Vertical w/2005. Decanted for 3 hours, served with lamb stew. Herbal nose, much lighter in color than expected with evident bricking, little to no fruit, medium bodied, short, slightly tannic finish. A bit over-the-hill, yet still somewhat enjoyable. Drink up.
2004 had the better nose; 2005 the better color, texture and finish.
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Final bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2010. Pristine condition (perfect level and cork) bottle, and the wine is in fine fettle too. Rich and concentrated but elegant and fresh, smoky and floral, crushed red berries and touches of forest floor and cedar, silky texture with the expected toasty, tannic grip on the finish, very good persistence. At peak, drinking beautifully.
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Eleventh bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2010. Pristine condition (perfect level and cork), but alas not a pristine bottle. The nose is very dull and a bit cardboardy without any terroir or varietal expression, the palate is supple but stripped of flavour and the finish has a rough edge. Not undrinkable but clearly faulty. Probably low-level TCA.
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New oak on the nose and new oak on the palate. It is like taking a bite out of a wood table. Dark soft concentrated very well mannered syrah fruit beneath. Silky tannin. I do not recall a wine that I have felt to be more manipulated by activity in the cellar. A generous interpretation would be to say this is a wine of its time, and such wines were necessary to bring focus and money to Cote Rotie. A less generous view would be to question why anyone would ever think a wine improved by so much unnecessary makeup. The critics' reviews when released as I recall did not caution how extraordinarily strong was the cellar imprint on this wine - a disservice in my view. Nor were their high scores qualified by the observation that they were appropriate only if you liked this very manipulated style, which probably explains why I bought it at the time. But just one bottle thank goodness.
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Tenth bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2011. Pristine condition, level < 0.5cm below the perfect cork. A blend of 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier from seven vineyards, Le Clos, La Garde, and La Grande Plantée on the Côte Blonde, and La Pommière, Le Pavillon Rouge, Le Moulin, and La Viria on the Côte Brune, 38 months in 100% new oak. Opened three hours in advance. Very similar to my previous tasting note from March 2021. Wonderful aromatics on the nose (red berries, flowers, grilled red meat, apricot, nuts, smoke), very expressive for the vineyard, and supported by some oak spice; the cool and transparent palate is representative for the vintage, elegant weight (13% ABV), bright acifity, relatively light tannins; slightly sticky oak on the finish, very good resonance and length. Drink now and over the next few years.
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Random wines tasted during service (Oinoscent): Tasted after 50 minutes, wine not decanted The wine shows pale brick red color. The wine shows density, pure decadence, sweet spice notes, earthy, paprika, cumin, ripe red cherries bacon, cured meat, gamey, toast, ripe cherries In the palate, the wine is very elegant, silky tannins, earthy, spicy, a few herbal notes, medium body and long finish. The wine kept its character till the end proving its pedigree
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Deep red. Nose yeast, red fruit and coffee. Rather inky and chewy. In the mouth ripe red fruit but more dominated by notes of pepper, incense and roses. Limited tertiary but long, and pretty complex finish. Not a huge Syrah fan but this was good (although maybe slightly out of place in the context of the night!)
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Ninth bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2011. Opened three hours in advance. In 2017 I opined that this needed a bit of time, and I am happy to report that I was not wrong. Wonderfully fragrant nose, intense and lifted, crushed red berries and black pepper, flowers and slate, supported by smoky oak, hint of forest floor; the palate is elegant and fresh, light in style for Guigal (13% ABV), harmonious and supple, with bright and juicy acidity, mature but youthful for age, creamy texture, resolved tannins; complete finish, good to very good length, hint of cold tea. Fully mature, drink now and over the next few years (before the oak takes over).
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Reading the reviews, I was disappointed in the wine. The bottle did not seems inherently flawed, but it lacked brightness and acidity. The classic Syrah flavors were present, but it was too heavy and lacked balance.
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room temp was a bit low and it took a while for the wine to open up. After about 30mins, lots of aroma appeared, most notable was the mocha coca aroma which was very nice. Not very spicy tonight. Still young and expect a good many years ahead.
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Opened 2 hours. Color is ruby red with hints of orange on the rim. On the nose: Raspberry, Kirsch, cassis, pepper and violets. On the palate: Kirsch, violets, pepper, lavender and blood. Tannins are evident but soft. This wine is in a very good place. I also like the 13% alcohol level.
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Colour showing a little age in the ruby but not quite bricking. Nose immediately has a big hit of smoke followed by rich charcuterie and a little heat (13%)? The palate for the first hour was disappointingly thin and hollow, then some stewed and muted dark berries appeared with a cherry kirsch note. Half an hour later brighter, sweeter blackberry showed up and the nose went from smokey meats to leather. Tannin completely integrated. Short/medium finish. A decent Syrah but not entirely Cote Rotie like.
Next day similar, add a touch of raspberry/milk chocolate up front and drying red plum skins to the finish. This is like a good Crozes Hermitage.
Very pleasant but poor QPR. Not sure this was ever worth its price, and it's definitely not improving from here.
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Deep ruby with some fading on edges. Pronounced nose, with blackberry, dark chocolate, and a slight blue cheese fungal funk. Some tannic structure, and some acid freshness, and white pepper, dark chocolate, mint, paprika, red cherry, blackberry, and some meaty feels. Quite straight-up and actually pretty short
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Still in a very good spot - needs a bit of air to smooth out some of the acidity. This clearly still have some life left in it
Comes down with a mixture of some red fruit and a little black fruit - a bit of violet and graphite when first opened. Well integrated finish given some air
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Still in good shape, nose offers charred oak, menthol, black plum, charcuterie, pastis. Very rich and dense, mostly resolved tannins but missing lift, so it sits heavy on the palate, without much complexity. This doesnt improve with time, but it remains a fine companion for morcilla, adobo, and rare game. It works there because its thick monochromatic texture is a foil for rich, complex, bloody food flavors.
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Not my typical style. Interesting. Smoked meat wrapped in blackberry all over the nose and palate. The smoked meat lessens a bit with some air but it's still there on day two. Drink now.
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In my memory a previous bottle was much better.. This immediately reminds me of a young Languedoc I often drink. Montlobre to be more precise. But that's merlot.... It's the use of oak. A compliment when a wine from 2004 tastes like a much younger one. Maybe it still needs more time. And yes, with some air it got it's Rhône identity. Still too much oaky nose. Sharp palate lacking balance. For this price I was expecting much more. Guigal puts all his effort in the La La's.
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Excellent but on its tail end of life. We decanted, poured and drank and that was enough over the hour or so. Still some lifted character, good acidity and light tannin but mostly tertiary fruit. Would have loved to try two years ago. Still very nice.
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Nice, clean expression of Syrah showing predominantly spicy and floral aromas, with significant oak, but also significant punchy, jammy fruit. A bit lifted with some volatility in the glass, but that blew off with time. The beginnings of secondary characters coming through with some feral, meaty vibes in there too. The palate was nicely pitched with spice and earth characters and a surprisingly long, luxurious feeling finish. To be honest I'm just glad this wasn't bretty. Everything else was a bonus.
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Nice drinking but seems like it's in a muted phase right now. There is a delicate floral lift, very subtle, which I like. But is still tending towards the oak and tannin ahead of the fruit, which could do with a bit longer to shake out. Was much the same with previous bottle 3 years ago, so I'm not sure if/when they will ever sync. Holding the last bottle for another 4-5 years to see what comes out the other side.
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Memory. Decanted for 40 minutes. Good fruit intensity, raspberry & milk chocolate through to plum, leather. Sweet grippy tannins. Probably drank too quickly as it was continuing to open by the time we finished it. Some thought good now & needed drinking up; I wondered if it could do with a while longer, oak seemed a tad up front still.
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classic north Rhone, starting to develop nicely, very smooth tannins with medium acidity, some complexity emerging, well balanced and a pleasure to drink.
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VinoLaprisco Tasting (Restaurant De Karpendonkse Hoeve *, Eindhoven, Netherlands): Paired with the 2003. Tonight the contrast between the two vintages (diametrically opposed from a climate perspective), seemed less distinct than it was before. This is obviously cooler and sleeker than the deeper and richer 2003, more transparent and mineral, with flavours of smoked bacon and violets and on the second day the lavish oak (38 months, 100% new), still completely hidden on day one, is starting to show a bit. It's an excellent wine (completely intact on day three), but I think it may need a little time right now.
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Elegant, light Burgundian, true to the vintage with a sweet aftertaste that reveals the oak treatment. Will take time to integrate the oak fully, and I doubt the wine has the stuffing for keeping many years, better top drink it now, it is quite lovely. #tasting.
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After a 1 hour decant, this wine emerged as a seductive, medium bodied Cote Rotie that is well into its window of drinkability. On the following day, this bottle did not improve and the palate even lightened up a bit. No need to rush to drink, but it might not improve with further bottle age.
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Color: medium-deep ruby core (no longer opaque) -> light ruby rim with slight bricking. Complex bouquet of roast beef, bacon fat, anisette, black cherries and blackcurrants. Medium-bodied palate; not a blockbuster but well proportioned and deep. Good purity of Syrah fruit showing plenty of minerality mixed with the olfactory elements; black pepper noted but not obtrusive as it can be in young Cote Rotie. Nice acid level and lengthy finish, I find this to be quite polished and elegant. Drinking well now, I'm not sure this will scale any higher but I think this will go 5-10 more years with no problem.
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Dark red; intense dark fruit nose; really nice balance, licorice, hint of chocolate, smooth, silky, nice sweetness, rich texture, some pepper, slight tannic ending; rich candy; very good
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Bu au super bowl avec la gang de Fouduvin de Sherby (Bulle, Meursault, Mike LM, Headless). Encore une fois, un grand seigneur. Nez viandé, fumée, sur les mures et les violettes. En bouche, similaire au profil du nez, très long, rien n'accroche. Complexe et fort goûteux, cher mais lui, délivre la marchandise à toute les fois! Merci encore Mike LM.
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Northern Rhone Dinner (Asselina): There's a lot of oak here, framing the juicy, glossy purple fruit with plenty of sweet vanilla and coconut and giving the wine a creamy sheen. But I didn't find it grainy or drying. Not to my taste but not bad.
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Popped and poured. This is a medium red wine with a raspberry beam and thicket on the nose. In the mouth, the wine has some medium acid and body, all with a savory and tasty overtone and leaving a berry-pie finish. Overall, this wine is well-made and enjoyable, but not distinctive. 91 points.
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A private dinner (at home): Paired with the 2003. The 2003 is clearly the critics' favourite and it is very good indeed, but I do prefer the 2004. The nose is an explosion of violets, slate and smoked bacon fat, raspberries and olives, the palate is elegant and transparent but intense, the smoky oak on the finish is beguiling, the tannins provide wonderful grip and the balance and freshness are impeccable. Just beautiful. Burgundian. May be more evanescent than the profound 2003, but I prefer dancing to marching.
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No detailed notes. A symphony of Syrah and slate, flowers and spice, black pepper and oak, smoked bacon and ripe fruit. Wonderful elegance and balance, amazing quality in the context of the vintage (and otherwise too). Power without weight, toute en finesse. Delicious, time in hand.
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Needed about an hour in my glass... then unfolding to a very nice northern Rhone syrah with deliciously, elegantly, cured meat aromas and dark dark blue fruits. I think some (well attended) pro reviews have underestimated this wine.
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Lots of Syrahs - Nate M visits Cleveland (A Restaurant Downtown): I seemed to like this more than the group. Sure, there was a lot of oak still there, but most of it had softened a bit, was not harsh and worked with the fruit. The nose has black raspberries, black olives, vanilla, and slight floral notes. Full bodied. slick texture. The palate has black raspberry fruit, with some charred oak and slight earthiness. Not sure this ever gets better, but perhaps the oak continues to integrate.
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There is so much going on with this wine. Smoke, leather, slightly sour red cherries, cassis, blackberries, sweet Oak, cedar, graphite. The acidity it a tad too high for me, but the greatness of the wine is there. The finish is about 30 seconds. 30 minutes decant is sufficient.
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Following the 2008 Domaine des Lambrays Morey-St-Denis was a perfect position for this wine. Another great expression of terroir and grape varietal. Did not carry any of the sometimes sourness of the grape. At 10 years old, this is a very enjoyable drink. Best to be paired with food, and a braised steak was the right combination!
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the first night was a laser of fruit and rhone earth that added to a steak on the grill stored with a cork in the fridge overbite and faded the second day
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Intense and rustic nose, with elements of brush fire, garrigue, wood and hard berries. Palate was incredibly long and complex - elements of earth, mineral and stone fruit. My first real experience with top quality cote-rotie and I will seeking more in the future
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Bin 75): See through dark crimson core with light red rim; caramel, sweet, cherry syrup, raspberry, strawberry; lush and ripe palate, lots of oomph, cranberry and cherry on finish, lots of candied cherry; wow this wine was so primary I would not touch it for another 10 years, everyone did not understand it but I saw the potential, it was not really revealing any Cote Rotie character, certain vintages can take longer to shed the 30 months of mandatory new oak, 90++.
