1/25/2024 - Neecies Likes this wine:

ANSTRULETZ's recent post concerned me. I own six but had never opened one. So last night at the last minute we popped a cork to pair with pan-seared steaks; no time to decant. Almost black in the glass and immediately gratifying with a heady nose of restrained black fruit, oil-cured black olives, herbs, coffee and more oil-cured black olives. More savory than sweet in a good way, and in an ideal place for current drinking.

12/5/2023 - Purple Tooth wrote:

**I bought 3 bottles of this because I cant help it. I am curious...Like a little monkey. It keeps my mind fed and my my eyes alive. And...the price was good too! So what the hell...or hey

This is where everyone should just relax and drink this wine instead of believing in Santa Claus. In its depth of deepest red, there is so much energy and pull, making the smallest sip, last the longest time. This is definitely a date night wine right now...A bottle you can enjoy with someone you want to get to know better or again, because it takes its time.
Lots of evolution during 5 hours. Twists and turns take you from one region to another though the language of a rainbowed wine with many tales. We go from a hot Napa summer day to a trip across the ocean to Rhone, where the dry and tannic ceylon tea like notes flare like a peacock in the finish, bringing much confusion. As we take a rest, the cocoa appears. Wrapped in cold graphite with notes of pen ink and then the wood influences come back in the form of decimated cozy little baking spices. A long, punctuated clean finish takes you back around to...California.

This wine can replace any 200+ dollah Napa with ease. But like most big voluptuous things, the weight will eventually shrink it down to less than what it is today. Drink, Drink and be merry! Happy Holidays and what a GREAT HOLIDAY WINE!

6/9/2023 - anstruletz Likes this wine:

This was my second experience tasting a first growth and I'm honestly pretty underwhelmed. Yes, it's very good wine. Yes, it evolved in the glass over 3 hours with leather, cedar, black fruit, graphite - all the things it's supposed to taste and smell like. But the sum of those tastes and smells were nowhere near magical or etherial, such that they would justify the $600 I threw down on the bottle. I'm guessing there's some upside with age, but I just don't know if it'll ever get to the level. Bottom line: enjoyable but lacking the wow factor.

8/13/2023 - Blinfas wrote:

A mix of dark fruit, strawberry, blueberry. Earthy. Medium length on the finish.

6/12/2022 - Marvin77 Likes this wine:

The Clos des Papes 2017 is bright red, medium to full bodied and young but already delicious. On the palate red fruits like strawberry are dominating and there are aromas of garrigue and herbs. Really gread quality and will be much better in 8-10 years from now. I will try to wait.

5/1/2022 - anstruletz Likes this wine:

Stunning floral and blue fruit nose with cigar box and leather. Great texture and long finish. I am finding wines in Bordeaux that used to take a decade or more to open up showing beautifully off the bat and this one's no exception. It's not modern or jammy - just really well made wine. And yes, it'll absolutely age many decades.

12/26/2021 - Rieslingfan wrote:

Yup, Tempier.

1/25/2021 - C. Mucius Likes this wine:

Beautifully smooth, big but balanced with a fascinating hint of something that reminds me of almonds. Just a great brandy.

4/29/2020 - dsamuel wrote:

Bottle oxidized - not past the enjoyment stage but definitely past the point where tasting notes are possible
Just purchased from Garagiste and disappointed as Im assuming this was library release from the winery
I have one more bottle and hopefully this will be better

4/30/2018 - Ewhite30 Likes this wine:

Last one from this vintage, still drinking really nicely. Red berries, citrus, almond and brioche. No reason to rush.

2/2/2018 - mwneil wrote:

Great expectations, nose of alcohol, very closed, kept hoping it would open, we decanted which we do not normally do, wine opened a bit, some fruit, earthy, muted flavors, kept hoping, it never sang, ok wine but ah those expectations, drank with rack of lamb, will drink again as I have 2more bottles, disappointment again with DDO.