This was another wine that showed really well at a tasting of 8 CDP's with lots of garrigue and provencal herbs. While the nose was a touch oxidized, the fruit had held up well enough to make this both interesting and delicious.
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From magnum, this is fully mature and gently fading. Thinner than expected but lovely (slightly) funky meaty notes with herbs, figs and raisin. With only 10mins of air it’s very elegant but lacks the depth of more recent renditions of this. Very low acidity - probably why this hasn’t aged better. Nice lingering minty herb finish. Great family Sunday lunch bottle though from mag - would work with beef, pork or turkey. 93pts, drink up (lots of mags left)
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Solid example of mature CdP. Holding nicely at peak (or perhaps a titch past). Herbs, dried fruits, green olives and a very provencale feel to the finish (saffron and tomatoes?). Good wine but not among the elite; especially in 1998.
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Decanted and served. Gorgeous mature CdP with fully integrated dried cherry and herbs on the palate and long, seamless finish with salted caramel and saucy acid. Drink now.
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Opened to breathe for 2-3h. Musty candy compote on the nose, on the palate, more flabby compote, and with time interesting black pepper around the edges of the mouth. The finish has more intensity than when it first reaches your tongue. Light to medium bodied, and very mature, if not over the hill. Still interesting, if in decline. 89/90
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Aromatique très fruitée, très mûre : fruits cuits (figue, fruit rouges et noirs), les épices ainsi que quelques notes très discrètes d'évolution (vague sensation truffée par moment). Je ne m'attendais pas à un tel fruit pour un vin de 20 ans. Bouche puissante, riche mais qui garde de la fraîcheur (rehaussée par du perlant à l'ouverture) évitant toute sensation de saturation. La texture est de velours, très agréable. Aucune sensation de chaleur malgré les 15,5° affichés au compteur mais j'ai volontairement servi un peu frais. Longue persistance sur les fruits avec à nouveau la figue bien présente.
Méconnaissable par rapport à la précédente qui était usée (même provenance, même stockage). J'ai même l'impression que celle-ci était encore plus jeune que celle de Paul, le vin n'ayant rien perdu entre le midi et le soir si ce n'est son perlant. Il avait même gagné en qualité de bouche qui était encore plus harmonieuse.
très très bon, je ne m'attendais pas à autant de fruit à cet âge !
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last bottle, even more elegant than last time, at peak or perhaps even on the edge of decline, round and fine tannin, well balanced but a bit more fruit would be perfect, oh well, cannot complain as this bottle was so enjoyable, a rare elegant CDP, no heat at all despite the high alcohol.
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Fully integrated and tannins resolved. bright cherry, Sweet tobacco, grilled meat, and a dash of pepper. Maybe even a hint of cedar and baking spice too. Really nice.
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One hell of a bottle of wine, and, alas, my last bottle. Very, very light in color, totally see-through. Lost of rust from the rim to almost half way in. But oh, my, what a glorious nose. Red berry fruit absolutely leaps out of the glass, along with Autumnal notes and garrigue. But even that cannot prepare you for the flood of lush red fruit that hits the palate upon first sip. This wine has verve and vivacity, with no tannin in the way to tame the fruit assault, which is intense and sweet. This is just full of personality, and somehow combines a satiny smooth mouthfeel with good grip. The finish is long and glorious. One of the best '98's I've had with kind of age on it--and to think I had thought I was disappointed with this vintage after initially having such high expectations for it. This has restored my faith that at least some wines lived up to the hype. 4-14-19-10: 97/100.
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Last bottle from my case. All good things have to come to an end sooner or later. Luscious textures, low in acidity, with a kirsch liqueur, herb, licorice and fig nose, the fruit was showing riper flavors than I recall from earlier bottles. The texture really add much more silk. At close to 20, if you're sitting on a lot of this wine, I'd pop your remaining bottles over the next few years.
