Final of 6 bottles, I had my first one in 2017 and have enjoyed the evolution through today's bottle. Showing candied red fruit, tar, scorched earth notes, some spicy herbal quality...the wine is lovely. Very solid acidity to support longevity, the tennins are mostly resolving and the wine is fully mature. I would drink it up, loved it. Case buy for me in the future, especially at the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Penultimate of 6 bottles. Lovely, tar, wet and scorched earth, red and blue fruits, medium in body with firm acidity and lovely finish. Delicious. Drink through 2023.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chateauneuf like I like it, if too hot for my palate. Nose is a beguiling mix of fruit, spice, floral tones, minerals. Brambly red raspberry, Chinese five-spce, garrigue, hints of VA, plums, crab apple. Palate balanced with adequate acidity in spite of alcohol heat, plums and raspberry and garrigue. Minerals there. I definitely respect this wine and its incredible complexity and considerable depth even if I don't absolutely love it. Paired with lamb chops and ratatouille very nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is my last bottle of this wine and age has done it some favors. It has always had a strangely confectionary red fruit quality that I found unpleasant when the wine was young and primary. Time has added some earthy elements and the fruit is more muted and set against the savory elements in a more pleasing way. This wine is light in color and stylistically almost Burgundian which is strange to say of a wine that is 15%
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3rd of 6 bottles. Last consumed 1 yr ago. Had this bottle at Edisto while enjoying some beach time and pretty weather. The wine is a lovely montage of the Southern Rhone, without all the brash extraction and higher alcohol etc. Decidedly medium bodied, with nicely balanced acidity and a flavor profile of Grenache-based region, alongside spice and a moderate tannic grip. Drink now through 2023+.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Calmed down a lot since last note 3 years ago. Sort of on board with prior taster's note objecting to the vanilla, although its subtle. At this point, this is drinkable, a little sweet, fairly straightforward. Very light weight wine, not that that's all bad. Just not a lot of CdP gravitas or complexity - but not a lot of $$ either - but a weeknight wine and a tad more than I like to spend on a weeknight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank with Thanksgiving dinner. Opened an hour before dinner and enjoyed over the course of eight hours. Enjoyed by all, spicy Grenache notes, layered, with fine texture and firm red fruits, coffee and hints of mocha.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2nd of 6 bottles. Refreshing red fruits, alongside black pepper and mint. Finely grained tannins with energetic acidity. Delicious, drink now through 2024.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault from vines planted in the galet-laden La Crau and Les Grandes Serres lieux-dits, the 2014 Domaine Jean Royer Cuvée Tradition has slight bricking at this stage in its evolution, with layered aromas of black cherry, plum skin, sagebrush, loamy tilth, cigar box, and leather. In the mouth, polished, weightless tannins lend structure to sweetness at the core, with a hint of stony minerality and dried mint glinting through at the finish. 15.5% ABV
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
All the notes I have read from a year ago speak to this being raw, unformed and even a bit hot. I never had it back then, so cannot do a real comparison, but I did not experience any of those things. To me his was right down the middle, typical Chateauneuf du Pape. Dusty berry fruit, warm herbal tones and dry earth made up the medium weight package. It was enjoyable on its own, and a partner to food. It’s nothing profound, but it’s a very nice drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific, especially on night 2 of consumption after sitting corked in fridge for a few days. Very pure elegant flavors with the Grenache quite light and evident to why Royer's style is viewed as Burgundian. This is definitely not a Cambie CNP. 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
There are some good Grenache flavors in there, but boy is it hot. The alcohol seems out of balance, and I worry that that is not something that will resolve with time. However, time is what this should have, because right now it is, and the prior note says, raw.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A delicious example of CdP. Weighing in at 15.5% abv, yet came across quite elegant and bright. Showing off tart red cherry fruit, spicecake, black pepper, and an orange zest zing...this wine was beautifully balanced and showed nice complexity, with a fantastic lift to the finish. Drink now through 2022+. So good, and a great value at $30/Btl.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was surprised at how transparent this wine is. It was aerated into a decanter. After 30 min, nice dark fruit but light in body. There is some spice on the mid pallet and finish. It will be difficult to lay my other two bottles get some age. Really liked this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose is a bit reticent at first then opens with blueberries and violets, it then progresses to ripe red cherries. Lovely cherry, blueberry and stone on the palate with a nice amount of acidity. Paired well with pan-seared pork chops. Look forward to tasting this in a year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened up after 2 hours, exhibiting aromas of kirsch, garrigue, and dust, and flavors of cherry liquor, mesquite wood, and citric florals, as well as minerality and, later on, iodine. 15.5% ABV, seamless. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium bodied, sweet, fresh, vibrant, peppery, spicy cherries, wild strawberries and black raspberries are easy to find on the nose, and on the palate. The soft, sweet, fruit filled quality carries through to the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/25/2024 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
Final of 6 bottles, I had my first one in 2017 and have enjoyed the evolution through today's bottle.
