Sunday Brown Bag Tasting: 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The blind reds are served in one flight. Tasters are to identify the theme of the tasting and rank the wines. Votes are tallied and the wines revealed. We had twelve tasters, cost was $45. Mike was the only one to correctly guess Chateauneuf, though everyone was in the Rhone. I guessed 2010 Gigondas.

The Duval was nonblind; Chave blind.

• NV Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  L2270AQ19. Soft bead, with subtle toast overtones along with biscuit and honeyed apple qualities. Flavors of mineral, toast, dough, pear and apple. Finishes well.

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• 2010 J.L. Chave Sélection Saint-Joseph Céleste 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Saint-Joseph

  Deep color. Aromas of citrus, mineral, pear and waxy melon notes. Rich texture with waxy fruit tones along with mineral & stone qualities. Reminds me of the Quenard Chignin Bergeron we had recently.

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• 2010 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape 91 Points

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

  Light garnet color. Aromas of cherry, plum, licorice and evergreen. Develops a cherry cool-aid note, perhaps some boysenberry too. Medium- to full-bodied, with firm tannins and bright acidity. Flavors of dark cherry, berries and spice. Plenty of tannin; spice flavors; turns stemmy. 91+ pts.
  
  My #6, Domino's #8
  Group #8, 82 pts

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• 2010 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

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

  Light garnet color. Aromas of cherry and red fruit- herbal; develops notes of evergreen and herbs, as well as roasted red fruit and pepper. Medium- to full-bodied, with roasted cherry, black fruit, herb, spice and pepper flavors. Long finish.
  
  My #1, Domino's #2
  Group #2, 45 pts
  (2 x 1st place & 3 x 2nd place)

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• 2010 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Origines 91 Points

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

  Deep garnet color. Reticent. Eventually develops aromas of evergreens, black fruit and cherry. Full-bodied and tannic, with cherry and red fruit qualities.
  
  My #8, Domino's #5
  Group #7, 59 pts

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• 2010 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 92 Points

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

  Light garnet color. Reticent at first; notes of adrk fruit, currants, pepper and garrigue. Full-bodied with flavors of peppery red fruit, spices, garrigue and black fruit. Bright acidity.
  
  My #5, Domino's #6
  Group #3, 45 pts
  (2 x 1st place & 1 x 2nd place)

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• 2010 La Ferme du Mont Châteauneuf-du-Pape Côtes Capelan 91 Points

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

  Deep inky garnet color with aromas of herbs, dark fruit and a healthy bit of earthy funk; also clay, red fruit and garrigue. The most unique bouquet tonight, certainly the most funk. I like it, though it's not for everyone. Full-bodied, with flavors of garrigue, spices, dark fruit and berries. Tannic; not as much acidity as some of the others tonight. 91+ pts.
  
  My #7, Domino's #1
  Group #1, 33 pts

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• 2010 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

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

  Inky garnet color. Notes of black cherry, licorice and roasted herbs. Full-bodied, with flavors of cherries, black currants, pepper and spice. Develops an incense quality in the bouquet, and a harshness on the finish.
  
  My #4, Domino's #4
  Group #4, 54 pts
  (1 x 1st place vote)

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• 2010 La Ferme du Mont Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

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

  Deep garnet color. Aromas of black fruit, herbs and pepper. Full-bodied, with firm tannins. Loads of spice, with red fruit and a long, balanced finish. Well-balanced- terrific fruit, structure and acidity. 92-93+ pts.
  
  My #2, Domino's #7
  Group #5, 54 pts
  (0 x 1st place votes)

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• 2010 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 92 Points

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

  Light garnet color. Initially has a plastic, band-aid aroma, blowing off leaving aromas of black fruit, cherry, clay and garrigue. Full-bodied, with good acidity and tannin. Balanced, with a wealth of red fruit, mineral, pepper and herb flavors. Long finish. 92+ pts.
  
  My #3, Domino's #3
  Group #6, 57 pts

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With lamb shanks, lentils and rice pilaf.

• 1990 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino Flawed

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Corked

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• NV Brice Champagne Aÿ 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Not a recent release though I did not catch a lot# or disgorgement date. 90% Pinot Noir with terrific pear and almond notes with a toast overtone. Hazelnut and pear qualities on the palate. Fine bead; lovely finish.

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• NV Brice Champagne Grand Cru Brut 88 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Not a recent disgorgement, though I did not note a lot# or disgorgement date. A bit oxidized; nutty apple and cashew qualities.

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• 1997 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 95 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

  Our last bottle, decanted briefly off its sediment and rebottled, served with dinner about three hours later. A bit of bricking, with a faded crimson core. Aromas of leather, dark fruit, cherries and violets. Well-balanced, with black fruit, cherry, cedar and violet flavors. Long, balanced finish. An outstanding example of this wine.

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• 1995 Château Lynch-Bages 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Deep color. Aromas of black currants, green tobacco and dark fruit. Balanced, with black fruit, cedar, violet, tobacco and earth flavors. Long finish. 93+ pts.

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• 1996 Clos de l'Oratoire 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Deep color. Black fruit, raspberry and incense notes. Balanced; black fruit, berry and incense flavors. Long finish. In a great place right now, but should hold for a good while yet.

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• 2000 Château Terrey-Gros-Cailloux 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Notes of violets, dark fruit, tobacco and cherry. Currant and cherry flavors on the palate; hint of earth and tobacco.

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