Restrained as all Jaboulet Croze seem to be. Can’t argue it’s a well made wine, but lacking the specialness that I hope to encounter with the next bottle…
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Deep dark Syrah, quite dense and gritty, but also with a sheen of vanilla oak that seems out of place next to what was quite a rustic structure this evening. Pretty damn delicious though, so easy to drink.
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A good, solid wine at a great QPR! Open and ready from the beginning, but not especially distinct or pronounced with anything in particular beyond red fruits. It was at its best with 3 hours of air, at which point bing cherry, raspberry, and plum came to the fore with rosemary herbs and some minerality. Nicely textured, concentrated, and expansive in the mouth. Good now, and can age further - 92+
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I really like where this is now with its clean and mostly primary Syrah fruit profile. Fine balance with fine tannins and although not particularly deep this a fine glass now. This is a Northern Rhone that I would drink now while letting the higher end bottles from this vintage rest. There is no rush though.
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Dark red nearly purple. Dense. Polished and smooth, refined black fruit, no trace of heat. I'd been reading reports about advanced 2017s, no such concerns here, this was in top shape and drinking beautifully. Spicy, long and rich, modern as is the Frey way, very much a crowd-pleaser. Hold for 3+ years no worries.
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This is probably the last vintage of Thalabert I’d buy. They managed to keep it to 13.5% in the hot 2017 vintage, helped by a moderating mistral that season. As with other wines from the Northern Rhone of that vintage - a restrained and elegant expression of Syrah, not the most extracted nor surprisingly the most ripe, but probably the most Burgundian vintage in outlook of the last decade. The wines since then have turned into 15% ABV Australian caricatures. Global warming amirite.
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Going to wait before drinking the other bottle I have. Had this in Reidel Syrah glass and think it will improve a bit with more time. Opened one hour before meal and it was very good after another hour. A glass left over (in bottle) I had a couple days later and nice, but not as good.
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Moderately deep purple. Bouquet has some floral tones, almost like ferns. Flavour of slate, licorice, pepper. Some tannins towards the end. Body is very plush and round with a lingering finish.
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This is currently drinking beautifully. 2017 was good vintage in the Northern Rhone . Aromas of ripe stone fruits , perfectly poised with excellent structure. Earthy with some minerals on the long mouthwatering finish. Great value it has to be said and pairs well with food.
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3 hour decant and served with roasted leg of lamb. Excellent, fruit forward Syrah-full bodied. In retrospect, maybe to big a wine for the lamb, but excellent nonetheless.
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Still young and primary, but better - and more balanced - than I expected. Slow ox’d in bottle for 3 to 4 hrs, then drank over 90 mins. Fruit forward on the nose; somewhat fine but definitely assertive tannins on the palate, with reasonably good acidity. If some tertiaries emerge, this will be quite good. Will revisit in 3 yrs or so
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Good, complex and still very fresh with remarkable acidity. Notes of cherry and strawberry, and typical syrah characteristics like liver sausage or blood! Rounded tannins with good length but not fullbodied, and in this case that is not bad or poor, rather the opposite, a sign of maturity and complexity. Very good!
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Color: Deep ruby. There is already a slight brownish hue indicative of an aging wine. Nose: Red fruit. Strawberries for sure and a hint of cherries. Quite nice. Mouth: Excellent expressiveness and length. Much better than the bottle I had a year ago. Medium to full bodied. There is a nice freshness so the wine never feels heavy. A hint of black olives with herbs. Burnt wood. I guess it has just entered the drinking window and can be stored for another 7 years. The alc. of 13.5% isn't noticeable, at all.
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Richly scented and quite easy going this. Pleasurable from the off, but certainly missing a little sternness from the previous vintages. Enjoyable nonetheless, but in an almost new world way
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Double decanted 30 min prior to serving. Poured first glass after having a de Negoce N.74 2018 Walla Walla Syrah sample. This Croze presented interesting contrast to the riper Walla Walla wine. Crozes had a chocolate note with some truffle (earthiness) and noticeable more acidity- which was expected. Purchased at a local grocery store from a wine blow out bin where this was listed at $7.85. Bought all four after reading the JD review from my Iphone. Glad to have 3 more. Good now, should evolve some more.
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This is developing nicely, with notes of olive tapenade and grilled meat that mingle with the raspberry flavored fruit. It’s glossy and somewhat modern, with a healthy dose of oak. Give it a two hour decant now or check back in a couple of years. Nice QPR.
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1/2 hour decant. Drank over an hour and half. Nose. Dried herbs, Black cherry, light anise, light smoke. Palate Moderate tannin. Medium acidity. Black cherry sauce. Black berry. Black pepper on the finish. Delicious. Finish about 20 seconds. Had this with an assortment of cheeses. Really liked it.
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Moins éclatant que les 2015 bus jusqu'ici. Surtout du poivre et de la fumée, le fruit semble un peu en retrait. Finale de longueur moyenne. Très bon tout de même, c'est juste que les 2015 sont tellement plus savoureux et complexe que je ne peux aller plus haut pour la note de de 2017.
