild tannins that are well-integrated and a solid but soft finish. Drinking beautifully, probably the only one I'll ever find.
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7/5/2011 - Vinsant wrote: 92 Points
A little more mature than the last bottle consumed but plenty of spunk left. Licorice, tar, tobacco, red fruit, and smoked plums on the nose. A mix of bright and mature red fruit on the palate as well as herbs, tar, iron, smoked meats, mushroom, and earth. Paired nicely with grilled lamb chops. Thanks again Martin!
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5/24/2011 - Vinsant wrote: 93 Points
Sat in the decanter for 2 hours in the cellar and then got plenty of air time swirling and in an open bottle. Really came into its onw around the 4 hour mark. Earth, smoked meats, herbs, underbrush, tar, and black licorice. A really nice pairing with Osso Bucco and Saffron risotto. Would love to try this blind against some Cdps. Thanks Martin!
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5/22/2011 - bajayngo wrote: 93 Points
This wine was rocking after a good 3+ hr decant. Was very interesting tasting this next the 04 Rayas reserve. Nose of clay, sage brush, melted licorice, more earth, smoke, and high toned red fruits. Really balanced but rustic on the palate. Vac through and through. Went really well with Osso Bucco and Saffron risitto.
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1/3/2011 - edbev wrote:
bit acidic, but decanted to see if it improved. some nice fruit there, and drinkable, but suspect bottle variation given the last one i opened was undrinkable.
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12/5/2010 - edbev wrote: flawed
thin, acidic, shot. didnt drink.
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4/29/2008 - ctbob wrote:
Let's hope every bottle on the planet has been consumed; my last, and it was about 2 years over the hill; $17 on release, and it was a fine reminder that every bottle is a living thing: the nose went from highly extracted to stewed prunes to vegetal, and the flavor went from flat to luscious to pureed lettuce, all in about an hour; for a moment, the wine was sublime, but that moment was short-lived
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