This is a lovely, fairly full-bodied Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is in a wonderful phase at the moment. The tannins have softened, but the structure is still there as well. The wine is still very fruity, providing enticing notes of ripe red berries and fruits. However, the flavor palette is not purely fruit-driven, since the wine is also displaying darker tones, such as licorice, tar, underbrush and coal. I dare not say, how the wine will evolve in the coming years, but all in all, it is very delicious now.
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A little different than our last bottle a month ago. Big fig and raspberry notes initially followed by white pepper, cigar box/tobacco. Really good. Nice QPR for $25 on Winebid. Drink now
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A nice bright red. Scents more dark, "Rhoney". Nothing very arresting there. Palate is angular. Bitter herbs. Alcohol, tannins and a slightly tarry bitter extract protrude somewhat. Coarse, but earnest. I didn't really enjoy these. But it's not terribly expensive for CdP I suppose: though a lesser village from up the valley would have been just as good.
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Not sure what else one might want from a CDP. Balanced, full of fruit nuance and a steely spine after a 3 hour decant. Needs air to show what it has. Should be fine for another 3-5 years.
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Drinking really well, needed about 45 minutes to open up black cherry, cedar, spice ( anise, Rosemary, pepper) and a long elegant finish excellent QPR, this is a winner.
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Now medium-to-deep garnet in color, this blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah remains highly aromatic, with a nose of dark bramble fruits, crushed rocks, underbrush, leather and smoke. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic, seamlessly alcoholic (14.5%) and with soft residual tannins, it delivers flavors in line with the aromas and has good mid-palate density. Finishing long and smooth, this is a Châteauneuf that is really hitting its stride. Drink now-2025.
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Big and dark with bright flavors. Full red fruit flavors add to spice and a touch of pepper to make a delicious wine. This has a wonderful long finish.
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Last of six bottles purchased on release in 2014. All have been good, but this definitely showed the benefit of a few years of age. Classic CNdP notes of black cherry, pepper, and garrigue. A little hot at 14.5% ABV, and my guess is this isn't going to benefit from much more time in the cellar. Based on this bottle, the wine has entered a prime drinking window. Granting a relatively high score due to the excellent QPR at $40/btl. This is at least as good as other CNdPs that cost substantially more. Over the lot of bottles, the wine paired very well with duck, mushroom-based soups, and farro.
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Medium plus intensity nose - baked strawberries, strawberry jam, ripe red cherry, slightly confected cherry, red liquorice (possible carbonic maceration) - slight ripe plum - tertiary notes of leather and earth, dark-chocolate, and dried violets.
Mostly dry with a possible hint of RS (2-3g) Full-bodied, with high alcohol (14.5%), medium acidity and medium plus tannins (rounded). Pronounced flavor concentration mid-palate. Long finish.
This is a very good Grenache-dominant Chateauneuf-du-Pape AC wine. There's vibrant and complex primary fruit, along with well-integrated secondaries. The palate is balanced, though in a ripe, full-bodied way. The finish is long and lingering. It has less secondary and tertiary complexity of the best examples of the region, but is nonetheless very good.
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Great CdP. Nose has fresh flowers, purple fruit, a little crushed rock. Sweet raspberries and blackberries on the palate, followed by a little pepper. No heat from the increased alcohol.
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This deep ruby blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah is highly aromatic, with a nose of dark bramble fruits, crushed rocks, sous bois and smoky black cherries. Medium-to-full-bodied, freshly acidic and with medium-weight, sweet tannins, it delivers a flavor payload that mirrors the aromas. The middle palate is dense and shows no heat from the (listed) 14.5% alcohol. Closing long and smooth, this is yet another impressive offering from Hillaire. It should last longer than I previously estimated. Drink now-2025.
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2012 Chateauneuf du Pape (Trent's): I thought this was the best drinking wine on the table and voted it my WOTN. I don't see it making old bones, but for the next 5 to 10, should provide good drinking. Ruby in color. The nose has cedar, black raspberries, spice and slight floral notes. On the palate, this has big, juicy black cherry fruit. Firm tannins. It has a supple deliciousness that separated it for me on this night. The group like it far less although it got one first (mine), one second and one third.
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If Sour Patch Kids had a peppered grape flavor, the nose would be that. The palate is more refined though, but this needs at least another 4 years in the bottle. Some pepper follows through and the finish is medium, but the tannins need to calm down.
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Old World Blind Tasting >$25 (Bin 75): Lighter extraction plum with lighter rim; fig paste, bright floral purple fruit, marzipan, light tart raspberry; solid, young, tart raspberry, bitter finish, classic; very good young CdP.
