July 15, 2023 - Out of Magnum. Fun wine here. This was fresh and proper with generous dark fruits, herbs, and some meatiness. Beautiful nose. Crazy bargain for what I paid for it just recently (about $160).
April 25, 2021 - Fun bottle. Tasted like a baby Chave. Very lightweight at this age with minimal fruit. But remaining fruit mixed with smoke and earth made this a delicious wine.
March 8, 2020 - Strawberry and soft cherry fruit with tar and cedar overtones. Soft tannins but decidedly short on the palette. Drinks OK, but best with food at this point.
November 10, 2019 - Nose of forest fruits, earth and blood. Soft, caressing and even fresh on the palate, with wild strawberry and a nicely present line of acidity. Really very good, still improving three hours after opening, and a great match for a well-hung brace of pheasant.
March 9, 2018 - Nose: B++/A- Palate: A-
January 14, 2018 - Consistent with previous notes. Drinking so well, felt like a Pinot, soft mellow texture, showing red fruits, black tea leaves, tree bark, brambles and earth. Fine and resolved tannins on the finish that provides some grip. Fabulous quality at a great price point.
November 4, 2017 - acidic, intense, and also full of rounded tannins; plum, cassis, raisins, caramel, toast, leathery, earthy; interesting wine
July 29, 2017 - Still going strong here and perhaps drinking at peak. A core of red fruits, leather, peppers, tree bark, tea leaves and brambles. Tannins fully resolved with a very mellow texture. A great old bottle at a great price.
June 16, 2017 - Cellaraid Discovery Box; 5/19/2017-5/26/2021 (Delivered to Home): clear, pale garnet; clean, pronounced nose of raspberry, mulberry, lavender, tea, cinnamon; dry, low acid, medium tannins, medium body, raspberry, lavender, tea, chacuterie, smoked cheese, gorgonzola, medium finish; well matured, elegant, pleasant!
June 10, 2017 - Just a quick note as I see there's been nothing since 2010. Had a pristine bottle (thank you Alex) this weekend in a very informal setting. Fully mature, but very much alive. Still fresh with a great nose and mouthful of classic syrah notes of dark fruits, blood and spice. I preferred this bottle to the last Chave 1983 I had. Hard to imagine this getting better than this particular bottle.