JP's American Bistro, Minneapolis
Tasted Tuesday, May 9, 2006 by Siggy with 973 views
Ten of us gathered at JP’s American Bistro in Minneapolis for an extensive vertical tasting of Chateau Beaucastel. All in all, we sampled 12 vintages from 1983 through 2003, plus a 2003 Alban Grenache as a ringer. The wines were organized into five flights, bagged, and tasted double-blind over a three-hour dinner. We did not decant, and the bottles were opened 30-90 minutes before pouring. This was a fascinating educational experience for me, as I have had limited exposure to Beaucastels from the eighties and nineties. Tragically, our 1989 and 1998s turned out to be flawed with VA. The big surprise of the tasting was the strong showing of the 1983, which turned out to be a beautifully mature, nuanced bottle that was WOTN for many tasters. As usual, the food and service at JP's were superb. This restaurant has rapidly become one of the top places for wine geek events in the Twin Cities. Kudos to Dave Dalluge for organizing a terrific evening.
1983 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 94 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Not blind. Huge, mushroomy nose. Medium body, with dusty smoky fruit and a long, ethereal finish. Notes of charred meat, tobacco, and forest floor. Seems at its peak of maturity. I read the Parker review later, and it seemed to be describing a completely different wine.
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