Shut down and grumpy, even 2/3 of a bottle double decanted and left to the next day was fairly tight & inexpressive. Lots of coiled up energy and undoubted potential - I should have paid attention to the note below which says not to touch for 4 years, rather than the drinking dates from 2022. This is not ready (...but will probably be fantastic when it is).
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Notes after 2+ hours. Uncorked not decanted. Consider doing so next time. With SRF filets gold. Red and white oak. Five logs. Dark ruby with no signs of garnet / aging oxidation, fresh aromatics only opened after almost 3 hours. Lifted bright red fruit, fennel, black tea? Savory. Consistent palate, medium minus intensity palate, medium minus body/weight with lifting acid, still has tannic grip and a short finish. Wanted more from this.
DO NOT DRINK FOR FOUR PLUS YEARS
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This is hitting it's peak right now (at least in my collection which has been stored in a stone cellar that has a small but not negligible amount of seasonal temperature fluctuation). The word is savory. Tannins are present in a much more muted way than in the past. Lots of acidity and sweet fruit behind it all. Good balance. Seems pretty long - I am not going to count seconds and stop counting at some arbitrary point. I've always like this vintage, but I am very happy with this wine now. I wonder how long it will stay at this level?
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The Northern Rhône example in our little, impromptu North/South face-off during Christmas Eve dinner. This is a European bottled version of “Les Journaries” which is labeled there as “La Maestria”. Most of the grapes are sourced from Levet’s holdings in La Landonne. The bottle was opened about two hours prior and probably would have benefitted from being opened two days prior in retrospect. That being said, this was stunning...and positively feral. Underbrush, herbs, brambles, flowers, meat, anise, and cinnamon bark on the nose and on the palate. As striking as this is right now, the best is yet to come and these will deliver even more joy in 10-15 years. These wines are a beautiful little secret. If you must, drink after a rather protracted decant otherwise stash these deep in the cellar. For those wondering, we paired a 2009 Domaine de Beaurenard “Boisrenard” as the Southern Rhône example which, while massively different in style, was stunning in its own right.
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A little tight or just shutdown right now, needs a decent or more time in the bottle. The base for a great wine is there but I do not think I can say much more about it right now.
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1/26/2022 - Guillaume-en-égypte Likes this wine:
Shut down and grumpy, even 2/3 of a bottle double decanted and left to the next day was fairly tight & inexpressive. Lots of coiled up energy and undoubted potential - I should have paid attention to the note below which says not to touch for 4 years, rather than the drinking dates from 2022. This is not ready (...but will probably be fantastic when it is).
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9/25/2021 - lgomberg wrote: 92 Points
Notes after 2+ hours. Uncorked not decanted. Consider doing so next time. With SRF filets gold. Red and white oak. Five logs.
Dark ruby with no signs of garnet / aging oxidation, fresh aromatics only opened after almost 3 hours. Lifted bright red fruit, fennel, black tea? Savory. Consistent palate, medium minus intensity palate, medium minus body/weight with lifting acid, still has tannic grip and a short finish. Wanted more from this.
DO NOT DRINK FOR FOUR PLUS YEARS
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8/21/2021 - samatoid wrote: 96 Points
This is hitting it's peak right now (at least in my collection which has been stored in a stone cellar that has a small but not negligible amount of seasonal temperature fluctuation). The word is savory. Tannins are present in a much more muted way than in the past. Lots of acidity and sweet fruit behind it all. Good balance. Seems pretty long - I am not going to count seconds and stop counting at some arbitrary point. I've always like this vintage, but I am very happy with this wine now. I wonder how long it will stay at this level?
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12/25/2018 - thesternowl Likes this wine: 93 Points
The Northern Rhône example in our little, impromptu North/South face-off during Christmas Eve dinner. This is a European bottled version of “Les Journaries” which is labeled there as “La Maestria”. Most of the grapes are sourced from Levet’s holdings in La Landonne. The bottle was opened about two hours prior and probably would have benefitted from being opened two days prior in retrospect. That being said, this was stunning...and positively feral. Underbrush, herbs, brambles, flowers, meat, anise, and cinnamon bark on the nose and on the palate. As striking as this is right now, the best is yet to come and these will deliver even more joy in 10-15 years. These wines are a beautiful little secret. If you must, drink after a rather protracted decant otherwise stash these deep in the cellar. For those wondering, we paired a 2009 Domaine de Beaurenard “Boisrenard” as the Southern Rhône example which, while massively different in style, was stunning in its own right.
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7/1/2018 - Mtpisgah Likes this wine:
A little tight or just shutdown right now, needs a decent or more time in the bottle. The base for a great wine is there but I do not think I can say much more about it right now.
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