I rate this higher than others, perhaps it just needed more age. Purchased in Gigondas tasting room in 2011 or so and held since then. Surprisingly dark, youthful color. Lots of fruit, a little spice, still seemed young as there was a bit of tannin. It was delicious, wish I had another bottle or two. I'd say this was as good quality-wise as most chateauneuf-du-papes, I remembered it was good from the tasting room but I was still pleasantly surprised. If you've got any, it's delicious now but wouldn't hurt to hold it a few more years either.
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Having been disappointed by this wine the last few times I've opened a bottle, this is now in a better place than the last few awkward showings. The palate is rather condensed from its youthful size, now more direct and with less bulk, which allows the core or fruit (cherry and berry) to come on with good focus. The fruit is somewhat reduced and I can see how other tasters might find "raspberry coulis" or some such, although I don't mean to suggest that this is candied or syrupy. The tannins are refined and give the palate good grip. This wine gives the impression of a modern wine that has come into balance with time in the cellar.
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This has lost the bulk of youth and is more tapered, and retains some of the modern gloss it had as a young wine. Dark in color, and the palate shows the dark side of Grenache, more dark cherry and berry than Grenache red. While I like the fact that it has matured and lost its youthful plumpness, it's not that interesting; it is not especially complex and in fact has this annoying metallic note. I thought maybe a night of air would help it, and while the tannins smoothed out over night and the mouthfeel became smoother and more welcoming, the metallic note is still present. Not a great showing.
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3/20/2020 - Karl Kellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
I rate this higher than others, perhaps it just needed more age. Purchased in Gigondas tasting room in 2011 or so and held since then. Surprisingly dark, youthful color. Lots of fruit, a little spice, still seemed young as there was a bit of tannin. It was delicious, wish I had another bottle or two. I'd say this was as good quality-wise as most chateauneuf-du-papes, I remembered it was good from the tasting room but I was still pleasantly surprised. If you've got any, it's delicious now but wouldn't hurt to hold it a few more years either.
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11/9/2016 - jeffjohnsonjj@hotmail.com wrote: flawed
Flawed. Not corked, but old and oxidized (with perfect cork). Perhaps sat on a shipping dock in the heat somewhere along the line....
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6/12/2015 - The Count Likes this wine: 95 Points
excellent, rich, drinking perfectly now.
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5/1/2013 - Pknut wrote:
Having been disappointed by this wine the last few times I've opened a bottle, this is now in a better place than the last few awkward showings. The palate is rather condensed from its youthful size, now more direct and with less bulk, which allows the core or fruit (cherry and berry) to come on with good focus. The fruit is somewhat reduced and I can see how other tasters might find "raspberry coulis" or some such, although I don't mean to suggest that this is candied or syrupy. The tannins are refined and give the palate good grip. This wine gives the impression of a modern wine that has come into balance with time in the cellar.
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11/9/2012 - Pknut wrote:
This has lost the bulk of youth and is more tapered, and retains some of the modern gloss it had as a young wine. Dark in color, and the palate shows the dark side of Grenache, more dark cherry and berry than Grenache red. While I like the fact that it has matured and lost its youthful plumpness, it's not that interesting; it is not especially complex and in fact has this annoying metallic note. I thought maybe a night of air would help it, and while the tannins smoothed out over night and the mouthfeel became smoother and more welcoming, the metallic note is still present. Not a great showing.
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