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Decanted for 30 minutes, and served. This was a fantastic CDP that had a nearly burgundy driven approach to start. Layers for Strawberry, Cherry, Blackberry, Earth, Pepper and Olive/Herb notes. This definitely had an up/down curve and began to show brownish elements later in the evening. Definitely a great wine that delivers old world GSM character.
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Chateauneuf du Pape (Bronte, Sydney): pale red. Fragrant but green herbal nose, not at all attractive. Nicely aged red berry flavours come through but the green character again dominates. Not good.
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Decanted for 1 hr, clear garnet in color with brick rim, looked passed its prime. Tight nose, barely noted menthol and alcohol. Other than some sweetness and acidity on palate, there is nothing else, bland and empty. The 1990 I tried twice was way better.
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Popped and poured at Pearl & Ash (NYC). I was a little worried at first. The color was surprisingly pale for a 1998 CNP; it looked more like an aged burgundy. However, the nose showed no sign of decay, with rather exotic floral and menthol overtones. On the palate, the fruit had faded a bit, but was replaced with wonderful secondary flavors and complexity. The wine continued to evolve nicely over a couple of hours. Very enjoyable.
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Don't normally like the prune flavor, but this one is quite nice nonetheless. Silky tannins and still some red fruit on the nose and palate. Not an every nighter for me, but very good for sure.
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Popped and poured. A little too much heat on opening, but with some air this balanced out. Impressive for its dark, ripe fruits and power. This is a big wine that maybe had just a bit too much heat for me but enjoyable and good with rich foods or after dinner. A-
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In the perfect spot, with silky, soft, lush textures, ripe, fresh strawberries, cherry, kirsch and spice, this elegant Chateauneuf du Pape does not need more time as it's ready to go.
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Beautiful. Still good tannin and fruit. Should keep to 2020 as predicted but I would drink it now or wait 5 years to see it become more secondary. Still largely primary. Drank from magnim
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Definite browning. Initially a bit of 'fizz', but this quickly subsided. Sous bois, almost tertiary notes. Definitely advanced for the vintage. Nice complexity…silky palate.
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I always wanted to try Chapoutier’s Southern Rhone. An outstanding year for Châteauneuf. Had this bottle with a smoked porterhouse pork chop at Gjelina Venice Beach. Initially light, tangy, and one dimensional with an acidic cherry cola fizz. Given an hour to open medicinal flavors of eucalyptus, anise, tar, menthol, and cola emerge. The complexity of flavors and aromas is impressive given how delicately thin the wines texture is. Great wine but likely already peaked. Made from low yields of 100% old vine Grenache.
http://maxsatisfactionwine.com/post/56590007054
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vs 95 Pegau. There's a flat, berry waxiness to the nose. Parrifin, if you will. The immediate palate has a tanginess that I would not have expected. Red berries through the palate. There's still fruit here, though not much in the way of tannins. Probably best to drink up. And vs the Pegau? The Pegau is a more subtle wine, more layers, more complexity. The BR hooks you with the tanginess and follows with fruit. The waxiness adds complexity but still short of the Pegau. Some will prefer this, though.
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The color is still sparkling transparent garnet red. In the bouquet a rustic wine with beautiful garrigue, anise and a touch of barnyard. On the palate a beautiful and complex wine with sweet licorice, a lot of good garrigue, spices, beautiful acidity and soft tannin. Overall a really well balanced, elegant and complex wine. Fully mature now and it can be cellared a few more years as well.
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Caramel smell, apricot and peach taste. One of the best ones i had in a while. Highly recommended. Have it on cheese (strong-ish) or as an aperitif.. Just perfect
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What a shame. I believe that my entire 6 bottle case is gone. Oxidized. So far, I poured two bottles down the drain. This was my favorite wine at a large wine tasting, acquired directly through the distributor and always perfectly stored. So much for the theory that CdPs always benefit from aging for 10-15 years.
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Something wrong with this. Thin and watery. Disjointed. Has not aged as well as I had hoped. Pop and pour may have been the reason why. With a little air this started to come together but very sweet and kind of bizarre. Would like to try a better bottle.
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Incredible nose of sweet Grenache fruit. The palate exhibits a stunning medium-bodied, yet intense fullness, brimming with primary, grapey goodness. This is a fun, exuberant wine with a great story to tell.
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CH9 1998 Horisontal (MG work): Nose: Heavy sweet cherry fruit with a lot of vanilla and christmas-spices (brunkage). Palate: Sweet dark cherry flavors in a very polished style. Just tastes like a great wine :-) Cherry jam flavor but a very complete balance. Great acidity and drink-ability. Huge wine that was a pleasure to taste!!
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In the nose, fresh, ripe sweet cherries, flowers, kirsch, licorice, barnyard and jammy scents. Elegantly textured, with copious amounts of fresh, ripe, red fruit, the wine ends with sensations of jammy black raspberries, kirsch and wild strawberries.
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A complex filled with fresh, jammy black cherries, licorice, raspberry, Provencal herbs, licorice, black pepper, chocolate mint and strawberry tart kept your senses occupied. Full bodied and filled with ripe fruit, this richly textured wine ends with a long cherry griotte sensation. This is probably close to fully mature. It should remain at this level for another 5-8 years.
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Big night at tajmaHAWLEY (tajmaHAWLEY): Red fruit, carmelized pear (cooked), and a little tartness on the nose. A healthy dose of alcohol, but not too much on the nose. Mineral/stone mixed on the palate. This wine is really drinking well at this moment. One of the favorite wines of the night. But also could last another 5-7 years in my estimation.
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Commanderie des Cotes du Rhone, NYC (Russian Tea Room): (from magnum) - The nose initially is lovely, warm and beckoning; great nose. Great clarity: peachy, tropical notes. The palate is soft, shows spice, apricot/tropical fruit. Really very nice, sweet fruit . . . perhaps a bit too sweet due to the apricot/peach fuzz notes.
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I opened my last bottle of this without any expectations since the previous 3 bottles had been so extraordinarily variable. Pretty limpid and pale. Initially, autumnal aromas of dry leaves, and underbrush. Then, the fruit came alive in a way it had not appeared in any of the other bottles, with piquant caramel and strawberry liqueur tones. Medium weight and harmonious, completely resolved tannin. By far, the best and most complete bottle I've had. Unimaginable from several experiences over the last 2 years, when the wine appeared all but dead. Go figure.
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HUB Tasting (Custom House): Blind. Soft round red color. Full spicy red briar fruit nose - bright. Big tighter red/black puckering fruit with spice on the palate and some black coffee on the bright finish. 93-94 pts.
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Light garnet color with nose of cigar box, smoke, earth and some dark fruits. Perhaps a bit of raisin. Took a while to open up in the glass but developed into complex play of flavors with refreshing acidity. Overall, slightly lighter then I remembered with the last botte. Maybe that's bottle variation or perhaps I just drank it quicker this time (drank in restaurant).
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Impressions from last night at dinner-not a formal note. Great wine. Rye toast with black currant jam, anise, herbs de provence, black and red fruits with a wild meaty character. Nice Acid levels. This wine is drinking great and will be great for years.
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Decanted 2 hours. Light garnet. Evocative but not overwhelming nose of red berries, leather, asian spice, flowery herbs and mineral. On the palate this was a bit of a miracle in that it was both light and viscous at the same time. Terrific red berry flavors with lightly spiced meat and smoke. Glycerin and minerals on the finish with resolved tannins. Long complex aftertaste. A burgundy lover's CdP? Great with coq a vin. This is ready to drink now.
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A big, wonderful, ripe, rich, dense, peppery, Krisch dominated Chateauneuf. Lots of personality in every sip, sniff and swirl. Well balanced. Good structure with a long, pure finish. It was a lot of fun watching the wine improve and evolve in the glass.
