Monthly Tasting Group: CDP's and Southern Rhones

Cafe Lurcat, Mpls, MN
Tasted Sunday, January 26, 2014 by rocknroller with 788 views

Introduction

About 20 of us gathered at Cafe Lurcat to drink a mix of Southern Rhones that featured some absolutely wonderful CDP's.

Flight 1 - Champagne Flight (2 Notes)

  • NV Philippe Prié Champagne Cuvée Archange 92 Points

    France, Champagne

    Light straw color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. This was even better than the last time I had it. lovely nose with dough, yeast, pear, green apple and minerals. The palate has a fine bead, elegant and pure, refined minerality, apple, pear, and yeast. Interestingly, this was as good or better than the Grower's Champagnes the day before. 92+pts.

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  • 2004 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année 93 Points

    France, Champagne

    Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. This was very pretty and elegant. The nose is a bit reticent now, minerals, floral, pear. The palate is energetic with good intensity yet delicate, very fine bead, pear, subtle red apple, minerals and a medium plus finish. There was something else I couldn't quite put my finger on in the flavor profile that was appealing. I'm looking forward to tasting this again in about 10 days and having a longer examination.

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Flight 2 - Whites (5 Notes)

  • 2009 La Bastide Blanche Bandol Blanc 88 Points

    France, Provence, Bandol

    Light gold color. 1.5 oz pour. Drank over 20+ minutes. Some oak on the nose, miinerals and citrus. The palate is a bit thin, austere, citrus, a bit tsharp on the medium finish,

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  • 2011 Domaine Bordenave Jurançon Sec Souvenirs d'Enfance 86 Points

    France, Southwest France, Jurançon Sec

    Small pour. Dry, minerals, mineral spirits, simple, light body. Not positive if this was the correct vintage.

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  • 2010 Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis

    Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. This was an impressive bottle of base Chablis that showed wonderfully. Nose has earth, fresh sea air, minerals, lemon. The palate is light, earthy, lemon, medium plus finish, medium acid, minerals. Very good. Everyone loved this which seems in contrast to many of the more mundane notes on this wine so far.

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  • 2009 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 88 Points

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

    This was interesting. A little weak on the front end, not much fruit, nail polish, musky. The palate has paint thinner, almond extract, earth, some oak?, a bit sharp on the end. My impression is that this is past peak drinking now.

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  • 2009 Clos Ste. Magdeleine Cassis Blanc 88 Points

    France, Provence, Cassis

    I didn't get any detailed notes on this. I recall some licorice, but the rest got lost in the shuffle. 88+pts.

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Flight 3 - CDP Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 1999 Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de la Reine des Bois 93 Points

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

    Very dark red color. PNP. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. This had a musty meaty nose that as it opened became floral with leather, dark fruits, caramel and spices. The palate was deep and concentrated, black fruits, black cherry, intense, tar, spices, and some grip to the tannins yet. This was pretty big and powerful with a nice texture and lengthy finish. Very good, drinks relatively young on a PNP.

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  • 2000 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape 95 Points

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

    Medium dark red color. Decanted for 45 minutes. Drank 1 glass over 45+ minutes. I was thoroughly impressed by this wine. I love the elegance and finesse that is Charvin. This bottle was even better than one from about 8 months ago and that was darn good. This nose is explosive with a gorgeous perfume of florals and garrigue, just enough earthy pleasant funk, cherry, kirsch, hints of grahite. The palate displays the intensity of flavor, but with the utmost of finesse, garrigue, violets, raspberry, cherry, kirsch, licorice, scorched earth. Extremely well balanced with perfectly integrated tannins, medium body, medium acid and a long 60+ second finish. Now I really want to drink this side by side with the '01. One of my WOTN's.

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  • 2001 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

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

    Very dark red-purple color. 2hr decant. Drank 1 glass over 30+ minutes. This too was delight. Nose has lots of old school garrigue, barnyard, earth, spices, lavender, black and red fruits. The palate has excellent concentration, layers of black and red fruits, full body, exotic spices, garrigue, earth and minerals with round medium plus tannins.

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Flight 4 - CDP: Beaucastel - Flight 2 (3 Notes)

  • 1995 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 95 Points

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

    Very dark red color. This had a 3hr decant. Drank 1 glass over 45+ minutes. This was another chart topper. Gorgeous nose with lots of delicious funk and earthiness, florals, dark raspberry, leather, sandalwood, spices, licorice. The palate is now beautifully integrated and nicely resolved. I can't help but think the decant was just about perfect here. Elegance on the palate with earth, minerals, raspberries and cherry, leather, licorice, medium-full body and long finish. Another WOTN candidate.

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  • 2000 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

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

    Very dark red/purple color. 1.25hr decant, filtered several times for heavy sediment. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. Wow, another great nose offering up lots of funk, not over the top though, earthy, saddle leather, intense, spices, black cherry, cassis. This was very concentrated, powerful, full bodied, full of black cherry, cassis, dark berries, ripe, good acids, long finish.

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  • 2001 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points

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

    Very dark purple/red color. Slow- O for about 5 hours. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes plus. This was the most backwards of the Beaucastel trio of '95, '00, and '01. Brooding on the nose with black fruits, spicy, tar, oak, and licorice, funk. The palate is very primary, black fruits, dense and chewy, firm tannins, oak, tar, and minerals. Needs 3-5 years or significant decanting. 92 to 93pts.

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Flight 5 - CDP Flight 3 (3 Notes)

  • 2007 Famille Perrin / Perrin & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Sinards 88 Points

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

    Very dark red color. This was on the green side with dillweed, herbs, bell pepper, dank musky earth, dark fruits. The palate was consistent. Just too green and herbal for my taste.

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  • 2007 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul 96 Points

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

    Very dark purple/red color. Unknown decant. Drank 1 glass over 30+ minutes. Holy crap. This is one amazing wine and just a baby. Stunning perfumed nose of leather, lavender, sandalwood, garrigue, subtle earth, licorice, and lush black fruits. The palate is sexy and beautifully textured, elegant and concentrated, cassis, blackberry, black cherry, licorice, spices, rich silky tannins that are big, but round and not aggressive, very long and intense finish. I was impressed by where this is at already and can only imagine where this goes. Thanks to Dan for sharing this beauty. My WOTN. 96 +(+)pts.

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  • 2009 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Deux Frères 93 Points

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

    Very dark purple/red color. Decanted for 2.5hrs. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. The nose is intense with black fruits, cedar, vanilla. The palate is dense, concentrated, full bodied and powerful, a hedonistic wine, full bodied, blackberry, blueberry, plum, oak, spices. This is a big styled, primary, young, fruit forward wine. It will be interesting to see how this evolves. 93(+?)pts.

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Flight 6 - A Few from Table 2 (3 Notes)

Closing

My highlights were the 2007 Usseglio Mon Aieul along with the 1995 Beaucastel and 2000 Charvin which were both drinking at their peaks. This was a fantastic tasting!

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