S.F. - Rubicon High End Rhone Wines

Rubicon, S.F.
Tasted Wednesday, June 22, 2005 by jamiekutch with 2,263 views

Introduction

Another at AWESOME event.. Keith Goldstein did an incredible job organizing this tasting. I can't believe the level of service that you get at Rubicon. The Sommelier was incredible talented with knowledge, pours, glasses, etc. We had a great time - started promptly at 6:30 and ending at 11:30


  • Gary Taormina

  • Christine Huang

  • Keith Goldstein (Our Host)

  • David Cole

  • Andrew Gelb

  • Al Osterheld

  • Jonathan Goldman

  • Joe Floren

  • Gence Alton

  • Bill Wilka

  • Jeff Erhardt

  • Steve Gold

  • Mike Bradish

  • Jamie Kutch (scribe)

Flight 1 - Champagne: (2 Notes)

Thin sliced Yellow Fin Tuna

Flight 2 - White Rhones: (4 Notes)

Fresh Bellwether Farms Ricotta Cavatelli - Porcini, Sage, Parmesan

WOW - what a flight.. These wines aromatics were incredible. What a way to start up the night!!

  • 2003 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Fontaine 92 Points

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

    Started off with an awesome nose. SO much bright fruit you could light up a Christams tree.. Buttery soft mouth feel, wonderful viscosity. Overflowing with minerality, honey and a clean long finish. The nose unfortunatly dropped off somewhat after 6 minutes which was dissapointing.

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  • 2003 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    Golden yellow in the glass, this was the clearest of the 4 wines in front of me. Intense flavors with lazor focus on the sweet honeyed fruit. This opened like a white flower and the armotic were hypnotic with its toasted oak in the background. I looked and couldn't get over the amount of peoples noses stuck in their glasses in this flight. Lucious feel in the mouth and a long slinky finish.

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  • 2001 Domaine de la Grange des Pères Vin de Pays de l'Hérault Blanc 91 Points

    France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Vin de Pays de l'Hérault

    Another amazing nose filled with buttered popcorn and honey suckle. Well balanced with some nice acidity.

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  • 2002 Kongsgaard Roussanne/Viognier 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Toasted oak and fruit bowl. This clearly sticks out as being a little different. A streak of alcohol on the palate its very concentrated and almost over the top. A full bodied white.

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Flight 3 - 89/90 Chateauneuf: (5 Notes)

Sweet Onion, Oxtails, Cherries, Toasted Oats

Man oh man... The Les Cailloux was simply amazing.. One of those wines that can really change someones appreciation of fine wine.

Flight 4 - Sauternes: (2 Notes)

Terrine of Artisan Froi Gras - Black Pepper Gelee

Speechless.. I sucked back the Rieussec so fast - What a wine..
Someone said how they have so many 750's and need big dinners to drink them at - I thought DAMN - I could drink a 750 of this stuff myself.

  • 1990 Château d'Yquem 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Gold – Amen – an amazing course of Frio Gras and 2 legendary Sauternes . Possible the wine and food course of the night. The tropical fruit was singing with a lush mouth feel. I found honeysuckle, butter and some caramel. Amazing snappy acidity and a wonderful botrytis finish. Bravo.

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  • 2001 Château Rieussec 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Orange and pineapple on the nose – amazing aromatics of honeyed fruit bowl. Simply incredible mouth feel. So perfectly balanced. What a decision which was better. The easiest would be to say they are both incredible and just so different. Makes me wish I had cases of the stuff.

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Flight 5 - Hermitage: (5 Notes)

Roasted Sonoma Guinea Hen - Asparagus, Herbed Brioche Butter

I learned that Hermitage just isn't my thing - either that or they just didn't show well.. Most were overly tannic and clumsy.

Flight 6 - Cote Rotie: (4 Notes)

Confit of Wild Mallard - Wine Poached Rhubarb, English Peas, Lavender

Magic - Thats what 3 of these were. The 1982 was the best Cotue Rotie I have ever had. Simply stunning.

  • 1990 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 96 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Again dark as night this is an absolute champion. With its crazy aromatics and unimaginable concentration I was thinking, how does Guigal manage to get that much flavor in my glass.

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  • 1994 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 96 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Like a body builder this explodes with extracted fruit flavors and mighty built tannins. With its purple color and perfume nose, this is hedonistic. Plenty of dark fruit – it’ll smack you in the face. This is still tight and rich with its amazingly long finish. An absolute delight.

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  • 1981 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Bell Pepper and greenness. Parker said this was mature in 97. This wine was both on a decline and I don’t think ever that good to start with.

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  • 1982 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 98 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Ruby Red - Huge slab of roast beef nose. Smoked bacon and plenty of thick dark fruit. Still tastes like a pup. With an amazing nose that you could smell across the room. Very low in acidity this had a lovely mouth feel – so smooth and inviting. Like a Giant walking on tippy toes. Almost perfect and another of the best wines I have drank this year.

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Flight 7 - 1998 CDP: (5 Notes)

Braised Prime Beef Shortrib - French Lentils, Porcini, Marrow, Spring Onions

Great flight for a glimpse into the 1998 vintage.

Flight 8 - Dessert: (1 Note)

Aged Sardinian Pecorino & Santa Rosa Plum Cake - Candied Walnuts, Arbequina Olive Oil Ice Cream

Closing

Great seeing some familiar faces as well as some new ones. You guys sure know how to rock in S.F.

Ps - was there toilet paper in the upstairs bathroom?

Jamie

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