CT Seattle Offline II

Hosted by the esteemed Scott (F22Nickell), Jeff (jrockman), and Henry (hankj), this was the second (maybe bi-annual?) CT Seattle event. A group of ~24 of us gathered at Scott's storage facility to try our hand at 3 blind Rhone tastings (white, northern, and southern) as well as a general drinking category. We had the Portland contingent, Gepetto + 1 representing Canada (Vancouver), us from NYC, ChrisinSunnyside representing the local wine country (Yakiima), and obviously the Seattle-area folks. Theme was New World vs. Old World (although maybe fairer to call it Washington vs. the Old World). For each of the flights I've captured the blind assignments.

A1: 2011 Two Vintners Grenache Blanc Boushey Vineyard (ranked 3/6)
A2: 2008 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage Blanc (ranked 3/6)
A3: 2007 Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage Blanc Chevalier de Sterimberg (ranked 2/6)
A4: 2009 DeLille Cellars Roussanne Doyenne (ranked 1/6)
A5: 2011 Maison Bleue Viognier Notre Vie Arthur's Vineyard (ranked 6/6)
A6: 2006 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Crau (ranked 5/6)

• 2011 Two Vintners Grenache Blanc Boushey Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Very light and refreshing on the palate, can taste the lemon, almost a touch of residual sugar at the end. There's a bit of structure though that holds the wine together. This was our third favorite wine of the white wine flight (although it was pretty close) and is one of the rare ones where the group aligned (also 3 out of 6).

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• 2007 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage Blanc Chevalier de Sterimberg

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  A surprise for us as we'd had it at a NY CT offline a month and a half before and it was a real candidate for WOTN then (against a very strong line-up). Here we had it 4th out of the 6 wines although the broader group ranked it 2nd. It has a lovely depth of flavor to it, got the taste of almost a light whipped butter (maybe there's a touch of oak, but not overpowering), great acidity towards the end to hold it together. A nice wine, but I wonder if it didn't suffer a bit from a lack of food pairing.

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• 2008 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage Blanc

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  This is a wine for the true oak lovers - tasted more like a California Chardonnay than old world, but that could just be my naivete on French whites speaking. Hard for me to really pick other flavors as the oak was tough to get past. Not our style at all and we ranked it a distant 6 out of the 6 wines. Broader CT group did not agree and it tied for 3rd out of the flight

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• 2009 DeLille Cellars Roussanne Doyenne 91 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  Another surprise for us as we'd tasted it in Woodinville at the tasting room the day before and I had thought it was on the denser side. This bottle came across as light and airy, almost a touch of effervescence. Some tangyness. I got limes, flowers, and just a shadow of honey. Our 2nd place finisher out of the 6, and the group's winner of the White Rhone panel.

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• 2011 Maison Bleue Viognier Notre Vie Arthur's Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  Lemon, fennel, had this omnipresent flavoring that I couldn't quite put my finger on until I realized it was the aftertaste of cough syrup. Not our favorite of the flight (we ranked 5 out of the 6), and the group seemed to agree as this came in last place.

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• 2006 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Crau

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

  Came across as very open, fresh and clear. Lime and a touch floral. Our favorite of the white flight, but that feeling was not shared by the group (came in 5 out of 6 for the broader avg).

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B1: 2003 E. Guigal Cote-Rotie Brune et Blonde (ranked 1/6)
B2: 2007 Andrew Andrieux & Fils Cote-Rotie (ranked 3/6)
B3: 1999 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage (ranked 3/6)
B4: 2010 Rotie Cellars Southern Blend (ranked 5/6)
B5: 2007 Gramercy Cellars Syrah John Lewis reserve (ranked 2/6)
B6: 2002 Greenock Creek Shiraz Creek Block (ranked 6/6)
*Note - Rotie and Betz were accidentally switched in the tasting

• 2010 Rôtie Cellars Southern Blend 92 Points

  USA, Washington

  Our favorite out of the 'Northern Rhone' Flight (it was accidentally switched with a Betz). Comes across as spicy, cherry jam. Fruits are very deep and just a real mouthful. Almost a poor man's SQN. It fared a bit less well in the broader group though coming in 5th out of the 6 wines. We are getting this through the Expose Washington project Hollowine ran and pretty excited to try again in a few years.

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• 1999 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Raspberries on the nose became bright red fruits on the palate (still the raspberry but joined with cranberries) and a leather undertone, tart & tannic at the end. Both us and the group appeared to enjoy the wine ranking it 3rd out of the 6 entries.

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• 2007 Gramercy Cellars Syrah John Lewis Reserve

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Wine was a bright red color and very clear (others in the flight were turning a bit rusty). Funky on the nose and on the palate. Got the grandmother's spice cabinet taste. It was the 2nd place wine in the flight for the broader group, but only came in 4th for us.

