April 6, 2023 - I agree with ALASKANICK's and JEFF LEVE's reviews. The aromatics are off-the-charts spectacular. Besides red fruits and herbs, there is flour-dredged venison sauteed in brown butter (seriously) on the contemplative bouquet. Juicy plum, fig and leaf tobacco blend together with cherry, raspberry pie, meat blood, and garrigue on the silky, medium-long finish. In a sweet spot now.
February 6, 2022 - In drinking window. Good value and good representative of the complex CDP nose and flavor profile. Not particularly engaging but good for casual meal.
October 27, 2021 - PnP. Nose of dark cherries with some floral notes... tulips? Black cherry palate infused with black and white pepper, followed by minerals a cola note. Firm but pliable tannins provide a nice backbone, along with plum fruit, rocks, and iron. Threw quite a bit of sediment so recommend decanting.
July 3, 2021 - Picked up weight (and a point) in the ~15 months since my last bottle. I still don't get the full-bodied experience and explosive nose that others mention, but it definitely has more body than my previous bottle. A fair amount of sediment and some firm tannins were immediately noticeable, and flavors of cherries and blackberries were there. Still not enough spice from the Syrah for my palate.
October 19, 2020 - After 2.5 hours in the decanter it was nearly magical. One of the best noses I’ve had in 2020. Cherry reduction, balsamic, and black raspberries
Still a little grippy on the mouth feel even after 2.5 hours. This baby can sit for a while but is drinking so so well now
April 10, 2020 - My third 2015 CdP of the quarantine, and this landed in the middle so far. Not as good as the 2015 Isabel Ferrando Colombis, but miles better than the ultra-disappointing Pegau (which was hopefully an off bottle.) This wine was medium-bodied and lacked depth; no layers of nuance here. Flavors were cherries and raspberries and like the body, the fruits were medium as this is not a fruit-forward wine. I’m surprised at the softness given that it’s 50% Syrah. Not a bad wine but nothing exciting, either.
March 13, 2020 - Oak scent mixed with nice dark fruit..
Big rich cherry and spice esp on the finish..
It’s a big lush CDP.... a real barn burner.....
Cherry raspberry and licorice....
Perhaps a bit rough but delish...great in 2 years..
April 28, 2018 - Two bottles from WTSO in Claude’s cellar
August 21, 2017 - A touch of oak is the first thing you notice. This quickly moves to black cherry, plum and spice filled perfume. Full bodied, round and rich, this is a big wine that needs time to come together and for the oak to further integrate. The wine was made from 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah.