Cotes du Rhone

Inspired by an article that Frank found about back vintages of Guigal and Charvin CdR's we thought we might have a go ourselves. I scoured the secondary market and we put together this lot. Couldn't find my Charvin but lucked out on the Guigal.

Frank very kindly hosted

Everything showing it's age a bit here...the Meurgey was probably the pick of the bunch...

• 1989 Henri Meurgey Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin. Almost porty levels of alcohol, red berry, raisins, a little sweet spice, leather, alcohol induces a little pepper, very slightly oxidised, walnut. Alcohol prevalent on the nose. in the mouth it's quite Christmas cake; figs, walnuts, red currant, cranberry, raisins. Muted but chalky tannins, alcohol warmth, a little cream. Hmm

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• 1998 Domaine Brusset Côtes du Rhône Laurent Brusset

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Musty, cellar stink, volatile acidity, leather, almost a little cork taint, sharp red currant which softens with time. A little orange peel, earthy. And that sour red currant, translates to the palate, tannins are chalky, the cellar stink translates to the palate. A bit tired and old.

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• 1998 Château du Trignon Rasteau

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Rasteau

  From Coravin.
  Polished, slight cream, red and blackberry, leather, earth, touch of garrigue, black pepper, aged but pretty nose. Juicy, savoury, slightly sharp acid; red and blackberry, talc textured tannins, alcohol lends peppery spice, a little bitter herbs on the finish. Nice.

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• 1998 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Ooh, slightly maderised initially, sweet spice, touch herbaceous, a little funky, mushroom, oxidised and, to complete the picture, a smidge of VA. Juicy, tightly tannic initially dusty textured, sour red berries, a little bitter, slight black pepper.

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• 1999 Domaine les Hautes Cances Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Medium minus intensity aromas of polished red berry, a little alcohol spice; slight peppery, floral and cedar with time. Medium plus intensity acidity, softly, silky but leathery tannic grip, slight alcohol warmth, muted red berry fruit. Medium length, finishes with alcohol warmth. Simple but balanced.

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The 93 was my favourite but the other two weren't too shabby

• 1993 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Meat, leather, earth, blackberry, sweet and savoury spice, black pepper, crikey; would not pick this as either a.) 28 years old or b.) 18 AUD based on this nose. Medium plus intensity acidity shows a smidge of volatility; almost balsamic, alcohol warmth lends peppery spice, wonderful, persistent talc textured tannins, fruit and tertiary notes are a little muted beneath this all about structure and none the worse for that. Rather splendid and, with time, this begins to show more fruit and flesh out a bit.

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• 1995 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Medium minus intensity aromas of a little cream, meaty, savoury, leather, slight garrigue, slight orange peel, sweet spice, slightly alcohol warmth and black pepper, red and blackberry. Medium plus acidity, muted blackberry fruit, chalky tannins tug at the palate, alcohol lends a little warmth and spice to the finish which proves a little short. Okay.

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• 1998 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Hmm, touch of oxidation with almost maderisation initially, alcohol warmth, muted red and blackberry, sweet spice, a little pepper and herbaceous underpin, slight polished oak. Juicy acidity, fleshy in fact, chalky drying tannins, again red over blackberry fruit, the palate nicer than the nose. Okay.
  Note; with time that maderised/oxidised note seems to blow off a little and it gets a bit more savoury and meaty.

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The 07 was still very closed...the others were interesting

• 2001 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Savoury, gamey, meaty over dark hued fruits, peppery spice, baked earth, leather, slightly oxidised...Hmm. Juicy, savoury, liquroice, slightly sour wild blackberry, meaty. Positively austere. alcohol warmth lends peppery spice, tannins are slightly chalky though integrated tannins.

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• 2003 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Slightly volatile/balsamic red berry and cherry, baked compote, alcohol lends spice here as well, a little tomato leaf, with time a little floral, perfumed top note. juicy, fleshy, savoury, surprisingly (considering the vintage) fresh, slightly chalky tannins which prove a touch green, slight bitter red and blackberry fruit, alcohol warmth present but not intrusive on the finish. Hmm.

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• 2007 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Ripe, concentrated, smells 'dense', blackberry, ripe red berries; almost strawberry jam, peppery spice, slightly alcohol warmth. Medium plus intensity acidity, tight tannins, this is for me, still, a bit of a beast. Quite closed down.

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These were all okay

• 2011 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Red berry, sweet spice, slightly meaty, blackberry, very slight herbaceous note, savoury with time. Juicy, savoury, fresh and spicy, black over red fruit, cats rasp tongue, alcohol lends pepper and length to the finish. Pleasingly balanced.

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• 2014 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Jubey, red berry, slightly dusty sweet spice, liquorice, slightly reductive, with time a little blackberry, fruit forward and fresh nose. Medium plus intensity acidity, fresh, wild blackberry, chalky, drying, grippy tannins work hand in hand in the fruit and acid. Balanced. Long. Alcohol lends weight. Woof.

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• 2015 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Cream, slight vanilla, blackberry, a little sweet and savoury spice, a slightly jubey notes, quite polished for an entry level wine, at least in this bracket. Savoury, blackberry, touch of black olive, cream, flour textured tannins persist, a little simple, touch of bitterness on the finish. Okay.

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• 2017 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Slightly austere, leather, wild blackberry, a little lavender and liquorice, gets more jubey with time; a little baked blackberry lozenge. Juicy, savoury, the acidity lends freshness, tannins are talc textured, persistent, fruit present but a little muted, slightly fleshy, okay.

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the Xavier Vignon was a beast, too much...

• 2010 J.L. Chave Sélection Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Biscuit, red berry, sweet spice, black and green peppercorns, ripe fruit; a little blackberry, a little alcohol warmth, leather, slight earth. Juicy, savoury, lather, pepper, a little brett, drying raw silk tannins, long, blackberry fruit proves a little muted though. Hmm.

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• 2015 J.L. Chave Sélection Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  medium minus intensity aromas are jubey, pretty red berry, slightly floral top notes, blackberry, slight raisins. Juicy, fleshy, chewy tannins are drying on the front and mid palate, tight, blackberry, savoury, long, a little almost Asian five spice.

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• 2015 Roger Sabon Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Aromas of cream, vanilla, candy floss, red berries, slightly tomato leaf, fruit quite sweet and pretty. Juicy, initially, very fruit sweet red berries, plenty of alcohol warmth, tannins are silky, slightly drying, a little bitterness on the back palate. Hmm.

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• 2016 Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône Arcane VI Les Amoureux

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  From Coravin.
  Slightly volatile, blackcurrant, red currant, sweet spice, jubey, slight maraschino, very concentrated. Woof, this is a positively porty experience on the palate, thick but not particularly tannic. Bit too much of beast for me.

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The Moscato was with Eton mess, the LBV was with the cheeses

• 2020 Marcarini Moscato d'Asti

  Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Moscato d'Asti

  Dusty, grapey, cream soda, floral. Off-dry, aggressive mousse, cream soda, orange and grape, pretty, simple, short but balanced and nice.

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• 1995 Smith Woodhouse Porto Late Bottled Vintage

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Aromas of fig, walnut, alcohol heat, raisin, slight prune, slight plain chocolate. Juicy, figgy, quite simplistic, textured tannic grip, black fruits, plums, figs, walnuts, alcoholic warmth is a little too intrusive for me.

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A lot of fun. My wotn was probably the Guigal 1993.

We tasted then consumed a few of the wines with Pork Belly, Japanese bean salad and roast spuds...lovely