1999 Domaine de la Charbonnière Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes

Community Tasting Notes (9) Avg Score: 90.9 points

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  10/11/2017 - forceberry wrote: 89 Points

  90% of very old Grenache (vines over 80 years of age) with some Mourvèdre in the mix. Aged in foudres and new French oak barriques for 12-18 months. 14% alcohol.
  
  Translucent, yet pretty dark figgy reddish color with rather pale and clear rim. Ripe, sweet and quite dark-toned nose with some alcohol notes and aromas of savory wood, slightly wizened black cherries, a little bit of sweet strawberries and a hint of garrigue. The wine is broad, ripe and somewhat sweet on the palate with rich and juicy flavors of strawberries, dark plums, some prunes, a little bit of leather and a hint of sweet baking spices. The medium-plus acidity and mellow, well-manicured tannins kept the mouthfeel very slick, soft and smooth. The finish is moderately warm with rather developed and quite sweet medium-long flavors of strawberry jam, overripe raspberries, some sweet pruney fruit and a hint of licorice.
  
  A nice, enjoyable and nicely evolved Châteauneuf-du-Pape that seems to be close to or already on its plateau of maturity. If the wine has been firm and structured in its youth, it definitely isn't anymore, as the structure is very much in the background and the sweet, round and even borderline jammy flavors are heavily on the fore. This is why the wine feels very mellow, even a bit flat at times. The wine might develop over a handful of years more, but it really doesn't call for any longer cellaring. As the wine is rather soft and mellow, pairing the wine with food doesn't feel necessary - or even that advised - because most dishes require at least some structure from the wine, and a soft wine like this might get pretty easily overwhelmed. I'd serve the wine just on its own.

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  8/29/2017 - David J Cooper wrote: 88 Points

  Light red. A bit of ripeness, smoked meat, earth and berry fruit. Definitely fading compared to previous bottles. Dry earthy spicy flavours and a soft finish.

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  10/24/2015 - David J Cooper wrote: 93 Points

  Light red, not much darker then the burgundy served before it. The nose was much more giving though. Spicy red fruit, leather, earth, pepper and smoke. Delicious flavours of earth, raspberry and spice. Dry finish.
  
  Really nice spicy ripeness but not at all sweet.

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  12/3/2014 - Neecies Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Coop's wine, opened at Le Pichet. Classic mature CdP. Soft spicy red fruits, citrus peel and Morroccan leather. Best wine of the weekend.

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  10/14/2011 - cellarkitty wrote: flawed

  Flawed bottle. Bought in Provence and moved a couple of times over the last dozen years so probably a mea culpa.

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