4/24/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

4 years since my last bottle and I will admit to it being better. Superb, not so much. I will agree with most of what the folks have said over the last few months.

Overall, I find that much better CDP's

4/14/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Cannot add much to what the others have recently written. Just a lovely Left Bank Bordeaux that is definitely a good drinking window.

4/12/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Restaurant purchase. One could say reasonable at twice the price given it was from a restaurant.

In any event, this is truly a great barbaresco. Acids, tannins, and fruit all in the right place . Had it with a rabbit dish.

Well done !

4/10/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Super. This is what good California Cab needs to be.

4/2/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Typical vanilla, okay cab.

5/27/2022 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

It just does not get more special than this. Why can't all California Cab producers make wine like this?

3/15/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

A bit on the expensive side for a barolo which I felt was just okay.

3/13/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Solid. For the price, one cannot be this. This is truly delicious barolo. Didn't know what to expect but certainly was pleasantly surprised. Had I tasted it blind, I would no doubt know it has barolo due to its richness, but never would have guessed this price point. Well done.

3/9/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

A seriously good Vermintino. Unoaked. Crisp. Loads of flavor.

3/4/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Fantastic. Old world styled as it should be. Perfectly done Barbaresco.

3/1/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Definitely in a more modern style, but a very nice barbaresco.

2/22/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

I have been drinking this wine for several months now. Originally discovered it and a dinner in Charleston, South Carolina at a restaurant called Zero Restaurant. To say the food there was phenomenal would be an understatement. Among the wine pairings, was this wine. I was fortunate enough to be sitting at the table near the sommelier who challenged me on many of the different wines. This one in particular stumped me. I would have bet big that It was a Bordeaux. Wrong. To my surprise it was California. All I could say to that was, well done, and thank goodness there are some wineries out west that choose not to make the heavily oaked, thick, uncxious, " blueberry maple syrup" style wine.

This stuff truly is wonderful.

2/14/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

What "Mrs. Air Guitar & Pinot Noir" said is almost word for word the same thing that "Mrs. Chopperwine" said. This wine can so easily be confused with Syrah (California, not northern Rhone) that no one would ever take points away from you for that proclamation.

This is a very thick, uncxious Pinot made in a very un-burgundian way. As Air Guitar & Pinot Noir suggested below, a good decant will do wonders for this wine. And to that end, I do not have much to add from his review. It was spot on. The only thing I would add is that I found the metallic finish on the palate a little off putting given the wonderful fruit that embodied this wine.

2/7/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Wonderful aromas of dark fruit, saline and earth. On the palate, very mild oak, dark fruits, leather, moss, tobacco blackberry. smoke and pepper. It is immediately intense, but without a lot of tannin nor long finish. Perhaps needs a bit more bottle time.

2/4/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Will start off by stating that I am a huge fan of Bionzo. That said, I'm a bit saddened to write that the 2018 that I am sampling for the first time does not quite live up to past years. Overall similar, but does not quite have all of the unique characteristics I've come to expect. Most definitely, a heavier, more viscous version. Color remains the same, dark.

2/3/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Immediately upon popping the cork, the aromas emanated. Perfume and flowers and sweet fruit. As far as taste, it was indeed well integrated with dark fruit, raisin and plums. Big wine which went so well with a N.Y. strip steak.

1/31/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Crazy that I opened this bottle exactly 3 years to the day than I had my last one. Still a lovely wine. Ruby color with a small, watery rim. Sweet, fresh strawberries and raspberries on the nose. Great burst of flavor on the first sip. Raspberries, sweet cherries with notes of sweet tobacco, leather and savory herbs. Went great with grilled salmon.

1/30/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

This is tremendous. Leather and moss on the nose with some fruit. Tannins on the tongue. Flavors of mushrooms and earth, muted dark fruit, some berry and graphite. Went superbly with grilled pork chop (bone it for those who might be curious).

1/28/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Over 2 days. While it does not have the horsepower (i.e., the wine is a bit thin) to deliver that old world, classic CDP taste and aroma that definitely is present in this delicious wine, it's certainly is enough to know that you will not be disappointed. Super QPR.

1/17/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

My review of February, 2020 is confirmed. This wine is spectacular. While you can never go wrong with any year of Clos des Papes, for whatever particular reason, this year of 2017 is just hitting it on all cylinders.

1/11/2024 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

"Gone Fishing.". This wine is definitely in a closed down period. From previous tastings, I know this is seriously good wine. And it's still is, but absolutely in its closed down period - just waiting to invite the world to its next phase. Right now, the fruit is hiding, the salty graphite (as someone described below) is definitely on the forefront. Hold for at least another year.

12/27/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Much better since 2018 when I had a previous bottle. Enjoyed this wine having coravined half the bottle last week. I may be in the minority, but I always thought 2014 was a decent year for California cab. While not stupendous, this wine is quite tasty.