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Very consistent with a bottle drunk and noted a couple of months ago, but even better. The most mature and resolved '98 I've had, both visually and on the palate. Essence of Chateauneuf complexiity, with predominant tobacco, leather, and high tones, and no single component sticking out. Long and vinous; I was not struck by any sense of alcoholic heat as I was with the previous bottle. Rounder than the last bottle but still far from overtly fruity. Drinking beautifully now, if more like a 20 year old example than one with less than a decade of age.
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Medium to light color with brown at the rim-in a word, looks mature. Very complex nose which progressed from some animal tones to strong tobacco component, then some spiciness, and finally, obvious alcohol; this never really featured fruit or sweetness. Leaner, higher acid palate feel than I expected, again with alcoholic heat poking through the longer it sat open. This shortens the finish. To sum up, this is a wine of savory complexity rather than exuberant fruitiness or ripeness. Its structure is much more reminiscent of a Mourvedre-based wine such as Beaucastel than an old vines Grenache blend. I would not count on it improving.
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The deep ruby color entices you, but it's the nose that sucks in you in. Scents of ripe cherries, strawberries, raspberries, herbs, spices and burnt leaves excite your nose. Your palate is awash in concentrated layers of ripe, lush, kirsch and raspberries. Although high in alcohol, 15.5%, there was no sign of heat in the long, rich finish.
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Dark red colour. Although when examined closer, revealed a surprisingly light colour. This is like opening the door to the candy store. All the sweet scents are overwhelming. Some camomille-tea peaking through. Very peppary. Very intemse amd filling out on the palate in an admirable and compelling manner. Goes on and on.
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2/2/2024 - burlingtonm Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was another wine that showed really well at a tasting of 8 CDP's with lots of garrigue and provencal herbs. While the nose was a touch oxidized, the fruit had held up well enough to make this both interesting and delicious.
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11/4/2023 - JulianSkeels wrote: 93 Points
From magnum, this is fully mature and gently fading. Thinner than expected but lovely (slightly) funky meaty notes with herbs, figs and raisin. With only 10mins of air it’s very elegant but lacks the depth of more recent renditions of this. Very low acidity - probably why this hasn’t aged better. Nice lingering minty herb finish. Great family Sunday lunch bottle though from mag - would work with beef, pork or turkey. 93pts, drink up (lots of mags left)
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2/15/2022 - nickorum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pleasant plum, cherry and clove. Light on palate and medium colored. Perhaps a little past prime, recommend drinking now / next 2-3 years.
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11/5/2021 - rm97 wrote: 95 Points
3L bottle decanted for 1 hour
Awesome wine. Fully mature CDP. Fully integrated. Absolutely delicious. Would not hold much longer.
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12/7/2020 - lars1014 wrote:
Solid example of mature CdP. Holding nicely at peak (or perhaps a titch past). Herbs, dried fruits, green olives and a very provencale feel to the finish (saffron and tomatoes?). Good wine but not among the elite; especially in 1998.
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8/31/2020 - Montana Likes this wine:
Probably a couple of years past when I should have consumed it. Still pretty good.
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3/27/2020 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted and served. Gorgeous mature CdP with fully integrated dried cherry and herbs on the palate and long, seamless finish with salted caramel and saucy acid. Drink now.
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3/12/2020 - skurtz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened to breathe for 2-3h. Musty candy compote on the nose, on the palate, more flabby compote, and with time interesting black pepper around the edges of the mouth. The finish has more intensity than when it first reaches your tongue. Light to medium bodied, and very mature, if not over the hill. Still interesting, if in decline. 89/90
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2/3/2019 - SteelerFan wrote: 94 Points
Terrific wine. Drank from 3L format and very fresh. Ultra smooth tannins, lush fruit and long finish. Drinking very well now.
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1/13/2019 - Marc C Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aromatique très fruitée, très mûre : fruits cuits (figue, fruit rouges et noirs), les épices ainsi que quelques notes très discrètes d'évolution (vague sensation truffée par moment). Je ne m'attendais pas à un tel fruit pour un vin de 20 ans.
