Jay Kline

9.2

First pour of this and I was like, “uh-oh”. It was clearly full of flaws (Brettanomyces, VA and maaaaybe some slight TCA) but would they be too much to appreciate the wine? Only time would tell so into the decanter it went. After a lot of air, it became clear this was Brett and VA. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still) with notes of blackberries, umeboshi, animale, purple flowers, black pepper, red Flintstone vitamin, horse blanket, wood varnish, and sous bois. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. An elegant, complicated bottle. This is my second time with the 1997 vintage and due to the flaws, a different adventure than previous. That being said, this decidedly grumpy, Burgundian expression of Clape’s Cornas paired really well with the dry-aged steaks. Drink now, with a lot of patience, through 2037? — 15 hours ago

romo

9.4

Anti-roast, all tart cherry and white pepper, gentle tannin, faint horse hair. Wow. — 23 days ago

Harvey Raben

9.6

Still strong with bramble fruit herbal characteristics that flow into a long finish. For a 43 year old this is spectacular example of Syrah in the northern Rhône. Complexity without off flavors from aging. — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Dark fruits with notes of meat, graphite, spice, licorice, mineral & violets — 8 days ago

Jamie Lauder

8.9

2024 vintage.
Grenache and Syrah blend.
Bright ruby colour.
Medium bodied, spicy, lively and juicy.
Plums, cherries, raspberries and currants with a woodsy, slightly earthy and a white pepper finish.
— 19 days ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.4

17 Gonon smoked 05 Clape — 8 hours ago

Ming L

9.3

Aromas of ripe apricot, honeyed peach, and white flowers are layered with subtle hints of hazelnut, spice, and subtle tropical fruits. The palate is lush and rich yet never feels weighty, and offering stone fruit, candied citrus, and a touch of minerality. The long, harmonious finish leaves notes of almond and soft honeysuckles lingering delicately. A mature, refined Condrieu at its expressive peak. — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Medium Ruby with aromas of black and red fruits with floral spice notes. On the palate flavors of cherry and blackberry with smoke and tobacco notes. Generous acidity on fine soft tannins with a long finish ending with fruit and floral spice. Drinking well now! — 20 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.8

Acker auction @ marea — 13 days ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.7

1985. 40 years young. Gave it an hour to open up before dinner (paired orange ginger glazed duck with pistachio apricot farro). Thankfully my partner is a master of the Durand. There’s very little for me to compare this too - most aged whites are preserved by acid; Chave relies on glycerol here. It gives the wine gravitas but also life and freshness. Pleasant wood veneer/wood shop notes, dried apricots at first (become fresher with time), yellow plum, truffled earth. Salty poached apricots and timelessness. In a perfect world, we’d be sharing this with my dad. Strange & sensational. — a month ago