6/27/2009 - Les Alpilles wrote:

quick note: starting to go thru some wines that others tell me I need to. This was arguably the second best Tuscan wine I've ever had (behind a '90 Brunello). Lots of sweet fruit, tannins largely resolved. Just beginning to show secondary flavors. At a great point now but will be a race between more secondary flavors coming thru with the structure falling apart...willing to bet it gets a tad better over the next 1-3 yrs then holds for 5...will never be a profound wine but always at least very good+

6/18/2007 - Les Alpilles wrote:

Delivered last week, couldn't wait to try...tremendous mouthfeel and fruit, as big as it is, wonderfully "volnay". Impeccable balance suggests extremely long life...My first '05 premier cru and while expectations were high, this bottle at least met those. Great wine.

1/28/2007 - Les Alpilles wrote:

Exihibit A of my "praise for simple wines." Bought a case 4-5 years ago, had 2 stashed away I forgot about. This is all about balance, balance, balance. Cool climate grenache, offering great aromatics. Impeccably pure, clean, and cool. Not a bruiser, but oh so delicious and almost feminine. Will get better for at least 3 years and keep for at least 3-5 after that. But I am sure my last bottle won't last 2 months. Recent wines that showed this level of purity and balance (I know, random comparisons, but among say 100 wines) were the '98 Jamet, '90 Pibarnon, '98 Giacosa Gallina, and '02 Jadot Clos St Jacques - not qualitatively on par with probably any of them, and certainly not the longevity, but similar in their presence.

1/28/2007 - Les Alpilles wrote:

Beginning to taste thru a number of "everyday" wines that need checking. Tasted this alongside the '00 Oratorie St Martin Cairanne Prestige. This offered more muscle, more density, more longevity. Like the St Martin, really liked the "cooler" grenache, no hint whatsoever of roasted elements. This still needs time. Say 3-4 before I touch another, and a good long life after that. One concern is the balance - decent amount of structure that I assume will integrate well, but keep an eye on it.

1/21/2007 - Les Alpilles wrote:

In the minority here, I believe. Drunk four times over the last month with consistent notes. Lightly colored, transparent ruby. Nice nose of ripe cherries and earth. Medium bodied on the palate with some decent persistence and refreshing acidity. Finish is where it puts me off - a very strong sense of dusty green bell pepper. It is a finish that I have noted in most (all?) 04 Burgs incl more pedestrian wines up to some Grand Crus - hallmark of the vintage I am sure but this was the wine where I found it most objectionable. Won't re-try for 3 years.

1/21/2007 - Les Alpilles wrote:

Drank the first half of this the same day as the second half of the '00 Pailleres Gigondas. This one was readier from the get go - strong presence of anilmale on the nose, medium to full bodied, showing some heat. Day 2 showed evolution but not nec better than Day 1 - less balanced than the Pailleres. Will keep for a long time and by all means a good wine but no more than that.

1/21/2007 - Les Alpilles wrote:

Starting to finally drink thru some everyday stuff that has been in storage for awhile. Day 1- medium to dark ruby, showing a little heat and while fairly pure and balanced, not much typicity. Day 2 - beginning to sing, chalky tannins still very present, more typicity, garrigue, a mouthfeel not unlike a young Barolo from a ripe year. Actually quite nice. Decant now or hold for 3+ years.

10/29/2006 - Les Alpilles wrote:

Only relevant for a couple of you here, but my second bottle over the last 6 weeks from a reliable source. Fruit on the decline, though still present, structure all but gone - a hint of some very nice old vine viscosity, but definetely better 3+ years ago. Drink up. Consistent notes.

8/6/2006 - Les Alpilles wrote:

A combination that I usually like: traditional producers in ripe years. Not decatanted. Intoxicating animale notes on the nose, took 20-25 minutes to open up, really singing right now but no rush.

12/26/2005 - Les Alpilles wrote:

Drunk over the course of 2 hrs, tight aromatically and on the palate initially, thrown into a decanter for 30 minutes. Beautiful medium ruby color, just the slightest turning on the edges; nose is wonderful combination of primary and secondary, dried cherries, ripe earth - an extraordinary nose; palate is tighter but mirrors the nose, just a few years behind. No discernible oak, great balance, not over the top in any aspect. Can enjoy now with 1+ hours in decanter or wait 2-4 years for the palate to catch up to the nose...wish I had more - great wine.

12/10/2005 - Les Alpilles wrote:

Wow...my first one in probably 2 years, just wanted to check in. Has lost much of the baby fat and probably as shut down as it will ever be but there's so much raw material there it's a joy to drink now. Tons of minerals and iron on the nose and palate. Can only be Cote Rotie and only Jamet. Was worried about the vintage being too fruit forward, but this wine has such balance that will be profound. Kept on thinking back to high school science - kinetic energy, like a fully wound spring that is waiting to explode. Can drink and enjoy now, or give it another 1.5-2 years to be in the zone.

12/9/2005 - Les Alpilles wrote:

Drunk at I Truili in New York. Dominating theme is tannins. Nice dark red, pure color. Not giving much on the palate as the tannins really clamp down but there is good fruit somewhere there. Give this lots of time, say 7+ years. If tannins resolve, will be quite good - jury is out.

12/9/2005 - Les Alpilles wrote:

Drank at I Truili in New York. First bottle corked, second bottle started with nose of caramel and tarnish, transluscent red, high toned vibrant fruit. Over the course of the meal, wine darkened considerably, becoming much earthier and herbal on the nose and palate. The rare wine that combines hedonism and intellect Great now, not going anywhere for awhile but probably not developing much more either. A delight.

12/4/2005 - Les Alpilles wrote:

My first bottle in over a year...definetely shut down...not nearly as flamboyant as it was a year ago. After an hour, some smoke and earth emerge from the nose, palate dominated by its structure. Will go the distance, but hold off for a couple years before trying again. Will be at least outstanding with time, possibly even better.

11/16/2005 - Les Alpilles wrote:

loved it got drunk

10/29/2005 - Les Alpilles wrote:

Not decanted. Drank over the course of dinner - more approachable than the 2001 Charvin. Soaring aromatics of minerals, baked red fruits (cherries, strawberries). While still a decent amount of structure, coats the palate. Delicious, delicious, delicious. And will get better for 5+ years and last for 10-15. Great wine. Will finish the 2000s before the 2001s.