Tasted vis-avis the more lush 2006, this is more strict, serious and has almost Cornas-like qualities, olives, accents on iron and stone, cool kid, a lean mean Syrah-machine. #Bagnols-en-Forêts
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Decanted for 2 hours. Still deep in colour. Quite a rich profile - slightly brambly blackberry and dark cherry fruit, with some faint evolution of undergrowth, smoke and just a little meatiness; a prominent mineral background underneath. Really needs another 5-10 years to be at its best ****(*)
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Pnp. It's a really beautiful wine with deep dark fruit flavor. The nose is strong barnyard as is the finish. Eventually the barnyard became too strong and detracted from the enjoyment. Still youthful with a decade or more ahead.
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Tasted vis-avis the Chave, this is very different animal. Focus on the iolkives, the fershness and easy-drinking lightness, still very concentrated, very vertical and immensely balanced. Over-powered by the Chave, but holding its own - and in its own way. From PB #Anarki
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Initial barnyard funk blew-off quickly into aromas of freshly ground black pepper, pine, and black cherry. More peppery black cherry in the mouth with some bright cranberry notes, too. Rustic and chewy. Short spicy finish. Fading so drink-up. Great with grilled flank steak with roasted chiles.
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The 2005 has finally arrived it seems like. Floral, funky, with notes of dark olives and broth and still with lively dark fruit. Good complexity with notes of leather, animal farm and tobacco as well. Most of all, this is as genuine as Northern Rhône Syrah from St Joseph gets, it is a perfect wine in my book.
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This particular bottle appeared very young, almost too young, took hours to fully open up. Notes of black olives and broth, dark fruited, classic Syrah. Cool expression. This will get better.
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Drank it over two days. Very earthy on the first day, with some tar and minerals, on the second day, the wine opened up a lot more actually, with black olives, animal scent, rubbed leather, stronger minerals, and licorice.
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Very expressive Syrah-nose; broader and richer than the 2006 - and yes, also better. Bacon here, dark fruit, meaty but not clumpsy ... great balance #NewYear #Ole&Stine
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On the nose, it was earthy, forest floor, and a bit of menthol, the earthiness and modest leather/soil nose almost like an older Bordeaux left bank, on palate, more mature than other vintages, black olives, dried violets and black berries. I prefer 2010, 2014 and 2015 vintages. Drank this wine with BurgNick, who generously brought a few bottles of Pierre Gonon for vertical tasting.
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More evolved than its true age. Nose had violets, earth and autimn leave. Palate was a bit light on its feet yet it kept evolving over a 3 hour dinner. The younger vintages are more concentrated. Somewhat hard to understand this vintage. But it was clearly very different from the 09,10 that were served alongside tonight.
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About 4 years ago I was rather disappointed by the somewhat subdued showing of this wine. It has certainly opened up since then to reveal fine N.Rhone notes of griotte cherry mingled with a little grilled meat, olives and hints of metal on a medium full body. However acidity is quite strong and there is still a slightly bitter edge on the finish, both of which need to attenuate before we have a really harmonious wine. Will extra ageing achieve this or will the fruit fade first? I would be very satisfied if this were just any old St.Jo but this is Gonon. Just about very good.
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Out in the open now, going places. Soft and smooth, relaxed. Runs with dark/blue fruit aromas, dark olives, meat broth and flowers. Good depth and concentration, masculine, upright wine. No hurry with this by any means, but getting there - slowly.
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This particular bottle was very shut down and didn't give away much on the first day. On the second day, meaty notes, dark fruit, a hint of menthol and fur. Still not as expressive as other bottles I've had. The tannins are still not fully resolved. Serious wine, more to come for sure.
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This took three hours to open up and display dark olives, beef broth, flowers and earthy notes. It's quite an incredible wine, I think, and still years away from maturity. Saint-Joseph at its absolute best.
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PnP. Some progression since 2013. Fruit is more open, hinting at underlying fleshiness. Tannins still fairly firm, but nicely tamed by food. Color is deep violet and secondary aromas/flavors have yet to fully develop.
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Great Gonon Tasting (Frederiksberg): Maybe the overall winner tonight, this one really hits the spot; rich, yet very cool, concentrated, complete, a very elegant wine without lackings. Garrigue, bacon, black olives & the cool north - still young and tight, though...
