Second Sunday Group: 2005 CdP Traditional Cuvees vs. Tete de Cuvees

The host provides a couple of double blind warm up whites for the group, followed by 8 wines fitting a theme. The main flight of 8 is tasted double blind, and tatsers are given the task of identifying the theme. Each tasters ranks the wines from 1st though 8th, and the wines are unveiled worst to first, is descending order of total points. Ties are broken by number of higher place votes. Following the tasting, we enjoy dinner and nonblind wines contributed by the tasters. The host charges for the tasting. Today we had 13 tasters and the cost was $30.

Tasted double blind.

• 2007 Stony Hill Chardonnay

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Golden yellow color with notes of quince, toast and oak, with caramel and orchard fruit qualities on the palate. Develops lemon and mineral qualities reminiscent of a young Corton Charlemagne.

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• 2008 Louis Jadot Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

  Deep color. Has an acetone note that blows off leaving citrus, apple and wool notes. Butterscotch, lemon and mineral qualities on the palate. Guessed older Chassagne.

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As you can see from the total points, we were, as a group, all over the place. I cannot recall a tasting where we were so divergent with our votes. We almost always have a couple that are head and shoulders above the rest for the group. Anyway, these were all very tight initially and took the better part of half an hour to open up. At the first run through, noting only the bouquet, I thought we may have had a flight of Pinots. It wasn't until I got to the Alexis Establet that I detected anything resembling Chateauneuf aromatically. After thirty minutes or so, these had opened a bit and it became fairly clear that we had CdP. I think these were all still quite young and tight. I would hold off on these for a few years yet, or be sure to give them a few hours in a decanter.

• 2005 Domaine du Grand Tinel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Tradition 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Light ruby color and quite reticent at first, perhaps some cherry and a bit of funk. Cherry fruit on the palate, with a bit of spice. Becomes perfumed and floral adding currants and red fruit. Vanilla, pepper and red berries on the palate. Very Pinot-like at the outset, this had really come around after thirty minutes or so in the glass. 91+ pts.
  
  My #4, Domino's #3
  Group #3, 57 pts

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• 2005 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Dark color with notes of dark fruit and earth. The palate follows the bouquet, adding a nice spice quality on the finish. Red and black fruits, spice and hints of garrigue emerge as the wine opens.
  
  My #6, Domino's #7
  Group #4, 57 pts

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• 2005 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Cuvée du Papet 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Crimson color, quite reticent at first with generic red cherry notes and not much else. Tannins are firm, with dark fruit and cherry lurking underneath. Develops spice and red fruit notes in the bouquet but also begins to show a bit hot. Red and dark fruit intermingle on the palate, adding an interesting tapenade quality too.
  
  My #5, Domino's #6
  Group #8, 67 pts

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• 2005 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Garnet color with notes of red fruit and earth, dirty- but in a good way. Cherry and spice qualities on the palate supported by medium tannins. Fairly lengthy finish, dominated by red fruit and spice. Develops a nice meaty note to go along with the red and black fruit. Tannins remain chewy, with dark fruit, tapenade, pepper and red berry tones carrying the long finish.
  
  My #1, Domino's #1
  Group #1, 46 pts

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• 2005 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Dark color with notes of black raspberry and cherry. Chewy tannins on the palate, with dark fruit, cherry and spice. Quite structured, but with a lengthy finish. Spice and briny qualities emerge as it sits, with vanilla and more spice and garrigue tones on the palate; tannins remain firm. The fruit is quite dense, so I feel like this will be wonderful given time. 91-92 pts.
  
  My #3, Domino's #8
  Group #5, 63 pts

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• 2005 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Origines 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Dark fruit aromas with an underlying dirty quality. Red & black cherry notes on the palate; structured & firm. Shuts down in the glass becoming quite reticent aromatically. Flavors of dark fruit and spice with dense, chewy tannin. 89-90 pts.
  