Bouche puissante, riche mais qui garde de la fraîcheur (rehaussée par du perlant à l'ouverture) évitant toute sensation de saturation. La texture est de velours, très agréable. Aucune sensation de chaleur malgré les 15,5° affichés au compteur mais j'ai volontairement servi un peu frais.
Longue persistance sur les fruits avec à nouveau la figue bien présente.
Méconnaissable par rapport à la précédente qui était usée (même provenance, même stockage). J'ai même l'impression que celle-ci était encore plus jeune que celle de Paul, le vin n'ayant rien perdu entre le midi et le soir si ce n'est son perlant. Il avait même gagné en qualité de bouche qui était encore plus harmonieuse.
très très bon, je ne m'attendais pas à autant de fruit à cet âge !
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12/18/2018 - danielk168 Likes this wine: 93 Points
last bottle, even more elegant than last time, at peak or perhaps even on the edge of decline, round and fine tannin, well balanced but a bit more fruit would be perfect, oh well, cannot complain as this bottle was so enjoyable, a rare elegant CDP, no heat at all despite the high alcohol.
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4/11/2018 - Naplesgolfer wrote: 96 Points
Drunk from a 3L. The wine was sublime. ethereal and funk with red berries. Great stuff. So fresh out of large format.
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3/30/2018 - Naplesgolfer wrote: flawed
oxidized
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11/14/2017 - Buffy the Wine Slayer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fully mature and delicious. This should hold here nicely for a few more years.
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4/30/2017 - dankrems wrote: 93 Points
Fully integrated and tannins resolved. bright cherry, Sweet tobacco, grilled meat, and a dash of pepper. Maybe even a hint of cedar and baking spice too. Really nice.
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4/24/2017 - Zweder wrote: flawed
Weekly tasting group RWP #254: Special wines (@ DJ): The wine in this bottle was extremely mature. 99% certain this is an off bottle.
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3/25/2017 - robertek wrote: 94 Points
This was a very good bottle in its prime. Lovely nose and in perfect harmony on the palate.
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2/26/2017 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 97 Points
One hell of a bottle of wine, and, alas, my last bottle. Very, very light in color, totally see-through. Lost of rust from the rim to almost half way in. But oh, my, what a glorious nose. Red berry fruit absolutely leaps out of the glass, along with Autumnal notes and garrigue. But even that cannot prepare you for the flood of lush red fruit that hits the palate upon first sip. This wine has verve and vivacity, with no tannin in the way to tame the fruit assault, which is intense and sweet. This is just full of personality, and somehow combines a satiny smooth mouthfeel with good grip. The finish is long and glorious. One of the best '98's I've had with kind of age on it--and to think I had thought I was disappointed with this vintage after initially having such high expectations for it. This has restored my faith that at least some wines lived up to the hype. 4-14-19-10: 97/100.
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11/2/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle from my case. All good things have to come to an end sooner or later. Luscious textures, low in acidity, with a kirsch liqueur, herb, licorice and fig nose, the fruit was showing riper flavors than I recall from earlier bottles. The texture really add much more silk. At close to 20, if you're sitting on a lot of this wine, I'd pop your remaining bottles over the next few years.
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2/29/2016 - RockinCabs wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes, and served. This was a fantastic CDP that had a nearly burgundy driven approach to start. Layers for Strawberry, Cherry, Blackberry, Earth, Pepper and Olive/Herb notes. This definitely had an up/down curve and began to show brownish elements later in the evening. Definitely a great wine that delivers old world GSM character.
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7/24/2015 - Vini Ciclismo Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Chateauneuf du Pape (Bronte, Sydney): pale red. Fragrant but green herbal nose, not at all attractive. Nicely aged red berry flavours come through but the green character again dominates. Not good.
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12/30/2014 - danielk168 wrote: 93 Points
mostly as Chinacat, an amazing light yet compplex and delightful CDP, color was a bit oxidized, but still very aromatic, especially after 2 hours.
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12/29/2014 - conviction buy Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Decanted for 1 hr, clear garnet in color with brick rim, looked passed its prime. Tight nose, barely noted menthol and alcohol. Other than some sweetness and acidity on palate, there is nothing else, bland and empty. The 1990 I tried twice was way better.
