Dark fruit, leather, cedar, and tons of poopy barnyard. Smells dusty and old. Red fruit, earth, oak, and chocolate flavors — kind of linear, but decent acidity.
Strong aroma of poop. Undrinkable.
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Much better than my previous bottle, this is wonderfully mature with garrigue notes, dusty cherry fruit, sous-bois. Not heavy, neither warm or heady, this is well balanced with a good acidity running though. Old-school Neuf. No need to cellar further.
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At Varka with Ed. Decanted for 1h. Soft sophisticated aromatic cedar and red fruit. On the palate some re fruit oak. Tannins well integrated. Lingering finish. A superb complex CdP. Tonight with Angry Lobster. Glad I have more!
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Coravin 7/25/17: Light ruby, some light bricking appropriate for its age; nose is highly aromatic, animal musk, red berry fruit, white pepper; palate is light bodied, low fully integrated tannin, medium-plus fresh acidity throughout, some red fruit remaining, alcohol seems medium-plus and just a tad prominent; finish is medium length, slightly too tart. The nose on this is better than the palate, but overall this is a nicely mature CnDP at full maturity, held back just a tad by some tartness on the finish. Much further along than my last taste in 2010 (where it was quite youthful), and I will drink my last bottle within the next year. 91 8/2/17: Remainder of the bottle: Essentially the same. Nice mature CnDP, fully mature.
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Some bricking at the edges, a small amount of sediment. Dark cherries, pepper and underbrush. The palate is clean with chocolate and pepper. Fine tannins with a long finish. Seems at its peak. Showed best on opening. Faded some after an hour in the decanter.
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We had purchased this wine at the vineyard in 2003 and gave it to our daughter on her 21st birthday (10 years ago) to be used to celebrate her engagement. Had it this past Saturday. A classic Chateauneuf. This wine is definitely ready to drink. A noticeable tannin that disappeared immediately leaving the expected Chateauneuf taste on the back of the tongue. If you have one, it is ready now and ours was beautiful. It was medium ruby red, with an longer than one would expect finish. Very pleasant.
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quite mature and orange on the rim...very pronounced funk/Brett that really detracted from the experience. Drank about 1/2 of the bottle over 1-1.5 hours after PNP from horizontal. Also threw a lot of sediment. Not a great experience
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Developed nicely over a couple of days, showing better on the second day, more resolved and traditional in style with gentle red fruit, spices and earthy marks. Quite good Chateauneuf.
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More youthful than the last bottle opened in February with more upfront cherry fruit, mint and garrigue. This is an excellent example of a 1998 that is not over the top, but very well contained and structured. To me a traditional Chateauneuf, very enjoyable. With Henrik and Jayne.
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Very dark red violet color; lovely, baked berry, licorice, subtle garrigue nose with the beginnings of subtle ginger cake; tasty, rich but poised, tart plum, baked berry, garrigue palate; medium-plus finish
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dark fruit and pepper nose. similar mouth with balancing acidity and light tannins, chocolate and pepper finish. no fireworks but very satisfying, drink now while it still has nerve
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Really exceeded expectations. The key word here is soft. This restrained CdP has a core of red and black fruit, with subdued game, garrigue, leather, and peppe. With smoked beef the fruit leaps forward. Just a pretty wine that is just about perfect on the aging curve. This wine is truly excellent and darn near outstanding. For my money the 98 CdP's are just about perfect right now. Served with smoked brisket and German potato salad dressed with Banyuls vinegar, a mixture of Italian and Australian olive oils, Californian basil, and oregano from my back yard. So much for eating local.
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Dark red with orange edges; Oxidized cherries aroma; Wine was over the peak, not enjoyable, and the bottle was emptied int the sink after a short while.
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Way disappointing considering the vintage and the domain. Not much going on here. Monolithic, no fruit, no action. A little spice that was promising upon opening, but not much past that. After thinking about it, I knocked this down from 86 to 83.
Might have waited too long.
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A wonderful nose of tobacco, garrigue, olives, dark fruit and funk. This is fully mature now, the fruit is taking the back seat here. A very traditional Chateauneuf with mint and provencal herb flavors on the palate. Drink up within the next 3-5 years, will not get better. Served with grilled rib eye and NY strip, a great match. Dinner at home with Jim and Ea.
