Doug Powers

9.3

(This is the pre-Pergaud Vielles Vignes) still dark purple color, iodine, saline, dark fruits, fantastic freshness due to the bracing acidity this showed when young, long, lingering finish, I do love Eric’s wines!! — 6 days ago

with Jim

John Bratincevic

9.0

A new style for me.

Nose: meaty, savory, saline…almost some onions. Bagels. Onion bagels??! Mexican food?!? Wow, the Mexican food images really sticks, now I keep smelling tacos…

Taste: heavy, peachy, grapey, sweet onions and herbs, white flowers, honeysuckle, vanilla…almond, apricot. Long finish. I don’t drink a lot of white wine, so my experience (and vocabulary) are both limited here…and I can’t decide if I love it or hate it- it is funky compared to what I am used to…but very complex, and clearly well made stuff. I’ll go 90! — 5 days ago

Deborah M

9.0

Trying something different tonight. Nice northern Rhône style. Expressive nose. Somewhat grippy tannins. Medium body. Nice acidity. I decanted this for about 30 minutes and it improved with more time in the glass. — 5 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Needed a whole day to become civilized. Stunning nose of blueberry, blackberry, graphite, granite and dark flowers. Some saddle leather as well. Also wet pottery clay. Palate is juicy and concentrated with terrific energy and thrust. Sappy and fresh with such fine grained tannins. Terrific layering and a soft density. So pure and deep. Elegant like only the best can be. Amazing balance and length. Age for 5-7 more years then watch out! — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured. The 2015 LVdA pours a deep violet color and is now throwing a significant amount of fine sediment. On the nose, blue and black fruits, black pepper, deli case, black olives, lavender and stone-like minerals. On the palate, the notes from the nose are confirmed and accompanied by some chocolate too. Medium tannin and medium (+) acid. On the pour, the body is a touch thin for my liking but it gains some weight with air. By hour two, it’s hitting its stride. The finish is long and delicious. This is in a good place right now and will likely do so at least through 2025. — a day ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

No formal notes - this is the last of 6 bottles. Notes of mandarin and honeysuckle - luscious - the perfect Winter white. See previous Delectable notes. A regular purchase for me. More than 50% Viognier together with Roussanne and other Rhone white grapes. Amazing consistency considering Guigal makes over 700,000 bottles per year. — 4 days ago

Doug Powers

8.9

Medium-dark purple, rich dark fruits, terrific CdR, balanced, medium-long finish, a lot of this best juice in this wine now goes into the Montfaucon Lirac (not Baron Louis), at the early stage of hitting its maturity. — 6 days ago

with Jim

Bob McDonald

9.0

The first of 12 and an annual purchase for me. Must be the best value red wine on the planet - $24 AUD per bottle. 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre. I don’t know what the annual production would be but it would have to be well over a million bottles. I love Phillipe Guigals philosophy in that he says the CDR is the most important wine they produce because it is the wine most people will first be introduced to the Estate. Fresh savoury red fruits with raspberry to the fore. Quaffable and smashable. — 4 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

This veers towards the Sozet school rather then the Beliando/Fauterie school. Mesmerizing nose of game, herbs, lavender, fresh tweed, blackberry, smoked meats, gravy, just impossibly complex and super super stunning. The black fruits are crystalline and focused. Wow. What purity. The lavender top note is truly spectacular. Palate is superb. Sweet fruited and with all kinds of freshness. Super acids. It’s 18 so there is a wall of tannin and also huge god level minerality. Olives galore on the palate. Stunning. But man does this need air. I’ll be back. Wow the energy on this wine is just incredible. Nose is crazy mineral now after 3 hours. Palate has picked up heft and minerality. So juicy. The most backwards young but maybe the most promising young vintage so far. — 13 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Ruby, purple edges with aromas of red berry fruits and herb notes. On the palate flavors of ripe blackberry and raspberry with dried flower, licorice and spice. Firm tannins on medium finish ending with a herb mineral fruit character. Drink now no aging benefit. — 9 days ago