2003 Charles Joguet Chinon Les Varennes du Grand Clos

Community Tasting Notes (28) Avg Score: 88.3 points

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  6/18/2022 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Magnificent bottle of classic old-style Chinon entering its prime drinking zone. Deep aromatics evoke smoldering cigar tobacco and a miscellaneous earth funk. The crimson-toned fruit might have a bit denser flesh than the norm but the hot vintage doesn't seem to have thrown any of the equalizer dials out of whack or introduced any overly ripe or overly sweet flavors. It really feels like it has the balance between the fruit and the funk, and the raw material it was born with vs. the elements it took on with age, perfectly dialed in. A slight tannic grittiness resurfaces towards the end so it's not without the structure to keep on going. The funny thing is I don't think I even bought this with any interest in the wine per se, only as a comparison piece to the Franc de Pied. But it's complete and lacking for nothing in its own right, I'm not even sure the FdP can be any better, but I'll have to dig one up soon and find out.

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  2/1/2021 - Julian Marshall wrote: 89 Points

  Quite good for a 2003. Compact and sweet on nose and palate, with concentrated wild strawberry and cherry flavours, but one-dimensional and although there is a little Joguet coolness in the background, there isn't really enough, so the wine is a little stodgy, albeit enjoyable. I can't see it falling off the cliff anytime soon, but neither can I see it improving.

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  1/4/2021 - tbone wrote:

  This wine actually improved on day 2. Earthy with mature fruits taking a backseat. I have enjoyed this wine every time I have tried over the last 15 years. This wine might last forever.

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  5/6/2019 - starkravingmad Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Cherries, full bodied, gravelly/earthy. Surprisingly strong for 16 years. No signs of past it’s prime however would drink now.

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  11/23/2018 - JohnSh wrote: 91 Points

  This was singing after 2 hours of air. deep ruby in colour, with a bit of bricking. Classic Loire cab franc nose, with blackfruits, minerals, green olives, iron and earthy herbal notes. Similar flavours on the medium bodied palate with wonderful tannins. There was no hint of overripeness here: this 2003 is outstanding and classic Loire cab franc. This shows no signs of slowing down (A-).

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