PHMG WAG: the Southern Rhones

Chez Lyon in Eugene, OR
Tasted Saturday, May 4, 2013 by Grinner with 606 views

Introduction

This was an attempt to show off both the appellations and important producers of this region. All bottles were open for 4-5 hours but not decanted.

Flight 1 - The Openers (2 Notes)

The white was out of the fridge for 30' and the rose was in for about 45'.

  • 2006 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 92 Points

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

    What a delight served w/ duck fat french fries! Light gold color, it has notes of melon, flowers, minerals, spice, and a touch of tropical fruit all on an oily frame. Some said "waxy" below and that's reasonable. Maybe the fries hid the etoh from us, we loved the balance and depth.

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  • 2011 Domaine de la Mordorée Tavel La Dame Rousse 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Tavel

    We almost had summer like weather for this tasting and this wine drove it home. Strawberry pie, minerals, spice, cherries, and a floral note all framed by the mouth watering texture and acidity. $30 for "rozay"? ouch.

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Flight 2 - The Reds (8 Notes)

Fun to have the beef done with a reduction sauce of the first wine (CV CDR).

  • 2010 Cuvée du Vatican Côtes du Rhône Villages 87 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages

    Whoops! Nothing else available so this became a reduction sauce for the tri-tip bites. GREAT! We did manage to pour a little as a baseline for the rest of the tasting. This is a sturdy daily drinker with black fruit, licorice, a hint of terroir/ garrigue all wrapped in a user/ newbie friendly texture.

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  • 2010 Domaine des Escaravailles Rasteau La Ponce 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Rasteau

    This wine kicks up the depth a notch from your basic CdR's like the Cuvee de Vatican (sauce) earlier in the tasting. A junior CdP with blackberry/plum, a touch of roasted fruit, tar, spice, and leather. Excellent QPR around $20.

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  • 2010 Domaine Burle Vacqueyras 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vacqueyras

    Easily the most rustic of the tasting. A coarse texture, lots of garrigue, black fruit, meat, and leather well buttressed by tannins await the intrepid. Great QPR.

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  • 2010 Domaine de la Mordorée Lirac La Dame Rousse 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Lirac

    This is another good QPR wine in this tasting. Garrigue, a little sangre de toro, some spice/ anise accent the black fruit with good depth and a long finish. Tannins are obvious and need a year or two.

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  • 2007 E. Guigal Gigondas 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

    This bridges the gap a little between "old rustic" and "new fruit driven". Earth and forest floor complement the red and black fruit, while the texture is right down the center of the fairway. I don't see this getting a lot better, put it on your "to do" list.

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  • 2003 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 93 Points

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

    Bought on release and fairly cold storage here in Eugene. This was about as good as it's going to get. This one scored like my first bottle in '06, and way more evolved than the bottle in '08. Black and dried fruit with spice, kelp/iodine, leather, and grenache "underbrush". Tannins resolved, very smooth on the finish.

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  • 2007 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 95 Points

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

    This remains a dark garnet color and has an open nose. There's garrigue, black cherry, plum, fig, pepper, and licorice. Some meat and kelp on the backside. Still great the next day w/o gas. Tons of time as it's well structured w/o being intrusive.

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  • 2010 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Origines 93 Points

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

    This wine still has it's baby coat on. Very primary on the nose: black fruit and black fruit and.... Some earth, pepper, and kelp hiding in there on the palate. Big structure, lots of depth, and actually pleasant for those new to CdP and maybe don't appreciate all the weird non-fruit nuances these develop after 5-7 years. For the rest of us....WAIT!

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Flight 3 - Dessert (1 Note)

  • 2010 Domaine de Durban Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

    This was a real treat at the end served with a Crater Lake Blue from Rogue Creamery. Honey and spice notes dress up the tropical fruit. Sweet but not cloying. Remarkable that an entire appellation is dedicated to this one style, the "Sauternes of the Rhone" I suppose.

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Closing

A bunch of excellent wines, many with serious QPR. Even Seong liked these!!

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