Blind. James' 2nd wine of the event.....1 hour decant and 1-2 hour slow ox.
Medium garnet in the glass. No Syrah stink but that black olive, meaty Syrah nose is unmistakable. The palate displays perfect balance with smooth, smokey dark red/black fruit and lots of black olive. It's smokey and meaty, but not in an overly strong way. I don't think this one gets any better than it is right now. Fooled us a bit early on thinking it was a Wash St Syrah.....it's extremely good and ready to drink in prime time right now.
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Wonderful powerful but not overpowering. Big nose and palate of dark fruits and tobacco and an intriguing herbal perfume (lavender?). Long finish. For me, everything that’s great about good rhone and syrahs — big flavor punch that still is able to meld with food (was great with a cheese / white asparagus / cream pasta and another dish with a vin jaune sauce). Tannins are definitely present — lots of time left on this one but for me the perfect drinking window.
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Perfectly balanced. Plush and silky, still lots of fruit. There’s already a well integrated part of tertiary aromas - it’s got the perfect mouthfeel. I don’t see this getting any better. Will drink my last bottle within the next months
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Earthy, spice, and subtle fruit on opening. Improves over time with increased complexity and more of the fruit. Excellent. Have 2 more bottles and will decant next one.
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(Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape) 1st bottle - dark cherry red color with pale meniscus; somewhat stewed, ripe berry, plum nose with a green note; tight, ripe berry, mineral, garrigue, spicy, not fully integrated; medium-plus finish 91 pts.
2nd bottle - dark cherry red color with pale meniscus; tart plum, baked plum, mineral, black fruit nose; berry, oak spice, plum, black fruit palate, more integrated than first (which may have been suffering from bottle shock?); medium-plus finish 93 pts.
(BEAUCASTEL rouge) 2007 Beaucastel Dear Friends, Of what I've tasted from the Rhone in 2007, the potential for this wine is about as high as any vintage since 1978 - it's longevity may eclipse the 1990 and the 1989 and the world-wide demand for it is so much stronger than it was at the release of either of those years. That adds up to a scarce commodity and the 2007 is going to be highly sought after. Back in 1990, you didn't have the Chinese, tax-free Hong Kong and Russian markets (not to mention areas of South America) and (in addition) a much broader awareness of this wine in the US with a new CdP hungry class that has turned to the Rhone after tiring of and casting aside Shiraz, Napa Cabernet and even expensive Bordeaux - it all adds up to a market that is going to be squeezed beyond belief (Parker's 2007 vintage comments have not helped - I will refrain from re-printing them as I'm sure you've read them ad-nauseum by many merchants attempting to peddle 2007 wine - the reviews speak for themselves). Simple supply/demand economics dictates that this wine should increase in value and, from a collectable nature, it's a fairly strong bet (it wouldn't shock me if were talking about the 2007 Beaucastel at this time next year as a contender for many 2009 #1 spots). With that in mind... I will make this clear - my guess is that you will certainly find this cheaper elsewhere (but act quickly when you see it). I would expect prices in the $65-69 range from other reputable merchants - try Daniel Posner at Grapes, Basins, Binny's, Wine Library, Sam's or Premier Cru (although grey marketers are going to have a pickle this year as Vineyard Brands has clamped down on the grey marketing of this wine by a strong margin over the 2005 and 2006 - there will be very little in the grey market pipeline). You can also try direct importing the wine out of the UK at the $50-55 level but I know allocations in the UK are so tight on the rouge (you will find dozens of listings for the 2007 blanc) that few (if any) merchants are even willing to list the wine. While I cannot offer you the lowest price, I can offer you guaranteed provenance - the best available. If your intention is to cellar the wine, that should be worth something. The reviews of this wine have (so far) been stellar - you can check the various sources. THIS PARCEL IS NOT VIA THE GREY MARKET - it is a pristine lot as direct from the source as possible VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as a painfully concentrated, organic expression of one of the great vintages of our generation: 2007 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape (rouge) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Rhone7511
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4/26/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points
Blind. James' 2nd wine of the event.....1 hour decant and 1-2 hour slow ox.
Medium garnet in the glass. No Syrah stink but that black olive, meaty Syrah nose is unmistakable. The palate displays perfect balance with smooth, smokey dark red/black fruit and lots of black olive. It's smokey and meaty, but not in an overly strong way. I don't think this one gets any better than it is right now. Fooled us a bit early on thinking it was a Wash St Syrah.....it's extremely good and ready to drink in prime time right now.
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4/16/2024 - sh6k Likes this wine: 96 Points
Wonderful powerful but not overpowering. Big nose and palate of dark fruits and tobacco and an intriguing herbal perfume (lavender?). Long finish. For me, everything that’s great about good rhone and syrahs — big flavor punch that still is able to meld with food (was great with a cheese / white asparagus / cream pasta and another dish with a vin jaune sauce). Tannins are definitely present — lots of time left on this one but for me the perfect drinking window.
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4/6/2024 - Adam T 12 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Better than my last bottle. Still alive and kicking. Definitely mature.
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4/5/2024 - p.schw. Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perfectly balanced. Plush and silky, still lots of fruit. There’s already a well integrated part of tertiary aromas - it’s got the perfect mouthfeel. I don’t see this getting any better. Will drink my last bottle within the next months
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3/29/2024 - nocowine wrote:
Earthy, spice, and subtle fruit on opening. Improves over time with increased complexity and more of the fruit. Excellent. Have 2 more bottles and will decant next one.
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