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At home. Totally mature. Browning. All secondary smells, nothing fruity. Lots of earth. Same story on the palate. Keep hoping for the '67 Les Cedres, not getting it. Not even close. 4-9-11-6: 80/100
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A fine drop but low on the 98 CdP food chain in my experience. A bit simple with kirsch, pepper, and little else.Don't get me wrong, it's very tasty. It's just not a relevation. Not in the same league as other 98s I've had (Beaucastel, Donjon, Mon Aeiul, Telegraphe, Bosquet des Papes Chantemerle, Charvin in decreasing order. Put Santa Duc's Haut Garrigue Gigondas right up there with Beaucastel. )
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Very aromatic with plums, lots of earthy aromas, dusty, and a faint hint of tart cherry. Palate shows strong structure, loads of fruit, a bit of spice, mouthwatering acidity, and a very pleasant finish. I actually think this will get better for a year or so and then will plateau for a long time.
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A very impressive bottle of mature Chateauneuf. Dark red. Lovely nose of dried red fruit, garrigue, farmyard, leather and tobacco. Big presence on the palate, a wine that fills out the mouth. The fruit is no longer primary here, it is the secondary notes that kick in in full gear. A mark of mint on the palate as well. A very traditional, masculine Chateauneuf with a rusticity that I really like. Excellent.
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Nose of very ripe red cherries, wild animal, meaty... loads of ripe red cherries in the mounth, and very very long... I was bluffed to see that this was the "simple" tradition!!
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1998 CdP tasting at Il Corso, NY. Funky, old fashioned Chateauneuf du Pape. Lots of barnyard and garrigue on the nose and palate. Asher calls it dirty. Maybe so, but in a good way to me. This is very spicy. On the palate I get black olives, rosemary, lavender and licorice. Very honest wine, very Southern Rhone. I like this more than the crowd.
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one of the better 98s I have had lately (string of dissappointments Beau, gardine, janasse)...true cdp personality...great balance, good size and mouthfeel, solid secondary flavors, pretty fully integrated but enough tannins for good grip; had more finesse and nuance/balance than some of the big 98 cuvees that I have had lately that seemed to be alcohol dominated at this stage
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Guess I should have finished this sooner... at age 10, the wine is still a rich, lushly flavored, aromatic bottle, but seems clumsy and a bit heavy. Port-like.
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The wine gestured in the direction of an outstanding wine, but I think I polished the bottle off before it fully emerged. It started off on the thin side, with aromas of leather, lavender and dried cherry (or is that plum?), along with a touch of heat. After >1 hour, the wine put on a surprising mount of weight, and really fleshed out. The fruit flavors blossomed, and a light smoke note emerged as well. I wish I had decanted this. Next time, for at least 1 hour in advance.
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This was another great bottle of this. Soaring nose of earth, truffles, garrigue, plum, and hoisin sauce. Spectacular on the palate with amazingly delicate fruit framed by lively acidity, good structure, and waves of truffle, earth, and silky red fruit. Finishes great. Simply the best basic CdP I have ever had.
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Drinking very well right now, with more funk than the last bottle. Nose of wood and herbs. Medium body with a long finish. Not overly complex, but very good in what it offers.
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Straight from the cellar and glasses poured 30 minutes prior to dinner. Color remains dark purple. I was disappointed by what I thought was a somewhat thin wine. Slight sour taste to finish, although it did improve over the course of the dinner. I thought it was a decent pairing w/ the mushroom pasta.
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Black/plum with amber tinge to the rim. Richly scented: plum syrup, spices, tobacco, toffee. On the palate, a powerful wine of ripe fruit, soft but substantial tannins, very long and slightly tart finish. Would be a great match to a strongly flavored meat dish or a ripe cheese; a bit too much for the ham and mushroom omlette we ate for dinner tonight.
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A medium, bricky red in color. Wonderful nose of old wood, wild flowers, menthol and blackberry. Soft on the palate, with earthy cherry and berry fruit with a licorice edge. Good length on the finish with just a touch of tannin. No signs of alcohol heat. An excellent value. Ready now and for the next 2-3 years.
