Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Red fruits on the nose with light oak, spices, earth, garrigue and chocolates.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, black cherries, spices, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates, earth and black pepper.
Nice finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 9 year old Grenache blend from Southern Rhone is drinking beautifully now. Powerful, yet elegant. Fruity, rich and smooth.
Still feels very young, and more fruit forward than I expected it to be. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting.
Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime. Spicy and entertaining.
This 2016 vintage in the Southern Rhône was exceptional. Will continue to age beautifully over the next 10 years.
A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.
A blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah.
14% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$140. — 3 days ago
This bottle had been opened the night before. The 2021 pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe black and red fruits: mixed brambles, purple flowers, olives, black pepper, stony earth and a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and peppery. True to the vintage, this is a cooler expression of Chave’s Saint Joseph and I really dig it. Drink now through 2041. — 8 days ago
How did this sneak in here? Considering our penchant for the Rhône, it’s almost inevitable that something like this was getting opened. Popped and poured, the 1997 “La Turque” pours a deep ruby/purple color with a slightly hazy, near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe slightly wizened black and ted fruits: black brambles, black cherry, strawberry, smoked and spiced meat, olives, purple flowers, black pepper, dried herbs, rocky earth, fine wood and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. While this may not be my favorite expression of Côte Rôtie, it is undeniably delicious after nearly 30 years. It still has a long life ahead. Drink now through 2042. — 23 days ago
Lacked some savory notes to its benefit. More Guigal than C-R. — 25 days ago
Lee Pitofsky
Fantastic showing of 2016 Clape, while of course very young, 2016 was plenty giving with time in the decanter with classic N. Rhône aromatics and most notably an incredibly elegant, silky texture. This is going to age beautifully. — 2 days ago