Will Stanley

9.5

Just rock-solid Châteauneuf, this is exemplary and for me personally my exact sweet-spot in terms of the varied styles from this region. The nose takes a little coaxing, but has a great yin / yang profile of pure, fresh blue fruit, liquorice, violets, and garrigue, versus seared meat, iron and loamy earth. This all puts it square in the middle of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ schools, broadly speaking, and it’s a wine that has the best of both worlds as a result.

The palate is huge, an iron fist in a glove of velvet and so much more, but in no way imbalanced or over-extracted - not overtly alcoholic, at a modest 14%. It spreads out in waves across the palate, ripples which are felt long after the finish. This is clearly a baby now, but it drinks well and will see its 20th birthday in damn fine fettle. Excited to have a case in the cellar.

Decanting not required nor recommended. — a year ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2015 | 60 % Cabernet Franc 40 % Cot from vignes that are 30 to 50 years old. 18 months barrel aging, 8 months in bottle. 35 hl/ha. I decanted the wine 2 hours in advance. Medium transparency, cardinal red rim. Red currant and blackberries, full bodied with character, fine acidity. Drinks supple with a bitter touch. This is really good. Certainly for its modest origin. But you can’t say that - it seems - these days because dedicated winegrowers can be found everywhere. | Paired with ostrich stew. — 2 years ago

Craig Williams

9.1

Approachable now with red fruit aromas, cranberry, cherry; modest structure and acidity. Clean medium long finish. Good quality and drinks above its level. — 3 years ago

Dave Mayers

9.5

Another perfectly aged modest Syrah. Could have tricked me for deep red burg. Such a producer. — 2 years ago

Ivor

9.2

Very classical brunello with all elements in the right corner. Modest but intriguing red fruits, pretty tannines and a decently long finish. 100,- + @ Pekelhaaring Amsterdam was maybe a 30,- off — 2 years ago

Paul J

9.3

Happy 4th of July!! PnP. Definitely tiring. Dark red color with some bricking. Nose is dominated by stewed fruit and modest cedar. Wine is still deep with smoke and wood flavors. Medium finish with ample tannins. Drink up! — 2 years ago

with Brooke

CA Haynam

9.1

Mild fruity aroma, deep purple and barely transparent, flavors of dark fruit including plums and blueberries with low tannins and modest oak (aged for 19 months in oak). Excellent — 3 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.4

Vintage 2015 | My good winefriend @BerryMarinussen makes a plea for Riesling with beef. Searing is my favorite GC from Dirler Cadé. And this 2015 has a nice modest sweet in taste. Goes excellent with Cantonese beef and mango. Total happiness. — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 2012 Angélus has a fragrant bouquet: a mixture of red and black fruit, truffle, crushed stone and light wilted flower scents. Very pretty. The palate is medium-bodied with fine delineation and good acidity, quite sappy with modest depth. Fairly structured with a dash of white pepper and peppermint on the finish. This Angélus has tons of personality and is drinking well now. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. (Neal Martin, Vinous, September 2022)
— 2 years ago

Kate Sky

8.9

Only modest bubbles left. Nice drinking with perhaps a bit more honey and fruit than I like. — 2 years ago