Doug Powers

9.0

The entire intact cork decided it wanted to stay in the bottle rather than come out, so gently-filtered pours will be de rigeur tonight!! Initially this shows mature white wine aromas, some minerality and salinity, still plenty of acidity, actually a pretty solid finish that lingers, often these old Raveneau wines open to show more with 30 minutes of aeration, we’ll see and I’ll add a comment to my note. — a day ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

8.8

Solid, mature red-fruited Barbera, medium-bodied, some minerality, good balance, medium-long finish. — 3 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

9.1

Still a lovely English sparkler, tiny bubbles, nice complexity, long finish, lovely!! — 5 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

8.7

Mature red fruits, decent balance, fully mature “regular” CdP, time to drink up (I have 1 more). BTW, Baron Le Roy was one of the key, if not THE key, movers and shakers behind CdP getting the Appellation Controlee designation back in the 20th century, and the chateau has a lovely restaurant!! — 6 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

8.7

So, this one had a difficult to remove cork that was depressed into the neck about 1 inch, yet it wanted out and, while it took two tries, I got it out in two pieces. Color on this one, however, shows that this bottle’s heyday was long past, some acidity, decent length, but I suspect some oxidation has sadly occurred because of the depressed cork. An interesting history piece, not more (I still have some hope for further improvement from the 1985 Valmur opened alongside). — a day ago

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Doug Powers

8.8

Riper vintage, clearly ready to drink, but still a quite enjoyable summer Rose! — 4 days ago

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Doug Powers

9.8

Dark purple color, looks and smells like a 10-year-old wine, smoke, black fruits, and some tarry notes I’ve never encountered in Hermitage (?), big, rich, very structured and tannic, super long finish, will it ever mature during my remaining lifetime, staggeringly GREAT Hermitage!! — 5 days ago

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Doug Powers

8.9

Dark reddish color, faint vegetal underlying aromas (think underripe Cab Franc aromas?), red fruits, nice balance, soft tannins, medium-long finish, very good!! — 2 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

9.1

From old vines planted in 1894, 13% ABV. Faint bricking on the edge, this shows a little maturity on the palate, tannic backbone is still there, but some softening, medium-long finish, a well-done old vines Petite Sirah, I doubt it will ever be particularly charming, but pretty darn good tonight! — 2 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

9.0

Initially this shows just a trace of threshold level TCA (?), iodine, raw meat, some smoke aromas as well, rich and complex, seems a little more refined that the 1990 Sorrel Hermitage “Le Greal”, but without the incredible depth and sheer power of that wine, another great northern Rhone Syrah!! — 5 days ago

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