Alex's TWS dinner (Noizé, London): Medium tending to dark red. Distinctively grenache-based CNdP, you can guess it a mile off. Quite raisiny - plums and stewed fruit, with leather and spicey notes. A good swish brings out some menthol. As ever a touch of warmth that whilst not particularly intrusive I just wish it (and similar S Rhone wines) didn't have as I find myself a bit sensitive to it. This is at peak - I thought I had already drunk my case but it turns out I had two....best get going. I mean it's not going to fall off a cliff or anything but I don't see masses of upside.
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I had hoped for more nose developments on the nose. But clear garnet,medium expressive nose, some tobacco, licorice and spice to the nose. Tannins are resolved and great balance through the finish.
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GRAND TASTING #2: PnP w/2 hr. glass time. Clear, ruby/purple color. Med intensity nose. Ideal drinking window. Integrated, dark fruit profile, full body but not hot, aged, saddle, wet earth, tobacco, plum. Long resolved tannins. Classic CdP, nothing off.
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My brother in law has verticals of La Crau. For his birthday I chose the 2012 since he had another bottle and the recent notes indicated the wine was maybe past its peak. My take: it’s not necessarily at it’s peak. But it’s really good. Immediately after opening it was clear that tannins are integrated and fruit is strong. Just a complete expression of flavor. Alcohol does not dominate. Paired beautifully with a pork roast stuffed with a light presto dressing. Looking at the notes from say 2008, if you have more of these save at least one. Just wonderful CDP. Enjoy.
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Medium ruby color, with some fading/browning on the edges. Medium aromas of mushrooms, plum, red cherry, tobacco. Medium tannins and acidity. Alcohol is a bit on the higher side. Pronounced flavors consistent with the aromas, plus a hint of licorice on the long finish.
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Still fresh, with red fruit dominant. Plenty of raspberry over red currant core. Slightly more alcohol evident than one might prefer, but not a major distraction. Drink now.
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Nez : sous-bois, tapis forestier, garrigue, pétales de rose sèches, note minérale...pierre mouillée...complexe. Souple, rond, ample, complexité de saveurs de fruits légèrement mentholés. Finale un peu raide sur des notes salines et de chocolat noir amer. Excellent avec le repas. Prêt à boire selon moi.
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I think I waited a bit too long on this one. Pnp. Last bottle of this I had, in 2017, was singing. Then, I said “very enjoyable and remarkably approachable at this young age”. This one showed much more advanced, and my wife and I remarked with the dreaded “OTH” multiple times. Cork was perfect, and cellared by me since release. Just a little tired and flabby. Other current notes are much more effusive, so maybe just an off bottle.
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Over ripe black cherries, over ripe raspberries, seared wild boar, lard, dried porcini mushrooms, dark chocolate and potpourri on the nose. Someone noted that it smelled like "Grandma's House" and though that means different things to different people, I think it mostly fits. Fresher fruit on the palate - merely ripe rather than over ripe - complimented by cardamom, caraway and more dark chocolate. This wine has some great tertiary notes; but I like how fresh it feels at the same time. The mid palate especially feels light and lifted. Intensity of both flavors and aromas is high.
Full bodied with medium + acid and medium tannin. Complex. Texturally smooth. I think this is at peak right now, and will not benefit from further aging. Great pairing with beef bourgignon.
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Dark ruby with garnet edges. On the nose, dark plums, dark cherries, mocha, wet earth, a hint of vanillin oak. Deep sweet red and dark fruit on the palate, medium to high acids, rich strong integrated tannins, long finish with a beautiful aromatic back note. Round and enveloping body. Medium to high alcohol (14.5%), well balanced by the acid and tannin and a sweet crunchiness of trending red fruit. Perfect with Time Market pizza
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Opened and decanted for possible sediment (which was minimal). A tiny bit of bricking in appearance, but open for business from go. Well balanced with red fruits and soft tannins. Paired very well with a slow cooked chuck roast.
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Muted nose. Light bodied on the palate, with gravelly notes and faint red fruit. Lively acidity still. Grows into a long and much more flavorful finish with tobacco and baking spices. Just saw the note from RupertG last month and feel it is spot on; same impression, arrived at independently.
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Garnet coloured, surprisingly pale, clear edge. Well settled sediment in bottle. Open 4 hrs. Mainly alcohol on the nose but flavour fills the mouth. Tobacco, cherry and brambley tar, full and smooth. Lingers really well. Tannin on finish, but hints of leather and forest outlast it. Years to go. So good that I finished the bottle !
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Smelt amazing out of the decanter but it didn’t translate in the glass. Quite bitter on the back palate & a bit of alc warmth - both of which substantially obscured the fruit. A hint of aniseed & pleasant assertive tannins. But not enough to seduce, which is kind of the point of Grenache & Cndp.
Bought from a retailer I no longer buy from after some questionable bottles - so I won’t score in case this bottle was not representative.
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Opened 2 hours prior to drinking. Definite bricking. The nose was raspberry, fresh forest, shoe leather, slight funk (inside of a shoe), iron to rust. Mid-weight palate, nice ripeness that straddled the line between fresh and roasted, iron, red fruits, energetic acidity. The finish was very firm, concentrated, with lots of fine-grained tannins. Became a bit drying by the end of bottle, not sure the fruit will outlive the tannins.
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Decanted 2 hrs. Pale red/garnet - looks more like a ten year old Burgundy than a CNDP. On the nose, sweet candied fruit, red liquorice bootlaces, nuts and molten milk chocolate. In fact, this smells like a Snickers Bar that has melted in your pocket on a hot day. Reminds me of Ch Musar. On the palate, medium to light weight, good dark sweet fruit and again. those red liquorice boot laces. Tastes very young still. There's plenty of tannin and acidity and I think this is just too young at the moment. At the very least needs a few hours in the decanter otherwise, another two or three years to integrate. By no means a wasted bottle, but I'm hanging on for a couple of years before my next bottle.
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Medium dark red color. Fragrant spicy, herb and cherry aromatics. A structured, medium to full-bodied wine that is still somewhat youthful. Very good length. I wish it had a little more fruit concentration. A little bit of warmth in the aftertaste. I decanted this 3 hours before serving based on the tasting experience of another 2012 Chateauneuf-du-Pape I had about a month ago. 2012 apparently produced some tannic backward Chateauneuf. Purchased upon release and stored in my cool cellar.
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4th Saturday Brown Bagger (J&L's): Double blind. Opens with a stewy, ripe dark fruit quality that dominates. On the full side of medium-bodied, with flavors of raisin and plum. Subtle spice tones as well. (M&R)
This was quite the surprise when it was unveiled- no one guessed CndP. Some said it was flawed, likely heat during transit, but this didn’t strike me as maderized. I think this is just “modern” Chateauneuf- overly ripe and raisiny- and is a perfect example of why I no longer buy CndP without trying it first.
2.5 hour gentle decant. "TAFFER" sous vide beef shank (Costco) for pairing. Boy, that makes for good gravy. The beef was rich and opulent. The wine came along as a very willing partner and enhanced the whole meal. All the elements have come together with this wine. Tannins are in a good place. Full bodied. Fruits in the forefront. Still could use a few more years in the cellar to get the PnP aspect that kicked in at about the the 3. hr mark. Very highly recommended. Drink or hold for at least anotehr 5 - 10 years. Needs just a touch of air now.
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Medium ruby garnet. Pronounced aromas of prune, black cherry, allspice, and lilac. Deep penetrating dark fruit on the palate, light acids, strong smooth tannins, floating aromatics, long finish.
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Aromas of macerated plum, raspberry and strawberry, gingerbread and a medley of toasted herbs. Rich yet silky Pinot-like fruit awash in acidity that provides lift and intensity to the herb and spice nuances.
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From a 375 bottle; my wife and I both agreed that it is still way too young to drink (even out of the 1/2 bottle). I think it needs a minimum of 3-5 years in the 375 bottle, and honestly probably 7-10 in a standard bottle. Let it rest.
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Really Liked this wine. Brought these two bottles to a chef's cooked dinner at a friends home. Went well with an inspired creamier sauced beef dish. Crystal Garnet Color. Nose: plum, violets, earth and hint of lavender. On the Palate. Fat red fruit with mildly assertive tannins with Long tail finish. Nice!
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Medium garnet. Aromas of spiced plum, violets, and dry undergrowth. Saturating red plum fruit on the palate with a mahogany richness, moderate acids on a strong base of integrated tannins with a rugged edge, medium body, carries well its 14.5% alcohol. Excellent with Mediterranean fish stew. Long finish.
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From half-bottle. This was pretty sound, showing warmth from the ripe year and plenty of kirsch/cherry notes on the nose. Sweet on the palate, with a little headiness from the alcohol but this bottle was mostly all in check.
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Medium bodied. Nose of spicy raspberry, blackberry and lavender. Austere style with restrained fruit. Layered flavors - brambly raspberry/cranberry on the front palate, transitions to blackberry mid palate with a touch of mouth watering tangerine peel tannin on the back palate. Finishes dry. Needed a couple of hours of air to open. Drinking nicely now but plenty of life left.
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My 2nd of 3 btls. My first 5 yrs ago on my 60th. Time has accelerated ever since hitting 55 10 yrs ago:) Ok, on to this lovely btl. Opened 3-1/2 hrs before dinner. First sips had a gentle grip but no need to decant. So slow oxed in a couple Burg glasses & btl till dinner. Terrific w/ Nita's burger sliders! This is a tribute to finding balance & finesse even with the powerful dominating grenache in most CDP blends. For my palate, there are very few CDP producers who can keep Grenache in check. VT is one of the best. Enjoyed every single sip & sniff of this tonight & especially the last about 6 hrs in. Adequate breathing & temp control are important here. This offered a classic mix of CDP aromas & flavors coupled w/ a Burgundian sensibility of; balance, transparency & finesse over decadence. Nothing out of place here. Now I'm wishing I had more than one left as this vintage would be fun to track every 3-4yrs for the next 15-20yrs. 14.5% alc on the label but never noticed any heat nor ill effects. That said, I drink these in the mid - high 50s and never warmer than the lower 60s. 93+ Watching Paul McCartney's 2009 Nova Scotia concert with this, didn't hurt either :)
Dark fruit on nose - blackberry etc plus spice - clove & cinnamon, then initially austere with soft but firm tannins but then richness and complexity hit mid-palate and dominate. Not voluptuous but rich enough to drink a glass pre-dinner with pleasure - Good to very good but worth £40 / $50 6 years ago en primeur?
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A very robust and quite austere CdP. Based on other notes was worried it might not be ready vs. others which said it may not improve. Used a Coravin for a quick taste. Was ok so uncorked and decanted three hours before Thanksgiving lunch. Went very well with the variety of tastes on that plate. Plenty of structure and tannin but with enough fruit and texture to be very well balanced. Tend to think it may be at or near it's peak though.
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PnP. expressive nose of ripe red and mostly dark fruit like prunes with red cherries and berries more subdued. Also dried herbs, earthy and mineral notes along with some cedar. Medium bodied, savoury with good structure and balancing acidity. Perhaps more earthy and mineral with the fruit somewhat in the background. Good length, perhaps not that deep but enjoyable nonetheless. 91-92
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This is a decadent La Crau — aromas of lavender, raspberry preserves, prunes, and nori. In transition to a more dried fruit character. This is ready to drink structurally, and I like the current flavor profile, so I wouldn’t necessarily expect this to improve.
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Friday lunch with friends, opened for 2 hours, plums & pepper, medium bodied, good depth, earthly, bitter sweet finish, think will improve with age, 91 now
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Very much enjoyed this. Good now, more to come. Red and dark cherries, plum, herbs, pepper, floral notes, earth. Full bodied but not heavy. Good but not great length. Nice.
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Intense, chewy wine with powerful fruit, silky mouthfeel, and nice touches of garrigue. Still young - have not had in the 750 but I suspect it's just hitting maturity. Very good.
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Lovely to drink. PnP and really delivered. Has the 2013 recently and the difference is striking. This is a lovely wine with a rich mouth feel. No rush.
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Moving aromas of soft floral mulberries on the edge of over ripeness dark blackberry fruit coffee something sharp. Dark and salty rich fruit on the palate with a dry tannic underpinning, beautifully integrated.
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Dried strawberry, red cherry, and some plum fruit. Mineral driven core with notes of red licorice, dried flowers, herbs, spice, tea leaves, and subtle earth. Nice finish, decent wine.
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Volatile acid on the nose, acetone turning into plummy vinegar, masking aromas of mahogany, coffee, and ripe berry. Deep core of dark fruit on the palate with strong but smooth and integrated tannins. It was a pleasure to drink with roasted eggplant with feta, tomatoes, and oregano, despite its flaws. But I'm not going to rate it.
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A nose of dried flowers, raspberries, licorice and earth. It is rich and heady in the mouth, with a silky feel and excellent length. Drinking very nicely.
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Hmmmm.... had a mag of this for the Super Bowl. Good CdP; full, ripe with well integrated tannins. Reading the other reviews it sounds like there is bottle variability. In my case we got lucky and had a winner.
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I had an absolutely deplorable bottle that was thrown out the other day. So I wanted to go back to it and try again. A fellow Cellar Tracker member, DFBW, wrote that to him, it seemed odd for him to write that a 2012 CdP tasted "fully to over-mature." I, for the most part, agree. While this bottle was light years better than the one the other day, it still just does not live up to what I believe a Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe should be just 7 years in. Drink 'em if ya got 'em.
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Opened up to whiffs of musty/dusty basement aromas along with old leather. Was not a pleasant surprise and I was hoping it was just a classic CdP coming into itself. Light bodied and very sour and metallic on the first sip. Came to the immediate conclusion that this wine needed at least an hour to open up. After several hours, it had not improved. So the suggestion was made to see how it will be the next day. The next day came and was thrown away. Just not good. Not turned, mind you, just not good. Shame.
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A good if unspectacular start to our Christmas red wine selection at Hawksmoor. Good meaty savoury flavours. Was rather overshadowed by the 2006 Prado Enea GR Rioja that followed...
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This is singing right now. Even out of a 375 the balance and depth is there, and everything just works. Opens a little hot and powerful but after an hour or two this mellows tremendously. What a joy from such a storied estate.
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It seems odd to say for a 2012 CndP and I don't know if it is just this wine or if it's the vintage but it tastes fully to over-mature. Gave it plenty of air - it's rich and savoury. It's not unpleasant to drink, just prune-like and a bit old on the palate. For me, it's drink up time on the last three I have as I certainly don't see this changing over time..
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Marvelous. Let breathe for 75 min, nice cherry color, round nose, broad taste on the palate. Matched with a rack of lamb. Hard to think it gets better, but I’ve got 1 more.
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From half-bottle. Certainly this feels just slightly hot, but this bottle isn't over the top in that sense. A nice amount of high-toned red fruit, as well as a slight bit of liqueur. I've had some inconsistencies here, but this bottle is drinking fairly nicely.
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This bottle was firing on all cylinders. Great sweet fruit with garrigue. Adequate remaining acidity. Knit together and developed but not showing any decay. Great with seared Ahi finished with pomegranate and pine nuts on a spring vegetable pilaf.
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From half-bottle. No obvious flaw here, but this was vastly different than other bottles from the same batch: marred by insanely high alcohol and bitterness on the finish. Completely disjoint and unpleasant.
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Big, rich and savoury. Good four decant in the bottle. Tastes more aged than it is. In my opinion, to be drunk around ove the next 3/4 years as might be too much Barnyard with more age than that on it but depends how you like your CndP.
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Spicy aromatic nose with an intense melding of cloves, cinnamon, and cumin; mushrooms and forest floor accompanied by a lovely floral top note. Deep dark fruit on the palate, contradictorily light and clear, aromatic at the back. An extraordinary powerful wine, lovely with ratatouille. 50 + 17 + 18 + 9 = 94.
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From half-bottle. Heady, with a fair bit of kirsch and plums. Not over the top, but definitely a bigger, denser wine. On the palate, the generous fruit seems to be shutting down a bit, and shows a little more heat and burn on the finish than I remember from my earlier tastings.
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From half-bottle. A little alcoholic now, showing some heat on the nose, coupled with some pleasant red fruit. A little cherry and liqueur, some licorice and a nice herbal element. Not as rich on the palate, though this is pleasant enough. Doesn't seem to have the stuffing now to hold the alcohol.
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Nice blackcurrent, anise & garrigue. Good length & lovely fine tannin with some stony mineral character that draws out in the finish. Wine looks squeaky clean & very fresh. An elegant CNP.
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Tasting note from last night so just general impressions. This was a well balanced red with a generous profile of red berries and plums with a bit of forest floor. Very clearly identifiable as a southern Rhône blend and Chateauneuf by its quality.
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Blinds at home (Chicago, IL): From half-bottle. Quite a nice nose, with a slight bit of salinity on top of a good dose of plummy fruit that is still fresh. Clearly a bigger wine with broader shoulders, but it carries its weight well. There's a tiny smidge of heat on the palate which bothers me a bit, but mostly it is a study of how to balance out alcohol with complexity, minerality, and fruit.
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Nose: The nose was a little reticent at first, but it opened up beautifully after an hour with black raspberries, black cherries, kirsch liqueur, mesquite, licorice, tobacco, incense, and garrigue. There is excellent depth with a real savory side that draws you in.
Taste: Medium+ bodied with medium acidity and medium+ tannins. The acidity provides a real nice backbone while the tannins add in a frame. The feel is savory and balanced with black raspberries, black cherries, mesquite, tobacco, licorice, incense, and garrigue.
Overall: This is wonderful after an hour or two of air. It's still clearly on the youthful side, but there is a seamlessness to it that is utterly attractive. This will certainly benefit from age, but it is open and giving already.
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Plum tart with plenty of red earth, dried flower and licorice on the nose. Lots of fruit, albeit slightly muted, on the front followed by a rather long leathery middle.
Will drink half tonight and see what the other half looks like tomorrow night.
Could use some roast duck and crispy potatoes.
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On the nose a kaleidoscope of stewed apricots, dark berries, savory chocolate, and earth. A winding progression of deep dry fruit from front to back coiled with sinewy tannins and firm but delicate acid, with an aromatic back note. Complex and moving. 50 + 17 + 17 + 9 = 93.
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From half-bottle. As far as CdP goes, this is a really pleasant bottle. It's clean, without any weird animal funk or brett or any such things, and there's a pleasant, if slightly heady, black-fruit-accented nose. The palate is sweet, but doesn't feel ripe. There's generous fruit here, and some good structure from the tannin as well. Acidity helps round out the full-bodied (for my palate) weight here.
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From half-bottle. The nose shows a bit high-toned, with some sweetness. The palate, as well, is high-toned, but despite the ripeness and sweetness here, there is still very good restraint, and the bit of acidity here certainly helps cut through this larger-scaled wine. Not too stinky and funky, nor oaky and modernist, this is a bottle of CdP that truly sits at the happy middle.
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Tasted at Vin Chicago's Kermit Lynch sale. This is one of the few CDPs of which I am consistently impressed. Black fruit combined with herbs--an alluring combination of cardamom, pepper, and coriander--and a soft but powerful core. This feels like it will come together very nicely. Bought a case of 375s.
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Light game nose. Black pepper. Beef blood finish. Classic and drinking very well, just a bit too ethereal for my taste, I know some will score this higher.
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RHONE WINE TASTING & LUNCHEON (The Royal Oak, Paley Street): Appearance: The wine is Clear with a Medium ruby colour. Nose: The nose is Clean and Developing, showing Pronounced intensity primary aromas of blackberry, black cherry, red currant, cranberry, liquorice, secondary aromas of vanilla, cloves, toast, smoke and tertiary aromas of tobacco, meaty, game. Palate: The wine is Dry in the mouth with a Medium(+) level of acidity. It has Medium(+) Firm ripe tannins and a High Level of alcohol (14.50%). It has Medium(+) body and Pronounced intensity primary flavours of red cherry, blackberry, black cherry, redcurrant, cranberry, liquorice, secondary flavours of vanilla, cloves, toast, smoke and tertiary flavours of tobacco, meaty, game. The finish is Long Conclusion: It is an Outstanding quality wine. Can Drink Now but has Potential for Ageing.
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No formal notes, pop and pour, this was singing out of the gate, very enjoyable and remarkably approachable at this young age. Beautiful garrigue on the nose, surprisingly round on the palate. Looking at the notes below I will try to keep my hands off my other bottle for a while.
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2 hour decant and it was still big but balanced, from a magnum, surprisingly accessible but clamps up, classic cdp nose, full bodied red, this format needs few more years say 3-5 91+
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Superb. Half bottle. Classic 'barolo' like Cndp - elegant raspberry and kirsch nose, elevated by ground bass of earth, sand, dust, blood and stone (why are these flavours so mystical in good wine?).
And palate continues the same themes, with some curious green notes that are usually called garrigue here and there on mid palate. Beguiling hints of spice and pastille.
Tannins still young and not in perfect balance yet, but this can be enjoyed young - it already shows all its wares, it's pedigree and beauty, like a nubile young woman, so you don't have to wait. But it's just a bit gaudy now even in half bottle. It's true maturity would come in another 5-10 years, erring towards the latter for full bottle.
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Very good. More free running than VT usually is, but the vintage, less cool and aristocratic than many of if the VT's, more pure joy here. Will live, of course. #MuledePape
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The nose is clean forest berry. The taste is a liqueur cherry, herbs and moderate spices. Not hard, but tight. In the end it is alcoholic, for all its 14.5%, with decantation a little leveled.
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Our first Châteauneuf-du-Pape, so take these notes for what they’re worth. Decanted one hour but the wine showed much more of itself after the third hour. Beautiful, clear ruby in the glass with medium intensity cranberry and earth on the nose. Bright and crisp cranberry and cherry on the palate with mild spice, deliciously acidic with very soft tannins to balance the experience. Based on others’ notes here I’d like to pick up another bottle and lay it down for the suggested 10 years! This being our first CdP, it reminded us of a high-quality Oregon pinot noir.
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Still with time, but great out of a half bottle. Tasted with 07 and 09 and held its own with the 07, better than the 09 at this point. Very nice, full bodied but smooth. Decanted 3 hours.
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CdP and Beef at the Woody's (Kyla's Kitchen): From half bottle, this had more bright red cherry and raspberry notes than the CdP's prior. Notable tar, smoke, earth and kelp give a sense of place. I think another year's wait would be good for it - 2022.
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Bought a case of this wine and then stumbled across a half bottle in a shop a few days later of the same vintage so thought I would use this as a tester. Pulled the cork and left in the bottle for two house but really opened up in the glass. Medium colours with amazing aroma of dark fruits. Beautiful rich taste and really decent length even at this age. This is going to be a great wine - needs a little time for the acidity to soften but if it's drinking this well now.......
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Kermit Lynch tasting at Plum Market (Chicago, IL): An excellent Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This is by far the most complex and concentrated of the reds tonight. A good balance of red and black fruit, and no animale funk at all. Lots of stony minerality here as well. A huge wine that needs some time to loosen up.
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Kermit Lynch Winemaker Tour (Plum Market - Chicago IL): Tasting, brief note. I rarely drink this wine, so it was of particular interest tonight. Black plum and wonderful spice with a roast meat character. Very good harmony, yet clearly well structured. Meaty finish with very good length. Cellar at least a few years, but this will drink well for decades.
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Light ruby. Bright nose of earth, moss, flowers, dark berries, and Asian spice. Deep penetrating fruit on the palate with slightly wild tannins roped in by a lassoo of acid. Aromatic tannic back notes leading into a lasting finish. Softly transporting, exotic. 50 + 18 + 18 + 9.
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CT Seattle CdP Tasting (Amoroso Room, Bellevue Wine Storage): Medium garnet in the glass. Nice bright red fruit on the nose, medium body. Quite spicy in the mouth, with a nice long finish. My 2nd, group's 1st out of 9 CdP's at CT SEA CdP tasting. Impressive.
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Experimented with this young wine in a tasting to see what wines paired well with southern BBQ (ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken with spicy, sweet sauces - apple BBQ sauce, molasses BBQ sauce and Tennessee red vinegar sauce). Wine went great with the food but really was super tightly wound and barely showing its fruit and full potential. I'd wait at least a decade before drinking the next one of these.
Medium/full bodied, fresh, bright, lively wine which is still young and a little tight. With air, and effort, the kirsch, black raspberry, tapenade, thyme and garrigue began to develop and show itself. This needs a few more years in the bottle.
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Decanted for about 3 hours prior to serving. In comparison to the 2011 which we had a few weeks ago, this was not nearly as ready to drink. Color is a deep garnet, nose of dark red fruits and bramble. On the palate the tannins are still a bit disjointed. I would wait before opening these if you have them.
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The nose was dark and rich yet lifted and refined, showing red and black fruits, smoke, exotic spice, savory herbs, and minerals. It was silky with full-bodied textures on the palate, displaying savory tones of charred meat, minerals and herbs followed by black cherry fruit and the grip fine tannin. The finish showed saturating blackberry fruit, smoke and exotic spice.
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Nose: jammy, some acidity. Taste: earthy, figgy, tramasu like. Finish: long & lingering, full, figgy, explosive at end. Light-med tannin.
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, blueberry and mineral. It tastes like fig and mineral. The body is light/medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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Obviously too young, but not obscenely so. Earthy and dark cherry and vegetal. But not candied and not sweet, and complex and yummy which makes this a star. These vines are old and this wine can last, but is it worth the markup? At 50 or 60 bucks yes, but more than that and it's probably paying for the label.
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A few CDP's at Sunfish (Sunfish Cellars, St. Paul, MN): Dark red color. Followed one glass over 45 minutes. Very immature, earth, vegetal, alcohol, big dark fruit, herbs. About the same experience as a couple months ago, not surprisingly. Needs 3 to 5+ years.
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Tasted as part of a vertical of Vieux Telelgraphe "La Crau"
Notes of flowers, cherry, licorice, candied fruits, and marmalade jam. In the mouth, graphite, candied red fruits, blood orange, and spice. Broadening with medium tannin.
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Hennepin Lake Tasting (Uptown): A small pour at a tasting, I don't know if they did anything to the bottle. Thoroughly not ready to drink. Barnyard funk, significant tannin and structure. I was unable to assess this in any meaningful way.
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Color: med red Nose: tight Palate: beefy and masculine, solid telegraphe, good but in this company it will always struggle, Rayas 06, ch la tour vougeot VV 08 etc 92
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Kermit Lynch Tasting. Tasting pour. Previously decanted. Added at the end of the tasting as a surprise. Terrific nose. Spice, cedar, pure expression of cherry fruit, and although just a baby it drank well. I usually lay these down, but I may start drinking some earlier now. This did convince me to buy some.
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Decanted at 3PM, back into the blt at 4PM and drank around 7PM. No hard edges here. Burgundian in weight and expression. Red fruit, gariggue and spice. Beautiful balance and texture. Steak wine for Burgundy lovers or at least a great pairing tonight for my 60th B-Day with the family. Wine is almost never the focus with the kids and I avoided opening something crazy good tonight for that reason but this certainly filled the bill and I was wanting to try one. Easy to drink and enjoy tonight but like most VT this will be much more interesting in 10 -15yrs. ALC 14.5% but completely in balance. I have 5 vintages of VT and wish I had bought more. This and Beaucastel along with one or two other producers are the CDPs to own and drink without hesitation.
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Crunchier, and seemingly on a lighter frame, than recent Telegraphes that I remember, but really complex and fine and aromatic. I like this a lot. Classical.
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Pop n pour. Oh so good. Powerfull nose of kirsch, prune and chocolate that meet exactly the palate. Long finish with fresh tannins. An outstanding classical styled CNDP that own absolutely everything I m looking for in this appelation. You can drink it right now or cellar it certainly for a long time.
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Infanticide. Flowers and wood aromas plus a shot alcohol. Palate In the mouth soon degenerates into something nasty, harsh and tannic. We must wait, in my humble opinion, at least ten years. Really promising.
Un infanticidio. Aromas a flores y madera con un alcohol muy disparado. En boca en seguida degenera hacia algo desagradable, áspero y tánico. Hay que esperar, en mi modesta opinión, al menos diez años. Realmente promete.
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Hard not to expect great things from this property. When it comes to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it doesn't get much better.
This wine delivered in spades but took a while to decipher all it's offerings due to it's early release. So complex and integrated. All varieties shine through with each swirl and increased temperature. The Grenache so bold, the Mourvedre so floral and Syrah adding a coating of spice.
Truly a wine to revere. Anyone who can afford it should respect it. Hold it or save for a truly great occasion.
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clean. When I think CndP, robust fruit, tannin, balance, a bit of earth. This was lacking some of the bigger/richer fruit I'd expect. Wasn't tight or angular, just uncomplicated with some fruit, some tannins, some acid.
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Henri Brunier notes that this is a very classical Vieux Telegraph, old vines from the estate, 100% la Crau, 2 years of aging. Big red ripe fruit, rounded yet with some structure. Is this the vintage I had most recently? Its radically different. A good saltiness too notes Henri. And yes, a good saltiness.
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Decanted and poured, this wine gave an excellent showing with a more forthcoming and detailed personality than the last experience with this wine. The bouquet offers raspberry, granite and herbal notes that develop with airing. The color is a medium to dark ruby that is youthful and vibrant. The medium / full bodied palate shows detail and length with sufficient underlying structure. Tannins and subtle acidity appear on the medium length finish. At this stage the wine benefits from decanting and suggests that it will improve with additional bottle age.
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Impressively approachable now but obviously built for the future. Subdued plum and herb nose; bold flavors of fresh vibrant herbs, cinnamon, plum. Wow this is intense. It grips the tongue. Moderate acidity and tannins.
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Red fruit and some garrigue to the nose, tannins are still firm, but good fruit and long finish. Thought the 2010 was the better wine now, but a better comparison would be in 2 more years. Worked great with a red steak though.
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Great wine. The one thing that surprises me about this VT is how approachable it is, but STILL has the lovely promise of longevity that we expect in a VT. Strangely approachable, but it does have plenty of well-rounded tannin in expectation of the bounty of VT palate we will know will come.
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Decanté pendant 4 heures et bu frais 15-16°C. Fruits murs, tannins souple. Longue finale légèrement asséchante mais bon à boire maintenant. Toutefois à €60 le rapport Q/P n'est pas exceptionnel.
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Decanted and poured, this wine begins uncharacteristically reserved and backwards. Airing brings out its more generous aspects; however, the wine never develops a more compelling profile. If this bottle is representative of the '12 Vieux Telegraphe, hopefully a few years of bottle age will provide a more generous showing.
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Tasting with Daniel Brunier (Bin 75): I second aChave's note. The fruit is lower register than the Telegramme and the texture is surprisingly approachable now, but the power will emerge over the next couple of years. None of the typical blood orange but there is an orange oil note which keeps the wine bright. Very fine wine and a joy to drink.
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Dark bright ruby. Integrated, somewhat bright feel with fine-grained tannins. Very balanced with surprisingly even, round mouth feel. Needs time; seems more integrated and Burgundy-like than many Chateauneufs... less power but remarkably integrated and harmonious. Very subtle but balanced with strong components. Be patient.
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5/11/2024 - oenanthe Likes this wine: 89 Points
Alex's TWS dinner (Noizé, London): Medium tending to dark red. Distinctively grenache-based CNdP, you can guess it a mile off. Quite raisiny - plums and stewed fruit, with leather and spicey notes. A good swish brings out some menthol. As ever a touch of warmth that whilst not particularly intrusive I just wish it (and similar S Rhone wines) didn't have as I find myself a bit sensitive to it. This is at peak - I thought I had already drunk my case but it turns out I had two....best get going. I mean it's not going to fall off a cliff or anything but I don't see masses of upside.
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4/7/2024 - La Grappe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium depth of colour, garnet; now tasting attractively mature, with flavours of fruitcake and some more savoury notes. Probably at its peak now.
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3/6/2024 - jaumealaska Likes this wine: 91 Points
I had hoped for more nose developments on the nose. But clear garnet,medium expressive nose, some tobacco, licorice and spice to the nose. Tannins are resolved and great balance through the finish.
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3/4/2024 - La Grappe Likes this wine: 92 Points
This seems about right now, with flavours of a somewhat spirity fruit cake. Quite intense and with good length.
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2/19/2024 - Barry Notes Likes this wine: 92 Points
GRAND TASTING #2: PnP w/2 hr. glass time. Clear, ruby/purple color. Med intensity nose. Ideal drinking window. Integrated, dark fruit profile, full body but not hot, aged, saddle, wet earth, tobacco, plum. Long resolved tannins. Classic CdP, nothing off.
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2/16/2024 - La Grappe Likes this wine: 92 Points
This seems to be at the ideal point of maturity, with concentrated fruit, savoury notes and a suggestion of fruit cake. Most enjoyable.
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2/9/2024 - TG67 Likes this wine: 94 Points
My brother in law has verticals of La Crau. For his birthday I chose the 2012 since he had another bottle and the recent notes indicated the wine was maybe past its peak.
My take: it’s not necessarily at it’s peak. But it’s really good. Immediately after opening it was clear that tannins are integrated and fruit is strong. Just a complete expression of flavor. Alcohol does not dominate. Paired beautifully with a pork roast stuffed with a light presto dressing.
Looking at the notes from say 2008, if you have more of these save at least one.
Just wonderful CDP. Enjoy.
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1/27/2024 - denniswdern@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium ruby color, with some fading/browning on the edges. Medium aromas of mushrooms, plum, red cherry, tobacco. Medium tannins and acidity. Alcohol is a bit on the higher side. Pronounced flavors consistent with the aromas, plus a hint of licorice on the long finish.
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1/1/2024 - OWC wrote: 92 Points
Still fresh, with red fruit dominant. Plenty of raspberry over red currant core. Slightly more alcohol evident than one might prefer, but not a major distraction. Drink now.
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10/1/2023 - ChateauDutremble Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nez : sous-bois, tapis forestier, garrigue, pétales de rose sèches, note minérale...pierre mouillée...complexe. Souple, rond, ample, complexité de saveurs de fruits légèrement mentholés. Finale un peu raide sur des notes salines et de chocolat noir amer. Excellent avec le repas. Prêt à boire selon moi.
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9/23/2023 - blaine wrote: 88 Points
I think I waited a bit too long on this one. Pnp. Last bottle of this I had, in 2017, was singing. Then, I said “very enjoyable and remarkably approachable at this young age”. This one showed much more advanced, and my wife and I remarked with the dreaded “OTH” multiple times. Cork was perfect, and cellared by me since release. Just a little tired and flabby. Other current notes are much more effusive, so maybe just an off bottle.
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9/14/2023 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot Likes this wine: 93 Points
2012 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Horizontal (San Diego, CA): Pours a deep red brick/garnet. This definitely looks its age.
Over ripe black cherries, over ripe raspberries, seared wild boar, lard, dried porcini mushrooms, dark chocolate and potpourri on the nose. Someone noted that it smelled like "Grandma's House" and though that means different things to different people, I think it mostly fits. Fresher fruit on the palate - merely ripe rather than over ripe - complimented by cardamom, caraway and more dark chocolate. This wine has some great tertiary notes; but I like how fresh it feels at the same time. The mid palate especially feels light and lifted. Intensity of both flavors and aromas is high.
Full bodied with medium + acid and medium tannin. Complex. Texturally smooth. I think this is at peak right now, and will not benefit from further aging. Great pairing with beef bourgignon.
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9/12/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby with garnet edges. On the nose, dark plums, dark cherries, mocha, wet earth, a hint of vanillin oak. Deep sweet red and dark fruit on the palate, medium to high acids, rich strong integrated tannins, long finish with a beautiful aromatic back note. Round and enveloping body. Medium to high alcohol (14.5%), well balanced by the acid and tannin and a sweet crunchiness of trending red fruit. Perfect with Time Market pizza
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7/9/2023 - dulcamara wrote: 95 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs - I have only one left after this bottle. Great wine. I do not see how it will get much better.
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6/3/2023 - kstoddard wrote: 95 Points
From 12L! My god daughter’s wedding. Simply incredible!!!!!!
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5/7/2023 - rm97 wrote: 92 Points
Took a while to blow off the funk.
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1/23/2023 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
Opened and decanted for possible sediment (which was minimal). A tiny bit of bricking in appearance, but open for business from go. Well balanced with red fruits and soft tannins. Paired very well with a slow cooked chuck roast.
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12/26/2022 - JonBarnes1 Likes this wine:
Muted nose. Light bodied on the palate, with gravelly notes and faint red fruit. Lively acidity still. Grows into a long and much more flavorful finish with tobacco and baking spices. Just saw the note from RupertG last month and feel it is spot on; same impression, arrived at independently.
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11/9/2022 - rupertg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Garnet coloured, surprisingly pale, clear edge. Well settled sediment in bottle. Open 4 hrs. Mainly alcohol on the nose but flavour fills the mouth. Tobacco, cherry and brambley tar, full and smooth. Lingers really well. Tannin on finish, but hints of leather and forest outlast it. Years to go. So good that I finished the bottle !
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8/16/2022 - pbaek wrote:
In a very good spot. Dark, almost blue fruit. Seaweed notes, sous bois. Good acidity. Vertical, structured. At Coteaux et Fourchettes, Cairanne.
