The stalwart delivers (from a 375 ml half bottle). Good purple/red core with rim fading to crimson.
Hard to say whether I like the nose or the palate more. Both impress, given the modest price tag.
Dry spice, pepper and char mingle with (Grenache) raspberry, strawberry hovering in the background. Composed.
A similarly dry, savoury palate. Touch of liquorice to the above characters. Not only avoids the porty excess of some (many?) CdRs but better still exhibits fine tannins and good line - especially for the price, back in the day (it seems Guigal have cottoned on to ‘international pricing’ and adjusted upwards, alas). Drinking agreeably well now but a few extra years wouldn’t hurt.
Ever since tasting a 1997 Jaboulet Parallele 45 CdR with 20 odd years or so age, I’ve been on the hunt for a good value CdR to buy in bulk and consign most to the cellar. This would have been a reasonable candidate. Me thinks the 2015 even more so. A good Komrade bought a stash of the 15s. I must remind him of what a good deserving pal I am.
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Much respect for this budget bottle. From magnum, given a couple hours of air in the bottle. Just med intensity but nice cool red cherry & dried black fruit tones beneath some earth & woodsy herb. Palate isn't as giving or "fun" as some CdR might be expected to be, but has good structure and spice/earth tones. I like it. Easy, works on its own, better with food.
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First of a new case. Needs air; it's takes a while to open out. Youthful dark purple red. Fresh nose of violets, metallic tin, geranium leaves. Tannins softening, medium-full body, blueberry/cranberry fruit. As ever a benchmark for Southern Rhone wines with a good QPR.
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Kirsebær, moreller, blåbær, litt fat, jordkjeller og krydder i nesa. Fin og myk kjøttfull frukt av mørke bær i munnen. Medium syre og tanninstruktur som gjør denne kraftig nok til svin og kalv, men myk nok bare å ha i glasset.
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Not a fan necessarily. Light dry flavor without much noticeable fruit or berry. Would not get this again, not because it's not good, it's just not our thing. It's dry and doesn't have the fruit and jamminess that we like.
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(E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône) Very dark red violet color; savory, ripe plum, blackberry, black fruit, charcoal nose; tasty, savory, dense, black plum, graphite, roasted fruit, charcoal palate with good balancing acidity; medium-plus finish (good value; 14.5% alcohol; natural cork with light plasticine coating)
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2/11/2024 - Dr S Likes this wine: 92 Points
The stalwart delivers (from a 375 ml half bottle). Good purple/red core with rim fading to crimson.
Hard to say whether I like the nose or the palate more. Both impress, given the modest price tag.
Dry spice, pepper and char mingle with (Grenache) raspberry, strawberry hovering in the background. Composed.
A similarly dry, savoury palate. Touch of liquorice to the above characters. Not only avoids the porty excess of some (many?) CdRs but better still exhibits fine tannins and good line - especially for the price, back in the day (it seems Guigal have cottoned on to ‘international pricing’ and adjusted upwards, alas). Drinking agreeably well now but a few extra years wouldn’t hurt.
Ever since tasting a 1997 Jaboulet Parallele 45 CdR with 20 odd years or so age, I’ve been on the hunt for a good value CdR to buy in bulk and consign most to the cellar. This would have been a reasonable candidate. Me thinks the 2015 even more so. A good Komrade bought a stash of the 15s. I must remind him of what a good deserving pal I am.
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1/12/2024 - cobbpa Likes this wine: 87 Points
Much respect for this budget bottle. From magnum, given a couple hours of air in the bottle. Just med intensity but nice cool red cherry & dried black fruit tones beneath some earth & woodsy herb. Palate isn't as giving or "fun" as some CdR might be expected to be, but has good structure and spice/earth tones. I like it. Easy, works on its own, better with food.
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12/2/2023 - derekjohn Likes this wine: 88 Points
First of a new case.
Needs air; it's takes a while to open out.
Youthful dark purple red.
Fresh nose of violets, metallic tin, geranium leaves.
Tannins softening, medium-full body, blueberry/cranberry fruit.
As ever a benchmark for Southern Rhone wines with a good QPR.
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11/25/2023 - Casa HeRo wrote: 90 Points
Kirsebær, moreller, blåbær, litt fat, jordkjeller og krydder i nesa.
Fin og myk kjøttfull frukt av mørke bær i munnen. Medium syre og tanninstruktur som gjør denne kraftig nok til svin og kalv, men myk nok bare å ha i glasset.
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11/16/2023 - gmac10 wrote: 81 Points
Not a fan necessarily. Light dry flavor without much noticeable fruit or berry. Would not get this again, not because it's not good, it's just not our thing. It's dry and doesn't have the fruit and jamminess that we like.
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