  My #8, Domino's #5
  Group #2, 49 pts

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• 2005 Domaine du Grand Tinel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Alexis Establet 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Lighter color than many of the preceding wines, featuring notes of pepper, red fruit and garrigue. The first wine that really smelled like a Chateauneuf-du-Pape on the first run through the flight. Flavors of spice, red and dark fruit and a bit of wood on the finish. Cherry and red fruit notes adding vanilla in the bouquet as well. Flavors of dark fruit, pepper and spice with a long finish. This wine is quite well-balanced with plenty of fruit for the structure & tannin. 92-93 pts.
  
  My #2, Domino's #4
  Group #6, 64 pts

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• 2005 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Tradition 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Garnet color with notes of white currants, spice and red fruit. The palate follows the bouquet, adding pepper, vanilla and tapenade qualities.
  
  My #7, Domino's #2
  Group #7, 65 pts

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Enjoyed nonblind with prosciutto-wrapper pork tenderloin, bean salad and corn salad.

• 1996 Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Fiacre 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Disgorged 12/2003. Deep yellow color with aromas of toast, marshmallow, vanilla cream, lemon blossoms and roasted nuts. Citrus and pear fruit on the palate, with nuances of honeycomb, wet dough and stone as well. Long finish. Beautiful Champagne, thank you, Neil.

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• 2008 Domaine Rougeot Meursault Monatine 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  Two bottles from the same case were opened, one of which was obviously darker in color. The darker wine was not bad, but it was definitely "flat" compared to the lighter one, for which this note was written. Aromas of lemon blossom, minerals, apple and florals. The palate follows the bouquet, with a lengthy finish tinged by citrus and mineral qualities. 92+ pts.

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• 2000 Michel Magnien Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Chaffots 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru

  Aromas of cherry and earth with perfumed, floral overtones. Light-bodied but complex, with red currants, cherry, earth and spice qualities. Well-balanced with a persistent finish. Drinking very well at the moment with very little air. 92+ pts.

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• 2008 Domaine d'Eugénie Vosne-Romanée 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée

  Notes of cherries, violets, spice, mineral and earth. Balanced, featuring cherries and earth on the palate. Simple, but elegant and balanced.

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• 1995 Château La Dominique 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Aromas of tobacco, red and black fruits and spice box. Medium-bodied and fully-integrated, with leather, tobacco and red fruit on the palate. Popped & poured, this was ready to go. 88-89 pts.

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• 1999 Château Lagrange (St. Julien) 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Leather and dark berry fruit aromas. Medium-bodied and balanced featuring flavors of red fruit, iodine, forest floor and roasted herbs. Finishes well, with good length and fruit.

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• 2000 Château Montrose 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Opened by M.Y. before dinner. Deep crimson color with notes of sandalwood, blackberry, tobacco and earth. Leather, spice box and roasted herb notes emerge as it opens in the glass. Full-bodied with firm tannins and flavors of blackberry, tobacco and spice. The fruit becomes more apparent as it opens. This really needed a good hour in the glass to show itself, as it was still quite tight and reserved initially. Everything is there though- fruit, structure and acid, so be patient. From 2020+ though 2025 is probably even better.

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• 2004 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  A little stewed and very ripe, but it also has some pleasant perfumed floral qualities. Plum and dark fruit on the palate, but a bit thin through the finish. I think perhaps this bottle was just a bit off as I usually find Pride Merlots to be less ripe and obvious. Only one way to find out...

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• 2005 Château Haut-Bailly 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Red fruit notes dominate the bouquet and palate, with a pleasant iodine quality to the finish. Subtle earthy undertones as well, but overall a bit simple and straightforward. Give this a bit of time to come out of its shell.

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• 2010 Château Lescalle Cuvée Emmanuel Tessandier 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur

  Notes of vanilla, dark fruit and chocolate follow through on the palate. Medium-bodied with medium tannins and a decent finish. A nice little value play, if a bit "modern" for Bordeaux.

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Thanks to Neil and Barb for getting together and hosting a fun tasting!