Bought this when ratings were high, since then they've been a lot lower. Have to agree with the more recent ones. This was only okay.
Chilled 15 mins and no decant since I poured a small glass through Coravin pivot. Nose not super expressive but interesting enough. Enough fruit with black cherry and grilled plum, a fair bit of oak (molasses, nutmeg), and some garrigue and animal notes. Alcohol present and interfering.
Palate was fine - viscous from the alcohol, with tannins giving it a silky quality. Acids are ok, tannins are firm but do yield in the mouth. The high alcohol leaves a bitter finish. Finish length middling, just not all that pleasant.
More experienced me doesn't buy much wine over 14% alcohol because any higher and it's distracting, so that's on me not knowing my preference when I bought this. Otherwise not great for the price.
The drinking window confuses me a bit - not sure there is enough concentration here to support long development, though it has the tannic structure. Alcohol will stick out more over time and any less acid will throw this further out of balance. Would suggest drinking soon but YMMV.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Concentrated and focused delivering black fruits jam, tobacco and white pepper. Full bodied, medium acidity and medium grained sandy tannins. This is a good all around wine. I enjoyed it by itself watching the Thursday night NFL game. Great night after a long work week and prior to a good holiday break including many rounds of golf! NI:4, FI:22, FC:8, B:4, L:4
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I can't share the enthusiasm of the other reviewers for this wine. Certainly well-made, but in my opinion, it lacks a bit in complexity and finesse. Varietal composition: 65 % Grenache Noir, 20 % Mourvèdre and 15 % Syrah (40–50 years old vines). Maturation: aged for eighteen months in barrels and in foudres. Color: dark ruby-red. Nose: aromas of cranberry, raspberry, cedar wood and a hint of thyme and incense. On the palate: a rather medium-bodied wine (despite the high alcohol level) with pleasant dark berry and plum fruit but the tannins are still quite angular. Reasonable finish. The wine could benefit from further aging.
Ik kan het enthousiasme van de andere reviewers over deze wijn niet direct delen. Een degelijke wijn zeker, maar naar mijn mening mist hij wat complexiteit en finesse. Samenstelling: 65 % Grenache Noir, 20 % Mourvèdre en 15 % Syrah (40 tot 50 jaar oude stokken). Rijping: achttien maanden in eiken vaten en in foeders. Kleur: donker robijnrood. Neus: aroma's van veenbes, framboos, cederhout en ook een vleugje tijm en wierook. In de mond: een middelkrachtige wijn (ondanks zijn hoog alcoholgehalte) met aangenaam fruit van zwarte bessen en pruimen, maar de tannines zijn nog steeds vrij stug. Redelijke afdronk. De wijn kan er met de jaren wel nog op vooruit gaan.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP, but definitely needs air time. A G(65)S(15)M(20) blend that is young, and accentuates the more brambly dark red and blue fruits. Medium plus bodied showing some spice, some tannin, relatively balancing acidity and a general "not ready for prime time" attitude. Cellar for a couple of years, then enjoy for several more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Candied raspberry, light blackberry bramble, bay leaf, oak paneling, singed alderwood. Layered, dense projection.
Mouth: Flavors of blackberry sauce, jellied currant, and raspberry juice run smack into a midpalate of bay leaf and black licorice. Burly, rough and tumble tannins pull throughout, leading a finish of roasted alderwood and dried black earth.
Overall: At the moment, this is beautiful, generous and full, but tightly coiled and stacked on top of itself. The core of the fruit is really pretty, but is currently subsumed entirely by the tertiary notes that wont let it get a word in edgewise. Considerable potential exists here, once everything has a chance to meld and separate. Impressive QPR: this is a fully fledged cru Gigondas at half the price. Drink 2023-2034.
94.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 15% Syrah grown at 400 metres elevation on pebbly limestone terroir that has a ripe, medium-high intensity nose of wild berry, blackberry, sweet and peppery spices. It's medium-full bodied with very nice, ripe fruited aroma replays plus stony mineral and spice adding complexity. Quite structured with fine tannins, balanced acids, and some warmth on the mid-palate. Excellent finish length with a slightly chalky textured mouthfeel on the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
9/22/2023 - mike410 wrote: flawed
Corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2023 - Ryan8008 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bought this when ratings were high, since then they've been a lot lower. Have to agree with the more recent ones. This was only okay.
Chilled 15 mins and no decant since I poured a small glass through Coravin pivot. Nose not super expressive but interesting enough. Enough fruit with black cherry and grilled plum, a fair bit of oak (molasses, nutmeg), and some garrigue and animal notes. Alcohol present and interfering.
Palate was fine - viscous from the alcohol, with tannins giving it a silky quality. Acids are ok, tannins are firm but do yield in the mouth. The high alcohol leaves a bitter finish. Finish length middling, just not all that pleasant.
More experienced me doesn't buy much wine over 14% alcohol because any higher and it's distracting, so that's on me not knowing my preference when I bought this. Otherwise not great for the price.
The drinking window confuses me a bit - not sure there is enough concentration here to support long development, though it has the tannic structure. Alcohol will stick out more over time and any less acid will throw this further out of balance. Would suggest drinking soon but YMMV.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2023 - Johan - Antwerpen wrote: 80 Points
Velvety, easy drinking. Simple and flat. On the way back. Drink now, or even better yesterday . :-) Won’t buy again .
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2023 - ragavolley Likes this wine: 91 Points
90 mais pour 31$, c’est une aubaine … donc j’ai donné 91. Cuire , tabac au nez et cerise sour et menthol au goût . Pas de longueur et pas complexe.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2022 - Dfortin9 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Concentrated and focused delivering black fruits jam, tobacco and white pepper. Full bodied, medium acidity and medium grained sandy tannins. This is a good all around wine. I enjoyed it by itself watching the Thursday night NFL game. Great night after a long work week and prior to a good holiday break including many rounds of golf! NI:4, FI:22, FC:8, B:4, L:4
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2021 - Dominic Roy wrote: 91 Points
N. 08274
Nose: Blueberry. Vanilla. More black fruits. Medium intensity.
Palate: Blueberry. Sour cherry. Raspberry. Strawberry. High tannins and acidity. Full body. Medium flavour intensity.
Finish: Long finish. Sour. Smoky. Raisin.
Delicious!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2020 - huse wrote: 87 Points
I can't share the enthusiasm of the other reviewers for this wine. Certainly well-made, but in my opinion, it lacks a bit in complexity and finesse. Varietal composition: 65 % Grenache Noir, 20 % Mourvèdre and 15 % Syrah (40–50 years old vines). Maturation: aged for eighteen months in barrels and in foudres. Color: dark ruby-red. Nose: aromas of cranberry, raspberry, cedar wood and a hint of thyme and incense. On the palate: a rather medium-bodied wine (despite the high alcohol level) with pleasant dark berry and plum fruit but the tannins are still quite angular. Reasonable finish. The wine could benefit from further aging.
Ik kan het enthousiasme van de andere reviewers over deze wijn niet direct delen. Een degelijke wijn zeker, maar naar mijn mening mist hij wat complexiteit en finesse. Samenstelling: 65 % Grenache Noir, 20 % Mourvèdre en 15 % Syrah (40 tot 50 jaar oude stokken). Rijping: achttien maanden in eiken vaten en in foeders. Kleur: donker robijnrood. Neus: aroma's van veenbes, framboos, cederhout en ook een vleugje tijm en wierook. In de mond: een middelkrachtige wijn (ondanks zijn hoog alcoholgehalte) met aangenaam fruit van zwarte bessen en pruimen, maar de tannines zijn nog steeds vrij stug. Redelijke afdronk. De wijn kan er met de jaren wel nog op vooruit gaan.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2020 - VlgJeff wrote: 90 Points
PnP, but definitely needs air time. A G(65)S(15)M(20) blend that is young, and accentuates the more brambly dark red and blue fruits. Medium plus bodied showing some spice, some tannin, relatively balancing acidity and a general "not ready for prime time" attitude. Cellar for a couple of years, then enjoy for several more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2020 - Deb.belanger2@gmail.com wrote:
Ate with Lamb
Excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2020 - Todwright Likes this wine: 94 Points
Classic Gigondas. Very smooth, let it open up for an hour. Excellent value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2020 - RoyaltyCoins wrote: 94 Points
Medium purple, ruby rim.
Nose: Candied raspberry, light blackberry bramble, bay leaf, oak paneling, singed alderwood. Layered, dense projection.
Mouth: Flavors of blackberry sauce, jellied currant, and raspberry juice run smack into a midpalate of bay leaf and black licorice. Burly, rough and tumble tannins pull throughout, leading a finish of roasted alderwood and dried black earth.
Overall: At the moment, this is beautiful, generous and full, but tightly coiled and stacked on top of itself. The core of the fruit is really pretty, but is currently subsumed entirely by the tertiary notes that wont let it get a word in edgewise. Considerable potential exists here, once everything has a chance to meld and separate. Impressive QPR: this is a fully fledged cru Gigondas at half the price. Drink 2023-2034.
94.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2020 - cono_sur Likes this wine: 92 Points
A blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 15% Syrah grown at 400 metres elevation on pebbly limestone terroir that has a ripe, medium-high intensity nose of wild berry, blackberry, sweet and peppery spices. It's medium-full bodied with very nice, ripe fruited aroma replays plus stony mineral and spice adding complexity. Quite structured with fine tannins, balanced acids, and some warmth on the mid-palate. Excellent finish length with a slightly chalky textured mouthfeel on the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2019 - beatles wrote: 89 Points
Needs time, full bodied. a bit of oak here (only Mourvèdre see new oak, but still) - very young, the fruit is masked. 89+
#domaine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment