FRENCH BAKERY Northern Rhone BYO Dinner

The French Bakery, Kane Concourse, Bay Harbour Islands, FL
Tasted Tuesday, June 3, 2008 - Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by markellen.foodies@gmail.com with 982 views

Introduction

Attendees: Cesar Basurto(Southern); Alam & Bill Berke; Deirdre Conley (Boisset); Elaine & Ed Davis; Roberta & David Errenreich; Ellen & Mark Friedman(Us); Charlie Frumkin(The French Bakery); Richard Grove(Boisset); Greg Johnson; Jerry McGinley; Bob Muraro & Guest.

Maria Frumkins Northern Rhone Tasting Menu:
Maria Quiche du Jour - Family Style
Parsley Root Soup, tarragon flan, lardon
Cassoulet Lyonnais
Filet Mignon Wellington
Dates and Pistachio Tart

Flight 1 - PRECIS (1 Note)

  • 2004 Betts & Scholl Hermitage Blanc 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (6/4/2008)

    Mark(Me). Everyone enjoyed this wine, and most wanted more. Has good body, and aromatics, but in its youth lacks the honeyed glycerine cough drop complexity I found in the 2001, I had a few months ago, and much preferred. I would suggest giving this one 2-3 years to see what develops.

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Flight 2 - HEAVYWEIGHT FLIGHT (3 Notes)

  • 1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (6/4/2008)

    David's wine. NOT RATED,(RP=100) IN FLIGHT #1 vs the 89, and 95 Chave Hermitage. Only received Roberta's vote. David had only double decanted earlier. Upon initial tasting it was tight as a drum, and couldn't be fairly assessed.At the end of the evening , almost 3 hours later, David salvaged a little from the left over bottle of which he gave me a taste. It was only then beginning to reveal itself, but at that point I was probably too far gone to parse it or remember it.
    If anyone has this, I would suggest you decant this well in advance of serving.( Perhaps a 100 point wine means it should live forever, or at least 100 YEARS!)

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  • 1989 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (6/4/2008)

    Greg's wine. Split the honors in Extraordinary Flight #1 with Chave1995 Hermitage 7-1/2@, while 90 La Chapelle (RP=100) received 1 vote(Totally closed/dumb to me).

    Cesar commented that the Flight as a whole was Classic in style, all smoky and earthy. I initially preferred the Chave, but as it opened over 15-20 minutes it revealed a more minerally complex and elegant wine that caused me to split my vote. I really enjoyed this.

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  • 1995 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (6/4/2008)

    Bob's wine. In an extraordinary Flight#1 this, 95 Chave Hermitage vs Jaboulet La Chapelle 1990(RP=100), and 1989. This split the honors (7-1/2of 16@ with the 89 La Chapelle. The 1990 was tight as a drum.)

    Cesar like it best for its concentration and French Oak aging. Elaine preferred its nose, body, and finish. I initially preferred it to the 89 La Chapelle, but as they evolved in the glass it was a split decision for me with the La Chapelle showing more mineral complexity, to the Chave's delicious brute strength.

    (I had meant to suggest to Marcello not to pair the La Chapelle's, nor to start with them. Unfortunately he had already started selecting and wrapping so I was too late.)

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Flight 3 - VINTAGE DIFFERENTIAL: HOT vs CLASSIC (3 Notes)

  • 1999 Delas Frères Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette 87 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (6/4/2008)

    Deirdre's wine, courtesy of Richard. Flight 2A, came in last with only Roberta's vote vs its 2003 sibling, and the 1995 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage. It wasn't memorable or distinctive.

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  • 2003 Delas Frères Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (6/4/2008)

    Richard's wine. Flight #2 6of16 votes. Second to 95 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage(9), and preferred over its 99 sibling(1). Ellen's and my favorite in the flight.My notes say Rich Bouquet, Sweet Tannins. New World rich succulent jamminess reflecting the hot 100+ Fahrenheit Summer. (We were in Provence that summer, and while staying in Grasse I had to sleep on the patio as we didn't have a/c.) Cesar "Explosive, Super Ripe, Delicious(although he, and the group, preferred the classic 95 Tardieu-Laurent).

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  • 1995 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (6/4/2008)

    Jerry's wine. Clear winner in FLIGHT#2 9of16 votes vs the Delas - Marquis de la Tourette 2003(6 votes), and 1999(1 vote Roberta again).
    To me it seemed the most classic of the 3, but I preferred. the jammy hot vintage 2003 Delas. Prototypical Northen Rhone Syrah.
    Elaine's comment nose+excellent mouth feel, and flat finish. Cesar's comment It is the REAL THING, ALL ABOUT BALANCE, while acknowledging the 03 Delas explosive, super ripe and delicious nature(New World=HotVintage)

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Flight 4 - ELEGANCE vs POWER (3 Notes)

  • 1999 Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas La Louvée 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    (6/4/2008)

    Cesar's wine. Held up well vs the 98 Ampuis, and its sister Hermitage from the same year.Received 2-1/3 votes, but impression was higher as many votes were split. To me the Cornas wines lacked the elegance or charm of the Cote-Rotie's and Hermitages, as there seemed to be more raw power there.

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  • 1999 Jean-Luc Colombo Hermitage Le Rouet 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (6/4/2008)

    Charlie's wine. Came in 2nd to 98 Guigal Ampuis wth 4-1/3 votes. But actually much closer as most participants were split or close in their evlauation. An excellent Hermitage.

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  • 1998 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    (6/4/2008)

    Mark's(My) wine. Flight # 3. Swept the flight with 9-1/3 votes vs Columbo Le Rouet,4-1/3 votes; and Columbo La Louvee, 2-1/3 votes. Several tasters WOTN.
    I had decanted this for 45 minutes in the am. I immediately recognized its nuanced charm and complexity. To me the most elegant and balanced wine of the evening. Paired perfectly with Maria's HEAVENLY Cassoulet, which perhaps trumped all of the wines.
    Cesar felt this was the best flight thus far. He ranked the Ampuis and the Columbo La Louvee equally, while Charlie, and Roberta and David Errenreich split their votes in this flight.

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Flight 5 - SIZZLER (3 Notes)

Flight 6 - 100 Pointer vs faux Syrah RINGER (3 Notes)

  • 1991 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (6/4/2008)

    Bob's Wine. Another RP 100 pointe! Won flight with 7 votes. Bob had decanted fon an hour or two. Revelaled itself well with great depth, good aromatics, and silky smooth finish.

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  • 1995 E. Guigal Hermitage 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (6/4/2008)

    Bill's wine. Came in 3rd, behind Richard's Stag's Leap Petit Syrah ringer.

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  • 1990 Stags' Leap Winery Petite Sirah 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (6/4/2008)

    Richard's RINGER!!! Received 4 of 15 1sts(Includung Ellen and I) in flight vs the 100pt-1991 Chapoutier Le Pavillon (9of15), and 1995 Guigal Hermitage(2of15).
    Intense and rich bouquet and tactile sense. At 18 yrs a BABY, it was probably the most YOUTHFUL wine of the evening and probably will outlive all of us.

    OBVIOUS RINGER, as color, weight, and aromatics differed profoundly from the Cote-Rotie's and Hermitage's. Ellen who I guess(I know after 43 years together) is biased to the New World Wine style, .i.e. - rich extracted jammy wines, pronounced this as the only wine she truly liked all evening, IT WAS HER TYPE OF WINE.

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Flight 7 - DESSERT (1 Note)

Closing

We had forgotten to Poll WOTN, so I e-mail canvassed afterwards. Jerry(split) and Richard liked the 95 Chave Hermitage best. Charlie, on reflection liked the 90 Jaboulet La Chapelle based on its perfect texture and incredible mouthfeel despite its aromatic restraint. He shared the honors with the 89 La Chapelle which he acknowledged was sexier, more open, and approachable. Jerry split his choice with his 95 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage. Deirdre, David, and I preferred my 98 Guigal Chateau de Ampuis. David gave the La Sizeraine a split vote. Ed and Ellen both like the faux Syrah 1990 Stags Leap Petit Syrah BEST!

OUR NEXT EVENT: BYO CHAMPAGNE/WHITE BURGUNDY Dinner to include Maine Lobster, either June 16th or 17th. LIMITED TO 16 PARTICIPANTS, PRIORITY TO 1st PAID!

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