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11/22/2014 - CHINACAT wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured at Pearl & Ash (NYC). I was a little worried at first. The color was surprisingly pale for a 1998 CNP; it looked more like an aged burgundy. However, the nose showed no sign of decay, with rather exotic floral and menthol overtones. On the palate, the fruit had faded a bit, but was replaced with wonderful secondary flavors and complexity. The wine continued to evolve nicely over a couple of hours. Very enjoyable.
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8/21/2014 - BradE wrote:
Others liked this better, but it didn't move me.
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4/22/2014 - ctjared Likes this wine:
Don't normally like the prune flavor, but this one is quite nice nonetheless. Silky tannins and still some red fruit on the nose and palate. Not an every nighter for me, but very good for sure.
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4/9/2014 - MC wrote:
Popped and poured. A little too much heat on opening, but with some air this balanced out. Impressive for its dark, ripe fruits and power. This is a big wine that maybe had just a bit too much heat for me but enjoyable and good with rich foods or after dinner. A-
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12/30/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
In the perfect spot, with silky, soft, lush textures, ripe, fresh strawberries, cherry, kirsch and spice, this elegant Chateauneuf du Pape does not need more time as it's ready to go.
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12/24/2013 - Chitarra wrote:
Beautiful. Still good tannin and fruit. Should keep to 2020 as predicted but I would drink it now or wait 5 years to see it become more secondary. Still largely primary. Drank from magnim
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12/21/2013 - rnellans wrote: 92 Points
Definite browning. Initially a bit of 'fizz', but this quickly subsided. Sous bois, almost tertiary notes. Definitely advanced for the vintage. Nice complexity…silky palate.
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8/21/2013 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
I always wanted to try Chapoutier’s Southern Rhone. An outstanding year for Châteauneuf. Had this bottle with a smoked porterhouse pork chop at Gjelina Venice Beach. Initially light, tangy, and one dimensional with an acidic cherry cola fizz. Given an hour to open medicinal flavors of eucalyptus, anise, tar, menthol, and cola emerge. The complexity of flavors and aromas is impressive given how delicately thin the wines texture is. Great wine but likely already peaked. Made from low yields of 100% old vine Grenache.
http://maxsatisfactionwine.com/post/56590007054
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2/8/2013 - kurishin Likes this wine: 90 Points
vs 95 Pegau. There's a flat, berry waxiness to the nose. Parrifin, if you will. The immediate palate has a tanginess that I would not have expected. Red berries through the palate. There's still fruit here, though not much in the way of tannins. Probably best to drink up. And vs the Pegau? The Pegau is a more subtle wine, more layers, more complexity. The BR hooks you with the tanginess and follows with fruit. The waxiness adds complexity but still short of the Pegau. Some will prefer this, though.
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12/20/2012 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
The color is still sparkling transparent garnet red. In the bouquet a rustic wine with beautiful garrigue, anise and a touch of barnyard. On the palate a beautiful and complex wine with sweet licorice, a lot of good garrigue, spices, beautiful acidity and soft tannin. Overall a really well balanced, elegant and complex wine. Fully mature now and it can be cellared a few more years as well.
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4/25/2012 - sayward wrote:
still drinking strong. i noticed that the wine looked thin, but tasted huge. a very interesting dynamic.
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2/18/2012 - Hypersphere wrote: 95 Points
Caramel smell, apricot and peach taste. One of the best ones i had in a while. Highly recommended. Have it on cheese (strong-ish) or as an aperitif.. Just perfect
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1/29/2012 - ctjared wrote:
This is excellent. give it at least 45 mins of air otrherwise you will be missing out.
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1/23/2012 - iar wrote: flawed
What a shame. I believe that my entire 6 bottle case is gone. Oxidized. So far, I poured two bottles down the drain. This was my favorite wine at a large wine tasting, acquired directly through the distributor and always perfectly stored. So much for the theory that CdPs always benefit from aging for 10-15 years.
