EWG does Northern Rhones

Conrad's Abode
Tasted Sunday, May 24, 2009 by WetRock with 702 views

Introduction

Conrad again hosted the East side Wine Group at his home for a night of good wine and great company. He also cooked up a spectacular meal for us just because he likes to. Thanks a million for being such a gracious host Conrad!

If I had known nearly all of the North Rhone wines would be far from young in years I would have sourced something older. What a great lineup we ended up with. Even though my favorite on the evening was probably a Hermitage it seems clear to me that I still prefer Cote-Rotie. I liked the rocky complexity in those wines more than the generous fruit offered by the Hermitages. I'd give the 95 Jaboulet my WOTN followed closely by the 04 Jamet and the 91 Rostaing.

Flight 1 (4 Notes)

  • 2004 Copain Roussanne James Berry Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Some banana on the nose. This displayed nice balance with a touch of minerals and a nice lean mouth feel. Maybe a touch of heat mars it a tiny bit but different from most whites from California.

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  • 2003 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc Le Méal

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    I've never had a wine quite like this before. Initially very tight with the nose only really giving a candle wax note over a rich waxy palate. It was from a magnum so we revisited over the course of the evening easily seeing the expression of the wine open from it's dense fruit. The palate became big and full yet very even with some nice creaminess and showing some nice toasty caramel notes. It was labeled a "dessert" wine but there was no residual sugar to me nor really any sense of sweetness. I'm not a big Rhone white fan but this was terrific and should age for a long time.

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  • 1967 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage Blanc Chevalier de Sterimberg

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    From a 375. Excellent nose of toasty honey with little signs of oxidation. Palate was nice and even showing good acidity but the fruit didn't really back it up. Still, it gave a lot more than I expected.

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  • NV Jacques Selosse Initial

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Definitely towards the leaner mineral styled Champagnes this displayed typical BdB characteristics especially after some air. Complex nose showing some buttered bread and an oxidative note later on. Clean elegant palate with lots of acidity and some minerals that really picked up some complexity with air. Now I see what all the talk is about.

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Flight 2 (3 Notes)

  • 1991 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Expressive nose of lava rocks and charred meat. Very well balanced with a growing finish. This got better and better in the glass. One of my favs on the evening. Excellent.

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  • 2003 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie La Landonne Flawed

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    I'm marking this one as flawed since I have no other way to describe it. Big nose of moldy wood, wet leather but mostly like a cat litter box that is well over do for a change. The palate shows a citrus rind grip on it that is bitter. The overwhelming litter box aroma was all over the palate as well. Lot's of swirling and waiting didn't abate it any either.

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  • 2004 Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    This showed very young but very nice. A lovely wine that will repay ten years in the cellar handsomely. Violets, wet rocks and some herbally stems coming singularly but balanced. Lot's of young fruit on a well balanced palate that is still tight with a nice dash of Christmas spice. Another favorite on the evening.

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Flight 3 (3 Notes)

Flight 4 (4 Notes)

Flight 5 (3 Notes)

  • 2001 Château Rieussec

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    huge nose of apricots and candied honeyed tangerines. Huge and fat. A bit clumsy right now for an '01. There's a very good wine here that probably needs air and rest.

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  • 2003 Château de Fargues

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Honeyed sugary fruits and tangerine skins on the nose. Sappy peaches, apricots and citrus on the palate. This displayed the best balance of the Sauternes for me. It's a sweet confection but a very tasty one. Very nice.

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  • 1997 Château Climens

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

    Smells of a fruit torte. Some bitter citrus on the finish this drank a bit chunky and disjointed.

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