February 11, 2024 - This was sleeping in the cellar for quite a long time, so I decided to crack it open finally. Moderate ruby in the glass. Has some ripeness on the nose, so I was scared it’ll be like that on the palate as well. But alas, this is such a well-knit wine. It’s powerful, but has this silky elegance to it - a balance that only the best Beaujolais producers can achieve. Can’t really compare with anything, especially not Burgundian Pinot Noir. This stands in a category of its own. Drink now, it’s at its most beautiful stage. Monumental wine.
December 10, 2023 - Aged Cru Beaujolais (San Francisco): Primary ruby color. Captivating scent of fresh, sweet, deep dark red fruit. Heady, layered red and black fruit carried by bright acidity and an excellent earthy tannic finish. Wow! I remember this wine being controversial when it was young since it was "too rich, too big, etc.". Not only was it the wine of the tasting, but it is one of the more remarkable wines I've drunk this year. Legendary stuff.
March 6, 2023 - This is exceedingly ripe - frankly overripe - and lacking in acid. Tastes like Russian River pinot, but TBH, Russian River pinot would be holding up better at this age. The regular cuvee - which I have had many times - is so much better at this stage in their development. This, by contrast, is syrupy and atypical. We dumped.
March 4, 2023 - Served to me blind. I had no idea what it was, having had it before. It's very ripe, almost grapey in profile, and deficient in acid, so that the silky fruit feels a bit heavy and flabby. Disappointing.
February 19, 2022 - Beautiful red fruit with a tinge of savage towards the finish. Absolutely delightful and a wonderful wine with food.
January 6, 2022 - My expectations were relatively low given others' notes. I fall in line with most, but I will say I enjoyed this more than I expected to.
Negatives: It's ripe (by cru Beaujolais standards, of course); it lacks a bit of verve; it certainly does not justify its price tag over the normal cuvee, at least not in this vintage.
Positives: It's not overblown; it's clearly still a Lapierre; it's pretty damn tasty.
Wouldn't recommending buying or continuing to hold, but it's an enjoyable drink if you already have it in your cellar.
December 20, 2021 - Not tired at all and has evolved nicely. However I preferred the normal cuvée when it was a bit younger. This is a tad too ripe to my taste and I would only buy this cuvée in less ripe vintages where the extra body and ripeness from this selection make sense to my tastebuds.
December 19, 2021 - Deep red. Swirling, spicy red fruit aromas. Middle weight and sappy-very Burgundian feel. Gorgeous ripe red berry fruit without any of the slightly syrupy quality it showed early on; this has developed beautifully! It finishes with rich, chocolatey tannins and orange peel. Simply a stunner and as good as Gamay gets (and I don't mean this in the pejorative sense either).
July 18, 2021 - Light red in color. 14.5% ABV. Gorgeous nose of red fruits, iron, earth and flowers. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Crisp and refreshing. Cherries, blood orange, spice and minerals on the palate. Fantastic Beaujolais that is absolutely shining at 12 years of age. What a treat. Best over the next 2-3 years.
January 13, 2021 - See DrWine2001's note - spot on. This wine was ponderous and fatiguing early on, but a decade sideways has transformed it into a really stellar example of how serious Beaujolais can be. I was originally disappointed by it - now I'm delighted to have a few more bottles to enjoy.