PHMG WAG: the '09 Northern Rhones

Casa Lyon
Tasted Saturday, June 2, 2012 by Grinner with 429 views

Introduction

These wines were opened but not decanted 4 hours before the event. Served at about 60 degrees. The Syrah glasses were the winners over the Cab glasses...duh.

Flight 1 - The Opening White (1 Note)

Just something to sip during "arrival". Yeah, it's not an '09....

  • 2010 M. Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Blanc Petite Ruche 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    Light gold in color, this wine has some white stone fruit, pear, and citrus, with some spice and minerality in the background. Very nice slightly viscous texture. Went well with duck fat french fries and a pizza w/ white sauce, garlic, and gruyere chicken sausage.

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Flight 2 - The '09 Reds (8 Notes)

  • 2009 Saint Cosme St. Joseph 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph

    What a great start to the tasting. Ripe black fruit with spice, leather, and stone notes. Nice balance and length. Very good QPR.

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  • 2009 Delas Frères Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    Medium garnet color. This proved to be one of the tightest wines of the night. Old World, austere, but still very pleasurable including the next day. Dark berries, currants, pepper, and meat notes. Needs a little more time.

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  • 2009 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    We really enjoyed this after the less open Delas Les Launes. More New World in taste w/ ripe black berry fruit, plum, pepper, beef, and stone. Relatively fat texture and great length.

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  • 2009 Domaine Durand Cornas Premices 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    Slightly lighter in color than most here, this wine has tart red fruit: cherries, berries, then some earth and spice. Good length and depth. Acidity made it stand out in the tasting. Very fine on day two.

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  • 2009 Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    A close second in this tasting. The nose is open for business right away when poured. Layers of blackberry, cassis, dark cherry, spices, leather/blood, and kirsch on a texture laden with glycerin. First bottle to be killed by the 11 of us!

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  • 2009 Jean-Michel Stephan Côte-Rôtie 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Relatively light wine in this tasting, but very complex. Non-fruit notes of earth, leather, pepper, and licorice vie with the red fruit for dominance. No clear winner on the palate, but a very nice wine. Fair at best QPR.

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  • 2009 Saint Cosme Côte-Rôtie 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    This is a wow wine. Still opaque purple in color, this wine has an open nose of blackberry jam, spice, and pepper. The balance and depth are outstanding. Still great overnight w/o gas. Going to be amazing in 3-5 years.

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  • 2009 Delas Frères Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes 95 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    My WOTN, this was the biggest and most tannic of 8 reds. Glorious nose of dark fruit, minerals, anise, a floral hit, and sangre de toro. Very deep and complex on the palate. Needs another 3-5 years!

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Flight 3 - An Old White for "Dessert" (1 Note)

  • 2001 Ferraton Père & Fils Ermitage Blanc Le Reverdy Flawed

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    A little too golden in color, this was just a bit oxidized/madeirized. But it was drinkable. There are tropical fruit flavors along with stone fruit, citrus, and minerals. Texture was on the oily side. Can't score it and would certainly not keep this longer.

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Closing

A great group of wines, worthy of the hype for the vintage. A lot of ripe fruit and layered textures leaving many a purple tooth in the room!

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