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12/18/2011 - Rezy13 wrote: 85 Points
Something wrong with this. Thin and watery. Disjointed. Has not aged as well as I had hoped. Pop and pour may have been the reason why. With a little air this started to come together but very sweet and kind of bizarre. Would like to try a better bottle.
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9/10/2011 - Lord Rayas wrote: 94 Points
Intoxicating nose of framboise, kirsch and lychee. Would have enjoyed it more if not for the overly alcoholic finish.
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8/19/2011 - Guy Des Rosiers wrote: 93 Points
Incredible nose of sweet Grenache fruit. The palate exhibits a stunning medium-bodied, yet intense fullness, brimming with primary, grapey goodness. This is a fun, exuberant wine with a great story to tell.
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10/29/2010 - canan wrote: 97 Points
CH9 1998 Horisontal (MG work): Nose: Heavy sweet cherry fruit with a lot of vanilla and christmas-spices (brunkage).
Palate: Sweet dark cherry flavors in a very polished style. Just tastes like a great wine :-) Cherry jam flavor but a very complete balance. Great acidity and drink-ability.
Huge wine that was a pleasure to taste!!
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8/6/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
In the nose, fresh, ripe sweet cherries, flowers, kirsch, licorice, barnyard and jammy scents. Elegantly textured, with copious amounts of fresh, ripe, red fruit, the wine ends with sensations of jammy black raspberries, kirsch and wild strawberries.
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7/23/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
A complex filled with fresh, jammy black cherries, licorice, raspberry, Provencal herbs, licorice, black pepper, chocolate mint and strawberry tart kept your senses occupied. Full bodied and filled with ripe fruit, this richly textured wine ends with a long cherry griotte sensation. This is probably close to fully mature. It should remain at this level for another 5-8 years.
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5/14/2010 - sayward wrote: 94 Points
Big night at tajmaHAWLEY (tajmaHAWLEY): Red fruit, carmelized pear (cooked), and a little tartness on the nose. A healthy dose of alcohol, but not too much on the nose. Mineral/stone mixed on the palate. This wine is really drinking well at this moment. One of the favorite wines of the night. But also could last another 5-7 years in my estimation.
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5/12/2010 - Pknut wrote:
Commanderie des Cotes du Rhone, NYC (Russian Tea Room): (from magnum) - The nose initially is lovely, warm and beckoning; great nose. Great clarity: peachy, tropical notes. The palate is soft, shows spice, apricot/tropical fruit. Really very nice, sweet fruit . . . perhaps a bit too sweet due to the apricot/peach fuzz notes.
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1/27/2010 - drwine2001 wrote:
1998 Chateauneuf Retrospective-Part Deux (Rivoli Restaurant, Albany, California): Old style, rustic, with brett, prunes, and VA. Medium to full bodied, nice spiciness, overripe, and fully mature.
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12/30/2009 - fred112 wrote: 92 Points
Great. Thick. Fruit, prunes, dark cherry. Classic.
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11/28/2008 - drwine2001 wrote:
I opened my last bottle of this without any expectations since the previous 3 bottles had been so extraordinarily variable. Pretty limpid and pale. Initially, autumnal aromas of dry leaves, and underbrush. Then, the fruit came alive in a way it had not appeared in any of the other bottles, with piquant caramel and strawberry liqueur tones. Medium weight and harmonious, completely resolved tannin. By far, the best and most complete bottle I've had. Unimaginable from several experiences over the last 2 years, when the wine appeared all but dead. Go figure.
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11/20/2008 - winefool wrote: 93 Points
HUB Tasting (Custom House): Blind. Soft round red color. Full spicy red briar fruit nose - bright. Big tighter red/black puckering fruit with spice on the palate and some black coffee on the bright finish. 93-94 pts.
