It all starts well with a nose that expands with notes of pepper, kirsch and crushed strawberries. The nose will gain power then gradually die down.
The mouth is like the nose: textured juice, ample and dense. It’s refined and silky, with beautiful flavors of black fruits and spices. Very good balance which ensures that the 15° passes by itself. However, the wine gives the impression of running out of steam with aeration and ends up lacking in energy. And above all, it lacks depth, ending with a good quality finish with powdery tannins but which sorely lacks vigor.
The wine will even struggle to stand out against a matured T-bone. It's certainly very good, but not in line with the laudatory comments we read on CellarTracker. I much preferred the Mordorée 2001.
Maybe a weak bottle.
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A profound, smooth and special CdP. Drank at Blackberry Farm (The Barn). Not otherworldly like Jeff Leve’s experiences but this is first-rate CdP and was eye-opening for how classy an aged CdP can be (seemingly losing no steam).
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It is hard to say which I found more compelling, the haunting dried flower, spice box, pepper, and kirsch aromatics, the stunning purity of the fruit, or the elegant, seamless, kirsch, cherry, and peppery strawberry notes in the long, drawn-out, elegant, refined, silky finish. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. This is what great wine is all about. This is one of those close to impossible wines to find, that is worth the effort.
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Outrageously good from the get go. The nose grabs you with its concoction of herbs, spice, licorice, earth, kirsch and pepper. Full, rich, deep, lush and suave the wine simultaneously coats your palate, yet retains its elegance. The seamless finish really lingers here. Splash decanted, this is a rockstar wine drinking at its peak.
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Drank from magnum at a festive dinner. Decanted one hour before. Lovely powerful and tasty wine. Well integrated, smooth and without any burn from the high 15% Alc. level. Was a hit with everyone at dinner. That said, the power and alcohol make it something to enjoy in moderation.
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A hedonistic thrill ride indeed. The sweet, plum and kirsch liqueur essence just keeps on giving. The wine is powerful, richly textured, balanced and complex. This is about as good as Chateauneuf du Pape gets.
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Holy Cow! I've died and gone to heaven. This wine floored me. It's so concentrated, you can eat it with a spoon, or drink it, depending on your needs for the day! The wine has incredible layers of concentration, but what makes this unique is that it's not heavy. It's just pure, hedonistic thrills. The wine paints your palate with flavor, wakes your soul and gets you going. The intensity of the perfectly ripe, fruit is to die for. The finish must last at least 60 seconds. If you're looking to know what great Chateauneuf du Pape is all about, this is your ticket.
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This wine has arrived at the corner of Off the hook and Off the charts! Stunning in every way, the wine starts off with a sweet, jammy, floral, earth, truffle, smoke and kirsch perfume. If that was all there was to it, I'd be happy. But the electricity really start up when the wine hits your palate with its opulent, sexy, sensuous textures and layers of perfectly ripe, fresh, sweet, spicy fruits. There is a real beauty in this wines sense of purity in the finish.
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This is simply best described as offering the essence of Grenache. There is a stunning purity if fruit that is seldom found in most wines. It's rich, fat, juicy, sensuous, intense and palate staining, yet balanced, long, complex and exciting. Sadly, there is so little made, production hovers at close to 100 cases, so unless you buy it early, prices quickly jump. But for those luck few that bought early, or of course for those with deep pockets, Chateauneuf du Pape does not get better than this!
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Expensive wine, but delicious. Medium red color, heat on the nose but opened up to a grilled fruit cup mixed with clean dirt. Consumed with no food while setting up Xmas tree. Drink now or wait a few years.
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Sabon Prestige/Secret Vertical (Restaurant AOC): An enticing hint of sewer on the nose but still plenty of cherry/kirsch fruit. Clear hints of age with a little leather but the intensity is really good! Concentrated young and sweet cherry fruit with great intensity. Very structured and balanced. Very long acidic aftertaste that really compliments the wine. Intense and still very young. Impressive.
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Total red cherry liqueur. Big tannic and chewy. Not so classic Chateauneuf - seems heavily Syrah influenced. Somewhat angular fruit, but overall a very enjoyable young wine.
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5/1/2024 - Benoit Hardy wrote: 93 Points
It all starts well with a nose that expands with notes of pepper, kirsch and crushed strawberries. The nose will gain power then gradually die down.