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I gave this wine an hour of decanting and it needed those last 30 minutes. More dark fruits and hard leather in obvious layers came through than my last bottle. Very smooth with a long finish.
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A little bricking at rim but no sediment. Opened in the glass within 30 minutes. Nice layers and notes of tobacco, hard leather, blackberries, dried herb and some red fruits on the finish with nice little element of acidity.
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What a complex wine. Great berry nose with a burnt marshmallow/caramel overtone. Very smooth, soft, velvety. I could drink this all night-- no food required. Loved it!
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Beautiful wine! Strawberry compote, smoked game, and savory essence expression on the nose. Wonderful, balanced palate showing subdued red berry fruit that opens up, earth tones and prosciutto. Consistent with every sip and smell. Wonderful finish and fantastic length! One more bottle left that I'll have to save!
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APPEARANCE: clear; clear garnet, medium legs & tears NOSE: clean; medium intensity; flavour characteristics: forest floor, red cherry, strawberry, sweet spices(vanilla), prune, raisin; developing PALATE: dry; medium+ acidity; medium body; medium- tannin (very fine); medium alcohol; medium+ finish; medium+ flavour intensity; flavour characteristics: as per nose: forest floor, tobacco, prune, strawberry, white pepper READINESS FOR DRINKING: can drink now, but will keep 3-5 years FURTHER REMARKS: Very good wine, combining complexity with nice subtle balance between components. Pleasant finish. This is not a blockbuster but an elegant wine which is drinking very well at the moment.
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Guigal Château d'Ampuis - complete vertical tasting of 1995-2009 (Stockholm): Medium red colour, faded edge. Nose with ripe strawberries, some dark berries, noticeably herbaceous, a hint of mint, some spice, discrete notes of maturity. Palate with sweet red berries, rather good concentration of fruit, strong mint and herbal notes, high acidity, some mineral, medium tannins. Not a heavyweight, and rather ready in its development, 90 p. Comes across as a little lighter than many of the other vintages, and with more pronounced herbaceous notes.
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A private dinner at a friend's (Tilburg): Wonderfully floral and aromatic nose, crushed red fruit, spice, mineral freshness, good depth, very subtle oak, very youthful and lively, very peppery; the palate is so elegant and fresh, very much like a Pinot Noir, mineral, seamless, silky perfect oak integration, very energetic, bright fruit flavours; very good length.
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early in its drinking window but will be difficult to hold on to the other bottle as this was singing right from the opening and each sip was an evolution;I am in agreement that this is lighter than a typical syrah
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I decanted for a little over an hour before I tried this wine. Poured into glass and noticed it was much lighter than I had expected. More like a burgundy and a rhone wine. Nose was neutral without a definitive fruity presence. On taste there were red berries, currants, cherries.....again more burgundy like than I had expected. The wine had a bit of harsh aftertaste that dissipated over the next 45 min or so. All in all if I wanted a burgundy.........I would have opened one. Not the Syrah that I had hoped for with dinner.
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Decanted for about 2 hours. Deep red in colour. Savoury notes on the nose with hints of red fruits - raspberry, red currants, cherry. Something fresh on the palate. Menthol like. Again savoury flavours. Well balanced, well integrated. Smoothe. This was enjoyable and improved further in the glass suggesting more life ahead of it.
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Opak, kenarları hafif kiremit rim'li, derin yakut renkte.Ön burunda olgun siyah meyveler hissedilse de is ,füme,deri gibi animal, otsal, tütün, mentol, baharat ve mineral notları ile hem kompleksite gösteriyor, hem de eski dünya anımsatıyor.Orta gövdeli, yumuşak, tanenleri belirgin ama entegre.Diri asidi ile tazeleyici.Damakta topraksı izlenimler,meyvenin önünde.Akışkanlığı var,içimi kolay.Mineral çağrıştıran uzun bitiminde,damakta olduğu gibi,önde kalan asidi ile iyi bir Alman Pinot Noir'ini düşündürüyor.Olgunlaşması sürdüğü için önümüzdeki 5-8 yıl içinde rahatlıkla içilebilir
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Opak, kenarları hafif kiremit rim'li, derin yakut renkte.Ön burunda olgun siyah meyveler hissedilse de is ,füme,deri gibi animal, otsal, tütün, mentol, baharat ve mineral notları ile hem kompleksite gösteriyor, hem de eski dünya anımsatıyor.Orta gövdeli, yumuşak, tanenleri belirgin ama entegre.Diri asidi ile tazeleyici.Damakta topraksı izlenimler,meyvenin önünde.Akışkanlığı var,içimi kolay.Mineral çağrıştıran uzun bitiminde,damakta olduğu gibi,önde kalan asidi ile iyi bir Alman Pinot Noir'ini düşündürüyor.Olgunlaşması sürdüğü için önümüzdeki 5-8 yıl içinde rahatlıkla içilebilir
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Guigal masterclass with Christopher Canan (Regional wines and spirits, Wellington): Very slight spirity aroma which continues on the palate. For me it lacks the intensity of the 2007 and also somewhat shorter. Generally others were disappointed with the bottle and thought it was prematurally aged. Some suggestioon it may have been a bad bottle.
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Popped and poured. I liked it a lot! I liked sweetness of the fruit, the dark cherry notes, very modest white pepper, just a hint of it. I do believe this wine will get even better with age.
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Medium bodied, lighter style of Guigal Ampuis offers fresh, kirsch, plums, earth and spice. This is already fun to drink. I would not hold it hoping for the wine to improve. I'd drink it over the next 5-10 years.
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A very fragrant and floral wine with lovely fresh red fruits, slender body, crisp acidity and a pleasant tannic kick on the medium-plus finish. Very attractive and stylish, clearly not a big wine and perhaps with a hint of dryness, but also with a sound structure and balance that allow for further ageing. Amazing how such a light wine has absorbed 38 months of new oak. Excellent if enjoyed straight from the bottle and even straight from the cellar. Recedes into its shell temporarily in the decanter but re-emerges after about an hour with richer textures and aromas - more tarry and oaky. Captivating stuff.
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Upon opening, ash, smoked meat, white pepper and crushed blueberries and blackberries. The palate displays medium concentration with noticeable but not obtrusive tannins. The overall expression is pretty cool and the fruit not sweet. An hour after opening, the nose is very expressive; blueberry jam, ash, white pepper, extra virgin olive oil, lavender, earth, charred rare steak and garrigue. Silky palate, a bit grainy, bright acidity and nicely integrated tannins. Very tasty wine with still some primary fruits. It is drinking nicely but it will benefit from another three to five years of cellaring to gain a bit more tertiary flavor. Still has a long life ahead.
