Seattle Tasting Group does Northern Rhône

Bellevue, WA, USA
Tasted Saturday, August 9, 2003 by Eric with 1,546 views

Introduction

Patrick Halstead hosted this STG tasting at his house.

Flight 1 - WHITE WINES (8 Notes)

We started with two flights of white wines.

  • 2001 Pierre Gaillard Condrieu Gonon 85 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    Somewhat muted initial aromatics, and then marzipan and apricot emerge with time. On the palate this is thick, almost cloying. Six of the eight tasters really liked this, but I was one of the dissenters with my 85 as opposed to a group average of 89.5.

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  • 2000 Saint Cosme Condrieu 80 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    It's hard to believe this was a Viognier. A somewhat faint, funky nose was followed by a somewhat thin, bitter, acidic palate. I guess when Viognier goes over the hill it does so very quickly. Several tasters commented that they liked this initially, but it quickly fell to pieces. Group average of 85.875.

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  • 2002 Syncline Roussanne Alder Ridge Vineyard 83 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills

    This had a somewhat faint nose of apricot, but on the palate it was much better with an explosive, tropical palate. Clearly Viognier. A medium finish was somewhat disappointing, apart from an initial wow this didn't impress me a great deal. Group average of 87.375.

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  • 2001 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    This was my contribution to the white wine flight. It boasted a deeper, more golden color in the glass, clearly showing some wood treatment. The nose again shows wood but also with an exotic, explosive nose of apricot, coconut, and a variety of other tropical stuff. It had a big, spicy finish and lush mouthfeel, the best of the bunch. I scored it a 90, and the group average was 90.375. White wine of the night!

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  • 2000 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 85 Points

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

    I mistook this for a Viognier, claiming to sense apricot on the nose along with some more dominant mineral and plastic notes. On the palate this had a slight charcoal edge to it, toast, and a lush, glycerol (is that a word?) texture. A reasonable finish and a solid, nicely made wine. My score was 85 compared to a group average of 87.

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  • 2001 E. Guigal Condrieu 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    A gorgeous nose of Viognier, apricot, floral, very nice! Thick mouthfeel with an exotic palate. To me this clearly stood out as a close sibling to the La Doriane, although that wine clearly sees more wood. On sheer value, this was the wine I was most excited about, as I think it is perhaps simpler, but also fresher and cleaner. I liked this and came in just below the group average of 89.875.

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  • 2001 Eric Texier Condrieu Janrode 88 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    A very faint nose and seemingly to my palate a very different beast from some of the other wines. Rather than having the exotic tropical fruit of a Viognier, it was more spicy and peppery with a dry, mineral edge. This has a long, clean finish. I liked this and came in a half point below the group average of 88.5.

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  • 2001 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 70 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    Toast, charcoal, bitter, acidic. Nasty, flawed stuff. Group average NR.

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Flight 2 - RED WINES (9 Notes)

Then we had three flights of red wines.

  • 1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 96 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    This was my personal wine of the night. The nose was simply unreal with truffle, bacon fat, and a medicinal, earthy, mushroomy edge. It frankly defies my feeble attempts to describe. This is incredibly resolved with a meaty, beef-blood thing going on. The finish started tight but quickly lengthened out and was long, luscious and showed remarkable balance. Thank you Sue for bringing another stunning 1990 wine! Group average was 94.125 making this the wine of the night.

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  • 1995 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie La Viaillère 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    At first I wondered if this was slightly oxidized. It definitely seemed to be showing some age. The nose was somewhat faint, but the palate came through with a lovely medicinal, slightly minty, peppery edge. It was smooth and well resolved. A nice wine. I still came in a bit below the group average of 90.625 points.

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  • 2000 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Saint-Joseph 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Saint-Joseph

    A nose of piercing cherry and Syrah meatiness. This had amazing power, structure and breadth with a long, powerful finish. I mistook it for the Guigal d'Ampuis, but boy was it a nice young wine. For one of the only times in recent memory I came in above the group average of 90.

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  • 1999 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    This was my contribution to the red wine flight. It was clearly a powerful, meaty, painfully young Syrah. Somewhat sappy on the palate with a medium finish that gains in length and power. The group average was 91.875, #3 wine of the night.

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  • 1988 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Clearly aged. A distinct pine resin note is followed by a beatiful, complex, well resolved wine. Long and powerful.

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  • 1990 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Wow, this was a different beast. I was stunned to find out this was the La Mouline, as it was drinking so young and powerfully. A very medicinal nose with eucalyptus and a smokey edge. It was a simply massive, layered powerhouse on the palate with a long, long finish. I really enjoyed it and came in a point higher than the group average of 92. Fascinating wine!

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  • 1989 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    A sweet caramel edge to the nose. This is gorgeous and clearly has had time to resolve some edges, but wow does this have simply massive structure throughout. I thought this was actually pretty closed and was holding back a lot, but still clearly a gorgeous wine. Group average of 90.625.

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  • 1999 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    Minty, powerful, tight, young and a touch bitter. This needs some time. I came in just below the group average of 89.5 points.

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  • 1999 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Cuvée Classique

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Something was off with this wine. It had a gnarly, sulfur-infused, medicinal thing going on. No like.

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Flight 3 - DESSERT (2 Notes)

Finally we finished with a couple of dessert wines.

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