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5/23/2008 - drwine2001 wrote: flawed
Overwhelming VA
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4/27/2008 - J-Sho wrote: 94 Points
Light garnet color with nose of cigar box, smoke, earth and some dark fruits. Perhaps a bit of raisin. Took a while to open up in the glass but developed into complex play of flavors with refreshing acidity. Overall, slightly lighter then I remembered with the last botte. Maybe that's bottle variation or perhaps I just drank it quicker this time (drank in restaurant).
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3/22/2008 - Venice Al wrote: 95 Points
Impressions from last night at dinner-not a formal note. Great wine. Rye toast with black currant jam, anise, herbs de provence, black and red fruits with a wild meaty character. Nice Acid levels. This wine is drinking great and will be great for years.
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12/18/2007 - thomaskeil wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Light garnet. Evocative but not overwhelming nose of red berries, leather, asian spice, flowery herbs and mineral. On the palate this was a bit of a miracle in that it was both light and viscous at the same time. Terrific red berry flavors with lightly spiced meat and smoke. Glycerin and minerals on the finish with resolved tannins. Long complex aftertaste. A burgundy lover's CdP? Great with coq a vin. This is ready to drink now.
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11/1/2007 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
A big, wonderful, ripe, rich, dense, peppery, Krisch dominated Chateauneuf. Lots of personality in every sip, sniff and swirl. Well balanced. Good structure with a long, pure finish. It was a lot of fun watching the wine improve and evolve in the glass.
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9/1/2007 - robmatic wrote: 94 Points
Robust. Very ripe nose, boysenberry & herbs. Sweet fruit, minerals, complex, 3-dimensional flavors. Outstanding bottle.
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6/3/2007 - drwine2001 wrote:
Very consistent with a bottle drunk and noted a couple of months ago, but even better. The most mature and resolved '98 I've had, both visually and on the palate. Essence of Chateauneuf complexiity, with predominant tobacco, leather, and high tones, and no single component sticking out. Long and vinous; I was not struck by any sense of alcoholic heat as I was with the previous bottle. Rounder than the last bottle but still far from overtly fruity. Drinking beautifully now, if more like a 20 year old example than one with less than a decade of age.
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3/8/2007 - drwine2001 wrote:
Medium to light color with brown at the rim-in a word, looks mature. Very complex nose which progressed from some animal tones to strong tobacco component, then some spiciness, and finally, obvious alcohol; this never really featured fruit or sweetness. Leaner, higher acid palate feel than I expected, again with alcoholic heat poking through the longer it sat open. This shortens the finish. To sum up, this is a wine of savory complexity rather than exuberant fruitiness or ripeness. Its structure is much more reminiscent of a Mourvedre-based wine such as Beaucastel than an old vines Grenache blend. I would not count on it improving.
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3/3/2007 - Melli wrote: 85 Points
Bottle seemed off...slight spritz and no finish
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12/22/2006 - Melli wrote: 89 Points
Bottle just didn't seem right from start. Perhaps slightly corked.
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11/20/2006 - phenricsson wrote: 95 Points
Delicious. Big, rich. Very impressive.
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10/14/2006 - JeffGMorris wrote: flawed
Dinner at Provence with Steve & Barb. Horribly corked.
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6/9/2006 - Spencer wrote: 94 Points
Delicious. Very much ready to drink now, but this should last a long time as well. Big, but complex and balanced. Unmistakably Chateauneuf du Pape.
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3/23/2006 - PeterH wrote: 94 Points
yep, delicious
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12/27/2005 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
The deep ruby color entices you, but it's the nose that sucks in you in. Scents of ripe cherries, strawberries, raspberries, herbs, spices and burnt leaves excite your nose. Your palate is awash in concentrated layers of ripe, lush, kirsch and raspberries. Although high in alcohol, 15.5%, there was no sign of heat in the long, rich finish.
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3/16/2002 - Joe Belmaati wrote: 96 Points
Dark red colour. Although when examined closer, revealed a surprisingly light colour. This is like opening the door to the candy store. All the sweet scents are overwhelming. Some camomille-tea peaking through. Very peppary. Very intemse amd filling out on the palate in an admirable and compelling manner. Goes on and on.
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