Showing candied red fruit, tar, scorched earth notes, some spicy herbal quality...the wine is lovely.
Very solid acidity to support longevity, the tennins are mostly resolving and the wine is fully mature. I would drink it up, loved it.
Case buy for me in the future, especially at the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2023 - Mr T wrote:
Light in color, full fruit and ready to go. Quite sweet rather than earthy...and definitely taste the confectionary flavors noted by mlemaire
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2022 - mckillop Likes this wine: 91 Points
Time in the cellar has made this a very light and elegant glass of wine. Drinking perfectly now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2022 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
Penultimate of 6 bottles. Lovely, tar, wet and scorched earth, red and blue fruits, medium in body with firm acidity and lovely finish.
Delicious. Drink through 2023.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2021 - lake.vino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Chateauneuf like I like it, if too hot for my palate. Nose is a beguiling mix of fruit, spice, floral tones, minerals. Brambly red raspberry, Chinese five-spce, garrigue, hints of VA, plums, crab apple. Palate balanced with adequate acidity in spite of alcohol heat, plums and raspberry and garrigue. Minerals there. I definitely respect this wine and its incredible complexity and considerable depth even if I don't absolutely love it. Paired with lamb chops and ratatouille very nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2021 - monist wrote: flawed
corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2021 - mlemaire wrote: 87 Points
This is my last bottle of this wine and age has done it some favors. It has always had a strangely confectionary red fruit quality that I found unpleasant when the wine was young and primary. Time has added some earthy elements and the fruit is more muted and set against the savory elements in a more pleasing way. This wine is light in color and stylistically almost Burgundian which is strange to say of a wine that is 15%
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2021 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
4th of 6 bottles. Delicious red, no formal TN but all the requisite parts were in a delicious place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2020 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
3rd of 6 bottles. Last consumed 1 yr ago. Had this bottle at Edisto while enjoying some beach time and pretty weather.
The wine is a lovely montage of the Southern Rhone, without all the brash extraction and higher alcohol etc. Decidedly medium bodied, with nicely balanced acidity and a flavor profile of Grenache-based region, alongside spice and a moderate tannic grip.
Drink now through 2023+.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2020 - cab Likes this wine:
Calmed down a lot since last note 3 years ago. Sort of on board with prior taster's note objecting to the vanilla, although its subtle. At this point, this is drinkable, a little sweet, fairly straightforward. Very light weight wine, not that that's all bad. Just not a lot of CdP gravitas or complexity - but not a lot of $$ either - but a weeknight wine and a tad more than I like to spend on a weeknight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2020 - Rieslingfan wrote:
The amount of vanilla in this wine makes the name of “cuvée tradition” a complete joke.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2020 - daveyk39 wrote: 89 Points
COVID-19 "Shelter-in-Place"; 3/17/2020-5/31/2020 (Redwood City, CA): 75 % Grenache, 15 % Syrah, 5 % Mourvèdre, 5 % Cinsault. Pale garnet color. Cherry, plum, leather, pepper, thyme. Medium-full body, silky texture, bright red fruit, earthy, with hints of thyme in the robust finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2020 - EastBayPhil Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted and drank over two nights; similar comments to previous bottle. Very enjoyable. The minimal use of wood/barrel lets the fruit shine through.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2020 - JimEaton Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well right now. More pepper than my previous bottles. Nice balance of fruit and tannins. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2020 - GHRM002 wrote: 90 Points
Pretty good; everyone at supper really enjoyed this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2019 - EastBayPhil Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank with Thanksgiving dinner. Opened an hour before dinner and enjoyed over the course of eight hours. Enjoyed by all, spicy Grenache notes, layered, with fine texture and firm red fruits, coffee and hints of mocha.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2019 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
