Very likeable - more so than the hermitage drank next to it which was also excellent. Classic CNDP on p. Some brunt rubber/neoprene in it. Really enjoyed. 1 btl left and will be held .
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Rich and ripe like post say below. Roses and ripe fruit on the nose and palette. Still very vigorous and alcoholic. Great for a cold night especially now. See how this one develops. Kinda Port-like.
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An excellent bottle. When first opened, this seemed to have pronounced oak and cola notes, but this got better with about 30 minutes of air. Roasted plums, leather smoke and meat. Complex and layered.
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Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1998 (Chez moi): Leaner than Pegau, strict, uforgiving, lots of kirsch as usual, but somewhat singular. Much better on the second and third day, interesting. Wait for it. 88++ point
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Dark ruby color, a bit cloudy and a fair amount of sediment. Fragrant nose. On the palate, ripe dark fruit, a bit faded, some nice complexity, and a bit of a harsh finish. This bottle seemed a bit past its prime, although it still was enjoyable.
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As others have mentioned, this is in a great spot for current enjoyment. Fragrant bouquet of red fruits, dried flowers, smoke and meat. Layered and long with well integrated tannins. This is at the tipping point between evolved flavors and fruity youth. Loved it. UPDATE: On day two, this became quite a bit softer with the oak coming out a bit more than I would like, but still an enjoyable wine.
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Fully mature chateauneuf-du-Pape, with red cherry, earth, pepper and a hint of lavender. Has lost some body weight. Nice finish. Paired with lamb burgers, worked perfectly.
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Coravin 8/5/14. Light-medium ruby color; nose has red fruit, some slight mint, slight floral, slight spice, needs a bit of time to open up; palate is light bodied but with good density and complexity, integrated tannins but still provides good structure, lots of juicy cherry fruit throughout the palate, gives it good balance, quite an elegant mouthfeel; tapers off towards the finish but still a medium length finish. Well balanced and enjoyable for the price, but maybe lacking just a bit of additional character; drinking still quite young with at least 5+ years left. 91+
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Classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape in every regard. Opaque core with a red brick rim. This has a dense and diverse nose of lavender, roasted meat, ketchup and rocky soil. On the palate, a juicy mouthfull of ripe mulberries is accented by garrigue and white pepper flavors. The tannins are smooth and well-integrated but still provide enough structure to keep this finshing long and strong. Drinking superbly right now, this probably has another 3-5 years of peak flavor left.
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Orange-brown color. Intense dried figs on the nose and palate. Bright acids. After a half hour, the tannins mellow and grip the gums firmly without biting. Long finish. Very well balanced and near its peak.
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Beautiful, deep garnet color. Robust nose that has plums and hot earth on the nose (just short of roasted). Full flavored - a nice winter wine. Lacking elegance, but fun with a pork braise am a roaring fire. (90)
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Monday Wine Club (BYOB at Hawksmoor) (Hawksmoor Air Street): Agree with other comments that this is full flavor! Nutty, earthly, roasted meat, caramel flavors...a lot going on for sure. 15% alcohol and a bit porty. The fruit has gone downhill a little leaving behind all those meat and nutty nuances, but its just a bit disjointed and medicinal. Lacks freshness and zip. It was fun to have it in the line-up but i think its heading down hill. Interesting, drinkable. 87
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I thought this was quite lovely. Very balanced, delicate flavors yet good structure and length too. Lots of leather, led pencil and floral notes all coming together cohesively. Lovely stuff and just enough age. Drink now.
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This is not showing as well as previous bottles. The wine is now dominated by red fruit and starting to fade. There was a touch of VA in the wine as well.
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Very licorice/garrigue, with some slightly raisiny fruit, dry red fruit, dry herb. Smooth, balanced, with fine tannin, pretty traditional and classic. Seems like this bottle is totally mature.
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Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind alongside the Boursan 98 Cuvee Felix. Super ripe black and blue fruit on the nose. Lush, fat fruit on palate, lots of glycerin and concentration. Thoroughly ripe and seemingly very modern, this was fairly easy for the group to identify as Chateauneuf, but it is not my preferred style or even vintage of CDP, with quite pronounced heat from middle to finish.
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Attractive translucent dark cherry robe w/ seductive nose of sous bois, garrigue & a hint of kirsch. Palate similar with sweet Oak prominent and a velvety grip. Ready to go w/ an hour decant but has plenty of years left in it.
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A bit cloudy. Dates, prune, almost portlike fruit, berry, herb, damp soil on the nose. Dense garrigue, berry, good acidity, meat, earth palate. Very sexy and hard to imagine this getting much better. Wow!
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Rob's 40th Camino -- At a nice close to peak drinkability, color developing some and a tad cloudy (more "not brilliant clear" is more like it). On the nose, mellow and subdued ripe purple fruit, some heady warm wet earth, a touch of candied balsamic and soy. Nice rich fruit on the palate, good earthiness, crowd pleaser yet still a tad subdued. We didn't get pruney rasiny-ness that some did, this was out of magnum tho. A dense, juicy beauty.
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I don't know what the other reviewers were drinking, but I don't get any raisin at all. This bottle has delicious red fruit, lavender, smoked meat and earth, excellent balance and structure. Drinking beautifully.
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Prune, currant, raisin all prominent. Thats the style of this particular CDP. Earth and herbs, red meat. Lighter color than I expected and some bricking. Very ageable. I have a case of this and look forward to pulling the bottles out systematically over time...
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Popped and poured right from the cellar ... getting better in the glass ... and with temperature. The color is still quite full red, though the rim is getting transparent. Quite fresh with a core of kirsch, added by provencal herbs and a bit of tannin ... very grenache, very Sabon - and not at all mature, as other tasting notes had me believe. Not my favorite neuf, but certainly very good. This wine still have ways to go, I think I still have half a case, and it won't be touched for some time.
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Tasting Group Dinner - Chateauneuf & More (In Season, Minneapolis): Strong reduction on the initial nose -- horse and rubber -- blew off after about half an hour. Modern in style, with ripe kirsch/liquor notes on the nose that carry through to a palate that shows licorice/anise and mature, pruny black fruit. Finishes clumsy and a bit flat, with a touch of heat. Seems to be on a fast evolutionary path. Based on this bottle and my TN from last year, I would be drinking these up relatively soon.
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Not what I was expecting at all. Seemed more like an old Hermitage with a very raisiny nose, which isnt my thing at the moment. Nonetheless it was very balanced with silky tannins especially on the second day, but clearly still has some legs to go longer. Hoping the next bottle is more like the other rave notes.
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Decanted 2 hours before serving. Luxurious complex nose of licorice, smoked meats, blood, provencal herbs, underbrush, you name it. Silky smooth on the palate, the sweet round tannins have meshed in nicely with the predominantly black fruit to form a very balanced and fine wine that leaves you asking for more. Although this wine packs in a ton of flavours, the subtlety with which it does so is a delight (as is the minute-long finish). A fabulous treat; not to mention a tragedy that this was my last bottle as I'm sure it will continue to improve for another decade.
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San Antonio Wine Geeks - Potluck (Auden's Kitchen): Initially, was rather closed on the nose bey eventually showed roasted/stewed fruit, mostly plum, and spices. Fruit forward palate, though with plenty of spicy complexity, but a little heat peeked through on the backend. Nice spicy finish, with a creamy character that contrasted with the Beaucastel. At peak and maybe on the decline, a fine CdP, but lacking the complexity and focus of the Beacastel on this night.
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This is like a top notch red Burgundy with lavender and provencal herbs! Light, medium red in color, transparent at the rim with a hint of amber. Gorgeous nose of cherry with lavender and garrigue. In the mouth you get lovely smooth, sweet grenache/cherry fruit with the same herbs and garrigue and a stupendous finish. Wow! I wish I had more.
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Ruby with amber highlights. Gorgeous, extroverted scents right out of the gate of strawberry/raspberry fruit, fresh herbs and roasted meats. No funk to speak of on either the nose or the palate which had bracing acidity to compliment the strong, barely roasted red fruit center. The finish too was clean, long and complex with pulsating encores of fruit and herbal spice.
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Clear red color with a browning hue. Mature nose with notes of barnyard, manure, fallen fruit and a funky complex frame, it also has some acetone and nail polish which clears with some air. On the palate it got better and better in the glass, picking up weight and intensity in both fruit and tertiary nuances over midpalate and finish. The fruit is sweet, boiled red berries, predominantly raspberries, red cherries and some tomato. Notes of spices, anise, tobacco and dirt road on midpalate and finish. Fine length and perfect balance.
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Mmmm, this was go-o-o-o-d! A somewhat murky dark plum color on opening, the wine spent about 1.5 hours in the decanter before dinner. In the glass it was clearly a wine with age, with lightening at the rim. The nose was packed with plummy black cherries, underbrush, and some tobacco and herbs. There was also the sense of roastedness to the fruit that many have spoken of. I did not find it off-putting as it was in check, and seemed, to me, to add to the rich sense of the wine. On the palate the wine was medium to full bodied, with great balance, soft, almost-resolved tannins, enough acid to prevent the 'jammy syrup' problem, and wonderful, sweet fruit along with earthy secondary flavors, and a very good finish. Outstanding, and with at least three or four good years left, but ours will be gone by then!
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Seems very faded and muted upon opening but with an hour decanting this really opens up. fully mature now showing signs of bricking on the edges light rapberry with Thyme and other herb notes and great tobacco flavours on the palate a wonderfull bottle well worth trying to find
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My last bottle of this, and the wine continues to impress and surprise me. When I first poured this yesterday, the wine seemed thin and tired on the palate. A day later this has really come into its own. The palate has filled out and the fruit has become plusher and more velvety. Nose shows spice, herbs, berry, and beef blood. Palate hands out deep, dark, layered blackberry and plum fruit. Underneath all of the fruit there is nice acidity and earthiness. Finishes exceptionally long and with an exciting garrigue note. To me, this is textbook top-tier CdP from a hot year. Best showing of this wine so far and based on my tasting over two days, there is no need to drink this anytime soon. Should certainly have 5 years left in the tank.
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Light ruby in color, with a little bricking on the edge. Nose took a little coaxing, but eventually showed rich spices, thyme, touch of garrigue, leather and sandalwood. Palate smooth and warm lush mouthfeel with well integrated tannin, hiding the alcohol well. Plenty of mature notes: thyme, rosemary, tobacco and spices mostly with some dark fruit, currant and plum notes, but the finish was the most interesting. Finish lasting 60-90 seconds, almost explosive herbs and spices, touch of mineral, char, and iron, plenty of pipe tobacco and hints of leather. Everything I want in a mature CdP. Drinking well now and should continue over short to near term.
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On first pour this was a little muddy, soy driven, dark, not really expressing much. However, this evolved fantastically over two hours showing wonderful secondary notes of roasted earth, dark fruit, some soy notes but with a sexy, smokey undertone. For better of for worse this was a poster child 1998 with that ripe, sexy, round, roasted character that people seem to love or hate. In terms of its evolution this was pretty far down the page, but it was an awfully nice and pleasing path. A really sexy bottle of wine.
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Hanging with Mike Hirby (Sbicca, Del Mar, CA): Popped and poured. Soy sauce, mirin on the nose. Very smooth, dusty, earthy, fruit, flowers, herbs de provence. Long finish. Nice bottle, not quite as powerful as my last bottle.
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An incredibly interesting high end well matured CdP that I would never have identified as such enjoyed earlier tonight with the third flite of all CdP wines at the Hickory Wine Club tasting at Lake Hickory CC. RP rated 95. Nose rich and fruity and aromatic with tones of mocha, raisins, toffee and apricot much more remiscent of a light port or muscadet dessert wine thatn a CdP. Very dark purple, big wine, good mouth feel, aftertaste lingers on forever. Primary flavors of burnt sugar, tar and smoke. Highly recommend this wine but at least at this tasting a very atypical CdP.
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Very nice. Very balanced with raspberry, armagnac, and spices, maybe cardamon, tobacco, etc. Very long finish. Nose has a lot of wet forest and amarone. next day, a bit raisny
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nose: very interesting nose with loads of provencal spices, all sorts of red berry tones, sweet mixed berries, wild flowers, and a bit of animal blood hiding underneath. great aromatics that just
taste: still firm but fine tannins with wild flower tones, all sorts of provencal spices, lush red cherries, and fresh mixed berries. Beautiful plush feel on the palate with very pretty length
overall: This wine is in a great place right now, it will still evolve, but its a lot of fun to drink currently. There's a bit of browning at the rim, but the tannins are still present. As it evolves in teh glass, the provencal herbs become more pronounced, and even more so on the palate, and I'm loving it. This is just a delicious wine right now that will continue to evolve and provide all sorts of joy for at least the next ten years
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Dinner Chez Pelz: Also a great bottle. Much darker and deeper than the Pegau. Incredibly meaty and provencal spiced. Has the dark berry and beef blood look and taste that I love. Also, a good dose of garrigue and rosemary stems. At age 10, this has many years to go to full maturity, but the cork on my bottle was slightly leaky and saturated, so I suggest to keep an eye on that sa I have heard from someone ITB that this has been a common concern with this particular bottling.
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Very sexy. Starts to show some evolution with brickish rim. High aromatics on the nose which is somehow reminiscent of an Amarone: floral with liquorice. Add on that prune, pepper, meat (prosciutto), maraschino cherry: very enjoyable and complex. Velvety, full body, med acidity, integrated tannins, ripe dark/red fruits. It is not as complex as on the nose. Long finish. I don't know if it will improve with age. Will be interesting to follow...
