Drank alongside Beaucastel same year. Clearly the better wine. Very aromatic leather liquorice and garrigue. Real power and elegance on palate plenty of fruit and minerals with a long finish. Very good
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Not very different notes from five years ago. Developed colour and aromas with horse stable / brett / leather. Less fruity than the 95. Has kept surprisingly well.
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Open and complex fruit, intense, dark berries, spices and provence herbs, Rich and dense, good acidity and tannin structure, long finish. One of the very best
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I hate when this happens. Cork in great condition. Burnt purple color with faint cherry aromas, no secondary aromas. Very weak on the palate. Totally wasted and waited too long again. Though this would last longer than this based on other CT notes. Rating withheld.
Its best days are already well behind it, but after all of the funk and age has blown off of this, its still manages some good character. Dust, garrigue, leather, barn stall, yes, this has brett, but it's in no way off-putting. Better on the palate than the nose, this is a classic example of acids and tannins that are outliving the fruit. Best to drink now with 90 minutes in decanter before service.
Served non-blind; quite a bit of very fine sediment, be sure to stand this one up for a few days. Oddly, the cork was like new.
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deep colour, ripe nose but elegant damson fruit hint of kirsch, garrigue as well. v well balanced on palate, ripe fruit but well structured. Quite powerful but balanced . Lovely wine and no hurry.
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From a perfectly stored bottle. A really wonderful wine that harkens back to a different era of Clos des Papes and CndP in general. Elegant, complex, and the feeling of power without weight that comes from a great burgundy. Last bottle, but would love to have more.
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Slow O for three hours then decant before drinking. Colour still dark and brooding. Heady nose of garrigue damsons and game. still frim on palate with a swirl of fruit minerals herbs and spice on finish. Very well balanced and plenty of time to go. Lovely.
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Brownish red colour. Sweet fruit and some spice / garrigue. Fully mature, and will keep for a few more years. Good concentration, but not of same caliber as the 95.
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It goes wonderful with deer given the fact that it delivers this game notes that mourvedre often shows. The 1994 Clos des Papes is fully mature, round and not to be cellared for many years.
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Drunk with a Beaucastel of the same vintage, this appeared redder in the glass, albeit lighter in colour and with a little bit of orange towards the rim. On the nose: iron, red fruits, cedar - and, initially, quite a lot of freshness - after a while a balsamic vinegary note emerged, but this eventually merged into a broader flavour profile. On the palate: sweet and moreish, but with a streak of something darker and more grippy. Long sweet finish. Ultimately hard to separate the two. I would drink up both now, though a couple more years probably won't hurt either.
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Southern Rhone WIMPS (The Ledbury, London): Nicely savoury nose. Darker colour, ruby into garnet. Very savoury palate. Fresh acidity and a touch of glycerin coming through. Elegant. I prefer the Vieux Telegraphe but this is lovely. ****
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Begins harsh on the nose but mellows out into a full and proper CdP nose. Give it time in a decanter, dont rush it and you will be rewarded by a very nice wine. Big wine with long long finish. We believe this is now drinking at its top. Colour is showing its age. This is a great value wine that is very enjoyable. Will happily buy more.
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Clos des Papes Vertical (Tribeca Grill): A workhorse of a wine that is probably drinking as well right now as it ever will. It started out feral and funky, sauvage, with raspberries, blood and tar, as if a horse had run for miles only to be run over on a stretch of newly paved highway. On the palate it was thick and sappy, the herbal raspberry character over a current of acidity. Without food, it was a little sharp and it evened out nicely with charcuterie. Still, I didn't sense that this had the stuff to be a great wine.
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Decanted to remove any sediment. At first a small funk on the nose, but this quickly dissipated to our pleasure. An intense nose of raspberry and a light licorice(?). On the palate was a noticeable acidity, bright red berry, and little "dirt" alomost forest like. The acidity suggests that this has a few years left it in, but not for me since this was my last bottle. This was served New Year's eve at Paley's Place with a half order of Crispy Sweetbreads, White Bean Crab Cake, Dungeness Crab Aioli along with a half order of Russian Diver Scallops, Roasted Spaghetti Squash, Black Truffle Vinaigrette. My wife had the American Kobe Beef Culotte, Brisket, Cabbage & Mashed Potatoes. I was surprised how well the wine paired with Truffle.
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I had actually meant to check on the '95, but accidentally grabbed the '94 without realizing. Glad I did as I experienced one of those wine moments we as hobbyists and collectors always look for, catching a wine we've carefully nurtured since release at it's high point.
