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2003 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (11/11/2009)
Straight up ratafia/homemade cherry liqueur on the palate which overwhelms anything else. Maybe a Manhattan peeking out here. Even the nose is muted in the face of the onslaught. Is this a flaw? Depends on what you want from a wine. Do you want a subtle wine of contemplation? Or do you want a soda-shop grown-up loving caress of syrup and fruit and alcohol’s sweet oblivion? If your Greek mother-in-law made diner food like keftedes for you tonight, the later would bring joy. The entirely-too-much alcohol serves to wash the stresses of the day away. Context is everything, yes?
Posted from CellarTracker
and from the past :
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2003 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (7/12/2006)
Nice purple robe, but gorgeously transparent when held to the light. Beautiful. Really odd nose of crisped salmon skin. Amplified in a large Spiegelau Bdx glass and still noticable in a smaller Spiegelau red glass. No means unpleasant, but I have never smelled that in a wine before. A bit hot and agressive upfront with roasted fruits, garrigue-y and leather conditioner elements. Short finish. Integrated very nicely in short order with a very svelte body and precision. Finish lengthened and smoothed as well. Very nice and elegant and structured. The only downside was the slight notes of oxidized fruit that I am finding in virtually all '03 CdPs. Much less than some others. Very enjoyable and despite a statement of not drinking much, we polished of nearly the whole bottle with a little steak and a fennel-potato gratin (great match) and watching a movie.
Tiny bit in bottle next day was a bit flabbier, but still steady. -
2003 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2/16/2006)
(sample bottle open about 12 hrs, brought by importer Peter Weygandt) Subtle and feminine nose with some crushed flowers, orange peel and hint of anise. Upfront pretty structure with orange peel and garrigue dominating. Finish showed beautiful fruit coming through, very juicy. Subtle, but a very solid wine.
Posted from CellarTracker
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