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Okay, now we are dialing it up a notch. Complex, funky notes with earthy notes, blood and iodine. Lots of character here. Great concentration of fruit on the palate, good depth, still tannic. Dark fruit for sure, olives and meat. A great wine in the making. Reminded me of a younger version of the great 1999 we had later in the evening. Together with the 2010 and the 1999 this was the best of the reds I thought.
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Fermé à double tour. On peine à reconnaître le style de la maison. Le vin est solide, presque massif, je ne sais pas s'il s'ouvrira un jour. Même l'oxygène ne lui fait rien. Attendre longtemps pour voir.
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I don't know if I understand this wine. It showed almost entirely mute on the nose and this did not change over a few hours. The palate also, not expressing much. But the wine seems correct and maybe there were hints of goodness in there, the kernal of aromatic or flavor detail that is still hidden beyond a wall of...what? The wine is not terribly tannic. It is not a wall of fruit. If there is something hiding in there, I don't know what it is hiding behind. Some at our table thought this is a really good wine in the making, and perhaps they are correct. I don't know what to make of this, however. I would choose to drink any other vintage of Gonon over this one, but that's just me.
Very hard to read. Starts off silent on the nose. About an hour in it begins to show more. All classic but a touch alcoholic on finish. Hints of stewed prune. I'm sure this wine will come out well in 5+ years time but a bit unwieldy at moment.
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Getting better and more expressive for each bottle. A bit of amimale marks here, dark fruit, pepper, olives and smoked meat. Good underlying acidity. Classic Syrah. Has just entered its window for drinking.
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nice and easy going Syrah, light on it's feat, seems ready, shows olives and bell pepper and a nice cherry-fruit. Good acidity. A a bistro wine de luxe. (dinner at PB's house)
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Replaced the corked 2004 Charvin CdP with this and, wow, is this singing now. After years in a closed stage, this is now open and starting to show its potential. Meaty, floral nose with marks of animal farm and dark blue fruit. It's the acidity that keeps this wine in check. The density of fruit is impressive too, so much material here. Beautiful wine that will easily last for another 10 years.
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Starting to strutt its stuff showing marks of black olives, violets, meat and smoke. It's the acidity that's the backbone of this wine and will make it a long lived one. Great, authentic St Joseph.
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Dark colour still. Blueberries, leather and some faint smoke on the nose. It was rather burgundian when young, but now it is more of a general solid and reliable red wine that goes well with most kinds of meat.
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Neil's first comment is that this smells like someone's butthole. I didn't think it was quite that fecal. We let this get some air and sipped it over the course of the evening. This is resolving texturally, the tannin seems folded into the fruit, but it's not that complex nor especially cerebral. I think another three years in the cellar and hopefully we'll have a more thought-provoking wine. Right now, it's good, but I think it will be much better with additional cellaring. Dinner at Neil's on a beautiful summer Sunday.
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Finally, this seem to be coming around. The fruit is no longer muted, there's a burst of cassis on the nose along with marks of animal marks. Quite soft on the palate, the tannins are much less pronounced compared to a couple of years ago. Spicy and peppery with purple fruit and good acidity. Broth emerging as well. Seems like the drinking window is opening. Will be interesting to follow.
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Given Gonon's reputation as well as my experience of other vintages, I was expecting this to sing more eloquently. Colour was still primary with no signs of bricking in the rather dim light of my dining room. Aromas on the nose and on the palate were subdued with the usual N.Rhône notes of metallic sour cherry and grilled meat. The palate was quite full bodied with depth and intensity of fruit, marked non-astringent acidity, adequate backbone and length. I can't help feeling that even in its 9th year there is unfinished business here, if the aromas open up. Good with ?++ potential.
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This wine is at its spectacular best, every button pushed, every box ticked. Tooch´s notes are spot on. If all wine drinking could be this satisfying...
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Brought this to Brooklynguy's place and we enjoyed it at a Jordanian restaurant in Brooklyn. Not that different from my tasting note in June 2013, in that the exterior shows some softening, but the palate itself is rather simply a blue/black palate with a bit of pepper, more worn and more relaxed than in the past, but not especially compelling otherwise. Maybe some more time in the cellar for further complexities, but it's not like I am confident that this will become something profound.
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A real beauty. While still young this is beginning to posses some secondary characteristics of earthy, savory tones that I really liked. Some of the intensity of the fruit has given way to some bacony, mushroomy types of flavors that were pretty killer. Carry on.
