11/16/2023 - king-bing wrote:

Riojathon (London SW11): Served in a flight of three 2001s. Very "Royal Box" says girlfriend. Yes, plush, velvety and expensive. Lots of vanilla, super red-fruited core. Later the nose really soars with it's perfume of vanilla and violets then some allspice. But is it rather out of balance? It seems very young and even after a couple of hours is very vanilla dominant. Perhaps not the best bottle? I did enjoy it in a lot of ways, but it came across a bit one-trick pony.

10/22/2023 - king-bing wrote:

2/2 and 8 years on from the first when I did think it needed more time though other reports were that it would not get better. Sticky cork. Decanted for some fine sediment. This was a why-I-drink-wine bottle. It's finally lost the puppy fat of the 2015 bottle. Absolutely glorious and frankly better than most CdPs I have had of late. A focussed plush deep raspberry on the nose with warm earth & garrigue. The richness carries beautifully with no overripe or dead fruit tones, despite the 14.5%abv. A long and savoury finish. To be hyper-critical, it lacks complexity, but this isn't a wine for contemplation; it's a wine to lose oneself in. Sadly my last one.

6/19/2023 - rustyRudy Likes this wine:

Andrew recommended this, bought in DC, light yellow. Very pleasant well balanced Chardonnay, no noticeable oak, nice presence of apple and citrus fruit with a clean and tart finish

5/8/2022 - lozatron Likes this wine:

Enjoyed with my first home made ramen experiment. Straw / gold colour. Nervy - good acidity but balanced with a generous mouth feel. Went down very well. Not sure if this is the same bottling that Waitrose is currently selling for 8.99 - if it is, buy buy buy.

10/31/2021 - king-bing wrote:

Really top notch Mencia. Scented with real verve on the palate. This is proper wine. No obviously oak. Well made and balanced. Very much enjoyed by all.

3/6/2019 - pjaines wrote:

KABBBBOOOMM!! At 18 years years old this is a brute - so much so I would hate to think what was like in its youth. Not particularly finessed although showing some good evolution with leather, beef and sweet cherries.

It is, though, utterly massive. Hard going.

11/18/2017 - eboracum Likes this wine:

Sometimes I think that I enjoy Coudoulet more than Château and this is a case in point. There was probably less power but it was medium+ bodied, harmonious and elegant with complex cherry tinged and liqueur sprinkled fruit, fine minerals, suave texture, smooth acidity and decent length supported by ripe tannic structure. There were no signs of decay or fading on this bottle. Very good.

1/7/2018 - Brain Capers Likes this wine:

Had this tonight, with 6 hour slow cooker beef tri tip. WOW! Opened up the 6 pack wooden box. Hand carried back from Pegau, from Laurence, after tasting with her, in their downtown Châteauneuf du Pape cellars. Remember hand carrying the box thru London Heathrow, after 911. Lot’s of comments by security to try a bottle out! WOW! WOW! And still 5 to go.

11/12/2017 - grapenomad wrote:

Popping Bolli for life's celebrations. Biscuit, brioche, yoghurt, white flowers and lemon on the nose. A 101 example of Champagne, a wine from one of the world's coolest climates - banging acidity, green apple-citrus fruit, chalky finish. Nice sparkler, well-balanced, but I'd say it needs a bit of a push & shove in character.

7/4/2012 - cab blends wrote:

Totally agree with the comment on straddling the old and new world. Drank straight from the bottle. Clean chalky nose (strong but subtle) with dark fruit strong yet smooth tannins - feels like it is getting to its peak over the next few years. Very full and edible.

5/13/2015 - mattyboy_ wrote:

Faint VA aroma and a little stewy, maybe heat damaged. Earthy and thin, all the fruit completely stripped. Very acidic and austere. Extremely thin. Seems Missed the boat on this one at least 5 years ago.

9/11/2015 - king-bing wrote:

Didn't get on with this much. Not so much as others described. I found clean and watery. Touch of riesling and sweetness. But v underwhelming.

3/9/2015 - rayq wrote:

After a poor performance by the 2003 this wine restores my faith in Charvin. It's a really moreish wine. Typical rich cherry fruit and garrique flavours as well as aromas. Rich with a touch of glycerin but in no way 'thick' or oily, in fact it's quite refreshing. Grenache quite obvious but not alcoholic and 'heady' as it can sometimes be. On the second day it's lovely too, almost, restrained. No rush to drink. Hides the 14.5%alc very well. Nicely balanced. A lovely southern Rhone wine.

11/10/2014 - SimonG wrote:

TWS Spain (Merchant Tailors' Hall): Quite sappy red berry fruit on the palate. Tightly velvety texture. Finishes well with dark red fruit, and the French oak is well handled providing a sense of structure without overt oakiness. ***1/2

3/4/2013 - Too much practice. wrote:

Farewell you seductive little minx. I wish we could spend one more night together. I will miss you. I know I never appreciated you when you were around, but now that you're gone, I miss your silky charms. Even your scent fills me with nostalgia.
That's proper burgundy.

7/23/2013 - dssmith wrote:

Very dry. Some fruit. Not very interesting