Bob McDonald

9.4

We first tried a bottle of Celestins in a restaurant in Gigondas some years ago, and for me it was a WOW Wine. Had this latest bottle on Sunday with Roast Pork. Medicinal to begin with which blew off. Barnyard aromas - horse manure. In hindsight this could’ve been Brett but the overall impression and tasting was impressive and memorable. Glad I have 3 left. Showing a medium to full bodied palate. This is textbook CdP in the old school genre. The tannins are silky and sexy - a liquorice note together with saddle leather. Henri Bonneau passed away in 2016 and the wine making is now carried out by his son, Marcel. A visit to his archaic cellars was keenly sought after and rarely granted. Mould all over the walls, rickety stairs light bulbs dangling from the ceiling and a floor which stuck to the soles of your shoes was how one visitor described his experience in the cellar. Nevertheless this is a CdP up there with Rayas and the top Cuvée from Beaucastel. The blend is usually 90% Grenache with the balance made up of around 4 or 5 different varieties. — 2 years ago

David Kline

9.0

Real wine. Violets, koi pond, plum bread, dried raspberries in a Sumatran coffee and gunpowder tea bran muffin. Shoe leather in clear polish. Wound up a little tightly as it was just opened, the palate receives a heaping spoonful of coal and banana leaf, with iron pellets. You can see the shadow of the panther in this one! Pure muscle. Cracked pepper, smooth, flat black stones; dried violets, tar, squid ink and flame-touched hemp. Not your typical Zin fare, this one elevates the cultivation to an art form. 80 year old vines strumming archaic, wooden energies into the glass. Remember this is Zin, which is the neon calling card of the wine arcade, then find yourself called to a state of bliss. #zinfomaniacs #zintastic #zincredible #zin #bedrock #bedrockwineco #oldvinesyounglove #oldvine #oldvines #oldvinezin #zinfandel #zinfadel #caliclassic — 8 years ago

with Courtney

Fabien Lainé

Blogger VinDeling.com

9.3

A slight cloudy wine that pulls in front lively purity with oxydative notes, and citrus freshness and floral - 100% Zibibbo - In order to respect the terroir the De Bartoli family have limited human intervention avoinding any chemical treatment, physical, chemical, mechanical, nor any kind of forcing conventional.
Integer wines do not belong to any category, organic, biodynamic, archaic, or movement of wines real or natural. Bottled non-refrigerated, non-clarified, unfiltered. — 11 years ago

John Tan

9.5

Changwen’s.

Sweetly ripe black fruits in the nose of the Ponsot 2006 Clos de La Roche Cuvee Vieilles Vignes prepare the way for a more succulently, generously sweet fruit, plush texture, and generally sunny disposition than that presented by the corresponding Clos St.-Denis. Ripe cherry and red currant flood the creamy, silken palate with sweetness, while some of the same notes of citrus oil, floral perfume (here iris), and peat as exhibited in the Clos St.-Denis swirl about, too. Saline, chalky suggestions help offer contrast and a sounding board to the fruit, and this finishes with exhilarating lift, riveting interplay, and phenomenal length. Here is a combination of textural allure and backbone for which velvet gloves and iron fists seem inappropriately mundane – not merely archaic – metaphors. Blind – I must confess (and did, to Ponsot) – that I would more likely have guessed this to be Musigny than Clos de la Roche. In an extreme instance of a phenomenon shared by many of the best 2006s, I find this irresistible now; find it hard to imagine its having ornery or sulking phases; yet expect it will be worth following for 20 years. Picking chez Ponsot began predictably late – on September 27 – and lasted until October 5. As might have been expected, Laurent Ponsot acted rigorously in the vineyards in the immediate aftermath of hail and eventually on the sorting table (overseen, he notes, by an especially meticulous team of three young women) to insure that any effects were minimized. (For some notes on the often unorthodox methods Ponsot employs, readers should consult my report in issue 170.) — 3 years ago

Nicklas Eli Sorensen

9.6

Exemplary and archaic in style; the aromas come to life with protruding scents of leather, smoked cherries, herbs, vanilla and aged oak ending with tar and slight tobacco. The palate is layered with espresso, cocoa, recurring tobacco and oak wrapped in worn leather and asian spices. So vivid and structured throughout. So distinctly Rioja - this will drink well till 2025. — 8 years ago

Lou Amdur

9.1

Full bodied, lime zest and lime oil, some RS, a few days of skin contact, not oxidative, medium plus acidity. Really dig this archaic, chewy style of grüner. — 10 years ago

Manny Abascal

9.4

Bought this knowing nothing about the wine on recommendation of my Delectable friend Anthony Lombardi, whom I have actually never met (one of the many things I love about this app). My initial reaction to the color and nose was WTF, not having any experience with these wines, but then I got it. Orange rind, over ripe peach, nectarine, apricot, orangina, capers, lemons, spice, sand, bunch of other stuff, all coming from a cloudy, orangish, smoky liquid that resembled what I understood to be wine, and I can’t say there was a finish because I kept tasting it long after it was done. Oh and it changed a lot over several hours. Felt archaic, organic, creative, weird, and natural. Thanks Anthony. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

8.9

This is a wine you don’t see very often - an Old World Cabernet Syrah. Grown in Provence from 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The owner was able to classify the wine as the more lowly Vin de Pays to get around the archaic French classification laws so he could do the 50/50 blend. A good robust crimson colour. I’m getting Cabernet Notes of black currant and herbs on the nose and fleshier Syrah notes on the palate. Sandy persistent tannins to finish. Probably will live another 10 years + so might have opened a little early? Being an Australian I am spoilt for choice for excellent Cabernet Shiraz blends most of which would blow this away for quality and value even though this Trevallon is one of the 1001 wines. I paid 110 Euros for this in a bottle shop in Provence and would prefer Penfolds Bin 389 or Yalumba Signature for around the $80 AUD Mark. — 6 years ago

Christian Bronstein

9.2

Friday night grilled burgers and a great example of Gamay.....perfect combination for a warm night — 8 years ago

Fabien Lainé

Blogger VinDeling.com

9.5

From the Latin, Healthy is the name of these wine, made with native grapes Grillo that are in West Sicily because their habitat acclimated for thousands of years. In order to respect the terroir the De Bartoli family have limited human intervention avoinding any chemical treatment, physical, chemical, mechanical, nor any kind of forcing conventional.
Integer wines do not belong to any category, organic, biodynamic, archaic, or movement of wines real or natural. Bottled non-refrigerated, non-clarified, unfiltered. A wine that pulls in front lively freshness and purity with oxydative notes. 😋👍 — 11 years ago