2012 post inventory- perfect — 6 months ago
Anise and plummy with some earthiness…so good! — 6 months ago
With Kyle and Sarah — 6 months ago
Thought it paired really nicely with lamb dish I ordered and Zoe’s peppercorn duck dish — 5 months ago
Medium deep ruby garnet , with quite narrow garnet rim . This is quite closed at first , with some dusty , mineral , seaside hints . Cassis , cedar , blackberry , charcoal and a touch of toasty oak . On the palate this is again quite four square and serious , dusty blackberry , cassis, cedar , grafite . Quite linear in style , fresh acidity and quite fine but noticable tannin . A lightly saline , grafite tinged medium length finish . This is drinking well at the moment , quite classic in style but with enough polish and mid palate . Will probably continue to show well over the next 5-10 years . — 6 months ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 pours a ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with an explosion of smoked blackberry pie, purple flowers, bacon fat, olive, black pepper, and subtle warm spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the wine finishes much more elegant than the nose would suggest. The bouquet might lead one to think this is possibly over the top. However, on the palate, it was far more elegant. Another vintage, another stunning Gonon. Drink now through 2043. — 7 months ago

Pale lemon color with aromas of citrus, stone fruits and herb notes. On the palate flavors of apple, peach and lemon citrus with notes of honey and spice. Medium+ finish, vivid acidity, nice balance ending with lemon citrus and mineral character. Good now! — 6 months ago
Fascinating, after my recent run of so-so to DNPIM (do not put in mouth) CdPs from 25 or so years of age, here’s a “basic cuvée” of CdP (think $18-20 bottle on release) that is punching far above its weight, red fruits, very fine CdP that is drinking great now, long, lingering finish, and shows promise for another 3-5 years of aging!! — 6 months ago
Jay Kline

It’s been a couple of years since I last encountered the 2001 vintage of Chave’s Hermitage. That bottle was a library release from the domaine and so is this example. Splash decanted directly before service. The 2001 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous and a total umami bomb: Koji beef broth, dried and baked brambles, dried purple flowers, black pepper, Kalamata olive, organic and inorganic earth along with fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Looking back on my notes from 2024, there’s a common theme: the 2001 is all about dat bass. Drink now with some patience and through 2041. — 5 months ago