Second Sunday Group: 2009 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
R&D's
Tasted Sunday, April 9, 2017 by AllRed with 568 views
Introduction
The 2nd Sunday group gathered for our regular double blind tasting. For this group, we are presented a couple of double blind warm ups before the main flight. The warm ups are discussed & unveiled before moving on to the themed main flight. We spent forty five minutes or so tasting and evaluation the eight wines for the main flight before ranking the wines and then making guesses as to what we were tasting. Wines are ranked 1-8, one point for each place, and then unveiled from last place to first place. After the tasting, dinner is served with the additional wines brought by the group, nonblind. For this tasting we had eleven tasters and the cost was $40.
Flight 1 - Nonblind warm ups (2 Notes)
R&D had purchased some Vesselle but not tasted it yet, and we had half a bottle of the Morlet left over from the prior evening so we brought them along to sip on before moving on to the warm ups. With above average temps in Chicago, we tasted on the screened-in patio as the cardinals, chickadees and finches flitted about, providing some entertainment. R&D's resident turkey also made an appearance under the bird feeder.
Flight 2 - Warm ups (2 Notes)
Flight 3 - Main flight (8 Notes)
Our host began decanting these about 2.5 hours prior to the flight being poured. These all appeared older, with a faded crimson core and some obvious bricking. They were all uniformly "older" in appearance. As I worked through the first three, they seemed like older Zin- ripe, bordering on pruny, but they weren't briary, and they were much too tannic for old zin. They also had fairly significant legs running down the sides of the glass so I began thinking of what could possibly be ripe, with firm tannins and significant body. I settled on older Petite Sirah. Another taster agreed with me and as a group we really couldn't come up with many possibilities- it was easier to say what these were not, rather than what they were. Anyway, as a group they were very ripe, bordering on pruny/raisiny, with fairly firm tannins. Chateauneuf-du-Pape never entered my mind as a possibility for these. I am not unhappy that we have only four bottles and one magnum of 2009 CndP in the cellar. Perhaps these ugly ducklings will one day be swans, but I'm comfortable missing out on that.
Flight 4 - Dinner/dessert wines (8 Notes)
Nonblind, with brisket and sides.
NV Jean Vesselle Champagne Brut Réserve 91 Points
France, Champagne
Dishorged March 2014. Rich and toasty. Apple and berry fruit with a nice toasted/nutty overtone. Fine bead. Apple, marshmallow and hazelnut flavors on the palate.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Morlet Family Vineyards Chardonnay Ma Douce
USA, California, Sonoma County, Fort Ross - Seaview
This didn't change much at all over 24 hours. Vanilla is the dominant note, with apple and citrus undertones. The palate shows apple with tropical banana and coconut flavors and hints of stone and lemon oil. This really needs a couple of years in the cellar, or a healthy decant if drinking now.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue