November 23, 2023 - Decanted for 3 hours. Fantastic. Dark berries, old strawberries, hints of baseball-glove leather, just the tiniest bits of brick/ash. The only disappointment is this was our last bottle.
March 10, 2023 - Still a bit of a disappointment; I was expected so much more. I agree with my tasting note of almost two years ago.
The cork was nearly perfect after over a decade in the bottle and came out clean. I consumed this Rhone blend over two days. Deep ruby color with no oxidation, clarity medium. Popped and poured, this wine had a bit of astringency. Aromas of licorice, plum, black cherry, and vanilla. Silky flavors of black cherry cola, blackberry, glycerin, and leather with a hint of tobacco and mushroom; and has a slightly bitter medium finish. This blend is reminiscent of an old style Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This age worthy wine may have more years of life left, but I'm not sure it will improve with more time. I still have two bottles of this vintage remaining, I will revisit soon to validate my tasting notes.
February 21, 2023 - Nice surprise. Garrigue and raspberry followed by leathery notes. Holds its 14.5 % all well. Fantastic QPR.
April 14, 2021 - Although this wine is tasting pretty good right now, it was a bit of a disappointment; I was expected so much more.
The cork was nearly perfect after over a decade in the bottle and came out clean. I consumed this Rhone blend over two days. Deep ruby color with no oxidation, clarity medium. Popped and poured, this wine really benefited from gentle oxygen since it was much more soft and integrated on day two, but still had a bit of astringency. Aromas of plum, black cherry, and vanilla. Silky flavors of black cherry cola, blackberry, glycerin, and leather with a hint of tobacco and mushroom; and has a slightly bitter medium finish. This iblend is reminiscent of an old style Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This age worthy wine may have more years of life left, but I'm not sure it will improve with more time. I still have three bottles of this vintage remaining, I will revisit soon to validate my tasting note.
March 15, 2021 - good value CDP. slightly past peak and starting to show secondary flavors. Still some decent fruit.
July 16, 2018 - Dark purple but short of opaque. Enticing aromas of raspberry and blackberry, The sip shows a fine balance between fruit, acid, and tannin that is tasty, refreshing, smooth, and elegant. The swallow adds a light texture but ends with a streak of astringent bitterness. Got somewhat richer by day 4 of being opened but what the wine most lacks is any caressing lushness.
February 25, 2018 - Medium garnet with some clearing. Medium aromas of red and black fruit with secondaries of dried flowers/herbs and perhaps a little game/meat on the back end. Medium(+) palate of red/black fruit again with nice herbal quality. Medium(+) tannins and medium(+) acidity with ETOH high but not all dominant. Drinking quite nicely now but I would guess will go at least another 3-5 yrs.
February 19, 2018 - Tasted for 5 days after being opened. Opaque black to the end. Generous fruit aromas of raspberry and black plum. The sip adds juicy blackberry to the fruit and shows bright acidity, rounded tannin, and the integration one would hope from an 8 year old. The crowning part of the taste is the swallow, which features great clarity of flavors with upfront richness, depth, and concentration, without being sour, astringent, or leathery. Overall, beautifully aging, delicious, and fully enjoyable any time over the next 5 years.
November 23, 2017 - aging very nicely, great qpr on this
December 31, 2016 - With roast rib of beef and roasted vegetables - this has opened up since 2014 - greater depth of fruit and balanced tannins. Enjoyed by the group and will open another in 2017 but drinking well now.