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I followed this wine over three nights. It showed blue/black fruit of very impressive purity, and the exterior has softened, but the wine is still not particularly developed in terms of secondaries and comes across as somewhat mute. No degradation over the three nights, which shows its underlying fortitude. But, to my palate, still needs another three years or so to really begin to speak.
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PnP. Checking in after a couple of years. Progressing nicely in terms of tannins/mineral/acid balance and texture, but has a plenty of development to go. Palate balance is really nice and a standout for me as I've been on a diet of Cali syrah of late. Fruit is a bit more wound tight than 2 years ago, but still there and enjoyable. This has real potential, but would hold for at least 3 years before revisiting. If a night or two in the fridge helps open it up I will re-post.
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Très bretté, notes de band-aid et sueur, mais un peu d'olives noires et de poivre. Belle finale très typée, mais dommage que les déviations aromatiques dominent.
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I should have waited longer to open another bottle, as my last bottle was only a few months ago, but I had a craving for a N. Rhone with a few years cellaring and some complexity. My impression was that, unfortunately, this wine did not deliver that complexity. While the exterior was nicely smooth with some bottle age, the palate is still rather primary and not that giving in complexities and nuances that make N. Rhone Syrah so delicious, almost like this wine was a bit dumb or dim. By the second night, it became clear why: that fetid meat, rotten taste of TCA. While the fetid aspect was repressed the first night, it was clear and distinct the second night. This is my second bottle affected by TCA from the same lot bought years ago.
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Wound up like a tightly coiled spring. Some pepper and focused darker fruit on the nose. Missing the open fruit in the midpalate. Still quite tannic. The finish gives you a peek. This will be great.
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Pulled a second bottle from the cellar to make up for Saturday's bottle which had some low-level TCA. This is more like it: focused blue/black fruit, very deep and pure. This reminds me of how lakes in Siberia are described: dark, deep, clear and cold. The sides are nicely smooth, and the taster feels like the palate goes down and deep rather than forward or laterally. However, there is not much complexity here. The palate shows primary blue/black fruit, and while the structure has loosened somewhat, I am not finding much nuance or complexity. Give it a few more years to develop.
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Checking in on the 2005 Gonon which JLL recommended to me with an excited voice. I find this wine very primary, very closed and stil quite tannic. The fruit is forward, soft on subtle and while I find peppery marks, there is not much else going on in terms of typical Northern Rhone Syrah flavors. There is good potential here, but this wine is in need of quite a few more years of cellaring.
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Quite a nice St. Joseph, enjoyed over two nights with no degradation. Has lost the plumpness of youth, while still showing good focus and clarity to the fruit. Good acidity, especially on the finish. Typical N. Rhone Syrah attributes of blue fruit, along with some red raspberry and dark berries, some Syrah-type herbs, but not that much in the way of game, meat and pepper, which suggests to me that the palate is still rather primary and fruit-focused. That said, texturally, the wine is more advanced. The tannins are smooth and the mouthfeel is soft and caressing, but I think there is still another couple of years until the structure releases and the wine shows more structural resolution. Really enjoyable, and fantastic value, but I think in another couple of years this will be even better.
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PnP. Reddish violet. Musky dark fruit with iron and pepper. Palate has a lean texture, although there is plenty of fruit depth. Nice acidity, firm but balanced tannins. Sense of finesse is there as is a bit of complexity. Terrific at the table. Has years of life ahead.
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Initially, this shows light funk, like damp cave, and a bit of beef jerky in the nose. This is lean, the acidity bright, the tannins seem to have resolved - - already?? An '05 St Joseph, to me, is still young, and this is a traditional producer. At the opposite end of the spectrum from the '09 Gonon St. Joseph I opened a few weeks ago, which was very plump and showed lots of primary young fruit. This '05 is has lost any plumpness it had in its youth. Shows cool blue fruits, pork and smoke; textbook N. Rhone Syrah. With air, the palate gets chewy; blue fruit; the tannin is now coming out, the mouthfeel drier. Not as rugged as a Cornas, rather St. Joseph in character, lovely Syrah. With more air, the red fruit starts to emerge (red currant) and the acidity is brighter. Overall, really lovely Syrah that seems to have shed its plumpness and is now definitely in secondary flavor territory. Not much change on the second night, no degradation, this is showing more animal notes, especially horse, because I know that horses smell different than, say, dogs. So there. Oxidized by the third night.
