4/13/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Quite elegant for a S Rhone white. Restrained fruit, flowers, and a nice slightly bitter finish. A little overshadowed by white fish in a tomato sauce with stir fried veg. Probably better with paella the next day. Don't serve too cold.

4/12/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

First bottle opened for a few years....it has evolved a lot from the big inky red of its youth....definitely a lot of tertiary notes now...plus some brett I think initially. Blood, iron and earthy notes but overlain still by a sometimes elusive raspberry fruit. Colour is noticeably lighter, still some tannin there though.
Definitely a food wine, and went well with a rare bavette steak. It took time to evolve, and drank well a couple of nights later too.

4/12/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Similar to before....the wine mellowed nicely for the last 2 glasses drunk 3 days later. I like the balance of this wine, quite understated for an Aussie red. Worth tucking a couple away too maybe as I think it will age quite gracefully for a few years.

4/14/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

A few months bottle age have lifted this a bit more I think. Robust fruit with some body, and went very well with paella. Good supporting crisp acidity.

4/5/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Small glass by Coravin. Expressive nose, mainly cherry, with a little spice. Darker in colour than previous vintages, but I'm not getting a sense of extraction the way some have noted.

More cherry, not too sour, on the palate, all quite primary for now, but expect more to come later. Another good and typical expression of Pataille wine. It seems a little more robust/less subtle than some previous vintages but that's not a fault for me anyway.

4/7/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Finished bottle previously Coravined. Sadly, my taste buds were struggling with sinusitis and blocked nose....what I could taste was a softer version of the first 2 glasses,with lovely red fruit and little tannic obtrusion. Pure expression of Syrah.

4/6/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

I thought that this didn't quite have the balance of some previous vintages; more specifically it lacked the 'raciness' and degree of acidic bite that I've seen before. Billaud wines are always quite fruit forward and not stony or austere, but this seemed to just lack a little edge, not flabby by any means, and not lacking in fruit. I suspect it won't have the longevity of some years such as 2014.
Caveat...I had a chest infection and sinusitis so may be a bit severe o on it!

4/4/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Still going strong....brick red with touch of browning at edge, but still quite vibrant. Tannins have softened quite a bit, finer now too. Acidity and fruit in good balance too, with touches of spice. Some fine sediment now. Drunk it quite cool, but even so, it came out nicely as it warmed and feels like it still has quite a bit of life yet.

4/2/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

2 glasses by Coravin with steak. Initial reductive note, then a little feral but quickly settled down to a pretty pure rendition of N Rhone Syrah, fruit very much to the fore. It will soften a little with time, but was a very good match for the food now, and will probably gain some complexity. Tannins not that evident even now.

4/2/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Another one gone....the gewurz was more evident here, but still only part of the mix and this remains a very pleasantly quaffable wine. Drunk over 3 nights with variety of food.

3/31/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Still going strong....the acidity and fruit have integrated well, colour still pretty good, hint of browning maybe, but quite vibrant. Tannins all precipitated. If anything, a little better on day 2 with grilled Italian sausage, and pasta with bean& tomato sauce. Last bottle unfortunately, but this will keep going for a bit yet I think if stored well.

3/23/2024 - auldalliance wrote:

Ok. Nice saline and lemon peel notes. Acidity on the high side for me, and lacked some length.

3/15/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

A bit more integrated and smoother now....still got a noticeable acidic backbone which is on balance good and supports the fruit, tannins less noticeable now....my wife doesn't normally drink red, but likes Chianti and liked this, I think that the acidic streak helped. I think it will drink well for at least a couple of years yet and may even improve. Went well with steak pie as ever.

3/17/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

2 small glasses by Coravin. Remains excellent; a little more spice to complement the fruit this time, but a really good well integrated wine and fairly GV in burgundy terms....

3/7/2024 - auldalliance wrote:

Nice nose of herbs and red fruit.
Drying tannins still dominate and even with food it was quite hard work. I think it needs another year or so.

3/11/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

2 glasses by Coravin, remainder of bottle finished several days later.
Very approachable.

Such ripe smooth fruit, beautiful on the nose too, and that unlikely combination of grilled bacon fat and roses/violets which is often mentioned but IMO rarely fulfilled.

The rest of the bottle seemed a little more robust and reserved, maybe Coravin helped to oxygenate the first two glasses more?
However, it still showed most of the above characteristics and went very well with a rib eye steak, and then just sipped on its own.

3/10/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours. Bright fruit, tannins apparent, but with food there was a sweetness to the fruit too. Agreeable if not memorable. Might benefit from another year or so in bottle.

2/12/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

A bit lighter than the higher end wines from this producer, as to be expected. Good red fruit and balance though. Nice wine, not for long keeping though....this year or next maybe.

3/2/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Little SO2 on this one. Oak and vanilla smooth out the tropical fruits. I think this is an earlier maturing vintage than some and is probably at its peak now.

3/1/2024 - auldalliance wrote:

This was quite hard work; deep crimson with purple tinge on edges. Dark fruit and violets on the nose, with an 'iron' note too. Initial mouthful or two, at cellar temperature had good fruit but a lot of tannin - to be expected without decant and at slightly low temperature. However, the tannin dominated later. Second night was a bit better, but took a while for the sweeter fruit notes to be present.
Overall, I think this still needs some time or a longish decant. Certainly needs food.

2/24/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Good as ever, with grilled fish.

2/16/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

I liked this more than I thought I would. It's not overly sweet, has body and interest. It went well with mildly spiced Indian food.

2/12/2024 - auldalliance wrote:

Previous note stands.

2/16/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Good as ever for the money.

2/14/2024 - auldalliance wrote:

2 glasses by Coravin.

I agree with much from recent notes; this is not a wine for keeping long, it has a suspension of fine tannins, it has some complexity. The fruit is tantalising, at first some lovely dark fruit including mulberry, then seemed to fade and masked by tannins.

I am glad that I found this in the cellar by chance and sampled it. Offered some pleasure, but have had better Gigondas, and not for keeping long.

2/14/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Initially Coravined, and drunk from Riedel burgundy glass. Consistent with previous vintages in general....fruit perhaps not as sweet and generous as some years, with the sour cherry dominant, slight 'toffee apple' taste as well on the finish. Went well with roast ham and red cabbage, suitably Germanic!
Remainder of bottle opened a few days later, and drunk out a smaller standard glass....seemed to lose the bouquet to a significant degree. Slightly bitter note to the finish.
In summary, not the best bottle I've had of this but still a decent value example.

1/28/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Drunk over 3 nights with crab, then grilled fish and chicken.
Quite lean at first, bone dry, saline notes behind the initial lemon. Developed well and was better on second night, some depth developing. Decent example at reasonable price.

1/26/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

This wine offers real interest at a very good price. It is versatile enough to accompany many foods.

2/4/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Drunk over 2 nights with steamed fish in saffron sauce, then with crab risotto. Great match with both - good body and depth to this wine as before, with similar notes to previous bottle.

1/26/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

A little spritz at first (quite normal for this wine), then lovely pear fruit with a twist of lemon. Reliable as ever.

1/20/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Another excellent bottle. This has character and is versatile with food....drank it with pan fried gurnard, then roast pork and finally white crab meat over 2-3 nights.
Quite deep golden in colour, textured in the mouth, stone fruits then a hint of bitterness on the finish. Bone dry.

12/31/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Saffer sparkler, and very good too. Bone dry, but with real interest, some body to it. Quite deep colour. Good value. From Majestic I think.

1/19/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

A freshness often missing from New World CS/Merlot wines. Decent balance of acidity fruit and tannin. Alcohol not too obvious either. Spicy red and black fruit on the nose and palate. Not the longest finish, but for the price this is GV.

1/17/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Seemed more concentrated and a bit more complex than last bottle. Darker colour, more tannin evident (some deposit) and needed a bit more time in the glass. See how it evolves from here.

1/1/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

A cut above the Ridgeview. Dry, acidity quite pronounced but some yeasty depth to counterbalance. Mrs C much preferred it to the WS. At the offer price it was decent value.

1/12/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

With fish pie. Oak and SO2 not as immediately obvious as some vintages. The latter blows off quickly. More restrained in colour too. Good; a little more 'cool climate' than some years - the acidity will mellow I think and it will again become like a village Chablis or St Aubin.

1/14/2024 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Robust purplish red.
Acidity to the fore, but also fruit and tannins quite dominant later - a good complement for a hearty steak pie. I think this needs more time. It's not as good as the 2019 at present.

12/31/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Quite arresting colour…just the pink side of Irn Bru!

Enjoyed by most at a Hogmanay dinner including me. Not the most fruit forward rose, but I liked the savoury notes of it and it worked well with food of many kinds.

12/31/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

I’ve had this before and really enjoyed it. Had bigger Moulin a Vent - this was at the lighter end, but very balanced, smooth and fruity with some complexity too.

12/29/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

God this was good…decanted for 2 hours plus (needed) then drank half with roast rib of beef. Deep, rich blackcurrant fruit, savoury with tannin in support. Long finish. Two friends then had a small glass on Hogmanay, one said it seemed a bit chewy (it was maybe a bit cool). I had the last glass with beef two days later (4 days after opening) and it was wonderful. Totally smooth fruit with no sense of either oxidation or tannin now despite being open for 4 days. I have 3 of these left, and this is right in the spot now.

12/26/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Last bottle....and the best. I concur with a recent note that said this had more fruit than before, along with some complexity. The mint notes are still there at times but much more muted and less dominant. This has at last come together quite well; a good balance of discreet fruit, savoury notes and quite a long finish with a little tannin. Shame it's the last one! Based on this, the drinking window can extend for a couple more years.

12/31/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

In the drier style. Light gold with a touch of oeil de perdrix in colour.
Restrained fruit on the nose, with some hints of ginger (?) and some stone fruit (apricot or white peach maybe) but not that evident yet.
This will probably improve for a while yet and maybe come together a little more too....I think a little edge needs rubbed off still.
Very enjoyable now though.

12/25/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Delightful, uncomplicated red Burgundy at a reasonable price. In a very good place for drinking right now. Good balance, with fruit and acidity just right. Not complex, but who needs that when the red fruit is so good and a hint of tannin just to savour on the finish, which is not bad either. Excellent with turkey and cranberry etc on Christmas Day.

12/25/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Good mousse, pale lemon in colour. Little nose.
Pleasant on the palate, a little dilute and lacks depth. Acidity just the right side of ok....fine as a Christmas Day aperitif but would not stand up to food. Refreshing and pleasant but no more.

12/27/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Bright light gold/deep yellow.
Some tropical and stone fruit on the nose, but pretty bone dry on the palate with quite a long finish. 100% Petit Courbu' quite unusual. I enjoyed it and pretty good value. Versatile with food; crab then chicken in cream and mushroom sauce.

12/25/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Finished the last bottle, previously Coravined. Quite a gentle, even lightish Cote Rotie, delicate red fruit, almost Burgundian. Good balance. but probably needing drunk relatively soon now.

12/31/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Coravined twice then opened, over period of 2-3 months.

Initial reaction was not favourable; probably drunk too cold - this wine needs time in glass to integrate. Some grapefruit on the nose, quite harsh initially on the palate, then softening, with some honeyed notes coming in but still very dry on the finish, with hints of oxidation. It got better (for me) the second and third time. Others did not like it. I have had better SB/Semillon - this was quite good in the end but not memorable.

12/25/2023 - auldalliance wrote:

Decanted for 2 hours or so. Still pretty vibrant deep crimson. Some very fine sediment remained in suspension.
Whilst it went well with robust Christmas food, it still doesn't feel fully integrated....had same view with remaining glass or two the following day. There is a fair bit of red fruit for sure, but also a sensation of burnt or overripe fruit.
This is still a very big wine. I will keep my final bottle for another few years I think, but there has been a lack of consistency between bottles, and it's not the best I've had from this producer despite being a prestige cuvee.

12/15/2023 - auldalliance Likes this wine:

Coravined 2 glasses to drink with baked smoked haddock.
Initially very pale in colour, with greenish tinge, but seemed to take on a light straw note with second glass.
Too cold initially, and bone dry, still taut. Opened up as it warmed up, this remains quite an austere Chablis compared to some. Bruised apple notes, and a hint of some riper fruit but this is what 'steely' was made for. Has it got more to give?

12/8/2023 - auldalliance wrote:

Deep, dense purplish black still. A nose of sweet cassis, with some herbal hints too. One might think it had Cab Sauvignon in it which it doesn't...Syrah and Carignan I think.
Dark fruits on the palate, but the tannins are pretty evident still; on the second day they had smoothed a bit and the wine went very well with steak on day 1 and loin of venison with red cabbage on day 2. It does need some robust food.
There is still some very fine sediment evident which impacted a little on the final glass. I would decant this in future, for a couple of hours to allow it to integrate a bit and also get rid of the sediment.
I think this is still pretty young, and would keep the remaining bottles for at least a couple more years. Some hints of Mas de Daumas here, also Montsant.
A sipping wine, not for quaffing.