Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
Euro Themed Lunch - Rhones
Donato Enoteca, Redwood City, CA
Tasted May 5, 2013 by europat55 with 696 views
Introduction
Flight 1 - Chateauneuf-du-Pape Whites (4 notes)
White
2009 M. Chapoutier St. Joseph Blanc Les Granits
93 points
Nice yellow color. Strong, generous nose. Delicious palate that kept improving with time in the glass. Still young. 92-94 pts.
White
2010 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
89 points
Pale yellow color. Somewhat soft nose and shy palate. Delicate. I would have expected more for the price. Maybe in a 5-10 years?
White
2010 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc
90 points
Very pale yellow color. Fresh nose with apples and a touch of sweetness. Soft, delicate palate. Excellent wine, but maybe too soft for me. My second experience with this particular Clos des Papes; both very similar.
White
2010 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Crau
92 points
Very light yellow color. Moderate nose. Gorgeous palate with a good balance of acidity and minerals. Outstanding!
Flight 2 - '98 Chateauneuf-du-Pape (5 notes)
Red
1998 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
93 points
Green, vegetal nose (asparagus? green beans?). Spicy, earthy palate with with multiple red fruit flavors.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
1998 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape
89 points
Green, vegetal nose. Seems to have lots of life left in it.
Red
1998 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape
90 points
Vegetal nose with a touch of rustic. Red fruits. Tannins still strong.
Red
1998 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau
94 points
Whoaa! Really impressive nose with red fruits, licorice, spices and a significant amount of leather. Palate is soft and very well integrated with herbs, cherry, some chocolate. This is the type of wine that I could sip by itself for hours or pair with a juicy medium-rare steak. 94-95 pts.
Red
1998 Domaine Monpertuis (Paul Jeune) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Tradition
91 points
Gorgeous nose with multiple layers of refined aromas. Nice fruit. Drinking very well right now!
Flight 3 - Beaucastels (4 notes)
Red
1994 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
90 points
Vegetal nose. Soft, well integrated palate. A nice aged Beaucastel.
Red
1998 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
92 points
Gorgeous earthy nose with herbs, candied cherries. Smooth palate. Still young, but drinking very well right now.
Red
2000 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
89 points
Nose is still very fruity... too fruity for me. Palate is also very fruity. Not enough spices and earthy tones for a CdP.
Red
2000 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel
89 points
Feels surprisingly young for a 2000 Esprit. Tasted blind and fared quite well in a flight of '94, '98 & '00 Beaucastel CdP.
Flight 4 - Northern Rhone (3 notes)
Red
1998 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne
91 points
Gorgeous, earthy, spicy nose. Good balance. Great wine! 91-92 pts.
Red
1999 Domaine Gallet (Henri et Philippe) Côte-Rôtie
92 points
Gorgeous nose with green olives, tobacco and red fruits. Gorgeous palate.
Red
Flight 5 - Sweets (2 notes)
White - Sweet/Dessert
1996 M. Chapoutier Hermitage Vin de Paille
flawed
Cloudy and no so attractive gray/brown color. Nice nose. Weird palate. This was quite interesting despite the fairly obvious flaw. Thankfully, we also had a chance to taste the '03 at the same time and that one was fabulous!
White - Sweet/Dessert
2003 M. Chapoutier Hermitage Vin de Paille
94 points
Nice dark yellow color. Hot, sweet nose. Apricot, almonds, honey flavors. Very long finish. Yummy!!
Closing
