Shay A

9.3

One of the bottles from my annual WWC hosting. I opened this as a side by side to a 2019 Saxum White as the makeup is fairly similar.

80% roussanne/ remaining a mix of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, piquepoul blanc, picardan and bourboulenc.

Nicely expressive at pop, it then faded and hid in a shell for a few hours before coming back at last glass. At 80% roussanne, I expected a more consistent expressive profile (honeyed tropical fruits, some orange) and for the acid to show a touch, but it was a roller coaster. More melon and light fruits vs bigger/more tropical. Medium bodied but not as rich as expected. It’s clean and shows some floral and mineral/stony nuances, but I’d spend the extra and take the Roussanne VV to get more complexity and flavor. — 20 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

A lovely tarry note initially amongst the red fruits. On the medium weight palate sweet and savoury red fruits. Love CdP from a good year like this one. 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 10% Cinsault and the remaining 5% split between Muscardin, Counoise and Vaccarese. Completely destemmed and fruit driven. Soft pliant tannins. — 25 days ago

Eric K

9.5

Fruit forward great finish. Enjoyed with prime rib — 15 hours ago

Conrad Green

9.2

Very lush and punchy. Dark plum and cherry with a hefty dose of alcohol. Rounded and bright. Black cherry and violets. Good — 14 days ago

Paco Suro

9.3

Still signing into day 3. Delicious. Plum. — 10 days ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.8

Cena rayas acker nyc manhatta 3ero wont — 13 days ago

Andrea Wilson @farmforthesoul

9.2

This Chateauneuf-du-pape is incredible! Cannot wait to pair it with my spaghetti bolognese. — 12 days ago

with Jeremy

Conrad Green

9.2

Cool and precise. Tobacco, some dried wood, cool plum. Restrained and balanced. Good. — 14 days ago

with Rick

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Nose: candied pink rose petal. Sorta closed. Lovely.

Palate: well made. Mid season cherry.

Very good length

Grapevine. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a transparent core and showing some rim variation; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red fruits: lightly stewed Bing cherry, strawberry, some funky horse blanket, red flowers, leather, green herbs, dry rocky earth and old wood. There was also a little bit of VA. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and freaking delicious. The alcohol seems a little elevated.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Sangiovese, Grenache (or based blend), Nebbiolo or Pinot Noir from Italy, France, or Spain. Because there was some light staining, I eliminated Nebbiolo and because the structure was so stout, I also eliminated Pinot Noir. I just felt like this reminded me of a Chianti Classico Riserva with a lot of age…from a producer like Felsina. So, that’s where I’m at for my final: Sangiovese, from Italy, Toscano, Chianti Classico, Riserva with 25+ years of age; call it 1995 since I have some reference there. Daaaaaymn!!!! 2014 Cuvée Laurence?! This tastes more mature (not too old or anything) than a recent 2014 Cuvée Réservée but maybe that’s due to the extra year in foudre? I got caught in the “triangle of death” but should have clued into the elevated alcohol a little better. Regardless…this is delicious. The structure is incredible! Drink now with patience and through 2039. — a month ago