rhone valley tasting
Feb. 19, 2006
Chateau Mourgues du Gres, Costiere de Nimes, "Les Galets Dorees" 2004
Perfect balance of minerals/earth and light fruit--simple but a great white--especially for aperitif! 88.
Guigal, Cotes-du-Rhone blanc 2003
Hints of subtle tropical candied fruit w/citrus freshness (viognier); then a med. light mouth, still fresh, w/slight bitter,
earthy finish (roussane). This was a fair clean CdR, but not really impressed, and not a lot of character.
Well-made, though. 86.
Patrick Lesec, Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge "Les Beaumes" 2003
Cherry fruit, earthiness, lavender; hot spicy end, big tannins for a CdR! Ripe fruit in mth; relatively heavy body.
Concentrated style! Not typical, but pretty good! 87+.
Domaine du Grapillon d'Or, Vacqueyras 2000
Big sweet cherry notes, also grape lollipop, blakberry, raspberry notes too; hint of licorice & smoke--dry herbs as
well? BOLD tannins, a little black pepper and candied fruit after tasting the Cote Rotie. Great stuff and maybe one
of the favorites of the night. Great with the fruity, soft Reblochon! 90.
Paul Autard, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, La Cote Ronde 1999
Plummy, prunes, soft leather, dark blackberry, but subtle; rounder in mouth, with a soft attack; preserved cherries
and pot-pouri also; some raw meat in the flavor, and just slight hint of vanilla--this is real complex, with great age
character already. 2nd night: stewed fruits/tomatoes, long intriguing finish. Very nice and complex indeed. 92.
Guigal, Cote-Rotie Brune et Blonde 1999
Rich, concentrated, truffle notes, hint tar, but w/underlying dark blackberry; great rich ripe fruit in the mouth with
structure--plenty of nice supporting acidity in the wine-explosive and mouth-filling, like a "caged animal"! Spice in
there, with a hint of tea, exotic flavors as well, and grilled meats (pepporoni/pepper sausage?) Amazing stuff,
should age well for years. 93.
Cave de Tain l'Hermitage, Hermitage "Les Nobles Rives" 1990
Brown-brick red, well-concentrated (still), medium rim color change; subtle truffle aromas, plummy, exotic asian
spice, roasted meats, soy sauce, hoisan sauce, good acidity still with really nicely soft integrated tannins. Hint
sour cherries from age--extremely complex and nice!!! Caught at just the right age. Should be drunk now. 94.
Paul Autard, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2000
Really big blueberry, blackberry compote with a slight mellowing factor of worn saddle leather, pie crust. Great
liveliness for 2000. Did the 1999 "Cote Ronde" age a bit prematurely in comparison? Good, but not as complex,
and not as mellow as the "Cote Ronde". Good with BBQ?
Domaine de Baumalric, Beaumes de Venise Muscat 2003
Great heady intense fresh peach, apricot, candied notes, hint honey; powerful, but light and non-sticky in the
mouth; felt fairly strong, but clean. Great stuff! 90.
Perfect balance of minerals/earth and light fruit--simple but a great white--especially for aperitif! 88.
Guigal, Cotes-du-Rhone blanc 2003
Hints of subtle tropical candied fruit w/citrus freshness (viognier); then a med. light mouth, still fresh, w/slight bitter,
earthy finish (roussane). This was a fair clean CdR, but not really impressed, and not a lot of character.
Well-made, though. 86.
Patrick Lesec, Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge "Les Beaumes" 2003
Cherry fruit, earthiness, lavender; hot spicy end, big tannins for a CdR! Ripe fruit in mth; relatively heavy body.
Concentrated style! Not typical, but pretty good! 87+.
Domaine du Grapillon d'Or, Vacqueyras 2000
Big sweet cherry notes, also grape lollipop, blakberry, raspberry notes too; hint of licorice & smoke--dry herbs as
well? BOLD tannins, a little black pepper and candied fruit after tasting the Cote Rotie. Great stuff and maybe one
of the favorites of the night. Great with the fruity, soft Reblochon! 90.
Paul Autard, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, La Cote Ronde 1999
Plummy, prunes, soft leather, dark blackberry, but subtle; rounder in mouth, with a soft attack; preserved cherries
and pot-pouri also; some raw meat in the flavor, and just slight hint of vanilla--this is real complex, with great age
character already. 2nd night: stewed fruits/tomatoes, long intriguing finish. Very nice and complex indeed. 92.
Guigal, Cote-Rotie Brune et Blonde 1999
Rich, concentrated, truffle notes, hint tar, but w/underlying dark blackberry; great rich ripe fruit in the mouth with
structure--plenty of nice supporting acidity in the wine-explosive and mouth-filling, like a "caged animal"! Spice in
there, with a hint of tea, exotic flavors as well, and grilled meats (pepporoni/pepper sausage?) Amazing stuff,
should age well for years. 93.
Cave de Tain l'Hermitage, Hermitage "Les Nobles Rives" 1990
Brown-brick red, well-concentrated (still), medium rim color change; subtle truffle aromas, plummy, exotic asian
spice, roasted meats, soy sauce, hoisan sauce, good acidity still with really nicely soft integrated tannins. Hint
sour cherries from age--extremely complex and nice!!! Caught at just the right age. Should be drunk now. 94.
Paul Autard, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2000
Really big blueberry, blackberry compote with a slight mellowing factor of worn saddle leather, pie crust. Great
liveliness for 2000. Did the 1999 "Cote Ronde" age a bit prematurely in comparison? Good, but not as complex,
and not as mellow as the "Cote Ronde". Good with BBQ?
Domaine de Baumalric, Beaumes de Venise Muscat 2003
Great heady intense fresh peach, apricot, candied notes, hint honey; powerful, but light and non-sticky in the
mouth; felt fairly strong, but clean. Great stuff! 90.
This had to be one of my all time favorite tastings. Such character and beauty in these wines, and all so
diverse. I don't know which ones I liked better. The Grapillon d'Or was the unexpected sleeper, the Autard was
fantastic and rich with garrigue and pepper, the Hermitage was so perfectly aged and complex, and the
Cote-Rotie was stunning with it's power and grace. Here are the overviews of the wines:
diverse. I don't know which ones I liked better. The Grapillon d'Or was the unexpected sleeper, the Autard was
fantastic and rich with garrigue and pepper, the Hermitage was so perfectly aged and complex, and the
Cote-Rotie was stunning with it's power and grace. Here are the overviews of the wines: