Classic French mini-tasting
Tasted Sunday, March 6, 2011 by wineamateur with 458 views
Introduction
My wife asked me to put on a mini blind tasting to demonstrate the differences in major wine styles in France. This was what I came up with, using whatever was reasonably to hand in the cellar.
Flight 1 (4 Notes)
Closing
Apart from the Jadot, these wines weren't screaming out their regional identity from first pour, but gradually (over a couple of days) these qualities emerged, and it turned into a pretty good demonstration of the principal characteristics of the different appellations.
1999 Les Vins de Vienne Côte-Rôtie Les Essartailles 88 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Nice wine, but a bit unremarkable. Smokey, herbal and a bit plasticky on the nose. Medium weight, and pretty well balanced on the palate.
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2000 Château Talbot 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien
Pretty dumb on day 1, but stellar on day 2 Nice ripe cassis, a bit of honey, good weight, balance and finish. Very nice.
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2000 Louis Jadot Corton-Grèves 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
In a beautiful place right now. Clean, fresh strawberry and red cherry fruit; a bit of cream, a bit of liquorice; sweet and ethereal in the mouth. Super finish
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1999 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Not a great vintage for Clos des Papes, and a bit foursquare, but nice ripe sweet Grenache fruit, and got better over days 2 and 3.
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