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This is a fantastic wine! Lovely nose with black and red fruit and beautiful (woody) smokiness. Great balance on the palate and very nice accidity. Fruity with (sour) cherries and some smoked flavours again. 'Aristocratic' is the right word for this beautiful wine.
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taste: polished and suave medium/full feel with medium+ acidity. Deep, but with some chewy tannins and balanced tones of dark red cherries, smoke tones, dark red berries and bacon fat tones
overall: this was decanted for about 3 hours and consumed over 6, it was still on the tight side towards the end. Needs a good amount of time still, but there is a lot to like down the road
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Popped and poured. Translucent garnet red. Beautiful floral aromas with dark fruits and lavender. Well balanced palate and smooth texture. Elegant soft tannins. If I had another bottle I would give it a couple years but definitely do not regret popping it now. Drink or hold.
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Lots of oak, and it tastes expensive black cherry fruit
Just acquired from an auction. Starts with dominant oak note. Scorched earth and ash dominates as the first note and masks the typical primary cote rotie fruit. When you sniff real deep, you start to get crushed slightly under-ripe blueberries and cherries, black pepper and lavander. Very mineral driven wine with medium body and nice silky texture. Bob mentioned Burgundian but perhaps only in the weight but the flavor is distinctively northern rhone.
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Medium dark red; licorice but otherwise somewhat unyielding nose; soft, inviting, lightly spiced, flavoury, lingering aftertaste of fresh red berries, some tannin (just a bit); light and elegant
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I've tried the Ampuis multiple times, but this was just the 2nd time with the whole bottle and time to spend with it. Upon opening, this wine was full of chocolate and raspberries, but not the signature black pepper I'm used to. Lots of oak, and it tastes expensive. Threw this in the decanter and drank it over the course of 7 hours. The pedigree is there. A hard core of minerality and intensity was with this wine, but wound up too tightly to ever enjoy. Not to mention that the oak masked a lot of the primal characters of N. Rhone Syrah that I love so much. It was, for me, a little too polished at the moment. I'd love to try this wine in ten years to see what's happening. But I wouldn't pop this open right now if you have any. 91-94, because it's really hard to read this wine right now, not to mention that I have trouble scoring on potential when the $20 wine stood up to this pretty evenly tonight.
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After having this one, and being stunned, I was disappointed in Parker's comments about this vintage. I thought it was a great wine. The nose was explosive. Concentrated with smokey bacon fat, burnt toast, ash, and plum jam. The palate was equally as intoxicating. Full bodied and rich. The tannins were very mild, added to mouthfeel, but the acidity fell a bit short. So sure, maybe not quite as balanced as previous vint. but still a beautiful wine. Can't wait for the '05's.
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This was the weakest of the lineup. Good violaceious perfume with smoky vanilla that leads into taut black cherry fruit. The fruit is complemented by requisite iron and grilled meat notes with green olive lending an herbal quality. What is most notable is the copious amount of oak, which makes the wine seem disjointed currently. There is decent complexity, but I fear that by the time the oak integrates, the fruit will be too lean.
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12/4/2023 - Eantnay wrote: 90 Points
Vertical w/2005. Decanted for 3 hours, served with lamb stew. Herbal nose, much lighter in color than expected with evident bricking, little to no fruit, medium bodied, short, slightly tannic finish. A bit over-the-hill, yet still somewhat enjoyable. Drink up.
2004 had the better nose; 2005 the better color, texture and finish.
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6/11/2023 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Final bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2010. Pristine condition (perfect level and cork) bottle, and the wine is in fine fettle too. Rich and concentrated but elegant and fresh, smoky and floral, crushed red berries and touches of forest floor and cedar, silky texture with the expected toasty, tannic grip on the finish, very good persistence. At peak, drinking beautifully.
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5/29/2023 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: flawed
Eleventh bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2010. Pristine condition (perfect level and cork), but alas not a pristine bottle. The nose is very dull and a bit cardboardy without any terroir or varietal expression, the palate is supple but stripped of flavour and the finish has a rough edge. Not undrinkable but clearly faulty. Probably low-level TCA.
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1/10/2023 - MuddyBoots wrote:
New oak on the nose and new oak on the palate. It is like taking a bite out of a wood table. Dark soft concentrated very well mannered syrah fruit beneath. Silky tannin. I do not recall a wine that I have felt to be more manipulated by activity in the cellar. A generous interpretation would be to say this is a wine of its time, and such wines were necessary to bring focus and money to Cote Rotie. A less generous view would be to question why anyone would ever think a wine improved by so much unnecessary makeup. The critics' reviews when released as I recall did not caution how extraordinarily strong was the cellar imprint on this wine - a disservice in my view. Nor were their high scores qualified by the observation that they were appropriate only if you liked this very manipulated style, which probably explains why I bought it at the time. But just one bottle thank goodness.
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8/14/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Tenth bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2011. Pristine condition, level < 0.5cm below the perfect cork. A blend of 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier from seven vineyards, Le Clos, La Garde, and La Grande Plantée on the Côte Blonde, and La Pommière, Le Pavillon Rouge, Le Moulin, and La Viria on the Côte Brune, 38 months in 100% new oak. Opened three hours in advance. Very similar to my previous tasting note from March 2021. Wonderful aromatics on the nose (red berries, flowers, grilled red meat, apricot, nuts, smoke), very expressive for the vineyard, and supported by some oak spice; the cool and transparent palate is representative for the vintage, elegant weight (13% ABV), bright acifity, relatively light tannins; slightly sticky oak on the finish, very good resonance and length. Drink now and over the next few years.
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8/12/2022 - kostaslonis Likes this wine:
Random wines tasted during service (Oinoscent): Tasted after 50 minutes, wine not decanted
The wine shows pale brick red color.
The wine shows density, pure decadence, sweet spice notes, earthy, paprika, cumin, ripe red cherries bacon, cured meat, gamey, toast, ripe cherries
In the palate, the wine is very elegant, silky tannins, earthy, spicy, a few herbal notes, medium body and long finish.
The wine kept its character till the end proving its pedigree
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4/1/2022 - remyworldpeace Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep red. Nose yeast, red fruit and coffee. Rather inky and chewy. In the mouth ripe red fruit but more dominated by notes of pepper, incense and roses. Limited tertiary but long, and pretty complex finish. Not a huge Syrah fan but this was good (although maybe slightly out of place in the context of the night!)
