March 19, 2022 - Decanted for two hours through a coffee filter, with moderate sediment removed. Drinking absolutely fantastically, with firm acidity balanced by prominent fruit. Not really a whole lot in terms of tertiary qualities at this point, but a hell of a pleasurable experience. Hedonistic.
November 7, 2021 - PNP
Dark violet color with highlights of ruby. Cranberry cocktail aroma along with chocolate, wet bark, cherry cordial, and wet leaves. A little hot at first, but the alcohol dissipated quickly.
Plummy fruit with a nice acidic balance. The wet leaves and bark transfers over from the nose, but over time the wine reveals cured meat, garrigue, white pepper, and camp fire. Medium dry with a long finish.
This is a perfect fall wine that would be amazing with Thanksgiving dinner, or just sitting outside watching the leaves fall. I'm going to try to get a few more bottles, but I imagine there are only a few more years left before it peaks.
95/100
August 8, 2021 - Kleur: Robijnrood, bovengemiddeld e(voor deze leeftijd) helderheid, met een uiterst subtiele oranjebruine verkleuring aan de randen. Aroma / bouquet: Serieus tertiair en complex bouquet waarin tonen van marmite en soja domineren naast de aroma's van bosgrond en stalgeuren. Smaak / Afdronk: Een KO-vuistslag met een fluwelen handschoen. Beperkte zuurgraad, boordevol zacht-romige tannines, briljante vulling en dus met 14,5% alcohol in een prachtigebalans. Algemeen / potentieel: OMG, wat een waanzinnige wijn. JA! Ik weet dat wijnen in hun tertiaire fase allemaal een beetje op elkaar gaan lijken. En JA!! Ik weet dat vooral belegen Ch9dP op elkaar gaat lijken. Desondanks: holymelony, wat een heerlijke belegen en complexe krachtpatser. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 13 + Smaak / Afdronk: 18 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 95/100
Colour: Ruby red, above average e(for this age) brightness, with an extremely subtle orange-brown discolouration at the edges. Aroma / bouquet: Seriously tertiary and complex bouquet with notes of marmite and soy dominate next to the aromas of forest floor and stable odors. Taste / Aftertaste: A KO punch with a velvet glove. Limited acidity, full of soft-creamy tannins, brilliant filling and therefore with 14.5% alcohol in a beautiful balance. Overall / potential: OMG, what an amazing wine. YES! I know that wines in their tertiary phase all start to look a bit alike. And yes!! I know that especially mature Ch9dP will start to resemble each other. Nevertheless: holymelony, what a wonderfully mature and complex powerhouse. 50 + Colour: 5 + Aroma / Bouquet: 13 + Taste / Aftertaste: 18 + General / Potential: 9 = 95/100
February 18, 2020 - The Pope's Chateau (Casa Covolo): Darkest ruby of the bunch. Very complex nose, kirsch, dark fruits, black raspberry, animalistic, so such going on in the bouquet. Round and rich on the palate, hitting on all cylinders. Just a fantastic wine. Finished 1 out of 5.
December 16, 2019 - Dinner with Steve K at the Milling Room in NYC, a great corkage friendly place...This was my contribution for the evening, bottles bout at auction several years back. Drank alongside at 2004 Shafer Hillside. Decanted at the restaurant, drank over 2 hours.
Medium/dark garnet red, some cloudiness. Nose was red fruits, herbs, pepper, tapenade. Expressive and earthy palate showing dark cherry, cassis, licorice and cola. Spice/pepper became more pronounced with more air. Full body long finish. Tannins fined at this point.
Great showing on this particular evening. A nicely aged CdP squarely in its drinking zone. Well stored bottles should drink at this level for a while - worth trying if one has a few bottles.
August 31, 2019 - Decanted about 3 hours. Quite nice on both nose and palate for the 2 hours following.
June 8, 2019 - This is in the perfect drinking window. Rich, concentrated and layered, this wine seems destined to complement charred and rare lamb. I can see how this might be a bit over the top by itself for some but it is silky, fruited, perfumed awesomeness. It is not a wallflower wine, but it does have layers and nuance with hints of white pepper and some hard to define herbs - maybe marjoram? Having had this a number of times I prefer the 2005 CdF over the 2007 CdF and the Deus ex Machina.
This was the fourth wine in our CdP tasting dinner.
First was a beaucastel VV roussane 2014. Second was a 1998 cuvee Laurence pegau. Third was 2009 cuvee Laurence pegau.
Served at 58 degrees after a three hour decant. Paired with sumac and shallot crusted lamb loin chops and cannellini bean and thyme puree.
February 2, 2019 - La Tablee: Celebratory Dinner (BYO) (26 Bridge Street, Brooklyn): This is not really my style of wine. I suspect it's well done for what it is, just not really for me. A bit more alcoholic. Very fruit forward. Very intense. It was just too much for me.
December 24, 2018 - Drinking well now. No need to hold.
August 11, 2018 - Dark red; ripe dark berries; very smooth and soft, full-bodied, sufficient acidity to keep nerve, hint of caramel, long; extraordinary