March 20, 2024 - Garrigue, dark berry fruit, rich, delicious. Drink now.
December 19, 2019 - This wine was a nice surprise given it was past it’s drink window. Color was vibrant, showing little if any age. Bouquet was strong with dark fruit aromas. In the mouth there was a lot of subdued fruit. Happy the wine had held up.
May 11, 2017 - The 100% Grenache cuvee comes from their vineyard just outside the boundary of Chateauneuf, but sharing the same weather, round rock cover, and soil that supposedly make Chateauneuf great. Even in the not great 2011 vintage, this wine is as dark, lush, rich, and fruity as more expensive Chateauneufs in the better vintages, making it one of the best Cote du Rhone Village wines made and a well deserved bargain in the $30 range.
January 24, 2016 - Not decanted, consumed over ~2 hours. Somewhat consistent with my 1/3/2016 note, although this time my main impression of the fruit was intense wild strawberry rather than cherry, and the spice notes notes on the end were distinctly anise and dark chocolate. While certainly enjoyable, it left an unusual impression I don't quite know how to describe - perhaps it's best to just say that I sensed an unfilled gap between the bright and dark notes in this bottle. I'd still call it 88-89ish, I think.
January 3, 2016 - Not decanted, consumed over ~2 1/2 hours. A big, dense red that manages to carry its 15.5% abv fairly well. Medium translucent but blackish red in the glass with a slight hint of brown I wasn't expecting. Black cherries and a whiff of vanilla and/or chamomile on the nose. Rich, dark red fruit sits heavy on the palate, with lowish levels of tart acid and papery tannin. A slightly astringent note of something like cinnamon or anise appears alongside the fruit, coming through more clearly on the finish.
Closer to CdP than CdR in perceived quality, and I wouldn't mind trying another vintage, but I'm still not inspired to pick up more of this than I already have. 88-89ish, and we'll probably finish ours within the next year (if not this winter).
December 7, 2015 - Very good wine. Reminds me of a Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine with a little less "pape". Excellent daily drinker/large group.
June 8, 2013 - at the domaine. Perhaps the most balanced janasse wine in the 11 vintage. Tastes like a chateauneuf and is priced like a cheap one. very good