Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
83
/100
Reviews
22
professional
Vintages
1
2003
Other
83/100
Red Rhone Blend
NV
Community Reviews
2525
Reviews
83.3
Avg Score
92
Highest
Taster #2202
· Jan 16, 2016
85/100
Standard, drinkable rhone blend
2003 vintage
Taster #6871
· Nov 21, 2014
82/100
Drink Up - it's done
2003 vintage
Taster #3814
· Jul 3, 2012
88/100
Elegante Duftaromen nach Sauerkirschen, Kräutern und etwas Holz. Schöne Konzentration und schöner Nachhall.
2003 vintage
Taster #8336
· Jun 12, 2012
Much better than when I opened the last bottle six months ago. Still nice fruit.
2003 vintage
Taster #2202
· May 18, 2012
88/100
This is starting to come into its own. Nice earth, wood,and even some dark fruit still in then ose and palate
2003 vintage
Taster #8101
· Apr 29, 2012
89/100
Drinking my last bottle as consensus is drink by 2012. I disagree. I think as the fruit drops, the leather will increase and this wine will move toward drinking like many old Burgundies. I do agree that 93 is high but this wine has class and balance
2003 vintage
Taster #6704
· Jan 16, 2012
88/100
Had a case Last bottle Fore the price good to the last drop
2003 vintage
Taster #0205
· Jun 1, 2011
89/100
After my last bottle, this couldnt be more different. Plush, sweet, nice acidity and just tasty. Nothing too complex, but certainly pleasing. My other bottle must have been flawed.
2003 vintage
Taster #8663
· May 26, 2011
To my surprise, this has turned into a wine of some delicacy, although I would not quite say elegance. Black raspberry, lavender, bramble and green rhubarb on the nose. Some alcohol flitting in and out. Light mouthfeel, medium body, fruit receding, delicate finish. There is still some oak, but not a bothersome amount. Another surprise -- some body back on night 2.
2003 vintage
Taster #5674
· Mar 29, 2011
89/100
A pleasantly balanced, easy drinking gsm blend. Good tannins hold up to some bright cassis fruits, with a nicely melded leather and garringue background. For a '03 s. rhone it doesn't have too much heat or sugars; both are controlled and add to the mix. I think it's almost at its peak, would finish this off in the next two years or so.
2003 vintage
Taster #5546
· Nov 13, 2010
85/100
Opened up nicely over 3 hours. Round and fruity but not built for any aging. I suspect it will fall apart within a couple of years. It's a nice go-to wine for during the week with dinner. RP 91-93? How?
2003 vintage
Taster #5622
· Apr 25, 2010
80/100
RP got this one WORNG, I do know how he rate it 91-93 with all glamour of sophisticated words WA usually uses. I think it is simple, single layered wine with straight forward fruit and medium body with plenty of acidity and some tannin. I believe the high expectation of this wine based on high WA rating has disappointed many including myself. But overall it is an acceptable everyday table wine. I did not taste or smell any thing bad …
2003 vintage
Taster #8581
· Dec 30, 2009
87/100
Fruit and earth on the nose. Medium to full body, with firm tannins. Dark fruit and meat, but not showing everything it could have. Somewhat short. I'll try another bottle in a year. No sign of the off taste/smell mentioned by some others.
2003 vintage
Taster #7279
· Dec 1, 2009
84/100
Standard very low-end French red, should cost $5. Reasonable red berry character corrupted by a slight aroma of Tums.
2003 vintage
Taster #0316
· Nov 4, 2009
Popped and poured. Aroma in the glass is like burnt tire or maybe that burnt disc brake smell. It does simmer down after a few minutes. First sip is light, quick after taste, blackberry, quite tarty. Not bad...just don't take in the aroma. Don't know how to score this. Not a 90 but, not an 80 either.....
2003 vintage
Taster #0979
· Oct 13, 2009
85/100
Interesting stuff. It seems to be a love-it-or-hate-it kind of wine, which was the reaction of my friends when I passed it around. Do decant & air, for it will remove some of the skank. If you can get past the initial attack, which can be quite jolting and shrill, the loamy licorice finish makes the wine worth the price of admission. But no, this doesn't really resemble a Chateauneuf at all.
2003 vintage
Taster #0205
· Oct 1, 2009
60/100
It's true. the nose is disgusting. One of the worst bottles of wine I have ever had. Maybe the lot from wine library was bad. I tried to give it an hour, but it didnt improve. I wouldn't even cook with this.
2003 vintage
Taster #0366
· Sep 15, 2009
92/100
Loved it at $12. Picked up asphalt-like nose. Quite dry with good acid. Full-bodied. Still solid after 5 hours.
2003 vintage
Taster #4107
· Sep 5, 2009
80/100
Seriously? I just don't see how this is "...an amazing wine of density, richness, and full bodied potency...drinks like a top flight Chateauneuf du Pape (RP91-93)". The tragedy in this opera is that I believed the accolade. Respi-Aerate to decanter, and as I'm pouring there is a generous bouquet of candied red fruit - not really what I expected, but OK whatever. Dark ruby color, medium body. From the glass, the nose is light strawberries, raspberries, white pepper, mild herbs, …
2003 vintage
Taster #2884
· Aug 9, 2009
92/100
On the nose, jammy dark fruit with a hint of liquorish. On the palate, subtle dark fruit upfront transforming to anise and spice. Nice long spice and anise finish. Well structured with nice tannins and great mouth feel. Excellent wine. Went perfectly with the seitan in mole sauce we ate.
2003 vintage
Taster #5694
· Jul 28, 2009
70/100
Nice dark ruby color. Practically no aromas whatsoever upon first opening. Perhaps in an hour or so. Very light flavor profile. None of the profile of either the Grenache or Syrah. Very little going on. Disappointing. Waiting a few hours. Well not much has changed. There is nothing wrong with this bottle it just lacks all character and distinction. Meh and pass
2003 vintage
Taster #2760
· Mar 15, 2009
89/100
Nice wine. Decanted for an hour and a half. Nice deep color, a bit of an awkward nose but not off-putting. Nice balance on the palate with a decent finish. Not a great wine but nice value for the money.
2003 vintage
Taster #3505
· Feb 3, 2009
87/100
Medium bodied. Almost burgundian in character. Ripe dark cherry and blackberry fruit, date/fig notes with smoke and earth. Pretty good wine. I'd buy again. I did not get any offensive odors/flavors as others have noted. Potential issue with bottle variation?
2003 vintage
Taster #0214
· Jan 7, 2009
78/100
Had this over two days. Color good ruby red. The problem is it has a very distinctive chemical (paint, thinner) smell that is hard to get around. My wife described the mouth as harsh so there is not much good I can offer to this. It did soften a bit over a day, but I believe there is something amiss with this as I did also see another review on this one that indicated a problem with smell.
2003 vintage
Taster #6799
· Dec 21, 2008
65/100
I don't know if we got a bad bottle, but the wine actually smells musky! I actually think it is offensive to the nose. Drinking it wasn't that pleasant either, but I couldn't get past the smell!!! I can't believe the place I got this from actually recommended it to sub against another wine I was trying to purchase. I feel this was a perfectly good waste of money and could have found much better at Trader Joe's! AVOID!!!
2003 vintage