Jay Kline

9.4

I opened this bottle of the 2013 “Cuvée Marie Beurrie” the day before and poured into a ship’s decanter for a couple of hours before returning to the bottle. In the glass, just, wow. This is developing still with the darkest brambles and stone with purple flowers and garrigue. This is so beguiling, so deep with tannins and acid for days. Full of power and grace and stunner with cassoulet, Toulouse sausage and duck confit. This could use another decade easily and drink well through 2053. — 9 months ago

Matt

9.7

Defined, finessed, graceful, offers superb richness and layers while well contrasted by its fresh acidity and silken tannin. This has charm and grace without sacrificing strength. You can sense the sand and clay terroirs at work. The perfume and elegant tannin melding with a muscular core of warming red fruits and amplitude on the palate. Marcoux VV continues to be my favorite CNDP for this reason, year in and year out. The 2012 is quite indicative of time and place. Red fruit coulis, the slightest edge soaked fig and raisin, loads of thick Provençal garrigue, licorice whip, roasted coffee, dried meat, dusty leather, woodsmoke, hot stones, lavender pastille, white pepper. Can’t get over the lift and freshness this has still. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Inspired by the golden hills that frame the landscape of San Bernabe Vineyard at the southern edge of the Santa Lucia Mountain range. Deep color with berry fruit aromas and notes of toasty honey scents. On the palate blueberry and cherry flavors with vanilla, cacao and toasty notes. Smooth tannins balanced well with acidity, lingering ending with espresso and spice character. Nice value. — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. It was very good on Day 2 but I think it was more interesting on Day 1 after about 90min of air. The 2015 Donjon pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, developing with notes of dark brambles fruits, some bruised strawberry, some garrigue, some stony minerals and spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(+?) tannins and medium acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose with a touch of cracked black pepper there too. The finish is medium. To my palate, this has entered that awkward, quiet stage that some CdP’s enter between year 5-10. It’s trying to show some secondary character but it’s just not willing to use its voice. A lot of the ingredients are there though. Drink now with some patience and grace otherwise I wouldn’t try again until after 2025. FWIW, it was a lovely pairing with cassoulet. — a year ago

Matt

9.2

Lovely, soil driven with plenty of grace and charm. A more fine and focused example from Janasse, who’s wines I usually find on the more contemporary side of things. Red fruited with lovely notes of warm stones, animal, garrigue and flowers. Approachable and full of joy like many ‘14s, very soft tannin — 5 years ago

Evan Bienstock

9.3

Very approachable, soft and elegant. Grace over power. Pretty. — 6 years ago

Seth Pelletier

9.7

Absolutely stunning. Beautiful honeycomb and white pear grace the nose. These notes carry through offset by only the slightest acidity and minerality on the mid palate. The buttery notes in this wine stem from the texture vice the flavor. The conclusion offers the slightest hint of ripe green apple. A beautiful, unique wine, a must-have for special occasions. — 6 years ago

Steve Medbery

9.7

Love this. Translucent ruby color. Red berry, cinnamon, rose petal. Medium light body. Pure. As a Southern Rhône lover I’ve got to say—wow California, wiw A Tribute to Grace! — a year ago

Aaron Tan

9.1

Absolutely loved this wine when it was first cracked opened. So much so that it could have easily been my wine of the night, but it took a strange turn about an hour in. What started off as a melange of exotic aromas like rose petals, black pepper, brown sugar, cherries, spices, forest floor, and even a touch of petrichor, ended up as a one dimensional nose of mostly sweet black cherries. The palate went from fresh and energetic to somewhat dull and harsh - the juicy strawberry and cherry fruit became almost sweet and syrupy; the spicy finish turned a touch astringent; and finally the acidity starting jutting out like a sore thumb. The only saving grace was the fine powdery tannins which was so satisfying. Honestly, it baffled me given my usually excellent experience with this wine. Having said that, a couple of friends have mentioned that this is typical of the Clonakilla SV after a few years - it just shuts down with air. So strange, but probably a good signal to keep our hands off remaining bottles of the 17’ for now. — a year ago

Matt Perlman

9.3

Savage grace. If you want to take a walk on the wild side, but in the most elegant way possible, this is for you. Violets, animal, plums, cherries, dried herbs. Tannins firm but playing a supporting role. A pleasure to follow the evolution over an hour or two. It’s officially fall weather here in NYC so thoughts are turning to southern France... — 6 years ago