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2003 Les Caves de la Colombe Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (10/8/2009)
I’m broadening the SOs horizons from Zin and Pinot and so last night pulled out this wine. I bought this single bottle from the local co-op grocery – I’m thinking I paid $20ish in their semi-annual sale a couple of years ago. Never seen the label or producer (listing a Burgundy address!) and I really wasn’t that optimistic. The old P&P:
Ruby with light edges, not particularly dark. First quite closed, not much going on. The evolution was quite rapid, 15 minutes, 30, an hour, big changes by the minute. This wine has the biggest tar nose I’ve ever experienced. I love tar notes in wine (particularly loved the tarriness of 70-80’s era Ridge York Creek Cabs) and this one is over the top tar. Like riding down a just patched road but in a good way. Along with the tar comes strong menthol/eucalyptus with game and earth/loam. Quite big on the palate with significant remaining tannins. Loads of game, pepper, ripe lovely red fruit with a long bit tart finish.
I’m really looking forward to re-tasting this bottle tonight to see about its overnight evolution. What a great surprise! (Though the SO is unconvinced.) 92+, I think this will be tremendous over the next 5 years or more. I’m tearing up that I only bought one bottle. (92 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker