6/24 Dinner w/ Friends

Showcasing the wines from our engagement trip

• 2019 Domaine Eddie Feraud et Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

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

  3-hour double-decant, then consumed over 2+ hours.
  
  Strawberry, cherry, rose petal, and lavender on the nose. The notes are fresh, precise and distinct, not integrated and mixed like potpourri. Over the course of the evening, the wine fluctuated with each note playing a greater or lesser role. Fun to watch it evolve in the glass.
  
  15.5% ABV on the label, but it appears much lighter on the palate with the alcohol balanced, not prominent.
  
  WOTN in a flight with:
  2019 Domaine de Reveirolles
  2010 Château La Nerthe
  2010 Domaine du Pégau

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• 2019 Domaine de Reveirolles Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

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

  One-hour decant was not necessary; reached peak aromatics within 15 minutes and held steady for 3+ hours. Textbook young CdP - right down the fairway. Tight, concentrated nose - plum, cherry, lavendar, sage. Blended perfectly in balance. Nothing mindbending, but a very good example of CdP that would suit many palates at an approachable price point.

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• 2010 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

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

  Nothing new to add re: aromatics - it largely mirrored the reviews from VANCOUVER and others. Beautiful after 1 hour in the decanter; however, it fell off considerably throughout the tasting over 4+ hours. The bottle was ex-cellar so it had nothing to do with storage conditions. Time your opening wisely.

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• 2010 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 93 Points

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

  Bought at auction in 2021; properly stored since; cork and bottle condition: A+; ullage < 1in below cork; deep ink-like coloration with very fine, silt-like sediment
  
  Aromatics were singularly and powerfully brett/barnyard initally upon opening. After a 4-hour decant (half in decanter; half in bottle following double-decant), the aromatics mellowed out into a balance of the notes others have described - plum, anise, roasted meats, etc.
  
  On the palate, a deep concentration complements a well-balanced acidic structure and smooth tannins.
  
  No perspective on where this bottle sits on the maturity curve, but it's drinking well now. If you want to hold on, the level of tannin and acidicty indicates this bottle could last another 5-10 years, maybe longer. For context, I saved one glass in the bottle - it was even better the next day.
  
  Not WOTN as half the guests loved it and half hated it. Ultimately, this wine comes down to personal preference on brett.

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• 1990 Schlossgut Diel Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 90 Points

  Germany, Nahe

  Bought 5 bottles at auction this year - 1st bottle down. Ullage <0.5 inches; cork <1/4 saturated (used the Durand, but not necessary after the fact). No decant as this was an impromptu open at the end of a dinner party.
  
  Fresh and lively with apricot and (strangely) sour apple the dominant notes. Honey is there, but only just so (mirroring the lack of botrytis notes from other reviewers).
  
  A fun wine, but nothing groundbreaking. Served at 55 degrees - perfect for light dessert. Might put a light chill on it to drink as an apertif next time.
  
  Viscosity: Low (not syruppy)
  Acidity: Medium+ (higher than expected, given its age)
  Sugar: Reserved (at least by modern auslese standards)
  
  Drank the last glass two days later - all notes identical, except the sour apple dissipated substantially (give this wine a lot of air)

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