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Smoky black cherries, peppery spice, and dark leafy herbs on the nose. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine is fresh, soft, elegant, and loaded with blackberries and olive-tinged plums. Drink from 2025-2035.
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Color: Deep ruby. Nose: Not giving much away. A hint of grilled meat. Mouth: More expressive on the palate. Cherries come to mind. There is a slight savory aspect, too. Medium to full bodied. The alc. can be felt even though it is "only" 13.5%. I like the texture with finely grained tannins. Fresh, too. Medium length. It didn't improve with aeration. I frankly doubt that more cellaring will improve it much.
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First half bottle from a dozen bought en primeur. An interesting comparison to the 2016 drunk last night. The 17 is more closed, bigger bodied and does not suffer the high acidity of the 16. Whilst the 16 is ready to drink the 17 needs a couple of years more to fully open up. I gave potential 93 points en primeur tasting and this is still achievable in time. Nose of blackcurrant pastil and coffee and long finish.
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Almost attains “mostly harmless” category in the immortal words of the Galactic Encyclopedia.
Tasted between 1 and four hours after decant. Minimal evolution.
Nose. Plummy, rather muted. Mystery grape. Palate. Meh. Smooth to point of boredom; easy, zero grip. Tannins way over in the next parish. Low acid. Like a 60% scale model of a Napa. Plummy (more on stewed side than jammy) , slightly peppery finish. Not as apparently alcoholic as might have been expected. Unexciting. Poor match for bbq steak, which is failing its primary job description. Now, what do I do with second bottle ….
In a soft and polished style. I prefer the edgier, more bracing and gritty '15 and '16 vintages, but this is no slouch. It features excellent balance, strong sense of variety in place (even though excessively polished), and a high quality finish. Likely to hold through 2027-2030.
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Lots of fruit and almost a funky aspect on nose. Not at all bad. Lacking somewhat in tension on palate (acid, tannin) for me (similarly to Cornas grand terrasses from this producer).
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Deep purple. Dark flowers, stems, graphite, and black olive. Medium to full bodied, sound acidity, moderately tannic. As promising as the aromatics and initial attack are, it loses steam after that and tails off. Good material here though. Maybe more time in bottle will fill in the holes.
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A delightful wine. Was expecting more sand-paper, abrasive, terroir, but was pleasantly surprised with the round, velvet, balanced expression. May mature with +2 more years but drinking phenomenal right now. Cheers.
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Dark purple/black. Violet nose. Black fruits, earth and black pepper. Medium/full body. Unexpectedly smooth and supple with fine grained tannins and a medium length finish. Paired well with a shrimp pasta dish.
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Cuvée classique et très harmonieuse typé aussi bien à la bouche qu'au nez de ce qu'on peut attendre d'un beau Crozes Hermitage (épice, fruit, olive noir).
Bue un peu trop tôt et qui aurait aussi méritée d'être ouverte quelques heures supplémentaire mais c'est une bonne cuvée.
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D1h. Dark red, red tinged, 5.5. Closed nose, dark berries, black olives. Polished on the palate, medium tannins, good portion of dark fruit. Wait 2-3years. If popped now give it several hours of decant.
1.5 l Bottle. Fruit was not fully developed but an hour open and the flavors came forward. Black and Blueberry with some olive. Middle was supple and round with a fine tannin on the long finish. Too early for this bottle but still a very nice wine
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Was not going to open so early, but the cork was beginning to fail - it was already ¾ stained! No need for a long decant, but thankfully not corked.
Smokey, peaty aromas combined with bacon fat – undeniably N. Rhone. Dark berries & black olives overshadow the palate with vanilla & licorice running a secondary role.
Tannins were thin & the finish was rather short. If not for my cork, I bet this would be perfect for the short term cellar.
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Rich nose, very round with black fruit and olive notes. Nicely dry with building tannins. Mid-palate/finish had a distinct green/bitter note after opening which went away with an hour of air. Nice wine, much preferred over cheaper domestic Syrah.
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Minerality on the nose, with some oak. Dark red color. Full bodied. Well balanced but still a bit young. This one has years to go. Notes of leather, some acidity. Tannins are there but under control.
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Popped and poured. Dark color with notes of plum and dark fruit with plenty of peppery spice underneath. More of the same on the palate. Medium tannins. Excellent.
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Approx. 1 hour decant. Dark ruby, nice aromas, spices of vanilla, allspice, cinnamon, chocolate, and peppers on the nose, fruit notes of cranberry, blackberry, dark cherry. On the tongue, more subdued flavors, savory, nicely balanced, medium body, fruit notes of blackberry, dark cherry are pleasant but not pronounced. Nice length with a clean, tingly finish on the back of the throat with a bit of pepperiness. This wine could potentially benefit from some more time in the cellar. A few more years will bring out the fruit and complexity in this wine.
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Very aromatic with a big floral bouquet along with dark fruit aromas. Dark red with a nearly black hue in the glass. Dark black fruit flavors of blackberry, black raspberry, and boisenberry. Very soft, integrated tannins with refreshing acidity. Seems to pop on the medium+ finish. Quite enjoyable.
