TN: Rhone dinner

The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown
Tasted Thursday, June 18, 2015 by dcwino with 490 views

Introduction

Eight of us got together to drink southern and northern Rhone reds. My desire to get free shipping caused me to buy 10 lbs of fresh poricini from Oregon. Since my family can't possibly finish them, I dropped off a few lbs to the restaurant the night before. Chef Ruta did an excellent job once again, especially with the two porcini dishes that he prepared.

Flight 1 - Krug (1 Note)

  • 2000 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 95 Points

    France, Champagne

    Another very good showing. This bottle seems slightly fresher/less oxidative. Lovely sweet yellow fruit driven nose, baked apple, brioche, crème brulee, anise and spicy spices. Medium concentration, deeply toned sweet yellow fruit driven palate impression, fine mousse, nice acidity and long sweet finish. Really enjoyable.

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Flight 2 - Charonnay (3 Notes)

  • 2010 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard 95 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Assaf commented that Ritche is the most approachable and Laurent needs a few years of cellaring and I have to agree based on this example. Nicely controlled yet expressive nose displaying lemon curd, pineapple, sweet spices, light caramel, mineral and a hint of alcohol as the end note. Quite dense which is typical of Aubert, sweet ripe yellow fruit driven palate impression, good acidity and sweet yellow fruit driven finish with mineral and a hint of alcohol as the end note. This is very much ready with round, warm and dense expression. This actually got fresher with an hour of air. I would recommend an hour or two of decanting. Really nicely balanced and approachable example of Aubert.

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  • 2007 Marcassin Chardonnay Three Sisters Vineyard Flawed

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    This bottle seemed a bit tired. I also thought it was slightly corked but the opinions were split 50/50. Yellow caramel, oyster shell, burnt sugar and mineral. Very good concentration and good overall balance.

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  • 2010 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Corton-Charlemagne 96 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

    This is a great surprise. Classic young CC nose of fresh sweet citrus and pit fruits, mineral and a hint of sesame/toast which I attribute to the barrel. Expressive vibrant nose displaying candied lemon peel, lemon curd, white peach, flint, wet stone, a hint of toasted oak/sesame, white pepper and mineral. Exceptional concentration, quite chewy and dense without being heavy, sweet white fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and lovely long deeply toned finish that resonates. Exceptional wine and great relative value. If you enjoy young CC with slightly riper style, I highly recommend it.

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Flight 3 - Chave and SQN white (2 Notes)

  • 2008 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    This reminds me a bit of Clos Rougeard Brézé, nicely aged chenin. Expressive but relatively straightforward nose of ripe yellow fruits, grapefruit, tangerine, marzipan lanoline, honey and mineral. Medium concentration, ripe yellow fruit and honey driven palate impression, not much acidity and sweet medium finish. This particular bottle is quite expressive and at its peak which is a pleasant surprise. Drinking extremely well.

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  • 2005 Sine Qua Non The Petition 93 Points

    USA, California

    This is a typical big scale and tropical fruit driven SQN white but somehow maintains very good balance. Intense flamboyant sweet tropical fruit nose, pineapple, yellow peach, mango, papaya, pine needle, lilac, mineral and sweet spices. Excellent concentration, dense and chewy, tropical fruit driven palate impression, warm and round and long finish that ends with a bit of heat. As usual, some will love and others will hate. A lot better balance and surprisingly fresh for a ten year old SQN white.

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Flight 4 - Southern Rhone (4 Notes)

  • 2003 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 95 Points

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

    Oh boy this is delicious! The nose is almost a mature Burgundy except a hint of Rayas cherry liqueur. Sweet decadent red fruit driven nose, sous bois, strawberry, cherry liqueur, a small hint of 2003 roasted fruit, rose water and leather. Medium concentration, warm and round, sweet slightly dry red fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and lovely long sweet finish. Great contrast to the 03 Pegau and Clos de Papes, better balance, more mature, less concentrated and less 03ish.

