Alex Powell

8.9

From taste: vibrant orange, spruce needle, thyme, sour cherry liqueur and stony nose; can sense the structure beneath. Real fresh with a powerful acid spine, firm tannin, and sense of staying power. Good midpalate density, tart and savoury, thyme and orange peel finish, a little heat. Made in a midweight+ classic style. Keep for 8-10. — 10 years ago

Alex Powell

9.1

Great lively pepper, olive, aged meat, violet and waxy blackberry nose. Very pretty, so spicy and energetic and bright on the palate, none of the heaviness often with chateauneuf, lots of character here for the price. Juicy, spicy quite long length, jot a blockbuster but likely the best chateauneuf I've had for $34.95. Great job. — 10 years ago

Alex Powell

8.6

From taste: Dense nose, lots of incense and medicinal mint, dollops of vanilla and cocoa in the back, over blackberry pie and clove with a hint of orange peel. Very perfumed in mouth with sweet black fruits, very rich, a fairly modern style, med + grainy tannin, and dryness on finish from the wood. Big wine, needs at least 10 years before it integrates better on the finish. Plenty of extract. — 10 years ago

Alex Powell

9.1

From taste: classically styled, rock, bell pepper and lead in front, backed by tobacco and pine lumber. Fruit is way at the back of this bus, which is pleasing. Concentrated palate, full mouth, tobacco tinged cassis and mint in front with a long finish wracked with rocks, lead and assertive tannin. Shows typicity, power and polish well, well-priced at $64. Can be tucked up to 20 years for sure. — 10 years ago

Alex Powell

9.5

Such an elegant and lithe example of Dujac, was good on opening but much better now after 5 hours in bottle, kaleidoscopic nose now of 5 spice and autumn leaves, sweet sappy raspberry, toned of caramel, sauteed mushroom and madjool date. So lovely, harmonious and complex. Palate is fatter and sweeter, with floating caramel raspberries and underbrush, soft and inviting yet finishes zesty and warm, bursting with burgundy and all ready to go. Long, sensual, relaxed finale. Will hold for a while but why wait...an awesome 2007. — 10 years ago

Alex Powell

8.7

From taste: Lean, bright cherry, candlewaxy nose with a defined earthy spice and blue flowers. Very fresh and sleek style, a fine spiciness, hardly any discernable wood, fair concentration and zesty finish. Quite elegant and well-made stripped down burgundy, $79 though is over-doing it. — 10 years ago

Alex Powell

8.7

From taste: dipping into black fruit spectrum, cassis and blackberries over ripe bing cherry, a heavyweight for sure...full body and full of mint, real sweet fruit, bordering on syrupy, finishes dry with very supple tannin. Grapes must have been picked off the floor! Tasty yes, but one dimensional and not one I expect to age well past 8 years. Will be a crowd pleaser now though. — 10 years ago

Alex Powell

8.9

From taste: Very herbal, with white pepper, clove and rosemary at the fore, cherry liqour and a touch of mushroom. Good intensity. Very rich, bursting with cherries, quite fat palate, lush and finishes herbal again. Fine length, acidity is low but offering its pleasure now with your spaghetti bolognese. — 10 years ago

Alex Powell

8.2

From taste: floral, sweet cherry liqour nose, mint and purity syrup. Very ripe, punchy, almost candied. Waves of sweet cherry on palate, lush but with some toughness in the back end, a bit too syrupy for me. Moderate length finish, sugar hides the heat well. — 10 years ago

Alex Powell

9.1

An elegant style, plush with dried oregano and rosemary over dried cherry, plum, cocoa butter and molasses. Rich and finessed palate, age has lent harmony to this wine, complete with savoury/sweet dried red fruits and herbs on the palate. Some fine tannin remains, and just enough acidity to brighten the finish. Light enough for food, paired well with mushroom pot pie. A classic. — 10 years ago