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Day 1: Last night, I might have caught this wine at the best it's ever going to show. Dark garnet red color with a nose that emits aromas of licorice, garrigue, ox blood, and dark berry fruit, such as blueberry and blackberry. Lots of sediment in the glass and bottle because I didn't decant. Many layers of flavors are present on the palate. Among them are kirsch liqueur, garrigue, sea salt, and a touch of leather. The mouthfeel of the wine is silky, and finish is super-long. Still a pretty tannic wine with plenty of fruit to balance it out that has many years left to improve in the bottle. It is currently what I would refer to as an animalistic, hedonistic, and powerful CDP that should be unbelievable in years to come. I still can't believe I got this on closeout for $19/bottle.
Day 2: Second half of the bottle was put back in the cellar after putting a protective layer of gas over it. I am now drinking the rest of the bottle, but I think it has shut down a bit. Nose and palate do hint at the greatness though that I was firtunate enough to witness last night.
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Ruby. Full, clean nose of ripe fruit which does not quite carry over on the palate. Very long with soft tannins. Delicious now, but will probably improve. Drink now - 2010. (NB a second bottle on 3/5/2005 was much fuller and meatier, with fruit and tannin much more prominent. A touch of spice as well. Very satisfying.)
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Opened this Chateauneuf last night to have with dinner of grilled lamb loin, baked potato, and Caesar salad. Additionally, we opened a '00 Thevenet - Bongrand Macon Clesse, Cuvee Tradition and a '96 Coturri Pinot Noir, Jewell Vineyard. The last time I had opened one of the '98 Usseglio's was approximately two years ago, and at that time I did not feel it was showing particularly well, as the wine seemed both subdued and tight on the nose and palate. Patience with this wine has paid off, as it now has opened up nicely. The nose of ripe fruit now includes a wonderful meatiness – my friend who had prepared the lamb earlier, immediately commented following his first whiff that it smelled like the lamb when he had opened the packages of meat. On the palate the wine is smooth, intense, tasty Chateauneuf fruit. This is a '98 that is drinking very well right now.
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11/5/2023 - awever Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Far too old, some Madeira, cork looked very good
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2/5/2022 - Wine_Poobah wrote: flawed
Holy brettanomyces!!!
Dark fruit, leather, cedar, and tons of poopy barnyard. Smells dusty and old. Red fruit, earth, oak, and chocolate flavors — kind of linear, but decent acidity.
Strong aroma of poop. Undrinkable.
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11/23/2019 - pbaek wrote:
Much better than my previous bottle, this is wonderfully mature with garrigue notes, dusty cherry fruit, sous-bois. Not heavy, neither warm or heady, this is well balanced with a good acidity running though. Old-school Neuf. No need to cellar further.
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11/18/2018 - pbaek wrote:
Not great. Slightly cooked with notes of raisin, Christmas Spices and sweet fruit. Should have probably been drunk up by now.
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11/23/2017 - skurtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for Thanksgiving. Red fruit, oak, spices, consistent with my previous note.
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11/2/2017 - skurtz Likes this wine: 93 Points
At Varka with Ed. Decanted for 1h. Soft sophisticated aromatic cedar and red fruit. On the palate some re fruit oak. Tannins well integrated. Lingering finish. A superb complex CdP. Tonight with Angry Lobster. Glad I have more!
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7/25/2017 - aagrawal wrote: 91 Points
Coravin 7/25/17: Light ruby, some light bricking appropriate for its age; nose is highly aromatic, animal musk, red berry fruit, white pepper; palate is light bodied, low fully integrated tannin, medium-plus fresh acidity throughout, some red fruit remaining, alcohol seems medium-plus and just a tad prominent; finish is medium length, slightly too tart. The nose on this is better than the palate, but overall this is a nicely mature CnDP at full maturity, held back just a tad by some tartness on the finish. Much further along than my last taste in 2010 (where it was quite youthful), and I will drink my last bottle within the next year. 91
8/2/17: Remainder of the bottle: Essentially the same. Nice mature CnDP, fully mature.
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3/8/2016 - beatles wrote: flawed
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1998 (Chez moi): Tired, muted, no good - dead
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10/3/2014 - DoubleMagnum wrote:
Potent yet mineral. No formal notes taken.
