La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

Birthday present from wine.com!

Another awesome Rhone. Marvelous. Dried bitter cherries, garrigue, white pepper. Outstanding balance, soulful.

9 liter. 1995. Amazing. Ripe red fruits, lively acid and structured tannins. This wine ages beautifully.

Complex nose of leather, hay, dried cherry, raspberry preserves, dried rose petals, star anise and white pepper. The Brett is there but not overwhelming. Tannins still lingering on the finish. Slightly passed its peak but still enjoyable.

Holiday party 6L wines.

Magnum. Wow this could easily go another 20 years. Would have guessed 2005, not 1995.

Leathery red fruit with a ferrous edge. Has gone through a brett bloom and come out a more complex wine because of it.

On its 20th Bday, just look at that color! Very pleased with the evolution. In a word: spicy! Nice balance, surprisingly firm acidity to block frame the alcohol punch. Served against a well seasoned home burger. So happy I have more from an original release purchase made with Dan Fredman during his Kermit Lynch days. Tasted from half bottle. 1cm ullage.

'95 -- Lovin' it @ 20 years young. Shows layered complexity and that famed Châteauneuf Dried Fruit.

Magnum drank with big dry-aged steaks. Perfect match as this was big powerful wine that show good penetration and focus even with the steaks!