Tasting Notes:
Even more impressive than the Quartz, this has a superb structure, with fine tannins and mineral acidity, and great finesse around its rich and beautiful fruit. Very intense, with black pepper, pain d’epice, fresh cassis and black cherry, stewed red fruit flavours, it’s complex and layered and has incredible persistence.
Liz Mitchell (General Manager of Dunell's) wrote :
"If you love rich, spicy, big wines you will love this wine, but as it is from the 2005 vintage (which will age beautifully long term) and if you are drinking it now then you will need to open it in advance before drinking & allow those delicious ripe fruit flavours to fully open up. It is towards the top end price point for a Côtes du Rhône but think of it in terms of a good Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe for quality & depth of flavour."
Awards:
Robert Parker: 90-92 '...The 2005 is amazing, and certainly one of the finest Côtes du Rhônes money can buy. It is again a dead-ringer for a Châteauneuf du Pâpe. Deep ruby/purple with notes of blackberry, kirsch, licorice, smoke, and earth, it is a stunner and a sensational bargain capable of lasting 10-15 or more years. Kudos to Sylvie Vacheron, who is carrying on the legacy of her husband, Jean-Denis Vacheron, after his untimely death in 2001...'
Tanzer’s Wine Cellar: 90-93 “deeply concentrated dark fruit display impressive precision and sweetness”
Jancis Robinson: 17/20 “doesn’t play the concentration card but the balance one. Well done! Good value”
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