Annual Holiday CDP Tasting

Edina, MN
Tasted Wednesday, December 26, 2012 by rocknroller with 622 views

Introduction

Seven of us gathered for the Annual Holiday CDP tasting at the Edina Country Club. Brian and Ashley Grafstrom were able to make the trek from England again this year and it was a pleasure to see them along with the usual suspects.

Flight 1 - Starter Wine (1 Note)

  • 2009 Ferraton Père & Fils Saint-Joseph Blanc Les Oliviers 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Saint-Joseph

    Medium gold color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 30+ minutes. 100% Marsanne. Very woody on initial presentation, showing a curious burnt oak/wood note that was not particularly enjoyable. This took a lot of swirling and about 15 minutes in, it began to evolve and show its true colors. After 30 minutes in glass this became equally impressive on the nose as in the glass. Nose ultimately becomes big and full with butterscotch, toasted oak, honeysuckle, toast, caramel corn. The palate is quite similar to the nose with caramel, butterscotch, honey roasted nuts, a bit of burnt rubber. This is rich, viscous and full bodied with a long finish. This big wine is intriguing and delicious and should benefit from some further bottle age. Currently a short decant or aeration is advised. 93+ currently and potential to improve several points. My and group #3 WOTN.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

Flight 2 - First Flight (2 Notes)

  • 2008 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 86 Points

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

    Dark red color. Drank 1+ glass over 2 hours. This was just flat out a disappointment. Not that I was expecting the earth to move or anything, but this was just a mess. The nose was stemmy and green, rarely giving a little floral character, VERY herbal, cherry fruit, spices. The palate didn't bring any further nuance, in fact, it was about identical. Herbal, stemmy, tart cherries, spices, very angular.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2003 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points

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

    Very dark red coor. Bottle was open with no decant for an hour. drank 1+ glass over 3 hours. Lovely open nose with earth, funk, saddle leather, garrigue, smoke, floral, sandalwood, cherry, rapsberry. The palate shows nice depth, medium-full body, funky, herb de provence, garrigue, berry, lots of spices and pepper (but not overly), earthy, smoky. Nice long finish. Excellent. 93+pts. My and group WOTN.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

Flight 3 - Second Flight (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 90 Points

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

    Very dark red color. 1 hour decant, drank 1 glass over 3 hours. This came off as earthy with funk, stewed cherry fruit, raisin, a touch of violet over time. The nose really never came around, it got a little less stewy in the glass and more floral with some cedar, but on repouring we were right back where we started. The palate seemed somewhat thin, especially mid, tart cherry fruit, still on the stewed side, nice acids, prune, garrigue, spicy with some slightly grippy tannins. Medium finish. 90+pts.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2001 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points

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

    Very dark red color. Decanted for 50 minutes, drank 1+ glass over 2.5hrs. Nose starts out tight, swirling and some more time bring out the expected florals, leather, pepper, spice, funk, kirsch, berries. The palate is quite expressive, with red raspberry, red licorice, leather, earth, garrigue, spice, a round mouth feel and a long finish. This was not as good as the last bottle, but it still was excellent. This probably should have gotten a couple of hours of air time. My and group #2 WOTN.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

Flight 4 - Third Flight (3 Notes)

  • 2004 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus-Ex Machina 91 Points

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

    Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 3 hours, drank 1+ glass over 2 hours. Still very tightly wound and big, needing significant time yet. Nose brings black cherry, black raspberry, tons of pepper and spice. The palate is dense, full bodied, fairly elegant dark fruits of raspberry and cherry, spicy, and showing some heat and firm tannins.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

  • 2004 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 91 Points

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

    Very dark red color. !.5 hr decant, drank 1+ glass over 2 hours. Nose is pleasant with a sweet edge of vanilla, florals, tar, smoke, kirsch, cherry. This developed a distinct Asian spice note (and almost an arm pit odor, which did dissipate ) after a bit, though seemingly distinct it may have been influenced by a somewhat aromatic soup nearby. The palate is medium-full bodied, black raspberry berry and cherry fruits, a bit of plum, earthy, licorice, nicely integrated tannins, medium finish. I'm optimistic that this has a better future down the road.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

  • 2007 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 90 Points

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

    Very dark red color. 4 hour decant, drank 1 glass over 1.5 hours. Nose was showing black licorice, spice, slight funk, dark fruits. The palate seemed a bit lighter in body, dark fruits, very spicy, peppery, orange peel, meaty, moderately grippy tannins and some heat at times shows on the palate. This seemd to be in an awkward place right now. Certainly did not show as well as a bottle a couple of years ago.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

Flight 5 - Bonus Wine (1 Note)

  • 2005 Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Very dark, purple red color. Unknown decant. Drank a smaller pour over 30 miinutes. Nose shows white pepper, blackberry, plum, green pepper, scorched earth. Palate is consistent, the chewy tannins are firm, very peppery finish, needs several years. 90(+)pts.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No

Closing

As usual the food and service was impeccable. The wines wwere a bit uneven this year, but there were some clear favorites.

Group WOTN was the 2003 Charvin: 16pts (3+3+3+2+2+2+1=16pts)
Group #2 WOTN was the 2001 Clos des Papes: 13pts (3+3+2+2+2+1=13pts)
Group #3 WOTN was the 2009 Ferraton Les Oliviers: 9pts ((3+3+2+1=9pts)
The '01 Pegau, '04 Clos St. Jean, and the "05 Jamet each received 1 pt.

×
×