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3/20/2021 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Ninth bottle from a full case purchased at auction in 2011. Opened three hours in advance. In 2017 I opined that this needed a bit of time, and I am happy to report that I was not wrong. Wonderfully fragrant nose, intense and lifted, crushed red berries and black pepper, flowers and slate, supported by smoky oak, hint of forest floor; the palate is elegant and fresh, light in style for Guigal (13% ABV), harmonious and supple, with bright and juicy acidity, mature but youthful for age, creamy texture, resolved tannins; complete finish, good to very good length, hint of cold tea. Fully mature, drink now and over the next few years (before the oak takes over).
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2/26/2021 - LT98 wrote: 89 Points
Reading the reviews, I was disappointed in the wine. The bottle did not seems inherently flawed, but it lacked brightness and acidity. The classic Syrah flavors were present, but it was too heavy and lacked balance.
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1/1/2021 - danielk168 wrote: 91 Points
room temp was a bit low and it took a while for the wine to open up. After about 30mins, lots of aroma appeared, most notable was the mocha coca aroma which was very nice. Not very spicy tonight. Still young and expect a good many years ahead.
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12/22/2020 - Brian of Mull Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened 2 hours. Color is ruby red with hints of orange on the rim. On the nose: Raspberry, Kirsch, cassis, pepper and violets. On the palate: Kirsch, violets, pepper, lavender and blood. Tannins are evident but soft. This wine is in a very good place. I also like the 13% alcohol level.
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10/25/2020 - medzac2004 wrote:
Soft Tannins, raspberry, dark currants, Tobacco. Very refined. excellent wine. Would recommend 99 points
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7/5/2020 - mysterycooper Likes this wine:
Colour showing a little age in the ruby but not quite bricking.
Nose immediately has a big hit of smoke followed by rich charcuterie and a little heat (13%)? The palate for the first hour was disappointingly thin and hollow, then some stewed and muted dark berries appeared with a cherry kirsch note. Half an hour later brighter, sweeter blackberry showed up and the nose went from smokey meats to leather. Tannin completely integrated. Short/medium finish.
A decent Syrah but not entirely Cote Rotie like.
Next day similar, add a touch of raspberry/milk chocolate up front and drying red plum skins to the finish. This is like a good Crozes Hermitage.
Very pleasant but poor QPR. Not sure this was ever worth its price, and it's definitely not improving from here.
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3/16/2020 - vinhonotte wrote: 89 Points
Deep ruby with some fading on edges. Pronounced nose, with blackberry, dark chocolate, and a slight blue cheese fungal funk. Some tannic structure, and some acid freshness, and white pepper, dark chocolate, mint, paprika, red cherry, blackberry, and some meaty feels. Quite straight-up and actually pretty short
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12/14/2019 - wsammons wrote: 92 Points
Still in a very good spot - needs a bit of air to smooth out some of the acidity. This clearly still have some life left in it
Comes down with a mixture of some red fruit and a little black fruit - a bit of violet and graphite when first opened. Well integrated finish given some air
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2/26/2019 - OenoEd wrote: 91 Points
Still in good shape, nose offers charred oak, menthol, black plum, charcuterie, pastis. Very rich and dense, mostly resolved tannins but missing lift, so it sits heavy on the palate, without much complexity. This doesnt improve with time, but it remains a fine companion for morcilla, adobo, and rare game. It works there because its thick monochromatic texture is a foil for rich, complex, bloody food flavors.
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8/9/2018 - cfk49 wrote: 90 Points
Oak has largely integrated, but the wine is still quite primary. Enjoyable tonight, room still for improvement with further aging.
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8/8/2018 - WineCPA wrote: 91 Points
Not my typical style. Interesting. Smoked meat wrapped in blackberry all over the nose and palate. The smoked meat lessens a bit with some air but it's still there on day two. Drink now.
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7/24/2018 - Kriz wrote: 90 Points
In my memory a previous bottle was much better.. This immediately reminds me of a young Languedoc I often drink. Montlobre to be more precise. But that's merlot.... It's the use of oak.
A compliment when a wine from 2004 tastes like a much younger one. Maybe it still needs more time. And yes, with some air it got it's Rhône identity.
Still too much oaky nose. Sharp palate lacking balance. For this price I was expecting much more. Guigal puts all his effort in the La La's.
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7/9/2018 - thor_orsby Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent but on its tail end of life. We decanted, poured and drank and that was enough over the hour or so. Still some lifted character, good acidity and light tannin but mostly tertiary fruit. Would have loved to try two years ago. Still very nice.
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5/28/2018 - dvansteenderen wrote: flawed
Tasting @ VINEUM in Rotterdam. Corked.
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5/28/2018 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: flawed
A private tasting (Restaurant Vineum, Rotterdam, NL): Corked
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5/21/2018 - Milliontown wrote: 92 Points
Nice, clean expression of Syrah showing predominantly spicy and floral aromas, with significant oak, but also significant punchy, jammy fruit. A bit lifted with some volatility in the glass, but that blew off with time.
The beginnings of secondary characters coming through with some feral, meaty vibes in there too. The palate was nicely pitched with spice and earth characters and a surprisingly long, luxurious feeling finish.
To be honest I'm just glad this wasn't bretty. Everything else was a bonus.
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3/31/2018 - wsammons Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very typical of a Syrah; lots of currant and blackberry on the front with a long finish
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1/14/2018 - Jimmy_D wrote: 90 Points
Nice drinking but seems like it's in a muted phase right now. There is a delicate floral lift, very subtle, which I like. But is still tending towards the oak and tannin ahead of the fruit, which could do with a bit longer to shake out. Was much the same with previous bottle 3 years ago, so I'm not sure if/when they will ever sync. Holding the last bottle for another 4-5 years to see what comes out the other side.
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12/1/2017 - mduque wrote: 90 Points
great but could (should ?) have been held another 5 years easily...
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5/9/2017 - mysterycooper Likes this wine:
Memory. Decanted for 40 minutes. Good fruit intensity, raspberry & milk chocolate through to plum, leather. Sweet grippy tannins. Probably drank too quickly as it was continuing to open by the time we finished it. Some thought good now & needed drinking up; I wondered if it could do with a while longer, oak seemed a tad up front still.
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5/7/2017 - danielk168 wrote: 91 Points
classic north Rhone, starting to develop nicely, very smooth tannins with medium acidity, some complexity emerging, well balanced and a pleasure to drink.
