It says best at 3-6 years on the back label, and it is now 7yrs old. I've always been a bit underwhelmed by it, but today I think it has finally come together quite nicely, with this really nice core of intense fruit. Less of the prune and raisin that was annoying to me. Disagreeing with myself of 6 months ago, I don't think there is any hurry to finish up.
My father didn't like it though, thought there was nothing there, and preferred a young, cheap glass of something I'd cook with. De gustibus etc.
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I discovered I enjoyed this more when dunk really rather cool. Not quite straight out of the fridge, but with only a few minutes in the glass after. Cool, the alcohol is less of an issue, and brings to the fore the fresher aspects of raspberry and strawberry over the more leathery aspects that come out as it warms up. It is plenty open enough at this temperature.
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Very fruit forward and young. Delicious wine with blackberries, dark cherries, and spice. There is a little heat on the wine probably due to the 15% alcohol. Could give this some more time to develop but very nice now. Would pair with something rich like beef or a pork chop with a sauce.
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What I like is the freshness that nicely balances the red fruit grenache flavour that follows through from nose to finish. Still feels ripe and young. Covers its 15% alcohol well, though I'd rather it wasn't. More harmonious than the 2015, from which I learned the lesson not to approach it too soon, though I think this one is a bit friendlier.
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I like this style, so this note may reflect that this type hits my favorite points. Nicely done, good QPR (even at this price point) and much less expensive than similarly styled wines. I also agree that it is drinking well right now and should age nicely.
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Hyped to hell by my LWS. Overall a nicely done Lirac, with good balance, but not doing any single attribute particularly excellent. A solid wine. Perhaps a bit pricey at $25 - under $20 would be a fitting price.
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I admit I've only tried a few Lirac's The wine wasn't flawed but was extremely fruity and for my taste missing some acid to balance out the lush bright cherry fruit. It has a distinct ultra-ripe berry character unlike the other Rhones. If you're looking for a great value, this may be it but you'll want to try before you buy many. It got somewhat mixed reactions at my gathering. Nobody hated it nor did anyone love it.
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Southern Rhone 2016 (Prince Sydney, 40 Hansard Street): A little baked, gamey, tight, again a little jubey cherry but this time with a touch of tomato leaf and some baked earth. In the mouth it's juicy with alcohol heat, baked cherry that proves a little more savoury here and is accompanied by chalky tannins. Bolshy.
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Beautiful nose, velvety soft in the mouth, great lingering taste. Feminine with a great strength. Chateauneuf style at a great price point. Very nice, had this when a friend popped in for an evening and enjoyed this wine by itself. Served some cheese alongside it, but the wine stood pretty much by itself. Wished I had bought more bottles.
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The nose offers deep velvety fruit, especially cherry, a touch of dusty spices, and some complex provencal herbs, perhaps even a floral note (lavender?). The wine glides over the palate, like silk. For 15.5% this is incredibly graceful, with extraordinary balance. This really is hugely impressive and better than most chateauneuf (at least the cuvées tradition). Along with a 98 Mordorée Cuvée de la Reine des Bois this is easily the best Lirac I've ever had. Big step up from Usseglio's Cotes du Rhone and defiinitely worth seeking out. Drinking beautifully already, but should maintain this level for a few more years. 91-92.
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10/14/2023 - Echinosum Likes this wine:
It says best at 3-6 years on the back label, and it is now 7yrs old. I've always been a bit underwhelmed by it, but today I think it has finally come together quite nicely, with this really nice core of intense fruit. Less of the prune and raisin that was annoying to me. Disagreeing with myself of 6 months ago, I don't think there is any hurry to finish up.
My father didn't like it though, thought there was nothing there, and preferred a young, cheap glass of something I'd cook with. De gustibus etc.
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9/9/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine: 89 Points
Hot, ripe ish…
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3/29/2023 - Echinosum Likes this wine: 90 Points
I discovered I enjoyed this more when dunk really rather cool. Not quite straight out of the fridge, but with only a few minutes in the glass after. Cool, the alcohol is less of an issue, and brings to the fore the fresher aspects of raspberry and strawberry over the more leathery aspects that come out as it warms up. It is plenty open enough at this temperature.
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8/27/2022 - Echinosum Likes this wine: 90 Points
Getting more leathery and herby, with less of the raspberry I noted before. I ought to drink these up quicker, but the 15% alcohol puts me off.
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4/28/2022 - Pinard222 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Opened last night let breath for 45min. just wonderful, fruit, tannis and a great nose. it may get better but would drink over next 12-18 mths
The wine looks inky colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.
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4/19/2022 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Very nice. Ready to drink.
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4/2/2022 - tadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very fruit forward and young. Delicious wine with blackberries, dark cherries, and spice. There is a little heat on the wine probably due to the 15% alcohol. Could give this some more time to develop but very nice now. Would pair with something rich like beef or a pork chop with a sauce.
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1/10/2022 - Echinosum Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking very well now. There is a risk I will now drink this down too quickly. Comments as before.
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10/17/2021 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 91 Points
excellent style and drinking well right now
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7/30/2021 - Echinosum Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lovely raspberry and spice.
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4/12/2021 - Echinosum Likes this wine: 90 Points
What I like is the freshness that nicely balances the red fruit grenache flavour that follows through from nose to finish. Still feels ripe and young. Covers its 15% alcohol well, though I'd rather it wasn't. More harmonious than the 2015, from which I learned the lesson not to approach it too soon, though I think this one is a bit friendlier.
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2/11/2021 - weinmatt wrote: 90 Points
Better with air
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10/29/2020 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 91 Points
very nicely made wine
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7/30/2020 - weinmatt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quite ripe.
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5/15/2020 - Chefofthewoods Likes this wine: 91 Points
wonderfully concentrated flavors of dark cherries and mouthful of tannins. Drank wonderfully over three days. I
Bit overpriced @$34 but a solid wine.
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9/19/2019 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 91 Points
I like this style, so this note may reflect that this type hits my favorite points. Nicely done, good QPR (even at this price point) and much less expensive than similarly styled wines. I also agree that it is drinking well right now and should age nicely.
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8/14/2019 - BadOyster wrote: 90 Points
Hyped to hell by my LWS. Overall a nicely done Lirac, with good balance, but not doing any single attribute particularly excellent. A solid wine. Perhaps a bit pricey at $25 - under $20 would be a fitting price.
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7/29/2019 - ben2e wrote: 89 Points
I admit I've only tried a few Lirac's The wine wasn't flawed but was extremely fruity and for my taste missing some acid to balance out the lush bright cherry fruit. It has a distinct ultra-ripe berry character unlike the other Rhones. If you're looking for a great value, this may be it but you'll want to try before you buy many. It got somewhat mixed reactions at my gathering. Nobody hated it nor did anyone love it.
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5/25/2019 - chatters wrote:
Southern Rhone 2016 (Prince Sydney, 40 Hansard Street): A little baked, gamey, tight, again a little jubey cherry but this time with a touch of tomato leaf and some baked earth. In the mouth it's juicy with alcohol heat, baked cherry that proves a little more savoury here and is accompanied by chalky tannins. Bolshy.
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3/29/2019 - Explorateur Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beautiful nose, velvety soft in the mouth, great lingering taste. Feminine with a great strength. Chateauneuf style at a great price point. Very nice, had this when a friend popped in for an evening and enjoyed this wine by itself. Served some cheese alongside it, but the wine stood pretty much by itself. Wished I had bought more bottles.
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2/28/2019 - henryd1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose offers deep velvety fruit, especially cherry, a touch of dusty spices, and some complex provencal herbs, perhaps even a floral note (lavender?). The wine glides over the palate, like silk. For 15.5% this is incredibly graceful, with extraordinary balance. This really is hugely impressive and better than most chateauneuf (at least the cuvées tradition). Along with a 98 Mordorée Cuvée de la Reine des Bois this is easily the best Lirac I've ever had. Big step up from Usseglio's Cotes du Rhone and defiinitely worth seeking out. Drinking beautifully already, but should maintain this level for a few more years. 91-92.
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1/26/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Ripe and fruit driven. And also has good minerality to it as well.
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1/24/2019 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Cherry fruit on the nose but still some earth.
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9/13/2018 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Burgundy, Rhone, Provence Trip; 9/3/2018-9/15/2018 (Burgundy, Rhone, Provence, France): Tasting pour at the Domaine. Very good, there's a very nice core of dark fruit; black cherry, plum, black pepper, tons of structure and tannins now. 91 to 92pts.
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2/4/2018 - Philippe_C wrote: 92 Points
Huge nose of black cherries, black characoal... loads of fresh tannin, black fresh fruit, good lenght.
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