Jay Kline

9.6

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core and some moderate rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of ripe and slightly dried black and blue fruits: dark brambles, plum, fig, purple flowers, leather ball glove, something spicy and green that has me debating between rotundone or pyrazines (but which?), rocky earth and fine baking warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Alcohol is medium. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. What a beautifully made wine.

Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend with associated Bordeaux varieties), Cabernet Franc, Merlot (blended with associated Bordeaux varieties) or Syrah from France, the US or Australia. This is older; probably 20+ years of age based on the secondary characteristics or dried fruit and old leather. While the fruit plays a starring role here, the alcohol seems almost modest so I can’t place this in Australia or the US. The problem I’m having, are there pyrazines or rotundone? I don’t get a lot of black pepper or animale, or olive for that matter…so I’m leaning towards this being Bordeaux. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine with a blend of Bordeaux varieties, from France, Bordeaux, Pulliac, from a classified growth, 2004. Whoa!!! 2005 Clape?! What a treat! I feel like I should have nailed this wine. Alas…I still have to get better at differentiating between pyrazines and rotundone with age. Drink now with a decant, through 2045+ — 7 days ago

Paul Masson

9.0

Nose is typical Clape, palate is a little thin and austere, in line with the 11.5% abv, but still a good companion for food and friends. — 7 months ago

Severn G

9.2

Confrérie Des Chevaliers du Tastevin Sous-Commanderie d'Albany; 14 October 2023 at Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY — 3 years ago

Severn G

9.2

Confrérie Des Chevaliers du Tastevin Sous-Commanderie d'Albany, Paulée Dinner; 6 February 2022 at Hooked Market & Kitchen, Latham, NY — 4 years ago

sasha

9.3

Still potent. Bright acidity, minerality and pleasant complexity. — 6 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

GonAlo diaz — 6 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.1

Excellent and consistent with prior notes — 2 months ago

with Jose, veronique and 4 others

Chuck Todd

9.2

A full body, well balanced, paired with beef Bourguignon
Fantastic — 6 months ago

with David

Stephen Dodson

8.9

Great food, wine served a little warm - will dig something out of their cellar next… — 10 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Flash tasting; no formal notes. The 2019 “Clos des Chênes” is a light ruby; elegant and lithe with modest structure. Balanced but too youthful at this stage. Better after 2029. — 3 years ago

Mark Tompkins

9.0

2018 vintage — 4 years ago

Pierre Gourinchas

9.0

A well balanced Pinot. Nice structure- as often with Corton. — 6 years ago

Erik Rini

9.2

Excellent Cotes du Rhône with good depth. Owned by the makers of Domaine de Janasse so you can’t go wrong. Incredible value! — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2010 Corton-Charlemagne pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of green apple, passion fruit, lemon, white flowers, slivered almond and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly buttery. Apparently, this vintage had a reputation for suffering from some premox issues. This bottle was pristine. Based off this example, drink now through 2035. — 3 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This had lots of red & black fruits, still youthful that opens with air with notes of menthol, savory spices, mineral, floral & tobacco — 5 months ago

Brandon T

9.3

Medium body CdR. Jammier than expected. Lots of years ahead. — 7 months ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

8.9

Plums, cola, 16 degrees but not heady miss typical CNP taste. — a year ago

GaryWEdwards

9.4

Dark berry with earthy game to nose and pleasing to palate with a long finish. — 4 years ago

Melissa E

9.0

Tart red cherries, vanilla, touch of oak, a little earthy, light, quite nice. — 5 years ago

Greg LaRosa

9.0

Had 2018 under quarantine on July 25, 2020. Liked it. Nice and crisp but not overly so. Mineral. Lush. — 6 years ago