Tour de Rhone

United Cellars, 140 William Street, Sydney
Tasted Thursday, July 9, 2020 by chatters with 85 views

Introduction

Lightweight Rhone tasting at United

Flight 1 - on arrival (1 Note)

Flight 2 - bracket one 'the classics' (2 Notes)

  • 2015 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    the similarities with the techniques of Burgundy are obvious here, toast butter, leesy cream, struck match with wet stone, slight bees wax, a little peach over a smidge of apricot, with time a touch of pear skin. Juicy, savoury, a little peach and apricot, not so waxy on the palate, again a little pear skin bitterness but also some alcohol warmth on the finish. medium plus length. Young. Time for me.

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  • 2016 Domaine les Alexandrins St. Joseph

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph

    Blackberry over a little black pepper, cream, slightly jubey, a little raspberry and rhubarb, sweet spice. Very slight plain chocolate, slight crushed rock. Medium plus intensity acidity, with plenty of tannins to back them up, blackberry, raspberry, peppery spice, touches of crushed rock, medium plus length. With time in the the glass it starts to show a little savoury meatiness that overtakes the chocolate notes on the nose and it gains breadth on the palate. Pleasant enough.

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Flight 3 - bracket two 'producer focus' (3 Notes)

  • 2017 Domaine Michelas-St. Jemms Crozes-Hermitage La Chasseliere

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    Blackberry bramble, cream a little rocky, slight black pepper, almost a little plummy with time a touch of struck match. Medium plus intensity acidity, savoury blackberry, a little plum, peppery, tight, grippy tannins, obviously young but with alcohol warmth on the finish, medium length. Okay.

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  • 2016 Domaine Michelas-St. Jemms Crozes-Hermitage Terres d'Arce

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    Ooh, a little funky, dusty, meaty over cream, perhaps slightly oxidised, gamey over ripe black fruits and plums and berries, toast, a little peppery, almost buttery with ashy notes. Sourly juicy (medium plus intensity) acidity on the palate, brambles, wild blackberries and red currants, tannins are oaky but also quite softly textured compared to the La Chasseliere thought still quite 'gruff' travels long. It's a little unripe for me.

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  • 2016 Domaine Michelas-St. Jemms Cornas Terres d'Arce

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    Dense, brooding, rocky, earthy, touch of time shows what I initially think is cork taint, blackberry, slightly jubey black fruit with crushed rocks, black pepper, polished oak the takes over, a little liquorice. Medium plus acid, plentiful tight tannins, crushed rocks, black pepper, earthy, blackberry is slightly sour. very young but a bit hmm for me, slightly too unripe, time in the glass reveals that my corked fear was completely misplaced.

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Flight 4 - bracket three 'the south' (2 Notes)

  • 2017 Château La Nerthe Côtes du Rhône Villages Les Cassagnes

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages

    Initially meaty but this blows off to show savoury red berries, a little sweet spice with black pepper backing, with time it gets increasingly 'pretty', there is a slight herbal note as well as a touch of toast. Juicy, the tannins are silky, though tight, red berry fruits, that is on the savoury side, very slight herbal notes, the fruit persists though. Pretty handy for a Codes du Rhone.

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  • 2015 Château La Nerthe Côtes du Rhône Villages Les Cassagnes de la Nerthe

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages

    Gamey, meaty and plenty of black pepper spice, initially...almost a touch of reductiveness...needs time to open up I think so swirl swirl swirl, with agitation the spice notes increase and some jubey red fruits starts to show; all rich and ripe and warm and tempting but also positively pretty - not overdone. In the mouth it's rich though juicy, more savoury than I expected but still with that pretty red berry; almost strawberry, plenty of tannic grip that is floury textured, a little herbal notes and a little sweet spice. Powerful, young, with time the nose gets very strawberries and berry lozenge which does translate to the palate as well with a savoury underpin...yeah, pretty handy.

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Closing

Couple of winners here, everything was quite 'clean' and professionally made.

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