This is a nicely balanced blend! — a day ago
Nose : mountain air. Hints of burnt honey.
Palate: complex. Brioche. Intense flowers. Elegantly rich. Intense integrated acidity. Age. So salivatory. Juicy af.
— 25 days ago
2021 vintage. Medium/medium-heavy body. Promising nose with fruit, spice and tobacco. Has dropped much of the baby fat of youth and transitioning into the surly teen years. Richness-front palate. Fruit in the mid-palate. Structure, spices and a gorgeous, savory note akin to comparably aged Côte-Rôtie. Hard to push away from now and on the come. The new Coravin CDP rouge at $40 a glass. 5.7.26. — 12 days ago
2017 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret 'Cuvée Exceptionnelle' Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Rhône valley GSM. Deep ruby color, red fruits, dark fruits, and even blueberry. Tannins start quite acidic, but soften over time. Warm spices come out after about 30 mins. — a month ago
Lemon yellow with green. Oak vanilla rich buttery. Daniel-Etienne Defaix Domaine du Vieux Chateau Vieille Vignes Chablis 22 @2180, Galeri, 260518 — a day ago
I’ve said before that the wines of Chateau Rayas are almost singular in the AOC; certainly one of the purest expressions of Grenache in the world. However, there is another producer that for me, might be an even more archetypal expression of the character of Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Henri Bonneau. Henri’s wines were also predominately Grenache however, they are denser and darker, particularly the Cuvée Marie Beurrier. This is probably more to do with the small addition of other local varieties along with terroir for Mrie Beurrier (Courthézon). Henri had strong feelings about varieties, vine age and cellar practices. He didn’t really like Syrah in CdP (though he had a little of it). He didn’t like ancient vines (most were 30-50 years old and would be torn out and replanted if they were getting up there in the age range) and he believed in extended aging in wood, a collection of very old barrels and foudres. Regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with his approach, the results were undeniably special.
Opened prior to dinner; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2000 “Cuvée Marie Beurrier” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!). Layered notes of dark brambles, black cherry, garrigue, dried red flowers, beef stew with all the veggies and mixed inorganic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long. This is tremendously well balanced and a wine that I just wanted to keep coming back to…and I did. Drink now through 2040. — 2 months ago
Andrew Cullimore
Medium straw yellow . Quite rich on the nose , some toasty notes with some wax and yellow fruits , citrus peel, vanilla . On the palate this is all about the texture , quite round but enough balance , blanched almonds , peach. Waxy notes . Good length . Drink now and over the next few years , in a perfect place . — 9 hours ago