March 21, 2021 - Final btl of my batch. About 1.5 yrs since the last btl and not much to add to my last note. Sweet red fruit, cocoa, incense, a touch of heat, hoisin/bbq notes, soft leather, wet leaf...fully mature. On the palate: good acidity and density...perhaps slightly jammy red fruit, leather, earth, still some finely grained, almost chocolatey tannin on the finish, which shows some heat. Good with our stew...
February 13, 2021 - Fully developed but not old, with aromas of red berries, including some lingonberries, animal notes, good fruit concentration on the palate and "filed down" tannins. Restrained alcohol feeling for being a Châteauneuf. Really fine, 91 pts.
July 21, 2019 - Another excellent btl. Cocoa powder, red raspberry, some incense. On the palate, good acidity, wild strawberry, raspberry, cocoa, a touch of cola...attenuated tannin on the tangy finish. Very good.
November 3, 2018 - Much more expressive than my previous bottle. Loads of raspberry, a touch of dried fruit, and some incense..less overt cocoa. On the palate, good acidity, and still rather densely fruited. Doesn't convey its alcohol at all, and a touch of sweet tannin on the finish...
July 1, 2018 - Maybe at the end of its peak but I thought this a lovely CduP. Slight acidity but generally quite soft for this appellation. Hard to describe the nose and I really had to read others reviews to be honest. Coffee, leathery and crushed berries seems to best sum it up. I really enjoyed this wine but I am going to drink my remaining 5 bottles in short order.
October 31, 2017 - More muted than my previous bottle, but it was served with chili. Nice nose with cocoa and soft red fruit. On the palate, very nice acidity with some raspberry/strawberry behind it. Still some grainy tannin on the finish. Taken together, this seems slightly faded, so drink up.
September 19, 2017 - A bit flat and showing its age. Meaty and herbal with licorice notes showing. Decent but not great. No acid.
May 29, 2017 - I can't imagine what else I would want in CdP. Intense nose with cocoa, lavender, dark cherry and strawberry. I hesitate to describe a CdP with 14.5% ABV as ``ethereal", but I can't think of another word that does the job. This is shockingly lightweight on the palate, with subtle intensity, showing more dark raspberry, a touch of liqueur and some slight herbal medicinal notes. Nevertheless, full bodied with the slightest touch of chalky tannin on the finish. If this bottle is indicative, this is just in a wonderful place, and the tannin suggests that it should have a few more years here...
May 1, 2016 - The nose was intense with a mix of savory cherry sauce, crushed strawberry, and dark chocolate offset by animal musk and minerals. On the palate, I found silky textures with deep-rich flavors of ripe cherry, strawberry and sweet spice, as it seemed to caress the palate with unbelievable freshness for such a big wine. It finished youthful and tight with saturating primary fruit. Wow.
January 26, 2015 - Last bottle and markedly better than the previous one. Brownish ruby in color. Muted nose of garrigue and balsam. Tastes like it smells except better. Has the mature Grenache, garrigue, grip and acidity that I like in CDP. Long finish. This is the best bottle of Chapoutier CDP that I have ever had.