11/19/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Definitely losing some of its flavor profile from earlier bottles.

10/26/2023 - ChopperWine wrote:

Is okay (how is that for a review). Perhaps a little more time in bottle? In any event, went decently with a nice medium rare sirloin.

10/22/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Like most young CDP, especially (in my opinion) Donjon, time will do wonders and create an even greater bottle of wine. That said, I opened up my first 2020 and noted that tannins were on fire. Whoa. Gave it a 4+ hour decant and everything changed for the better. Rich spicy notes along with cherry. strawberry, tobacco, eucalyptus and some plum. Long, sweet finish (you can sense the oak), candied cherries, tobacco, and baking spice. Even after the long decant, the earthy tannins were still present, though much less harsh. A great CDP in the making.

9/23/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Finally figured out after three bottles of this what it really is. Think of this as your everyday, red wine that you pour when you get home from work but want something just a tad better than one's run of the mill Cabernet Sauvignon.

To be sure. It's good and nothing great. But it's also not bad and nothing horrible.

8/25/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

What Condorkhan said below though I might had a little bit of "earth" on the nose and on the palet. Spot on.

8/12/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

My guess is that it is in a bit of a closed period.

7/12/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Having had this wine at a restaurant in Charleston South Carolina, I had to order it from the winery. Man, do these guys know what they're doing.

7/4/2023 - ChopperWine wrote:

"Eh" is about the best I can come up to describe this.

6/24/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

I am tempted to give this an even lower number, but will come around to say that after several hours of air, it did open up with a hint of what one used to expect from a CDP. Make no mistake though, this is a very new world styled wine. Lots of heavy fruit and sweet. And that is the shame of it. Going to save the second bottle I have remaining for at least another 3 to 5 years for the experimental value. Chateauneuf du Pape simply does NOT need another producer making wines in this style. There is plenty of California Cabernet for that.

6/22/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Loved it. A great wine to have with seafood.

6/18/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

A heavier, darker pinot. Lots of cherry flavor and great mouth feel.

6/2/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Wonderful. Lots going on in this bottle. Most all of what we'd expect from this great wine. Open and drink.

5/31/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Surprisingly drinkable for such a young cab. One should be able to tell that the pedigree of this NDA wine comes from a good source.

5/14/2023 - ChopperWine Does not like this wine:

Just no.

5/11/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Delicious. A bit less "oakey" but has vanilla notes and is smooth and tasty. Also, leather, moss, earth along with some stewed fruits on the nose. Other blue fruits, cooking spices, herbs and vanilla in your mouth. Great QPR.

5/10/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

This is a good wine. Intense nose with cherry, strawberry and cooking spices. Some tobacco. Medium bodied, loads of flavor with moderate+ tannins. Great with food.

4/29/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

With a necessary 4-hour decant (and to remove a whole lot of sediment), I can report that it is in its drinking window to be sure. Medium-bodied, but boy, is it a classic tasting CDP. All the aromas one expects as well. To be sure, it is time to start drinking any bottles you have.

4/25/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

There seems to be some pedigree to this NDA wine. Well done.

4/25/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Simply wonderful. Dark chocolate, stone fruit, berry with aromas of the same plus cooking herbs. Eloge does it well.

4/23/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

1 year since my last bottle in 2 years since my first. Certainly seems to be improving, especially with the sweetness level being lowered a bit.

4/19/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Great QPR. Delicious St. Emillion.

4/15/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

My this is a spicy, tasty wine. Loads of flavor typical of Southern Rhone. This is a super wine for the price and goes great with chicken.

4/9/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

Notes to follow....

3/28/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

This one gets better and better even with the short amount of time that it's passed since my last bottle. An extremely well done Saint-Emilion.

3/25/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

This continues to impress, greatly. Not typical for today's modern cab style. Lighter, way less sweet and just enough tannin to create a mouthful of super wine. Nope of stewed fruit, cocoa, cooking herbs with a hint of licorice.

3/22/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

What a big, delicious wine. Quite dark in color, thick, and bold wine to be sure. Tannins were integrated. Not heavily sweet, but lovely fruit is present. Ready for business and great with food.

3/19/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

I "like" pinot; don't "love" pinot. That said, this wine was really, really good. Fruit forward, not overly sweet, low tannin and acid and a bit heavier than I would have expected. Some oak. Love the red berry flavors. Well done Chev.

3/18/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:

To start off, I must make a statement that this chateau should stop with the completely unnecessary wax dip. It does not make them any more prestigious and simply makes the wine harder to open.

As to the wine, it is good, not great. It is a light-bodied, modern style mine no matter how one looks at it. Sweet and fruit forward with little, if any, classic CDP characteristics.

There are much better CDP wines for mush less cost.