29th Birthday Chateauneuf du Pape Tasting

Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.
Tasted Thursday, September 27, 2012 by isaacjamesbaker with 966 views

Flight 1 - Opening White (1 Note)

  • 2008 Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 89 Points

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

    I picked this white Chateauneuf to start of what would inevitably be a red wine-dominated tasting. It’s a blend of 40% grenache blanc and 20% each of roussanne, clairette and bourboulenc. On the nose: white flowers, papaya, hint of cotton candy, apricot blossom. Palate: fresh acid leads to a nutty, white peach and toasted nut palate with lemon zest and honey on the finish. Very acidic for a CdP, and Val said it was too much acid for her. For me, I was excited to see such a complex CdP blanc have so much fresh acid. Even better after five hours being open.

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Flight 2 - Birth-Year Bordeaux (1 Note)

  • 1983 Château La Croix du Casse 75 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    This wine was designed to be more of a drinking experience than a decent wine. Being my birth year, I decided to pop this bottle and see if it had anything else going on. The color is a weird orange-red. Aromas of rhubarb, garlic pickles, beef broth and wet stones. Soft tannins, medium acid (not too sharp). Lots of beef, leather and pickle juice flavors linger on the finish. This wine is totally crazy, and most people poured it out, but I give it points for insanity.

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Flight 3 - Bring on the Chateauneuf-du-Pape (7 Notes)

  • 1994 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points

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

    In 1994 Beaucastel used more mourvedre (40% versus the normal 30%) which gives it an earthy, leathery character with hints of mushrooms and tree bark. It supposedly possesses the lowest percentage of grenache (30%) of any Chateauneuf du Pape, and the highest percentage of mourvedre. Whatever the final blend is, as soon as you open a Beaucastel, it's clear you're dealing with a unique wine. Clear ruby color in the glass. The aromas are bright and alive, but also savory, showing peppercorn, bacon frying in a pan and bay leaf aromas that linger forever. On the palate this wine is still bright and full of grippy tannins. The flavors are very complex and nuanced, showing grilled meat, sour cherry, dusty and snappy cranberry fruit, accented by licorice, meat drippings and charcoal. So pure, so fresh, unbelievable. Several people chose this wine as their wine of the night. Tied with the 2001 Rayas for my wine of the night.

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  • 2001 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

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

    A blend of 80% grenache, 10% syrah, 5% mourvèdre, 5% other varieties. Aromas of rhubarb, cherry skins, bitter coffe, raspberry greens. The aromas maintain a pungency that I like. The wine still has a lot of grippy tannins and fresh acid. Flavors of red plums, coffee, peppered steak, cherry pits. This wine has a lot going on, and it shifted a lot over the course of several hours. This wine is nowhere near the end of its life. A lot of the people who attended the tasting thought this wine was too astringent, and I get that. For me, it’s a serious CdP that has five more years ahead of it at least. Beautiful stuff. By the second day, the aromas were even more savory and I picked up some rose petal aromas as well. Finishes with hints of meat and dusty tannins.

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  • 2001 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pignan Reserve 93 Points

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

    The color of cloudy cherry compote in the glass. Bright aromas of cherries, cranberry, a whiff of white pepper. With time delicious aromas of bay leaf and rose petals came out. On the palate, the tannins are acid are so strong, but balanced perfectly. Red plums and snappy cranberry fruit on the palate, along with complex flavors of licorice, minerals and dried leaves. This is such a gorgeous, feminine wine, almost Burgundian. One of the most elegant Chateauneufs I've tasted in a long time. This wine was the group's favorite, and for good reason.

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  • 2003 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points

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

    Bright ruby color. It was clear at this point in the tasting that we were dealing with a fruitier, more bombastic kind of wine. Some of the new world haters (Tim, I'm looking at you) didn't like the wine's jammy profile. However, I think it is one of the better 2003 CdPs I've had, and one that shows a lot of personality but also some balance. Syrupy fruit on the nose, showing red licorice, melted cherries and rose petals. The palate is bold and jammy, with medium tannins and low acid. The low acid is what throws this wine for me. I need more structure. Still, the flavors of game, spices and earth come out with three hours being open. Still a pretty and yummy wine. Val really enjoyed this, which was no surprise.

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  • 2006 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

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

    Ruby-cherry colored. Aromas of sour cherry, beef fat and leather. A dense wine on the palate with hard-line tannins but a lot of fresh cherry and raspberry fruit. I really like the flavors of white pepper, corned beef and soy, which add complexity. A lot more acid and structure than the 2003, and a good example of the quality wines of the 2006 vintage.

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  • 2006 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

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

    I was surprised by how vibrant and full this CdP was. I'll say it again, 2006 is an overlooked vintage but a lot of producers put out solid wines for less money. This one's bright cherry colored in the glass. Aromas of plum skins, sour cherries, white pepper, roses and clove. Very complex nose, and it got better and better over the course of the evening. Bold structure on the palate of lively acid and fine-grained tannins. Wild cherry and cassis fruit mixes with flavors of anise and smoke. There's a meaty aspect to this wine that is delicious. This is a really opulent wine, but one that maintains a real purity of flavors.

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  • 2008 Domaine Jean Royer Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Tradition 91 Points

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

    It was nice having a 2008 red in the mix, as I've really come to enjoy this vintage. Stuck between the 2007s and 2009s, 2008 might get overlooked sometimes. Extracted cherry color. The aromas are really opulent: red plum, iron, purple Mr. Sketch marker, a hint of olive. Plush and sexy on the palate. Cherry fruit mixes with minerals, charcoal and fresh sod. It's that acid on this wine that's got me exited, it's so pure and focused. Very easy to drink now, but I'd like to try it again in five years to see what other complexities come out of this wine.

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Flight 4 - A Crozes and Some Dessert Wines (6 Notes)

  • 2010 Yann Chave Crozes-Hermitage 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    This is the best vintage of this wine that I've tasted, much more structure and depth than the 2007, 2008 and even the 2009. An aromatically opulent wine, with aromas of plum, smoke, black berry and peppered steak. Medium-bodied with fresh accid and grippy but sweet tannins. I love the meat, pepper and blackberry essence in this wine.

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  • 1983 Château Filhot 86 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    What a cool and nerdy wine. The cork was a bitch to get out, but we managed to decant it get it some air. It's the color of apricot and cherry juice in the glass. Initially reticent aromas, but opened up a bit to show apricot, lemon oil and marmalade. Packed with rich flavors and an oily mouthfeel. Flavors of fresh honey, applesauce and lamp oil. The acid is too low for me, making the wine feel a bit flat on the palate. Still, it was a fun drinking experience. Thanks, J!

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  • 2006 Miguel Torres Riesling Vendimia Tardía 88 Points

    Chile, Curico Valley

    A Chilean riesling dessert wine is not something I come across often. Actually, never, spare this wine. Kevin brought it and it was a real crowd-pleaser. Golden honey colored in the glass with goopy legs. Aromas of lychee, white peach and a whole lot of honey and caramel. The palate is deep and full of apricot, honey, mixed nuts. There's a honeycomb and bourbon aspect to this wine, and it smells and tastes like this wine is close to fully mature. The acid is still there for freshness. Overall, this is a really solid dessert wine. Do I need to look for more riesling from Chile?

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  • 2009 Albert Mann Pinot Gris Altenbourg Vendanges Tardives 90 Points

    France, Alsace

    Pretty bright gold color. Aromas of flowers, lychee, yellow apples and a hint of white tea. Quite rich on the palate, with waves of pear, sweet peach and honey. Sweet, with just enough acid for my tastes (although I'd prefer a bit more). Honey and almond linger with mineral note on the finish.

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  • 2001 Château Lafon Sauternes 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    This Sauternes is in a really good spot right now. Golden color, with aromas of wildflowers, potpourri, apricot. Very intense aromas. Flavors of golden apple, honey, mixed nuts and flowers. Rich, nutty with a long finish. Lots of great flavors and a real sense of balance.

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  • 1999 Château de Jau Muscat de Rivesaltes 83 Points

    France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Muscat de Rivesaltes

    This is a decent dessert wine made from fortified muscat. Golden apple, honey and apricot jam on the nose. Rich and honeyed on the palate, with lots of baked pears and apples. The acid isn't high enough and the alcohol burns just a bit, leading to an unbalanced finish. That said, still decent stuff.

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