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A blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, this deep ruby wine is explosive on the nose. Aromas of dark bramble fruits, crushed rocks, herbes de Provence and black cherries are followed by a medium-to-full-bodied palate with similar flavors. Fresh, layered and with medium-weight, sweet tannins, it stays solid in the middle and shows no heat from its 14.5% alcohol. The finish is long and smooth, making this yet another superb Châteauneuf from Olivier Hillaire. Drink now-2022.
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Nose: It took a bit for the nose to get going, but as it opened up it revealed black cherries, garrigue, hot stones, lavender, some brambly tones, and a touch of kirsch. There is excellent depth that shows through the tightness.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with some youthful and chewy tannins. Even after a good amount of air, the structure is showing serious youth as the tannins are a bit overpowering. Even with the structure, there is a balanced richness to it with black cherries, garrigue, brambly tones, and some kirsch on the back end.
Overall: This is still quite young. There is a lot of upside for improvement as the palate is absolutely gorgeous for a base CdP this young, but some time is needed for it to happen. The base materials are extremely good and this should reward some good slumber.
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12/2/2022 - macliii Likes this wine: 93 Points
Went wonderful with a French zoniin meatloaf.
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9/18/2022 - lkilpio Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a lovely, fairly full-bodied Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is in a wonderful phase at the moment. The tannins have softened, but the structure is still there as well. The wine is still very fruity, providing enticing notes of ripe red berries and fruits. However, the flavor palette is not purely fruit-driven, since the wine is also displaying darker tones, such as licorice, tar, underbrush and coal. I dare not say, how the wine will evolve in the coming years, but all in all, it is very delicious now.
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11/19/2021 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 95 Points
A little different than our last bottle a month ago. Big fig and raspberry notes initially followed by white pepper, cigar box/tobacco. Really good. Nice QPR for $25 on Winebid. Drink now
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10/22/2021 - SchlaepDog wrote: flawed
This bottle was way past due, not drinkable. Stored in a temp controlled cellar since purchase November 2014 from Costco.
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10/20/2021 - Mootsie wrote: 93 Points
$25 Winebid find. Tart raspberry, cigar box, white pepper. Layers of complexity. Great QPR for $25. Drink or hold
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7/17/2020 - Ecopoet Likes this wine: 92 Points
30 minute decant. Well balanced CDP. Black cherry, currant, garrigue, medium body, nice finish. Accompanied bbq chicken harmoniously.
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4/26/2020 - Rob-Rah Does not like this wine: 88 Points
A nice bright red. Scents more dark, "Rhoney". Nothing very arresting there. Palate is angular. Bitter herbs. Alcohol, tannins and a slightly tarry bitter extract protrude somewhat. Coarse, but earnest. I didn't really enjoy these. But it's not terribly expensive for CdP I suppose: though a lesser village from up the valley would have been just as good.
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4/13/2020 - alfagirl Likes this wine: 89 Points
Bought this in France in CDP zone. Big mouth feel. Dark fruit. excellent example of a CDP.
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3/7/2020 - oldcabman Likes this wine: 95 Points
Not sure what else one might want from a CDP.
Balanced, full of fruit nuance and a steely spine after a 3 hour decant. Needs air to show what it has. Should be fine for another 3-5 years.
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5/12/2019 - Dalton_Noble Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened bottle for 3 hours and drank over 3 more. Super smooth but still had a bit of backbone. Could go another 3-4 years but not much longer.
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4/7/2019 - PapaGreenz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking really well, needed about 45 minutes to open up black cherry, cedar, spice ( anise, Rosemary, pepper) and a long elegant finish excellent QPR, this is a winner.
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1/6/2019 - wiscgrad wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful aromatics. Alcohol is in check. Went well with grilled Salmon
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12/5/2018 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
Now medium-to-deep garnet in color, this blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah remains highly aromatic, with a nose of dark bramble fruits, crushed rocks, underbrush, leather and smoke. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic, seamlessly alcoholic (14.5%) and with soft residual tannins, it delivers flavors in line with the aromas and has good mid-palate density. Finishing long and smooth, this is a Châteauneuf that is really hitting its stride. Drink now-2025.
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7/25/2018 - blabbott wrote: 92 Points
Big and dark with bright flavors. Full red fruit flavors add to spice and a touch of pepper to make a delicious wine. This has a wonderful long finish.
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12/18/2017 - VancouverRay wrote: 89 Points
Quite enjoyable but should have given it a longer decant.