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8/3/2022 - mmcdds Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice enough, but perhaps abit flat tonight.
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6/27/2022 - brodien wrote:
Smelt amazing out of the decanter but it didn’t translate in the glass. Quite bitter on the back palate & a bit of alc warmth - both of which substantially obscured the fruit. A hint of aniseed & pleasant assertive tannins. But not enough to seduce, which is kind of the point of Grenache & Cndp.
Bought from a retailer I no longer buy from after some questionable bottles - so I won’t score in case this bottle was not representative.
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3/29/2022 - WineDuq Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened 2 hours prior to drinking. Definite bricking. The nose was raspberry, fresh forest, shoe leather, slight funk (inside of a shoe), iron to rust. Mid-weight palate, nice ripeness that straddled the line between fresh and roasted, iron, red fruits, energetic acidity. The finish was very firm, concentrated, with lots of fine-grained tannins. Became a bit drying by the end of bottle, not sure the fruit will outlive the tannins.
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2/11/2022 - gouldcampbell77 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hrs. Pale red/garnet - looks more like a ten year old Burgundy than a CNDP. On the nose, sweet candied fruit, red liquorice bootlaces, nuts and molten milk chocolate. In fact, this smells like a Snickers Bar that has melted in your pocket on a hot day. Reminds me of Ch Musar. On the palate, medium to light weight, good dark sweet fruit and again. those red liquorice boot laces. Tastes very young still. There's plenty of tannin and acidity and I think this is just too young at the moment. At the very least needs a few hours in the decanter otherwise, another two or three years to integrate. By no means a wasted bottle, but I'm hanging on for a couple of years before my next bottle.
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1/30/2022 - VinhoVerde Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium dark red color. Fragrant spicy, herb and cherry aromatics. A structured, medium to full-bodied wine that is still somewhat youthful. Very good length. I wish it had a little more fruit concentration. A little bit of warmth in the aftertaste.
I decanted this 3 hours before serving based on the tasting experience of another 2012 Chateauneuf-du-Pape I had about a month ago. 2012 apparently produced some tannic backward Chateauneuf. Purchased upon release and stored in my cool cellar.
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1/22/2022 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
4th Saturday Brown Bagger (J&L's): Double blind. Opens with a stewy, ripe dark fruit quality that dominates. On the full side of medium-bodied, with flavors of raisin and plum. Subtle spice tones as well. (M&R)
This was quite the surprise when it was unveiled- no one guessed CndP. Some said it was flawed, likely heat during transit, but this didn’t strike me as maderized. I think this is just “modern” Chateauneuf- overly ripe and raisiny- and is a perfect example of why I no longer buy CndP without trying it first.
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1/9/2022 - ClaytonDave wrote:
Gift
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1/2/2022 - Philbeagles Likes this wine: 93 Points
2.5 hour gentle decant. "TAFFER" sous vide beef shank (Costco) for pairing. Boy, that makes for good gravy. The beef was rich and opulent. The wine came along as a very willing partner and enhanced the whole meal. All the elements have come together with this wine. Tannins are in a good place. Full bodied. Fruits in the forefront. Still could use a few more years in the cellar to get the PnP aspect that kicked in at about the the 3. hr mark. Very highly recommended. Drink or hold for at least anotehr 5 - 10 years. Needs just a touch of air now.
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12/15/2021 - ClaytonDave wrote:
Gifted
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11/26/2021 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium ruby garnet. Pronounced aromas of prune, black cherry, allspice, and lilac. Deep penetrating dark fruit on the palate, light acids, strong smooth tannins, floating aromatics, long finish.
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10/17/2021 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Aromas of macerated plum, raspberry and strawberry, gingerbread and a medley of toasted herbs. Rich yet silky Pinot-like fruit awash in acidity that provides lift and intensity to the herb and spice nuances.
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10/1/2021 - Mdubnik Likes this wine:
From a 375 bottle; my wife and I both agreed that it is still way too young to drink (even out of the 1/2 bottle). I think it needs a minimum of 3-5 years in the 375 bottle, and honestly probably 7-10 in a standard bottle. Let it rest.
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9/25/2021 - HDW55 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Really Liked this wine. Brought these two bottles to a chef's cooked dinner at a friends home. Went well with an inspired creamier sauced beef dish. Crystal Garnet Color. Nose: plum, violets, earth and hint of lavender. On the Palate. Fat red fruit with mildly assertive tannins with Long tail finish. Nice!
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8/20/2021 - ClaytonDave Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ready; raspberry and spices. Excellent
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8/6/2021 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium garnet. Aromas of spiced plum, violets, and dry undergrowth. Saturating red plum fruit on the palate with a mahogany richness, moderate acids on a strong base of integrated tannins with a rugged edge, medium body, carries well its 14.5% alcohol. Excellent with Mediterranean fish stew. Long finish.
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7/3/2021 - rm97 wrote: 92 Points
Continuaes to impress. Lovely wine
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5/15/2021 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
From half-bottle. This was pretty sound, showing warmth from the ripe year and plenty of kirsch/cherry notes on the nose. Sweet on the palate, with a little headiness from the alcohol but this bottle was mostly all in check.
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4/2/2021 - AnthonyPilkington Likes this wine:
Medium body, very smooth, initial spice scent, classy, expensive though
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2/5/2021 - Plabella wrote:
HB Harriet
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2/1/2021 - Nanda wrote:
Classic warm year CdP with brambly, herby ripe plum and blueberry fruit. Ripe and full bodied with good poise on the palate.
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1/26/2021 - Scottwhipp Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium bodied. Nose of spicy raspberry, blackberry and lavender. Austere style with restrained fruit. Layered flavors - brambly raspberry/cranberry on the front palate, transitions to blackberry mid palate with a touch of mouth watering tangerine peel tannin on the back palate. Finishes dry. Needed a couple of hours of air to open. Drinking nicely now but plenty of life left.
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12/30/2020 - chablis28 wrote: 93 Points
My 2nd of 3 btls. My first 5 yrs ago on my 60th. Time has accelerated ever since hitting 55 10 yrs ago:) Ok, on to this lovely btl. Opened 3-1/2 hrs before dinner. First sips had a gentle grip but no need to decant. So slow oxed in a couple Burg glasses & btl till dinner. Terrific w/ Nita's burger sliders! This is a tribute to finding balance & finesse even with the powerful dominating grenache in most CDP blends. For my palate, there are very few CDP producers who can keep Grenache in check. VT is one of the best. Enjoyed every single sip & sniff of this tonight & especially the last about 6 hrs in. Adequate breathing & temp control are important here. This offered a classic mix of CDP aromas & flavors coupled w/ a Burgundian sensibility of; balance, transparency & finesse over decadence. Nothing out of place here. Now I'm wishing I had more than one left as this vintage would be fun to track every 3-4yrs for the next 15-20yrs. 14.5% alc on the label but never noticed any heat nor ill effects. That said, I drink these in the mid - high 50s and never warmer than the lower 60s. 93+ Watching Paul McCartney's 2009 Nova Scotia concert with this, didn't hurt either :)
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12/11/2020 - Zazzaman Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark fruit on nose - blackberry etc plus spice - clove & cinnamon, then initially austere with soft but firm tannins but then richness and complexity hit mid-palate and dominate. Not voluptuous but rich enough to drink a glass pre-dinner with pleasure - Good to very good but worth £40 / $50 6 years ago en primeur?
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12/4/2020 - Jbolt80 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 1-2hr, cherries and spice with good balance. Paired well with roast lamb.
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11/27/2020 - battytaxicab Likes this wine: 90 Points
A very robust and quite austere CdP. Based on other notes was worried it might not be ready vs. others which said it may not improve. Used a Coravin for a quick taste. Was ok so uncorked and decanted three hours before Thanksgiving lunch. Went very well with the variety of tastes on that plate. Plenty of structure and tannin but with enough fruit and texture to be very well balanced. Tend to think it may be at or near it's peak though.
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10/18/2020 - Yorgos wrote: 92 Points
PnP. expressive nose of ripe red and mostly dark fruit like prunes with red cherries and berries more subdued. Also dried herbs, earthy and mineral notes along with some cedar. Medium bodied, savoury with good structure and balancing acidity. Perhaps more earthy and mineral with the fruit somewhat in the background. Good length, perhaps not that deep but enjoyable nonetheless. 91-92
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10/5/2020 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a decadent La Crau — aromas of lavender, raspberry preserves, prunes, and nori. In transition to a more dried fruit character. This is ready to drink structurally, and I like the current flavor profile, so I wouldn’t necessarily expect this to improve.
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10/2/2020 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 91 Points
Friday lunch with friends, opened for 2 hours, plums & pepper, medium bodied, good depth, earthly, bitter sweet finish, think will improve with age, 91 now
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8/3/2020 - azzah Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very much enjoyed this. Good now, more to come. Red and dark cherries, plum, herbs, pepper, floral notes, earth. Full bodied but not heavy. Good but not great length. Nice.
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8/1/2020 - BBinSC wrote: 92 Points
From magnum
Intense, chewy wine with powerful fruit, silky mouthfeel, and nice touches of garrigue. Still young - have not had in the 750 but I suspect it's just hitting maturity. Very good.
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7/15/2020 - rm97 wrote: 92 Points
Lovely to drink. PnP and really delivered. Has the 2013 recently and the difference is striking. This is a lovely wine with a rich mouth feel. No rush.
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7/5/2020 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
Moving aromas of soft floral mulberries on the edge of over ripeness dark blackberry fruit coffee something sharp. Dark and salty rich fruit on the palate with a dry tannic underpinning, beautifully integrated.
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5/26/2020 - brianofthevine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dried strawberry, red cherry, and some plum fruit. Mineral driven core with notes of red licorice, dried flowers, herbs, spice, tea leaves, and subtle earth. Nice finish, decent wine.
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5/21/2020 - wgmccallum wrote: flawed
Volatile acid on the nose, acetone turning into plummy vinegar, masking aromas of mahogany, coffee, and ripe berry. Deep core of dark fruit on the palate with strong but smooth and integrated tannins. It was a pleasure to drink with roasted eggplant with feta, tomatoes, and oregano, despite its flaws. But I'm not going to rate it.
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5/10/2020 - Baron Samedi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Developing substantial secondary flavours, yet still tannic. Abundant spices typical of S Rhone. Went down well with barbecued lamb.
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5/3/2020 - cincybt wrote: 91 Points
Really drinking well with lots of spice complexity. Minimal bottle decant and enjoyable from the start.
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4/12/2020 - Tomlask Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bought from the producer in 2014 and paired with an outsanding grilled veil.
Deep ruby color and strong deepness, It has a charming, rich, fruitiness, and firm tannin and should age well for many years
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3/29/2020 - acyso wrote: 80 Points
This half-bottle was stewed and advanced. Adequate for cooking, which is what happened to it, but not something interesting to drink.
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2/16/2020 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
A nose of dried flowers, raspberries, licorice and earth. It is rich and heady in the mouth, with a silky feel and excellent length. Drinking very nicely.
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2/7/2020 - Palisades57 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hmmmm.... had a mag of this for the Super Bowl. Good CdP; full, ripe with well integrated tannins. Reading the other reviews it sounds like there is bottle variability. In my case we got lucky and had a winner.
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1/3/2020 - yasha Likes this wine: 93 Points
this cdp is just great. open a hour before drinking and great. Happy to have two more to open later
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12/30/2019 - ChopperWine wrote: 89 Points
I had an absolutely deplorable bottle that was thrown out the other day. So I wanted to go back to it and try again. A fellow Cellar Tracker member, DFBW, wrote that to him, it seemed odd for him to write that a 2012 CdP tasted "fully to over-mature." I, for the most part, agree. While this bottle was light years better than the one the other day, it still just does not live up to what I believe a Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe should be just 7 years in. Drink 'em if ya got 'em.
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12/26/2019 - ChopperWine Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Opened up to whiffs of musty/dusty basement aromas along with old leather. Was not a pleasant surprise and I was hoping it was just a classic CdP coming into itself. Light bodied and very sour and metallic on the first sip. Came to the immediate conclusion that this wine needed at least an hour to open up. After several hours, it had not improved. So the suggestion was made to see how it will be the next day. The next day came and was thrown away. Just not good. Not turned, mind you, just not good. Shame.
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12/16/2019 - DFBW Likes this wine: 89 Points
A good if unspectacular start to our Christmas red wine selection at Hawksmoor. Good meaty savoury flavours. Was rather overshadowed by the 2006 Prado Enea GR Rioja that followed...
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10/26/2019 - Aparritz Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is singing right now. Even out of a 375 the balance and depth is there, and everything just works. Opens a little hot and powerful but after an hour or two this mellows tremendously. What a joy from such a storied estate.
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10/6/2019 - DFBW wrote: 88 Points
It seems odd to say for a 2012 CndP and I don't know if it is just this wine or if it's the vintage but it tastes fully to over-mature. Gave it plenty of air - it's rich and savoury. It's not unpleasant to drink, just prune-like and a bit old on the palate. For me, it's drink up time on the last three I have as I certainly don't see this changing over time..
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10/2/2019 - robkuhling Does not like this wine: 70 Points
Over the hill. baked and prune-y.
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9/28/2019 - Mikecu6 wrote: 94 Points
Marvelous. Let breathe for 75 min, nice cherry color, round nose, broad taste on the palate. Matched with a rack of lamb. Hard to think it gets better, but I’ve got 1 more.
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9/6/2019 - HorstPeak Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wait 5 to 10 years, soft tannins, dark cherries, loved it! I have 1 more bottle 🍷😀
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7/25/2019 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
From half-bottle. Certainly this feels just slightly hot, but this bottle isn't over the top in that sense. A nice amount of high-toned red fruit, as well as a slight bit of liqueur. I've had some inconsistencies here, but this bottle is drinking fairly nicely.
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5/12/2019 - Dhunternm Likes this wine: 91 Points
This bottle was firing on all cylinders. Great sweet fruit with garrigue. Adequate remaining acidity. Knit together and developed but not showing any decay. Great with seared Ahi finished with pomegranate and pine nuts on a spring vegetable pilaf.
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5/5/2019 - acyso wrote: 70 Points
From half-bottle. No obvious flaw here, but this was vastly different than other bottles from the same batch: marred by insanely high alcohol and bitterness on the finish. Completely disjoint and unpleasant.
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4/20/2019 - DFBW Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big, rich and savoury. Good four decant in the bottle. Tastes more aged than it is. In my opinion, to be drunk around ove the next 3/4 years as might be too much Barnyard with more age than that on it but depends how you like your CndP.
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3/27/2019 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 94 Points
Spicy aromatic nose with an intense melding of cloves, cinnamon, and cumin; mushrooms and forest floor accompanied by a lovely floral top note. Deep dark fruit on the palate, contradictorily light and clear, aromatic at the back. An extraordinary powerful wine, lovely with ratatouille. 50 + 17 + 18 + 9 = 94.
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2/20/2019 - cubswinws wrote: 88 Points
Tart and a bit hot. Somewhat better on Day #2 but still lacks the depth I would have expected.
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1/28/2019 - ed-d Likes this wine: 91 Points
Seems a bit modern & slightly over extracted. Tasty nonetheless!
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1/14/2019 - KimberJ Likes this wine: 96 Points
Lighter. Could use some age. Cherry. Licorice. Peppery. A little acidic and tannic. — 5 years
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12/15/2018 - Dagman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tart cherries, good tannic balance. Not what I thought it would be but interesting enough.
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11/22/2018 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
From half-bottle. Heady, with a fair bit of kirsch and plums. Not over the top, but definitely a bigger, denser wine. On the palate, the generous fruit seems to be shutting down a bit, and shows a little more heat and burn on the finish than I remember from my earlier tastings.
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10/23/2018 - eBoB wrote: 88 Points
The price is beyond quality.
SELFRIDGES £64.99
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10/22/2018 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
From half-bottle. A little alcoholic now, showing some heat on the nose, coupled with some pleasant red fruit. A little cherry and liqueur, some licorice and a nice herbal element. Not as rich on the palate, though this is pleasant enough. Doesn't seem to have the stuffing now to hold the alcohol.
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9/16/2018 - Luke Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice blackcurrent, anise & garrigue. Good length & lovely fine tannin with some stony mineral character that draws out in the finish. Wine looks squeaky clean & very fresh. An elegant CNP.
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7/26/2018 - brown57 wrote: flawed
Oxidized, undrinkable.
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5/20/2018 - poppacork Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasting note from last night so just general impressions. This was a well balanced red with a generous profile of red berries and plums with a bit of forest floor. Very clearly identifiable as a southern Rhône blend and Chateauneuf by its quality.
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5/16/2018 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
Blinds at home (Chicago, IL): From half-bottle. Quite a nice nose, with a slight bit of salinity on top of a good dose of plummy fruit that is still fresh. Clearly a bigger wine with broader shoulders, but it carries its weight well. There's a tiny smidge of heat on the palate which bothers me a bit, but mostly it is a study of how to balance out alcohol with complexity, minerality, and fruit.
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5/15/2018 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
Nose: The nose was a little reticent at first, but it opened up beautifully after an hour with black raspberries, black cherries, kirsch liqueur, mesquite, licorice, tobacco, incense, and garrigue. There is excellent depth with a real savory side that draws you in.
Taste: Medium+ bodied with medium acidity and medium+ tannins. The acidity provides a real nice backbone while the tannins add in a frame. The feel is savory and balanced with black raspberries, black cherries, mesquite, tobacco, licorice, incense, and garrigue.
Overall: This is wonderful after an hour or two of air. It's still clearly on the youthful side, but there is a seamlessness to it that is utterly attractive. This will certainly benefit from age, but it is open and giving already.
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5/6/2018 - jkolb wrote: 92 Points
Approachable and balanced. Drinking well. Slightly underwhelming given the price and producer.
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4/23/2018 - djchango77 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Plum tart with plenty of red earth, dried flower and licorice on the nose. Lots of fruit, albeit slightly muted, on the front followed by a rather long leathery middle.
Will drink half tonight and see what the other half looks like tomorrow night.
Could use some roast duck and crispy potatoes.
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3/2/2018 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 93 Points
On the nose a kaleidoscope of stewed apricots, dark berries, savory chocolate, and earth. A winding progression of deep dry fruit from front to back coiled with sinewy tannins and firm but delicate acid, with an aromatic back note. Complex and moving. 50 + 17 + 17 + 9 = 93.
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3/1/2018 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
From half-bottle. As far as CdP goes, this is a really pleasant bottle. It's clean, without any weird animal funk or brett or any such things, and there's a pleasant, if slightly heady, black-fruit-accented nose. The palate is sweet, but doesn't feel ripe. There's generous fruit here, and some good structure from the tannin as well. Acidity helps round out the full-bodied (for my palate) weight here.
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2/9/2018 - Petrusha wrote:
Red blend from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France
65% Grenache, 15% S, 15% M
needs several hours of decanting to open up.
very interesting, complex
medium to full body , medium acidity, medium tannins
Pairs well with pork, lamb, chicken
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1/14/2018 - rwthomps7 wrote:
3
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12/25/2017 - Jackasic Likes this wine: 93 Points
opened too young, needs more time to express it fuller.
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12/24/2017 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
From half-bottle. The nose shows a bit high-toned, with some sweetness. The palate, as well, is high-toned, but despite the ripeness and sweetness here, there is still very good restraint, and the bit of acidity here certainly helps cut through this larger-scaled wine. Not too stinky and funky, nor oaky and modernist, this is a bottle of CdP that truly sits at the happy middle.
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12/4/2017 - bushrandall Likes this wine:
Tasted at Vin Chicago's Kermit Lynch sale. This is one of the few CDPs of which I am consistently impressed. Black fruit combined with herbs--an alluring combination of cardamom, pepper, and coriander--and a soft but powerful core. This feels like it will come together very nicely. Bought a case of 375s.
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12/3/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Vin Chicago / Kermit Lynch Tasting (Vin Chicago - Chicago IL): Tasting, brief note. From magnum. Black fruit, animale, sweet spice. Rich and long with ripe intensity on finish. Certainly needs time in the cellar.
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12/2/2017 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light game nose. Black pepper. Beef blood finish. Classic and drinking very well, just a bit too ethereal for my taste, I know some will score this higher.
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11/5/2017 - PC73 wrote: 90 Points
Lots of spice and lavender on nose.
Lighter, more delicate on palate.
Lots of tannins on the finish.
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10/30/2017 - jwkunstman Likes this wine: 94 Points
Spectacular. Would benefit from another few years in bottle but after decanting 2hrs has great nose and body.
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9/9/2017 - HStaal wrote: 92 Points
RHONE WINE TASTING & LUNCHEON (The Royal Oak, Paley Street): Appearance: The wine is Clear with a Medium ruby colour. Nose: The nose is Clean and Developing, showing Pronounced intensity primary aromas of blackberry, black cherry, red currant, cranberry, liquorice, secondary aromas of vanilla, cloves, toast, smoke and tertiary aromas of tobacco, meaty, game. Palate: The wine is Dry in the mouth with a Medium(+) level of acidity. It has Medium(+) Firm ripe tannins and a High Level of alcohol (14.50%). It has Medium(+) body and Pronounced intensity primary flavours of red cherry, blackberry, black cherry, redcurrant, cranberry, liquorice, secondary flavours of vanilla, cloves, toast, smoke and tertiary flavours of tobacco, meaty, game. The finish is Long Conclusion: It is an Outstanding quality wine. Can Drink Now but has Potential for Ageing.
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6/6/2017 - blaine Likes this wine:
No formal notes, pop and pour, this was singing out of the gate, very enjoyable and remarkably approachable at this young age. Beautiful garrigue on the nose, surprisingly round on the palate. Looking at the notes below I will try to keep my hands off my other bottle for a while.
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5/7/2017 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 91 Points
Primary & young even with a 3 hour decant, garringue, herbs, lock this away for long time
91
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5/5/2017 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 91 Points
2 hour decant and it was still big but balanced, from a magnum, surprisingly accessible but clamps up, classic cdp nose, full bodied red, this format needs few more years say 3-5
91+
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5/3/2017 - Goonie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Superb. Half bottle. Classic 'barolo' like Cndp - elegant raspberry and kirsch nose, elevated by ground bass of earth, sand, dust, blood and stone (why are these flavours so mystical in good wine?).
And palate continues the same themes, with some curious green notes that are usually called garrigue here and there on mid palate. Beguiling hints of spice and pastille.
Tannins still young and not in perfect balance yet, but this can be enjoyed young - it already shows all its wares, it's pedigree and beauty, like a nubile young woman, so you don't have to wait. But it's just a bit gaudy now even in half bottle. It's true maturity would come in another 5-10 years, erring towards the latter for full bottle.
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4/29/2017 - wdlohr wrote: 92 Points
medium red, full cherry, concentrated structure and balance
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4/9/2017 - beatles wrote: 92 Points
Very good. More free running than VT usually is, but the vintage, less cool and aristocratic than many of if the VT's, more pure joy here. Will live, of course.
#MuledePape
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3/29/2017 - yarnon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ruby.
Intense nose fruit and spices.
Deep warm and powerful. 14.5% alcohol, soft tannins and medium acid. Balanced and good.
Long good finish
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3/4/2017 - TrueLoker wrote: 90 Points
The nose is clean forest berry. The taste is a liqueur cherry, herbs and moderate spices. Not hard, but tight. In the end it is alcoholic, for all its 14.5%, with decantation a little leveled.
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2/27/2017 - Ortiz Brown Likes this wine: 91 Points
Our first Châteauneuf-du-Pape, so take these notes for what they’re worth. Decanted one hour but the wine showed much more of itself after the third hour. Beautiful, clear ruby in the glass with medium intensity cranberry and earth on the nose. Bright and crisp cranberry and cherry on the palate with mild spice, deliciously acidic with very soft tannins to balance the experience. Based on others’ notes here I’d like to pick up another bottle and lay it down for the suggested 10 years! This being our first CdP, it reminded us of a high-quality Oregon pinot noir.
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2/26/2017 - jkwoodward Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still with time, but great out of a half bottle. Tasted with 07 and 09 and held its own with the 07, better than the 09 at this point. Very nice, full bodied but smooth. Decanted 3 hours.
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2/25/2017 - Grinner wrote: 93 Points
CdP and Beef at the Woody's (Kyla's Kitchen): From half bottle, this had more bright red cherry and raspberry notes than the CdP's prior. Notable tar, smoke, earth and kelp give a sense of place. I think another year's wait would be good for it - 2022.
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2/22/2017 - jsiprut wrote:
Superb wine, buy more
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1/23/2017 - Jonezky Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good structure and complexity, full-bodied and fleshy without heavy concentration.
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12/2/2016 - jim dixon wrote: 93 Points
This is classic Vieux Telegraphe and I much prefer it to bottles from hotter vintages when the licorice flavors turn pruney.
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11/27/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Tight from 3.0 liter and took about five hours to get going. But once it did its all there within front fruit.
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10/28/2016 - DFBW Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bought a case of this wine and then stumbled across a half bottle in a shop a few days later of the same vintage so thought I would use this as a tester. Pulled the cork and left in the bottle for two house but really opened up in the glass. Medium colours with amazing aroma of dark fruits. Beautiful rich taste and really decent length even at this age. This is going to be a great wine - needs a little time for the acidity to soften but if it's drinking this well now.......
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10/13/2016 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Kermit Lynch tasting at Plum Market (Chicago, IL): An excellent Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This is by far the most complex and concentrated of the reds tonight. A good balance of red and black fruit, and no animale funk at all. Lots of stony minerality here as well. A huge wine that needs some time to loosen up.
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10/13/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Kermit Lynch Winemaker Tour (Plum Market - Chicago IL): Tasting, brief note. I rarely drink this wine, so it was of particular interest tonight. Black plum and wonderful spice with a roast meat character. Very good harmony, yet clearly well structured. Meaty finish with very good length. Cellar at least a few years, but this will drink well for decades.
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9/9/2016 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 95 Points
Light ruby. Bright nose of earth, moss, flowers, dark berries, and Asian spice. Deep penetrating fruit on the palate with slightly wild tannins roped in by a lassoo of acid. Aromatic tannic back notes leading into a lasting finish. Softly transporting, exotic. 50 + 18 + 18 + 9.
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8/3/2016 - renapen Likes this wine: 95 Points
The wine looks tawny colored. The legs are slow. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It smells like mushroom and black pepper.
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7/26/2016 - skifree wrote: 93 Points
CT Seattle CdP Tasting (Amoroso Room, Bellevue Wine Storage): Medium garnet in the glass. Nice bright red fruit on the nose, medium body. Quite spicy in the mouth, with a nice long finish. My 2nd, group's 1st out of 9 CdP's at CT SEA CdP tasting. Impressive.
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6/30/2016 - ClaudioMac1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Experimented with this young wine in a tasting to see what wines paired well with southern BBQ (ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken with spicy, sweet sauces - apple BBQ sauce, molasses BBQ sauce and Tennessee red vinegar sauce). Wine went great with the food but really was super tightly wound and barely showing its fruit and full potential. I'd wait at least a decade before drinking the next one of these.
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6/26/2016 - Sekocellar wrote: 93 Points
Great
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6/2/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Medium/full bodied, fresh, bright, lively wine which is still young and a little tight. With air, and effort, the kirsch, black raspberry, tapenade, thyme and garrigue began to develop and show itself. This needs a few more years in the bottle.
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5/20/2016 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Decanted for about 3 hours prior to serving. In comparison to the 2011 which we had a few weeks ago, this was not nearly as ready to drink. Color is a deep garnet, nose of dark red fruits and bramble. On the palate the tannins are still a bit disjointed. I would wait before opening these if you have them.
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4/3/2016 - THECORKDORK Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good now but will be great later. Very smoky and with hints of Licorice and black pepper. So classic and very enjoyable.
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3/24/2016 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
The nose was dark and rich yet lifted and refined, showing red and black fruits, smoke, exotic spice, savory herbs, and minerals. It was silky with full-bodied textures on the palate, displaying savory tones of charred meat, minerals and herbs followed by black cherry fruit and the grip fine tannin. The finish showed saturating blackberry fruit, smoke and exotic spice.
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3/22/2016 - curiouswino42 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Nose: jammy, some acidity. Taste: earthy, figgy, tramasu like. Finish: long & lingering, full, figgy, explosive at end. Light-med tannin.
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, blueberry and mineral. It tastes like fig and mineral. The body is light/medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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3/10/2016 - brihprivat wrote: 91 Points
VT Vertical 1983-2012.
Fresh, fruity. Still closed but OK to drink now.
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2/22/2016 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 92 Points
Obviously too young, but not obscenely so. Earthy and dark cherry and vegetal. But not candied and not sweet, and complex and yummy which makes this a star. These vines are old and this wine can last, but is it worth the markup? At 50 or 60 bucks yes, but more than that and it's probably paying for the label.
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1/11/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Roasted red cherry fruits, savory, long, works it out.
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12/19/2015 - rocknroller wrote:
A few CDP's at Sunfish (Sunfish Cellars, St. Paul, MN): Dark red color. Followed one glass over 45 minutes. Very immature, earth, vegetal, alcohol, big dark fruit, herbs. About the same experience as a couple months ago, not surprisingly. Needs 3 to 5+ years.
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12/10/2015 - Frijole wrote:
medium plum red, lots of clarity, silvery hue
Nose: cranberry, plum, apple, vanilla, milk chocolate, white pepper, tarragon, bay leaf, thyme, earth, toasted caramel, oak
Pal: cranberry, plum, apple, clove, leather, vanilla, black pepper, cola, tarragon, bay leaf, thyme, earth, caramel, oak
Feel: medium, savory
Finish: long
TC8
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11/28/2015 - WineWheelz wrote: 91 Points
Tasted as part of a vertical of Vieux Telelgraphe "La Crau"
Notes of flowers, cherry, licorice, candied fruits, and marmalade jam. In the mouth, graphite, candied red fruits, blood orange, and spice. Broadening with medium tannin.
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11/7/2015 - rmalloy Likes this wine: 95 Points
A blockbuster. Thick kirsch, melted licorice, animal aromas, star anise, cloves, and lightly toasted wood. These flavors need time to integrate.
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10/30/2015 - galewskj wrote:
Hennepin Lake Tasting (Uptown): A small pour at a tasting, I don't know if they did anything to the bottle. Thoroughly not ready to drink. Barnyard funk, significant tannin and structure. I was unable to assess this in any meaningful way.
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10/30/2015 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 92 Points
Color: med red
Nose: tight
Palate: beefy and masculine, solid telegraphe, good but in this company it will always struggle, Rayas 06, ch la tour vougeot VV 08 etc
92
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10/28/2015 - rocknroller wrote:
Hennepin Lake Charity Tasting Event - Current Releases (Mpls, MN): Tasting pour. Could't get anywhere with this. Was hot and grippy at this point. Dark fruit, but can't assess now.
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10/22/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Kermit Lynch Tasting. Tasting pour. Previously decanted. Added at the end of the tasting as a surprise.
Terrific nose. Spice, cedar, pure expression of cherry fruit, and although just a baby it drank well. I usually lay these down, but I may start drinking some earlier now. This did convince me to buy some.
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9/20/2015 - The Guzz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright open fruit. Good young wine. Very expressive cranberry, raspberry, cola. Sweet spice, it's all there.
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8/21/2015 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
I wasn't feeling this tonight. It seemed too candied, almost syrupy, plum desert-like. Probably because of the 8 Trappist Ales I just consumed.
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8/16/2015 - chablis28 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted at 3PM, back into the blt at 4PM and drank around 7PM. No hard edges here. Burgundian in weight and expression. Red fruit, gariggue and spice. Beautiful balance and texture. Steak wine for Burgundy lovers or at least a great pairing tonight for my 60th B-Day with the family. Wine is almost never the focus with the kids and I avoided opening something crazy good tonight for that reason but this certainly filled the bill and I was wanting to try one. Easy to drink and enjoy tonight but like most VT this will be much more interesting in 10 -15yrs. ALC 14.5% but completely in balance. I have 5 vintages of VT and wish I had bought more. This and Beaucastel along with one or two other producers are the CDPs to own and drink without hesitation.
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8/1/2015 - yofog wrote:
Crunchier, and seemingly on a lighter frame, than recent Telegraphes that I remember, but really complex and fine and aromatic. I like this a lot. Classical.
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7/26/2015 - Gilles Ledesma wrote: 95 Points
Pop n pour. Oh so good. Powerfull nose of kirsch, prune and chocolate that meet exactly the palate. Long finish with fresh tannins. An outstanding classical styled CNDP that own absolutely everything I m looking for in this appelation. You can drink it right now or cellar it certainly for a long time.
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6/14/2015 - JonBarnes1 wrote:
On the VT scale (i.e. they ALL are amazing), I found this one solid but nothing special. Could have tried too early.
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6/3/2015 - Harley1199 wrote:
Infanticide. Flowers and wood aromas plus a shot alcohol.
Palate
In the mouth soon degenerates into something nasty, harsh and tannic.
We must wait, in my humble opinion, at least ten years.
Really promising.
Un infanticidio. Aromas a flores y madera con un alcohol muy disparado.
En boca en seguida degenera hacia algo desagradable, áspero y tánico.
Hay que esperar, en mi modesta opinión, al menos diez años.
Realmente promete.
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5/22/2015 - kingofwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Hard not to expect great things from this property. When it comes to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it doesn't get much better.
This wine delivered in spades but took a while to decipher all it's offerings due to it's early release. So complex and integrated. All varieties shine through with each swirl and increased temperature. The Grenache so bold, the Mourvedre so floral and Syrah adding a coating of spice.
Truly a wine to revere. Anyone who can afford it should respect it. Hold it or save for a truly great occasion.
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5/3/2015 - Allagashme Likes this wine: 90 Points
clean. When I think CndP, robust fruit, tannin, balance, a bit of earth. This was lacking some of the bigger/richer fruit I'd expect. Wasn't tight or angular, just uncomplicated with some fruit, some tannins, some acid.
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4/24/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Henri Brunier notes that this is a very classical Vieux Telegraph, old vines from the estate, 100% la Crau, 2 years of aging. Big red ripe fruit, rounded yet with some structure. Is this the vintage I had most recently? Its radically different. A good saltiness too notes Henri. And yes, a good saltiness.
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3/20/2015 - sehill Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted and poured, this wine gave an excellent showing with a more forthcoming and detailed personality than the last experience with this wine. The bouquet offers raspberry, granite and herbal notes that develop with airing. The color is a medium to dark ruby that is youthful and vibrant. The medium / full bodied palate shows detail and length with sufficient underlying structure. Tannins and subtle acidity appear on the medium length finish. At this stage the wine benefits from decanting and suggests that it will improve with additional bottle age.
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3/9/2015 - Racer117 wrote: 91 Points
Impressively approachable now but obviously built for the future. Subdued plum and herb nose; bold flavors of fresh vibrant herbs, cinnamon, plum. Wow this is intense. It grips the tongue. Moderate acidity and tannins.
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3/8/2015 - jaumealaska Likes this wine: 91 Points
Red fruit and some garrigue to the nose, tannins are still firm, but good fruit and long finish. Thought the 2010 was the better wine now, but a better comparison would be in 2 more years. Worked great with a red steak though.
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1/20/2015 - LemurKing Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great wine.
The one thing that surprises me about this VT is how approachable it is, but STILL has the lovely promise of longevity that we expect in a VT.
Strangely approachable, but it does have plenty of well-rounded tannin in expectation of the bounty of VT palate we will know will come.
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1/7/2015 - Gilles Ledesma wrote: 94 Points
Decanté pendant 4 heures et bu frais 15-16°C. Fruits murs, tannins souple. Longue finale légèrement asséchante mais bon à boire maintenant. Toutefois à €60 le rapport Q/P n'est pas exceptionnel.
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12/17/2014 - sehill wrote: 89 Points
Decanted and poured, this wine begins uncharacteristically reserved and backwards. Airing brings out its more generous aspects; however, the wine never develops a more compelling profile. If this bottle is representative of the '12 Vieux Telegraphe, hopefully a few years of bottle age will provide a more generous showing.
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11/17/2014 - CJM wrote: 87 Points
Clear, pale garnet. Cherry, cinnamon, vanilla. Low acids, medium to low tannins. Raspberry. Medium tannic finish
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10/29/2014 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Tasting with Daniel Brunier (Bin 75): I second aChave's note. The fruit is lower register than the Telegramme and the texture is surprisingly approachable now, but the power will emerge over the next couple of years. None of the typical blood orange but there is an orange oil note which keeps the wine bright. Very fine wine and a joy to drink.
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10/11/2014 - aChave Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark bright ruby. Integrated, somewhat bright feel with fine-grained tannins. Very balanced with surprisingly even, round mouth feel. Needs time; seems more integrated and Burgundy-like than many Chateauneufs... less power but remarkably integrated and harmonious. Very subtle but balanced with strong components. Be patient.
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3/5/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 90 Points
En primeur tasting. Red fruit and spices on the nose, round, quite open and polished, round tannins, medium finish, not too concentrated. 89-91+
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11/18/2013 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine: 91 Points
[J&B Rhone tasting] Like the Télégramme, it's quite approachable. A bit more depth. 91-92
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