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Massor av blåbär! Saknar lite den där rökiga och köttiga karaktären som jag annars gillar med Syrah från norra Rhône. I övrigt ganska drickvänlig, vet inte om den kommer vinna så mkt mer på lagring.
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More approachable than I anticipated. Nose of olive juice covered bacon. Very savory and briny. On the palate resolved blackberries and purple fruit with that tapenade and minerality that is expected. Supple and light on its feet.
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I like this better than the 15 and 16. Still more oak on the nose than I prefer, and the flavors lack a little precision, but the dark concentrated dark fruit has a lovely meaty, savory quality.
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Agree, this is a richer version of Syrah than I expected, deep black/blue fruits dominate, noticed the oak and pepper also. Left a glass in the bottle in the cellar for 3 days, and a nice minerality came out on the long finish that was appealing. Wanted to try to decide whether to get more at my local Costclo.
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I'm missing the cranberry in other TNs -- this is all blue/black fruit to me. Tobacco, chocolate, hint of black pepper, and some new oak. Quite balanced overall, and much better on day 3, I'd leave this alone for another couple years before trying again.
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Although still very young this Croze Hermitage is approachable and is easy enough to enjoy now. I drank this from a 375ml bottle and gave it a 30 minute decant with an aerator. NIce structure, balance and juicy fruit and pairs well with food. I always think it's not such a bad idea to taste a wine in its youth especially should you happen to have bought a half case or stored a few bottle away for further enjoyment. Very good value and with time on its side to develop further seems like a trio of very good vintages for the Rhone 2015, 2016 & 2017. Recommended.
Serious dense color. Olive and red fruit aroma with some woodsy notes. Shows off the richness of the 2017 Rhone vintage. Great balance of acidity and fruit with a medium finish with light astringency. Outstanding in a few years.
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P: Med body; Rndish entry with very NICE, ALMOST swtish frt fairly quickly met by an astringent PUCKER which evolves into a LONG, BALANCED, slightly puckerish finish with a VERY slight bitterness & hints of impending swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS into '22, then certainly a candidate for making its 10th, LIKELY longer given its track record of aging. NICELY done, as would be expected for this bottling! 13.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. 94 pts Dunnuck (12/’19), 92 ea WA, Vinous (Raynolds, 4/’20), & Suckling, 15.5/20 Jancis Robinson (Hemming, 3/6/19), and 4*/5* drinkrhone.com (12/’19). [This vendor's $29.95 puts it near the TOP of wine-searcher's postings.]
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Probably a year or two before its prime, you can tell it is (and will be) superb. Once it has aired for a while, it has perfect balance between fruit and tannin. Good QPR at $30++, especially if you can lay these down for another year or three.
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The 2017 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert is opaque deep purple in color. I decanted this for 4 hours, with the wine blossoming to showcase a nose of black plum, blackberry, cassis, violet, worn leather, hint of nail polish remover, wet rock, light smoke, and mocha. Once in the mouth, the wine displays notes of blackcurrant, black plum, black cherry, licorice, mild tobacco, granite, savory green herbs, chalky mineral, and blood. This is medium-bodied with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
100% Syrah; 13.5% ABV
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Decanted and consumed over a 3-day period with the last day being the best; dark purple in color, almost dark as night; once this opened up (beginning day 2) the nose was wonderful; blackberry bramble, plums, smoked meats, macerated olives, light pepper; in the mouth, this was full-blackberry up front with some tobacco and iron; then heavier on the earth and brine qualities mid-palate; very nice mineral streak all the way through; rich and full-bodied overall; maybe a little alcohol heat on day 1; fine, chalky, sweet tannins; great weight overall and wonderful finish.
This is a terrific Syrah and exceptional value in my book. 93+ once it had time to open up.
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Drank over 3 days. Did not decant, but opened the bottle 8 hours before the first glass. Very reticent. What was coming through was subdued blackberry and tobacco notes. Day 2 offered more of the same giving up slightly more acidity. Day 3 offered new notes of black olive with blackberry reduction. It seemed to be headed in the right direction and would have likely been great on day 4. This wine needs time in the bottle. If I get antsy over the next year and open another, I’ll probably open it a few days before drinking.
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Wonderful wine!! Ample dark fruit on the nose, and after an hour of air time, pair well with our beef and rice dish. Look for this to improve over the next 5-7 years.
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Benefiting from a couple of hours in decanter, this opaque crimson wine delivers a payload of dark bramble fruits, black plums, licorice, tapenade and savory herbs. Full-bodied, fresh, judiciously oaked and with seamless alcohol (listed as 13.5%), it is a luscious red that wraps its fruit with plentiful fine-grained tannins. With impressive mid-palate density and a lengthy, mineral-driven finish, this is a stellar Syrah that should have good longevity. Drink now-2030.
Over two days. In a similar, if less spectacular style, to the 2015 vintage. It needs lots of air, after which the magic happens. Without air, it shows modernly styled and somewhat reticent. With air, it turns Old World, correct, and delicious! A bargain for the price point! 91-93.
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I triple decanted this and waited an hour. It needed that. Cigar box and cranberry on the nose. The austerity of the nose anticipates the palate, in part. The wine tastes of cranberries with some blue fruit lurking beneath the surface. The wine is not plush, but is restrained and elegant. Cigar box and minerals are significant along with some earthiness. Chalky tannins are present, but not overwhelming. The wine has a significant finish. I’m eager to try this after it has 5 years in the bottle or longer.
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Decanted for an hour before insta-pot brisket and bacon/Brussels sprouts. First pour was abit tight, sorta flat. After 30 minutes and coupled with dinner opened up. Still abit oak on the palate. Short finish. I do think a few years will help for sure.
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Not as good as 2015. Way too much reduction on day 1 had to leave for 2 days to get rid of it. Day 3 the wine had more fruits spice but the alcohol was too present to make it enjoyable.
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I really liked the 2015, so I wanted to compare the 2017. Bottle opened at 7 p.m., immediately poured a good quantity into a glass to make it breathe. First impression .... really too much reduction as if I were opening a white Burgundy white from a producer who uses alot of sulfate in his wines. Even after 2 hours the reduction and the wood treatment were too present. I detect that there is a lot of matter in the wine but the reduction and the wood are too present to appreciate it ... I let it go ... I think we will have to wait until tomorrow or Saturday to see if the reduction will dissipate .... more to follow
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My pick of the Jaboulet wines at the L&W en primeur tasting, based on QPR. A big bodied wine for the price with a lovely coffee aroma. Will need 5 years before seeing if it's ready to drink. At £16.50 a bottle I couldn't resist buying some. I rated the Maison Bleue slightly higher but it's more than twice the price. La Chapelle was a 95 point wine but 7 times the price.
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5/12/2024 - El_Dougo wrote:
Restrained as all Jaboulet Croze seem to be. Can’t argue it’s a well made wine, but lacking the specialness that I hope to encounter with the next bottle…
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5/3/2024 - oenanthe Likes this wine: 88 Points
Deep dark Syrah, quite dense and gritty, but also with a sheen of vanilla oak that seems out of place next to what was quite a rustic structure this evening. Pretty damn delicious though, so easy to drink.
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4/24/2024 - Mr. Magoo Likes this wine: 90 Points
2017 vintage. Purchased from Costco. Consistently good. Second favorite varietal.
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4/7/2024 - Apollo5710 wrote: 92 Points
A good, solid wine at a great QPR! Open and ready from the beginning, but not especially distinct or pronounced with anything in particular beyond red fruits. It was at its best with 3 hours of air, at which point bing cherry, raspberry, and plum came to the fore with rosemary herbs and some minerality. Nicely textured, concentrated, and expansive in the mouth. Good now, and can age further - 92+
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4/5/2024 - Volleyball wrote: 89 Points
Drank at wineberserkers blind tasting event at cork buzz. Perfectly fine but clearly inferior to my more expensive wine (Penfolds RWT 2008)
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3/30/2024 - larsth wrote: 90 Points
I really like where this is now with its clean and mostly primary Syrah fruit profile. Fine balance with fine tannins and although not particularly deep this a fine glass now. This is a Northern Rhone that I would drink now while letting the higher end bottles from this vintage rest. There is no rush though.
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2/25/2024 - oenanthe Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark red nearly purple. Dense. Polished and smooth, refined black fruit, no trace of heat. I'd been reading reports about advanced 2017s, no such concerns here, this was in top shape and drinking beautifully. Spicy, long and rich, modern as is the Frey way, very much a crowd-pleaser. Hold for 3+ years no worries.
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1/29/2024 - geraldsng Likes this wine:
This is probably the last vintage of Thalabert I’d buy. They managed to keep it to 13.5% in the hot 2017 vintage, helped by a moderating mistral that season. As with other wines from the Northern Rhone of that vintage - a restrained and elegant expression of Syrah, not the most extracted nor surprisingly the most ripe, but probably the most Burgundian vintage in outlook of the last decade. The wines since then have turned into 15% ABV Australian caricatures. Global warming amirite.
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1/25/2024 - Les Kangas Likes this wine: 92 Points
Going to wait before drinking the other bottle I have. Had this in Reidel Syrah glass and think it will improve a bit with more time. Opened one hour before meal and it was very good after another hour. A glass left over (in bottle) I had a couple days later and nice, but not as good.
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1/19/2024 - rbfoote Likes this wine: 91 Points
Moderately deep purple. Bouquet has some floral tones, almost like ferns. Flavour of slate, licorice, pepper. Some tannins towards the end. Body is very plush and round with a lingering finish.
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1/18/2024 - stkilda Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is currently drinking beautifully. 2017 was good vintage in the Northern Rhone . Aromas of ripe stone fruits , perfectly poised with excellent structure. Earthy with some minerals on the long mouthwatering finish. Great value it has to be said and pairs well with food.
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12/28/2023 - Pedroel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good fruit, mineral, balance, fine tannins, long finish. No flaws, just good juice and very good value.
