Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel)
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
Tawny red, almost opaque. Vibrant nose with rich fruit, earthy soil, herbs de Provence, and dry brush. Great balance of fruit, structure, acidity. Medium plus finish. Great showing.
Tawny red, almost opaque. Vibrant nose with rich fruit, earthy soil, herbs de Provence, and dry brush. Great balance of fruit, structure, acidity. Medium plus finish. Great showing.
Dec 16th, 2016
Decanted and ready for the Sunday roast. Leg of lamb, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and mint peas are cooking now- report to follow.
Decanted and ready for the Sunday roast. Leg of lamb, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and mint peas are cooking now- report to follow.
Jan 20th, 2014
So, this wine (and I think the 2000 as well) were GRAY MARKET imports by the now-defunct “Premier Cru” store in Emeryville (across the Bay from San Francisco). I had a lot of GREAT experiences buying from them, but these Les Cailloux (Andre Brunel) CdPs from this period were ALL like “Dead and Deader” (think the old Dumb and Dumber movie from around that time), so if you encounter them at AUCTION, PLEASE ASK who they were imported by. This bottle is like a $4 wine from the 1980s, I know Brunel CdP, and they are (and certainly were during those vintages) a very fine CdP!! Not sure exactly what happened, but do NOT buy any of these (?? 1998-2001??) vintages that weren’t imported by Brunel’s then-importer (Bobby Kacher??) unless you get to taste them first. This is a DRAIN POUR!
So, this wine (and I think the 2000 as well) were GRAY MARKET imports by the now-defunct “Premier Cru” store in Emeryville (across the Bay from San Francisco). I had a lot of GREAT experiences buying from them, but these Les Cailloux (Andre Brunel) CdPs from this period were ALL like “Dead and Deader” (think the old Dumb and Dumber movie from around that time), so if you encounter them at AUCTION, PLEASE ASK who they were imported by. This bottle is like a $4 wine from the 1980s, I know Brunel CdP, and they are (and certainly were during those vintages) a very fine CdP!! Not sure exactly what happened, but do NOT buy any of these (?? 1998-2001??) vintages that weren’t imported by Brunel’s then-importer (Bobby Kacher??) unless you get to taste them first. This is a DRAIN POUR!
Dec 4th, 2025Mature aromas and flavors, pleasant, ready to drink, but I’ve long suspected that the 1999 and 2000 Les Cailloux CdP I acquired from a certain defunct NorCal shop via grey market imports aren’t the real thing, as both vintages are very light and evolved far too quickly. Oh well, it is at least drinkable.
Mature aromas and flavors, pleasant, ready to drink, but I’ve long suspected that the 1999 and 2000 Les Cailloux CdP I acquired from a certain defunct NorCal shop via grey market imports aren’t the real thing, as both vintages are very light and evolved far too quickly. Oh well, it is at least drinkable.
Jun 13th, 2019
A bit past its best but still luscious
A bit past its best but still luscious
Apr 26th, 2014
Really good. More dark fruit than leather. Great!
Really good. More dark fruit than leather. Great!
Apr 1st, 2014
