La Madeleine Saint Jean
Sylvain Dittière
La Porte Saint Jean Saumur Champigny Cabernet Franc 2021
Rose petal nose, touch of manure. Pretty classic cab franc vin de soif. Light but elegant and food friendly. — 2 months ago
Jean-Marc Pillot
Les Vergers Clos Saint-Marc Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 2014
Lemon oil. Limestone. Perfumed but there are early signs of oxidation here that feel a bit out of kilter with its age. Stop tasty Drink up — 3 months ago
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne
Saint-Joseph Syrah 2015
In a nice place at shade under 10 years. Popped and poured and was surprisingly ready to go, though 30 mins in the glass helped for sure. Nice mouthfeel and density. Tannins are there but very well integrated. Good dark berry fruit and some pepper on the long finish. Delicious with steak and a pork chop at The Grill. — 12 days ago
Domaine Michel Niellon
Clos Saint-Jean Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 2019
More tropical than the 2020 Truffiere but the wines converged with air. — a month ago
Clos Saint Jean
La Combe des Fous Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2012
One of my favorite CdP producers. I opened this alongside a buddy’s 2009 CSJ Deus Ex Machina and it was really intriguing to see the differences.
60 Grenache/20 Syrah/remainder a blend.
Quick bottle decant before diving in. While ready to go, an hour full-decant would probably be a good call at this stage, but not required. Where the Ex Machina was more high toned and layered (thanks to the blend), this was more up-front and plush. Violets and spiced berry compote aromatically. Dark berry fruit, sweet pipe tobacco and fig dominate the palate. Extremely concentrated (not extracted), with a savory graphite profile at the finish. Would have sworn Mourvèdre was heavy in this. Delicious. 93+ — 3 months ago
Clos Saint Jean
Deus Ex Machina Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2008
Thick, powerful and intense but a bit too stewed and alcoholic for me. You can sense the complexity and depth but just not in balance. — 16 days ago
Clos Saint Jean
Vieilles Vignes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2007
A delightful CDP! Full-bodied but not overpowering. Smokey and tangy with a lot of floral notes. Raspberries, kirsch, blackberries, with a satisfying finish. Drinking exceptionally well now. — 2 months ago
Clos Saint Jean
Sanctus Sanctorum Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2012
Great bottle (magnum). Probably could have shown even higher if it had been at cellar temp but was delicious. It’s smooth as silk and had no sediment which surprised me but worked out well given the small restaurant wasn’t the decanting type. Great food and worked perfectly. Mom had no issues taking the last pour… — 4 months ago
Vanessa
It’s always a resounding ‘YES’ for JL Chave!!
That includes this luscious and concentrated Syrah from Saint-Joseph AOC in the Northern Rhône of France.
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a benchmark and icon of the Rhône Valley – a family-run operation since 1481 – with an entire range of deliciousness through the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and JL Chave Selection portfolios.
This wine is deep ruby, trending on purple. It has pronounced aromas and flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry, cassis, pomegranate, also violet, bacon, sanguine, saddle leather, pipe tobacco, clove, cigar, damp earth, and black peppercorn. Alcohol is high (14.5% ABV) with medium (+) fine-grained and well-integrated tannins, medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and a long, elegant finish.
It has a rustic and savory character with robust dark fruit notes; it’s layered, complex, structured, and age-worthy, benefitting from decanting. Still, it’s tasting wonderfully now.
Cheers to JL Chave and treasures of the Rhône!! — 11 days ago