March 18, 2021 - Popped n poured from 58 degree cellar. This after a DISAPPOITING '07 Le Vieux Donjon. What a nose on this wine. Pure Grenache. Excellent. why I drink Rhone wines. Red and dark fruits with some florals. Juicy attack with acidity. Tannins coating the mouth. After wine opened and warmed up more dark plum in flavor. A true Rhone treat. BPwine is where I purchased this. I just hope to have another bottle left. Excellent wine. Best Rhone drank since Domaine Duriel '07 CdP 2 years ago.
December 19, 2019 - Drinking well after 12 years; for $13 this was an excellent wine, easy to open on a weeknight. Very much enjoyed!
Nose and palate on first pour out of the bottle were fruit-dominant, but wine was still very much alive. Cork strong; no seepage. Decanted for about 30-45 minutes, wine opened up and balanced out nicely.
Nose: macerated black cherry and plum; some funk, wet hay, and dusty gravel notes. Soft clove oak.
Med+ body; Med acidity; 14.5% alcohol.
Palate: deep and rich, balanced, good layers with the age. Kirsch/black cherry, dark plum, lavender; savory herb, black olive, brush; a little heat from the alcohol; cocoa nibs from the oak; dried grapefruit rind finish with well-integrated slightly drying tannins; med-long finish to match.
August 3, 2019 - Somehow this wine pulls off the vintage, despite how poor I have found the other offerings from this estate recently. The best terroir in the portfolio which makes this an interesting data point for the extreme 2007 vintage. Ripe red and purple fruits with fresh acidity, firm tannins, and admirable balance. Pushing the envelop on extraction which you can feel on the finish.
June 5, 2019 - This hits the spot for a good southern rhone in 2007. Red fruits with great nose. Very burgundian- almost Volnay-ish. Cleaner style. The ripe fruit is well balanced with the acids and tannins. Not overripe at all. Very nice.
September 3, 2017 - Youthful and dark red. Grilled herbs, cedar, and smoke on the nose . Balanced fruit, acidity and meaty flavors. Finishes with pretty cherry preserves. Doubt it will get any better, but okay at age 10 . Drank with grilled lamb chops, blue cheese potato salad and fresh tomato.
April 16, 2015 - This bottle was singing. Drink this now! Perfectly balanced with a bit of tang playing with the beautifully aged fruit. Just perfect structure. The lamb kebabs and this wine!!! I'm drinking my last bottle soon. Could not be a better showing.
March 7, 2015 - Dark, ruby-purple color. Beautiful Rhone bombshell. Big blackberry, with some bright strawberry fruit, a little herbal character. Great balance, with plenty of acidity. Medium-heavy palate, very full. Delicious.
November 10, 2014 - Dark, concentrated wine. A bit dry but tannins have softened and overall drinking very nicely. Was a good buy for $25, wish I had more.
October 4, 2014 - Still very lively with exellent depth and flavors of sweet dark fruits and exotic spices, soft tannins and well integrated alcohol. A nicely composed wine, rich and generous and easy to like. Good now, but no sign of age yet. - 90 points
September 13, 2014 - Great Rasteau. Should be close to its best by now.