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12/25/2023 - ponty48 wrote: 91 Points
3 hour decant and served with roasted leg of lamb. Excellent, fruit forward Syrah-full bodied. In retrospect, maybe to big a wine for the lamb, but excellent nonetheless.
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11/12/2023 - WilBlu Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fantastisk till Bouef bourgogne. Finns mkt kraft kvar och kommer åldras väl!
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9/22/2023 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still young and primary, but better - and more balanced - than I expected. Slow ox’d in bottle for 3 to 4 hrs, then drank over 90 mins. Fruit forward on the nose; somewhat fine but definitely assertive tannins on the palate, with reasonably good acidity. If some tertiaries emerge, this will be quite good. Will revisit in 3 yrs or so
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6/9/2023 - Conde Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good, complex and still very fresh with remarkable acidity. Notes of cherry and strawberry, and typical syrah characteristics like liver sausage or blood! Rounded tannins with good length but not fullbodied, and in this case that is not bad or poor, rather the opposite, a sign of maturity and complexity. Very good!
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6/9/2023 - wineaficionado Likes this wine: 91 Points
Color: Deep ruby. There is already a slight brownish hue indicative of an aging wine. Nose: Red fruit. Strawberries for sure and a hint of cherries. Quite nice. Mouth: Excellent expressiveness and length. Much better than the bottle I had a year ago. Medium to full bodied. There is a nice freshness so the wine never feels heavy. A hint of black olives with herbs. Burnt wood. I guess it has just entered the drinking window and can be stored for another 7 years. The alc. of 13.5% isn't noticeable, at all.
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5/15/2023 - Smahlatz Likes this wine: 89 Points
Richly scented and quite easy going this. Pleasurable from the off, but certainly missing a little sternness from the previous vintages. Enjoyable nonetheless, but in an almost new world way
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5/4/2023 - SCM Fan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Double decanted 30 min prior to serving. Poured first glass after having a de Negoce N.74 2018 Walla Walla Syrah sample. This Croze presented interesting contrast to the riper Walla Walla wine. Crozes had a chocolate note with some truffle (earthiness) and noticeable more acidity- which was expected. Purchased at a local grocery store from a wine blow out bin where this was listed at $7.85. Bought all four after reading the JD review from my Iphone. Glad to have 3 more. Good now, should evolve some more.
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3/25/2023 - HT3703 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfect. Well balanced, dark fruit, medium+ body, medium acidity, supple tannins, insanely long finish.
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2/18/2023 - rupertg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black centre, red rim. Full and smooth, tannic in the mouth. Peppery fruit, still not fully mature. But very enjoyable.
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1/23/2023 - nic.fcn wrote: 89 Points
Good to drink but really mellows with some airing. Drank over two days, it was so much nicer in day 2.
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11/13/2022 - O'Meara Likes this wine:
This is developing nicely, with notes of olive tapenade and grilled meat that mingle with the raspberry flavored fruit. It’s glossy and somewhat modern, with a healthy dose of oak. Give it a two hour decant now or check back in a couple of years. Nice QPR.
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10/19/2022 - bburke40 Likes this wine: 93 Points
1/2 hour decant. Drank over an hour and half. Nose. Dried herbs, Black cherry, light anise, light smoke. Palate Moderate tannin. Medium acidity. Black cherry sauce. Black berry. Black pepper on the finish. Delicious. Finish about 20 seconds. Had this with an assortment of cheeses. Really liked it.
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10/8/2022 - maxima wrote: 89 Points
Moins éclatant que les 2015 bus jusqu'ici.
Surtout du poivre et de la fumée, le fruit semble
un peu en retrait. Finale de longueur moyenne.
Très bon tout de même, c'est juste que les
2015 sont tellement plus savoureux et complexe que
je ne peux aller plus haut pour la note de
de 2017.
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10/4/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Smoky black cherries, peppery spice, and dark leafy herbs on the nose. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine is fresh, soft, elegant, and loaded with blackberries and olive-tinged plums. Drink from 2025-2035.
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8/27/2022 - wineaficionado Likes this wine: 85 Points
Color: Deep ruby. Nose: Not giving much away. A hint of grilled meat. Mouth: More expressive on the palate. Cherries come to mind. There is a slight savory aspect, too. Medium to full bodied. The alc. can be felt even though it is "only" 13.5%. I like the texture with finely grained tannins. Fresh, too. Medium length. It didn't improve with aeration. I frankly doubt that more cellaring will improve it much.
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8/25/2022 - HOS wrote: 91 Points
PnP Initially muted then opened into mushroom , au jus, herbs. Full bodied , good finish. Still young with definite upside.
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8/10/2022 - wineforth Likes this wine: 92 Points
First half bottle from a dozen bought en primeur. An interesting comparison to the 2016 drunk last night. The 17 is more closed, bigger bodied and does not suffer the high acidity of the 16. Whilst the 16 is ready to drink the 17 needs a couple of years more to fully open up. I gave potential 93 points en primeur tasting and this is still achievable in time. Nose of blackcurrant pastil and coffee and long finish.
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8/4/2022 - RichardFlack wrote: 87 Points
Almost attains “mostly harmless” category in the immortal words of the Galactic Encyclopedia.
Tasted between 1 and four hours after decant. Minimal evolution.
Nose. Plummy, rather muted. Mystery grape.
Palate. Meh. Smooth to point of boredom; easy, zero grip. Tannins way over in the next parish. Low acid. Like a 60% scale model of a Napa. Plummy (more on stewed side than jammy) , slightly peppery finish. Not as apparently alcoholic as might have been expected. Unexciting. Poor match for bbq steak, which is failing its primary job description. Now, what do I do with second bottle ….
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8/3/2022 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
In a soft and polished style. I prefer the edgier, more bracing and gritty '15 and '16 vintages, but this is no slouch. It features excellent balance, strong sense of variety in place (even though excessively polished), and a high quality finish. Likely to hold through 2027-2030.
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7/29/2022 - Martin_G wrote: 89 Points
Lots of fruit and almost a funky aspect on nose. Not at all bad. Lacking somewhat in tension on palate (acid, tannin) for me (similarly to Cornas grand terrasses from this producer).
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7/28/2022 - ancherrera Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sour plums and fruit cake. Like fruit that’s is starting to ferment. Buy again.
Very savory and delicious. Regret not buying more bottles.
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7/22/2022 - nic.fcn wrote: 89 Points
Nice and easy drinking. Good to drink now. Very decent PQR.
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7/18/2022 - drwine2001 wrote:
Deep purple. Dark flowers, stems, graphite, and black olive. Medium to full bodied, sound acidity, moderately tannic. As promising as the aromatics and initial attack are, it loses steam after that and tails off. Good material here though. Maybe more time in bottle will fill in the holes.
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5/18/2022 - Escher Cellars wrote: 92 Points
A delightful wine. Was expecting more sand-paper, abrasive, terroir, but was pleasantly surprised with the round, velvet, balanced expression. May mature with +2 more years but drinking phenomenal right now. Cheers.
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5/8/2022 - mvande21 wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple/black. Violet nose. Black fruits, earth and black pepper. Medium/full body. Unexpectedly smooth and supple with fine grained tannins and a medium length finish. Paired well with a shrimp pasta dish.
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10/6/2021 - François1986 wrote: 87 Points
Cuvée classique et très harmonieuse typé aussi bien à la bouche qu'au nez de ce qu'on peut attendre d'un beau Crozes Hermitage (épice, fruit, olive noir).
Bue un peu trop tôt et qui aurait aussi méritée d'être ouverte quelques heures supplémentaire mais c'est une bonne cuvée.
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8/27/2021 - asgerG wrote: 90 Points
D1h. Dark red, red tinged, 5.5. Closed nose, dark berries, black olives. Polished on the palate, medium tannins, good portion of dark fruit. Wait 2-3years. If popped now give it several hours of decant.
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7/16/2021 - wtianseter wrote: 91 Points
1.5 l Bottle. Fruit was not fully developed but an hour open and the flavors came forward. Black and Blueberry with some olive. Middle was supple and round with a fine tannin on the long finish. Too early for this bottle but still a very nice wine
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7/10/2021 - KillerJones Likes this wine: 89 Points
Was not going to open so early, but the cork was beginning to fail - it was already ¾ stained! No need for a long decant, but thankfully not corked.
Smokey, peaty aromas combined with bacon fat – undeniably N. Rhone. Dark berries & black olives overshadow the palate with vanilla & licorice running a secondary role.
Tannins were thin & the finish was rather short. If not for my cork, I bet this would be perfect for the short term cellar.
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5/28/2021 - beef1020 Likes this wine:
Rich nose, very round with black fruit and olive notes. Nicely dry with building tannins. Mid-palate/finish had a distinct green/bitter note after opening which went away with an hour of air. Nice wine, much preferred over cheaper domestic Syrah.
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5/25/2021 - lomartin@protonmail.com Likes this wine: 88 Points
Minerality on the nose, with some oak. Dark red color. Full bodied. Well balanced but still a bit young. This one has years to go. Notes of leather, some acidity. Tannins are there but under control.
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3/20/2021 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Dark color with notes of plum and dark fruit with plenty of peppery spice underneath. More of the same on the palate. Medium tannins. Excellent.
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2/5/2021 - eprutter Likes this wine: 86 Points
Approx. 1 hour decant. Dark ruby, nice aromas, spices of vanilla, allspice, cinnamon, chocolate, and peppers on the nose, fruit notes of cranberry, blackberry, dark cherry. On the tongue, more subdued flavors, savory, nicely balanced, medium body, fruit notes of blackberry, dark cherry are pleasant but not pronounced. Nice length with a clean, tingly finish on the back of the throat with a bit of pepperiness. This wine could potentially benefit from some more time in the cellar. A few more years will bring out the fruit and complexity in this wine.
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12/27/2020 - Sundbyberg wrote: 92 Points
After a 2 hr decant this was nice. Berries, but with no complexoty to speak of. Should improve with further aging.
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12/26/2020 - Tym4wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very aromatic with a big floral bouquet along with dark fruit aromas. Dark red with a nearly black hue in the glass. Dark black fruit flavors of blackberry, black raspberry, and boisenberry. Very soft, integrated tannins with refreshing acidity. Seems to pop on the medium+ finish. Quite enjoyable.
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12/13/2020 - Sebran wrote: 88 Points
Massor av blåbär! Saknar lite den där rökiga och köttiga karaktären som jag annars gillar med Syrah från norra Rhône. I övrigt ganska drickvänlig, vet inte om den kommer vinna så mkt mer på lagring.
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12/1/2020 - STM82 Likes this wine: 92 Points
More approachable than I anticipated. Nose of olive juice covered bacon. Very savory and briny. On the palate resolved blackberries and purple fruit with that tapenade and minerality that is expected. Supple and light on its feet.
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10/31/2020 - coremill wrote: 90 Points
I like this better than the 15 and 16. Still more oak on the nose than I prefer, and the flavors lack a little precision, but the dark concentrated dark fruit has a lovely meaty, savory quality.
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10/16/2020 - bonedocnine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just delicious. Yummers!!!!!
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10/5/2020 - CLE Rocks! Likes this wine: 92 Points
The nose has some menthol, wet earth, forest floor and violets.
The color is a deep red-purple and traditional Syrah.
The wine has a great mouth feel very smooth which hides the alcohol and let you take in the berry cobbler, warm spices and raspberry/cedar back end.
The wine would benefit significantly from another year or two on the shelf, but I would wait much longer as the sediment is already building.
This should be a crowd pleaser if you’re looking for something under $50/bottle. I’m going to order some more and lay it down.
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9/6/2020 - Ribera74 wrote: 93 Points
Härligt vin med lång eftersmak, doft och smak av mörka bär, läder, lakrits och en touch av viol
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8/27/2020 - skifree wrote:
Agree, this is a richer version of Syrah than I expected, deep black/blue fruits dominate, noticed the oak and pepper also. Left a glass in the bottle in the cellar for 3 days, and a nice minerality came out on the long finish that was appealing. Wanted to try to decide whether to get more at my local Costclo.
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8/23/2020 - syrahshiraz Likes this wine: 91 Points
I'm missing the cranberry in other TNs -- this is all blue/black fruit to me. Tobacco, chocolate, hint of black pepper, and some new oak. Quite balanced overall, and much better on day 3, I'd leave this alone for another couple years before trying again.
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8/10/2020 - casaallora Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful rich purple hue upon decanting. Decanted 1 hour. Nice pronounced red licorice nose w/good even legs. Rich cranberry & plum flavor. Relaxed full pleasing finish. Very nice w/Asiago cheese appetizer & grilled Rib Eye entree.
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7/26/2020 - mpsocal Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice balance of fruit and earth. Hint of acidity and slightly tannic. Consistently a good drink every time regardless of vintage.
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7/6/2020 - stkilda Likes this wine: 92 Points
Although still very young this Croze Hermitage is approachable and is easy enough to enjoy now. I drank this from a 375ml bottle and gave it a 30 minute decant with an aerator. NIce structure, balance and juicy fruit and pairs well with food. I always think it's not such a bad idea to taste a wine in its youth especially should you happen to have bought a half case or stored a few bottle away for further enjoyment. Very good value and with time on its side to develop further seems like a trio of very good vintages for the Rhone 2015, 2016 & 2017. Recommended.
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6/22/2020 - Winning_Wines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for 2-hours. This was good, but I was expecting more with the other CT scores here.
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6/16/2020 - Matteo1 Likes this wine:
Serious dense color. Olive and red fruit aroma with some woodsy notes. Shows off the richness of the 2017 Rhone vintage. Great balance of acidity and fruit with a medium finish with light astringency. Outstanding in a few years.
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6/13/2020 - srh Likes this wine:
Rhone Reds (1-N, 5-S; 2-'16s & 4-'17s) (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: CLOSED; RIPE berries atop minerals/earth, poss some pyrazines? With addt'l air/swirling, hints of choc? Intensity lurking
P: Med body; Rndish entry with very NICE, ALMOST swtish frt fairly quickly met by an astringent PUCKER which evolves into a LONG, BALANCED, slightly puckerish finish with a VERY slight bitterness & hints of impending swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS into '22, then certainly a candidate for making its 10th, LIKELY longer given its track record of aging. NICELY done, as would be expected for this bottling! 13.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. 94 pts Dunnuck (12/’19), 92 ea WA, Vinous (Raynolds, 4/’20), & Suckling, 15.5/20 Jancis Robinson (Hemming, 3/6/19), and 4*/5* drinkrhone.com (12/’19). [This vendor's $29.95 puts it near the TOP of wine-searcher's postings.]
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6/13/2020 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Probably a year or two before its prime, you can tell it is (and will be) superb. Once it has aired for a while, it has perfect balance between fruit and tannin. Good QPR at $30++, especially if you can lay these down for another year or three.
