Bonny Doon Vineyard
Le Cigare Volant Red Rhone Blend
California, USA
9 years in and still fresh and bright. Any hard edges are gone. Not much tannic structure, but earthiness provides a good foundation.
9 years in and still fresh and bright. Any hard edges are gone. Not much tannic structure, but earthiness provides a good foundation.
May 12th, 2022
So fragrant, soft, and delicious. Sweet ripe dark berries, and a roasted herb garrigue note, and a whiff of cracked peppercorn. Nice interplay of fruit and savory in the mouth. Full and nicely balanced. Soft texture.
So fragrant, soft, and delicious. Sweet ripe dark berries, and a roasted herb garrigue note, and a whiff of cracked peppercorn. Nice interplay of fruit and savory in the mouth. Full and nicely balanced. Soft texture.
1 person found it helpfulMay 2nd, 2019Beautiful nose develops slowly with air. Tangy red berries, savory, garrigue-like minerality and some roasted herbs. Great balance. Loads of savory, iodine-tinged flavors. Soft texture and a long finish.
Beautiful nose develops slowly with air. Tangy red berries, savory, garrigue-like minerality and some roasted herbs. Great balance. Loads of savory, iodine-tinged flavors. Soft texture and a long finish.
1 person found it helpfulFeb 20th, 2019
I love smelling the wines of Randall Grahm. He makes savory walk and talk and jump through hoops. This wine, the 30th anniversary vintage of Cigare, brings it home like it always does. It shows a medium dark color in the glass and on the nose. There is cassis and licorice, but the savory notes carry the load. Black olive is the first smell I get, followed by a bit of tar and a whiff of smoke. Cigar box, leather and bacon fat finish out a complex aroma package. The palate is delicious as always. Grahm says the ‘13 is “less muscular” than the ‘12, but I think there's more to it. This Cigare drinks with the weight and elegance of a Pinot Noir. Black fruit is forward, while more savory aspects of sage and mint come in to join it. The tannins are gentle, the acidity fresh and the finish long.
I love smelling the wines of Randall Grahm. He makes savory walk and talk and jump through hoops. This wine, the 30th anniversary vintage of Cigare, brings it home like it always does. It shows a medium dark color in the glass and on the nose. There is cassis and licorice, but the savory notes carry the load. Black olive is the first smell I get, followed by a bit of tar and a whiff of smoke. Cigar box, leather and bacon fat finish out a complex aroma package. The palate is delicious as always. Grahm says the ‘13 is “less muscular” than the ‘12, but I think there's more to it. This Cigare drinks with the weight and elegance of a Pinot Noir. Black fruit is forward, while more savory aspects of sage and mint come in to join it. The tannins are gentle, the acidity fresh and the finish long.
1 person found it helpfulJun 29th, 2018
Pic #5. 2013 Bonny Doon Vineyards ‘Le Cigare Volant’ Central Coast with a Southern-Rhône style of blend from the Central Coast, California.
Deep ruby if not purple hue with juicy black fruit, creme de cassis, leather, earth mushrooms, and molasses notes. Paired with a bison ribeye, broccolini, scape, Australian black truffle, corn, and epazote. #bonnydoon #southernrhonestyle #grenacheblend
Pic #5. 2013 Bonny Doon Vineyards ‘Le Cigare Volant’ Central Coast with a Southern-Rhône style of blend from the Central Coast, California.
Deep ruby if not purple hue with juicy black fruit, creme de cassis, leather, earth mushrooms, and molasses notes. Paired with a bison ribeye, broccolini, scape, Australian black truffle, corn, and epazote. #bonnydoon #southernrhonestyle #grenacheblend
Very nice and easy drinking but maybe a bit lacking in acidity. Was a big fan of Bonny Doon last century and drank a lot of their wines. A bunch of LCV came up on a deal, got them and will enjoy drinking them till they’re gone. BTW, aged with France oak chips.
Very nice and easy drinking but maybe a bit lacking in acidity. Was a big fan of Bonny Doon last century and drank a lot of their wines. A bunch of LCV came up on a deal, got them and will enjoy drinking them till they’re gone. BTW, aged with France oak chips.
Aug 15th, 2019
Delicious wine. Peppery spice, nice fruit. Love it. Thanks, Tom! ( see his review below)
Delicious wine. Peppery spice, nice fruit. Love it. Thanks, Tom! ( see his review below)
Jul 19th, 2019
Smells of earth, dead herbs and leaves. Deep opaque colors. First blush of flavors are almost ripe fruit, vanilla, baking spices, leather. Chewy goodness of dead flowers and dried fruit mixed. Wonderful flavors that extend front to back and coat your tongue.
Smells of earth, dead herbs and leaves. Deep opaque colors. First blush of flavors are almost ripe fruit, vanilla, baking spices, leather. Chewy goodness of dead flowers and dried fruit mixed. Wonderful flavors that extend front to back and coat your tongue.
Jan 12th, 2019Lighter garnet color, slightly opaque. Really tastes and smells differently with air vs a pop-n-pour. Softer nose of earth and red fruits. Herbal and black tea flavors with well-integrated tannins. Solid wine.
Lighter garnet color, slightly opaque. Really tastes and smells differently with air vs a pop-n-pour. Softer nose of earth and red fruits. Herbal and black tea flavors with well-integrated tannins. Solid wine.
Dec 7th, 2018
A tad young. Seemed more ripe than the 2009 or 2005.
A tad young. Seemed more ripe than the 2009 or 2005.
Jul 20th, 2018