Voldsomme anmeldelser på denne ved slipp - 16 en topp årgang i CNDP men ikke en årgang for de som liker sin vin som en flortynn, rød fløyelspysj. Rett fra åpning var frukten riktignok pent rød, men etter hvert som vinen åpnet seg mørknet det til - ikke på en dårlig måte- med bjørnebær, bringebær, cola, urter, mørk te. Vinen er (selvsagt) ikke i nærheten av de 98 poengene enkelte delte ut ved slipp, men en strålende vin er det.
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Wife tasted blind as usual. Guessed old world, must be France. Second sip, must be CdP.!! Initially wound tight but was very rosey. it opened up to reveal layers of cherry compote, raspberries, violets...all wrapped with the Garrigue. Incredibly elegant, pure, with fine velvety tannins
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A beautifully crafted wine very elegant with everything in balance nothing excessive just full of class and captivating with every sip with great tension and a hint of acidity on the gorgeous finish. I gave this a two hour decant which did no harm. Very expressive aromatically of ripe hedgerow berries, and forest fungi . One of my favourite domaines …
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Pulled the cork 90 minutes before dinner & no decant. Pour small glasses 20 minutes before dinner. Dark red color. Drank along with a 2017 Bosquet de Papes A La Gloire de Mon Grand Pere. Very layered with multiple flavors which was no surprise because of the blend 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 10% Cinsault & 10% Syrah.
I felt the wine didn’t need decanting. Chalky minerals with cherry, raspberry and stone. So many layers of flavors but such a finesse wine. Very subtle but complex. Give me more of this please.
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This beauty has notes of sour cherry, raspberries, spice and minerals. Elegant and expressive, this wine is full bodied without being heavy. The tannins were notable but not overwhelming. Drinking quite well now but likely will only get better with age.
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This 2016 is drinking wonderfully right now. 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 5% Clairette, & 5% others. Don't know how the winemaker decided on so many grapes and %, but love the result. Elegant and structured with an interesting complexity. Wild berries, red raspberry, licorice, forest floor. Even though I have another bottle, I ordered 2 more after drinking this one.
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Opened and decanted for an hour before tasting. This tasting note was taken after it had been open for about two hours, and it seems like it's at a peak.
Visually the wine doesn't betray much age. There's some garnet to it but it could very well be a brand new wine.
On nose, it's more closed than I would have expected. There's a meat and olives vibe to it along with some red fruit.
On palate, wine is sound. Tannins still have quite a bit of grip and the acid is prominent. Palate echoes nose.
I like this wine, but I do not love it yet. I think it does need some more time for some tertiary flavors to start coming trhough. So, hold em. No score as I think it would be unfair to the wine, but as of today I'd give this an 88.
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Coravin. This is a lovely wine. Still vibrant fruit. Cherries, raspberries. Tannins well integrated. A long long finish. A superb example of what Southern Rhône terroir can do.
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After five years in the cellar thought I'd pull one. PnP with half the bottle tried the second day. Opened up rather harsh and hot, calmed down after 15-20 minutes. Has that classic dusty, minerally nose. Lots of fleshy red fruits on the palate, kirsch and cherries, leather. Finish is a bit clipped, quite peppery and hot. On the second day it was a bit more put together. Earthy mourvedre came out more. Still exhibiting that balsam, dusty garrigue. The palate is fleshy and full, almost roasted, but not quite. Some decent acidity keeps it lively. Main knock is it finishes clipped and quite hot and peppery. Can't quite hide the claimed 14.5% alcohol. Nice wine but not one of my favorite VTs this time around.
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Shewee I haven’t been drinking a lot of French wine or even much wine of this style lately and I wonder why. This is so gorgeous right now after minimal air. Nice fruits and a little bit of mineral but the stunner is the mouthfeel. Silky and plush and sustained through a long finish.
Over the couple few hours I have had this open if has moved to the darker of the raspberries and black cherry and cucumber. So nice.
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Did not take detailed notes when I drank it, but beautiful wine. Fruit is still present, but lots of savory notes have come in to balance it. Drinking very well, but still plenty of aging potential.
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Candied cherries on the nose and palate. Some savory qualities that are yet dominated by the fruit forwardness at this stage. Balanced with velvety tannins that provide some grip with the acidity on the finish. Stood up for 7 days slow ox with no sign of fading; perhaps it showed best after a week in the bottle, suggesting much more bottle time.
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Fantastic bouquet of goose berries, cherries, Linzertorte, crushed stones, undergrowth. Incredible bouquet, lush, ripe berries, slightly hard touch as still quite young, leading to a very long finish with a subtle sweetness and saltiness (soy sauce), very spicy, some mineral notes. Airy and elegant yet structured and persistent. Fantastic wine which is still a bit too young but already great to drink still.
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I was a tad disappointed with this - mainly because the alcohol seemed to poke out a bit and made it feel a bit hot. I’m certainly not against higher alcohol wines as long as the alcohol integrates with the fruits and tannins. This just seemed a tad disjointed - maybe time will take care of this.
Red berries and cherries, plums, minerally acidity, hints of garrrigue and spice. Really needs more time to settle and develop further complexity. Still very enjoyable and I’m being picky, but it’s in light of having wonderful experiences with this wine in the past.
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Had a half bottle with dinner and then opened this bottle not too long ago. Both were outstanding. Lots of complexity - red fruit, violet, herbs, cedar. Wish I had a little more.
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Clear grenade color with some hints of browning. Expressive nose dominated by ripe berries/fruit like plums and dark cherries, complemented with some vegetal tones like black olives and some spice like dark chocolate, licorice and mint. Full bodied attack, lots of sweet fruit up front. Licorice and mint kicks in on the mid palate together with an amazingly high acidity lifting the wine from the sweet fruit. Sweet and round tannins, present but not until you look for them. The finish is fresh, almost like redcurrant, but also with a hint of warmth and alcohol, although the 14,5% is well integrated. Black olives and spicy berries dominate the aftertaste. Long. A serious wine made in a traditional style. Drink now or keep for the next decade. These wines seems to be almost indestructible.
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Medium garnet, clear at the rim. Strawberry, raspberry, sour cherry, preserved orange, fresh floral bouquet, salty, loads of garrigue herb, black tea, mushroom, licorice, chalky mineral. Dry, medium plus acidity and body, high alcohol, medium silky tannins. Outstanding.
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Best on night two. Higher alcohol, mid-palate intensity that tells me to wait a while for the next one. Opened this one to try first bottle from vintage. Herbal, intense red and blue fruit, floral.
Consumed a bit young but it fit the pairing with a nice Charcuterie board perfectly so we pulled the cork. This should settle in and mellow a bit with another 5 years on it and could certainly age 20 years if you asked me and should simply be consumed how you like it, either younger and primary or older with some tertiary refinement. Red fruits, minerals, spice. A Fantastic wine and good QPR compared to many US wines of similar varietals.
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The kirsch, black raspberry, dried flower, and herb-filled nose is a turn on. The silky, soft, lush, sweet red berries in the finish seal the deal. Drink from 2022-2040.
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Nose of red fruit and earthiness. On palette, more red fruit, ripe red plum, ripe strawberry, slight herbaceousness, earth and dirt. With time, more smoke and slight meatiness emerges. Kevin noted this as closed off, but it did not taste like it was closed off. Great stuffing for aging, definitely killing a baby here. Med+ tannins, firm but not astringent or harsh. A very plush wine, will only get better with age. 94pt+
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What a blockbuster! Huge dark fruit and unctuous mouth coating texture. Tiniest hint of acidity and big tannins that were truly well integrated. In the air it just kept getting better. Probably drunk 5 years early but still a terrific wine with a great future. So pleased we have more, albeit not in magnum format. Wine of the night for me.
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Decanted about 1.5 hr. Medium ruby, long legs, on 👃 very balanced notes of ripe cherries, pencil eraser, dry forest floor, licorice, nectarine, bovine leather. Medium dry, full body, strong frontal tannins, low alcohol on throat and silky cherry & vanilla finish. Good now but could improve with more age.
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Twin Cities Wine Club Rhone Tasting (Edina, MN): 2 hour decant. My least favorite of the night but not by much. Just a bit too much earth for me and spice. Sour cherry, spice and red currants. As some have said too young and I agree. Will say this will need to be consumed after 2025 to show better.
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Very tight for first 30 minutes (decanted after opening). Once it opened up, this is quite an enjoyable wine. Medium purple color with slight meniscus. Glycerin, garrigue, raspberry and sweet cherry on the nose (palate similar). Full body, medium acidity, medium tannins and very long finish. 93+/- today with room for 1-2 points of improvement with 2-5 years of bottle age. Decant for 1 hour+ if drinking now.
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We were not sure what to expect from this as is probably our first 2016 CDP. Round and soft, very much on the fruit, decent richness of fruit but still a bit one dimensional at this age. Good 89 for now
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Still a year under its drinking window, but, thought it well deserving of its WA rating (98) but still young. Paired beyond perfectly with grilled pork chops. Flawless. Some sediment already. As it states on the bottle, intense color, attractive complexity, depth, generosity, and velvet are its hallmarks. Well below peak. Should be even better soon.
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First of 12 bottles. Coravin sample required an hour of breathing. Classic nose. Quite promising but not fully open still. Similar result when opened the bottle the next day. Immediately after opening, 330ml was poured to a small bottle filled to the top with little air exposure apart from the exposure while pouring the bottle. Wine stored in the small bottle for 3 days was still in great shape, possibly better, more open. Very promising but will probably be at peak 2028-2036. If you only have a couple of bottles, hold. PS, I first tasted the wine at the end of 2017 (En-primeur tasting) - at which point it seemed like the best Vieux Télégraphe I tasted (and for the first time ordered a full case).
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Opened and decanted two hours ahead of roasted pork loin and buttered green beans. Cloudy, pale crimson color with a violet hue. The floral nose brings fresh lavender, violets, mint, cherry cobbler, and blackberry pie. The palate is medium-full, square, compact, and juicy, bringing Rainer cherries, brambly blackberries, creme de cassis, deep blackcurrant, mocha, rich chocolate, and crushed rock into a refined tannic finish that lasts a minute. Still some heat on the nose and the wood is not fully integrated, but this is nevertheless nimble, textured, and elegant. Drink 2024 - 2034. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 93.
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4 hours of air. Medium weight, red fruit, great structure with the acid and power that paired perfectly with smoked brisket. Great wine to drink over the next 10-15 years.
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Dark in color. Raspberry, cherry, pepper and tea notes on nose. Red fruit on the palate. Elegant, balanced. Approachable now, but sure to improve with time.
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Finesse and balance. For this vintage, a bit more thin and dialed back than I expected, but not a problem at this age. The prior notes describing black tea are spot on.
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Nice wine right at the beginning of its drinking window. Nice cherry and raspberry notes with black tea and subtle minerality. This will be fun to try again in 5 or 10 years.
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From 0.375 bottle. Still young but showing so much promise and beautiful balance. Very pure and aromatic, with notes of raspberries, kirsch, some black tea, there is also some herbal note, lavender and some crushed stone minerality, also some pepper. It‘s pretty full-bodied, with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannin that is incredibly silky for young Vieux Telegraphe. Long finish with excellent complexity and tension. A super pretty and very classic CdP that oozes class. This is a far cry away from many of the overripe, sweet and alcoholic CdP in the market.
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Not at all what I was expecting from CDP, but apparently this is high elevation. What a surprise! Light and elegant. Medium body, medium intensity ruby, translucent core. Red fruit with a subtle kiss of smoke and rosemary. Silky tannins. Med + acid. 14.5 abv. Needs 2 hour decant. Light sediment.
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Served w smoked brisket. Very young but with decant great structure, acidity, red fruit on the nose & palate. Remarkable balance of power, structure and medium weight perhaps aided by the richness of the beef. Look forward to tracking over next 15+ years.
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Lush ripe Rhone bouquet, round fruit on the palate, dried plum dried thyme, medium body lacking rich velvet chewy intensity. Maceration shortened? Heat takes over subduing the fruit. Subject to your heat sensitivity it is a lovely wine, ready now or in a few years. I find it unlike previous CNP from Family Brunier or other estates, certainly less tannin, less weight, a different taste, more enjoyable in youth, less a CNP? I have one bottle of the 1978 Vieux Telegraphe remaining from a case purchase, every bottle tasted over 35+ years a perfect CNP.
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The 2016 Vieux Telegraph is superb, mid-weight , more Burgundian than New World , wonderful balance and precision. Very accessible now with a short 2 hour decant, ripe cherries on the nose, very silky but with underlying power which was enhanced with food.There is a considerable wide range of styles of CNDP from the various producers so it would serve you well to sample numerous examples. This will go the distance.
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WSET Teaching Level 4 for Northern Rhone (Stellenbosch): Pale ruby red Youthful aroma with ripe red plums, Pride of India cherries, wet earth, wild fennel, farmyard and smoked meats. Medium-bodied with lively but juicy acidity enrobed in red cherry flesh and marinated rumtopf raspberry that sits with menthol, tar, liquorice and garrigue. The alcohol is a little spiky and weights the wine down alongside a sweetness that the acidity struggles to lift. There is also a baked feel to the finish. The tannins feel quite dense and it sort of works - the jury is out on this, as should integrate with time. To revisit as I usually love this estate!
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Drank young - could hold a few more years. Still, after a couple of hours, lovely mix of violets, black currant, and herbs. Just such a strong wine. Understated and bold at the same time. Wonderful for a broad range of pairing options.
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Brought by AM/TK friend Jodi to our night of socially-distanced outdoor wine tasting, this was the last of the regularly scheduled wines to be popped (AM, bless his big heart, subsequently brought out the Gruard LaRose, the Pegau (and the Moulin a Vent? I was gone by then) for unbilled guest appearances thereafter). PnP, this was an eye-opener in the way the '16 Spottswoode cab was a few months ago, figuratively jumping out the bottle with energy backed by tangy cherries, rich, sweet dark berries, chambord, earth, garrigue, olives and smoked meats. Dark purple, medium to full bodied, killer legs. Super racy acidity and powerful but surprisingly well-integrated tannins, no heat. I've had this bottling a few times over the years and reiterate the last tasting note that I've never tasted one better than this, and this normally is NOT, IMO, best either this young or a PnP, which was how we drank it. I didn't drink a ton of it and I'm not sure that there was much development, but it was so balanced out of the bottle--again, not typical with most CdPs--that there really wasn't much room for this. Can this get better? Idk, but I'll tell you what, if I had more than one bottle of this, I'd pop one, STAT. Food was finished and this was great as a standalone, but man, how sweetly this would sing with a rack of lamb! Recommended, and I will look to buy. I don't know how the stars aligned in '16 for wines--both old world and new--but if someone can make that happen again, you've got a serious money-making idea.
This is the best Vieux Télégraphe I recall ever experiencing. Bright garnet colored, medium bodied, nicely integrated and well balanced, polished bright expressive fruits of black raspberries and black cherries with hints of cranberry and pomegranate accented by notes of anise, Chambord and spice, turning to velvety tannins on the lingering finish.
First Wednesday Wine Club (Napoli in Bocca, Haberfield): Served blind. Initially peppercorns then a little blackberry, some sweet spice and a perfumed, jubey semi carbonic maceration note. In the mouth it is juicy with medium plus intensity alcohol warmth, silky tannins and similar jubey flavours to the nose. Nice. I guessed Northern Rhone from a warm vintage.
Quite floral in nature, from there you find thyme, garrigue and a plethora of fresh red fruits. Elegant, with ample weight and lift, the finish hits you with its mix of earth, herbs and kirsch with a hint of salty rocks in the endnote. Hang on this for 5-8 years and you'll have a beauty in your cellar.
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Let sit for about an hour - good but still "tight" and the flavor profile is a bit monochromatic at this point. I have a case so wanted to try some now before I let the rest sit. Very promising.
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Old Note - Just flat out delicious, showed well with great dark red fruit, some earth and tannins were really in check considering it's still on the younger end. You just keep coming back for more. 2020-2030+
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Still in evolvement, but it is already approachable with sufficient aeration. Full of red berry fruits and spice, it is deep on the palate and well balanced with good acidity. The finish is lengthy and harmonious.
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It was Henri Brunier who penned the first chapter of this wonderful family story in 1891, in the village of Bedarrides, well known today as occupying the southeastern portion of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC area. In that year, he gifted to his son Hippolyte some plots of land on La Crau, a place in those days considered practically unfit for cultivation, its soil a thankless proposition due to a high density of pebbles. The latter planted his first vine stocks on this commanding plateau, where grapes had first been grown in the 14th century; and where, in 1821, Claude Chappe, inventor of the optical telegraph, built one of his signal towers. Hippolyte’s son, Jules, extended the estate to 42 acres and aptly named the fruits of his labours “Vieux Telegraphe”. At the end of the Second World War, Henri, the second thus named and the fourth generation, had the formidable task of reviving the estate and shaping its destiny. Not content with enlarging the Domaine to a single expanse of 136 acres, he gave this classic Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine its full dimension, creating a “Vieux Telegraphe” style and positioning it on all the world’s leading markets. Since the early 1980s his two sons, Frederic and Daniel, have been tending to the family concern.They now farm 242 acres in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC area, and 37 acres of IGP Vaucluse and AOC Ventoux vines. Domaine Les Pallieres must also be listed: acquired in 1998 in partnership with family friend Kermit Lynch, this single-plot 309-acre estate in Gigondas has 62 acres of vines. The year 1998 also marked the creation of Massaya in Lebanon in association with Sami and Ramzi Ghosn, which now makes wines from 123 acres of vines, planted mainly in the northeast Beqaa Valley. After more than a century in existence, Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe and the subsequent additions, guided by the fifth generation of vignerons, and soon the sixth, has kept its original philosophy intact and very much alive.
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Magnum. Young but surprisingly accessible and charming righ now. Lovely middle weight with fresh zip of bright red fruits. With about 45 minutes of air it darkens a bit and starts to show a bit more classic notes and get a bit spicier. Best with 4-5 years time.
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Earlier this year when I was first getting acquainted with the 2016 vintage from the Southern Rhône, I made the comment that it reminded me of the 2010 vintage. I’m now more convinced than ever that it is one of the most classical vintages of the last twenty years and will drink well for decades...and 2017 might be nipping at it’s heals. Anyway, let’s talk a little bit about this wine. I’ve never been a huge Vieux Telegraph guy, despite the near universal adoration it received from others. Maybe it’s because it’s such an archetypal wine of the region and therefor sort of bores me. But on its own, in 2016, without other CdP’s on the table, this was really very good and worthy of its merits. Lucious bramble fruit and minerals with black pepper and a lovely lavender/garrigue mix. The tannins are firm but fine, like other 2016’s. And there’s good acid too. Very well balanced.
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Second Sunday Group: Ridge Geyserville Vertical (2008-2015) (R&D's): Popped and poured with dinner following the tasting. Red berry fruit and spice notes dominate the bouquet. Medium- to full-bodied with nice structure and flavors of raspberry, pepper and herb. Long finish. Excellent, in spite of its youth.
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By the glass. An old pal in a too young version. Unfortunately it is not the first time I drink it so soon. On the nose has not yet developed a great aromatic complexity and only shows notes of black fruit. On the palate has so much grip and acidity that it almost hurts. At least all that exuberance is softened with a velvet texture. Finally and for what we can understand each other, this year I will drink a 1999 that treasured in my cellar.
Por copas. Un viejo conocido en una versión demasiado joven. Desgraciadamente no es la primera vez que lo bebo tan pronto. En nariz no ha desarrollado aún una gran complejidad aromática y sólo muestra notas a fruta negra. Al paladar tiene tanto agarre y tanta acidez que casi duele al beberla. Al menos toda esa exuberancia se suaviza con una textura de terciopelo. Finalmente y para qué podamos entendernos, este año me beberé un 1999 que atesoró en mi bodeguita.
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Public tasting from bottle decanted 5 minutes prior and enjoyed over about 10 minutes. As always, I am grateful for these tastings, but note that I tasted the wine before it had a chance to really start opening up.
young red-purple color, cherries, plums, cassis, on the palate a bit light at first, plum tones, dark berries, bright cherry quality, in glass the wine quickly develops a great perfume, floral notes, saddle, blackberries, on the palate beautifully lush as seems a hallmark of the vintage in many parts of France- but with a very serious and substantial structure and tannins underneath, fine length, clove and brush notes with time, exceptional and a great future ahead. As lush as the fruit appears now, I still think this really is going to demand at least a decade to begin showing all that it will eventually have to offer.
(*****), 2030++
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From half bottle. Talk about consistency...pretty much matches my note from earlier this year; clean, pretty red fruit, harmonious, long, rather lovely
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Wine Ark Boys supps (Bistro Felix, Ash Street): Half bottle. Red berry compote tending to jam, very primary, baked earth and spices, a little pepper. Just jammy on the palate but still ripe, alcohol is controlled and it's softly tannic, finishes arm but not intrusively so. Nice.
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Second Sunday Group: Geja's Cafe format (Marty's): Decanted 3 hrs. Dark fruit, currants and cherry, with subtle garrigue undertones. Red currant, and spice on the palate. Fairly firm tannins, this will need some time. Bury it deep in the cellar.
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Deep ruby. Bark and anise aromatics. Medium body, serious, backward black fruit and garrigue flavors. No undue sweetness here, tannic finish. Outstanding vintage for this if one is willing to wait.