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3/5/2017 - mygrogro wrote: 93 Points
medium cote rote
beautiful floral and spice
subtle cream finish
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1/19/2017 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
VinoLaprisco Tasting (Restaurant De Karpendonkse Hoeve *, Eindhoven, Netherlands): Paired with the 2003. Tonight the contrast between the two vintages (diametrically opposed from a climate perspective), seemed less distinct than it was before. This is obviously cooler and sleeker than the deeper and richer 2003, more transparent and mineral, with flavours of smoked bacon and violets and on the second day the lavish oak (38 months, 100% new), still completely hidden on day one, is starting to show a bit. It's an excellent wine (completely intact on day three), but I think it may need a little time right now.
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1/17/2017 - eudora Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lala dinner
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12/17/2016 - beatles wrote: 92 Points
Elegant, light Burgundian, true to the vintage with a sweet aftertaste that reveals the oak treatment. Will take time to integrate the oak fully, and I doubt the wine has the stuffing for keeping many years, better top drink it now, it is quite lovely. #tasting.
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11/3/2016 - no oak Likes this wine: 90 Points
After a 1 hour decant, this wine emerged as a seductive, medium bodied Cote Rotie that is well into its window of drinkability. On the following day, this bottle did not improve and the palate even lightened up a bit. No need to rush to drink, but it might not improve with further bottle age.
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4/4/2016 - BVal wrote: 93 Points
Color: medium-deep ruby core (no longer opaque) -> light ruby rim with slight bricking. Complex bouquet of roast beef, bacon fat, anisette, black cherries and blackcurrants. Medium-bodied palate; not a blockbuster but well proportioned and deep. Good purity of Syrah fruit showing plenty of minerality mixed with the olfactory elements; black pepper noted but not obtrusive as it can be in young Cote Rotie. Nice acid level and lengthy finish, I find this to be quite polished and elegant. Drinking well now, I'm not sure this will scale any higher but I think this will go 5-10 more years with no problem.
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3/19/2016 - Miceri Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark red; intense dark fruit nose; really nice balance, licorice, hint of chocolate, smooth, silky, nice sweetness, rich texture, some pepper, slight tannic ending; rich candy; very good
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2/9/2016 - maxima wrote: 93 Points
Bu au super bowl avec la gang de Fouduvin de Sherby (Bulle, Meursault, Mike LM, Headless).
Encore une fois, un grand seigneur.
Nez viandé, fumée, sur les mures et les violettes.
En bouche, similaire au profil du nez, très long, rien n'accroche.
Complexe et fort goûteux, cher mais lui, délivre la marchandise à toute les fois!
Merci encore Mike LM.
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1/11/2016 - coremill wrote: 87 Points
Northern Rhone Dinner (Asselina): There's a lot of oak here, framing the juicy, glossy purple fruit with plenty of sweet vanilla and coconut and giving the wine a creamy sheen. But I didn't find it grainy or drying. Not to my taste but not bad.
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12/20/2015 - whitmanlholt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured. This is a medium red wine with a raspberry beam and thicket on the nose. In the mouth, the wine has some medium acid and body, all with a savory and tasty overtone and leaving a berry-pie finish. Overall, this wine is well-made and enjoyable, but not distinctive. 91 points.
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11/18/2015 - aburch Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still very youthful, can use some more time, bacon, herbs, and lots of good fruit.
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11/7/2015 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A private dinner (at home): Paired with the 2003. The 2003 is clearly the critics' favourite and it is very good indeed, but I do prefer the 2004. The nose is an explosion of violets, slate and smoked bacon fat, raspberries and olives, the palate is elegant and transparent but intense, the smoky oak on the finish is beguiling, the tannins provide wonderful grip and the balance and freshness are impeccable. Just beautiful. Burgundian. May be more evanescent than the profound 2003, but I prefer dancing to marching.
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7/31/2015 - MarceloIdeses Likes this wine: 92 Points
Complex and rich cote rotie with excelent cost.
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5/17/2015 - smartmass Likes this wine: 93 Points
Damn!
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4/30/2015 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
No detailed notes. A symphony of Syrah and slate, flowers and spice, black pepper and oak, smoked bacon and ripe fruit. Wonderful elegance and balance, amazing quality in the context of the vintage (and otherwise too). Power without weight, toute en finesse. Delicious, time in hand.
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11/1/2014 - oldcorke wrote: 93 Points
Needed about an hour in my glass... then unfolding to a very nice northern Rhone syrah with deliciously, elegantly, cured meat aromas and dark dark blue fruits. I think some (well attended) pro reviews have underestimated this wine.
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10/15/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Lots of Syrahs - Nate M visits Cleveland (A Restaurant Downtown): I seemed to like this more than the group. Sure, there was a lot of oak still there, but most of it had softened a bit, was not harsh and worked with the fruit. The nose has black raspberries, black olives, vanilla, and slight floral notes. Full bodied. slick texture. The palate has black raspberry fruit, with some charred oak and slight earthiness. Not sure this ever gets better, but perhaps the oak continues to integrate.
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8/16/2014 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
There is so much going on with this wine. Smoke, leather, slightly sour red cherries, cassis, blackberries, sweet Oak, cedar, graphite. The acidity it a tad too high for me, but the greatness of the wine is there. The finish is about 30 seconds. 30 minutes decant is sufficient.
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5/3/2014 - Dubie wrote: 88 Points
Following the 2008 Domaine des Lambrays Morey-St-Denis was a perfect position for this wine. Another great expression of terroir and grape varietal. Did not carry any of the sometimes sourness of the grape. At 10 years old, this is a very enjoyable drink. Best to be paired with food, and a braised steak was the right combination!
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4/19/2014 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 90 Points
the first night was a laser of fruit and rhone earth that added to a steak on the grill
stored with a cork in the fridge overbite and faded the second day
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4/11/2014 - T.E.D. wrote: 93 Points
Intense and rustic nose, with elements of brush fire, garrigue, wood and hard berries. Palate was incredibly long and complex - elements of earth, mineral and stone fruit. My first real experience with top quality cote-rotie and I will seeking more in the future
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3/25/2014 - Rezy13 wrote: 90 Points
Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Bin 75): See through dark crimson core with light red rim; caramel, sweet, cherry syrup, raspberry, strawberry; lush and ripe palate, lots of oomph, cranberry and cherry on finish, lots of candied cherry; wow this wine was so primary I would not touch it for another 10 years, everyone did not understand it but I saw the potential, it was not really revealing any Cote Rotie character, certain vintages can take longer to shed the 30 months of mandatory new oak, 90++.
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2/27/2014 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
I gave this wine an hour of decanting and it needed those last 30 minutes. More dark fruits and hard leather in obvious layers came through than my last bottle. Very smooth with a long finish.