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Farmy with great cooked meats and blackberries. A bit of brett that blew off. Full bodied with more roasted meats, herbs, great minerality, dark fruits and a wildness that was really nice. Early peak by my guess. 93+ pts
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pulled from cellar...half into a decanter approx 45min prior to consuming...muted on the nose...really good mouthfeel...solid fruit and pepper on the palate...not much secondary in terms of secondary flavors..strong acidity on the finish to the point of detracting. good wine but at this point no better
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Nose of deep dark fruits which became more pronounced as this stayed open. Good structure and back bone. Did detect some VA which was a little off putting and brought this down a couple points in my book.
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First one tasted in maybe 5 years. Nose was somewhat muted. palate was much better, smooth, dark fruited and very drinkable. That may not sound like high praise but it is from me. Barely any secondary notes at this point.
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Somewhat disappointing as I recall purchasing based on "fabulous" recommendations. Opened with a tart piercing nose. Settled down to reveal rasberry and other red fruit, and some forest floor. Tart-acidic character leaves me to believe this wine is slightly out of balance. Not a bad wine - I would definitely decant- but certainly not oustanding. Dinner on the other hand - at Wilson's (Michael Wilson- formerly of 5 Dudley) was an informal dining treat.
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Dinner with Jeff Leve at Lucques (Los Angeles): I have to disagree with Jeff here - for me the best CdP of the flight and potentially the best of the evening (if drunk in due course). The nose was just incredibly complex and deep, showing pure fruit and notes of torrefaction. An iron fist in a velvet glove, everything in this wine seemed to fit right into place. A real treat.
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Rhônes and dinner with Robert Parker (Baltimore, MD): This was my least favorite wine of the flight with a strong hit of volatile acidity that bothered me. The palate was pure and lush with delicious notes of raspberry.
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11/14/2023 - Macdog Likes this wine:
Very likeable - more so than the hermitage drank next to it which was also excellent. Classic CNDP on p. Some brunt rubber/neoprene in it. Really enjoyed. 1 btl left and will be held .
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10/28/2023 - KNNOngQW wrote: 90 Points
Med acidity
Med finish
Med body
Pale garnet w brown rim
On the nose - dark fruits, barnyard, leather
On the palette - similar to nose + a slight metallic taste/minerality
I feel this has slightly gone off prime. Vs the 2004 we tasted.
Ok. After an hour + in glass, it developed a very pleasant fig taste, reminiscent of ch musar !!
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12/21/2021 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
1998-2007 Roger Sabon Chateauneuf du Pape (blind tasting) (Virtual Tasting): Nose: 91; Palate: 89
My #7, Group's #2 (51 pts). Tasted blind.
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11/10/2021 - 559Cheers wrote: 91 Points
Rich and ripe like post say below. Roses and ripe fruit on the nose and palette. Still very vigorous and alcoholic. Great for a cold night especially now. See how this one develops. Kinda Port-like.
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10/19/2021 - MJGiovan Likes this wine:
Full, balanced. Strong fruit supported with med tannins and nice acidity. Smoke, meat, anise. Plum fruit.
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7/25/2021 - Macdog Likes this wine:
Drink up. L thought the bottle on 24/12 was the best we’ve had having been drinking it over the last 3 years.
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11/24/2020 - MLD11 wrote: 100 Points
Utterly perfect. At its peak, leathery, fruity lusciousness
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5/20/2018 - WineGuyX Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich and ripe, not a lot of aromatic or palate presence.
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8/25/2017 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
An excellent bottle. When first opened, this seemed to have pronounced oak and cola notes, but this got better with about 30 minutes of air. Roasted plums, leather smoke and meat. Complex and layered.
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9/24/2016 - plitton wrote: 92 Points
Drinking great. Lots of spice and somewhat sweet. Should continue to drink well through 2020
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3/8/2016 - beatles wrote: 88 Points
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1998 (Chez moi): Leaner than Pegau, strict, uforgiving, lots of kirsch as usual, but somewhat singular. Much better on the second and third day, interesting. Wait for it. 88++ point
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1/16/2016 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Drinking very nicely, smooth and elegant but definitely time to drink. Red fruit, a hint of lavender, and earth flavors.
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9/19/2015 - CHINACAT wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby color, a bit cloudy and a fair amount of sediment. Fragrant nose. On the palate, ripe dark fruit, a bit faded, some nice complexity, and a bit of a harsh finish. This bottle seemed a bit past its prime, although it still was enjoyable.
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6/21/2015 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
As others have mentioned, this is in a great spot for current enjoyment. Fragrant bouquet of red fruits, dried flowers, smoke and meat. Layered and long with well integrated tannins. This is at the tipping point between evolved flavors and fruity youth. Loved it. UPDATE: On day two, this became quite a bit softer with the oak coming out a bit more than I would like, but still an enjoyable wine.