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• 2002 Greenock Creek Shiraz Creek Block

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Still too early to really be drinking this. We decanted a few hours before the event, but would have liked to see it with some more time. Still got heat on the nose. Raspberry jam balanced by some stiffer tannins. Tasted very young despite the 2002 year. It was our 2nd place finisher in the flight, but came in 6 of 6 for the broader group.

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• 2007 Andre Andrieux & Fils Côte-Rôtie

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Very traditional old world wine, nose was a bit offputting though, got earth and dirt and straw on the tongue. Fruit was muted at this point and not coming through. Our 6th place out of 6 wines in the Northern Rhone Flight, but the group's third place.

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• 2003 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Standard old world nose (we jokingly call it stinky feet, but more musty and dusty and maybe a touch of barnyard). There's a hint of fruit (boysenberry) in the wine, but overall somewhat light on the palate. Finishes with just a touch of spice although it's more muted than some of the new world types. This was the winner for the Northern Rhones for the broader group, but our 5th ranking wine out of 6.

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C1: 2007 Chateau de Saint-Cosme Gigondas Les Claux (ranked 2/6)
C2: 2009 Efeste Emmy Stone Tree Vineyards (ranked 4/6)
C3: 2006 Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee (ranked 6/6)
C4: 2006 Cayuse Grenache God Only Knows (ranked 1/6)
C5: 2005 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Exceptionnelle (ranked 5/6)
C6: 2002 Betz Family Syrah La Serenne (ranked 3/6)
*Note - Rotie and Betz were accidentally switched in the tasting

• 2006 Cayuse God Only Knows

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  The surprise of the night for me. After the Bionic Frog being my WOTN last weekend, I was pretty excited to try this. Funnily enough, it was our last placed wine in the Southern Rhone flight (although the overall group's winner). Very funky and almost offputtingly so (think bandaids and stinky feet).

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• 2002 Betz Family Syrah La Serenne

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  The misplaced wine in the Southern Rhone flight, this was in the old world style. Leather, cedar, and earth overtook much of the fruit. For our taste, I think it was past its prime. We rated this 5th out of the 6 wines, broader group put it 3rd.

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• 2005 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Exceptionnelle

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

  All I could think of is what you would get if you took peppercorns, surrounded them with crystallized sugar, and cracked those into a glass. Very tannic wine and came across as still much too young. Enjoyable though we ranked it 4th out of 6 wines and the group gave it a 5th place finish.

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• 2009 Efeste Emmy Stonetree Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope

  Bright red cherries just popped from the wine. Nice and tart. Liked it, but would have liked to see a bit more depth or some secondary flavors come up. This was our 3rd ranked wine out of 6, and the group's 4th.

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• 2007 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Les Claux

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  Still a bit tannic, there was cinnamon and pepper on the palate. Cranberry and leather in the mid-range. Oddly finished with a touch of heat/alcohol making me convinced this should have been one of the new world's. Our favorite of the Southern Rhone flight, and 2nd place for the overall group.

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Unfortunately I didn't take many notes on these, but there were a number of wonderful wines which hopefully someone did capture. Listing out what Henry (hankj) gave us on the sheet.
Rose
2011 Lauren Ashton Sangiovese Red Willow
2012 Kerloo Cellars Grenache Rose
2012 Chateau Routas Coteaux Varois Rose
2012 Domaine de Triennes Vin de Pays du Var Rose
General
1995 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Mt Veeder
2005 Boheme Wines Syrah Que Syrah Vineyard
2003 Cayuse Syrah Callilloux Vineyard
2005 DeLille Cellars Syrah Doyenne Grand Ciel Vineyard
2007 Gorman Winery Cabernet Sauvignon The Albatross
2005 E. Guigal Hermitage
2007 Cuvee du Vatican Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve Sixtine
2009 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30
Dessert
2008 Olsen Estates Riesling Golden Berry Select
1975 Chateau de Malle Sauternes
2009 Cave de Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel Signature
Peller Estates Riesling Ice Wine (not sure on year)
and a port or two

• 1995 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  Unfortunately I didn't take copious notes on this as it was part of the 'general wines', but still holding up pretty well. Surprised how many tannins were left. Wish we had another bottle - would be interesting to see it again in a few years (and I might let ours lie - wasn't drinking quite as easily as the few we had earlier in the year). Generally typical Veeder - a bit grassy on top of some deep fruit.

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Many thanks to the folks who pulled this together. Nice to meet a new set of CTers. The wines Scott pulled out at the end (Andrew Will, Leonetti, Cayuse) plus the wonderful Harrison Hill (thanks to JerryL and Allison for bringing) were really special (as were too many others to name in the night). Great times had by all and sounds like the cementing of a wonderful new tradition.