Casual Rhone Dinner

Storefront Company - Chicago IL
Tasted Tuesday, August 28, 2012 by Burgundy Al with 387 views

Introduction

Several friends from my Burg group got together at the last minute and we decided to focus on wines from the Rhone. The Storefront Company is a new Wicker Park restaurant and did an amazing job with a great meal and great service.

Flight 1 - White Rhone (4 Notes)

  • 2006 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    Started slightly musty, but the wine's floral and perfumed character emerged within 10-15 minutes. Incredibly alluring and ripe with an oily tropical nature. Aromatics kept getting more and more intense for an hour. I think this is at its peak today, possibly just past that peak, but should drink great for at least another couple of years.

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  • 2007 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Réserve 93 Points

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

    Slightly floral aromas with lots of ripe fruit. Orange, apple, orange and lemon peel with some slightly sweet undertones. Great Burgundian textures and acidity, I could have thought this Burgundy if tasted blind. Long, powerful finish, this wine will continue to improve for years, and last for decades. A rare treat, thanks, Winefool!

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  • 2005 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    Incredibly dark golden color. If I had to identify the wine based on color, I would have guessed a Sauternes from the 1980s! Big, powerful and spicy with some marzipan and tropical fruit. Also intensely floral. Still drinking very well, but not as nice as I recall when last tried 2 years ago. Drink up.

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  • 2005 Betts & Scholl Hermitage Blanc Flawed

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Oxidizing. Not bad (perhaps in "84 point" territory), but not worth drinking tonight given everything else on our table.

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Flight 2 - Mostly Côte-Rôtie (3 Notes)

  • 2000 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins 94 Points

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

    Meaty aromas with sweet liqueur and Herbs de Provence. Big, ripe and spicy black fruit on palate, this will certainly continue to evolve and improve with more time in the cellar.

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  • 1999 Michel & Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Black cherry, licorice, subtle black pepper aromas. Similar on palate but this came across as still brooding and inaccessible. i didn't get the bacon fat or robust spice I like in the best examples of Côte-Rôtie. Much better than another bottle from the same case from earlier this year, but still not quite to the level I expected. i will hold my remaining bottles to 2015 or later.

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  • 1994 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Lush fruit, very forward with good balancing spice and. Everything came across in perfect harmony, even if it only had moderate length and power. I bought several bottles earlier this year and this was from the same source, so I'm excited to have a few in my cellar. Drinking great now.

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Flight 3 - Hermitage (2 Notes)

  • 2001 E. Guigal Ermitage Ex-Voto

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Double decanted several hours earlier, I still found this dense, meaty and and very powerful with good cocoa and dark roasted coffee, but not quite ready. I would hold for another decade to reach its real potential.

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  • 1980 Grippat Hermitage 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    I had never even heard of Grippat, but it ended up that we had the opportunity to drink this alongside its (sort of) successor wine, the Guigal 2001 Hermitage Ex Voto, since Guigal purchased Grippat's holdings around 2000. Great spice and texture, this wine showed great balance and nuance. Fantastic old style Rhone, excellent today from what was a tough vintage. Thanks for sharing, Gridrocker!

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