Cellier des Templiers Banyuls Cuvée Viviane Le Roy

We drank a third just after opening and the rest 5 days later. Already very good after opening but the tannins were a bit dominant, better after 5 days with dark berries, earthy notes, smooth tannin, decent sweetness, long finish. Still very youthful without any tertiary notes, gives the impression that the best is still ahead of it and requires many more years in the cellar to peak.

PnP at ~16°C. Improved a lot within the last 4 years, red and black berries, moderate sweetness, smooth tannins, good mouth feeling, long finish. Very good on its own or with chocolate desserts. Drink now or within the next decade.

Very elegant, refined and pure, with little flowers in the bouquet. The 40% is in balance with the body.

100% Grenache noir, 16% vol. Nose improved compared to two years ago, liquorice and black berries. On the palate raspberry, sweet but also fresh and quite smooth, medium to long finish. Easy drinking today, will win in complexity with some more years of cellaring.

Truffle & Chateauneuf du Pape hunting in Provence; 11/7/2013-11/10/2013 (Crillon Le Brave) : Came after a long flight of beautiful wines so this is an incomplete TN. Firm, powerfull light porty dark fruit character. Show stopper of a bottle. Heavy wine al,ost amarone heaviness at times. Very rich, lots of clove and spices. will not dissappoint.

On the nose a little anonymous - treacle, toffee and red berry fruit - but in the mouth the wine is more rich, complex, opulent and weighty, tending to Christmas cake. Very nice.