WCC 2007 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reds Blind

Bob S put on this tasting entirely from his own cellar. We knew nothing about the wines at all until just before the tasting began, when he told us these were all Rhone blend reds, nothing else.

All wines double-decanted around 10am. Dinner was from 7:30 to 10pm.

Photos and some more details can be found on my website:

http://www.finewinegeek.com/tn/2014-07-31_WCC_2007Ch9_Doratos/

• 2007 Famille Brunier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine La Roquète 93 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Earthy red fruit nose. Open, juicy, long, complex. This seemed older than 2007, maybe 2000. Group WOTN.

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• 2007 Domaine des Sénéchaux Châteauneuf-du-Pape 95 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Ripe dark fruit nose. Long, delicious, complex. Seems more Syrah-ish than 1. Reminds me of a Saxum wine. My #1 WOTN by a narrow margin. Group #4 WOTN.

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• 2007 Domaine de Saint Siffrein Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Muted black fruit nose. Rich, young, sweet. More Grenache-ish. Opening more in the glass. 92-94. Tied for Group #2 WOTN.

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• 2007 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Floral nose. Dark and juicy. Rich, but simple compared to the first 3 in this flight. Grenache.

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• 2007 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Exceptionnelle

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Gamey Grenache nose. Thin, tart, short. Perhaps a flawed bottle. NR

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• 2007 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Smoky Grenache nose. Complex, long, tannic, structured and delicious.

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• 2007 Patrick Lesec Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pierres Dorées 92 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Yummy, long, elegant, juicy. A tasty young wine.

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• 2006 Château des Tours Vacqueyras 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vacqueyras

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Strawberry nose. Sweet berry fruit in the mouth. Very different from any other wine tonight. More like a rich rose than a serious red wine. Sill, enjoyable to drink.

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• 2007 Xavier Vignon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Anonyme 93 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Big, juicy. Very young and rich. Tasty. Will probably improve for 5 or more years. 93-?

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• 2007 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Cuvée du Papet 94 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] A huge, ripe tannic young wine. Gamey and complex. Tastes like a Sine Qua Non Grenache.

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• 2007 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Auguste Favier 95 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Very rich and long. Tastes very Californian, like an Alban or Saxum. A big rich complex appealing wine. My #2 WOTN by a narrow margin.

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• 2007 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 93 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Perhaps the most dark, brooding, and serious wine so far. Big tannic, still somewhat closed. Seems very young, but with great potential. 93-?

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• 2007 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Origines 93 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Huge black fruit nose. Exotic, gamey, rich. A delicious wine with red and black fruit. I thought it could be Sine Qua Non. 93-?

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• 2007 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 92 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Big oaky nose. Exotic, gamey, rich, yummy red and black fruit. I thought it might a Sine Qua Non EBA wine.

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• 2007 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Collection Charles Giraud 95 Points

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Big juicy stunningly complex wine. Very young with a great future. My 3rd WOTN by a narrow margin. 95-? Tied for Group #2 WOTN.

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• 2007 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin

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

  [Double-decanted around 10am.] Complex nose. Rich in the mouth, but a bit hot. The only hot wine of the night, it is hard to taste at this point. NR

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A lot of ripe appealing wines made in 2007. Many seemed more like California than France.