October 31, 2023 - Dinner w/Val and Rowena at home, last bottle of this was in 2020. Decanted for about 30 minutes prior to drinking. Mild sediment strained, last notes indicated much more.
Notes from 2020:" Deep ruby color. Powerful nose of red fruits and dark berries, baking and Christmas spice. Rich and viscous palate, liqueur like quality. Showing red berry preserves, blackberry, orange zest, cola, mulberry and spice. Persists through the mid palate into a layered finish. Great depth throughout..."
Hasn't changed much, still rich and expressive. Dark berries and baking spices notable on this tasting.
Decant still a must, this bottle opened faster than the last (from notes). Ready to go in about 30 minutes. Checked my inventory, I bought this in 2011 for about $50...great value, wine still going strong with a long arc ahead of it. However...worth opening now.
June 23, 2023 - Encore pleins de fruits et une belle fraicheur.
Surprenamment moins lourd que la dernière bouteille.
Dans une fabuleuse période à mon avis.
October 16, 2022 - This is ready and drinking well. Smooth, with classic Cassis flavors. drink up.
September 25, 2022 - PNP at "The Girl and the Fig" in Sonoma. No formal notes, just another great bottle! here's my note from 5 years ago:
10/21/2017 rated 95 points: PHMG WAG: the '07 Chateauneufs (Old Home of the Lyon): WOTN #2, this had bigger black fruit in layers, then iron, pepper, cocoa, and herbs. Perhaps 60:40 fruit to savory ratio. Now-2019. (2331 views)
Obviously got the window wrong! now-2025
August 27, 2022 - Twin Cities Wine Club no US Wines (Edina, MN): 55% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre. Some sediment that was strained off. Burnt toast, spice, pepper, leather, raspberries and dried herbs. Medium plus finish and very rustic. For sure at its peak experience and drink now for sure.
July 20, 2022 - Ready to drink with pnp. Surprisingly, not fading. Black fruit, black cherry on the palate.
July 3, 2022 - Our last bottle and this one was definitely showing it's age. Drink up.
June 27, 2022 - More than six years have passed since last tasting this skillfully crafted blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre. From a bottle that was purchased upon release and cellared under pristine conditions, it was decanted off of its heavy sediment and serially sampled over the ensuing 3-4 hours. Now deep garnet in color, it serves up a complex package of dark bramble fruits that are garnished with Provençal herbs, cocoa, mulling spices, cigar tobacco, cecina and black olive tapenade. At this point the wine is medium-bodied, brushing off its youthful muscle in favor of a more round physique. While still freshly acidic and without heat from its 14.5% alcohol, the tannins have significantly softened, lurking quietly in the background. Dense on the mid-palate and concluding with impressive length, this Châteauneuf has fleshed out as anticipated. Those holding comparably cellared bottles will be delighted whenever a cork is popped over the next five years. At this stage it only requires 30-60 minutes in decanter to fully strut its stuff. Drink now-2027.
May 29, 2022 - in a great place right now - developing serious tertiaries but still has structure and lots of dried fruit. Dead-center in the window
May 19, 2022 - Beautiful dark chocolate, fig and earth on the palate. The nose has a touch of white pepper mixed with smoke. Tannins are velvety smooth. PnP with no worries here.