Vanessa

9.2

Now we’re headed to the Southern Rhône and more specifically one of our favorite “Cru” appellations; the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, which may feature up to 13 sanctioned varieties as part of its blend, though it’s commonly dominated by Grenache and Mourvèdre. These blends can lead to delightfully complex and balanced wines.

This particular wine is medium ruby with notable tearing. On the nose and palate, we’re finding black cherry, blackberry, fig paste, prune; also black licorice, anise, cardamom, graphite, grape seed, leather, tobacco, meat, garrigue, and forest floor notes.

Overall this wine has a dried fruit and earthy, spicy/savory expression. It’s complex, balanced, and intense. The tannins are firm and grippy. The alcohol is high (15%). This wine has the bone structure to continue aging but is a pleasure to drink now.

According to @winespectator 2015 was a great vintage for late-ripening varieties in the Southern Rhône, as it was sunny, warm and dry through July, leading to reds that are “rich, ripe and full of powerful fruit.” 🎯

Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Choregies 2015. — 7 days ago

with Deked1

Ming L

8.9

Spotted this 100-year co-op bottling front the great 16’ vintage for only $25, and could not resist to pick up one.
Stewed black and blue berries, black currant, ripe raspberry, dry herbs, hint of cured meat and leather on the nose. Medium body. The candied red fruits on the the palate feels a bit syrupy to me. The medium acidity leaning towards sour.
Predominately Grenache. Great price for a CdP. — 18 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Post drinking note: damn good. This wine was weird when initially released, but after several years in a cellar, delicious. See my most recent prior notes for more specifics. — 14 days ago

Randall Brater

9.0

Mushrooms and bramble on the nose. Attacks the palate with inky mushrooms and cherry with a secondary acidity. Missing a third dimension, but still satisfying. — 15 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured. The 2014 Pegaü “Cuvée Réservé” appears a deep ruby in the glass with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity. The nose is funky cherry, bruised strawberry, barn yard, stone fruit, brambles, garrigue, spiced meat, and damp forest floor. There is a touch of VA but it’s on the charming side. On the palate the wine is dry, with significant structure still. In fact, I feel as though the structure is showing more than I recall from earlier experiences. The fruit is generous but more red fruited than usual. Fresh and juicy with a long finish. Awesome. Still another 10 years in this, easy. On the lighter side for Pegaü, thanks the 2014 vintage, but still a stunner. — 6 days ago

Will Stanley

9.2

Enjoyed while a bit run down with some sort of cold (not Covid, not yet..!), but that didn’t prevent this knockout old-school Châteauneuf-du-Pape from leaving a lasting impression of perfectly mature southern Rhône on my palate. A deep ruby hue with some bricking at the ages give an already youthful appearance to this 15 year-old wine.

On opening, the nose had a lot of brett which tamed after an hour in the decanter, revealing savoury scents of dry cherry, game, charred wood and leather along with the faintest sweet hint of cherry liqueur, which for the discerning blind taster would place the wine in this AOC. On the palate, the immediate sensation is the tannins - wow! - which are fine grained but by no means mellow, providing great power to the wine’s gamey body. Plum, cherry, vanilla and orange bitters are the dominant flavours here, with a woodsy finish showing reasonable length.

A one-off bottle for me, this is showing very well now and could be fun to try with a little more age still. But the great appeal of this wine was its interest value as a CNDP from a top drawer vintage holding up super well after 15 years.
— 20 days ago

Randall Brater

9.2

Wonderful bottle that kicks off with aromas of plum, mushrooms, and earth. Great complexity with ink and earth at first, then plum and cherry with a follow through of spiciness. Paired fabulously with spare ribs. — 15 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Domaine de La Charbonniere Chateauneuf du Pape 2018 $45. Ruby with aromas of red berry fruits, oak and sweet spice, blend of 70% Grenache and 15% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre. On the palate flavors of raspberry, cherry and blackberry with hints of oak, leather, vanilla spice and black pepper. Aged in oak the wine was complex and elegant with smooth tannins, long spicy finish. Nice! — 21 hours ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

My favorite CDP. I’m also a CDP hater, so take it with a grain of salt. Nose is feral and awesome. Cherry liquer, cassis, herbs, wet earth, dried hay, just such a full spectrum of CDP herbs. So classic and old school. Love the classicism of 14. Ah yea, this is just so pure, so focused and laser like in its precision. Juicy and wonderful silky tannins. Long finish and substantial structure to ensure long aging. Wow this is long. Just a stunning wine. Wow. This is so good. — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; no formal notes. This is straight up in its sweet spot. Slightly funky with loads of brambles, some spiced meat, garrigue and dusty, rocky earth. Big. The tannins build with time. Just a touch hot but only on the finish…which is long and tasty. Drink now. — 17 days ago