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! — 3 days ago

Brent Young

9.5

Sweaty Animals? Yes please

DAY 1
👃Complex. Distinctive. Amazing. Charcoal, pepper, sweet dark cherries, smoke, barnyard, sweaty animals, earth, garrigue & violets
👅Full bodied. Complex. Balanced. Purple/red fruit, thyme, licorice & pepper. Silky. Finishes with mod+ tannic pull. Delicious
Note: With time in the glass the nose and palate lost some focus and animation. Still drinking well but probably lost 2-3 points

The remaining wine was Slow Decanted in my refrigerator

DAY 12
Slow Decanting this wine did not improve this wine. Just as with Day 1, letting the wine aerate resulted in less intensity. The wine did not develop any faults and was still a very nice glass. It just wasn’t the firecracker it was on first pour

Verdict: A fantastic wine. It was best as soon as it was poured on Day 1. I would not decant this wine or give it extra time in the glass.

Question: I have noticed this with many CdPs in the past. They do not do well with aeration. And it seems particularly true of wines with more structure. Anyone else notice this? — a day ago

Ron R

9.1

Typical CdR presentation with a lithe and round palate profile. Finishes sweet and rich. Big-time buy at the right price. — 2 days ago

with Anne-marie

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. — a day 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. — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.6

We pulled this from our cellar and brought it to V. Mertz for dinner. We enjoyed a couple of other wines as aperitifs and then ultimately did what anyone given the opportunity should do: pair it with lamb chops. We poured it into a decanter while we enjoyed the conversation and opening courses. Given the setting, there were no formal notes however, I can confidently report that the 2015 “Tintot” absolutely slaps. From the first sip to the last, it was all balance, power and class. It was also a spectacular showcase for Mourvèdre. It was hard to fully judge color because the lighting was so low but it appeared to be nearly opaque. A touch feral with a slightly gamey element to it but there’s a great big ol’ basket of black and blue fruits with red and purple flowers, garrigue, some black pepper and cedar chest. Structure is still quite firm but totally enjoyable. While this is an unusual assemblage for the region, it still comes across as a wine from Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This was my first “Tintot” and it has left quite the impression. Drink now with an hour decant or over the next 7-10 years. P.S. it probably goes without saying, but the pairing with lamb chops was sublime. — 3 days 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. — a day 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. — 11 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. — 2 days ago

Aravind A

9.0

Seemingly a bit oak heavy, but very good acidity, density and varietal character. — 10 days ago