Second Sunday Group: 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Barb's
Tasted Sunday, January 14, 2018 by AllRed with 513 views
Introduction
The 2nd Sunday group gathered for our regular double blind tasting. For this group, we are presented a couple of double blind warm ups before the main flight. The warm ups are discussed & unveiled before moving on to the themed main flight. We spent forty five minutes or so tasting and evaluation the eight wines for the main flight before ranking the wines and then making guesses as to what we were tasting. Wines are ranked 1-8, one point for each place, and then unveiled from last place to first place. After the tasting, dinner is served with the additional wines brought by the group, nonblind. For this tasting we had twelve tasters and the cost was $40.
Flight 1 - Warm ups (2 Notes)
Flight 2 - Themed flight (8 Notes)
This was a difficult tasting. The wines were, aside from the Beaucastel, very light in color, in fact, I'd have guessed pinot noir based on color alone, as would have many of my fellow tasters. It was quickly apparent that they weren't pinots, but they didn't taste like much else, either. They had good acidity which would tend toward old world varieties/origins, but they were very clean and pure with pretty good fruit, suggesting new world. Most had noticeable tannin as well. I thought these were perhaps basic Langhe nebbiolo given the acid and tannin, though in retrospect these weren't quite tannic nor acidic enough. Some at the other table had suggested Chateauneuf, but as MiY said, they were too uniformly clean and none exhibited any of that classic garrigue. Presumably, time in the cellar will bring out the terroir, but as of now, these are light, clean, forward and enjoyable wines without identity.
This served to reinforce just how extremely difficult it is to evaluate/critique young wines. I cannot imagine having to do this for a living- thank goodness there are people who do and that I am not one of them. :)
Flight 3 - Dinner/dessert wines (10 Notes)
Enjoyed nonblind with roasted pork shoulder, creamed kale, white bean ragout and salted caramel brownies.
2015 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Blanc Mule Blanche 88 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage
Double blind. Good color with notes of orchard fruit. The palate is similar to the bouquet and also has a good bit of acid. A light, subtle wine. I guessed Chardonnay from the Mâconnais.
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2013 Maison L'Envoyé Morgon Côte du Py Vieilles Vignes 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon
Double blind. Soft crimson red color with a touch of bricking at the meniscus. Notes of peppery spice, ripe red fruit and something a bit wild/gamy. Red berry fruit andspice on the palate. Picks up a perfumed floral quality as it breathes. I initially thought syrah but came around to Beaujolais. At peak for my palate.
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