Syrah lunch

Very enjoyable lunch, all the wines showed very well and were in the style that I like, i.e., elegant and restrained without new oak (other than the Garon).

• 1991 J.M. Boillot Pommard 1er Cru Les Jarollières 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pommard 1er Cru

  Did wonder if this was a Burgundy but the savoury notes on the palate made me guess northern Rhone. Fully resolved, soft tannins that made me think CdN from a more classic year like 1992. On the gentle downslope like the '91 Echezeaux from the same friend a couple of weeks ago, but always a privilege to have aged Burgundy like this.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1988 E. Guigal Hermitage 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Brought for a friend, perfect cork. As usual for old Guigals, guesses were at least a decade younger. Similar impressions to my last bottle without hitting the same heights, but nonetheless a wonderful example of an aged Hermitage - most landed on the appellation correctly.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Patrick Jasmin Côte-Rôtie 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Brought for a friend. Took time to open up; loved the wonderful floral, slightly rustic nose. Palate and colour were a little advanced, thought this showed older than the '88 Guigal. Understated and restrained as usual with this producer, but very much in the style that I enjoy.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1998 Michel & Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie Cuvée la Belle Hélène 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Wow a true unicorn, this was a wine that I've been wanting to try. My first instinct was early '00s Jamet; I said that such a silky texture could only be from a top producer. A Burgundian northern Rhone with elegance and restraint, beautifully balanced and pure dark red fruit. A fully integrated wine that was a real treat. Unanimous wine of the lunch.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2010 Mullineux Syrah Schist 93 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland

  Knew the identity of this wine from the friend who brought it; my first time trying this producer and very impressed. Still very youthful, had the smoky bacon and white pepper notes of a northern Rhone (very much Cornas-like). Definitely not out of place in the northern Rhone line-up, only new-world giveaway was the slightly sweet finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2017 Pierre Gonon Ardèche Les Iles Feray 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Ardèche

  Brought for a friend. Typical Gonon nose of blue fruit and olives, but a more experienced taster noted that it wasn't as floral as the St Joseph. Palate was fun and rich, with stemmy and briney notes. Explosive and expressive (albeit without much complexity), I think I liked this more than the others at the table. A gorgeous wine meant for early drinking.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2014 Radio-Coteau Syrah Dusty Lane 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  My extra, a dead ringer for northern Rhone such that no one suspected that this was new-world. Similar impressions to the previous bottle - savoury meaty notes, slightly bretty (in a good way) with restrained and elegant dark red fruit. Did very well amongst some tough competition.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2014 Domaine Garon Côte-Rôtie Les Rochins 80 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  My contribution. Supposedly the top cuvee but could only smell the vanilla from the new oak and taste the concentrated, polished purple fruit. An abomination of a northern Rhone.

  Read 6 Comments / Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No