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Cotes du Rhone
Frank's place in Matraville
Tasted November 21, 2021 by chatters with 151 views
Introduction
Inspired by an article that Frank found about back vintages of Guigal and Charvin CdR's we thought we might have a go ourselves. I scoured the secondary market and we put together this lot. Couldn't find my Charvin but lucked out on the Guigal.
Frank very kindly hosted
Flight 1 - Old Rhone (5 notes)
Everything showing it's age a bit here...the Meurgey was probably the pick of the bunch...
Red
1989 Henri Meurgey Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin. Almost porty levels of alcohol, red berry, raisins, a little sweet spice, leather, alcohol induces a little pepper, very slightly oxidised, walnut. Alcohol prevalent on the nose. in the mouth it's quite Christmas cake; figs, walnuts, red currant, cranberry, raisins. Muted but chalky tannins, alcohol warmth, a little cream. Hmm
Red
1998 Domaine Brusset Côtes du Rhône Laurent Brusset
From Coravin.
Musty, cellar stink, volatile acidity, leather, almost a little cork taint, sharp red currant which softens with time. A little orange peel, earthy. And that sour red currant, translates to the palate, tannins are chalky, the cellar stink translates to the palate. A bit tired and old.
Musty, cellar stink, volatile acidity, leather, almost a little cork taint, sharp red currant which softens with time. A little orange peel, earthy. And that sour red currant, translates to the palate, tannins are chalky, the cellar stink translates to the palate. A bit tired and old.
Red
1998 Château du Trignon Rasteau
From Coravin.
Polished, slight cream, red and blackberry, leather, earth, touch of garrigue, black pepper, aged but pretty nose. Juicy, savoury, slightly sharp acid; red and blackberry, talc textured tannins, alcohol lends peppery spice, a little bitter herbs on the finish. Nice.
Polished, slight cream, red and blackberry, leather, earth, touch of garrigue, black pepper, aged but pretty nose. Juicy, savoury, slightly sharp acid; red and blackberry, talc textured tannins, alcohol lends peppery spice, a little bitter herbs on the finish. Nice.
Red
1998 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel
Ooh, slightly maderised initially, sweet spice, touch herbaceous, a little funky, mushroom, oxidised and, to complete the picture, a smidge of VA. Juicy, tightly tannic initially dusty textured, sour red berries, a little bitter, slight black pepper.
Red
1999 Domaine les Hautes Cances Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Medium minus intensity aromas of polished red berry, a little alcohol spice; slight peppery, floral and cedar with time. Medium plus intensity acidity, softly, silky but leathery tannic grip, slight alcohol warmth, muted red berry fruit. Medium length, finishes with alcohol warmth. Simple but balanced.
Medium minus intensity aromas of polished red berry, a little alcohol spice; slight peppery, floral and cedar with time. Medium plus intensity acidity, softly, silky but leathery tannic grip, slight alcohol warmth, muted red berry fruit. Medium length, finishes with alcohol warmth. Simple but balanced.
Flight 2 - Guigal 90's (3 notes)
The 93 was my favourite but the other two weren't too shabby
Red
1993 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Meat, leather, earth, blackberry, sweet and savoury spice, black pepper, crikey; would not pick this as either a.) 28 years old or b.) 18 AUD based on this nose. Medium plus intensity acidity shows a smidge of volatility; almost balsamic, alcohol warmth lends peppery spice, wonderful, persistent talc textured tannins, fruit and tertiary notes are a little muted beneath this all about structure and none the worse for that. Rather splendid and, with time, this begins to show more fruit and flesh out a bit.
Meat, leather, earth, blackberry, sweet and savoury spice, black pepper, crikey; would not pick this as either a.) 28 years old or b.) 18 AUD based on this nose. Medium plus intensity acidity shows a smidge of volatility; almost balsamic, alcohol warmth lends peppery spice, wonderful, persistent talc textured tannins, fruit and tertiary notes are a little muted beneath this all about structure and none the worse for that. Rather splendid and, with time, this begins to show more fruit and flesh out a bit.
Red
1995 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Medium minus intensity aromas of a little cream, meaty, savoury, leather, slight garrigue, slight orange peel, sweet spice, slightly alcohol warmth and black pepper, red and blackberry. Medium plus acidity, muted blackberry fruit, chalky tannins tug at the palate, alcohol lends a little warmth and spice to the finish which proves a little short. Okay.
Medium minus intensity aromas of a little cream, meaty, savoury, leather, slight garrigue, slight orange peel, sweet spice, slightly alcohol warmth and black pepper, red and blackberry. Medium plus acidity, muted blackberry fruit, chalky tannins tug at the palate, alcohol lends a little warmth and spice to the finish which proves a little short. Okay.
Red
1998 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Hmm, touch of oxidation with almost maderisation initially, alcohol warmth, muted red and blackberry, sweet spice, a little pepper and herbaceous underpin, slight polished oak. Juicy acidity, fleshy in fact, chalky drying tannins, again red over blackberry fruit, the palate nicer than the nose. Okay.
Note; with time that maderised/oxidised note seems to blow off a little and it gets a bit more savoury and meaty.
Hmm, touch of oxidation with almost maderisation initially, alcohol warmth, muted red and blackberry, sweet spice, a little pepper and herbaceous underpin, slight polished oak. Juicy acidity, fleshy in fact, chalky drying tannins, again red over blackberry fruit, the palate nicer than the nose. Okay.
Note; with time that maderised/oxidised note seems to blow off a little and it gets a bit more savoury and meaty.
Flight 3 - Guigal 00's (3 notes)
The 07 was still very closed...the others were interesting
Red
2001 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Savoury, gamey, meaty over dark hued fruits, peppery spice, baked earth, leather, slightly oxidised...Hmm. Juicy, savoury, liquroice, slightly sour wild blackberry, meaty. Positively austere. alcohol warmth lends peppery spice, tannins are slightly chalky though integrated tannins.
Savoury, gamey, meaty over dark hued fruits, peppery spice, baked earth, leather, slightly oxidised...Hmm. Juicy, savoury, liquroice, slightly sour wild blackberry, meaty. Positively austere. alcohol warmth lends peppery spice, tannins are slightly chalky though integrated tannins.
Red
2003 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Slightly volatile/balsamic red berry and cherry, baked compote, alcohol lends spice here as well, a little tomato leaf, with time a little floral, perfumed top note. juicy, fleshy, savoury, surprisingly (considering the vintage) fresh, slightly chalky tannins which prove a touch green, slight bitter red and blackberry fruit, alcohol warmth present but not intrusive on the finish. Hmm.
Slightly volatile/balsamic red berry and cherry, baked compote, alcohol lends spice here as well, a little tomato leaf, with time a little floral, perfumed top note. juicy, fleshy, savoury, surprisingly (considering the vintage) fresh, slightly chalky tannins which prove a touch green, slight bitter red and blackberry fruit, alcohol warmth present but not intrusive on the finish. Hmm.
Red
2007 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Ripe, concentrated, smells 'dense', blackberry, ripe red berries; almost strawberry jam, peppery spice, slightly alcohol warmth. Medium plus intensity acidity, tight tannins, this is for me, still, a bit of a beast. Quite closed down.
Ripe, concentrated, smells 'dense', blackberry, ripe red berries; almost strawberry jam, peppery spice, slightly alcohol warmth. Medium plus intensity acidity, tight tannins, this is for me, still, a bit of a beast. Quite closed down.
Flight 4 - Guigal 10's (4 notes)
These were all okay
Red
2011 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Red berry, sweet spice, slightly meaty, blackberry, very slight herbaceous note, savoury with time. Juicy, savoury, fresh and spicy, black over red fruit, cats rasp tongue, alcohol lends pepper and length to the finish. Pleasingly balanced.
Red berry, sweet spice, slightly meaty, blackberry, very slight herbaceous note, savoury with time. Juicy, savoury, fresh and spicy, black over red fruit, cats rasp tongue, alcohol lends pepper and length to the finish. Pleasingly balanced.
Red
2014 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Jubey, red berry, slightly dusty sweet spice, liquorice, slightly reductive, with time a little blackberry, fruit forward and fresh nose. Medium plus intensity acidity, fresh, wild blackberry, chalky, drying, grippy tannins work hand in hand in the fruit and acid. Balanced. Long. Alcohol lends weight. Woof.
Jubey, red berry, slightly dusty sweet spice, liquorice, slightly reductive, with time a little blackberry, fruit forward and fresh nose. Medium plus intensity acidity, fresh, wild blackberry, chalky, drying, grippy tannins work hand in hand in the fruit and acid. Balanced. Long. Alcohol lends weight. Woof.
Red
2015 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Cream, slight vanilla, blackberry, a little sweet and savoury spice, a slightly jubey notes, quite polished for an entry level wine, at least in this bracket. Savoury, blackberry, touch of black olive, cream, flour textured tannins persist, a little simple, touch of bitterness on the finish. Okay.
Cream, slight vanilla, blackberry, a little sweet and savoury spice, a slightly jubey notes, quite polished for an entry level wine, at least in this bracket. Savoury, blackberry, touch of black olive, cream, flour textured tannins persist, a little simple, touch of bitterness on the finish. Okay.
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Red
2017 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Slightly austere, leather, wild blackberry, a little lavender and liquorice, gets more jubey with time; a little baked blackberry lozenge. Juicy, savoury, the acidity lends freshness, tannins are talc textured, persistent, fruit present but a little muted, slightly fleshy, okay.
Slightly austere, leather, wild blackberry, a little lavender and liquorice, gets more jubey with time; a little baked blackberry lozenge. Juicy, savoury, the acidity lends freshness, tannins are talc textured, persistent, fruit present but a little muted, slightly fleshy, okay.
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Flight 5 - Younger Rhone (4 notes)
the Xavier Vignon was a beast, too much...
Red
2010 J.L. Chave Sélection Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur
From Coravin.
Biscuit, red berry, sweet spice, black and green peppercorns, ripe fruit; a little blackberry, a little alcohol warmth, leather, slight earth. Juicy, savoury, lather, pepper, a little brett, drying raw silk tannins, long, blackberry fruit proves a little muted though. Hmm.
Biscuit, red berry, sweet spice, black and green peppercorns, ripe fruit; a little blackberry, a little alcohol warmth, leather, slight earth. Juicy, savoury, lather, pepper, a little brett, drying raw silk tannins, long, blackberry fruit proves a little muted though. Hmm.
Red
2015 J.L. Chave Sélection Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur
From Coravin.
medium minus intensity aromas are jubey, pretty red berry, slightly floral top notes, blackberry, slight raisins. Juicy, fleshy, chewy tannins are drying on the front and mid palate, tight, blackberry, savoury, long, a little almost Asian five spice.
medium minus intensity aromas are jubey, pretty red berry, slightly floral top notes, blackberry, slight raisins. Juicy, fleshy, chewy tannins are drying on the front and mid palate, tight, blackberry, savoury, long, a little almost Asian five spice.
Red
2015 Roger Sabon Côtes du Rhône
From Coravin.
Aromas of cream, vanilla, candy floss, red berries, slightly tomato leaf, fruit quite sweet and pretty. Juicy, initially, very fruit sweet red berries, plenty of alcohol warmth, tannins are silky, slightly drying, a little bitterness on the back palate. Hmm.
Aromas of cream, vanilla, candy floss, red berries, slightly tomato leaf, fruit quite sweet and pretty. Juicy, initially, very fruit sweet red berries, plenty of alcohol warmth, tannins are silky, slightly drying, a little bitterness on the back palate. Hmm.
Red
2016 Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône Arcane VI Les Amoureux
From Coravin.
Slightly volatile, blackcurrant, red currant, sweet spice, jubey, slight maraschino, very concentrated. Woof, this is a positively porty experience on the palate, thick but not particularly tannic. Bit too much of beast for me.
Slightly volatile, blackcurrant, red currant, sweet spice, jubey, slight maraschino, very concentrated. Woof, this is a positively porty experience on the palate, thick but not particularly tannic. Bit too much of beast for me.
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Flight 6 - Pudding wine (2 notes)
The Moscato was with Eton mess, the LBV was with the cheeses
White - Sparkling
2020 Marcarini Moscato d'Asti
Dusty, grapey, cream soda, floral. Off-dry, aggressive mousse, cream soda, orange and grape, pretty, simple, short but balanced and nice.
Red - Fortified
1995 Smith Woodhouse Porto Late Bottled Vintage
Aromas of fig, walnut, alcohol heat, raisin, slight prune, slight plain chocolate. Juicy, figgy, quite simplistic, textured tannic grip, black fruits, plums, figs, walnuts, alcoholic warmth is a little too intrusive for me.
Closing
A lot of fun. My wotn was probably the Guigal 1993.
We tasted then consumed a few of the wines with Pork Belly, Japanese bean salad and roast spuds...lovely