Monthly Tasting Group EEE #022; France Northern Rhône

All wines were tasted blind.

• 2012 Weingut Hain Piesporter Riesling Trocken 86 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Expressive bouquet with tropical fruits and some tart citrus. On the palate a lot of tropical fruits and some minerality. A bit fat. Dry. Concentrated. No extreme refinement or complexity, but this is a good and concentrated Riesling, nicely dry and without too much astringent acidity.

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• 2011 Domaine Des Hauts Chassis Crozes-Hermitage l'Essentiel Blanc 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

  Beautiful bouquet with white fruits, some caramel and vanilla and yeasty impressions. On the palate soft yellow fruits, a touch of well dosed oak, low acidity and round. A really nice wine and a few years of ageing won't heart.

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• 2010 André Perret Condrieu Chery 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

  The bouquet shows soft yellow fruit like banana, tangerine, flowers and limestone. On the palate grapes, melon and apricots. Aromatic wine with a good length.

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• 2007 Domaine Rousset Crozes-Hermitage Les Picaudières 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

  Cherries, minerals, stone, leather and pepper in the bouquet. On the palate firm dark cherries, loads of mineral, medium ripe forest fruits and a bit herbal. Firm acidity and tannin and a bit drying in the finish. Good complexity but not really refined in this stage. Probably wise to wait until 2017 or 2018. 88+ for now.

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• 2007 Domaine La Tache St. Joseph Cuvée Badel 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph

  In the bouquet sweet and ripe, almost jammy fruits. Same on the palate, a lot of sweetness, rose hips and minerals. Firm acidity and tannin with still a bite. Although the wine is showing maturity there is no real hurry.

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• 2009 Domaine Des Hauts Chassis Crozes-Hermitage Les Chassis 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

  Beautiful bouquet with ripe fruits and minerals. Same on the palate. Juicy red fruits, minerals, laurel and licorice. Many layers. A beautiful wine with good complexity. Early maturity now.

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• 2006 Pierre Gaillard St. Joseph Les Pierres 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph

  In the bouquet good ripe cherries and some slightly lactic impressions. On the palate earthy and minerals, firm cherries, bell pepper and white pepper. Good acidity and fairly soft tannin. This wine is in its maturity stage now and can last easily another 3+ years.

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• 2001 Les Vins de Vienne Cornas Les Barcillants 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

  Complex bouquet with ripe red as well as dark forest fruits leather and licorice. On the palate ripe red fruits, white pepper and clove. A firm amount of sweetness balanced by good acidity. Good minerality. Round and soft tannin with still a good bite. The wine is still very much alive and mature now, but it can easily last until 2015.

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