The wine has just what you'd expect from a fine CDP, garrigue, sweet aged red fruit, a touch of meat, but the wine tonight was all about mouthfeel. It was just so silky. No rough edges, but the wine certainly was very much alive and complex. While it can age further, imo, it can't get any better than it was tonight. Just delightful with an appetizer of pork belly with fresh porcinis, potato and Banyuls reduction and crisped chicken with brussel sprouts, chestnuts and blue hubbard squash puree. A-.
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As has been noted by others, this wine is drinking fantastically well right now. Very bright and lively, the nose explodes out of the glass. A wonderful mix of fruit, leather, spice, and animal. Not in risk of going downhill, but also no reason to wait.
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Lunch With In-Laws; Janasse VV 98, Clos des Pape 94: Well, suffers a little next to the Janasse VV 1998, but it is a far more modest wine, a family pleasing PG, understated and classy with Paul Avril all over it. More animal and more sauvage than the Janasse, with subtler, dirtier fruit but more minerality and intellectual pleasure than the XXX VV. But I think the T-Bone needed the wanton pleasures of the Janasse.
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A Hot Streak: Dauvissat, Poyferre, Barton, Mortet, Grivot, Clos des Papes; 7/24/2005-8/3/2005: Firing on all cylinders, Paul Avril shows what could be done in 1994 before the rains hit Chateauneuf du Pape. A spicy nose that’s full of wild raspberry and leathery stink from the mouvdere, and a lush, smooth palate with no hard edges and great peppery fruit. This was delicious with the chicken and fantastic with some aged gouda and comte. This is fully mature to my taste and I love its authenticity, for want of a better word - its so Southern French, so Chateauneuf, so Clos des Papes.
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7/25/2021 - AccaDacca Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still has some life left...
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1/27/2019 - redders Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank alongside Beaucastel same year. Clearly the better wine. Very aromatic leather liquorice and garrigue. Real power and elegance on palate plenty of fruit and minerals with a long finish. Very good
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8/13/2018 - JJKinch wrote: 92 Points
Red fruit (cherry), nice funk, garrigue, spice, good acidity. Lingering finish. Really enjoyable.
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4/22/2018 - AudunG wrote: 90 Points
Not very different notes from five years ago. Developed colour and aromas with horse stable / brett / leather. Less fruity than the 95. Has kept surprisingly well.
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2/11/2016 - Per-Harald Likes this wine: 93 Points
Open and complex fruit, intense, dark berries, spices and provence herbs, Rich and dense, good acidity and tannin structure, long finish. One of the very best
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8/27/2015 - dsamuel wrote:
I hate when this happens. Cork in great condition. Burnt purple color with faint cherry aromas, no secondary aromas. Very weak on the palate. Totally wasted and waited too long again. Though this would last longer than this based on other CT notes. Rating withheld.
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1/9/2015 - Tim Heaton wrote:
Its best days are already well behind it, but after all of the funk and age has blown off of this, its still manages some good character. Dust, garrigue, leather, barn stall, yes, this has brett, but it's in no way off-putting. Better on the palate than the nose, this is a classic example of acids and tannins that are outliving the fruit. Best to drink now with 90 minutes in decanter before service.
Served non-blind; quite a bit of very fine sediment, be sure to stand this one up for a few days. Oddly, the cork was like new.
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11/22/2014 - redders Likes this wine: 92 Points
deep colour, ripe nose but elegant damson fruit hint of kirsch, garrigue as well. v well balanced on palate, ripe fruit but well structured. Quite powerful but balanced . Lovely wine and no hurry.
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4/27/2014 - jerhardt wrote: 94 Points
From a perfectly stored bottle. A really wonderful wine that harkens back to a different era of Clos des Papes and CndP in general. Elegant, complex, and the feeling of power without weight that comes from a great burgundy. Last bottle, but would love to have more.
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4/28/2013 - redders Likes this wine: 92 Points
Slow O for three hours then decant before drinking.
Colour still dark and brooding. Heady nose of garrigue damsons and game. still frim on palate with a swirl of fruit minerals herbs and spice on finish. Very well balanced and plenty of time to go. Lovely.
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3/28/2013 - AudunG wrote: 87 Points
Brownish red colour. Sweet fruit and some spice / garrigue. Fully mature, and will keep for a few more years. Good concentration, but not of same caliber as the 95.
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12/24/2012 - Caruso Likes this wine: 91 Points
It goes wonderful with deer given the fact that it delivers this game notes that mourvedre often shows. The 1994 Clos des Papes is fully mature, round and not to be cellared for many years.
