July 27, 2023 - Holy sh*t. This is stunning. Unlike any other “wine” I have tried. For what it is, I can’t see how this could be better ? Not cloying, fresh, vibrant. Black fruits. How on earth is this 16%?!?!?! Just wonderful.
March 5, 2023 - Seems more approachable that a few years back
November 11, 2021 - Loads of eucalyptus and cedar. A little sour on the edge, but still good
October 15, 2021 - Nose: very light maybe needs to be decanted for itvtobdevelop (drakbwithccoravin)
Taste: Fruity, very supple tannins which are very present notes of dried plums and dates. Full bodied and and very nice length!
Only 89 because of nose. In mouth I give it a 90/91.
August 16, 2021 - Double-decanted for sediment, then started on it immediately - but it didn't budge at all over five hours. Very dark colour. Slightly sweet, plummy nose, with the aroma of violets and traces of alcoholic heat (although this is listed as 'only' 14%, who knows if that is actually accurate). Pretty massive on the palate, especially on the mid-palate, which obtruded appreciation of the wine's other attributes. Liquorice, plum, blackberry, cocoa... rich and dark, that's for sure. I quite liked it, but seemed a bit too much like hard work at times.
July 31, 2021 - I see someone (below) has drunk this wine with a bacon-cheese burger. I'm afraid this gives the game away. There is a conventional perception that northern Rhone is for the intellectuals; southern Rhone is for the simple minded, who want chunky, largely Granache driven wines.
I have never accepted that reading. Chateau NP wines are deep and earthy, but what subtlties they have is chonthic (and I hope I have spelt that correctly - Google tells me that it is a hair-dressing salon in New York). If subtley only resides in one-dimensional understatement (which it does with this wine), then I think we should go for the Chateau NPs.
And I am due for a haircut.
vide.
July 25, 2021 - Complex but smooth
June 10, 2021 - Plums and tannins. In a very very good way.
Nice spices.
Very decent.
September 7, 2020 - Quite a serious wine. Bouquet of dark berries, plums and some licorice. Tannins are mellow but still present and enough acidity to counterbalance the inert sweetness. Good match with self made bacon cheeseburger.
July 10, 2020 - Opened 3 hours before drinking. Beautiful, not showing its age at all. Blackcurrant / liquorice / star anise, maybe a hint of fennel seed. Fine tannins. Wouldn't call it easy going but also deceptive for 14% ABV.