I completely forgot that I had this wine in the cellar, until PBaek reminded me at the July 4th fireworks. It's funny when wine buddies remember details of your cellar better than you do.
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the olives are green here, which is something i've never experienced in a Gonon St Joseph. the fruit is bright and forward and there is complexity and balance, but there is plenty of 05 in the structure and general character. nice wine and a great effort in this vintage, even if the wine is not entirely "normal."
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Some pretty syrah fragrance on the nose, but very tight on the palate, pinched and chalky, and the tannin's sticking through. Very different from the beauty we had this time last year. Not much fun today.
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Dark garnet, not quite opaqe, nose is crushed dark berries, lavendar, dried herbs, wet granite; medium bodied, dark, reserved blackberry/boysenberry/cranberry fruit, fairly high acid that focuses the wine in a narrow range, finishing with some moderate fine tannins. There's a lean-ness to the palate, but enough dark fruit to balance things nicely. A great food wine.
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This was a suggestion from David Lille at CSW as a replacement for an out of stock St-Jo, one of the few stores in the world where I'd blindly say yes. I'm glad I did. Lovely dark berry fruit, clean bright acidity, a hint of meat. There are tannins, but they are ripe and easy, not a problem. Certainly enough structure to age, but really nice for current drinking. Doesn't beat its chest or rev its motors, just a lovely middleweight gentlemanly Syrah. Holds well over 2 nights. Will get more, B+/A-
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Solid quality Northern Rhone. I was a bit ambiguous opening this bottle already and it IS infanticide ! No doubt that this is quality stuff and I enjoyed it immensely, but it will develop into a much more well rounded wine with time. The nose is a bit muted but the mouthfeel makes up for that, with silky textures and a medium bodied feel. Black cherries and fennel, the acidity is somewhat over the top and hopefully will mellow with time. Smooth tannins that still bite gently at your gums. Drink 2009-2015.
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12/15/2023 - pbaek wrote:
Grand vin. Earthy, funky, syrah-with-age nose. Wonderful balance and harmony, notes of smoked meat, olives, greens. Understated power here, STGT.
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10/27/2023 - Nanda wrote: flawed
Northern Rhone Dinner (2012/2005/1998 focus) (Chez Lagragne): Just barely corked. Not a lot of TCA but enough and the wine was otherwise stripped.
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10/27/2023 - acyso wrote: flawed
(Mostly) 1998, 2005, 2012 Northern Rhône (Chicago, IL): I think this bottle suffered from a mild case of TCA, and in any case, while the TCA didn't get worse with air, the wine just felt somewhat stripped.
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10/23/2022 - beatles wrote: 92 Points
Tasted vis-avis the more lush 2006, this is more strict, serious and has almost Cornas-like qualities, olives, accents on iron and stone, cool kid, a lean mean Syrah-machine.
#Bagnols-en-Forêts
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2/9/2022 - MAOC wrote:
Decanted for 2 hours. Still deep in colour. Quite a rich profile - slightly brambly blackberry and dark cherry fruit, with some faint evolution of undergrowth, smoke and just a little meatiness; a prominent mineral background underneath. Really needs another 5-10 years to be at its best ****(*)
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3/24/2021 - pbaek wrote:
Terrific. Light and airy, green notes, herbs, black olives. At a perfect stage right now.
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11/16/2020 - gjv115 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pnp. It's a really beautiful wine with deep dark fruit flavor. The nose is strong barnyard as is the finish. Eventually the barnyard became too strong and detracted from the enjoyment. Still youthful with a decade or more ahead.
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9/1/2020 - beatles wrote: 92 Points
Tasted vis-avis the Chave, this is very different animal. Focus on the iolkives, the fershness and easy-drinking lightness, still very concentrated, very vertical and immensely balanced. Over-powered by the Chave, but holding its own - and in its own way. From PB
#Anarki
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8/29/2020 - drmarclevine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Initial barnyard funk blew-off quickly into aromas of freshly ground black pepper, pine, and black cherry. More peppery black cherry in the mouth with some bright cranberry notes, too. Rustic and chewy. Short spicy finish. Fading so drink-up. Great with grilled flank steak with roasted chiles.
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7/2/2020 - pbaek wrote:
The 2005 has finally arrived it seems like. Floral, funky, with notes of dark olives and broth and still with lively dark fruit. Good complexity with notes of leather, animal farm and tobacco as well. Most of all, this is as genuine as Northern Rhône Syrah from St Joseph gets, it is a perfect wine in my book.
