K&L N. Rhone Tasting, SF

Was a bit surprised at the crowd - there was none. Five or six Rhone lovers taking their time. Very chill and enjoyable way to taste.

• 2023 Clos de la Bonnette Condrieu Roc D Ucarisse 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

  Nose: Almond, pear, fresh, honey blossom, good brightness. Palate also with good energy, med+ richness and finish, well balanced. Overall a very pretty and enjoyable Condrieu. Could age nicely but also very good now.

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• 2023 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

  Disappointing. Ripe red fruit, very ripe. Strawberry? Young and tannic on the palate, with more red fruit, but odd hollowness on the mid palate and faded away quickly. Enjoyable for fruit now but not in balance. Questionable.

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• 2022 Xavier Gerard Côte-Rôtie Le Mollard 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  A nice step up, with more going on everywhere. Cherry, garrigue, earthy, a bit of olive tapenade, strawberry, deep cherry. An engaging nose that offered something a little different with every sniff. Deep cherry, med- tannin, good body and better balance and length. Perhaps a touch on the rich side, but overall I really enjoyed this. Good now, will be better in 5-10+ years.

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• 2012 Domaine Barge Côte-Rôtie Le Combard 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  Sweet floral cherry nose, bare hint of olive. Still fairly tannic but also missing some of the mid-palate. Ok finish. Enjoyable but perhaps not balanced in all its parts.

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• 2022 Yann Chave Hermitage 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  My first Yann and I was duly impressed. Sweet strawberry and olive nose. Good density, length and depth on the palate. A bit closed but very long, tannic and very well balanced. Pretty darn good I scribbled in my notes. Didn't seem at all overblown.

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• 2022 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Score conservative. A bit riper but also more complex on the nose than the Yann. Cherry, strawberry, earthy herbs, very very engaging nose. Palate also a bit tight, but long, dense, med+ tannin, impeccable balance. So much here and so much hidden. Will be fantastic, I'd think, in (20?) years.

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Fun to taste through these. Yes, the two Hermitage wines outshone all comers, and yes the JL Chave was Chave, but all the wines showed typical Rhone characteristics. The Bonnette was a very good Condrieu, my first experience with them. Sadly, I was disappointed in the Paris and Barge, but the '22s were all very good. Hard to make any broad generalizations about vintage or producer but an entertaining little tasting.