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5/30/2014 - Firefly78 Does not like this wine:
Could not get past the Brett on this one, nor could anything else for that matter.. No change on day 2.
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5/3/2014 - Taronti Likes this wine: 92 Points
Some bricking at the edges, a small amount of sediment. Dark cherries, pepper and underbrush. The palate is clean with chocolate and pepper. Fine tannins with a long finish. Seems at its peak. Showed best on opening. Faded some after an hour in the decanter.
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10/28/2013 - MedocMad wrote: 92 Points
Wow !! this was singing from the roof tops !! top producer top wine YUM
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6/22/2013 - Leeagolf6 Likes this wine: 94 Points
We had purchased this wine at the vineyard in 2003 and gave it to our daughter on her 21st birthday (10 years ago) to be used to celebrate her engagement. Had it this past Saturday. A classic Chateauneuf. This wine is definitely ready to drink. A noticeable tannin that disappeared immediately leaving the expected Chateauneuf taste on the back of the tongue. If you have one, it is ready now and ours was beautiful. It was medium ruby red, with an longer than one would expect finish. Very pleasant.
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5/28/2013 - Mr T wrote:
quite mature and orange on the rim...very pronounced funk/Brett that really detracted from the experience. Drank about 1/2 of the bottle over 1-1.5 hours after PNP from horizontal. Also threw a lot of sediment. Not a great experience
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5/26/2013 - pbaek wrote:
Developed nicely over a couple of days, showing better on the second day, more resolved and traditional in style with gentle red fruit, spices and earthy marks. Quite good Chateauneuf.
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9/12/2012 - Vinous wrote:
Quite good. Mature. Consumed over two nights, 9/8 and 9/9.
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11/13/2011 - pbaek wrote:
More youthful than the last bottle opened in February with more upfront cherry fruit, mint and garrigue. This is an excellent example of a 1998 that is not over the top, but very well contained and structured. To me a traditional Chateauneuf, very enjoyable. With Henrik and Jayne.
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8/12/2011 - Retil wrote: 90 Points
Tasted 13.8.2011. Brick coloured peppery with licorice medium finish
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4/22/2011 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
Very dark red violet color; lovely, baked berry, licorice, subtle garrigue nose with the beginnings of subtle ginger cake; tasty, rich but poised, tart plum, baked berry, garrigue palate; medium-plus finish
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3/23/2011 - presterjohn wrote:
dark fruit and pepper nose. similar mouth with balancing acidity and light tannins, chocolate and pepper finish. no fireworks but very satisfying, drink now while it still has nerve
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3/20/2011 - suttonri wrote: 89 Points
Really exceeded expectations. The key word here is soft. This restrained CdP has a core of red and black fruit, with subdued game, garrigue, leather, and peppe. With smoked beef the fruit leaps forward. Just a pretty wine that is just about perfect on the aging curve. This wine is truly excellent and darn near outstanding. For my money the 98 CdP's are just about perfect right now. Served with smoked brisket and German potato salad dressed with Banyuls vinegar, a mixture of Italian and Australian olive oils, Californian basil, and oregano from my back yard. So much for eating local.
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3/17/2011 - Yagil Does not like this wine: 78 Points
Dark red with orange edges;
Oxidized cherries aroma;
Wine was over the peak, not enjoyable, and the bottle was emptied int the sink after a short while.
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3/13/2011 - John Nezlek wrote: 83 Points
Way disappointing considering the vintage and the domain. Not much going on here. Monolithic, no fruit, no action. A little spice that was promising upon opening, but not much past that. After thinking about it, I knocked this down from 86 to 83.
Might have waited too long.
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3/9/2011 - MedocMad wrote:
Deep berry red, tannins soft, medium length. 14%
Didnt blow me away though
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2/18/2011 - pbaek wrote:
A wonderful nose of tobacco, garrigue, olives, dark fruit and funk. This is fully mature now, the fruit is taking the back seat here. A very traditional Chateauneuf with mint and provencal herb flavors on the palate. Drink up within the next 3-5 years, will not get better. Served with grilled rib eye and NY strip, a great match. Dinner at home with Jim and Ea.