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5/29/2019 - pbaek wrote:
This particular bottle appeared very young, almost too young, took hours to fully open up. Notes of black olives and broth, dark fruited, classic Syrah. Cool expression. This will get better.
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4/7/2019 - Ms. Bubblehead wrote:
Drank it over two days. Very earthy on the first day, with some tar and minerals, on the second day, the wine opened up a lot more actually, with black olives, animal scent, rubbed leather, stronger minerals, and licorice.
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12/31/2018 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
Very expressive Syrah-nose; broader and richer than the 2006 - and yes, also better. Bacon here, dark fruit, meaty but not clumpsy ... great balance
#NewYear #Ole&Stine
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12/23/2018 - Cofxc wrote: 87 Points
Medicinal, blackcurrant and a touch menthol. A touch of wood/dried mushroom. Comes through with a pure blackcurrant. Quite elegant, easy, open.
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7/26/2018 - Ms. Bubblehead wrote:
On the nose, it was earthy, forest floor, and a bit of menthol, the earthiness and modest leather/soil nose almost like an older Bordeaux left bank, on palate, more mature than other vintages, black olives, dried violets and black berries. I prefer 2010, 2014 and 2015 vintages.
Drank this wine with BurgNick, who generously brought a few bottles of Pierre Gonon for vertical tasting.
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7/25/2018 - Burgnick wrote: 90 Points
More evolved than its true age. Nose had violets, earth and autimn leave. Palate was a bit light on its feet yet it kept evolving over a 3 hour dinner. The younger vintages are more concentrated. Somewhat hard to understand this vintage. But it was clearly very different from the 09,10 that were served alongside tonight.
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6/11/2018 - eboracum wrote: 90 Points
About 4 years ago I was rather disappointed by the somewhat subdued showing of this wine. It has certainly opened up since then to reveal fine N.Rhone notes of griotte cherry mingled with a little grilled meat, olives and hints of metal on a medium full body. However acidity is quite strong and there is still a slightly bitter edge on the finish, both of which need to attenuate before we have a really harmonious wine. Will extra ageing achieve this or will the fruit fade first? I would be very satisfied if this were just any old St.Jo but this is Gonon. Just about very good.
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2/21/2018 - pbaek wrote:
Out in the open now, going places. Soft and smooth, relaxed. Runs with dark/blue fruit aromas, dark olives, meat broth and flowers. Good depth and concentration, masculine, upright wine. No hurry with this by any means, but getting there - slowly.
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5/7/2017 - pbaek wrote:
This particular bottle was very shut down and didn't give away much on the first day. On the second day, meaty notes, dark fruit, a hint of menthol and fur. Still not as expressive as other bottles I've had. The tannins are still not fully resolved. Serious wine, more to come for sure.
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11/11/2016 - pbaek wrote:
This took three hours to open up and display dark olives, beef broth, flowers and earthy notes. It's quite an incredible wine, I think, and still years away from maturity. Saint-Joseph at its absolute best.
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8/8/2016 - thomaskeil wrote: 90 Points
PnP. Some progression since 2013. Fruit is more open, hinting at underlying fleshiness. Tannins still fairly firm, but nicely tamed by food. Color is deep violet and secondary aromas/flavors have yet to fully develop.
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6/2/2016 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
Great Gonon Tasting (Frederiksberg): Maybe the overall winner tonight, this one really hits the spot; rich, yet very cool, concentrated, complete, a very elegant wine without lackings. Garrigue, bacon, black olives & the cool north - still young and tight, though...
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6/2/2016 - pbaek wrote:
Okay, now we are dialing it up a notch. Complex, funky notes with earthy notes, blood and iodine. Lots of character here. Great concentration of fruit on the palate, good depth, still tannic. Dark fruit for sure, olives and meat. A great wine in the making. Reminded me of a younger version of the great 1999 we had later in the evening. Together with the 2010 and the 1999 this was the best of the reds I thought.
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6/2/2016 - vinum bonum wrote:
Fermé à double tour. On peine à reconnaître le style de la maison. Le vin est solide, presque massif, je ne sais pas s'il s'ouvrira un jour. Même l'oxygène ne lui fait rien. Attendre longtemps pour voir.
