May 5, 2024 - Tannins are about as integrated as one can ask for. After twenty minutes it’s perfection. Light smoke on leather and tobacco. Medium body. Ripe red fruit on the tongue but a savory middle. The finish is cherry and long.
March 29, 2024 - Gorgeous. Fruit, florals and meaty charcuterie-esque notes perfectly melded together.
Only 1 bottle so can't make a considered comparison, but feels like it's at sitting in peak at the moment. Can't see it improving much more, but reckon it's still got a few years to go before dropping off
December 29, 2023 - This has improved significantly since my last bottle. Nice the first night but possible still a bit nervous/ edgy -- but boy was it singing on day two. Feels at or near peak.
November 8, 2023 - Slow-o for a few hours. Tasted alongside the 2009 Gruaud Larose and Langoa Barton. Paired with braised short ribs, polenta, sauteed mushrooms, and vegetables.
The best wine on the table and the best pairing with the full meal. Rustic and savory, backed by coal and smoke notes. Powerfully, albeit deceptively, structured. The wine strengthened from front to back and finished quite long.
This seems to be toward the end of its evolution, or just entering its drinking window. Certainly worth checking in on, particularly after a 2+ hour decant. Likely to hold form through 2032 or so.
July 27, 2022 - Third bottle from a half case purchased from the Dutch importer in 2016. Decanted 30 minutes in advance. Despite the young(ish) vines and the lighter year, this displays good intensity and drive, but the fruit concentration is limited. On the nose the flavours and aromas (green and black olives, violets and roses, crushed red berries), are convincing and there is cedary warmth from older wood; medium body (13% ABV) and bright acidity on the energetic and well-defined palate, firm but well integrated tannins; tight and salty finish with good resonance and length. Exemplary terroir expression but not one for the long term - eventually this will dry out, as the structural elements will easily outlast the (modest) fruit. Drink now - 2026.
June 26, 2022 - Drank alongside the 2007. A more red fruited and leaner profile compared to the '07, with more olive tapenade as well. Like the '07 this is drinking very well right now. I don’t think many of these 2011 Rhones will make super old bones, but who cares, as they are drinking great now.
February 12, 2022 - This wine is very mature, but should continue to drink well for several more years. Like my last bottle of this vintage, there are black fruits, including blackberries, blackcurrent and bing cherries with this wine. It is earthy with lots of minerality. Blue violets on the nose invite you in. As it glides across your palate, it brings such pleasure with its mellow tannins and full mouthfeel of dark red fruits and garrique. It is definitely at the apogee of its drinking window.
December 25, 2021 - This bottle is very similar to my last one of this vintage. There are lots of black fruits, including blackberries, blackcurrent and bing cherries with this wine. It is earthy with lots of minerality. Blue violets on the nose invite you in. As it glides across your palate, it brings such pleasure with its mellow tannins and full mouthfeel of dark red fruits and garrique. It is at the apogee of its drinking window.
July 31, 2021 - Fully mature and very pleasant, if nothing especially complex. If anything slightly declining. Fully integrated at this point with medium length and complexity but a very nice soft fruit. There is a nervous tension in the acidity that I suspect reflects the young vines.
May 31, 2021 - Really nice savory and smokey nose to balance the dark black fruit. Yum.