Perfect filling and condition. Needs a lot auf aeration. Good grip, pretty long, nice acid and balance, red fruits. Very good and much better than expected. I met Randall Grahm, the winemaker, 1997 in Western Australia. A very intelligent guy with a wonderful sense of ironic humour. Drink now. Some bottles will last some more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bottles of the '99 Cigare Volant, now in it's 14th year, may have experienced many differing standards of care. Ours was fabulous, and completely delivers on the Rhone Ranger's proposal. Aromatically it presents the mature complexity that could be mistaken for an elegant Burgundy, or an older northern Rhone.... tho lacking anything similar to cured meats or bacon. And interesting melange of thyme, roasted meat, anise, and menthol... maybe from the eucalyptus thereabouts.... it completely emulates the profile of an older Chateauneuf (modulo producer). Relatively abundant acid is modulated with vibrant black cherry/berry fruit that might seem too slight without a proper lean (sirloin) steak, or tartare... or venison. Respectable tannic structure, not overpowering, served well with substantial grilled food. Per my rating method... fruit 2.8/4 vibrant but perhaps only 2-4 years left, acid 3/4 may seem overly abundant without proper food, oak- not evident, tannin 3.5/4 properly in relation to fruit, density/persistence 2.8/4 on the more elegant side.... overall 2.7/4 or about a "90-91" in my book. (note... these are not arithmetic scores for those out there reaching for calculators....)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first thought was that this was some kind of mataro bomb: rich, meaty, smoky, with coffee and roasted notes... and also too old at this point to really be drinkable, alas. The fruit seems to still be there, but all of that turn of the century microoxygenation and wacky tannin management appear to have left it without a supporting framework. Bummer, dude.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
And again, I was surprised by the fact, that this wine is still enjoyable after all those years. I have to admit, that the wine was better some years ago when I tasted him the last time, but nevertheless the smell of black fruits, coffee notes and dark chocolate shows a smile on my face!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this in a vertical tasting '99-'03 was not as good as the rest, the '02 stood out as superior. Paired nicely with gilled lamp, stuffed grape leaves and such.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have to say I was surprised. This was an experimental second bottle - meant to be the cheap one following the longer ranging cab but well done Bonny Doon... It's still alive and kicking as one of the other reviews put it. Don't hold but drink it and enjoy its fiery but much mellowed quaffability!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From magnum, at Thanksgiving. Notes from memory. Probably at peak for this, or at least pretty close. Has developed some modest secondary characteristics, but overall, it's much the same wine. Lots of red fruit with some smokiness and a touch of sweetness. Drinking well. A crowd pleaser.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow! This 7-year-old Cali rhone wine is not only alive, but it's kicking too. Served double blind at a Saturday Group tasting today and skunked everyone. Lots of smoke on the nose. Soft tannins' still hanging on to its fruit. Mouvedre very noticeable. Balanced with a medium finish. Delicious
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Generous nose of fruit, smoke and spice. Tannins are subdued, but the balance is lovely. Cinnamon, anice, leather, tobacco and lots of fruit. Medium-long finish. This was a delicious, moderately complex wine. Had it with a burger, but would have been better with roast chicken, I think.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Le Cigare Volant vertical: Yuk - nasty acids and funk here. Way off. Second bottle : Better, but still acidic and not enjoyable, maybe closed. Disjointed with tobacco and black fruits and waxy notes. Lacks body as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/8/2022 - Dancing with bottles Likes this wine: 92 Points
Perfect filling and condition. Needs a lot auf aeration. Good grip, pretty long, nice acid and balance, red fruits. Very good and much better than expected.
I met Randall Grahm, the winemaker, 1997 in Western Australia. A very intelligent guy with a wonderful sense of ironic humour.
Drink now. Some bottles will last some more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2014 - oldcorke Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bottles of the '99 Cigare Volant, now in it's 14th year, may have experienced many differing standards of care. Ours was fabulous, and completely delivers on the Rhone Ranger's proposal. Aromatically it presents the mature complexity that could be mistaken for an elegant Burgundy, or an older northern Rhone.... tho lacking anything similar to cured meats or bacon. And interesting melange of thyme, roasted meat, anise, and menthol... maybe from the eucalyptus thereabouts.... it completely emulates the profile of an older Chateauneuf (modulo producer). Relatively abundant acid is modulated with vibrant black cherry/berry fruit that might seem too slight without a proper lean (sirloin) steak, or tartare... or venison. Respectable tannic structure, not overpowering, served well with substantial grilled food. Per my rating method... fruit 2.8/4 vibrant but perhaps only 2-4 years left, acid 3/4 may seem overly abundant without proper food, oak- not evident, tannin 3.5/4 properly in relation to fruit, density/persistence 2.8/4 on the more elegant side.... overall 2.7/4 or about a "90-91" in my book. (note... these are not arithmetic scores for those out there reaching for calculators....)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2011 - fullpour wrote:
My first thought was that this was some kind of mataro bomb: rich, meaty, smoky, with coffee and roasted notes... and also too old at this point to really be drinkable, alas. The fruit seems to still be there, but all of that turn of the century microoxygenation and wacky tannin management appear to have left it without a supporting framework. Bummer, dude.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2010 - pheck Likes this wine: 89 Points
And again, I was surprised by the fact, that this wine is still enjoyable after all those years. I have to admit, that the wine was better some years ago when I tasted him the last time, but nevertheless the smell of black fruits, coffee notes and dark chocolate shows a smile on my face!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2009 - chj wrote: 85 Points
Had this in a vertical tasting '99-'03 was not as good as the rest, the '02 stood out as superior. Paired nicely with gilled lamp, stuffed grape leaves and such.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2009 - ydris wrote:
I have to say I was surprised. This was an experimental second bottle - meant to be the cheap one following the longer ranging cab but well done Bonny Doon... It's still alive and kicking as one of the other reviews put it. Don't hold but drink it and enjoy its fiery but much mellowed quaffability!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2008 - darrin wrote:
drank from bottle -- still showing fruit and positive qualities from other reviews, but tasting like its peak has passed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2006 - trankin wrote: 89 Points
From magnum, at Thanksgiving. Notes from memory. Probably at peak for this, or at least pretty close. Has developed some modest secondary characteristics, but overall, it's much the same wine. Lots of red fruit with some smokiness and a touch of sweetness. Drinking well. A crowd pleaser.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2006 - mouton45 wrote: 91 Points
Wow! This 7-year-old Cali rhone wine is not only alive, but it's kicking too. Served double blind at a Saturday Group tasting today and skunked everyone. Lots of smoke on the nose. Soft tannins' still hanging on to its fruit. Mouvedre very noticeable. Balanced with a medium finish. Delicious
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2006 - elfez wrote: 91 Points
Generous nose of fruit, smoke and spice. Tannins are subdued, but the balance is lovely. Cinnamon, anice, leather, tobacco and lots of fruit. Medium-long finish. This was a delicious, moderately complex wine. Had it with a burger, but would have been better with roast chicken, I think.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2005 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Le Cigare Volant vertical: Yuk - nasty acids and funk here. Way off.
Second bottle : Better, but still acidic and not enjoyable, maybe closed. Disjointed with tobacco and black fruits and waxy notes. Lacks body as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2001 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Very full, but not overly tannic. Good fruit. Long earthy finish. Compared well w/ ’99 Dm Cailloux CdP served at same dinner.
Xmas dinner w/ Mike and Kris. Roast leg of lamb main course.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment