Absolutely fantastic, smoky, sultry, soft, cherry, meaty, so pure, just the essence of Côte-Rôtie. I should have drunk this years ago to appreciate the sans soufre freshness, but this aged elegantly and beautifully regardless.
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Quite mature but rather delicious Côte-Rôtie. I actually bought a couple of these some 16 years ago without realizing they were sans soufre and just stashed them in the cellar. Alas, likely this is a wine to really enjoy in its youth, but at least the bottle I opened had aged gracefully into a prototypical example.
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A bittersweet moment, the last of over 2 cases purchased on release. I was obsessed with this wine when I first tried it, soaring aromatics that were exotic and unlike anything else I had tried. I went after every available bottle in the US.
This last bottle is clearly more mature than tasted a couple of years ago. It is more restrained, perhaps more elegant. But it is also less opulent. It is an excellent Côte Rotie, just not the singular and magic experience of its youth. More red fruit, less of the deep blue and black fruit. Cork was absolutely pristine, and I am confident this is a representative bottle.
It is worth noting I usually prefer my wines with more age than less, so this is out of character. That said, I will be opening my top ‘15 Jean-Michel Stephans on the earlier side.
If you have never had this wine before, it will be a delight. Certainly it is a great wine, just not quite as exuberant and exotic as in its primary phase.
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one hour decant before dinner and then drunk with chicken cacciatore at a restaurant...wine is showing signs of age, but gracefully and very tasty. Earthy but clean and still sweet fruit....lovely aromas. Realy nice wine
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Throwing a ton sediment, and still quite dark. Initially a tad light and disjointed, but clean aromas and eventually filled out and really very nice with grilled lamb chops. Again very balanced notwithstanding the vintage. Good fruit with the meat and blood you would hope for from Cote Rotie. Really nice wine
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The aromas leaping out of the glass are beguiling and beautiful - blueberries and Christmas spice. Slight browning and the palate is more subdued than this wine was a few years ago, more mineral. This is a truly beautiful wine, and the best I've ever had from Jean-Michel Stephan.
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I swear there's fairy dust in this wine, it's magical. I loved it upon release, and managed to keep my hands off a few bottles until now. The exotic nose of juniper and Christmas spice remains, fruit is abundant, and the main difference is much more mineral on the finish and the texture isn't quite as round and fat. In sum, it's a more balanced wine with age but it has been such a superstar from the beginning it's splitting hairs.
I've liked this producers other wines, but not any of them have quite reached the great heights of this very special wine. I hope that another vintage will do so, as the world needs more wine like this.
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Pleasantly surprised this wine showed little no heat from this hot vintage. Wine was good but a bit simple given the write-ups I had read. Wine had good balance but was a bit on the thiner side. Secondary flavors provided the wine good but not great complexity. Overall the wine was solid and enjoyable but maybe not up to the standard of its fare.
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Very nice wine and not all roasted Some typicity and funk but definitely reflects the ripeness of the vintage Almost a thicker new world texture Very dark and years to go Drank with 2 couples and many bottles so didn't get all the attention I would have preferred Also "augmented" when use started to pour the decanted bottle into Seavey cab of same year before quickly pouring it into the correct bottle Both Seavey and this bottle ended up pleasing the table
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What a beautiful wine. Still pretty young based on the colour , but with a gorgeous complex nose full of meat, blood, iodine, tar as well as blackberry and dark plum fruit. Similar on palate, complex, well balanced - smooth tannins, juicy currant and cherry acidity - really nice length and great balance. Fantastic wine drinking absolutely peak.
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G6 (Petite Maison): Dark purple in color. Blackberry and raspberry aromatics. Flavors of blackberry, boisenberry, tobacco, blueberry, and raspberry. Nicely integrated cedar and Malaysian hardwood. Well balanced. Nice freshness. Elegant and complex finish.
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Dark purple. Interesting and odd nose, not all positive in that a medicinal and almost plastic smell would just not blow past. No obvious flaw, just these weird scents combined with the more classic, nice nose of fruit, broth and flowers. Thinner than expected on the palate, with an almost candied expression. Ok, but no thanks. I have one left of these, will hold it for a number of years in the hope this was just some off stage.
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Cinnamon, clove, sandalwood, and some other exotic, unidentifiable but gorgeous aromas. Immensely complex wine that evolves gloriously in the glass. Palate shows more minerality, and structure, than when tasted last year. Highly recommended
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G7 (Alex): Intoxicating nose. Dried flowers, blueberries, raspberries, sandalwood, blackberries and boysenberries. Nice depth and concentration of fruit but flirting on the edge of being over the top. Rich, powerful finish. Very new world in style undoubtedly due to the hot vintage. Atypical Côte-Rôtie but a nice wine nonetheless. My favorite of the trio from this producer.
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9/30/2022 - Eric wrote:
Absolutely fantastic, smoky, sultry, soft, cherry, meaty, so pure, just the essence of Côte-Rôtie. I should have drunk this years ago to appreciate the sans soufre freshness, but this aged elegantly and beautifully regardless.
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2/25/2022 - Eric wrote: 93 Points
Quite mature but rather delicious Côte-Rôtie. I actually bought a couple of these some 16 years ago without realizing they were sans soufre and just stashed them in the cellar. Alas, likely this is a wine to really enjoy in its youth, but at least the bottle I opened had aged gracefully into a prototypical example.
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3/4/2021 - bonedocnine wrote: 87 Points
past its prime
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10/19/2019 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
A bittersweet moment, the last of over 2 cases purchased on release. I was obsessed with this wine when I first tried it, soaring aromatics that were exotic and unlike anything else I had tried. I went after every available bottle in the US.
This last bottle is clearly more mature than tasted a couple of years ago. It is more restrained, perhaps more elegant. But it is also less opulent. It is an excellent Côte Rotie, just not the singular and magic experience of its youth. More red fruit, less of the deep blue and black fruit. Cork was absolutely pristine, and I am confident this is a representative bottle.
It is worth noting I usually prefer my wines with more age than less, so this is out of character. That said, I will be opening my top ‘15 Jean-Michel Stephans on the earlier side.
If you have never had this wine before, it will be a delight. Certainly it is a great wine, just not quite as exuberant and exotic as in its primary phase.
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10/22/2018 - Mr T wrote:
one hour decant before dinner and then drunk with chicken cacciatore at a restaurant...wine is showing signs of age, but gracefully and very tasty. Earthy but clean and still sweet fruit....lovely aromas. Realy nice wine
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7/1/2018 - christianderivel wrote: 90 Points
I have to agree with BoonyDooner that wine peaked in 2013. Now we're left with traces of Serine, feeble fruits and some minerality still present.
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6/28/2018 - Mr T wrote:
Throwing a ton sediment, and still quite dark. Initially a tad light and disjointed, but clean aromas and eventually filled out and really very nice with grilled lamb chops. Again very balanced notwithstanding the vintage. Good fruit with the meat and blood you would hope for from Cote Rotie. Really nice wine
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4/29/2018 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
The aromas leaping out of the glass are beguiling and beautiful - blueberries and Christmas spice. Slight browning and the palate is more subdued than this wine was a few years ago, more mineral. This is a truly beautiful wine, and the best I've ever had from Jean-Michel Stephan.
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12/16/2016 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
I swear there's fairy dust in this wine, it's magical. I loved it upon release, and managed to keep my hands off a few bottles until now. The exotic nose of juniper and Christmas spice remains, fruit is abundant, and the main difference is much more mineral on the finish and the texture isn't quite as round and fat. In sum, it's a more balanced wine with age but it has been such a superstar from the beginning it's splitting hairs.
I've liked this producers other wines, but not any of them have quite reached the great heights of this very special wine. I hope that another vintage will do so, as the world needs more wine like this.
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7/26/2014 - JBVino wrote:
Pleasantly surprised this wine showed little no heat from this hot vintage. Wine was good but a bit simple given the write-ups I had read. Wine had good balance but was a bit on the thiner side. Secondary flavors provided the wine good but not great complexity. Overall the wine was solid and enjoyable but maybe not up to the standard of its fare.
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6/8/2014 - Mr T wrote:
Very nice wine and not all roasted
Some typicity and funk but definitely reflects the ripeness of the vintage
Almost a thicker new world texture
Very dark and years to go
Drank with 2 couples and many bottles so didn't get all the attention I would have preferred
Also "augmented" when use started to pour the decanted bottle into Seavey cab of same year before quickly pouring it into the correct bottle
Both Seavey and this bottle ended up pleasing the table
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3/2/2013 - thebonnydooner wrote: 94 Points
What a beautiful wine. Still pretty young based on the colour , but with a gorgeous complex nose full of meat, blood, iodine, tar as well as blackberry and dark plum fruit. Similar on palate, complex, well balanced - smooth tannins, juicy currant and cherry acidity - really nice length and great balance. Fantastic wine drinking absolutely peak.
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8/10/2012 - jeff nowak wrote: 93 Points
in a word, lovely. this had a textured mouthfeel and beautiful finish. tannins are lush, the wines has an endearing elegance.
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8/10/2012 - kstoddard wrote: 93 Points
G6 (Petite Maison): Dark purple in color. Blackberry and raspberry aromatics. Flavors of blackberry, boisenberry, tobacco, blueberry, and raspberry. Nicely integrated cedar and Malaysian hardwood. Well balanced. Nice freshness. Elegant and complex finish.
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7/25/2010 - cadamson wrote: 82 Points
Dark purple. Interesting and odd nose, not all positive in that a medicinal and almost plastic smell would just not blow past. No obvious flaw, just these weird scents combined with the more classic, nice nose of fruit, broth and flowers. Thinner than expected on the palate, with an almost candied expression. Ok, but no thanks. I have one left of these, will hold it for a number of years in the hope this was just some off stage.
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12/28/2009 - Alex G. wrote:
Cinnamon, clove, sandalwood, and some other exotic, unidentifiable but gorgeous aromas. Immensely complex wine that evolves gloriously in the glass. Palate shows more minerality, and structure, than when tasted last year. Highly recommended
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12/3/2007 - kstoddard wrote: 92 Points
G7 (Alex): Intoxicating nose. Dried flowers, blueberries, raspberries, sandalwood, blackberries and boysenberries. Nice depth and concentration of fruit but flirting on the edge of being over the top. Rich, powerful finish. Very new world in style undoubtedly due to the hot vintage. Atypical Côte-Rôtie but a nice wine nonetheless. My favorite of the trio from this producer.
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