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3/24/2016 - brooklynguy wrote:
I don't know if I understand this wine. It showed almost entirely mute on the nose and this did not change over a few hours. The palate also, not expressing much. But the wine seems correct and maybe there were hints of goodness in there, the kernal of aromatic or flavor detail that is still hidden beyond a wall of...what? The wine is not terribly tannic. It is not a wall of fruit. If there is something hiding in there, I don't know what it is hiding behind. Some at our table thought this is a really good wine in the making, and perhaps they are correct. I don't know what to make of this, however. I would choose to drink any other vintage of Gonon over this one, but that's just me.
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3/23/2016 - LW31 wrote:
Very hard to read. Starts off silent on the nose. About an hour in it begins to show more. All classic but a touch alcoholic on finish. Hints of stewed prune. I'm sure this wine will come out well in 5+ years time but a bit unwieldy at moment.
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2/5/2016 - pbaek wrote:
Getting better and more expressive for each bottle. A bit of amimale marks here, dark fruit, pepper, olives and smoked meat. Good underlying acidity. Classic Syrah. Has just entered its window for drinking.
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1/1/2016 - gazinho Likes this wine: 92 Points
In its absolute prime. Nice way to start the year!
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11/21/2015 - beatles wrote: 89 Points
nice and easy going Syrah, light on it's feat, seems ready, shows olives and bell pepper and a nice cherry-fruit. Good acidity. A a bistro wine de luxe. (dinner at PB's house)
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9/13/2015 - pbaek wrote:
Replaced the corked 2004 Charvin CdP with this and, wow, is this singing now. After years in a closed stage, this is now open and starting to show its potential. Meaty, floral nose with marks of animal farm and dark blue fruit. It's the acidity that keeps this wine in check. The density of fruit is impressive too, so much material here. Beautiful wine that will easily last for another 10 years.
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7/4/2015 - pbaek wrote:
Starting to strutt its stuff showing marks of black olives, violets, meat and smoke. It's the acidity that's the backbone of this wine and will make it a long lived one. Great, authentic St Joseph.
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6/20/2015 - olemski wrote: 88 Points
Dark colour still. Blueberries, leather and some faint smoke on the nose. It was rather burgundian when young, but now it is more of a general solid and reliable red wine that goes well with most kinds of meat.
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6/7/2015 - Pknut wrote:
Neil's first comment is that this smells like someone's butthole. I didn't think it was quite that fecal. We let this get some air and sipped it over the course of the evening. This is resolving texturally, the tannin seems folded into the fruit, but it's not that complex nor especially cerebral. I think another three years in the cellar and hopefully we'll have a more thought-provoking wine. Right now, it's good, but I think it will be much better with additional cellaring. Dinner at Neil's on a beautiful summer Sunday.
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11/16/2014 - pbaek wrote:
Finally, this seem to be coming around. The fruit is no longer muted, there's a burst of cassis on the nose along with marks of animal marks. Quite soft on the palate, the tannins are much less pronounced compared to a couple of years ago. Spicy and peppery with purple fruit and good acidity. Broth emerging as well. Seems like the drinking window is opening. Will be interesting to follow.
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9/3/2014 - eboracum wrote: 88 Points
Given Gonon's reputation as well as my experience of other vintages, I was expecting this to sing more eloquently. Colour was still primary with no signs of bricking in the rather dim light of my dining room. Aromas on the nose and on the palate were subdued with the usual N.Rhône notes of metallic sour cherry and grilled meat. The palate was quite full bodied with depth and intensity of fruit, marked non-astringent acidity, adequate backbone and length. I can't help feeling that even in its 9th year there is unfinished business here, if the aromas open up. Good with ?++ potential.
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8/9/2014 - gazinho Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine is at its spectacular best, every button pushed, every box ticked.
Tooch´s notes are spot on.
If all wine drinking could be this satisfying...
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7/1/2014 - salil wrote: flawed
Gonons and Rougeards (Riverpark, NYC): Lightly corked.
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3/15/2014 - Pknut wrote:
Brought this to Brooklynguy's place and we enjoyed it at a Jordanian restaurant in Brooklyn. Not that different from my tasting note in June 2013, in that the exterior shows some softening, but the palate itself is rather simply a blue/black palate with a bit of pepper, more worn and more relaxed than in the past, but not especially compelling otherwise. Maybe some more time in the cellar for further complexities, but it's not like I am confident that this will become something profound.
