Rhone gathering - 08 Rayas, 85 and 89 La Las

The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown
Tasted Thursday, March 20, 2014 by dcwino with 706 views

Introduction

I have been traveling and didn’t get a chance to record tasting notes. This was taken place on March 30.

Flight 1 - Whites (5 Notes)

  • 2010 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    Ripe yellow fruits, pineapple and pineapple Fanta also lemon curd. Noticeable alcohol as warms up. Unctuous, oily, mineral and a bit of heat. I would serve it a bit chiller than usual to reduce the heat. Still quite enjoyable in very Kistler way.

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  • 2001 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series 93 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    The color is light. Lemon curd, ripe yellow fruit, a hint of oak and mineral. Quite oily, bright acidity that reminds me Beaucastel VV, ie sweet very ripe expression yet very strong presence of acidity. Not terribly complex but quite enjoyable as the wine is fresh and displays generous fruits.

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  • 2009 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 93 Points

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

    A big scale wine. Yellow peach, pitted yellow fruits, smoke, mineral, saline, melted bacon fat and a hint of alcohol. Oily palate, intense sweet fruit driven palate impression and strong presence of acidity. A bit of heat. The fruit component is not terrible expressive at the moment.

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  • 1997 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Hengst 92 Points

    France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

    Very fresh example. Sweet yellow fruits, lychee, mineral and smoke. Excellent concentration. Once again the finish clips due to high alcohol. Overall, this is a nice mature ZH Gewurztraminer.

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  • 2012 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    White and yellow peaches, smoke, lychee, lilac and mineral. Perhaps due to the vintage not sure but big and ripe slightly lacking acidity. A great contract to the 10 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon had last year which was fresher with bright acidity. Lovely airy/cotton candy texture one expects from a Condrieu. Quite enjoyable but would have been more to my liking if showed a bit more definition/precision.

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Flight 2 - CDPs (2 Notes)

  • 1995 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 91 Points

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

    Dry red fruits, tobacco, smoke, leather and earth. A bit of dry tannins and bitterness as usual. I doubt that the try tannins will dissipate before fruit dries out. Still enjoyable.

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

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

    Ripe black and red fruits, raspberries, blackberries, blackberry jam, tobacco, garrigues, black olive, anise tobacco and earth. Very good concentration, dark fruit driven palate impression, nicely integrated tannins. It is still youthful and will improve further for at least another decade. A classic CDP with nice overall balance.

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Flight 3 - CDPs (3 Notes)

  • 2007 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

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

    Bob loves the 07 CDPs but I just have a hard time drinking more than a glass. This is another example of big porty wine that is definitely too ripe for me. Port, licorice and black fruits. Big scale wine, unctuous yet silky and nicely integrated tannins. Despite the high alcohol, it remains cool and balanced. I just don’t care for the port note. If your CDP palate aligns with Bob, you will be pleased. It will be interesting to follow how this will develop.

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  • 2008 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 95 Points

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

    Complete opposite of the 07 Clos de Papes. Red cherries, dry red cherries, cherry liqueur, a hint of green/cannabis, stem, garrigue, sweet spices, crushed white pepper and earth. Medium concentration, intense ripe red fruit driven palate, nicely integrated tannins and nice length. A bit of green really give nice lift and complexity. Really enjoyable already.

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  • 1999 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin Flawed

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

    TCA tainted but the great material is definitely there.

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Flight 4 - Hermitages (2 Notes)

  • 2003 Delas Frères Hermitage Les Bessards 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Reminded me a bit of Aussie shiraz. Surprisingly raspberry jam followed by blackberry jam, licorice, coconut and mint. Very ripe palate impression, excellent concentration and nicely integrated tannins. If you like the 03 northern rhone style and don’t mine a bit of sweet fruit, you will like this wine. Perhaps a great bargain at auction, if you like the ripe and sweet style.

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  • 1989 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon 93 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    This particular bottle seems a bit too mature. Dry red fruits, cherries, mineral, white pepper, charred streak and a hint of olive. Good concentration, dry red fruit driven palate impression, soft, silky and fully integrated tannins. Fully mature and slightly fading fruits. Showing nice overall balance. I would like to try another bottle to compare.

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Flight 5 - La Las (2 Notes)

  • 1985 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 97 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    More in line with the last bottle drank in Sep, 2013. Raspberry essence, smoke meat, garrigue and tapenade. Fully integrated harmonious palate, silky and sensual, fully integrated tannins and lovely long finish. No need to analyze too much, simply drinking deliciously.

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  • 1989 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 95 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    Silky black fruit driven, bacon fat, charred steak, crushed black pepper and a hint of black olive. Good concentration, silky, nicely integrated tannins and good length. Not as expressive and harmonious as the 85 version but still really enjoyable.

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Flight 6 - Stickies (2 Notes)

Closing

This was a fun dinner with a nice group of friends.

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