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Very good for such a youngster, well balanced, complex with medium ripe fruit (for CdP), alcohol in check, herbs de Provence, lavender, fresh garrigue, etc. Excellent stuff. Green Street Tavern with EWG
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Aromas of bright red fruit, mint, orange peel, tar, and forest floor. Intense concentration of pure clear fruit on the palate with enormous energy and drive, a sweet floating aromatic acid back note and a long tannic finish. A gorgeous wine with great verve, charm, and balance. 50 +17 + 18 + 9 = 94.
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nose is fairly reduced at this point, rasinated berries, palate is showing more, red fruits, sous bois, garrigue, stone, fine tannin structure. Very well put together.
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Tart and tangy red fruits, acerola, and under ripe persimmon upon opening, the wine blossomed after several hours of air, delivering a tour de force in supple power. It offered red and spring flowers, sweet and tangy berries, pomegranate, mint, herbs, clay, and minerals on the bouquet and palate. Notably clean, fruit forward, and wholly appealing. More of the same on the second day, albeit more fully integrated. Of CdP wines in this style, I prefer Beaucastel...but who's complaining. Delicious, rounded, balanced, and likely to improve over the next seven to ten years. It should last through 2035+. 95-96.
Generous red and black fruit up front, moving eventually into a peppery, baking spice & cola middle (grenache candy?) with a smoothed-out finish on bright notes. Surprisingly open and welcoming at this age.
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Deep, dark reddish-purple in color. Full, forward & attractive, ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & kirsch notes with overtones of garrigue & floral notes, Provençal herbs notes of rosemary, fennel & lavender, earthy/dusty, spice notes of cinnamon & pepper, minerals & a hint of cedar undertones in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of blackberries, cherries & plums, pepper, spices, herbs, earthy, minerals & a hint of oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing although it needs additional time to fully develop at which time it may rate even higher.
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Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 4 *shared* bottles] from 10/12/18] (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typically, 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, Clairette, etc. from vines 20 to 60 years yrs old grown in La Crau in soils of alluvial deposits, limestone, silica, & molasse (red clay) with galets roulés; Grapes are partially de-stemmed for traditional fermentation between 25-35 days in s/s & wood cuves (all temperature-controlled); The wine rests in cement tank for 10 mos, then another 12 mos in foudres. 2,100 cs bottled unfiltered
N: Slightly closed; Strawberry jam
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which pretty much resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish, but with a refined swtness to the dusty tannins. DESERVES through '19, then at least approaching its 10th. My EXC-/EXC. 98 pts Suckling, 97 Jeb Dunnuck, 96 WA, 95 Vinous (Raynolds), & 93-95 Int'l Wine Cellar, 93 Decanter, 17+/20 Jancis Robinson, & 4*(*)/5 drinkrhone.com . [This vendor's $71.95 puts it in the top 20% of wine-searcher's listings.]
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Excellent young VT. Nose is a bit muted at this point, a little minerality and red fruits, new leather. On the palate the wine is medium to full bodied, very ripe yet completely fresh with flavors of red fruits, minerals/slate and an almost orange peel note. Great palate presence, decent length with some noticeable tannins and vibrant acidity. Should be very good in 4-5 years, last for 20.
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4/12/2024 - SMagowan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Quite lovely after a little air. Ready to drink.
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3/17/2024 - Krokfjord wrote: 92 Points
Voldsomme anmeldelser på denne ved slipp - 16 en topp årgang i CNDP men ikke en årgang for de som liker sin vin som en flortynn, rød fløyelspysj. Rett fra åpning var frukten riktignok pent rød, men etter hvert som vinen åpnet seg mørknet det til - ikke på en dårlig måte- med bjørnebær, bringebær, cola, urter, mørk te. Vinen er (selvsagt) ikke i nærheten av de 98 poengene enkelte delte ut ved slipp, men en strålende vin er det.
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2/10/2024 - happytom Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wife tasted blind as usual. Guessed old world, must be France. Second sip, must be CdP.!! Initially wound tight but was very rosey. it opened up to reveal layers of cherry compote, raspberries, violets...all wrapped with the Garrigue. Incredibly elegant, pure, with fine velvety tannins
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1/8/2024 - stkilda Likes this wine: 96 Points
A beautifully crafted wine very elegant with everything in balance nothing excessive just full of class and captivating with every sip with great tension and a hint of acidity on the gorgeous finish. I gave this a two hour decant which did no harm. Very expressive aromatically of ripe hedgerow berries, and forest fungi . One of my favourite domaines …
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12/26/2023 - rupertg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Full, black centre, red rim. Wonderful nose, full bodied Plum flavoured. Delightful, full bodied.
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12/24/2023 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 96 Points
Pulled the cork 90 minutes before dinner & no decant. Pour small glasses 20 minutes before dinner. Dark red color. Drank along with a 2017 Bosquet de Papes A La Gloire de Mon Grand Pere. Very layered with multiple flavors which was no surprise because of the blend 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 10% Cinsault & 10% Syrah.
I felt the wine didn’t need decanting. Chalky minerals with cherry, raspberry and stone. So many layers of flavors but such a finesse wine. Very subtle but complex. Give me more of this please.
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11/25/2023 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 93 Points
This beauty has notes of sour cherry, raspberries, spice and minerals. Elegant and expressive, this wine is full bodied without being heavy. The tannins were notable but not overwhelming. Drinking quite well now but likely will only get better with age.
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11/14/2023 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 94 Points
This 2016 is drinking wonderfully right now. 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, 5% Clairette, & 5% others. Don't know how the winemaker decided on so many grapes and %, but love the result. Elegant and structured with an interesting complexity. Wild berries, red raspberry, licorice, forest floor. Even though I have another bottle, I ordered 2 more after drinking this one.
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10/28/2023 - tak4 Likes this wine:
Opened and decanted for an hour before tasting. This tasting note was taken after it had been open for about two hours, and it seems like it's at a peak.
Visually the wine doesn't betray much age. There's some garnet to it but it could very well be a brand new wine.
On nose, it's more closed than I would have expected. There's a meat and olives vibe to it along with some red fruit.
On palate, wine is sound. Tannins still have quite a bit of grip and the acid is prominent. Palate echoes nose.
I like this wine, but I do not love it yet. I think it does need some more time for some tertiary flavors to start coming trhough. So, hold em. No score as I think it would be unfair to the wine, but as of today I'd give this an 88.
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10/25/2023 - Oinopotis Likes this wine: 93 Points
Coravin. This is a lovely wine. Still vibrant fruit. Cherries, raspberries. Tannins well integrated. A long long finish. A superb example of what Southern Rhône terroir can do.
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9/7/2023 - deadwax Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened for tasting group. Solid showing. No hurry.
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9/7/2023 - WineDuq Likes this wine: 91 Points
After five years in the cellar thought I'd pull one. PnP with half the bottle tried the second day. Opened up rather harsh and hot, calmed down after 15-20 minutes. Has that classic dusty, minerally nose. Lots of fleshy red fruits on the palate, kirsch and cherries, leather. Finish is a bit clipped, quite peppery and hot. On the second day it was a bit more put together. Earthy mourvedre came out more. Still exhibiting that balsam, dusty garrigue. The palate is fleshy and full, almost roasted, but not quite. Some decent acidity keeps it lively. Main knock is it finishes clipped and quite hot and peppery. Can't quite hide the claimed 14.5% alcohol. Nice wine but not one of my favorite VTs this time around.
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9/6/2023 - citizen1 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Needs time.
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8/27/2023 - lundmc wrote: 95 Points
Shewee I haven’t been drinking a lot of French wine or even much wine of this style lately and I wonder why. This is so gorgeous right now after minimal air. Nice fruits and a little bit of mineral but the stunner is the mouthfeel. Silky and plush and sustained through a long finish.
Over the couple few hours I have had this open if has moved to the darker of the raspberries and black cherry and cucumber. So nice.
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8/22/2023 - skyivan Likes this wine: 80 Points
4小时香气好,果味舒服。但单宁稍微粗了点。配餐合适
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6/23/2023 - jtreger wrote: 95 Points
Did not take detailed notes when I drank it, but beautiful wine. Fruit is still present, but lots of savory notes have come in to balance it. Drinking very well, but still plenty of aging potential.
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5/4/2023 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 93 Points
Candied cherries on the nose and palate. Some savory qualities that are yet dominated by the fruit forwardness at this stage. Balanced with velvety tannins that provide some grip with the acidity on the finish. Stood up for 7 days slow ox with no sign of fading; perhaps it showed best after a week in the bottle, suggesting much more bottle time.
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4/30/2023 - Édifice Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic bouquet of goose berries, cherries, Linzertorte, crushed stones, undergrowth. Incredible bouquet, lush, ripe berries, slightly hard touch as still quite young, leading to a very long finish with a subtle sweetness and saltiness (soy sauce), very spicy, some mineral notes. Airy and elegant yet structured and persistent. Fantastic wine which is still a bit too young but already great to drink still.
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4/20/2023 - MalcolmV Likes this wine:
Wonderfully savoury with notes of olive and caramel. Delicious
Quality :3/4 Price:2/3 X factor/interest 3/3 Total : 8/10
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4/13/2023 - rm97 wrote: 93 Points
Hold for now. Only drinkable with long decant.
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4/3/2023 - azzah Likes this wine: 92 Points
I was a tad disappointed with this - mainly because the alcohol seemed to poke out a bit and made it feel a bit hot. I’m certainly not against higher alcohol wines as long as the alcohol integrates with the fruits and tannins. This just seemed a tad disjointed - maybe time will take care of this.
Red berries and cherries, plums, minerally acidity, hints of garrrigue and spice. Really needs more time to settle and develop further complexity. Still very enjoyable and I’m being picky, but it’s in light of having wonderful experiences with this wine in the past.
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4/1/2023 - mellie Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decant! Couple of hours.
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3/19/2023 - fionban100 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had a half bottle with dinner and then opened this bottle not too long ago. Both were outstanding. Lots of complexity - red fruit, violet, herbs, cedar. Wish I had a little more.
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3/18/2023 - dagij Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clear grenade color with some hints of browning. Expressive nose dominated by ripe berries/fruit like plums and dark cherries, complemented with some vegetal tones like black olives and some spice like dark chocolate, licorice and mint. Full bodied attack, lots of sweet fruit up front. Licorice and mint kicks in on the mid palate together with an amazingly high acidity lifting the wine from the sweet fruit. Sweet and round tannins, present but not until you look for them. The finish is fresh, almost like redcurrant, but also with a hint of warmth and alcohol, although the 14,5% is well integrated. Black olives and spicy berries dominate the aftertaste. Long. A serious wine made in a traditional style. Drink now or keep for the next decade. These wines seems to be almost indestructible.
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11/25/2022 - levicn wrote: 90 Points
醒酒三个半小时,淡宝石红色,闻香有新鲜的碾碎的水果香气,以红果为主,熏肉和饼干的味道,入口酸度中等,酒液甜美,单宁紧致,细沙颗粒,草莓的红果香气为主,后段辛辣,酒体略微有些散,感觉有点醒过头,余味草莓糖的味道。很新的一款酒,除了新鲜果味以外还捕捉不到更多的内容,没进入适饮期,和他们家老年份那样大气而又有深度的表现比起来差距明显,需要充分陈年。
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11/22/2022 - TGOT Likes this wine: 94 Points
Black tea with a hint of honey. Black licorice on the back end. Delicious!
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11/21/2022 - davidrh1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
See Jeb's description
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10/24/2022 - Daltond333 wrote:
Medium garnet, clear at the rim. Strawberry, raspberry, sour cherry, preserved orange, fresh floral bouquet, salty, loads of garrigue herb, black tea, mushroom, licorice, chalky mineral. Dry, medium plus acidity and body, high alcohol, medium silky tannins. Outstanding.
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10/21/2022 - Scamber Likes this wine:
Best on night two. Higher alcohol, mid-palate intensity that tells me to wait a while for the next one. Opened this one to try first bottle from vintage. Herbal, intense red and blue fruit, floral.
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10/17/2022 - TMOVino2 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consumed a bit young but it fit the pairing with a nice Charcuterie board perfectly so we pulled the cork. This should settle in and mellow a bit with another 5 years on it and could certainly age 20 years if you asked me and should simply be consumed how you like it, either younger and primary or older with some tertiary refinement. Red fruits, minerals, spice. A Fantastic wine and good QPR compared to many US wines of similar varietals.
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10/4/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
The kirsch, black raspberry, dried flower, and herb-filled nose is a turn on. The silky, soft, lush, sweet red berries in the finish seal the deal. Drink from 2022-2040.
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9/9/2022 - Michael Hung Likes this wine: 94 Points
[Decanted for 30 min before drinking]
Nose of red fruit and earthiness. On palette, more red fruit, ripe red plum, ripe strawberry, slight herbaceousness, earth and dirt. With time, more smoke and slight meatiness emerges. Kevin noted this as closed off, but it did not taste like it was closed off. Great stuffing for aging, definitely killing a baby here. Med+ tannins, firm but not astringent or harsh. A very plush wine, will only get better with age. 94pt+
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9/9/2022 - steinersing wrote: 93 Points
Quintessential CDP
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8/20/2022 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 95 Points
What a blockbuster!
Huge dark fruit and unctuous mouth coating texture.
Tiniest hint of acidity and big tannins that were truly well integrated.
In the air it just kept getting better.
Probably drunk 5 years early but still a terrific wine with a great future.
So pleased we have more, albeit not in magnum format.
Wine of the night for me.
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7/22/2022 - Pinard222 Likes this wine: 96 Points
NEEDS SOME TIME TRY IN 2024 Or decant and leave for a few hours
Everything is there Just needs time to get its act together
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6/30/2022 - bucktooth22 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted about 1.5 hr. Medium ruby, long legs, on 👃 very balanced notes of ripe cherries, pencil eraser, dry forest floor, licorice, nectarine, bovine leather. Medium dry, full body, strong frontal tannins, low alcohol on throat and silky cherry & vanilla finish. Good now but could improve with more age.
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6/21/2022 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
Twin Cities Wine Club Rhone Tasting (Edina, MN): 2 hour decant. My least favorite of the night but not by much. Just a bit too much earth for me and spice. Sour cherry, spice and red currants. As some have said too young and I agree. Will say this will need to be consumed after 2025 to show better.
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6/19/2022 - Nraucourt wrote: 90 Points
Too young to drink - wait until 2025 for the other bottles
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3/25/2022 - CWilliam wrote: 93 Points
Very tight for first 30 minutes (decanted after opening). Once it opened up, this is quite an enjoyable wine. Medium purple color with slight meniscus. Glycerin, garrigue, raspberry and sweet cherry on the nose (palate similar). Full body, medium acidity, medium tannins and very long finish. 93+/- today with room for 1-2 points of improvement with 2-5 years of bottle age. Decant for 1 hour+ if drinking now.
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2/26/2022 - Papies wrote: 89 Points
We were not sure what to expect from this as is probably our first 2016 CDP.
Round and soft, very much on the fruit, decent richness of fruit but still a bit one dimensional at this age. Good 89 for now
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12/24/2021 - Mark H. LeQuire wrote: 96 Points
Still a year under its drinking window, but, thought it well deserving of its WA rating (98) but still young. Paired beyond perfectly with grilled pork chops. Flawless. Some sediment already. As it states on the bottle, intense color, attractive complexity, depth, generosity, and velvet are its hallmarks. Well below peak. Should be even better soon.
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11/24/2021 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine: 94 Points
First of 12 bottles. Coravin sample required an hour of breathing. Classic nose. Quite promising but not fully open still.
Similar result when opened the bottle the next day. Immediately after opening, 330ml was poured to a small bottle filled to the top with little air exposure apart from the exposure while pouring the bottle.
Wine stored in the small bottle for 3 days was still in great shape, possibly better, more open.
Very promising but will probably be at peak 2028-2036. If you only have a couple of bottles, hold.
PS, I first tasted the wine at the end of 2017 (En-primeur tasting) - at which point it seemed like the best Vieux Télégraphe I tasted (and for the first time ordered a full case).
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9/26/2021 - Capman wrote: 94 Points
Very nice always a go to wine with friends and a great dinner. 1 hour decant.
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9/12/2021 - jlhkiss Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened and decanted two hours ahead of roasted pork loin and buttered green beans. Cloudy, pale crimson color with a violet hue. The floral nose brings fresh lavender, violets, mint, cherry cobbler, and blackberry pie. The palate is medium-full, square, compact, and juicy, bringing Rainer cherries, brambly blackberries, creme de cassis, deep blackcurrant, mocha, rich chocolate, and crushed rock into a refined tannic finish that lasts a minute. Still some heat on the nose and the wood is not fully integrated, but this is nevertheless nimble, textured, and elegant. Drink 2024 - 2034. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 93.
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9/5/2021 - rm97 wrote: 93 Points
Have to stop drinking this.
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8/22/2021 - Bryan49 Likes this wine: 95 Points
4 hours of air. Medium weight, red fruit, great structure with the acid and power that paired perfectly with smoked brisket. Great wine to drink over the next 10-15 years.
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6/24/2021 - Waël Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ready to drink
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5/29/2021 - KSWinegeek wrote: 93 Points
Dark in color. Raspberry, cherry, pepper and tea notes on nose. Red fruit on the palate. Elegant, balanced. Approachable now, but sure to improve with time.
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5/7/2021 - JonBarnes1 Likes this wine:
Finesse and balance. For this vintage, a bit more thin and dialed back than I expected, but not a problem at this age. The prior notes describing black tea are spot on.
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4/22/2021 - kstoddard wrote: flawed
Corked
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2/27/2021 - bayareadodgerfan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice wine right at the beginning of its drinking window. Nice cherry and raspberry notes with black tea and subtle minerality. This will be fun to try again in 5 or 10 years.
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2/12/2021 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 95 Points
From 0.375 bottle. Still young but showing so much promise and beautiful balance. Very pure and aromatic, with notes of raspberries, kirsch, some black tea, there is also some herbal note, lavender and some crushed stone minerality, also some pepper. It‘s pretty full-bodied, with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannin that is incredibly silky for young Vieux Telegraphe. Long finish with excellent complexity and tension. A super pretty and very classic CdP that oozes class. This is a far cry away from many of the overripe, sweet and alcoholic CdP in the market.
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1/23/2021 - F_&_M Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great wine that shows even greater promise. Seemed a bit closed but opened up within an hour.
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12/29/2020 - RolandHansalik Likes this wine: 94 Points
opened beautiful and clearly will age many more years. smooth finish
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11/24/2020 - DJWoodTX wrote: 92 Points
Not at all what I was expecting from CDP, but apparently this is high elevation. What a surprise! Light and elegant. Medium body, medium intensity ruby, translucent core. Red fruit with a subtle kiss of smoke and rosemary. Silky tannins. Med + acid. 14.5 abv. Needs 2 hour decant. Light sediment.
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11/14/2020 - Bryan49 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Served w smoked brisket. Very young but with decant great structure, acidity, red fruit on the nose & palate. Remarkable balance of power, structure and medium weight perhaps aided by the richness of the beef. Look forward to tracking over next 15+ years.
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10/31/2020 - xyc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lush ripe Rhone bouquet, round fruit on the palate, dried plum dried thyme, medium body lacking rich velvet chewy intensity. Maceration shortened? Heat takes over subduing the fruit. Subject to your heat sensitivity it is a lovely wine, ready now or in a few years. I find it unlike previous CNP from Family Brunier or other estates, certainly less tannin, less weight, a different taste, more enjoyable in youth, less a CNP? I have one bottle of the 1978 Vieux Telegraphe remaining from a case purchase, every bottle tasted over 35+ years a perfect CNP.
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10/28/2020 - stkilda Likes this wine: 94 Points
The 2016 Vieux Telegraph is superb, mid-weight , more Burgundian than New World , wonderful balance and precision. Very accessible now with a short 2 hour decant, ripe cherries on the nose, very silky but with underlying power which was enhanced with food.There is a considerable wide range of styles of CNDP from the various producers so it would serve you well to sample numerous examples. This will go the distance.
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10/13/2020 - rikipedia wrote: 89 Points
WSET Teaching Level 4 for Northern Rhone (Stellenbosch): Pale ruby red
Youthful aroma with ripe red plums, Pride of India cherries, wet earth, wild fennel, farmyard and smoked meats.
Medium-bodied with lively but juicy acidity enrobed in red cherry flesh and marinated rumtopf raspberry that sits with menthol, tar, liquorice and garrigue. The alcohol is a little spiky and weights the wine down alongside a sweetness that the acidity struggles to lift. There is also a baked feel to the finish. The tannins feel quite dense and it sort of works - the jury is out on this, as should integrate with time. To revisit as I usually love this estate!
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10/10/2020 - WineTimeFineTime Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank young - could hold a few more years. Still, after a couple of hours, lovely mix of violets, black currant, and herbs. Just such a strong wine. Understated and bold at the same time. Wonderful for a broad range of pairing options.