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2/2/2014 - tooch wrote: 94 Points
A real beauty. While still young this is beginning to posses some secondary characteristics of earthy, savory tones that I really liked. Some of the intensity of the fruit has given way to some bacony, mushroomy types of flavors that were pretty killer. Carry on.
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6/28/2013 - Pknut wrote:
I followed this wine over three nights. It showed blue/black fruit of very impressive purity, and the exterior has softened, but the wine is still not particularly developed in terms of secondaries and comes across as somewhat mute. No degradation over the three nights, which shows its underlying fortitude. But, to my palate, still needs another three years or so to really begin to speak.
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5/12/2013 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
PnP. Checking in after a couple of years. Progressing nicely in terms of tannins/mineral/acid balance and texture, but has a plenty of development to go. Palate balance is really nice and a standout for me as I've been on a diet of Cali syrah of late. Fruit is a bit more wound tight than 2 years ago, but still there and enjoyable. This has real potential, but would hold for at least 3 years before revisiting. If a night or two in the fridge helps open it up I will re-post.
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4/20/2013 - aekenback wrote: 91 Points
Begynnande mognad. Bra till mat.
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3/17/2013 - ludwigbpm wrote: 88 Points
Très bretté, notes de band-aid et sueur, mais un peu d'olives noires et de poivre. Belle finale très typée, mais dommage que les déviations aromatiques dominent.
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2/5/2013 - Pknut wrote: flawed
I should have waited longer to open another bottle, as my last bottle was only a few months ago, but I had a craving for a N. Rhone with a few years cellaring and some complexity. My impression was that, unfortunately, this wine did not deliver that complexity. While the exterior was nicely smooth with some bottle age, the palate is still rather primary and not that giving in complexities and nuances that make N. Rhone Syrah so delicious, almost like this wine was a bit dumb or dim. By the second night, it became clear why: that fetid meat, rotten taste of TCA. While the fetid aspect was repressed the first night, it was clear and distinct the second night. This is my second bottle affected by TCA from the same lot bought years ago.
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12/20/2012 - DCornutt wrote:
Wound up like a tightly coiled spring.
Some pepper and focused darker fruit on the nose.
Missing the open fruit in the midpalate.
Still quite tannic.
The finish gives you a peek.
This will be great.
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10/22/2012 - Pknut wrote:
Pulled a second bottle from the cellar to make up for Saturday's bottle which had some low-level TCA. This is more like it: focused blue/black fruit, very deep and pure. This reminds me of how lakes in Siberia are described: dark, deep, clear and cold. The sides are nicely smooth, and the taster feels like the palate goes down and deep rather than forward or laterally. However, there is not much complexity here. The palate shows primary blue/black fruit, and while the structure has loosened somewhat, I am not finding much nuance or complexity. Give it a few more years to develop.
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10/20/2012 - Pknut wrote: flawed
Low level TCA made this dim. Abbie noted the violets on the palate, but this should have been so much better.
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3/31/2012 - pbaek wrote:
Checking in on the 2005 Gonon which JLL recommended to me with an excited voice. I find this wine very primary, very closed and stil quite tannic. The fruit is forward, soft on subtle and while I find peppery marks, there is not much else going on in terms of typical Northern Rhone Syrah flavors. There is good potential here, but this wine is in need of quite a few more years of cellaring.
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1/11/2012 - Pknut wrote:
Quite a nice St. Joseph, enjoyed over two nights with no degradation. Has lost the plumpness of youth, while still showing good focus and clarity to the fruit. Good acidity, especially on the finish. Typical N. Rhone Syrah attributes of blue fruit, along with some red raspberry and dark berries, some Syrah-type herbs, but not that much in the way of game, meat and pepper, which suggests to me that the palate is still rather primary and fruit-focused. That said, texturally, the wine is more advanced. The tannins are smooth and the mouthfeel is soft and caressing, but I think there is still another couple of years until the structure releases and the wine shows more structural resolution. Really enjoyable, and fantastic value, but I think in another couple of years this will be even better.
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8/15/2011 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
PnP. Reddish violet. Musky dark fruit with iron and pepper. Palate has a lean texture, although there is plenty of fruit depth. Nice acidity, firm but balanced tannins. Sense of finesse is there as is a bit of complexity. Terrific at the table. Has years of life ahead.
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7/25/2011 - Pknut wrote:
Initially, this shows light funk, like damp cave, and a bit of beef jerky in the nose. This is lean, the acidity bright, the tannins seem to have resolved - - already?? An '05 St Joseph, to me, is still young, and this is a traditional producer. At the opposite end of the spectrum from the '09 Gonon St. Joseph I opened a few weeks ago, which was very plump and showed lots of primary young fruit. This '05 is has lost any plumpness it had in its youth. Shows cool blue fruits, pork and smoke; textbook N. Rhone Syrah. With air, the palate gets chewy; blue fruit; the tannin is now coming out, the mouthfeel drier. Not as rugged as a Cornas, rather St. Joseph in character, lovely Syrah. With more air, the red fruit starts to emerge (red currant) and the acidity is brighter. Overall, really lovely Syrah that seems to have shed its plumpness and is now definitely in secondary flavor territory. Not much change on the second night, no degradation, this is showing more animal notes, especially horse, because I know that horses smell different than, say, dogs. So there. Oxidized by the third night.
I completely forgot that I had this wine in the cellar, until PBaek reminded me at the July 4th fireworks. It's funny when wine buddies remember details of your cellar better than you do.
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5/19/2011 - jazzb wrote:
O - mörkt blåröd
D/S - medelfylligt m mognad, sv vinbärsnickel, sv peppar, körsbär m markerade tanniner, läder, gummi. fokuserad, ren o stram.
8.5p
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4/25/2011 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
Good earthy, deep and dark, a tad lean but great food wine. Lotsa Iron, loamy earth, touch of balsamic and dark chocolate.
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4/10/2011 - brooklynguy wrote:
the olives are green here, which is something i've never experienced in a Gonon St Joseph. the fruit is bright and forward and there is complexity and balance, but there is plenty of 05 in the structure and general character. nice wine and a great effort in this vintage, even if the wine is not entirely "normal."
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11/21/2009 - Rupert wrote: 87 Points
Some pretty syrah fragrance on the nose, but very tight on the palate, pinched and chalky, and the tannin's sticking through. Very different from the beauty we had this time last year. Not much fun today.
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8/23/2009 - cwjames wrote: 89 Points
Ripe, pure Syrah fruit but very young. Would like to see it gain complexity with age.
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7/19/2009 - alanr wrote: 90 Points
Dark garnet, not quite opaqe, nose is crushed dark berries, lavendar, dried herbs, wet granite; medium bodied, dark, reserved blackberry/boysenberry/cranberry fruit, fairly high acid that focuses the wine in a narrow range, finishing with some moderate fine tannins. There's a lean-ness to the palate, but enough dark fruit to balance things nicely. A great food wine.
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7/14/2009 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
Joya Colin and gang, showing solid as a rock with deep dark fruit. A tad subdued almost, but a lovely sleek syrah.
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6/16/2008 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
Dinner Nisha Breena and gang -- Big, ripe and inky. Loaded with oozy syrah fruit and earth.
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11/3/2007 - DaleW wrote:
This was a suggestion from David Lille at CSW as a replacement for an out of stock St-Jo, one of the few stores in the world where I'd blindly say yes. I'm glad I did. Lovely dark berry fruit, clean bright acidity, a hint of meat. There are tannins, but they are ripe and easy, not a problem. Certainly enough structure to age, but really nice for current drinking. Doesn't beat its chest or rev its motors, just a lovely middleweight gentlemanly Syrah. Holds well over 2 nights. Will
get more, B+/A-
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10/22/2007 - kampster wrote: 88 Points
Solid quality Northern Rhone. I was a bit ambiguous opening this bottle already and it IS infanticide !
No doubt that this is quality stuff and I enjoyed it immensely, but it will develop into a much more well rounded wine with time.
The nose is a bit muted but the mouthfeel makes up for that, with silky textures and a medium bodied feel. Black cherries and fennel, the acidity is somewhat over the top and hopefully will mellow with time. Smooth tannins that still bite gently at your gums.
Drink 2009-2015.
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10/21/2007 - Mr T wrote: 89 Points
Solid wine. I might have expected a bit more new world extraction and fruit but very nice and young.
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9/12/2007 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
Great, solid red. Some good complexity but also a refreshing food wine.
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9/2/2007 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
BBQ Scott Kate et al--great deal here, a big but elegant St Joseph, loaded with fruit, chocolate and earth.
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8/14/2007 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
Excellent value Rhone--silky spicy fruit, deep and rich yet light on its feet.
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