From Coravin. Raspberry over bramble, a little black tea, bonfire and a smidge of rhubarb. It has juicy acidity, talc textured though drying tannins, the fruit carries along with this. Medium plus length, not really showing age. Pretty good.

from Coravin. Herbaceous notes initially, a little white pepper, gets more jubey and red berried fruit with time on the nose. In the mouth it's sourly juicy, silky tannic burr, those red berrries and slight red currant. Medium plus length. Nice.

From Coravin. Slightly dusty notes, strawberry as well, slight stalks but also cream and slight vanilla. With time a touch of gameiness. Savoury, juicy, that stalk note more obvious on the palate, the fruit tends to black rather than red with the savouryness persisting, the tannins are drying through quite lightly textured. Long. Based on the 1998 and 2002 I'd like to leave this for a little bit longer.

From Coravin. Bright, crunchy smelling red berry over bramble, sweet spcied, a little white pepper with a touch of jubiness joining over time. Juicy, wid brambles and, again, drying silky tannins. Medium plus length, touch of bitterness here as well on the tail end fo the finish. Hmm.

From Coravin. Blackberry, slightly dusty sweet spice, cream, caramel, a little vanilla, reflection of the vintage compared ot the others in this bracket. Hmm, chalky tannins, acid a little softer and the fruit present but the whole a bit disjointed. Time may help.

From Coravin. A little struck match/smoked bacon fat, sweet spice, earth, muted blackberry with time, some smoky spiced notes. in the mouth it's juicy, the fruit equally muted, floury tannins are drying and there is some slightly intrusive alcohol warmth on the back palate. Meh on this tasting.

From Coravin. Cream, slight toast, red over blackberry; touch of blue berry compote in fact with a little black cherry as well backed by a smidge of sweet spice. it gets' more jubey with time, pretty. This all translates to the palate with coarse talc textured tannic burr, all travel long. Young, still very primary but balanced, pleasing. Good

From Coravin. Smells dense with black fruits, a little oak, spice, quite polished and fruit forward. Very primary though a little more extracted (not over-extracted I hasten to add) than the Amiot Servelle. And this shows on the palate; it's quite dense with juicy acidity but rather bold and with wonderful medium plus intensity blackberry fruit, tannins are present and drying but softly textured and well integrated. Balanced, all travel long, very nice indeed.

From Coravin. Sweet spice warm red over blackberry, a little red currant, leather, biscuit, earth, pristine cork. Juicy savoury red over blackberry, the red currant lends a touch of fleshy freshness, tannins are subdued. Hmm, not very well balanced.

From Coravin. Lovely floral perfumed top note with touches of violet, slightly dusty earth, muted old black lozenges, leather, sweet spice. Juicy, pretty with blackcurrant and berry fruit, drying tannins go hand in hand with the fruit...yum.

Was going to taste this with the Coravin but, even with the 'vintage' needle, the cork started to slip in...best to call on the durand immediately. On the nose it's slightly oxidised and maderised initially with a touch of rancio. With time, though, it starts to show dried orange peel, leather, mushroom, a little cherry and spice. In the mouth it's juicy, ripe, the oxidation lends a nutty note, slight and silky textured tannins...that cherry translates to the palate as well as the dried orange peel and these, in combination, give the impression of fruit sweetness. A little black tea, leather, earth and, as time progresses, umami notes. An interesting oddity; no where near as nice as the Gloria 59 I was lucky enough to have in 2018, but still fun.

Another day, another bottle...actually this one has come at the end of a long day of work followed by some considerable time tasting some rather splendid wines, followed by the uncorking of an older bottle that showed a marked recalcitrance to open (the cork started slipping in to the bottle - thank you durand) but succumbed and was shared over lamb lollipops then this...Previous experiences have been unenjoyable and this is the last of my bottles so I decided to splash decant this rather aggressively - change is as good as a rest. I love the Fontanilles but the Ciaude has always played second fiddle. And, sadly, this conforms to my previous experience. Plummy, earthy, baked fruits, aniseed, tiny touch of black cherry...On the palate it's quite baked, dense in fact but without massive tannins, obviously warm climate though the alcohol is impressively handled, don't get me wrong, this is a good wine but it's not just as good as the Fontanilles. A lesson learnt.