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6/15/2015 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice CDP! In a perfect drinking window right now.
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4/16/2015 - Ericsson wrote: flawed
À mon sens, cette bouteille avait dépassé son apogée, le vin était cuit.
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4/3/2015 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Fully mature chateauneuf-du-Pape, with red cherry, earth, pepper and a hint of lavender. Has lost some body weight. Nice finish. Paired with lamb burgers, worked perfectly.
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8/5/2014 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
Coravin 8/5/14. Light-medium ruby color; nose has red fruit, some slight mint, slight floral, slight spice, needs a bit of time to open up; palate is light bodied but with good density and complexity, integrated tannins but still provides good structure, lots of juicy cherry fruit throughout the palate, gives it good balance, quite an elegant mouthfeel; tapers off towards the finish but still a medium length finish. Well balanced and enjoyable for the price, but maybe lacking just a bit of additional character; drinking still quite young with at least 5+ years left. 91+
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10/25/2013 - NineteenEightyTwo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape in every regard. Opaque core with a red brick rim. This has a dense and diverse nose of lavender, roasted meat, ketchup and rocky soil. On the palate, a juicy mouthfull of ripe mulberries is accented by garrigue and white pepper flavors. The tannins are smooth and well-integrated but still provide enough structure to keep this finshing long and strong. Drinking superbly right now, this probably has another 3-5 years of peak flavor left.
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5/27/2013 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
A delicious chateauneuf-du-pape, with lavender, red cherry, earth flavors, smooth, nicely balanced. Paired with grilled lamb burgers, perfect!
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2/26/2013 - padden wrote: 93 Points
Orange-brown color. Intense dried figs on the nose and palate. Bright acids. After a half hour, the tannins mellow and grip the gums firmly without biting. Long finish. Very well balanced and near its peak.
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11/5/2012 - dbkitc wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful, deep garnet color. Robust nose that has plums and hot earth on the nose (just short of roasted). Full flavored - a nice winter wine. Lacking elegance, but fun with a pork braise am a roaring fire. (90)
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11/5/2012 - BuffaloBill25 wrote: 87 Points
Monday Wine Club (BYOB at Hawksmoor) (Hawksmoor Air Street): Agree with other comments that this is full flavor! Nutty, earthly, roasted meat, caramel flavors...a lot going on for sure. 15% alcohol and a bit porty. The fruit has gone downhill a little leaving behind all those meat and nutty nuances, but its just a bit disjointed and medicinal. Lacks freshness and zip. It was fun to have it in the line-up but i think its heading down hill. Interesting, drinkable. 87
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10/2/2012 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
I thought this was quite lovely. Very balanced, delicate flavors yet good structure and length too. Lots of leather, led pencil and floral notes all coming together cohesively. Lovely stuff and just enough age. Drink now.
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8/27/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 87 Points
This is not showing as well as previous bottles. The wine is now dominated by red fruit and starting to fade. There was a touch of VA in the wine as well.
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6/24/2012 - rocknroller wrote:
Monthly Tasting Group: Loads of CDP's and more (Meritage, St. Paul): Very small pour. no detailed notes. ok. Impression 89+pts.
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6/5/2012 - shellylowen wrote: 91 Points
Medium body, cherry, raisin, good finish, smooth tannins.
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4/8/2012 - scamhi wrote:
well the alcohol stuck out a little here a bit too ripe but went down easily with a navarin of lamb.
Last bottle, so long.
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2/2/2012 - andtheodor wrote: 91 Points
Very licorice/garrigue, with some slightly raisiny fruit, dry red fruit, dry herb. Smooth, balanced, with fine tannin, pretty traditional and classic. Seems like this bottle is totally mature.
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1/21/2012 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Tasted double blind alongside the Boursan 98 Cuvee Felix. Super ripe black and blue fruit on the nose. Lush, fat fruit on palate, lots of glycerin and concentration. Thoroughly ripe and seemingly very modern, this was fairly easy for the group to identify as Chateauneuf, but it is not my preferred style or even vintage of CDP, with quite pronounced heat from middle to finish.
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12/16/2011 - strad wrote: 91 Points
Attractive translucent dark cherry robe w/ seductive nose of sous bois, garrigue & a hint of kirsch.
Palate similar with sweet Oak prominent and a velvety grip.
Ready to go w/ an hour decant but has plenty of years left in it.
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11/4/2011 - andtheodor wrote:
Weird...distinct recioto nose. Unusually luscious and succulent but hard to interpret. I certainly enjoyed this but what am I drinking??