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12/21/2010 - dfeiner wrote: 92 Points
Really nice licorice, herbs and garrigue. In a very enjoyable spot right now.
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11/20/2010 - MicklethePickle Does not like this wine: 80 Points
At home. Totally mature. Browning. All secondary smells, nothing fruity. Lots of earth. Same story on the palate. Keep hoping for the '67 Les Cedres, not getting it. Not even close. 4-9-11-6: 80/100
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6/19/2010 - suttonri wrote: 88 Points
A fine drop but low on the 98 CdP food chain in my experience. A bit simple with kirsch, pepper, and little else.Don't get me wrong, it's very tasty. It's just not a relevation. Not in the same league as other 98s I've had (Beaucastel, Donjon, Mon Aeiul, Telegraphe, Bosquet des Papes Chantemerle, Charvin in decreasing order. Put Santa Duc's Haut Garrigue Gigondas right up there with Beaucastel. )
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5/16/2010 - aagrawal wrote: 92 Points
Very aromatic with plums, lots of earthy aromas, dusty, and a faint hint of tart cherry. Palate shows strong structure, loads of fruit, a bit of spice, mouthwatering acidity, and a very pleasant finish. I actually think this will get better for a year or so and then will plateau for a long time.
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5/7/2010 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Black fruit, fig, smoky, spice box nose; fig, black fruit, smoke, spice box palate; medium finish
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2/26/2010 - pbaek wrote:
A very impressive bottle of mature Chateauneuf. Dark red. Lovely nose of dried red fruit, garrigue, farmyard, leather and tobacco. Big presence on the palate, a wine that fills out the mouth. The fruit is no longer primary here, it is the secondary notes that kick in in full gear. A mark of mint on the palate as well. A very traditional, masculine Chateauneuf with a rusticity that I really like. Excellent.
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1/1/2010 - the godfather wrote: 91 Points
An awesome earth bomb
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4/26/2009 - Philippe_C wrote: 96 Points
Nose of very ripe red cherries, wild animal, meaty... loads of ripe red cherries in the mounth, and very very long... I was bluffed to see that this was the "simple" tradition!!
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4/7/2009 - pbaek wrote:
1998 CdP tasting at Il Corso, NY. Funky, old fashioned Chateauneuf du Pape. Lots of barnyard and garrigue on the nose and palate. Asher calls it dirty. Maybe so, but in a good way to me. This is very spicy. On the palate I get black olives, rosemary, lavender and licorice. Very honest wine, very Southern Rhone. I like this more than the crowd.
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2/21/2009 - JBVino wrote:
one of the better 98s I have had lately (string of dissappointments Beau, gardine, janasse)...true cdp personality...great balance, good size and mouthfeel, solid secondary flavors, pretty fully integrated but enough tannins for good grip; had more finesse and nuance/balance than some of the big 98 cuvees that I have had lately that seemed to be alcohol dominated at this stage
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12/17/2008 - KPB wrote: 88 Points
Guess I should have finished this sooner... at age 10, the wine is still a rich, lushly flavored, aromatic bottle, but seems clumsy and a bit heavy. Port-like.
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6/16/2008 - glg wrote: 91 Points
Showed very nicely, with fully resolved tannins and a honest CdP profile.
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6/10/2008 - Li6 wrote: 89 Points
The wine gestured in the direction of an outstanding wine, but I think I polished the bottle off before it fully emerged. It started off on the thin side, with aromas of leather, lavender and dried cherry (or is that plum?), along with a touch of heat. After >1 hour, the wine put on a surprising mount of weight, and really fleshed out. The fruit flavors blossomed, and a light smoke note emerged as well. I wish I had decanted this. Next time, for at least 1 hour in advance.
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3/17/2008 - steffenpelz wrote:
This was another great bottle of this. Soaring nose of earth, truffles, garrigue, plum, and hoisin sauce. Spectacular on the palate with amazingly delicate fruit framed by lively acidity, good structure, and waves of truffle, earth, and silky red fruit. Finishes great. Simply the best basic CdP I have ever had.
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1/22/2008 - glg wrote: 89 Points
Drinking very well right now, with more funk than the last bottle. Nose of wood and herbs. Medium body with a long finish. Not overly complex, but very good in what it offers.