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10/8/2020 - rm97 wrote: 93 Points
Could be very nice in a few years
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8/16/2020 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Brought by AM/TK friend Jodi to our night of socially-distanced outdoor wine tasting, this was the last of the regularly scheduled wines to be popped (AM, bless his big heart, subsequently brought out the Gruard LaRose, the Pegau (and the Moulin a Vent? I was gone by then) for unbilled guest appearances thereafter). PnP, this was an eye-opener in the way the '16 Spottswoode cab was a few months ago, figuratively jumping out the bottle with energy backed by tangy cherries, rich, sweet dark berries, chambord, earth, garrigue, olives and smoked meats. Dark purple, medium to full bodied, killer legs. Super racy acidity and powerful but surprisingly well-integrated tannins, no heat. I've had this bottling a few times over the years and reiterate the last tasting note that I've never tasted one better than this, and this normally is NOT, IMO, best either this young or a PnP, which was how we drank it. I didn't drink a ton of it and I'm not sure that there was much development, but it was so balanced out of the bottle--again, not typical with most CdPs--that there really wasn't much room for this. Can this get better? Idk, but I'll tell you what, if I had more than one bottle of this, I'd pop one, STAT. Food was finished and this was great as a standalone, but man, how sweetly this would sing with a rack of lamb! Recommended, and I will look to buy. I don't know how the stars aligned in '16 for wines--both old world and new--but if someone can make that happen again, you've got a serious money-making idea.
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8/15/2020 - AaronMaxwell Likes this wine:
Socially distanced wine tasting and pizza (My place in San Francisco): A friend's contribution to our wine night.
Changed dramatically in the first 30 minutes of decanting (improving wildly).
More floral vs. fruity on the nose than I prefer. Peppery and earthy. Tangy.
Must drink again when not following so many other wines for a fair rating. Maybe 91-93 last night.
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8/10/2020 - rmcnees Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is the best Vieux Télégraphe I recall ever experiencing. Bright garnet colored, medium bodied, nicely integrated and well balanced, polished bright expressive fruits of black raspberries and black cherries with hints of cranberry and pomegranate accented by notes of anise, Chambord and spice, turning to velvety tannins on the lingering finish.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/08/domaine-du-vieux-telegraphe-chateauneuf.html
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8/8/2020 - Barry Groveman wrote:
Ok +
A little hot around the edge, good, not great. Fruit does not fill in the edge of the palate
90 rating from BG
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8/5/2020 - chatters wrote:
First Wednesday Wine Club (Napoli in Bocca, Haberfield): Served blind.
Initially peppercorns then a little blackberry, some sweet spice and a perfumed, jubey semi carbonic maceration note. In the mouth it is juicy with medium plus intensity alcohol warmth, silky tannins and similar jubey flavours to the nose. Nice.
I guessed Northern Rhone from a warm vintage.
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6/7/2020 - JonBarnes1 Likes this wine:
Not ready yet, but still lovely and enjoyable. No nose, silky smooth on the quaff and a smack of oak at the end.
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3/28/2020 - eadsaaron Likes this wine: 94 Points
Incredible already.
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3/15/2020 - Miceri Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark red; vanilla licorice nose, deep rich fruit; rich, soft, round; excellent young wine with lots of promises for the future
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2/22/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Quite floral in nature, from there you find thyme, garrigue and a plethora of fresh red fruits. Elegant, with ample weight and lift, the finish hits you with its mix of earth, herbs and kirsch with a hint of salty rocks in the endnote. Hang on this for 5-8 years and you'll have a beauty in your cellar.
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1/25/2020 - citizen1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Let sit for about an hour - good but still "tight" and the flavor profile is a bit monochromatic at this point. I have a case so wanted to try some now before I let the rest sit. Very promising.
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1/21/2020 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Old Note - Just flat out delicious, showed well with great dark red fruit, some earth and tannins were really in check considering it's still on the younger end. You just keep coming back for more. 2020-2030+
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12/26/2019 - djhammond Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still in evolvement, but it is already approachable with sufficient aeration. Full of red berry fruits and spice, it is deep on the palate and well balanced with good acidity. The finish is lengthy and harmonious.
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12/12/2019 - Scituate wrote:
It was Henri Brunier who penned the first chapter of this wonderful family story in 1891, in the village of Bedarrides, well known today as occupying the southeastern portion of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC area. In that year, he gifted to his son Hippolyte some plots of land on La Crau, a place in those days considered practically unfit for cultivation, its soil a thankless proposition due to a high density of pebbles. The latter planted his first vine stocks on this commanding plateau, where grapes had first been grown in the 14th century; and where, in 1821, Claude Chappe, inventor of the optical telegraph, built one of his signal towers. Hippolyte’s son, Jules, extended the estate to 42 acres and aptly named the fruits of his labours “Vieux Telegraphe”. At the end of the Second World War, Henri, the second thus named and the fourth generation, had the formidable task of reviving the estate and shaping its destiny. Not content with enlarging the Domaine to a single expanse of 136 acres, he gave this classic Chateauneuf-du-Pape wine its full dimension, creating a “Vieux Telegraphe” style and positioning it on all the world’s leading markets. Since the early 1980s his two sons, Frederic and Daniel, have been tending to the family concern.They now farm 242 acres in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC area, and 37 acres of IGP Vaucluse and AOC Ventoux vines. Domaine Les Pallieres must also be listed: acquired in 1998 in partnership with family friend Kermit Lynch, this single-plot 309-acre estate in Gigondas has 62 acres of vines. The year 1998 also marked the creation of Massaya in Lebanon in association with Sami and Ramzi Ghosn, which now makes wines from 123 acres of vines, planted mainly in the northeast Beqaa Valley. After more than a century in existence, Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe and the subsequent additions, guided by the fifth generation of vignerons, and soon the sixth, has kept its original philosophy intact and very much alive.
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12/4/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Green, wood, stem, fruit, evergreen, lots going on on the nose. Spice on the palate, then richer fruit, but with good balance. Long finish.
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11/27/2019 - LW31 Likes this wine:
Magnum. Young but surprisingly accessible and charming righ now. Lovely middle weight with fresh zip of bright red fruits. With about 45 minutes of air it darkens a bit and starts to show a bit more classic notes and get a bit spicier. Best with 4-5 years time.
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11/16/2019 - thesternowl Likes this wine: 93 Points
Earlier this year when I was first getting acquainted with the 2016 vintage from the Southern Rhône, I made the comment that it reminded me of the 2010 vintage. I’m now more convinced than ever that it is one of the most classical vintages of the last twenty years and will drink well for decades...and 2017 might be nipping at it’s heals. Anyway, let’s talk a little bit about this wine. I’ve never been a huge Vieux Telegraph guy, despite the near universal adoration it received from others. Maybe it’s because it’s such an archetypal wine of the region and therefor sort of bores me. But on its own, in 2016, without other CdP’s on the table, this was really very good and worthy of its merits. Lucious bramble fruit and minerals with black pepper and a lovely lavender/garrigue mix. The tannins are firm but fine, like other 2016’s. And there’s good acid too. Very well balanced.
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10/13/2019 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Second Sunday Group: Ridge Geyserville Vertical (2008-2015) (R&D's): Popped and poured with dinner following the tasting. Red berry fruit and spice notes dominate the bouquet. Medium- to full-bodied with nice structure and flavors of raspberry, pepper and herb. Long finish. Excellent, in spite of its youth.
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9/29/2019 - Harley1199 wrote:
By the glass. An old pal in a too young version. Unfortunately it is not the first time I drink it so soon. On the nose has not yet developed a great aromatic complexity and only shows notes of black fruit. On the palate has so much grip and acidity that it almost hurts. At least all that exuberance is softened with a velvet texture. Finally and for what we can understand each other, this year I will drink a 1999 that treasured in my cellar.