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7/1/2011 - andtheodor wrote: 93 Points
A bit cloudy. Dates, prune, almost portlike fruit, berry, herb, damp soil on the nose. Dense garrigue, berry, good acidity, meat, earth palate. Very sexy and hard to imagine this getting much better. Wow!
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6/18/2011 - danstrings wrote: 91 Points
Rob's 40th Camino -- At a nice close to peak drinkability, color developing some and a tad cloudy (more "not brilliant clear" is more like it). On the nose, mellow and subdued ripe purple fruit, some heady warm wet earth, a touch of candied balsamic and soy. Nice rich fruit on the palate, good earthiness, crowd pleaser yet still a tad subdued. We didn't get pruney rasiny-ness that some did, this was out of magnum tho. A dense, juicy beauty.
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4/8/2011 - no leashes wrote: 92 Points
I don't know what the other reviewers were drinking, but I don't get any raisin at all. This bottle has delicious red fruit, lavender, smoked meat and earth, excellent balance and structure. Drinking beautifully.
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1/30/2011 - 911SCracer wrote: 92 Points
Prune, currant, raisin all prominent. Thats the style of this particular CDP. Earth and herbs, red meat.
Lighter color than I expected and some bricking. Very ageable. I have a case of this and look forward to pulling the bottles out systematically over time...
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1/8/2011 - mappleton wrote:
A bit over the top initially, -- a little hot and raisiny. Settled down as dinner went on but definitely still a big, burly baby.
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12/29/2010 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured right from the cellar ... getting better in the glass ... and with temperature. The color is still quite full red, though the rim is getting transparent. Quite fresh with a core of kirsch, added by provencal herbs and a bit of tannin ... very grenache, very Sabon - and not at all mature, as other tasting notes had me believe. Not my favorite neuf, but certainly very good. This wine still have ways to go, I think I still have half a case, and it won't be touched for some time.
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12/14/2010 - Siggy wrote: 86 Points
Tasting Group Dinner - Chateauneuf & More (In Season, Minneapolis): Strong reduction on the initial nose -- horse and rubber -- blew off after about half an hour. Modern in style, with ripe kirsch/liquor notes on the nose that carry through to a palate that shows licorice/anise and mature, pruny black fruit. Finishes clumsy and a bit flat, with a touch of heat. Seems to be on a fast evolutionary path. Based on this bottle and my TN from last year, I would be drinking these up relatively soon.
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10/17/2010 - Marc McSorley wrote:
not as good as the last
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10/14/2010 - ctjared wrote:
Not what I was expecting at all. Seemed more like an old Hermitage with a very raisiny nose, which isnt my thing at the moment. Nonetheless it was very balanced with silky tannins especially on the second day, but clearly still has some legs to go longer. Hoping the next bottle is more like the other rave notes.
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8/21/2010 - ilee wrote: 95 Points
Decanted 2 hours before serving. Luxurious complex nose of licorice, smoked meats, blood, provencal herbs, underbrush, you name it. Silky smooth on the palate, the sweet round tannins have meshed in nicely with the predominantly black fruit to form a very balanced and fine wine that leaves you asking for more. Although this wine packs in a ton of flavours, the subtlety with which it does so is a delight (as is the minute-long finish). A fabulous treat; not to mention a tragedy that this was my last bottle as I'm sure it will continue to improve for another decade.
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7/23/2010 - no leashes wrote: 93 Points
This wine was singing, with delicious sweet red and dark cherry, lavender, earth flavors, long finish, beautiful smooth mouthfeel.
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7/2/2010 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 90 Points
San Antonio Wine Geeks - Potluck (Auden's Kitchen): Initially, was rather closed on the nose bey eventually showed roasted/stewed fruit, mostly plum, and spices. Fruit forward palate, though with plenty of spicy complexity, but a little heat peeked through on the backend. Nice spicy finish, with a creamy character that contrasted with the Beaucastel. At peak and maybe on the decline, a fine CdP, but lacking the complexity and focus of the Beacastel on this night.
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5/8/2010 - Marc McSorley wrote: 93 Points
very good, drinking well
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4/9/2010 - canan wrote: 91 Points
Sabon Prestige/Secret Vertical (Restaurant AOC): Mostly acidic with some dark plum. Rustic wine.
Quite dry on the aftertaste.
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1/29/2010 - winemaker wrote: 95 Points
This is like a top notch red Burgundy with lavender and provencal herbs! Light, medium red in color, transparent at the rim with a hint of amber. Gorgeous nose of cherry with lavender and garrigue. In the mouth you get lovely smooth, sweet grenache/cherry fruit with the same herbs and garrigue and a stupendous finish. Wow! I wish I had more.
