HWZ Southern Rhone tasting

Finally HWZ group gathered together for the next themed tasting - Southern Rhone. More people and more wines this round. From basic CDR to surprised Ventoux and prestige Gigondas and CDP.

• 2011 Domaine Font de Michelle Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 91 Points

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

  Tasted non blind.
  Bright golden yellow, it has a nice aromatic nose, showing honeysuckle, lanolin, floral, mineral and peach.
  Good intense entry and a little oily and round, still pretty tight on palate, slowly open up to show tropical fruits, ginger, pineapple and herbs. A restrain wine with some palate weight but not as fat as Chardonnay, possess soft mid-palate and balance acidity. Finishing slowly build up to show a decent length.
  A young and fresh wine at the moment but it should gain more complexity over times.

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• 2008 Pierre-Henri Morel Côtes du Rhône Villages Signargues 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Signargues

  Red #1 tasted blind. Dark ruby red, warm and meaty nose along with blackberries, dark jammy fruits, dark cherries and hints of roast herbs and toasty oak.
  Entry is rich and still tight, perhaps open not long, primary palate, lots of red cherries and herbs with some earthy and rustic character slowly showing through. It has medium+ acidity but palate turn sort at midpalate and finish with soft tannins and medium length.
  Afterthought: Pretty good for a CDR and I like the nose here, simple and approachable on palate too.

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• 2011 Les Vins de Vienne Côtes du Rhône Les Cranilles 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Red #2 tasted blind. Clear medium+ ruby hue. Good fragrant nose with primary fruit, toasty vanilla oak and hints of violet.
  Medium bodied and fruity palate, exhibits blackberries, violets and some meatiness. Spicy finish, medium length and the tannins is soft. This is also quite easy drinking with less structure.
  Afterthought: Another CDR that is showing well in this tasting. Can be a value buy if the price is right at what it should be.

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• 2005 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

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

  Red #3 tasted blind. The nose is one step up from the first 2 wines and reminds me how a classic Rhone red should smell. It has some developed characteristic but retain some red fruits, it opens up nicely with earthy, leather sweet anise and forest floor.
  Soft subtle palate and some savoury notes along with cherries, leather and sweet fruits. Good acidity backbone supporting the overall structure with chewy tannins and long lingering aftertaste.
  Afterthought: My WOTD and also voted WOTD by the group, it strikes me with beautiful balance and finesse.

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• 2009 Marrenon Ventoux Orca Vieilles Vignes Selection Parcellaire 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Ventoux

  Bottle breath for about 2-3 hours before serving.
  Red #4 tasted blind. Dark garnet. The nose here has a dark element, roasted coffee notes, dark and ripe fruits, blackberries, sweet fruits and perfume toasty oak. This seems a little new world to me with its upfront showy character.
  It has a powerful entry through to a long spicy finish. Meaty and savoury palate along with plenty of black fruits. Medium+ bodied with a good grip at finish.
  Afterthought: This is indeed a pleasant surprise for me as it tasted differently from my previous experience as it seems to have put on some weight. It will need plenty of air to open up, drinking well today but should have room for improvement.

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• 2010 Domaine de Fondrèche Ventoux Persia 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Ventoux

  Red #5 tasted blind. Dark garnet with crimson rims. Mint herbal nose along with vanilla oak, violet and floral. Nice perfume nose too.
  Some raspberries and cherries notes on palate, robust but still a bit tight and disjoint at mid-palate. Soft chewy tannins with medium finish.
  Afterthought: Little disappointed when the labels unveiled as it is not as good as the Orca VV 09, given the favourable review by critics. Perhaps it is still young and will continue to improve.

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• 2008 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 91 Points

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

  Double decanted for 1+ hours before I brought this bottle to the wine lunch.
  Red #6 tasted blind. Nose shows plenty for developed secondary notes, animal, fur, barnyard, funk and sweet leather. A nice elegant nose with perfume edge and it does slowly grow on me.
  On palate, earth, barnyard, sweet leather and savoury notes. A supple wine with good mid-palate and acidity backbone. Firm chewy tannins with strong finish.
  Afterthought: I was quite surprised when the label unveiled as I thought this taste like an aged CDP. It was so evolved and show classic old school style. Tasted 08 few years back during a Pégaü vertical and indeed 08 was more for early drinking among 04, 05 and 06. The bretty taste also seems common from notes of other CT taster.

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• 2009 E. Guigal Gigondas 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  Red #7 tasted blind. Fragrance nose here, showing primary fruits of strawberries and raspberries with white pepper and herbs.
  Good strong entry, palate showing red cherries, earth and spice. Medium finish with a soft grip. Drinking well today.

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• 2004 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Les Garrigues 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  Red #8 tasted blind. Intense dark garnet core with crimson rims. First impression on the nose is big and little pungent and suggestion of high alcohol, predominant roasted element here, showing some ripe fruits with a little rustic character and toasty oak.
  Powerful entry, dense and full on palate, young and structured, some meaty, earthy character with spicy finish, long and persistent with firm tannins.
  Afterthought: This is a big powerful wine with high 15% alcohol. It does not taste like a 10 years old wine and definitely impress me. Very good indeed and just lack some balance here, will improve with time.

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• 2010 Vignerons de Caractère Côtes du Rhône A L'Ombre des Fontaines 86 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Red #9 tasted blind. Dark ruby red. Subtle nose of earthy toasty oak.
  The palate is definitely overwhelm by the powerful Santa Duc Selections Gigondas Les Garrigues tasted before this. Soft on the palate with meaty notes and some red fruits. Medium finish.
  Afterthought: Easily the most forgettable wine and very far from the first 2 CDR in term of quality.

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