The mouth is like the nose: textured juice, ample and dense. It’s refined and silky, with beautiful flavors of black fruits and spices. Very good balance which ensures that the 15° passes by itself. However, the wine gives the impression of running out of steam with aeration and ends up lacking in energy. And above all, it lacks depth, ending with a good quality finish with powdery tannins but which sorely lacks vigor.
The wine will even struggle to stand out against a matured T-bone. It's certainly very good, but not in line with the laudatory comments we read on CellarTracker. I much preferred the Mordorée 2001.
Maybe a weak bottle.
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3/19/2023 - Nontaco Likes this wine: 96 Points
A profound, smooth and special CdP. Drank at Blackberry Farm (The Barn). Not otherworldly like Jeff Leve’s experiences but this is first-rate CdP and was eye-opening for how classy an aged CdP can be (seemingly losing no steam).
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10/13/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
It is hard to say which I found more compelling, the haunting dried flower, spice box, pepper, and kirsch aromatics, the stunning purity of the fruit, or the elegant, seamless, kirsch, cherry, and peppery strawberry notes in the long, drawn-out, elegant, refined, silky finish. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. This is what great wine is all about. This is one of those close to impossible wines to find, that is worth the effort.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
Outrageously good from the get go. The nose grabs you with its concoction of herbs, spice, licorice, earth, kirsch and pepper. Full, rich, deep, lush and suave the wine simultaneously coats your palate, yet retains its elegance. The seamless finish really lingers here. Splash decanted, this is a rockstar wine drinking at its peak.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2019 - SeaSea Likes this wine: 97 Points
Drank from magnum at a festive dinner. Decanted one hour before. Lovely powerful and tasty wine. Well integrated, smooth and without any burn from the high 15% Alc. level. Was a hit with everyone at dinner. That said, the power and alcohol make it something to enjoy in moderation.
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2/17/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
A hedonistic thrill ride indeed. The sweet, plum and kirsch liqueur essence just keeps on giving. The wine is powerful, richly textured, balanced and complex. This is about as good as Chateauneuf du Pape gets.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
Holy Cow! I've died and gone to heaven. This wine floored me. It's so concentrated, you can eat it with a spoon, or drink it, depending on your needs for the day! The wine has incredible layers of concentration, but what makes this unique is that it's not heavy. It's just pure, hedonistic thrills. The wine paints your palate with flavor, wakes your soul and gets you going. The intensity of the perfectly ripe, fruit is to die for. The finish must last at least 60 seconds. If you're looking to know what great Chateauneuf du Pape is all about, this is your ticket.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
This wine has arrived at the corner of Off the hook and Off the charts! Stunning in every way, the wine starts off with a sweet, jammy, floral, earth, truffle, smoke and kirsch perfume. If that was all there was to it, I'd be happy. But the electricity really start up when the wine hits your palate with its opulent, sexy, sensuous textures and layers of perfectly ripe, fresh, sweet, spicy fruits. There is a real beauty in this wines sense of purity in the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2014 - Brett and Megan wrote: 97 Points
aroma - sweet cherry; taste - very rich, with herb, black currant, berry; very chewy and a little bit of somke
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3/10/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
This is simply best described as offering the essence of Grenache. There is a stunning purity if fruit that is seldom found in most wines. It's rich, fat, juicy, sensuous, intense and palate staining, yet balanced, long, complex and exciting. Sadly, there is so little made, production hovers at close to 100 cases, so unless you buy it early, prices quickly jump. But for those luck few that bought early, or of course for those with deep pockets, Chateauneuf du Pape does not get better than this!
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12/2/2012 - 83AJ Likes this wine: 90 Points
Expensive wine, but delicious. Medium red color, heat on the nose but opened up to a grilled fruit cup mixed with clean dirt. Consumed with no food while setting up Xmas tree.
Drink now or wait a few years.
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4/9/2010 - canan wrote: 97 Points
Sabon Prestige/Secret Vertical (Restaurant AOC): An enticing hint of sewer on the nose but still plenty of cherry/kirsch fruit. Clear hints of age with a little leather but the intensity is really good!
Concentrated young and sweet cherry fruit with great intensity. Very structured and balanced. Very long acidic aftertaste that really compliments the wine.
Intense and still very young. Impressive.
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6/16/2007 - psmith wrote:
Total red cherry liqueur. Big tannic and chewy. Not so classic Chateauneuf - seems heavily Syrah influenced. Somewhat angular fruit, but overall a very enjoyable young wine.
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