April 14, 2023 - My last bottle, and, in this case, the best was saved for last.
This was a PnP. Once it took on some air, the fruit (a lovely blend of red and dark fruit) came to the fore, along with an almost Burgundian-style hint of sweetness. All else was consistent with my previous experiences with this wine.
It was enjoyed by all.
November 20, 2022 - Garnet, but still with a bit of a purple hue. Low intensity, but complex nose with espresso, sweet cherries in addition dark fruits and forest floor on the palate. This is very smooth now, and from my warmer than textbook cellar behind its optimal drinking window. On the palate it still shows nice concentration of flavors, but it is on its way down now from my cellar. Textbook stored bottles should hold through some more years. Nevertheless this is quite sexy now with its elegant and smooth style. 5/11/15/6, 87, -now or -2025+ if stored in a cool cellar (54° F) since release. I don' rate this, since it is not the wine fault, that I have aged it too long for some years.
November 6, 2020 - Ruby to garnet in the glass, hints of age toward the rim. Moderately intense aromas of warm cherries, potpourri, leather, light mushroom, on the palate additional flavors of licorice, black tea, dried figs and cigar were discernible. The wine is still quite fresh tasting overall, the finish is long though slightly bitter. 70% grenache, 30% syrah.
Year in and year out this Southern Rhone wine is lauded by critics and touted as an amazing value. It is widely available and usually found in the $15-20 range. I’m pretty impressed that it tasted so fresh and alive with about 10 years of age.
November 9, 2019 - Intense notes of coffee, herbs and red fruits. On the palate much more civilized and balanced than previous bottles. Spices and herbs as well. This has a decade or more of positive evolution and is ready to be consumed now. Complex, well balanced and living up to my expectations now. Though the 94 points from parker are still scored to high in my opinion the average score of the community is to low, I guess. On the palate with air it shows great complexity and surprising quality. 5/12/17/9. Great and worth the time and for sure the money.
June 27, 2019 - It has been almost a year since the last bottle. Still drinking nicely, but no reason to either rush or wait on this wine. Certainly ready to drink now, but will hold for at least several more years, in my opinion.
February 15, 2019 - A brilliant ruby garnet in the glass, the ample nose features cherry pit, red alpine currant, slate, herbs de Provence, and a touch of mint. Very juicy palate entry with blackberry, black currant, red alpine currant, herbs, slate, white pepper and a touch of mint. Nearly weightless, but with a long finish. This medium-bodied red is really nice and could pair with many different food styles. Two bottles remaining.
August 16, 2018 - Still drinking nicely and two bottles to go.
April 25, 2018 - This has always been a very enjoyable bottle of wine - smooth, balanced, mouth-coating, good spice and earthiness (on the nose and the palate)with a nice finish. One more bottle to go!
April 1, 2018 - Pnp. This is the last bottle of a case bought years ago and it just keeps getting better. Dark purple, intense nose and black fruit. Supple, balanced with a long finish. Excellent QPR. It has been a joy to drink all along.
January 18, 2018 - Appearance: clear dark ruby, fast/thin/long legs, very small amount of sediment.
Nose: tart red fruits, cranberry, cherry and pomegranate.
Taste: Subdued mature red cherry, tart strawberry and tea. Medium body, medium/low acidity, medium length of finish.
This needed to breathe for an hour or two (minimum) with a decant before it started to gel, so I recommend the same, maybe three hours. It feels young and in need of a little sleep. If I had a bottle to hold onto I would plan on 2021. Nothing in it says "too old" nor "in stride", so I have to think waiting should help more. But there is an excellent wine waiting to blossom in other future bottles, but a 94 would be a max... if not 93. But for now I feel 91-92 is its current showing.