Opened this a few years too early. Dark and brooding. Olives, violet, blackberry. Wild and savory. Would love to try this again in a few years! — 19 days ago
Nice spice, great Syrah. — 22 days ago
Original price tag, this Crozes-Hermitage is really remarkable (I believe La Guiraude is a special cuvée?), meaty, smoky, classic aged French Syrah, long finish, amazingly this was the most ready to drink of these wines I’ve been posting tonight, and the favorite of at least one of our 6 tasters tonight!! With all that said, if anyone has bottles of this wine, it’s fully mature. — 2 months ago
Young but beautiful — 4 months ago
Silky, elegant with lots of dark cherry, berry, spice, floral & tobacco — a month ago
After a rough stretch of vintages (14,15,16) for this producer, 2017 has it returned to form showcasing the unique Burgundian style to Côte-Rôtie that had it gain such a following early on. It wafts its stemmy spice aromatics with beef jerky, violets and and black pepper. It shows weightless intensity on the palate with a spine of minerality giving it lift and focus. Cordeloux is a tremendous success in 2017. — a month ago
I have wanted to do this producer side by side with Alban with well seasoned Tri-tip. Tonight is the night.
The crowd that leans California liked the French better.
I have always thought Alban in the new world mimicked Rostaing’s style.
Both phenomenal and I enjoyed both for slightly different climate & soil reasons.
These two producers do Syrah without the heavy smoked meats & bacon fat of say Cayuse. — 2 months ago
I initially expected more based on vintage + producer, but also have to keep context in focus that this is Crozes-hermitage.
Followed over two days and very little changed.
I’m surprised at saying that after 48hrs for a C-H…I think this is in a weird phase/shut down. Powerful/heady aromatics (black fruits, olive, espresso). ABV pokes out a bit up front. Good mid-palate weight with peppered dark fruits, herbs and some iron before a curtain of tannin shuts this down hard. Undeniably Syrah at the finish with a rusticity I normally find in Cornas…dark florals, spice, graphite and some charcoal. A serious and structured C-H. — 3 months ago


Tastes like charcuterie in a new car — an hour ago
Anniversary of Willy’s -44 years with Olivier Clape et Magali Jacob - for release of their book « a year in the vineyard « — 20 days ago
Still displaying the youth and vitality of a much younger wine, its black fruit appearance is dark and dense, the confirming perfumed aromatics and dark fruit flavors are still quite primary, and its structure is solid with ample fruit, light acidity, and supporting, chalky tannins at the long mouth coating finish. Definitely in its Golden Years. (Should be ideal with tonight’s Soy marinated Rack of Lsmb.)
— a month ago
Wagyu Shin — 3 months ago
Where do I begin… this wine is stunning.
It is positively golden in color with concentrated notes of caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, creme brûlée, dried apricot, yellow apple,peach, nectarine, yellow cherry, kumquat, baked quince, lemon curd, honeysuckle, butter cream, lavender,, dried herbs, fennel, beeswax, honey, chamomile, hazelnut, praline, honey, & wet stones…
It’s textured!!! Waxy & mouth coating, full bodied, round, & opulent.
Alcohol is high at 14.5% ABV — it’s warming but balanced and integrated with the deeply rooted flavors and elevated, vibrant acidity. Yum!!!!!
— 4 months ago


Richard Portes
17.5+ lovely nose, very rich, so unlike Gerard (say) — 5 days ago