WTN: Domaine des Sénéchaux 1998

I think I paid all of $18 when it was released. This CdP has evolved into a very lovely wine that really speaks of Chateauneuf's terroir. Complex, ripe fruit is supported by tannins that are smooth as a baby's butt. This is very approachable now, but it should hold for a few more years. Delightful.

Randy, If you paid only $18 for that '98 vintage Sénéchaux, you got quite a deal. My database shows that the '97 vintage of this wine listed in the range of $22-24. I would assume that the excellent '98 vintage for CdP would have sustained that price.

BTW ... we drank a bottle of the '97 vintage in June '06 and it was marvelous. It actually took almost a hour for it to fully open up, which was fine, because we served it with a slow-cooked boneless leg of lamb.

Unfortunatley, we have none of this wine left, and missed out on getting the '98 bottling. Oh, well.

-- Clark

[James Roscoe]

Randy, our wine group is getting together on Sunday, you are welcome to come with a bottle of this wine! Great price!

I lied -- $18.99 sticker still on a couple of bottles. The 98 took an hour or so to fully show its stuff.

I think the CdP would be out of place amidst all of those bottles of elderberry wine.

Thanks for the notes. The local Winestyles has a bottle of their 2004? release that I should maybe pick up?

I "goofed" on my taxes (it's simple arithmetic, I don't know how), so I'm getting enough of an "extra" refund to justify the purchase, 'cause it isn't $18.99 anymore

[James Roscoe]

I think the CdP would be out of place amidst all of those bottles of elderberry wine.

Oh, please, for you we'd pull out the good stuff, Reunite!

The local Winestyles has a bottle of their 2004? release that I should maybe pick up?

The '04 is right on par with the '98. I didn't realize that the estate was sold to Jean-Michel Cazes, the proprietor of Lynch-Bages in Bordeaux. I wonder if this will be a good thing or a bad thing?

Clark, when you say slow cooked, can you tell me at what temp, and for how long. I am going to do a leg of lamb sometime soon on my grill, and I will do it (I think) at 225 - 250 degrees, until the internal temperature reaches about 160. would like to hear about yours.

I lied -- $18.99 sticker still on a couple of bottles. The 98 took an hour or so to fully show its stuff.

Let's not quibble over a mere $.99 ... you still got a very good deal on that wine.

Let's not quibble over a mere $.99

Hey, this is WLDG -- we quibble over whether a burger chain is national or not.

The '04 is still not horribly priced at $32. It is worth a few bottles in the cellar for sure.

Clark, when you say slow cooked, can you tell me at what temp, and for how long. I am going to do a leg of lamb sometime soon on my grill, and I will do it (I think) at 225 - 250 degrees, until the internal temperature reaches about 160. would like to hear about yours.

Bob, I hate to disappoint you, but it was almost a year ago, and neither my wife nor I recall any of the details. It's funny that the most detail came from my tasting notes:

Went beautifully with a boneless wrapped leg of lamb that had been marinated with EVOO, lemon, fresh parsley & mint, green onions, garlic, etc, and then slow cooked on the outdoor gas grill.

I'm afraid you are on you own from here. However, it sounds so good that I think we need to recreate this.

-- Clark