Annual Holiday CDP Tasting: Epic & Stunning Wines Featuring a trio of 2001's

Six of us gathered for the annual holiday CDP tasting. On paper this had the potential to be one of the finest CDP tastings imaginable. Six very highly regarded wines . You never know how the wines will perform, but I don't think any of us could have hoped for anything more. Each and every wine had the potential to be WOTN in most any CDP tasting, and these wines all performed splendidly tonight.

• 2004 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 90 Points

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

  Light gold color. PNP, drank 1+ glass, over an hour plus. Nose is very nice with dry earth, smoke, pear, white peach, honey, and a slightly buttery note. There was a shoe polish/varnish note that emerged later. The palate has medium body, roasted nuts, apple, subtle peach. This seemed to fade somewhat in glass, but a second pour 90 minutes later was back on top. This was very nice, with a lovely nose that exceeds the palate at this point. We all the had the impression that this was a little past peak and probably on the downswing. Drink up.

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• 2001 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 94 Points

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

  Very dark red color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 3 hours. The nose is very nice with earth, herbs, garrigue, floral, dark fruits, black cherry, spice. This becomes more earthy and perfumed over time. The palate offers kirsch, dark cherry, licorice, glycerin, garrigue, elegant, prominent spiciness on the bright, long finish. Drinking very well. On a side note both times we poured this there was a hint of cork taint both on the nose and the palate. Interestingly, it always resolved completely in the glass with 5 minutes of swirling. I do suspect this bottle may have been very, very slightly off; but it had little to no impact overall. 94+pts.

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• 2001 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul 97 Points

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

  Very dark red-purple color. Slo-O for 3 hours and 45 minute decant. Drank 2 glasses over 3 hours. This had an absolutely fantastic nose, definitely the nose of the night among a group of wines all with incredible noses. The intense nose absolutely explodes from the glass, a wonderful perfume of red raspberry, fresh roses, saddle leather, damp earth, a touch of nice funk, exotic spices, light herb de Provence. The palate is wide open, layered, pure, silky mouth feel and elegant, with a mix of darker red fruits, raspberry, black cherry, exotic spices, subtle garrigue. There is wonderfully integrated structure, spices, earth, and minerality that effortlessly follows into the long and bright finish. Absolutely fantastic wine. Co-WOTN for me.

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• 2001 Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de la Reine des Bois 97 Points

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

  Very dark ruby-purple color. This had been slo-O'd for 5 hours and then splash decanted . Drank 2 glasses over 3 hours. This was another absolutely glorious wine. The nose starts out with cedar, dried leaves, black cherry, currants, garrigue, and earth. Much slower to reach its zenith, building very gradually. The palate is deep, very elegant, medium full body, darker fruits of black cherry, currants, and raspberry wrapped encompassed by a mineral laden, garrigue and spice infused blanket. The palate develops tremendous intensity, and there is a very long savory, meaty finish. Well integrated tannins, perfect balance and structure. I don't know if it gets any better than this. My co-WOTN and group WOTN.

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• 2003 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 95 Points

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

  Very dark red-purple color. Decanted for 2 hours. This was a splendid bottle of Cuvee Reservee. The nose was particularly clean with a pleasant mix of funk, leather, barnyard, kirsch, and a prominent garrigue note followed by a smoke, a slightly metal infused minerality, fig, and a touch of baked cherry. This didn't have the stewed fruit quality of some other vintages. The palate also has good intensity, powerful, full bodied, dark berries, vibrant, concentrated, fig paste, licorice, spiced, meaty, pepper. The roast meat and spice stand out on the long finish. There are some moments of heat coming through and just some rough edges at times that makes the palate a shade less impressive than the nose. But don't get me wrong, this was truly impressive.

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• 2005 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Deux Frères 96 Points

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

  Very dark red-purple color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 2.5 hours. This wine saw the most evolution through the course of the evening and probably not surprisingly so given the age and lack of a decant. The nose becomes very intense with our second pour a good 90 minutes in, bright red fruits, ripe raspberry, berries, great earthiness, truffle, tar, strawberry, savory, vanilla bean. The palate initially showed its youthful side with some alcohol and wood that wasn't fully integrated, but this settled down nicely and developed into a well balanced and nicely textured wine. The palate is bright, fresh, powerful yet still retains a finesse, ripe fruits black and dark red fruit, cassis, dark berry, very spicy, herbs, vanilla, tar, savory on the finish. This has some great potential and in another 3-5 years could be even better. For the time being, if you must drink, give this a 2-3 hour decant. My #3 WOTN.

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• 2007 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 96 Points

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

  Very dark red-purple color. This wine was decanted for about an hour at the event. Drank 2 glasses over 2 hours plus. It really wasn't until about 45 minutes in that this really started to reveal its soul, but when it did, wow, you could truly see the greatness. I think this wine may eventually equal or surpass all the wines tonight. It is just a baby, but what potential. The outstanding nose has the telltale Clos des Papes perfume, with earth, sandalwood, jasmine, saddle leather, floral, potpourri, herbs, and a hint of dill weed, along with plush black fruits, kirsch, and roasted game. The palate boasts amazing concentration, well balanced, integrated silky tannins, black fruits of cassis, blackberry, and kir. There is plenty spice, pepper, and kirsch that follows on the long provocative finish. this was an exciting glimpse into the future. I'd like to see this next in about 2-3 years. 96(+)pts.

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• 2005 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Altenbourg Cuvée Laurence 92 Points

  France, Alsace

  Light gold color. PNP. Drank 2 glasses, one on the front end and one for dessert, following for 2+ hours. Nose is effusive, with strong lychee notes, star fruit, very floral, slightly candied fruit. The palate is layered with complex fruit, lychee, grapefruit, apricot, citrus, rose. The body is on the lighter side of medium; sweet, but certainly not cloying, spices, medium plus finish. Lovely. 92+pts.

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WOTN voting was very difficult given the outstanding wines in the lineup. However, some clear choices came to the surface on this night. Would the results be the same if we had the same wines in 5 years? I suspect, the competition would be even tougher than it already was.

Voting was done with 3pts for 1st and so on, and split votes were allowed.

#1 WOTN: 2001 Domaine de la Mordorée Cuvée de la Reine des Bois (3+3+3+3+2.5+2=16.5pts)
#2 WOTN: 2001 Domaine Pierre Usseglio Cuvée de mon Aïeul (2.5+2+1.5+1+1=8pts)
#3 WOTN: 2005 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Réserve des Deux Frères (2+2+1.5+1+1=7.5pts)
2003 Pegau Reservee (3=3pts)
2007 Clos des Papes (1=1pt)