January 28, 2024 - Drank last nite w/Blancos & Waldmans. Nose of black cherries, leather & tobacco. Medium body is somewhat round, and still demonstrates good level of black cherry fruit. Tannins are resolved, notes of leather, dried fruit, leather, earth/garigue and meat. Pleasing long finish highlights the tertiary elements of this wine. All in all, a CdP that is fully mature, and drinking quite well. No reason to hang on any futher however.
January 22, 2024 - Ripe and hot cherry fruit, plums, a touch jammy. Big rustic tannins too. Thought this Italian and maybe super Tuscan with Merlot of sorts. On hindsight this is rather classic of CDP, I just wish the heat is less overt here. Feels like it’s gonna need quite a bit more time lying down.
January 19, 2024 - At first a bit funky and even suspected a hint of TCA but thankfully this was not the case as it started to clear up nicely and tasted solid. It followed into a small surface decanter for 2 hrs and at that point it started to show beautiful balance between red and dark fruit, spice and Garigue. It ended up being a very clean bottle with elegance and nice mix of subtle flavors with some nice notes of leather and herbs on an old style (but not funky CNDP) which was very enjoyable. Side note Susan who is not a massive CNDP really enjoyed it .
December 25, 2023 - Surprisingly vibrant for the age. Some light bricking color. Mature tertiary notes on the nose, but not just port. Fruit almost fully faded. Enjoyed alongside a bottle of the 2019 which was overpowering. Nonetheless, this was lovely
November 18, 2023 - Vente des vins des Hospices de Beaune: 2e souper (Chez les Faure-Brac): Nez suave, floral, avec des notes de confiture de fraises. Bouche sur les cerises à noyaux, c’est savoureux, avec des arômes évolués, des herbes séchées. Excellent, mais à boire sans attendre. 93 pts
October 21, 2023 - Light to medium red color with light brownish halo. Peppery, soft forward style. Mid-weight Chateauneuf, soft light finish. Enjoyable now, but drink quickly.
February 19, 2023 - Ski trip - Four wino familes; 2/17/2023-2/20/2023 (WISP Resort): Fully mature nose displaying ripe dark red fruit, strawberry jam, cherry pie, leather, strong tobacco, garrigue, roasted meat and earth. Fully integrated palate, slightly dry red fruit, nicely layered dry red fruit, silky and round, medium acidity, earthy mineral, and a medium to long dry red fruit driven finish with tobacco and leather at the end. This was served outside with bonfire which was perfect. It is drinking nicely.
January 11, 2023 - Monthly Tasting Group HWS: Clos des Papes (By AH): The bouquet is at first slightly locked, but shows quickly what it has in store; garrigue, intense berries and cherries. On the palate a juicy start with a lot of garrigue, beautiful fruits like e.g. blueberries, good acidity and tannin and a good length. Beautifully fresh wine at its peak now.
January 10, 2023 - This is definitely fully mature and doesn’t seem suited for longer aging. Need to try a magnum and see if it’s a bit fresher Still very enjoyable with classic CdP mature flavor profile A bit musty on the nose, very transparent light brick red with a touch of haze. This did open up over 3 hours in open bottle then glass and is a pleasure to drink.
December 17, 2022 - A promising but ultimately disappointing bottle. White pepper and faint garrigue move to a plummy and ultimately figgy palate. Lots of dried fruit notes on top of juicy Grenache. This is not over the hill but clearly very mature and declining.