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2/22/2014 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
A little bricking at rim but no sediment. Opened in the glass within 30 minutes. Nice layers and notes of tobacco, hard leather, blackberries, dried herb and some red fruits on the finish with nice little element of acidity.
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2/2/2014 - Outplaying wrote:
Wine with Friends (Our house, Kennett square, PA): Delicious wine with some mineral, vanilla and pure red fruits. Fresh and lively. Still young.
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2/2/2014 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 96 Points
What a complex wine. Great berry nose with a burnt marshmallow/caramel overtone. Very smooth, soft, velvety. I could drink this all night-- no food required. Loved it!
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12/31/2013 - RobSpectator wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful wine! Strawberry compote, smoked game, and savory essence expression on the nose. Wonderful, balanced palate showing subdued red berry fruit that opens up, earth tones and prosciutto. Consistent with every sip and smell. Wonderful finish and fantastic length! One more bottle left that I'll have to save!
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12/14/2013 - @VisserMartijn Likes this wine: 92 Points
APPEARANCE: clear; clear garnet, medium legs & tears
NOSE: clean; medium intensity; flavour characteristics: forest floor, red cherry, strawberry, sweet spices(vanilla), prune, raisin; developing
PALATE: dry; medium+ acidity; medium body; medium- tannin (very fine); medium alcohol; medium+ finish; medium+ flavour intensity; flavour characteristics: as per nose: forest floor, tobacco, prune, strawberry, white pepper
READINESS FOR DRINKING: can drink now, but will keep 3-5 years
FURTHER REMARKS: Very good wine, combining complexity with nice subtle balance between components. Pleasant finish. This is not a blockbuster but an elegant wine which is drinking very well at the moment.
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10/26/2013 - Vintomas wrote: 90 Points
Guigal Château d'Ampuis - complete vertical tasting of 1995-2009 (Stockholm): Medium red colour, faded edge. Nose with ripe strawberries, some dark berries, noticeably herbaceous, a hint of mint, some spice, discrete notes of maturity. Palate with sweet red berries, rather good concentration of fruit, strong mint and herbal notes, high acidity, some mineral, medium tannins. Not a heavyweight, and rather ready in its development, 90 p.
Comes across as a little lighter than many of the other vintages, and with more pronounced herbaceous notes.
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9/22/2013 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A private dinner at a friend's (Tilburg): Wonderfully floral and aromatic nose, crushed red fruit, spice, mineral freshness, good depth, very subtle oak, very youthful and lively, very peppery; the palate is so elegant and fresh, very much like a Pinot Noir, mineral, seamless, silky perfect oak integration, very energetic, bright fruit flavours; very good length.
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7/28/2013 - bugdoced Likes this wine: 92 Points
early in its drinking window but will be difficult to hold on to the other bottle as this was singing right from the opening and each sip was an evolution;I am in agreement that this is lighter than a typical syrah
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7/26/2013 - KCBrian wrote: 89 Points
I decanted for a little over an hour before I tried this wine. Poured into glass and noticed it was much lighter than I had expected. More like a burgundy and a rhone wine. Nose was neutral without a definitive fruity presence. On taste there were red berries, currants, cherries.....again more burgundy like than I had expected. The wine had a bit of harsh aftertaste that dissipated over the next 45 min or so. All in all if I wanted a burgundy.........I would have opened one. Not the Syrah that I had hoped for with dinner.
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3/9/2013 - PC73 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for about 2 hours. Deep red in colour. Savoury notes on the nose with hints of red fruits - raspberry, red currants, cherry.
Something fresh on the palate. Menthol like. Again savoury flavours. Well balanced, well integrated. Smoothe.
This was enjoyable and improved further in the glass suggesting more life ahead of it.
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11/20/2012 - ŞarapTutkunları wrote: 91 Points
Opak, kenarları hafif kiremit rim'li, derin yakut renkte.Ön burunda olgun siyah meyveler hissedilse de is ,füme,deri gibi animal, otsal, tütün, mentol, baharat ve mineral notları ile hem kompleksite gösteriyor, hem de eski dünya anımsatıyor.Orta gövdeli, yumuşak, tanenleri belirgin ama entegre.Diri asidi ile tazeleyici.Damakta topraksı izlenimler,meyvenin önünde.Akışkanlığı var,içimi kolay.Mineral çağrıştıran uzun bitiminde,damakta olduğu gibi,önde kalan asidi ile iyi bir Alman Pinot Noir'ini düşündürüyor.Olgunlaşması sürdüğü için önümüzdeki 5-8 yıl içinde rahatlıkla içilebilir
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11/20/2012 - Ilker Ozdemir wrote: 91 Points
Opak, kenarları hafif kiremit rim'li, derin yakut renkte.Ön burunda olgun siyah meyveler hissedilse de is ,füme,deri gibi animal, otsal, tütün, mentol, baharat ve mineral notları ile hem kompleksite gösteriyor, hem de eski dünya anımsatıyor.Orta gövdeli, yumuşak, tanenleri belirgin ama entegre.Diri asidi ile tazeleyici.Damakta topraksı izlenimler,meyvenin önünde.Akışkanlığı var,içimi kolay.Mineral çağrıştıran uzun bitiminde,damakta olduğu gibi,önde kalan asidi ile iyi bir Alman Pinot Noir'ini düşündürüyor.Olgunlaşması sürdüğü için önümüzdeki 5-8 yıl içinde rahatlıkla içilebilir
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7/23/2012 - tendring Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wine Education Service - Guigal - King of the Rhône (LSE): Translucent, quite brown with age.
Gently fragrant, jammy fruit, very attractive.
Gorgeously fruity attack, generous tannins, still improving, goes on for ever.
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5/15/2012 - forecaster wrote: 92 Points
Guigal masterclass with Christopher Canan (Regional wines and spirits, Wellington): Very slight spirity aroma which continues on the palate. For me it lacks the intensity of the 2007 and also somewhat shorter. Generally others were disappointed with the bottle and thought it was prematurally aged. Some suggestioon it may have been a bad bottle.
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4/3/2012 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
Popped and poured. I liked it a lot! I liked sweetness of the fruit, the dark cherry notes, very modest white pepper, just a hint of it. I do believe this wine will get even better with age.
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3/31/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Medium bodied, lighter style of Guigal Ampuis offers fresh, kirsch, plums, earth and spice. This is already fun to drink. I would not hold it hoping for the wine to improve. I'd drink it over the next 5-10 years.
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3/10/2012 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
Identical to my previous note.
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3/7/2012 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A very fragrant and floral wine with lovely fresh red fruits, slender body, crisp acidity and a pleasant tannic kick on the medium-plus finish. Very attractive and stylish, clearly not a big wine and perhaps with a hint of dryness, but also with a sound structure and balance that allow for further ageing. Amazing how such a light wine has absorbed 38 months of new oak. Excellent if enjoyed straight from the bottle and even straight from the cellar. Recedes into its shell temporarily in the decanter but re-emerges after about an hour with richer textures and aromas - more tarry and oaky. Captivating stuff.
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3/6/2012 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Upon opening, ash, smoked meat, white pepper and crushed blueberries and blackberries. The palate displays medium concentration with noticeable but not obtrusive tannins. The overall expression is pretty cool and the fruit not sweet. An hour after opening, the nose is very expressive; blueberry jam, ash, white pepper, extra virgin olive oil, lavender, earth, charred rare steak and garrigue. Silky palate, a bit grainy, bright acidity and nicely integrated tannins. Very tasty wine with still some primary fruits. It is drinking nicely but it will benefit from another three to five years of cellaring to gain a bit more tertiary flavor. Still has a long life ahead.
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3/5/2012 - Kriz wrote: 94 Points
This is a fantastic wine! Lovely nose with black and red fruit and beautiful (woody) smokiness. Great balance on the palate and very nice accidity. Fruity with (sour) cherries and some smoked flavours again. 'Aristocratic' is the right word for this beautiful wine.
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3/18/2011 - KeithAkers wrote: 92 Points
Fight Night Wines VII; 3/18/2011-3/19/2011 (Ben and Laura's, Kingsford MI): nose: meaty and dark nose with deep tones of dark red cherries, charcoal, smoke tones, dark red berries and bits of bacon fat. Pretty tight though but showing off a lot of promise
taste: polished and suave medium/full feel with medium+ acidity. Deep, but with some chewy tannins and balanced tones of dark red cherries, smoke tones, dark red berries and bacon fat tones
overall: this was decanted for about 3 hours and consumed over 6, it was still on the tight side towards the end. Needs a good amount of time still, but there is a lot to like down the road
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2/6/2011 - esol wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Translucent garnet red. Beautiful floral aromas with dark fruits and lavender. Well balanced palate and smooth texture. Elegant soft tannins. If I had another bottle I would give it a couple years but definitely do not regret popping it now. Drink or hold.
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1/12/2011 - dcwino wrote: 92 Points
Lots of oak, and it tastes expensive black cherry fruit
Just acquired from an auction. Starts with dominant oak note. Scorched earth and ash dominates as the first note and masks the typical primary cote rotie fruit. When you sniff real deep, you start to get crushed slightly under-ripe blueberries and cherries, black pepper and lavander. Very mineral driven wine with medium body and nice silky texture. Bob mentioned Burgundian but perhaps only in the weight but the flavor is distinctively northern rhone.
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12/1/2010 - Miceri wrote: 92 Points
Medium dark red; licorice but otherwise somewhat unyielding nose; soft, inviting, lightly spiced, flavoury, lingering aftertaste of fresh red berries, some tannin (just a bit); light and elegant
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5/21/2010 - winebuff037 Likes this wine: 93 Points
E. Guigal Wine Dinner at Jean Georges. (Jean Georges in Shanghai): A hint of coffee and red fruits, very good.
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1/10/2010 - hutch wrote: 92 Points
I've tried the Ampuis multiple times, but this was just the 2nd time with the whole bottle and time to spend with it. Upon opening, this wine was full of chocolate and raspberries, but not the signature black pepper I'm used to. Lots of oak, and it tastes expensive. Threw this in the decanter and drank it over the course of 7 hours. The pedigree is there. A hard core of minerality and intensity was with this wine, but wound up too tightly to ever enjoy. Not to mention that the oak masked a lot of the primal characters of N. Rhone Syrah that I love so much. It was, for me, a little too polished at the moment. I'd love to try this wine in ten years to see what's happening. But I wouldn't pop this open right now if you have any. 91-94, because it's really hard to read this wine right now, not to mention that I have trouble scoring on potential when the $20 wine stood up to this pretty evenly tonight.
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9/29/2009 - Michael Davis wrote:
E. Guigal La Mouline/La Landonne & more at the Wine Guild of Charlottesville (Wine Guild of Charlottesville): Tar, floral, potting soil and hints of Anise on the nose. Much riper fruit than the 2001's we tasted earlier. Gorgeaous read and black fruit on the palate with a subtle herbal quality. Seemed older, more resolved than I expected from such a young Côte-Rôtie.
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8/22/2009 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Sweet, floral and generous. Lovely ripe, round and creamy texture with good length of perfumed fruit flavour.
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8/21/2009 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
"Slumming" with the Friday Brown Bag Group (Rich & Dana's): Ruby garnet color. Aromas of bacon fat, lavender and red fruit. Well-balanced, with flavors of spice red fruit and bacon. Easy to pick this one out as mine. 93+ pts.
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5/15/2009 - amateurwino wrote: 92 Points
N: nice caramel and mocha
P: pretty nice fruit but a bit short on finish. slightly fullish body. had a refined smoothness to the flavor. 92+
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5/2/2009 - ews3 wrote: 91 Points
Philadelphia Wine Festival (Marriott, Philadelphia PA): charcoal and meatiness -- smells and tastes like brisket! yummy!
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5/2/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote:
The Eighth Annual Philadelphia Wine Festival (Philadelphia Marriott Downtown): Good. Meaty nose. Quality Guigal.
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12/1/2008 - keithgg wrote:
This was my favorite wine at the 2008 Wine & Spirits Top 100 event. Well worth seeking out.
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3/28/2008 - jjclips2 wrote: 93 Points
After having this one, and being stunned, I was disappointed in Parker's comments about this vintage. I thought it was a great wine. The nose was explosive. Concentrated with smokey bacon fat, burnt toast, ash, and plum jam. The palate was equally as intoxicating. Full bodied and rich. The tannins were very mild, added to mouthfeel, but the acidity fell a bit short. So sure, maybe not quite as balanced as previous vint. but still a beautiful wine. Can't wait for the '05's.
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3/27/2008 - hutch wrote: 93 Points
Specialty Trade Show: Killer nose. Stunning mouthfeel. Beautiful wine. Very high on the yummylicious scale. 92-94
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2/21/2008 - rmodak wrote: 87 Points
This was the weakest of the lineup. Good violaceious perfume with smoky vanilla that leads into taut black cherry fruit. The fruit is complemented by requisite iron and grilled meat notes with green olive lending an herbal quality. What is most notable is the copious amount of oak, which makes the wine seem disjointed currently. There is decent complexity, but I fear that by the time the oak integrates, the fruit will be too lean.
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