2003 Château de la Négly Coteaux du Languedoc Clos des Truffiers was robust, intense and mineral-driven. The developing Languedoc Syrah was clear deep garnet in colour with loads of fine sediments. I double-decanted wine to remove the sediments, and left it in the bottle for three hours before my first glass. Profound aromas of ripe dark plum, blackberry and violet were preceded by truffle, liqourice, smoked beef and crushed rocks.
The mouthfeel was dry and full-bodied, accompanied by medium level of balancing acidity and high level of velvety, integrating tannin. Flavours of plum sauce, cassis cocoa and black pepper spices transitioned into smoke, earth and wet stone minerals in a persistent aftertaste. The 14.5% alcohol was well-concealed in the generous texture and complex flavours. This is a fine example that Languedoc is capable of producing complex, age-worthy, world-class wine.
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Medium garnet. Aromas of ripe, sweet blackcurrant and blackberry. Also pepper aromas is present. The palette matches the nose. Mid- acidity and soft tannins. A little bitter finish.
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Coravined half the bottle then set the rest aside. Stunning concentrated fruit in perfect balance with earth and other secondary flavours. After an hour in the glass it really shined. Long finish. Not as deeply acidic as earlier bottles seems more in prime drinking window now. 94
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After an hour in the decanter the wine became less tightly coiled with some dark cherry, burnt earth, dark plum and other flavours with a thick long finish. Never fully opened up and had a muted nose but still drinkable and paired well with our stur fried beef. Drink with some air or hold for a few more years. You can feel the heat of the vintage with no sense of the Truffiers terroir but it is still very well made and supremely balanced, if just quite massive. 93-94
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Seriously good wine. Muted truffle nose. It was there just needed some coaxing when the wine warmed above optimal. On the palate a multi colored tail of flavours including vanilla, pepper, plum, dark cherry, roast meat, burnt earth. After about five hours some of the depth and complexity faded but still drank well with more truffled notes. Not quite on the level of the 2002 and a touch of heat but in its drinking window and will last for 10+ years given the acidity. Terrific Languedoc that can handily beat many Rhones at much higher prices. 94+ flirted with 95 for the first hour.
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While the '02 Truffiers is more about a sense of terroir, this seems more massively layered, but did not come across unbalanced at all, which seems quite a feat given the high acidity still. Upon opening the nose was a bit muted with dark cherry, earth and plums on the palate and an extremely long finish, I frankly lost count... Over time the layers moved around in intensity: burnt earth, morelo cherry, raspberry compote, dark chocolate, bitter chocolate, plum and a hint of the salinity more apparent in the '02 and other wines from this producer. After several hours some of the complexity faded but the wine was even punchier with Oriental plum sauce notes, dark chocolate and a nose of scorched earth not unlike some of the wines I have tried from Vega Sicilia. At nearly 15 years of age, the wine is showing little ageing and is a pleasure to drink with robust food, just too massive by itself. Patience is probably in order here. 93-94 now, easily 95-96 in 5-10 years when everything is more settled and less primary.
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2006: Closed. Super concentrated. In my opinion, the wine will still improve, but will not reach the previous vintages. Blackberry and very little vanilla on the nose. Would not be recognised as Truffiers blind. Dust-dry and cherry-heavy on the palate..
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Impressive wine, powerful nose of blackcurrant, strawberry and rubarb. Taste of creme de casis and black cherry. Soft tannins although I believe that this wine can easily live for another 10-15 years and hopefully get a bit softer! It's almost to massive!
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So, nearly 6 years after tasting it, we drank a bottle! Well integrated here: it has that "edgeless" property; full, round but less searing intensity than back then - as you would expect. Long, richly fruited but not heat-blasted, it feels big but not heavy: it was no struggle at all to finish the bottle between 2.
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Opened 8 hours before tasting. Dramatic scent of sweet dark cherry, rosewood, coffee, good dept. In the mouth, it's big but round, great structure, fuller body than SQN, the true : terroir express, nicely tannic but not aggressive. Deep and powerful-long finished. Better than 2001 too, more than I've ever expected because of a dissapointed from La Porte du Ciel 2003 in last few months.
This wine can rock 'n' roll Greeknock Creek, Roenfeldt Road 1998 and 202 as well.
Drink now - 2025..................94-95/100.....................catch up 2005 asap.......................
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Colour: dark purple; Fruit: huge peppery monster; Acidity: medium/high - tingles on the tongue; Tannins: medium/low; Balance: not yet; Length: medium to long finish. Tasted before Pavie 2003 at The Sampler - blew it away for intensity and vigour!
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7/15/2021 - apple1813 wrote: 95 Points
2003 Château de la Négly Coteaux du Languedoc Clos des Truffiers was robust, intense and mineral-driven. The developing Languedoc Syrah was clear deep garnet in colour with loads of fine sediments. I double-decanted wine to remove the sediments, and left it in the bottle for three hours before my first glass. Profound aromas of ripe dark plum, blackberry and violet were preceded by truffle, liqourice, smoked beef and crushed rocks.
The mouthfeel was dry and full-bodied, accompanied by medium level of balancing acidity and high level of velvety, integrating tannin. Flavours of plum sauce, cassis cocoa and black pepper spices transitioned into smoke, earth and wet stone minerals in a persistent aftertaste. The 14.5% alcohol was well-concealed in the generous texture and complex flavours. This is a fine example that Languedoc is capable of producing complex, age-worthy, world-class wine.
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6/6/2020 - cch1966 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium garnet. Aromas of ripe, sweet blackcurrant and blackberry. Also pepper aromas is present. The palette matches the nose. Mid- acidity and soft tannins. A little bitter finish.
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10/7/2018 - M DU VIN Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wonderful black fruit and soft tannins.
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12/20/2017 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Coravined half the bottle then set the rest aside. Stunning concentrated fruit in perfect balance with earth and other secondary flavours. After an hour in the glass it really shined. Long finish. Not as deeply acidic as earlier bottles seems more in prime drinking window now. 94
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11/5/2017 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 93 Points
After an hour in the decanter the wine became less tightly coiled with some dark cherry, burnt earth, dark plum and other flavours with a thick long finish. Never fully opened up and had a muted nose but still drinkable and paired well with our stur fried beef. Drink with some air or hold for a few more years. You can feel the heat of the vintage with no sense of the Truffiers terroir but it is still very well made and supremely balanced, if just quite massive. 93-94
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7/23/2017 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Seriously good wine. Muted truffle nose. It was there just needed some coaxing when the wine warmed above optimal. On the palate a multi colored tail of flavours including vanilla, pepper, plum, dark cherry, roast meat, burnt earth. After about five hours some of the depth and complexity faded but still drank well with more truffled notes. Not quite on the level of the 2002 and a touch of heat but in its drinking window and will last for 10+ years given the acidity. Terrific Languedoc that can handily beat many Rhones at much higher prices. 94+ flirted with 95 for the first hour.
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6/26/2017 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 93 Points
While the '02 Truffiers is more about a sense of terroir, this seems more massively layered, but did not come across unbalanced at all, which seems quite a feat given the high acidity still. Upon opening the nose was a bit muted with dark cherry, earth and plums on the palate and an extremely long finish, I frankly lost count... Over time the layers moved around in intensity: burnt earth, morelo cherry, raspberry compote, dark chocolate, bitter chocolate, plum and a hint of the salinity more apparent in the '02 and other wines from this producer. After several hours some of the complexity faded but the wine was even punchier with Oriental plum sauce notes, dark chocolate and a nose of scorched earth not unlike some of the wines I have tried from Vega Sicilia. At nearly 15 years of age, the wine is showing little ageing and is a pleasure to drink with robust food, just too massive by itself. Patience is probably in order here. 93-94 now, easily 95-96 in 5-10 years when everything is more settled and less primary.
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1/3/2015 - jusuf Likes this wine: 91 Points
2006: Closed. Super concentrated. In my opinion, the wine will still improve, but will not reach the previous vintages. Blackberry and very little vanilla on the nose. Would not be recognised as Truffiers blind. Dust-dry and cherry-heavy on the palate..
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4/5/2014 - Dasplayer Likes this wine: 94 Points
Impressive wine, powerful nose of blackcurrant, strawberry and rubarb.
Taste of creme de casis and black cherry.
Soft tannins although I believe that this wine can easily live for another 10-15 years and hopefully get a bit softer!
It's almost to massive!
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10/13/2013 - M DU VIN Likes this wine: 94 Points
Intense wine with great fruit.
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3/8/2013 - rob1869 Likes this wine: 93 Points
So, nearly 6 years after tasting it, we drank a bottle! Well integrated here: it has that "edgeless" property; full, round but less searing intensity than back then - as you would expect. Long, richly fruited but not heat-blasted, it feels big but not heavy: it was no struggle at all to finish the bottle between 2.
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9/16/2008 - noppakit s. wrote: 94 Points
Opened 8 hours before tasting. Dramatic scent of sweet dark cherry, rosewood, coffee, good dept. In the mouth, it's big but round, great structure, fuller body than SQN, the true : terroir express, nicely tannic but not aggressive. Deep and powerful-long finished. Better than 2001 too, more than I've ever expected because of a dissapointed from La Porte du Ciel 2003 in last few months.
This wine can rock 'n' roll Greeknock Creek, Roenfeldt Road 1998 and 202 as well.
Drink now - 2025..................94-95/100.....................catch up 2005 asap.......................
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4/30/2007 - rob1869 wrote: 93 Points
Colour: dark purple; Fruit: huge peppery monster; Acidity: medium/high - tingles on the tongue; Tannins: medium/low; Balance: not yet; Length: medium to long finish. Tasted before Pavie 2003 at The Sampler - blew it away for intensity and vigour!
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