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  • 1999 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 92 Points

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

    Slightly leaner style for Pegau. Mostly black fruits, black cherry, fruit cake, tobacco, licorice, dill, tar and ash. Good concentration, slightly dry black fruit driven palate impression, slightly metallic, good acidity, slightly rustic tannins and medium finish that ends slightly coarse. At least one person thought it was tired. My guess is that it was slightly angular from the get go. It will work well with a steak or lamb chop.

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  • 2003 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 95 Points

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

    This is so much better than the previous bottles and I wonder if there is a significant bottle variation. Beautifully perfumed nose displaying kirsch mixed with chambord, black cherries, fruitcake, dark spices, a hint of garrigue and earth. Exceptional concentration, dense and decadent blackberry driven palate impression, nutmeg, good acidity, only a hint of the 03 roasted fruits, nicely integrated tannins and very long finish. This quite expressive bottle shows very nice balance. Still quite youthful and another ten years of cellaring will add more garrigue and tobacco. I wish all the bottles show like this.

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  • 2003 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 95 Points

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

    This also shows incredible well. The best bottle of the 03 Clos des Papes I had. More red fruit driven compare to the 03 Pegau, intense ripe sweet red fruits, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, rare steak, animal and earth. Exceptional concentration, intense jammy red fruit driven palate impression, nicely layered fruits, good acidity, nicely integrated tannins and lovely long finish. This also needs another decade but is already quite enjoyable.

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Flight 5 - Still Southern Rhone (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins 97 Points

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

    It is interesting that I always associate Celestine with Rayas. Expressive nose displaying intense red and black fruits, strawberry, blackberry, black cherry, cherry brandy, tobacco, lavender, a hint of garrigue and pretty noticeable VA that is not bothersome. Excellent concentration, intense sweet red fruit driven palate impression, dense yet silky and polished palate, bright acidity, nicely integrated tannins and lovely long sweet finish with a hint of VA at the end. This and Rayas always seem wonderfully balanced despite having very sweet and slightly dry fruits. Drinking extremely well but if you don’t care for VA, this is not the wine for you.

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  • 2006 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Combe des Fous 94 Points

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

    Rich, dense, black fruit driven, fruitcake and a bit overwhelming for me. At this stage it is a bit monolithic. This needs time. It is truly super concentrated super modern cuvee lovers kinda wine. Very impressive but not my cup of tea especially at this stage.

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Flight 6 - Northern Rhone (4 Notes)

  • 2005 E. Guigal Ermitage Ex-Voto 95 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Justin commented this is very California big syrahesque and I agree. Intense inky black fruit driven nose, blackberry, black cherry, dust, licorice, a hint of black olive, lavender and charred steak. Incredible concentration, dark jammy black fruit driven palate impression, unctuous and chewy, bright acidity and noticeable sweet tannins. This is still a baby but if you enjoy opulent young syrah fruit, you will enjoy this a lot. Not as kinky and complex as La Las but still very impressive and enjoyable.

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  • 1999 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque Flawed

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    A bit of controversy as it is the second wine that I think to be corked where a couple tasters enjoy immensely and have strong conviction it is not corked. Two wait staff, one a former sommelier, also think it is not corked. It is a very polished La Turque with beautiful balance. May be someone else can chime in.

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  • 2005 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 97 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Expressive perfectly ripe sweet black fruit driven nose, cassis, white flowers, liquid smoke, a hint of tapenade and garrigue. Exceptional concentration, intense black fruit driven palate impression, silky, cool and polished mouthfeel, bright acidity, nicely integrated tannins and seamless long finish. Obviously very youthful but perfectly enjoyable. Need another ten years of cellaring to reach the peak.

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  • 2007 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 96 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    It is interesting as this seems more mature than the 05 Mouline. Crunch blue and black fruit driven nose, perfectly ripe crushed blackberries and blueberries, strong tapenade note, smoked meat, white pepper and wild flowers. Excellent concentration but not as concentrated as the 05 and also a bit cooler overall impression, polished silky palate, a bit of olive, flowers and blackberry driven palate impression, bright acidity and lovely long finish. This seems almost ready to go but no need to hurry. Lovely showing.

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Flight 7 - ZH SQN (1 Note)

Closing

A good time was had by all.

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