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1/1/2008 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Nice depth, aromatic (garigue, clove) ripe structure, good fruit, civilised richness, a wine of finesse and high quality.
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8/31/2007 - glg wrote: 91 Points
Mature and very enjoyable. Expressive nose, and minimial funk for a CdP. Very even midpalate and finish. Lots of sediment.
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4/2/2007 - Mr T wrote: 88 Points
Straight from the cellar and glasses poured 30 minutes prior to dinner. Color remains dark purple. I was disappointed by what I thought was a somewhat thin wine. Slight sour taste to finish, although it did improve over the course of the dinner. I thought it was a decent pairing w/ the mushroom pasta.
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11/14/2006 - KPB wrote: 92 Points
Black/plum with amber tinge to the rim. Richly scented: plum syrup, spices, tobacco, toffee. On the palate, a powerful wine of ripe fruit, soft but substantial tannins, very long and slightly tart finish. Would be a great match to a strongly flavored meat dish or a ripe cheese; a bit too much for the ham and mushroom omlette we ate for dinner tonight.
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8/30/2006 - dwhsieh wrote: 90 Points
drinking nicely
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5/20/2006 - pgordon62 wrote: 89 Points
A medium, bricky red in color. Wonderful nose of old wood, wild flowers, menthol and blackberry. Soft on the palate, with earthy cherry and berry fruit with a licorice edge. Good length on the finish with just a touch of tannin. No signs of alcohol heat. An excellent value. Ready now and for the next 2-3 years.
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6/22/2005 - jamiekutch wrote: 91 Points
S.F. - Rubicon High End Rhone Wines (Rubicon, S.F.): Dark and thick. Earth, underbrush, and black fruit. Big but balanced.
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5/14/2005 - steffenpelz wrote: 93 Points
Day 1: Last night, I might have caught this wine at the best it's ever going to show. Dark garnet red color with a nose that emits aromas of licorice, garrigue, ox blood, and dark berry fruit, such as blueberry and blackberry. Lots of sediment in the glass and bottle because I didn't decant. Many layers of flavors are present on the palate. Among them are kirsch liqueur, garrigue, sea salt, and a touch of leather. The mouthfeel of the wine is silky, and finish is super-long. Still a pretty tannic wine with plenty of fruit to balance it out that has many years left to improve in the bottle. It is currently what I would refer to as an animalistic, hedonistic, and powerful CDP that should be unbelievable in years to come. I still can't believe I got this on closeout for $19/bottle.
Day 2: Second half of the bottle was put back in the cellar after putting a protective layer of gas over it. I am now drinking the rest of the bottle, but I think it has shut down a bit. Nose and palate do hint at the greatness though that I was firtunate enough to witness last night.
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11/2/2004 - Jeff W wrote: 89 Points
Ruby. Full, clean nose of ripe fruit which does not quite carry over on the palate. Very long with soft tannins. Delicious now, but will probably improve. Drink now - 2010.
(NB a second bottle on 3/5/2005 was much fuller and meatier, with fruit and tannin much more prominent. A touch of spice as well. Very satisfying.)
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7/1/2004 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Pale, slightly brick red color. Really nice sweet aroma. Primary flavors of red fruit with some spice on the finish. Could be great in 5-6 years. 7/04
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3/14/2004 - Terry wrote:
Opened this Chateauneuf last night to have with dinner of grilled lamb loin, baked potato, and Caesar salad. Additionally, we opened a '00 Thevenet - Bongrand Macon Clesse, Cuvee Tradition and a '96 Coturri Pinot Noir, Jewell Vineyard. The last time I had opened one of the '98 Usseglio's was approximately two years ago, and at that time I did not feel it was showing particularly well, as the wine seemed both subdued and tight on the nose and palate. Patience with this wine has paid off, as it now has opened up nicely. The nose of ripe fruit now includes a wonderful meatiness – my friend who had prepared the lamb earlier, immediately commented following his first whiff that it smelled like the lamb when he had opened the packages of meat. On the palate the wine is smooth, intense, tasty Chateauneuf fruit. This is a '98 that is drinking very well right now.
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