Value 2003 Châteauneuf-du-Pape at Le Pichet

Tracy Lemke organized a dinner at Le Pichet feature 2003 CNDP at less than $30/bottle. It was an up and down tasting, but the good examples were very nice. All of the red wines were served blind.

• 2003 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc

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

  Pears moving towards nuts. A bit of heat. Big, powerful, ripe, marzipan, and glycerin. There is some mineral hiding behind the remarkable amount of baby fat.

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• 2003 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Réservée Flawed

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

  Really, really badly corked.

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• 2003 Alban Vineyards Roussanne Estate

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  Big, toasty, smokey hazelnut, toasted marshmallow. Very round and spicy.

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• 2003 Domaine Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône Villages Les Champauvins 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages

  Reticent nose. A bit of heat and some herbs. Mmm, big, enveloping, round, a nice and approachable mouthful.

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• 2003 Domaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points

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

  Very reticent. Faint notes of garrigue, starting to wake up. Tight, structured, very tannic. A little lean and green. Perhaps I am being generous, but I did like this.

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• 2003 Château Fortia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Baron 93 Points

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

  An intriguing nose. Brambly, bloody, soy, reduced, some horse. Pretty complex and interesting. The palate is very bretty, horsey, rustic and meaty, yum!

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• 2003 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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

  This is like a jar of raspberry jam with nail polish remover mixed in, some of the worst VA I have ever smelled in a wine. Bitter, astringent, unacceptable, NASTY wine.

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• 2003 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points

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

  Dense, cranberry, a little blood and balsamic. Wow, a HUGE attack, tannic yet still plush. Fantastic wine!

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• 2003 Domaine de la Charbonnière Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 86 Points

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

  More lifted aromatics, a bit herbal. The palate is tannic and a bit lean in the middle. Hmm, it finishes out with some astringency, a little harsh and bitter.

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• 2003 Domaine du Mas Blanc (Docteur Parcé) Collioure Les Junquets 85 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Collioure

  This was a ringer. Pickle/gherkin notes on the nose. Celery, lightly perfumed, powdered sugar. Much more herbal and green lean and MEAN. A bit harsh. I think my score was generous.

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• 2003 Domaine Bois de Boursan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points

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

  Earthy, smokey, leather, yeah! The fruit right now is a backdrop to the impressive structure and earthiness of this wine. Lovely!

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• 2003 Domaine Jean Royer Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Tradition 90 Points

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

  Pine needle. A more classic nose. Big, aggressive tannins attack the front of your mouth. A slightly hollow middle but with a sweet core. Boy this is fiercely tannic and needs time.

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• 2003 Domaine La Millière Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 91 Points

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

  Pine-resin, high-pitched, some balsamic. Mmm, a more classic palate, salty, garrigue, dried lavender. Quite structured but very interesting. A slightly roasted finish.

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• 2003 Domaine Chante-Perdrix Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points

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

  Big, sweet, raspberry jam, white pepper, some bramble. A huge, crazy, Grenache bomb, spicy, and ripe. I have a bit of a soft spot for that.

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• 1999 Château Rieussec

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  This was like a big, orange-creamsicle. Rich enough.

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