Community Tasting Note

• kfrench150 Does not like this wine: 85 points

  January 11, 2020 - Cross between black cherry and garnet in colour. Nose is quite nice with dried red berries, pot pourri, macerated cherries, cured tobacco and abundant cedar notes. Super woody on the palate is the initial impression. Then comes those dried and macerated red berries, tar and red licorice, and finally quite a lot of mouth coating and puckery tannins before a rather hot finish. Seems disjointed and lacking in fruit flavour. Everything seems overwhelmed by wood and tannin. Not really that pleasant to drink and only slightly better with food. Rather disappointing once again. I would say this is dried out and dead. Pales in comparison to the 2010 Ch. de Beaucastel I had a couple of weeks ago! Fortunately it is my last bottle.

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3 Comments

• KillerJones commented:

  1/11/20, 5:45 PM - Indeed...it sounds out of balance for sure. I wonder if they de-stemmed the fruit completely?... because I am sure they did not leave it in oak that long.
  
  I usually drink my CdP four to seven years out - to me, that's their sweet spot.
  
  At least your nose was nice - I was recently served a wine with aromas of cabbage & garlic! oh well...1 in 75 they say...

• oldwines commented:

  1/11/20, 5:54 PM - I would argue that this may in fact need a good deal more time in the cellar. While I much prefer the Ch. Beaucastel CDP’s as well, my guess is that this is in a shut down period, sleeping... It may be that it will be surprisingly better at 12-15 years old after the oak has integrated. I would also suggest a long decant. Not sure from your note how much air this got but that may also be something to consider has well as the possibility that this is less fruit forward in style than many other CDP’s. OR you are totally right and this is a modern over-oaked wine that will never come around. I hope you are wrong since I have 4 bottles of this left in my cellar! Cheers!
  
  “oldwines” aka Dave
  www.dtpwineadvisors.com

• kfrench150 commented:

  1/11/20, 7:32 PM - I don't know what the deal was with the Vieux Telegraphe La Craus I've had. Not thrilled with any of them. This one in particular doesn't even sound like the same wine judging from most of the other notes here. Better luck with yours!
  
  P.S. Garlic and cabbage! At least you wouldn't have to worry about vampires! ;-)

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