Randy Fuller

9.7

This wine has a medium-dark ruby color in the glass. The nose is what I always look forward to in a Syrah. The big cassis note, the faint earth note, the slight herbal note. The combination of mint, eucalyptus, dirt, and funk provides the perfect backdrop to that dark purple juice. The palate is as big and bold as one might expect, maybe bigger and bolder. Dark fruit flavors are buried in a savory mound of earth and herb. The tannins are firm. I’m going to make a rib eye steak before this bottle becomes empty. — 4 days ago

Robert B

9.1

I really liked the 2022 but the 2023 is just lovely. Blackberry and bramble on the nose, blackberry, leather and spice finishing in cocoa and oak. Couldn’t stop drinking it after having with pasta and marinara. — a month ago

Tim L

9.0

Very fine representative of Cote blends… — 2 months ago

JKT

9.2

Very nice well aged Cdp with everything well knitted together — 4 months ago

Randy Fuller

9.6

This wine has a beautiful golden color in the glass. Citrus, apricot, almonds and a floral note define the nose. The palate brings steely acidity and citrus flavors. The acidity is bracing, and the finish is long and delicious. Pair La Bernardine with white meats or seafood of any kind. It also goes nicely with a soft cheese. — a day ago

Richard Portes

9.4

Soft but enough acidity to keep it going. Mouth filling. Great length. — 2 months ago

Peter Herschkorn

9.2

Sitting in Prague with my wife loving this red wine. It’s been warm and we have been drinking much more white wine than we typically do. Nice to get back to a delicious red wine. I recommend this wine. Do not get it by the glass, get a bottle. — 2 months ago

A. R.

9.3

Similar notes, starting to resolve a bit. Alcohol levels are keeping it somewhat unbalanced at the moment. Frankly it’s only getting better, wish the alcohol was a bit lower. — 11 days ago

Shay A

9.3

I picked up a couple C-H wines last month and this is my second bottle to open following Jaboulet’s Thalbert.

Followed over two days. 91-92 initially, finished at 92-93. Still some room for upside, so scoring accordingly.

From start to finish this was undeniably a more enjoyable wine than the Jaboulet. Day one was a potpurri and floral overload aromatically before ripe dark fruits and green herbs shut it down hard with a wall of tannin at the finish (similar to the Jaboulet). Day two showed what this wine is evolving to be…a softer aromatic profile but so much depth on the mid-palate with lavender, charcoal and dark berries before a finish of black peppered meat. The wine feels well balanced by acid and tannin and the alcohol isn’t obtrusive. Not quite crunchy, but bright and powerful. Lovely C-H from the Chapoutier team. Could cruise another 5+yrs in this same drinking window. — a month ago

Joe DAscoli

9.4

Wow. The timing and oxygen on this bottle requires precision.

At opening there is some alcohol and weirdness that needs to blow off.

Within about 20-30 mins - the wine settles down and then it delivers just as you’d expect. Beautiful flavors.

Leave it out an hour and it begins to turn a bit. — 4 months ago