Club Tasting 2: The Wines of the Northern Rhone Valley

Butler College, Princeton University
Tasted Friday, October 17, 2008 - Saturday, October 18, 2008 by RajivAyyangar with 454 views

Introduction

This tasting was so full I had to request double funds and hold the event twice! All in all I was disappointed with the wines - they were exceedingly polite, elegant, balanced, refined, and uninteresting. Then again, having recently been knocked out of my socks by the 2000 Guigal La Mouline, I should have expected disappointment.

Flight 1 - Day 1: Friday (4 Notes)

I was exhausted from prepping the event, and didn't take notes on a lot of the wines.

Flight 2 - Day 2: Saturday (6 Notes)

This was a more leisurely event, and we had some fun blending the Condrieu and the Remizieres Cuvee Christophe at the end. The blend was definitely a 90-point wine. Then again, at $70 for the condrieu and another $25 for the Remizieres... not exactly a stunning QPR.

  • 2006 Domaine des Rémizières Drôme 80 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Drôme

    (10/18/2008)

    Med ruby in the glass.
    Black pepper, raspberry on the nose.
    Good mouthfeel, nice finish, smooth low tannins.

    After some breathing, the nose gets better, yileding some anise and indian spices! Still rather flat on the palate, though.

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  • 2006 Domaine Georges Vernay Sainte-Agathe 82 Points

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

    (10/18/2008)

    Med+ purple.
    Pepper, a little sour cherry, faint oak on the nose.
    Palate: sweeter fruit than the Vernay VdP syrah, dry, silky soft tannins, good acid, hint of savoriness.

    Coming back at the end of the tasting, a bit mushroomy, peper, a bit savory, bright red fruit.

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  • 2006 Domaine Combier Crozes-Hermitage Clos des Grives 85 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    (10/18/2008)

    Dark ruby.
    Mellower pepper, more integrated nose, faint liquorice.
    A little bloodiness on the palate. Nice. Balanced, elegant. Not terribly exciting. 83

    Coming back at the end of the tasting: More mushrromy, very nice, with savory bright red fruit. 85

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  • 2006 Domaine Faury Saint-Joseph (Hedonism) 80 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Saint-Joseph

    (10/18/2008)

    Med reg/garnet.
    Black pepper, faint coffee liqueur, some florals, integrated raspberry, faint ham.
    A little lighter than the combier on the palate. med- tannins. Nice.

    Coming back at the end of the tasitng: More plum, still lots of pepper.

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  • 2005 Domaine des Rémizières Crozes-Hermitage Blanc Cuvée Christophe 80 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    (10/18/2008)

    Med- straw in the glass.
    Some burnt rubber on the nose, smoke, black pepper, light oak, pear, honey, florals. Nice.
    In the mouth, oak, low acid, a little honey-baked ham, good finish, if low acid and really dry.

    st90 rp88

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  • 2006 Stéphane Othéguy Condrieu 83 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    (10/18/2008)

    Light straw in the glass, this wine has an impressively fun and candylike nose of apples, mini jellos, yeast, strong apple cider, brown sugar, and a little papaya. Unfortunately as it breaths, the apples start to take over. In the mouth it is a little off-dry, honeyed, with ok acidity but not balanced, too appley. Flabby and flat in the mouth. I'm disappointed.

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