Por copas. Un viejo conocido en una versión demasiado joven. Desgraciadamente no es la primera vez que lo bebo tan pronto. En nariz no ha desarrollado aún una gran complejidad aromática y sólo muestra notas a fruta negra. Al paladar tiene tanto agarre y tanta acidez que casi duele al beberla. Al menos toda esa exuberancia se suaviza con una textura de terciopelo. Finalmente y para qué podamos entendernos, este año me beberé un 1999 que atesoró en mi bodeguita.
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9/21/2019 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
Public tasting from bottle decanted 5 minutes prior and enjoyed over about 10 minutes. As always, I am grateful for these tastings, but note that I tasted the wine before it had a chance to really start opening up.
young red-purple color, cherries, plums, cassis, on the palate a bit light at first, plum tones, dark berries, bright cherry quality, in glass the wine quickly develops a great perfume, floral notes, saddle, blackberries, on the palate beautifully lush as seems a hallmark of the vintage in many parts of France- but with a very serious and substantial structure and tannins underneath, fine length, clove and brush notes with time, exceptional and a great future ahead. As lush as the fruit appears now, I still think this really is going to demand at least a decade to begin showing all that it will eventually have to offer.
(*****), 2030++
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9/13/2019 - chatters wrote:
From half bottle. Talk about consistency...pretty much matches my note from earlier this year; clean, pretty red fruit, harmonious, long, rather lovely
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8/20/2019 - gspier Likes this wine: 94 Points
Certainly young - needs another few years on the cellar
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6/13/2019 - chatters wrote:
Wine Ark Boys supps (Bistro Felix, Ash Street): Half bottle. Red berry compote tending to jam, very primary, baked earth and spices, a little pepper. Just jammy on the palate but still ripe, alcohol is controlled and it's softly tannic, finishes arm but not intrusively so. Nice.
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6/9/2019 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Second Sunday Group: Geja's Cafe format (Marty's): Decanted 3 hrs. Dark fruit, currants and cherry, with subtle garrigue undertones. Red currant, and spice on the palate. Fairly firm tannins, this will need some time. Bury it deep in the cellar.
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6/6/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
Deep ruby. Bark and anise aromatics. Medium body, serious, backward black fruit and garrigue flavors. No undue sweetness here, tannic finish. Outstanding vintage for this if one is willing to wait.
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5/25/2019 - chatters wrote:
Southern Rhone 2016 (Prince Sydney, 40 Hansard Street): Pretty after the Gigondas, slightly jammy fruit, young, controlled, balanced, approachable, pretty good.
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5/23/2019 - MC2 Wines wrote:
2016 CdP (and some other wines over dinner) (NY Racquet and Tennis Club): This was a funny wine. Definitely lower acid more of that full mouthful.
Upon first trying I got a lot of tart and tangy. I expected fruit and that did come with time. Not really my jam.
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5/9/2019 - danstrings Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely spicy caveberry round warm lush red, niiice!
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4/15/2019 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Good darker fruit, earth, leather, some real tannic grip. Needs time
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4/7/2019 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Very good for such a youngster, well balanced, complex with medium ripe fruit (for CdP), alcohol in check, herbs de Provence, lavender, fresh garrigue, etc. Excellent stuff. Green Street Tavern with EWG
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3/30/2019 - richard.presser Likes this wine: 91 Points
2016 Southern Rhone Tasting (PWS South Melbourne): Soft, complex, tannins to hold it. Very good.
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3/15/2019 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 94 Points
Aromas of bright red fruit, mint, orange peel, tar, and forest floor. Intense concentration of pure clear fruit on the palate with enormous energy and drive, a sweet floating aromatic acid back note and a long tannic finish. A gorgeous wine with great verve, charm, and balance. 50 +17 + 18 + 9 = 94.
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3/5/2019 - pdev wrote: 92 Points
nose is fairly reduced at this point, rasinated berries, palate is showing more, red fruits, sous bois, garrigue, stone, fine tannin structure. Very well put together.
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2/28/2019 - Motz wrote: 95 Points
Tart and tangy red fruits, acerola, and under ripe persimmon upon opening, the wine blossomed after several hours of air, delivering a tour de force in supple power. It offered red and spring flowers, sweet and tangy berries, pomegranate, mint, herbs, clay, and minerals on the bouquet and palate. Notably clean, fruit forward, and wholly appealing. More of the same on the second day, albeit more fully integrated. Of CdP wines in this style, I prefer Beaucastel...but who's complaining. Delicious, rounded, balanced, and likely to improve over the next seven to ten years. It should last through 2035+. 95-96.
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2/3/2019 - oropeza Likes this wine:
Generous red and black fruit up front, moving eventually into a peppery, baking spice & cola middle (grenache candy?) with a smoothed-out finish on bright notes. Surprisingly open and welcoming at this age.
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2/2/2019 - hprphf wrote:
La Tablee 2019: High plateau wine. Need time.
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2/2/2019 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep, dark reddish-purple in color. Full, forward & attractive, ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & kirsch notes with overtones of garrigue & floral notes, Provençal herbs notes of rosemary, fennel & lavender, earthy/dusty, spice notes of cinnamon & pepper, minerals & a hint of cedar undertones in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of blackberries, cherries & plums, pepper, spices, herbs, earthy, minerals & a hint of oak. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing although it needs additional time to fully develop at which time it may rate even higher.
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1/31/2019 - danstrings Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wonderful fresh clean ripe round yet balanced red - loads of silky juicy fruit
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10/13/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 4 *shared* bottles] from 10/12/18] (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typically, 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, 5% Cinsault, Clairette, etc. from vines 20 to 60 years yrs old grown in La Crau in soils of alluvial deposits, limestone, silica, & molasse (red clay) with galets roulés; Grapes are partially de-stemmed for traditional fermentation between 25-35 days in s/s & wood cuves (all temperature-controlled); The wine rests in cement tank for 10 mos, then another 12 mos in foudres. 2,100 cs bottled unfiltered
N: Slightly closed; Strawberry jam
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which pretty much resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy finish, but with a refined swtness to the dusty tannins. DESERVES through '19, then at least approaching its 10th. My EXC-/EXC. 98 pts Suckling, 97 Jeb Dunnuck, 96 WA, 95 Vinous (Raynolds), & 93-95 Int'l Wine Cellar, 93 Decanter, 17+/20 Jancis Robinson, & 4*(*)/5 drinkrhone.com . [This vendor's $71.95 puts it in the top 20% of wine-searcher's listings.]
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10/3/2018 - WineDuq Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent young VT. Nose is a bit muted at this point, a little minerality and red fruits, new leather. On the palate the wine is medium to full bodied, very ripe yet completely fresh with flavors of red fruits, minerals/slate and an almost orange peel note. Great palate presence, decent length with some noticeable tannins and vibrant acidity. Should be very good in 4-5 years, last for 20.
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10/2/2018 - tak4 Likes this wine: 93 Points
First time among the round stones of CdP and Gigondas (Chateauneuf-du-pape, Gigondas): Wine of the day.
Moderately concentrated crimson.
Red fruit, raisin on nose with a mineral core.
Palate follows nose, with a touch of sap.
Nice now, will age beautifully.
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12/2/2017 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 89 Points
Black pepper. Rose. Well balanced and I like the rose, but short finish with too much heat compared to some others tasted at a similar price point.
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