Oh my, isn't this something? Opened to go with cassoulet from Rue Cler as I don't have a single bottle of Cahors or Madiran. Given that I've referred to Caparsa as the Pradeaux of Chianti it was nice to open this the next day and get some confirmation of that. Noble rusticity is still the best descriptor. This is a mid-weight version of Pradeaux Bandol with all of the Provençal notes, as well as the distinctive tree bark one I get specifically here, one would expect with a red fruited profile and strong but well proportioned tannin, not spiky nor a brick wall. I do wonder whether there is enough fruit to outlast the tannin but prior experience has shown that this generally happens. It hasn't yet developed that lavender note that can be so haunting in these wines. I don't see any reason not to open one now if you have the proper meal for it although it may be immortal. I've never had a Pradeaux that seemed over the hill, only spoiled bottles due to exogenous causes.
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8/8/2023 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 91 Points
Five years later and the tannins are far more tame. My tastes, however, have moved on from this profile.
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1/16/2021 - vulgar little monkey wrote: 92 Points
Oh my, isn't this something? Opened to go with cassoulet from Rue Cler as I don't have a single bottle of Cahors or Madiran. Given that I've referred to Caparsa as the Pradeaux of Chianti it was nice to open this the next day and get some confirmation of that. Noble rusticity is still the best descriptor. This is a mid-weight version of Pradeaux Bandol with all of the Provençal notes, as well as the distinctive tree bark one I get specifically here, one would expect with a red fruited profile and strong but well proportioned tannin, not spiky nor a brick wall. I do wonder whether there is enough fruit to outlast the tannin but prior experience has shown that this generally happens. It hasn't yet developed that lavender note that can be so haunting in these wines. I don't see any reason not to open one now if you have the proper meal for it although it may be immortal. I've never had a Pradeaux that seemed over the hill, only spoiled bottles due to exogenous causes.
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4/1/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Still hard after all these years.
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3/28/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Tobacco and earth and tight still.
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11/15/2018 - 560 B&W Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnP. Good but not as impressive as before. Tannins pretty fierce, still. Perhaps in a closed-down phase? 13%
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