Jeremy.Buss

9.1

Had the opportunity to see Doug Frost display and taste this wine. Excellent speaker and superb wine! Very mild tannins and pepper. Blend of cherry and strawberries for a smooth taste. Have a few bottles left and very glad for that!! — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.7

Real talk: I’m a little embarrassed to admit that this is my first experience with the wines of Domaine Champet. When I consider that their approach to winemaking is philosophically aligned with my own preferences, how did this meeting not happen before now? Maybe it’s because they only make 1000 cases of wine a year? Maybe it’s because I live in Nebraska. Whatever the reason, it no longer matters because I have now experienced what cannot be undone. For a bit of reference, the family has a rather rich, (Romain and Maxime are 4th generation), history working with vines in the “La Viallière” lieu-dit in the Côte Brune. “La Viallière” was made famous thanks to Dervieux (yes, as in Gentaz-Dervieux). The land is…improbable to farm…with some slopes close to 60°. Everything is performed by hand. This bottling, “Les Fils à Jo” focuses on the old vines from their holdings in “La Viallière”.

Popped and poured; consumed over 5 days, best on days 3-5 and the following notes reflect such. The wine pours a deep ruby with a near opaque core and pretty significant staining of the tears. Medium+ viscosity and every so slightly turbid. On the nose, blue and black fruits with bacon fat, lavender, kalamata olive, a whisper of baking spices…some white pepper, some tobacco…wild and beguiling. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium++ tannin and medium+ acid. Incredible texture. Confirming the fruit set and other aforementioned characteristics. There’s blueberry scone and an iron-ore kind of thing going "On and on and on, on and on and on; Checka checka it out, to the breaka breaka dawn". The finish is long…as in forever…and absolutely, positively divine. If tonight is any indication, this wine will drink well past 2040. Between the Levet’s and Champet’s, there are very few in Côte Rôtie making wines like this anymore. What is certain, is that this was one of those experiences where there was a time before, and a time after Champet. Certainly one of those I won’t ever forget. — 5 days ago

Brian Hearty

9.0

2010. Needed time to open up and then paired really well with an assortment of mild Indian lamb dishes. It was nice to have wine after a long weekend of Pilsners, DIPAs, Sour Ales, and Stouts. — 10 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Pleasantly funky! Blend of Syrah (50%) with the balance split between Garnacha and Carinena (Samso). Aromas of bright brambly red berry fruit, cigar leaf and iodine. Just a touch of Brett. Red berry fruit and beef jerky with a touch of black coffee and dark chocolate on the pallet. A slightly spicy finish. Lacking a bit on the mid-pallet a bit but there is such a great balance of acidity, tannins and alcohol that it can be overlooked. A nice little find recommended by Chris at the Vino Volo in DFW! — 11 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Deep ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Showing black fruits with light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, earth, tobacco leaf, violets, herbs and peppercorn.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

This is a delicious Syrah from Walla Walla Valley in Washington State. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Spicy and rich.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime, when tannins show up. Gets earthier as it opens up with bitter vegetables and tar.

Even smoother after 2 hours of airtime. I did not decant it and left it in the bottle to open up.

Robert Parker 95 points.
Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.

Fruit forward with good structure, and a beautiful aromatic nose.

I paired it with a delicious burger.

100% Syrah grapes were aged in 40% new oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50. — 2 days ago

with Scott

Andrew Schirmer

9.8

An absolute stunner that evolved over three hours at a lunch with some very special people. Game meats, blood, & violets, all drawn together in an ethereal structure, at once weightless and yet profound. The burgundy comparisons are inevitable, but this is its own thing entirely. Extraordinary. — 2 days ago

with Geoff and Alsu

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet with a translucent core and burnished orange rim. Some signs of sediment. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, cherry lozenges, Corinthian leather, rich mahogany, old books, espresso, baking spices, desiccated flowers…like something that reminds me of my great aunt’s potpourri, and bit of umami. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium (+?) tannin which is well integrated. Medium acid. The fruit and non-fruit characteristics are confirmed. The finish is laden with dried fruits leather and earth. I felt that the wine was old with 15+ years of age and leaned a little more towards its fruit character than its structure…so I called Barossa Valley Shiraz, 2005, from a quality producer. But then, someone said 2012 CdP and I was like…”ooooohhhh, I like that CdP call”. But if that was the case, it would have to be older…from a great vintage like 2001. Well…I was on the right track. Who cares, this was an awesome showing and the oldest Chateau de Saint Cosme I’ve ever had. Drink now and enjoy. — 21 hours ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruits and earthy spice notes, a blend of Merlot, Cab Sauv, Sangiovese & Syrah. On the palate flavors of blackcherry and blackberry with smoky earthy notes, lively acidity with good balance. Full body with grippy tannins ending with elegant earthy character. — 20 hours ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

A few hours in the decanter served well to reveal what my favorite La La is all about. Finessed, elegant and seductive with complex aromatics of blackberry jam, campfire smoke, exotic spices, bacon fat and violets. It expands on the palate with great intensity, a caressing silky texture and a long and vibrant finish. Still young. — 4 days ago

Aravind A

9.3

Pop and pour. Much more open than I expected. On the nose: blackberry, cola, olive brine, soft game, violets. On the palate: lovely acidity, red fruit, hi-toned, lightweight, but good density.. Nice tang on the bright finish, which shows soft tannin. Loads of potential. — 4 days ago