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10/13/2012 - wineamateur wrote:
Drunk with a Beaucastel of the same vintage, this appeared redder in the glass, albeit lighter in colour and with a little bit of orange towards the rim. On the nose: iron, red fruits, cedar - and, initially, quite a lot of freshness - after a while a balsamic vinegary note emerged, but this eventually merged into a broader flavour profile. On the palate: sweet and moreish, but with a streak of something darker and more grippy. Long sweet finish. Ultimately hard to separate the two. I would drink up both now, though a couple more years probably won't hurt either.
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9/24/2010 - SimonG wrote:
Southern Rhone WIMPS (The Ledbury, London): Nicely savoury nose. Darker colour, ruby into garnet. Very savoury palate. Fresh acidity and a touch of glycerin coming through. Elegant. I prefer the Vieux Telegraphe but this is lovely. ****
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6/1/2010 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
Begins harsh on the nose but mellows out into a full and proper CdP nose. Give it time in a decanter, dont rush it and you will be rewarded by a very nice wine. Big wine with long long finish. We believe this is now drinking at its top. Colour is showing its age. This is a great value wine that is very enjoyable. Will happily buy more.
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4/23/2008 - bsherwin wrote:
Clos des Papes Vertical (Tribeca Grill): A workhorse of a wine that is probably drinking as well right now as it ever will. It started out feral and funky, sauvage, with raspberries, blood and tar, as if a horse had run for miles only to be run over on a stretch of newly paved highway. On the palate it was thick and sappy, the herbal raspberry character over a current of acidity. Without food, it was a little sharp and it evened out nicely with charcuterie. Still, I didn't sense that this had the stuff to be a great wine.
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4/23/2008 - JOsgood wrote: 92 Points
Clos des Papes Vertical (Tribeca Grill, NYC): Light in color with a beautiful nose. Big and powerful in the mouth with taste of nuts, carmel and vibrant fruit.
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1/1/2007 - T G F wrote: 93 Points
Decanted to remove any sediment. At first a small funk on the nose, but this quickly dissipated to our pleasure. An intense nose of raspberry and a light licorice(?). On the palate was a noticeable acidity, bright red berry, and little "dirt" alomost forest like. The acidity suggests that this has a few years left it in, but not for me since this was my last bottle. This was served New Year's eve at Paley's Place with a half order of Crispy Sweetbreads, White Bean Crab Cake, Dungeness Crab Aioli along with a half order of Russian Diver Scallops, Roasted Spaghetti Squash, Black Truffle Vinaigrette. My wife had the American Kobe Beef Culotte, Brisket, Cabbage & Mashed Potatoes. I was surprised how well the wine paired with Truffle.
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10/31/2006 - BradKNYC wrote:
I had actually meant to check on the '95, but accidentally grabbed the '94 without realizing. Glad I did as I experienced one of those wine moments we as hobbyists and collectors always look for, catching a wine we've carefully nurtured since release at it's high point.
The wine has just what you'd expect from a fine CDP, garrigue, sweet aged red fruit, a touch of meat, but the wine tonight was all about mouthfeel. It was just so silky. No rough edges, but the wine certainly was very much alive and complex. While it can age further, imo, it can't get any better than it was tonight. Just delightful with an appetizer of pork belly with fresh porcinis, potato and Banyuls reduction and crisped chicken with brussel sprouts, chestnuts and blue hubbard squash puree. A-.
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5/21/2006 - jerhardt wrote: 92 Points
As has been noted by others, this wine is drinking fantastically well right now. Very bright and lively, the nose explodes out of the glass. A wonderful mix of fruit, leather, spice, and animal. Not in risk of going downhill, but also no reason to wait.
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10/8/2005 - The Wine Bum wrote:
Lunch With In-Laws; Janasse VV 98, Clos des Pape 94: Well, suffers a little next to the Janasse VV 1998, but it is a far more modest wine, a family pleasing PG, understated and classy with Paul Avril all over it. More animal and more sauvage than the Janasse, with subtler, dirtier fruit but more minerality and intellectual pleasure than the XXX VV. But I think the T-Bone needed the wanton pleasures of the Janasse.
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8/1/2005 - The Wine Bum wrote:
A Hot Streak: Dauvissat, Poyferre, Barton, Mortet, Grivot, Clos des Papes; 7/24/2005-8/3/2005: Firing on all cylinders, Paul Avril shows what could be done in 1994 before the rains hit Chateauneuf du Pape. A spicy nose that’s full of wild raspberry and leathery stink from the mouvdere, and a lush, smooth palate with no hard edges and great peppery fruit. This was delicious with the chicken and fantastic with some aged gouda and comte. This is fully mature to my taste and I love its authenticity, for want of a better word - its so Southern French, so Chateauneuf, so Clos des Papes.
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