Domaine Les Grands Bois, Cotes du Rhone, Gabrielle

This is drinking better than the other Grands Bois offerings from 2007 that I have been drinking of late. Absolutely gorgeous nose of violets, kirsch, blackberries, and herbs. Deftly balanced palate of fresh purple berries, soft yet firm tannins, and supple approachable acidity. Pushing the boundaries of ripeness for me but a great effort.

2007 vintage

3 years past the "drinking window" and still going strong. Opened bottle, but did not decant, 1 hour before dinner (bbq chicken legs on the bone). Medium purple color with a clear meniscus. Glycerin, garrigue, raspberry & cherry on the nose. Similar palate. Extremely smooth and drinking beautifully with no oxidation or drying fruit profile. A pleasure to drink and better than some CDPs from that vintage. 91-92 range. In a cool cellar would last to 2020.

2007 vintage

Drank over 4 days, held up nicely, solid and well balanced Rhone blend- delicious

2007 vintage

This seems to have lost some of its charm since the last time I drank it. However, some of the fruit did come forward after 30 minutes or so of air but it was not at the same level of pleasure as around 1.75 years ago. Still pretty well-balanced wine but definitely time to drink up for those that have any bottles remaining. This was my last one.

2007 vintage

Continues to improve with bottle age.

2007 vintage

Wow, this was just rocking and beautiful tonight. Thought of it to serve with a tortilla soup dinner. Sexy and sumptuous nose and palate of blackberry, garrigue, pomegranate, a touch of sweet road tar. Great balance and length, purity of expression, velvety mouthfeel. If I had one left I'd probably open another tomorrow.

2007 vintage

I think I tried this in '09 or early 2010 and thought it was a "typical" '07 CDR - either bottle variation as indicated below or this wine has much improved with bottle age. On palate, earthy, dirty, sour cherry. On palate, plum, black cherry, some spiciness (sage?) with medium body, high acids and medium+ finish. Decanted for 1 hour before dinner (grilled pork chops) but fine from PnP. Reminds me of an old school CDP. Outstanding wine with excellent …

2007 vintage

Bottle variation or an inconsistent palate? Last time this was over ripe and though it had decent acidity it was all about the fruit and somewhat one dimensional. Tonight there is still beautiful dark fruit but it is accompanied by brambles and spice, earth,and a velvety mouth feel. Beautifully integrated acidity and just enough tannins give it a needed backbone. The finish lingers nearly a minute. Drinking well tonight with a splash decant and an hours air. These have been …

2007 vintage

Very ripe black fruit and tart cranberries. Full bodied but a little light in the mid palate. This is all about the fruit with little sense of place and easy going tannins. Would prefer it more if it had more structure and edge to it.

2007 vintage

Too big and extracted for me; plenty of fruit and alcohol but very little Rhone typicity.

2007 vintage

An outstanding wine and even better QPR. This wine seems to be hitting its peak as it was drinking perfectly following a splash decant. Even better than the last bottle I opened which was February of 2010. I have one more bottle left and will probably drink it before the end of the year as I don't think this wine will get any better with more age.

2007 vintage

Seems to be holding up. Beset bottle yet.

2007 vintage

Consistent with prior bottle on 11/20/10

2007 vintage

I think there was a bit of barnyard

2007 vintage

Dark plum and cherries--much better than the bottle 6 months ago which was almost pruny (not a good thng) to me. I think the extra time in the bottle has helped, and the next bottle will be saved for a steak next Spring. 90+

2007 vintage

Solid.

2007 vintage

Terrific QPR. Popped and poured. Lovely purply red. Smells of very ripe Grenache. This is my last bottle of this cuvee. Really rich layered fruit. I think this wine will hold up for another couple of years. Really hard not to drink these as they are absolutely delicious right now.

2007 vintage

This wine is rockin! Big fruit, very rich, smooth and fairly complex. Tannins are relatively soft. Very enjoyable.

2007 vintage

Bottle variation here. Powerhouse and a little extracted. Could have waited a year, but so good!

2007 vintage

Fruit's fading a little, and a lttle more acidic than i remember. Was 2007 too good to last? Still good to very good.

2007 vintage

Rich and lovely. Very balanced right now.Still pretty dark purple and still smells a bit grapey. Plush is a good word for this wine.

2007 vintage

Plush. That's the word for it. I wasn't sold on the Grand Bois early on; too fruity, too bombastic. It's settled down now into a lovely wine. Dense, plush black cherries and black raspberries, spicy. Rich texture, balanced, not a hint of heat. Hard to believe this is a CDR (which may or may not be a good thing in someone's judgment). Not as complex as the finer CNDPs, but also much cheaper.

2007 vintage

Deep, full purple-blue color, with a generous aromatic display of purple fruit and spicy licorice. Very nice dark fruit core. Interestingly, (and somewhat worryingly) this seemed to shut down in the glass, losing the lion's share of its fruit within twenty minutes of being poured. Shutting down? Dying out?! 89(+?)?

2007 vintage

Big, sensuous wine with a lot of black cherry with a stony backdrop. Faintly burnt on the finish, a flaw that keeps this from being a 90+ point wine.

2007 vintage

great showing, big fruit, some garigue, leather and slight hints of barnyard funk. plum, cherry and raisin are the flavor profiles. has a slight sweetness but it is dry, medium finish.

2007 vintage

Deep purple, high-toned nose of crushed berries, garrigue, smoke and hints of gummy fruit, a bit lean on the attack and doesn't really gain any seduction, finish is charred, cherry, acidic and wheat with hints of limestone

2006 vintage

Great with food, unassuming on its own.

2006 vintage

Thursday Night 5 for $5 (The Grapevine - Pocatello, ID) : Deep purple-red color. Moderate nose of dark berry, cherry, leather, earth and wood. Medium body with fresh acid, high astringent tannins followed by moderate cherry, red fruit and wood. Long finish. Puckering but nice balance, structure and fruit.

2006 vintage

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Domaine Les Grands Bois, Cotes du Rhone, Gabrielle

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