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6/12/2020 - mpsocal Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistently good wine. Seems to have a nice balance of fruit and earthiness.
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6/9/2020 - ovenmitt wrote: 90 Points
Great QPR and drinking surprisingly well for such a young wine.
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5/18/2020 - bensony Likes this wine: 91 Points
The 2017 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert is opaque deep purple in color. I decanted this for 4 hours, with the wine blossoming to showcase a nose of black plum, blackberry, cassis, violet, worn leather, hint of nail polish remover, wet rock, light smoke, and mocha. Once in the mouth, the wine displays notes of blackcurrant, black plum, black cherry, licorice, mild tobacco, granite, savory green herbs, chalky mineral, and blood. This is medium-bodied with medium (+) acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
100% Syrah; 13.5% ABV
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5/16/2020 - tcufletch Likes this wine:
Decanted and consumed over a 3-day period with the last day being the best; dark purple in color, almost dark as night; once this opened up (beginning day 2) the nose was wonderful; blackberry bramble, plums, smoked meats, macerated olives, light pepper; in the mouth, this was full-blackberry up front with some tobacco and iron; then heavier on the earth and brine qualities mid-palate; very nice mineral streak all the way through; rich and full-bodied overall; maybe a little alcohol heat on day 1; fine, chalky, sweet tannins; great weight overall and wonderful finish.
This is a terrific Syrah and exceptional value in my book. 93+ once it had time to open up.
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5/15/2020 - mktaylor23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank over 3 days. Did not decant, but opened the bottle 8 hours before the first glass. Very reticent. What was coming through was subdued blackberry and tobacco notes. Day 2 offered more of the same giving up slightly more acidity. Day 3 offered new notes of black olive with blackberry reduction. It seemed to be headed in the right direction and would have likely been great on day 4. This wine needs time in the bottle. If I get antsy over the next year and open another, I’ll probably open it a few days before drinking.
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5/12/2020 - MCrawford wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful wine!! Ample dark fruit on the nose, and after an hour of air time, pair well with our beef and rice dish. Look for this to improve over the next 5-7 years.
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4/3/2020 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
Benefiting from a couple of hours in decanter, this opaque crimson wine delivers a payload of dark bramble fruits, black plums, licorice, tapenade and savory herbs. Full-bodied, fresh, judiciously oaked and with seamless alcohol (listed as 13.5%), it is a luscious red that wraps its fruit with plentiful fine-grained tannins. With impressive mid-palate density and a lengthy, mineral-driven finish, this is a stellar Syrah that should have good longevity. Drink now-2030.
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3/6/2020 - Motz wrote: 92 Points
Over two days. In a similar, if less spectacular style, to the 2015 vintage. It needs lots of air, after which the magic happens. Without air, it shows modernly styled and somewhat reticent. With air, it turns Old World, correct, and delicious! A bargain for the price point! 91-93.
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2/28/2020 - David J Cooper wrote: 91 Points
Dark garnet. Intense berry nose, some earthiness and a bit of pepper. Rich dry berry fruit and some lovely fuzzy tannins, but very grippy.
Lots of potential here, hold for a decade.
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2/23/2020 - Gern Blanston Likes this wine: 90 Points
I triple decanted this and waited an hour. It needed that. Cigar box and cranberry on the nose. The austerity of the nose anticipates the palate, in part. The wine tastes of cranberries with some blue fruit lurking beneath the surface. The wine is not plush, but is restrained and elegant. Cigar box and minerals are significant along with some earthiness. Chalky tannins are present, but not overwhelming. The wine has a significant finish. I’m eager to try this after it has 5 years in the bottle or longer.
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1/19/2020 - SammyD1974 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted for an hour before insta-pot brisket and bacon/Brussels sprouts. First pour was abit tight, sorta flat. After 30 minutes and coupled with dinner opened up. Still abit oak on the palate. Short finish. I do think a few years will help for sure.
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1/12/2020 - Hanibal wrote: 89 Points
Not as good as 2015. Way too much reduction on day 1 had to leave for 2 days to get rid of it. Day 3 the wine had more fruits spice but the alcohol was too present to make it enjoyable.
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1/9/2020 - Hanibal wrote:
I really liked the 2015, so I wanted to compare the 2017. Bottle opened at 7 p.m., immediately poured a good quantity into a glass to make it breathe. First impression .... really too much reduction as if I were opening a white Burgundy white from a producer who uses alot of sulfate in his wines. Even after 2 hours the reduction and the wood treatment were too present. I detect that there is a lot of matter in the wine but the reduction and the wood are too present to appreciate it ... I let it go ... I think we will have to wait until tomorrow or Saturday to see if the reduction will dissipate .... more to follow
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3/6/2019 - wineforth Likes this wine: 93 Points
My pick of the Jaboulet wines at the L&W en primeur tasting, based on QPR. A big bodied wine for the price with a lovely coffee aroma. Will need 5 years before seeing if it's ready to drink. At £16.50 a bottle I couldn't resist buying some. I rated the Maison Bleue slightly higher but it's more than twice the price. La Chapelle was a 95 point wine but 7 times the price.
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