10/18/2017 - mike5446g Likes this wine:

Gives off serious Chateauneuf aromas of tapenade, baked earth, smoked meats, and black pepper. The fruit is all over with raspberry and cherry dominating. A hint of smoldering tobacco leaf rounds it out. Full bodied and tightly wound, this is still very young. If I had another bottle I wouldn't even look at it until 2019.

10/18/2017 - mike5446g Likes this wine:

Explosive raspberry and strawberry (perhaps some rhubarb?) jumps out of the glass. There's a savory meat and dark earth note that lingers nicely and becomes much more pronounced with air time. Finishes spicy with solid acidity. Hides it's 15.4% abv almost too well.

12/29/2015 - mike5446g Likes this wine:

Inviting Northern Rhone aromas of smoked meat with unmistakable syrah black pepper. Lingering bright herbal and dried floral note dance about the core. Dark cherry and blackberry emerge as the wine opens up; the fruit rolling in seamlessly on an asphalt road over the palate. Powerful grippy tannins and taut acidity make this one of the superstars of the'11 vintage. Following the dark, earthy grip is a fantastic finish of crushed mineral and savory woodsmoke. This bottling is interesting now, and you will not be disappointed if you pop one open, however, this will sing in ten years and go on for decades after.

4/26/2015 - mike5446g Likes this wine:

The nose on this wine is simply unbelievable...razor sharp bright red fruit and a minerality unlike anything I've ever experienced in a red. Spices, earth, and a savory herb note wrap up what is a truly remarkable (only Cote-Rotie can compare) bouquet. On the palate it is exquisite. Deep red fruit, dusty smooth tannins, and the brilliant mineral edge that this wine is so famous for. This is mature right now. If you've got one, drink it...you will be blown away.

4/23/2015 - mike5446g Likes this wine:

Pours a brilliant dark ruby/cranberry color. Opens up nicely after a couple hours decanted. Olive, earth, and dark coffee at first, followed by a strong iron note that muscles in and stays prominent throughout. Juicy bacon fat creeps around the edges. The fruit is strong with this one, with blackberry, black raspberry and plum keeping it on the dark side. There is a gorgeous mouthfeel that will just keep getting softer with age, with the whole package peaking in the next 5 years or so. This is a damn fine wine and an excellent display of Guigal's ability to deliver stunning quality at every level. Because, let's face it...they can't all be La-Las.

8/24/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Bright red fruit and hot earth, bordering on wet stone/mineral. Rich spice and cocoa notes bring up the rear. This is all enveloped by a warm, cherry-vanilla-ness that is nowhere near over the top. Closer examination reveals an interesting mossy-forest note. This has an extremely gorgeous structure and will sing in 2-4 years.

8/17/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

This is what Châteauneuf-du-Pape is supposed to smell like: olives, stones, funky fruit, blood, and garrigue. What a beefy, muscle-bound wine! I really think that it would give the Pegau a run for it's money. Dripping fruit, cocoa, and coffee notes sing throughout the palate. This wine has some serious stuffing and will reward you beautifully for many years to come.

8/13/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Great spicy nose of dark cherry and espresso (maybe cinnamon and nutmeg?); like creamy, fermented cherry cola. There is some restrained barnyard that I think will definitely blossom in a year or two. A very well-structured wine and an excellent representation of what an awesome Oregon winery can do with an awesome grape in an awesome vintage.

8/9/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Strong olive on the nose; it makes way for the black pepper, blood, and earth. As much as I try not to use the term, umami is what pops into my head. The fruit here is blue and red - still quite prevalent. It's all golden on the rich, long finish. This is one of my favorite wines. I've had it about eight times in the last three years and it just keeps getting better.

7/19/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Rich nose of blackberry cola, with a twist toward vanilla, and finally to a near-perfect imitation of devil's food cake. I love that the bubble-gummy WA fruit has been somewhat shed since the last time I had this. On the palate it's all about mocha and sweet spice, layed over dense, dark fruit. I've had this open all day long, and to be honest, I think it's falling apart. The acidity is there, but there's a significant lack of tannic structure. Not to mention the most exciting syrah notes are really nowhere to be found. A nicer than average wine, but sorry Spectator, 97 points it is not.

7/5/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Now this is a tricky wine. I had this about 3 months ago and it was completely simple and disappointing. The complexity is up the second time around, but this just isn't doing it for me. The nose is fine enough; pleasant aromas of black pepper, cranberry, and maybe even the slightest note of ginger pour from the glass. On the palate however, this red falls apart a bit. A green, under-ripe flavor was what I tasted first - that is now displayed as citrus, almost like a red grapefruit. The acidity is massive, and that is perhaps this wine's greatest strength. I really want to like this, and I hope it improves with some bottle age.

7/4/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Popped and poured. An insane amount of melted fig, blackberry, spice, and super-dense toast. What a mouthfeel! This recalls the Guigal Cote-Roties to a point with the use of all-new oak. Absolutely decadent and delicious - though I might have to pull splinters out of my gums later. This will go 15 years easily...

7/4/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Starts on a note of pure, dark raspberry with a touch of fig. Followed by a strong hint at garrigue, chocolate, and graphite. The acid and tannin are strong in this one, and that's definitely going to allow it to sail for some time. Solid finish. Solid wine. Will be even more awesome in 5-10 years.

6/27/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Spice and cocoa are in the driver's seat here, with a solid blackberry note riding shotgun. Excellent structure and firm tannins let you know that this wine is in it for the long haul, but it's gorgeous right now. I do tend to like my Chateauneufs with a bit more funk though...

6/13/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Very spicy plum and dark earth; almost tar. I had this wine about a year ago and it was nothing like this. Very complete with fine, integrated tannins. Wraps it all up with an extremely satisfying several minute finish that hints at chocolate and coffee. Drink this now through 2012.

5/24/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Starts out with stone, wild strawberry, graphite, and flowers. At 15% alcohol, the heat muscles in quickly. The funk and garrigue are trying to surface, but remain on lockdown. I had this with some spicy Indian food and it was terrific, however, I think this needs at least another two years.

5/23/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Decanted one hour. This gushes out hot, ripe fruit and licorice. The syrah is trying like hell to give up a minerally, smoke and pepper note - but the youthful fruit keeps it at bay. This is a rich and satisfying wine, and it will be beautiful in five years, but it's also pretty fun right now.

5/17/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Upfront garrigue, cocoa bean, and raspberry sauce on the nose. There is some heat coming off of this, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. As I dig deeper there's a big olive component coming into play. Smooth and rich on the palate with a finish that just sails on and on. Drink now and over the next decade.

5/9/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Chocolate and cranberry pour out of the glass, but quickly give way to the dark, earthy edge. What a beautiful wine. The tannins are ultra-fine in this nearly perfectly balanced wine. Drink this now or hold for up to 12 more years.

5/8/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

What great structure! Now this is what I'm talkin' bout! Mineral-driven, fresh-plowed, baked earth frenzies about the glass. The fruit has taken a back seat for now, but that's okay with me. Muscle, spice, and garrigue throughout the mighty finish. I can't wait to see what this wine will be in 10-15 years.

5/2/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

very well-rounded on the nose and palate, with an herbal-graphite-juicy plum flavor. Sweet, vanilla oak bobs it's head here and there, but that only adds to deliciousness.

4/19/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Rich and extracted, like an Aussie shiraz, but with a bit more focus. Spicy blackberry and plum notes pour from the glass and onto the palate. Very complete mouthfeel and length. Drink now or hold for 5-8 years.

4/18/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Toast and blueberries layed over spicy, iron grip. Tar and pepper on the palate. Drink now or hold up to two years.

4/5/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

I feel that this is drinking at it's peak right now. Quite funky with the barnyard and cherry nose. I could see this being confused with a mature Burgundy or Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

4/4/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Decanted very briefly (20 minutes?). Super fleshy and ripe dark fruit up front, plowed over with garrigue-driven hot stone. I can't believe how well this is drinking! On the palate it is so complete, this measly note will not do it justice. Wraps it all up with a very satisfying, several-minute finish. Drink it now and you will love it. Drink it in 5 years...

3/28/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Big scorched earth right up front on the nose, almost turns into fresh asphalt or tar. This is like a big hunk of smoked meat, flirting with dark berry fruit and baking spices. Maple syrup? Sausage? Like a bottle of breakfast.

3/22/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Very prevalent mix of barnyard and crushed blueberry on the nose. Pulls a fantastic balancing act with the light vanilla. Graphite and garrigue hone in throughout the finish. Great QPR.

3/22/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

Great nose of buried rawhide leather wrapped around blackberry and plum. Turns quickly to salted meat with a side of soy. If you've got one of these, drink it soon, with lamb.

3/15/2010 - mike5446g wrote:

What a fun little CdR! I didn't even realize this was 100% syrah until well after I purchased it. Starts up with a gorgeous nose of spiced dark fruit but quickly turns to charcoal and smoked meat. Slightly hollow mid-palate, but glides along with decent acidity. Solid graphite finish. Throw a ribeye on the grill and pop this open.