Paul K

9.5

Decanted and let sit for two hours, with just a quick taste at pop and pour. Delicious.

I’ve been staring at these bottles for quite some time, and while it’s still very early, I feel like I got a pretty good preview of what this has in store. The youth is compressing the fruit on the nose, allowing the oak, earth, flint, spice, and dried flowers to take center stage.

There’s a touch of iodine on the initial palate, followed by increasingly complex fruit. Blue, black, and red fruits all emerged more and more as the night progressed, but they were never really at the fore. Everything feels beautifully integrated, layered, and just a little restrained right now.

Lovely wine, but I’m putting a sticky note on the remaining bottles: do not touch for five years. — 15 days ago

Jedidiah Abrams

9.4

Half-bottle — 2 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.5

Papas gaucho — 3 months ago

romo

9.2

On the road from Chablis to Meursault you will find this viscous mouthful. - at Gail & Ralph’s — 3 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium straw yellow . Quite rich on the nose , some toasty notes with some wax and yellow fruits , citrus peel, vanilla . On the palate this is all about the texture , quite round but enough balance , blanched almonds , peach. Waxy notes . Good length . Drink now and over the next few years , in a perfect place . — 4 months ago

Lorenzo Marzilli

9.3

CNDP 2017 Magnum. Different format bottle and was very good. Definitely a wine that needs time to breathe. Became much much better after being open 30 to 45 minutes. Nose: dark fruit, menthol? Taste: plum, cherry, high acidity. — 5 months ago

Katya

9.2

Очень приятное, ароматное (при охлаждении) и сладкий чернослив на вкус. У французов. — 6 months ago

Brandon Boesch

9.5

Bought at auction. First bottle awful. This one is lovely. Needed two hours of air to settle and integrate. Freeze dried strawberries, dried cherries, plum, dust, herbs like tarragon and thyme on nose. I could smell for hours. Palate is bigger than I expected more game and herbs than fruit. Leather with dried cherries. There’s more herbs and plums and cooked/reduced berries but not super sweet. Good tannin still. Pretty good and fun to try at 26 years. I am guessing warm vintage based on abv. — 14 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2019 vintage. 8.12.26. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This was my Coravin test. It wasn’t ready a number yrs ago. I put it back in the cellar lying on its side. It survived pleasantly. Did not decant.

2004 not the best Bordeaux vintage but there it was in the store reasonably priced. So, I bought this one. Always curious. The 2nd wine from one of my favorite Right Bank producers, Vieux Chateau Certan. 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc.

The nose shows ripe & slightly candied fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, raspberries, mulberries & plum. Beautiful, gentle, dark spices, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, mid to dark colas, steeped black tea, anise to some black licorice, understated graphite/dry tobacco, undertones of baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & just a slight touch of vanillin,dry crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, moist clay, brilliant red florals, red roses, dark flowers framed in violets.

The palate has M rounded, dry tannins. The fruits are ripe, juicy, ruby/lush & slightly candied; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries & plum. Beautiful, gentle, dark spices w/ heat, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, mid to dark colas, steeped black tea, anise to some black licorice, dark chocolate baking bar to pudding, mocha, understated graphite/dry tobacco, undertones of baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & just a slight touch of vanillin,dry crushed rocks/limestone-sandstone, moist clay, some volcanic minerals, hints of menthol, brilliant red florals, red roses, dark flowers framed in violets, beautiful acidity with a smartly polished, elegant finish that has length, balance & tone that lasts nearly two-minutes.

Moved between 90-92. Ended 92. Enjoyed w/ a medium rare plus Ribcap. Has another 7-10 yrs of road ahead. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Lovely sweet Grenache based fruit in an excellent vintage. Sweetness is the over riding palate descriptor reflective of the ripe vintage - red currant. A long persistent flavour profile. Telegramme is the second wine of Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe. — 4 months ago

Mark S.

9.0

Lemon yellow with green. Oak vanilla rich buttery. Daniel-Etienne Defaix Domaine du Vieux Chateau Vieille Vignes Chablis 22 @2180, Galeri, 260518 — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.6

I’ve said before that the wines of Chateau Rayas are almost singular in the AOC; certainly one of the purest expressions of Grenache in the world. However, there is another producer that for me, might be an even more archetypal expression of the character of Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Henri Bonneau. Henri’s wines were also predominately Grenache however, they are denser and darker, particularly the Cuvée Marie Beurrier. This is probably more to do with the small addition of other local varieties along with terroir for Mrie Beurrier (Courthézon). Henri had strong feelings about varieties, vine age and cellar practices. He didn’t really like Syrah in CdP (though he had a little of it). He didn’t like ancient vines (most were 30-50 years old and would be torn out and replanted if they were getting up there in the age range) and he believed in extended aging in wood, a collection of very old barrels and foudres. Regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with his approach, the results were undeniably special.

Opened prior to dinner; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2000 “Cuvée Marie Beurrier” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!). Layered notes of dark brambles, black cherry, garrigue, dried red flowers, beef stew with all the veggies and mixed inorganic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long. This is tremendously well balanced and a wine that I just wanted to keep coming back to…and I did. Drink now through 2040. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

A blend of mostly Grenache with Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Medium Ruby with aromas of ripe black fruits and earthy pepper spice. On the palate complex flavors of cherry and blackberry, with oak, leather, cacao and earthy spice. Full body, well balanced, fine tannins, long finish, perfect now but will last another decade. Outstanding. — 6 days ago

Katrina Lara

9.1

Exceptional so smooth — a month ago

Garen Staglin

9.6

Perfect for a 1999. Amazing nose, acid and structure. — a month ago

Douglas Braun

9.3

2017- Vintage- pretty rose petal, Christmas spice, plum fruit, wood spice, very soft fine tannins, amazing such a departure from the 2016 that I had previously — 3 months ago

Brian Hearty

9.1

2022. Our sommelier knew that we have enjoyed several different Chenin Blanc wines with the food at The Oven and poured me a taste of this wine from an opened bottle. Beautiful aromas of apple/apple cider/blossoms. High acidity and medium body. — 4 months ago

Doug Powers

9.3

A 25-year-old CdP that is drinking beautifully tonight, should last a little bit longer, but pretty darn fantastic tonight, red fruits, earthy notes with with garrigue aromatics, long, lingering finish, terrific!! — 5 months ago

with Monique and Jim

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2000 vintage. Great fill and cork. Opened with a Durand and decanted. A little sed but manageable. tasted 40 minutes and 1.5 hours after opening. Medium body. 14% ABV on the label and not questioning it since this effort was throwing nearly zero heat. All secondary and tertiary impressions at this point and they were unified and present. Some dark fruit still but emphasis capably drawn towards the black olive, durty earth, finish. Really knitted together currently. Maybe another 5-spot in this guise? Maybe another decade? Hard to tell but showing beautifully now. 01.28.26. — 8 months ago