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6/7/2017 - Robert Page Likes this wine: 93 Points
Last of six bottles purchased on release in 2014. All have been good, but this definitely showed the benefit of a few years of age. Classic CNdP notes of black cherry, pepper, and garrigue. A little hot at 14.5% ABV, and my guess is this isn't going to benefit from much more time in the cellar. Based on this bottle, the wine has entered a prime drinking window. Granting a relatively high score due to the excellent QPR at $40/btl. This is at least as good as other CNdPs that cost substantially more. Over the lot of bottles, the wine paired very well with duck, mushroom-based soups, and farro.
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2/4/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 84 Points
WSET Diploma Unit 3 - Rhone and Spain (SF): (non-blind)
Medium-minus ruby-crimson.
Medium plus intensity nose
- baked strawberries, strawberry jam, ripe red cherry, slightly confected cherry, red liquorice (possible carbonic maceration)
- slight ripe plum
- tertiary notes of leather and earth, dark-chocolate, and dried violets.
Mostly dry with a possible hint of RS (2-3g)
Full-bodied, with high alcohol (14.5%), medium acidity and medium plus tannins (rounded).
Pronounced flavor concentration mid-palate.
Long finish.
This is a very good Grenache-dominant Chateauneuf-du-Pape AC wine. There's vibrant and complex primary fruit, along with well-integrated secondaries. The palate is balanced, though in a ripe, full-bodied way. The finish is long and lingering. It has less secondary and tertiary complexity of the best examples of the region, but is nonetheless very good.
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6/4/2016 - hguy4x wrote: 92 Points
Great CdP. Nose has fresh flowers, purple fruit, a little crushed rock. Sweet raspberries and blackberries on the palate, followed by a little pepper. No heat from the increased alcohol.
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12/8/2015 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
This deep ruby blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah is highly aromatic, with a nose of dark bramble fruits, crushed rocks, sous bois and smoky black cherries. Medium-to-full-bodied, freshly acidic and with medium-weight, sweet tannins, it delivers a flavor payload that mirrors the aromas. The middle palate is dense and shows no heat from the (listed) 14.5% alcohol. Closing long and smooth, this is yet another impressive offering from Hillaire. It should last longer than I previously estimated. Drink now-2025.
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11/18/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
2012 Chateauneuf du Pape (Trent's): I thought this was the best drinking wine on the table and voted it my WOTN. I don't see it making old bones, but for the next 5 to 10, should provide good drinking. Ruby in color. The nose has cedar, black raspberries, spice and slight floral notes. On the palate, this has big, juicy black cherry fruit. Firm tannins. It has a supple deliciousness that separated it for me on this night. The group like it far less although it got one first (mine), one second and one third.
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2/28/2015 - partylikeakennedy wrote: 88 Points
If Sour Patch Kids had a peppered grape flavor, the nose would be that. The palate is more refined though, but this needs at least another 4 years in the bottle. Some pepper follows through and the finish is medium, but the tannins need to calm down.
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2/21/2015 - Sftx21 wrote: 91 Points
Light color, silky complex taste with firm tannins. Let sit for 3 hours and opened up quite nicely. Somewhat similar to Herman story and McPrice Myers
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2/7/2015 - Rezy13 Likes this wine:
Old World Blind Tasting >$25 (Bin 75): Lighter extraction plum with lighter rim; fig paste, bright floral purple fruit, marzipan, light tart raspberry; solid, young, tart raspberry, bitter finish, classic; very good young CdP.
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1/24/2015 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 93 Points
A blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, this deep ruby wine is explosive on the nose. Aromas of dark bramble fruits, crushed rocks, herbes de Provence and black cherries are followed by a medium-to-full-bodied palate with similar flavors. Fresh, layered and with medium-weight, sweet tannins, it stays solid in the middle and shows no heat from its 14.5% alcohol. The finish is long and smooth, making this yet another superb Châteauneuf from Olivier Hillaire. Drink now-2022.
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9/13/2014 - KeithAkers wrote: 90 Points
Nose: It took a bit for the nose to get going, but as it opened up it revealed black cherries, garrigue, hot stones, lavender, some brambly tones, and a touch of kirsch. There is excellent depth that shows through the tightness.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with some youthful and chewy tannins. Even after a good amount of air, the structure is showing serious youth as the tannins are a bit overpowering. Even with the structure, there is a balanced richness to it with black cherries, garrigue, brambly tones, and some kirsch on the back end.
Overall: This is still quite young. There is a lot of upside for improvement as the palate is absolutely gorgeous for a base CdP this young, but some time is needed for it to happen. The base materials are extremely good and this should reward some good slumber.
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