1/17/2023 - MC2 Wines wrote:

Commanderie des Costes du Rhone - Spring 2023 Kick-off (Gabriel Kruether): Continues to be a wine that is just too much. I love this producer but in this year it's an overfruited bomb and too intense. From a magnum. Unfortunate. Maybe with some more years it will settle some. Too young at this time.

1/17/2023 - MC2 Wines wrote:

Commanderie des Costes du Rhone - Spring 2023 Kick-off (Gabriel Kruether): A wine that I quite enjoy esp given the year that it was made. I think she might have done one of the best jobs in keeping some good balance there (perhaps the benefit of some whole cluster). Dark black fruits and a bit of spice.

1/19/2023 - Clark W Griswold Likes this wine:

Double decant. Black and blue fruits. Nicely textured. A big wine. Needs time. A bit harsh at the moment. Will try again after being open overnight.

Second night smoothed out and was better. It’s big and concentrated. Fruit is jam packed in there. Boozy. Long finish. Still dont absolutely love it at the moment.

1/19/2023 - oenanthe Likes this wine:

Muddled on opening, unbalanced and a bit hot actually. I am finding more and more that the first glass of an older CNDP (or indeed any grenache-based wine) can be rather a struggle. However despite the age of these wines decanting is very beneficial for reasons other than sediment, and this was the case here. After a couple of hours of air this had really settled down into a pleasant and very contemplative glass. This is in complete contrast to a tasting note from another CT user a few months back, but there you have it. Obvious bricking in the glass, a very savoury mouthful, full of leather, spice and just hints of the once sweet fruit coming through alongside what is now more raisins and plums to complete the picture. On the downward slope you would have to say, but nonetheless quite charming. But don't pop and pour!

1/15/2023 - grapist Likes this wine:

A CdRV that tastes like a CdP at a CdR price. 750’s we’re gone so I bought 16 Mags. Nuff said.

1/11/2022 - grapist Likes this wine:

Decanted for two hours. Could have used more, tho the change was not great from opening moment. Nose was floral and inviting. Perhaps a hint of lilac. Very little sediment, but the color was a bit cloudy. Rich with both red and dark fruit. Garrigue, meat, spices and a hint of funk. Overall, great balance and complexity. Only one bottle left of three cases purchased and consumed over the years.

4/24/2021 - Margaux Bro Likes this wine:

Brought to a tasting menu dinner, and paired with duck and lamb courses. Stood upright for 3 days prior to serving, but this was still packed with sediment. Popped at the beginning of the meal and decided not to decant, because the first taste was impeccable. Let it slow ox in the bottle for about an hour before consuming with the food pairing. This bottle was in a truly perfect spot, and was a much lighter wine than I expected (not surprising given the 13.5% abv). Anyway, I highly recommend drinking now. I’m going to be on a mission to seek out additional bottles of this vintage.

5/22/2020 - Costes76 wrote:

Deep ruby color. Medium aroma of black fruits, vanilla, oak. Dry, bright acidity, firm tannins, taste of blackberry, blackcurrant, some oak and pepper. Full body but medium long finish. Off balance though re acidity, tannins and tart finish. Opened too early, could not refuse as friend brought it to dinner. Rest for few more years at least.

1/11/2021 - grapist wrote:

Cooked. From my cellar and selected for my 75th birthday. Damned shame.

4/25/2019 - Eric Likes this wine:

Celebrating CellarTracker's Fifteenth Anniversary (Seattle, WA): This has always been one of my favorite vintages of Pegau, and this opens up as an exceptionally meaty and vibrant bottle. Absolutely screaming of garrigue yet with a different energy than many other vintages. As I recall, in this vintage the entire white production went into this red wine. The only troubling note was some funkiness and a hint of oxidation that crept in as we sat with the bottle. I have every reason to believe it was a proper example (I have been drinking bottles from this same case for years and the cork was perfect), but there was just a hint of tiredness that started to show up in the wine. No matter, it is always a treat, but I am going to start drinking up my last ones while this is still a background note.

1/11/2017 - grapist Likes this wine:

This continues to be the family "Celebration" wine. We might have better and we surely have more expensive, but this, as our largest purchase of one vintage of any wine (5 cases) continues to be our favorite. Originally tasted from barrel, it is now in prime time.

11/30/2014 - grapist wrote:

Here is what I thought of the '95 that preceded this: ... everything you would want and expect from a nearly 20 year old Bordeaux from a fine vintage. Color, nose and taste were all fresh and vibrant. Fruit was still rich and acid and tannins were balanced. Mouth feel was excellent. The '86 totally blew that away!! Fuller, richer, more complex, it exceeded expectations! A memorable bottle.

5/24/2014 - grapist Likes this wine:

By far my least fave of recent vintages of Pegau, but still a fine wine.

12/12/2013 - grapist Likes this wine:

Gonna give this another year. Did not expect this to reach the greatness of the '98 which was the best CdR I've ever had, but was hoping for more. very good, great value, not great.

10/28/2013 - Wine Fool Likes this wine:

(Decanted for three hours.) This wine is big in every way. Black and purple in color. The opened bottle floods the room with aromas of ripe fruits, spice cabinet, bouquet garni, earth, truffle, animal musk and dark chocolate. The flavors are enormous and expansive: ripe blackberries and plums, cocoa, and figs dominate the show, with minerals, pepper and herbs “spicing” up the whole thing. The succulent acidity tracks the big fruit flavors and supports the long deep finish. The tannins are big but not ridiculously so and soften agreeably with hours in the decanter. This wine’s concentration is not unlike the 2003 Pégaü Cuvée Réservée but with less (over?)ripeness and more backbone. In any event, it has the stuff to make wonderful old bones. With 10-12 years to settle down and mellow out, this monster will be quite special and merit a higher score. 96+ points now for its sheer impressiveness.