Mostly Northern Rhone dinner

Six of us got together for a nice dinner at our usual hang out, the grill room at Capella Georgetown. It was a beautiful day so we headed to the roofdeck to hang out. We spent almost two ours enjoying the white and champagnes.

The original theme was bring something drinking well but a few emails later, we ended up with mostly Northern Rhones.

• 1988 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 87 Points

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

  The last bottle I had from the same batch showed no sign of oxidation and really enjoyable, around 93 pts. Unfortunately this shows a hint of madeira. Dry fruits, dry figs, dry orange rind, lemon candy, nuts and a hint of sherry. Still quite fat.

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The 96 Dom Oeno was very Chevalier Montrachet/vinous. The best example to date and incredibly delicious.

• 1990 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  A slightly more mature example. Orange rind, honey, coriander, a hint of red fruits, brioche and smoke. Shy mousse, sweet and ripe yellow fruit driven palate impression, good acidity and mineral and good finish. Not the best example but still very enjoyable.

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• 1996 Dom Pérignon Champagne Oenothèque 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  I have always loved the regular bottling of the 96 Dom and have often preferred to the Oeno. However this has to be the best example to date. Smoke and mineral, Chevalier Motrachet like fresh white fruits, lemon, oyster shell and fresh white pepper. Quite airy and delicate yet intense palate, strong presence of mineral, just the perfect amount of acidity and long seamless finish. Although still very youthful, incredibly hedonistic. Really reminds me a great Chevalier Montrachet with very vinous nose.

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• 2002 Pascal Doquet Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil-sur-Oger 92 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Bacon fat, smoke, fresh apple and baked apple. Medium body, clean but a bit too simple. I wonder if this needs mot time. Very clean but a bit simple.

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Although this is not up my alley, they showed good balance and were delicious.

• 2003 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc Le Méal 96 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Very ripe yellow fruit driven nose, candied lemon, almond paste, creme brulees and orange marmalade. Exceptional concentration, oily, ripe yellow fruit driven palate impression, slightly lacking acidity but exceptional mineral expression. Although very ripe and lacking acidity, strong presence of mineral give the wine from being cloying and tired. There is a hint of heat if you have low alcohol tolerance. Quite enjoyable.

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• 2009 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 96 Points

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

  A big scale wine, a big bad boy. Pitted yellow fruits, pineapple, bubble yum, smoke and mineral. Quite fresh, unctuous, noticeable pineapple soda like palate impression, bright acidity and mineral and long finish. This has come together nicely, showing better harmony. Really enjoyable. If you like SQN whites, your score will be at least a few points higher.

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• 2009 Cayuse God Only Knows 94 Points

  USA, Oregon, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  I have only had a half dozen of Cayuse wines. It is neither Rhone nor Cali. Although highly concentrated and high in alcohol, the overall expression is cool and harmonious. Blue flowers, strawberries, blackberries, sweet spices and rare charred steak. Really polished palate, ripe yet fresh sweet fruit driven palate impression, nicely integrated tannins and good finish. There is a hint of bitter note at the end. Quite enjoyable and I can definitely drink more than a couple sips.

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• 2005 Sine Qua Non Grenache Atlantis Fe2O3~2a, b & c 96 Points

  USA, California

  This is a big scale wine. Seems deeper and denser than the God Only knows. Intense black fruit driven nose, blackberry concentration, black cherries, Ink, cassis, licorice, smoke, noticeable oak and mineral. Incredible concentration, ink black fruit driven palate impression, good acidity and long finish. It is still extremely youthful. Impressive for sure.

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This is the first time that I had the pleasure of drinking the Belle Helene and it was incredible and I gave 100 pts.

• 1999 Michel & Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie Cuvée la Belle Hélène 100 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Incredibly pleasurable monster. Perhaps the modern day reincarnation of the 61 La Chapelle. Unbelievably intense perfectly ripe crushed blackberries, black cherries, black currant, smoke, bacon fat and lavender. Incredible concentration, silky and polished palate, intense fresh black fruit driven palate impression, meat, bright acidity and seamless harmonious finish that lasts. This is a monumental wine. Incredible harmony and balance.

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• 1991 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  This seems a bit monolithic, certainly not the best example of this wine. Some black fruits, black plum, steak, still a hint of oak. Good concentration and decent finish. It was outshined by the Belle Helene and the La Las. Having had an exceptional bottle before, I have to assume that this is not entirely correct. Still good match with a grilled red meat.

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• 1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  As Tom mentioned, there is bottle variation for the ones that were imported to the states. This is too porty and lacks the intense fruit that you get in the correct bottle. Some sweet dry black fruits, mint, steak, tapenade and menthol. Not showing the incredible concentration one expects from the 90 La Chapelle. Still pretty decent.

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What can I say! I will happy if this is the only wine that I can drink for the rest of my life.

• 1989 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 99 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Upon opening, explosive nose of sweet ripe black fruits, blackberries, black cherry, cornucopia of flowers, light caramel, sweet spices, heavy cream/butter and roasted almonds. Incredibly polished palate, silky and sensual, nicely integrated tannins and seamless long finish. This is all about finesse and expressive nose. I can drink this all day and night.

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• 1990 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline 97 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Compare to the 89, this is riper, bigger and sweeter. In this incident, I prefer the 89’s expressive nose and finesse. Intense sweet black fruits, black spices, charred steak and truffle. Exceptional concentration, intense sweet black fruit driven palate impression and lovely long finish. Another wine that I can drink all day and night.

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We also had SQN Mr. K and Chapoutier Vin de Paille. There were both delicious but I have not taken any notes. Another great evening with great friends!