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10/28/2009 - AdamWallstein wrote: 94 Points
Ruby with amber highlights. Gorgeous, extroverted scents right out of the gate of strawberry/raspberry fruit, fresh herbs and roasted meats. No funk to speak of on either the nose or the palate which had bracing acidity to compliment the strong, barely roasted red fruit center. The finish too was clean, long and complex with pulsating encores of fruit and herbal spice.
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8/25/2009 - Terkel wrote: 93 Points
Clear red color with a browning hue. Mature nose with notes of barnyard, manure, fallen fruit and a funky complex frame, it also has some acetone and nail polish which clears with some air. On the palate it got better and better in the glass, picking up weight and intensity in both fruit and tertiary nuances over midpalate and finish. The fruit is sweet, boiled red berries, predominantly raspberries, red cherries and some tomato. Notes of spices, anise, tobacco and dirt road on midpalate and finish. Fine length and perfect balance.
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8/11/2009 - TheOtherPoster wrote: 92 Points
Mmmm, this was go-o-o-o-d! A somewhat murky dark plum color on opening, the wine spent about 1.5 hours in the decanter before dinner. In the glass it was clearly a wine with age, with lightening at the rim. The nose was packed with plummy black cherries, underbrush, and some tobacco and herbs. There was also the sense of roastedness to the fruit that many have spoken of. I did not find it off-putting as it was in check, and seemed, to me, to add to the rich sense of the wine. On the palate the wine was medium to full bodied, with great balance, soft, almost-resolved tannins, enough acid to prevent the 'jammy syrup' problem, and wonderful, sweet fruit along with earthy secondary flavors, and a very good finish. Outstanding, and with at least three or four good years left, but ours will be gone by then!
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8/8/2009 - acreemer wrote: 94 Points
Seems very faded and muted upon opening but with an hour decanting this really opens up. fully mature now showing signs of bricking on the edges light rapberry with Thyme and other herb notes and great tobacco flavours on the palate a wonderfull bottle well worth trying to find
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6/14/2009 - steffenpelz wrote:
My last bottle of this, and the wine continues to impress and surprise me. When I first poured this yesterday, the wine seemed thin and tired on the palate. A day later this has really come into its own. The palate has filled out and the fruit has become plusher and more velvety. Nose shows spice, herbs, berry, and beef blood. Palate hands out deep, dark, layered blackberry and plum fruit. Underneath all of the fruit there is nice acidity and earthiness. Finishes exceptionally long and with an exciting garrigue note. To me, this is textbook top-tier CdP from a hot year. Best showing of this wine so far and based on my tasting over two days, there is no need to drink this anytime soon. Should certainly have 5 years left in the tank.
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6/11/2009 - Siggy wrote: 90 Points
Tasting Group Dinner - Chateauneuf at Heidi's (Heidi's & Our House, Minneapolis): Very horsey and reductive immediately after opening. Dark, spicy, and complex palate with fully resolved tannins. This is a bit on the roasted/pruny side for my palate, but it seems to be evolving quite nicely.
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4/15/2009 - Nutty08 wrote: 93 Points
Light ruby in color, with a little bricking on the edge. Nose took a little coaxing, but eventually showed rich spices, thyme, touch of garrigue, leather and sandalwood. Palate smooth and warm lush mouthfeel with well integrated tannin, hiding the alcohol well. Plenty of mature notes: thyme, rosemary, tobacco and spices mostly with some dark fruit, currant and plum notes, but the finish was the most interesting. Finish lasting 60-90 seconds, almost explosive herbs and spices, touch of mineral, char, and iron, plenty of pipe tobacco and hints of leather. Everything I want in a mature CdP. Drinking well now and should continue over short to near term.
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4/6/2009 - Eric wrote:
On first pour this was a little muddy, soy driven, dark, not really expressing much. However, this evolved fantastically over two hours showing wonderful secondary notes of roasted earth, dark fruit, some soy notes but with a sexy, smokey undertone. For better of for worse this was a poster child 1998 with that ripe, sexy, round, roasted character that people seem to love or hate. In terms of its evolution this was pretty far down the page, but it was an awfully nice and pleasing path. A really sexy bottle of wine.
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4/5/2009 - blondon wrote:
Hanging with Mike Hirby (Sbicca, Del Mar, CA): Popped and poured. Soy sauce, mirin on the nose. Very smooth, dusty, earthy, fruit, flowers, herbs de provence. Long finish. Nice bottle, not quite as powerful as my last bottle.
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4/5/2009 - scamhi wrote:
very easy to enjoy. ripe dark red fruits, leather and smooth resolved tannins.
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2/9/2009 - ikkaariainen wrote: 93 Points
An incredibly interesting high end well matured CdP that I would never have identified as such enjoyed earlier tonight with the third flite of all CdP wines at the Hickory Wine Club tasting at Lake Hickory CC. RP rated 95. Nose rich and fruity and aromatic with tones of mocha, raisins, toffee and apricot much more remiscent of a light port or muscadet dessert wine thatn a CdP. Very dark purple, big wine, good mouth feel, aftertaste lingers on forever. Primary flavors of burnt sugar, tar and smoke. Highly recommend this wine but at least at this tasting a very atypical CdP.
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12/13/2008 - yui wrote: 94 Points
Very nice. Very balanced with raspberry, armagnac, and spices, maybe cardamon, tobacco, etc. Very long finish. Nose has a lot of wet forest and amarone. next day, a bit raisny
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10/28/2008 - MC wrote:
ready to go but should hold. B+/A-
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10/17/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
nose: very interesting nose with loads of provencal spices, all sorts of red berry tones, sweet mixed berries, wild flowers, and a bit of animal blood hiding underneath. great aromatics that just
taste: still firm but fine tannins with wild flower tones, all sorts of provencal spices, lush red cherries, and fresh mixed berries. Beautiful plush feel on the palate with very pretty length
overall: This wine is in a great place right now, it will still evolve, but its a lot of fun to drink currently. There's a bit of browning at the rim, but the tannins are still present. As it evolves in teh glass, the provencal herbs become more pronounced, and even more so on the palate, and I'm loving it. This is just a delicious wine right now that will continue to evolve and provide all sorts of joy for at least the next ten years
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8/23/2008 - steffenpelz wrote:
Dinner Chez Pelz: Also a great bottle. Much darker and deeper than the Pegau. Incredibly meaty and provencal spiced. Has the dark berry and beef blood look and taste that I love. Also, a good dose of garrigue and rosemary stems. At age 10, this has many years to go to full maturity, but the cork on my bottle was slightly leaky and saturated, so I suggest to keep an eye on that sa I have heard from someone ITB that this has been a common concern with this particular bottling.
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5/30/2008 - french16 wrote: 93 Points
Very sexy. Starts to show some evolution with brickish rim.
High aromatics on the nose which is somehow reminiscent of an Amarone: floral with liquorice. Add on that prune, pepper, meat (prosciutto), maraschino cherry: very enjoyable and complex. Velvety, full body, med acidity, integrated tannins, ripe dark/red fruits. It is not as complex as on the nose. Long finish.
I don't know if it will improve with age. Will be interesting to follow...
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11/23/2007 - cct wrote: 93 Points
Farmy with great cooked meats and blackberries. A bit of brett that blew off. Full bodied with more roasted meats, herbs, great minerality, dark fruits and a wildness that was really nice. Early peak by my guess. 93+ pts
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11/6/2007 - JBVino wrote:
pulled from cellar...half into a decanter approx 45min prior to consuming...muted on the nose...really good mouthfeel...solid fruit and pepper on the palate...not much secondary in terms of secondary flavors..strong acidity on the finish to the point of detracting. good wine but at this point no better
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7/21/2007 - scamhi wrote:
Delicious- bright red cherry with a muted nose
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7/7/2007 - popquizkid wrote: 90 Points
Nose of deep dark fruits which became more pronounced as this stayed open. Good structure and back bone. Did detect some VA which was a little off putting and brought this down a couple points in my book.
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5/17/2007 - ski695 wrote: 92 Points
First one tasted in maybe 5 years. Nose was somewhat muted. palate was much better, smooth, dark fruited and very drinkable. That may not sound like high praise but it is from me. Barely any secondary notes at this point.
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8/20/2006 - Venice Al wrote: 88 Points
Somewhat disappointing as I recall purchasing based on "fabulous" recommendations. Opened with a tart piercing nose. Settled down to reveal rasberry and other red fruit, and some forest floor. Tart-acidic character leaves me to believe this wine is slightly out of balance. Not a bad wine - I would definitely decant- but certainly not oustanding. Dinner on the other hand - at Wilson's (Michael Wilson- formerly of 5 Dudley) was an informal dining treat.
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7/2/2005 - Will wrote:
Dinner with Jeff Leve at Lucques (Los Angeles): I have to disagree with Jeff here - for me the best CdP of the flight and potentially the best of the evening (if drunk in due course). The nose was just incredibly complex and deep, showing pure fruit and notes of torrefaction. An iron fist in a velvet glove, everything in this wine seemed to fit right into place. A real treat.
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2/12/2005 - Eric wrote: 91 Points
Rhônes and dinner with Robert Parker (Baltimore, MD): This was my least favorite wine of the flight with a strong hit of volatile acidity that bothered me. The palate was pure and lush with delicious notes of raspberry.
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