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Monthly Tasting Group: CDP's and Southern Rhones

Porter Creek, Mpls, MN

Tasted February 28, 2016 by rocknroller with 528 views

Introduction

This was the monthly group doing Southern Rhones. The jet lag was working me tonight, so my notes were a bit light.

Flight 1 (20 notes)

White - Sparkling
2006 H Blin & Co Champagne Brut Millésimé France, Champagne
90 points
Tasting pour. Very yeasty, plenty of brioche, fuller body, sour apple. 90 to 90+pts. Very solid value.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Vranken Champagne Demoiselle Reserve Speciale Lucas Carton France, Champagne
90 points
Tasting pour. Apple, chalk, tart, mineral.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Varnier-Fanniere Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée St-Denis France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
91 points
Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 20 minutes. This was pretty similar to the last bottle I had. Tangy, apple, pear, ripe and floral notes. Chalky and stony minerals, citrus, fairly intense on the palate.
White
2013 Schloss Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner 1ÖTW Reserve Ried Lamm Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal
92 points
Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. I really liked this. There was so much going on here compared to your typical Gruner. great complex nose with earth, florals, lime, lychee, and ocean minerals. The palate is fresh and round with lemon-lime, full bodied, good acid, pear, white pepper, long finish. 92+pts.
2 people found this helpful Comment
White
2010 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
91 points
Light-medium gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. this was lovely and round with butterscotch, melon, tropical fruit on the nose. The palate is full bodied, lemon, velvety, minerals and stone, pineapple. Big, though not over the top. 91+pts.
White
2012 Morgado Cellars Chardonnay Steiner Vineyard USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley
87 points
Followed 1 glass for 30 minutes. This didn't work for me tonight, buttery, sharp and angular, new wood, alcohol showing. The nose was nice, but the palate seemed pretty disjointed.
White
2008 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
92 points
Just a small pour of this little honey, but this was dandy, meyer lemon, saline, great grip and freshness.
Red
1998 Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de la Reine des Bois France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
90 points
Drank 1 glass over an hour. This was pretty good, but not what I would have expected. Not sure if we're in a weird spot, or if we're past peak or something else. The fruit didn't want to play well tonight and seemed to be dominated by the heat and spice. Darker ripe fruit, cherry, plum sauce, pepper, full body, wood. 90+pts.
Red
1998 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
91 points
I believe this bottle had been decanted for 2 hours. Bought on release. Drank 1 glass over an hour. Red fruits, tart cherry, garrigue, lacquer, licorice, raspberry, round. Very good. 91+pts.
Red
2001 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barbe Rac France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
91 points
Very dark red/purple color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. This was a pretty big wine, massive comes to mind, black fruits, full bodied, garrigue, lots of oak, drinks young, raspberry, spiced. Not my preferred style, but holds together fairly well.
Red
2004 Domaine de Beaurenard (Paul Coulon et Fils) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Boisrenard France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
92 points
Very dark red color. Decanted for 2 hours and drank 1 glass over an hour. I was pretty happy with this tonight. Showing pretty classic CdP character with some funk, plenty of Provencal herbs, cherry, black cherry, violets, spice on the nose. The palate is medium full bodied, layered, dark cherry, kirsch, spice, licorice, nice tannins, medium plus finish. Fairly well balanced. I don't think this will be a lot better down the road.
Red
2001 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
90 points
Same bottle as Bellissimo. I thought this pretty decent. Dried herbs, spices, red cherry, fig, currant, oak, black cherry.
Red
2001 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
93 points
Dark red color, a bit cloudy. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. Wonderful nose, bright, red fruits, leather, spice, earthy. This was right in my wheel house, burg like, elegant, medium bodied, nice pure fruit, iron, spice, pepper, impeccably balanced, long finish. Wonderful. 93+pts.
Red
2007 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
93 points
I didn't take a lot of notes on this, but it was showing well. Mineral, dusty, full bod, dark fruits, some firm tannins, nose is not as open currently. 93(+)pts.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2006 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
92 points
Tasting pour. Very good, Darker fruits, youthful. This should be even better in another 3-5 years. 92+pts.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2007 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Les Quartz France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
92 points
Tasting pour. 1hr decant. Another nice wine, youthful, but complete and well done. Looking forward to a larger pour in a couple years.
Red
2010 Château de Pibarnon Bandol France, Provence, Bandol
Tasted. Spicy, acidic, raspberry, full bodied, young. impression 89pts.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
1989 Domaine Jean Deydier et Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Clefs d'Or France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tasted, tiny pour. Gamey, rustic, sour fruit, plum, fig, garrigue. Not bad, but probably past prime drinking.
Red
2001 Clos Saint Michel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
87 points
This just seemed tired and over the hill. Dusty, heat, liqueur, lacking fruit.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2004 Château Raymond-Lafon France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
92 points
medium gold color. From 500ml bottle. Drank a small pour over 15 minutes. this showed very well, balanced and bright with tangerine, orange, spice, medium body, good acid. Maybe not as deep and complex, but well made, very tasty. 91+ to 92pts.
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