November 2, 2023 - One would like to say that the wine is young, fresh and vigorous and my only complaint is that there are too many ripe fruits in it. Can you imagine - 18 year old wine and it holds so well with all kinds of fruits both in smell and taste?!
Aromas - ripe red and black cherry, plum, even coke.
Flavors - as above, but...spice kicks from the first second and there's more to counter the sweet notes. Herbs, orange (so cool), olives and much more! Vivid acidity, ripe tannins. Thick, almost syropy texture. Long finish
WS - 92
Decanter - 92
RP - 91
ST - 91
Vinous - 91
April 22, 2023 - The weakest of the three 2005s, this seems to be fading. Slightly oxidative fruit notes, plums, brown fruit. Maybe just an off bottle, who knows, or maybe the competition was too fierce.
June 24, 2022 - Did not quite drink my 2 last bottles as quickly as intended after removing from storage. Just had my final bottle last night. The fruit has definitely faded, but it was still enjoyable. Acidity was more in balance with this bottle than the one from in my previous note.
2 hour slow ox seems the ideal amount of air at this point. Drink up, they are already a year or 2 past peak!
December 27, 2021 - A great classical CdP made from composition of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault and 5% Mourvedre. It is peaking now or just went off peak a year or two ago. Medium pale ruby red colour with fading rims of orange hue. Intense aroma of cherries, leather, cranberries, rose petals, plum jam, rustic nuances. Full body, concentrated, jammy and powerful texture nicely balanced with vibrant acidity and powdery but well built tannins, slightly warming finish with hints of plum and spices.
November 5, 2021 - Dark black fruit aromas with a slight sting of alcohol. Chocolatey flavor with notes of black currant, blackberry, red and black cherry, graphite, and pepper. Acidic, tannic and alcoholic — not particularly well integrated or balanced.
It’s good, but I’m afraid it will never be great considering it hasn’t come together yet. Requires a long time to open up, approachable after 1 hour and started to taste much better after 2.
Lots of sediment, cork ~1/3 wet.
September 25, 2021 - Cool, old-school Neuf, light and airy with sound cherry fruit, mint notes and tertiary flavors. In a great spot now, no need to cellar further.
December 31, 2020 - Thinner and a bit more acidity than I remembered from the last bottle which was opened almost exactly a year ago. Enjoyable, but seems to be quickly declining. Picking up my remaining 2 bottles from storage soon and will drink both shortly after.
November 26, 2020 - This bottle was sweet, light mid palate and a bit short. Seems ready.Nice but unremarkable. D/H
April 17, 2020 - Mature but still has some dark fruit notes. Got it just in time. Dark ruby color. Cellared well. Had it on a Friday night with Italian food.
March 29, 2020 - Dark color, med opacity. Garrigue and tobacco on the nose along with dark fruit. Big in the mouth, typical grenache kind of big. Rounded. High acidity and still some harsh tannin. Tons of sediment. I think this could use a few more years to lose some of the harsher back side, but it was fun to try one now.