2nd of 6 bottles. Refreshing red fruits, alongside black pepper and mint. Finely grained tannins with energetic acidity. Delicious, drink now through 2024.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2019 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful clear ruby color. Medicinal red fruit aromas. Ripe red and blackberry flavors with some meat and strawberry on a warm lengthy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2019 - ddingley wrote: 88 Points
Not an expensive CDP but a bit of a disappointment. Nothing really wrong with it, just not feeling it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2018 - Christine Havens Likes this wine: 90 Points
A blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault from vines planted in the galet-laden La Crau and Les Grandes Serres lieux-dits, the 2014 Domaine Jean Royer Cuvée Tradition has slight bricking at this stage in its evolution, with layered aromas of black cherry, plum skin, sagebrush, loamy tilth, cigar box, and leather. In the mouth, polished, weightless tannins lend structure to sweetness at the core, with a hint of stony minerality and dried mint glinting through at the finish. 15.5% ABV
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2018 - Rieslingfan wrote:
All the notes I have read from a year ago speak to this being raw, unformed and even a bit hot. I never had it back then, so cannot do a real comparison, but I did not experience any of those things. To me his was right down the middle, typical Chateauneuf du Pape. Dusty berry fruit, warm herbal tones and dry earth made up the medium weight package. It was enjoyable on its own, and a partner to food. It’s nothing profound, but it’s a very nice drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2018 - tmoritz1 wrote: 88 Points
Mixed berry nose- a bit light in texture.but relatively smoothe and well blended. Nice finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2018 - Mr T wrote:
Terrific, especially on night 2 of consumption after sitting corked in fridge for a few days. Very pure elegant flavors with the Grenache quite light and evident to why Royer's style is viewed as Burgundian. This is definitely not a Cambie CNP. 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2017 - Francophile Likes this wine: 89 Points
Rather light bodied for a CdP but still an enjoyable and smooth drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2017 - CO CHRIS wrote: 93 Points
Fine. Not very complex, one dimensional.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2017 - cab wrote:
There are some good Grenache flavors in there, but boy is it hot. The alcohol seems out of balance, and I worry that that is not something that will resolve with time. However, time is what this should have, because right now it is, and the prior note says, raw.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light, approachable grenache ready to drink. Refreshing with light fruit and good balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2017 - tmoritz1 wrote: 89 Points
Needs more time-Still a bit raw
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2017 - tmoritz1 wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple color, nose of dried fruit and a nice notes of cloves and spice. Medium tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2017 - drrobvino wrote: 92 Points
A delicious example of CdP. Weighing in at 15.5% abv, yet came across quite elegant and bright. Showing off tart red cherry fruit, spicecake, black pepper, and an orange zest zing...this wine was beautifully balanced and showed nice complexity, with a fantastic lift to the finish.
Drink now through 2022+. So good, and a great value at $30/Btl.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2016 - mtaczak wrote: 88 Points
eh. back in 09 when i first started with the royer line these were elegant and balanced. this is syrupy and over the top - what happened?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2016 - JimEaton Likes this wine: 91 Points
I was surprised at how transparent this wine is. It was aerated into a decanter. After 30 min, nice dark fruit but light in body. There is some spice on the mid pallet and finish. It will be difficult to lay my other two bottles get some age. Really liked this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2016 - NAS Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose is a bit reticent at first then opens with blueberries and violets, it then progresses to ripe red cherries. Lovely cherry, blueberry and stone on the palate with a nice amount of acidity. Paired well with pan-seared pork chops. Look forward to tasting this in a year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2016 - joraesque wrote: 92 Points
Opened up after 2 hours, exhibiting aromas of kirsch, garrigue, and dust, and flavors of cherry liquor, mesquite wood, and citric florals, as well as minerality and, later on, iodine. 15.5% ABV, seamless.
92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
Medium bodied, sweet, fresh, vibrant, peppery, spicy cherries, wild strawberries and black raspberries are easy to find on the nose, and on the palate. The soft, sweet, fruit filled quality carries through to the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment