January 19, 2024 - One of my favorite CdP producers. I opened this alongside a buddy’s 2009 CSJ Deus Ex Machina and it was really intriguing to see the differences.
60 Grenache/20 Syrah/remainder a blend.
Quick bottle decant before diving in. While ready to go, an hour full-decant would probably be a good call at this stage, but not required. Where the Ex Machina was more high toned and layered (thanks to the blend), this was more up-front and plush. Violets and spiced berry compote aromatically. Dark berry fruit, sweet pipe tobacco and fig dominate the palate. Extremely concentrated (not extracted), with a savory graphite profile at the finish. Would have sworn Mourvèdre was heavy in this. Delicious. 93+
December 31, 2023 - Expressive and layered on the nose - lots of dark fruit, spices, smoke, licorice. On the palate very concentrated and ripe. Well integrated acidity, unobtrusive tannins. Very long with noticeable alcohol towards the finish. Drink or keep. 92-94
November 2, 2023 - Glass at one hour decant: Marvelous. Pepper, licorice, cherry with warm spices. Remarkably light on its feet. Glass at 4.5 hour decant: liked it better earlier! Still great. All the previous with fruit less prevalent and the pepper turning toward the white pepper realm and some smoked bacon. This is in a good spot. Will probably plan on my next bottle sometime in 2024 and will consume more quickly.
February 8, 2023 - Still plenty of stuffing here with a sweet core of kirsch. Relaxing just a little bit, approachable like the vintage, getting a more local feel with a sound spicyness, not as busy, as these can be.
#pensiondanmark
January 4, 2023 - Fantastic showing. Deep, spicy intense, chambord, licorice, garrigue, black pepper. Pure and driven, this has barely aged after a decade, but the fruit is stepped back just a little with a silky profile. Really lovely, prime drinking right now, still young but really showing vigor and energy.
November 25, 2022 - Well, I don't know. An enormous wine with enormous alcohol (16. proof) The latter burns at the throat, and in fact suppresses the secondary qualities that are there, but not really given the chance to emerge.
One more glass of this and I'll be lying with my pug on the back lawn.
Woof woof,
Vide.
October 28, 2022 - Medium dark red; dark notes, raspberry, some licorice; very rich, quite gentle attack, a light expression which is quite surprising given 16% alcohol, some dryness in a quite pleasant way, it has a special touch and feminine expression, which I find intriguing; not an ordinary wine, not an ordinary CdP; long really tasteful aftertaste with lots of fruit and licorice
March 8, 2022 - 16% ABV, blockbuster wine. Well done for the style, I guess, but a bit too much for me. And lacking any sense of place, as noted by Motz.
February 27, 2022 - Consistent with previous note(s) 92-94
November 27, 2021 - Intense, expressive, notes of blackberry and cherry preserve, Christmas spices, woodsmoke, liquorice, tobacco on the nose. On the palate quite a bit of heat, on day one a little out of whack, (much) better on day two. Very concentrated and powerful, ripe tannins, impressive length. 91-93