Specs - Southern Rhone Tasting 2009

Bear Dalton is the lead wine buyer for Specs Liquor and Wine Stores in Houston and surrounding areas. This lineup was quite good. Everyone loved the surprise at the end.

• 2003 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas 87 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  Color was deep garnet with slight bricking on the edges. The nose started with a blast of garrigue, black cherry, and earthy components. The initial attack was bright fruit with very dusty overtones. In the midpalate the oak started rushing in. On the finish, the cedar and splinters began pricking my tongue and really knocked this bottle down for me in the lineup. After 2hr in the glass, the wine turned very rustic. Barruol's oak treatment was a little too much for my tastes. Drink up in the next 2yrs. 87 pts.

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• 2004 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  #2 of the vertical. A lot brighter in the glass than the 2003. There was a slight indication of orange tips. The initial bouquet was a blast of strawberry cupcake and caramel. On the palate was a pleasent balance of the acidity, black fruit, and tannins. The finish was tighter and more structured than the 2003 and will probably improve over the next 5 yrs. I can tell the oak treatment changed for the good between the 2003 and 2004. Great Gigondas for $24. Drinking well now. 90+ pts.

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• 2005 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  #3 in the vertical. Deep, dark, opaque ruby color. The nose was filled with ripe raspberry with a touch of stems. This wine was still tight and young tasting. A mix of red and black fruits were there along with black pepper that came on stronger through the finish. Fresh acidity and tight tannins. Should continue to improve over the next 3 yrs. 90pts.

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• 2006 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas 89 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  #4 in the vertical. The wine was a dense dark red. The bouquet was more candied than the previous vintages with a touch of raspberry and spice. This bottle came across more new world than the 2005. The palate was dark cherry cola. The acids and tannins were not integrated yet and gave a feeling of thinness. This wine would be best with food and probably would improve with decanting. 89pts

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• 2006 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  These next 4 wines were noticeably darker and more dense than the normal Gigondas bottlings. The nose on this bottle was filled with deep black cherry. There was also a touch of citrus or maybe orange zest. On the palate the weight was definitely there. As soon as the wine hit my tongue, it gripped it like a 6yr old with a GI Joe. What a baby. Easily last 15+yrs. The finish had balanced acidity and young tight tannins. Good start for the single vineyards. 91pts.

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• 2006 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  90% Grenache. The color was lighter than the le Claux. The nose and palate were had a large dose of black pepper and oak influence. The raspberry, blackberry, and cedar lasted until the very tight finish. Again a very young wine that needs decanting. The cedar box and splinters were a little forceful on this bottle. They will probably resolve over the next few years though. Great bottle. 92pts.

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• 2006 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  #3 of the single vineyard wines. Color in the glass a beautiful deep dark ruby almost opaque. The bouquet was of wild strawberries and raspberries with hints of stems. This bottle was the silkiest of the three single vineyard bottlings. Quite balanced acidity and fruit even though so young. The finish was completed with a large dose of full tannins that instantly showed this wine's youthful vigor. Superb effort and my most favorite of the three. 93+pts.

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• 2006 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas

  The Valbelle is a blend of the above three single vineyards with some others as well. This wine was noticeably darker than the previous three. The additional grapes contained more syrah. The nose on this wine was dramatically forward with sweeter fruit. Noticeably balanced acidity which begs for food. The finish was singing blackberries and cedar chips. 93+pts. Out of the four on this flight, the Valbelle was my most favorite drinking well now.

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• 2005 Saint Cosme Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

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

  Color was about the same as the single vineyard Gigondas bottles. The nose was more black and blue fruit with leather, tobacco, and cedar blended in. Aromatically very interesting. On the palate, I would guess this wine gets a little more oak than the previous bottles. It is not overdone, but slightly more noticeable even though I don't think Barruol uses any new oak on his CdP. This wine is a similar style to the other Saint Cosme offerings. Great balance and will continue to improve over the next 10-15yrs. 92pts.

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• 2005 Patrick Lesec Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Galets Blonds 91 Points

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

  Color was opaque and inky dark. The nose was totally different than the previous Saint Cosme wines. The nose filled the area with extracted black and blue fruits, licorice, and an off-putting medicinal liqueur aroma. The alcohol was coming through a tad on the finish as well. The wine was quite young and forceful on the finish. I would like to taste this is a few years. There were a lot of parts and pieces that weren't harmonizing. 91pts.

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• 2005 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 94 Points

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

  Slightly lighter ruby red color. The nose was packed with leather, garrigue, and bright red fruit. On the palate this wine was the most elegant and feminine of the group. Wild strawberry, raspberry mixed with garrigue made this wine quite enjoyable. The wine's age becomes evident on the finish with its stunningly young tannins. This wine will probably outlive most of us. Wonderful effort. 94pts.

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• 2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 95 Points

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

  Bright deep ruby red hues. As soon as this glass was poured, the aromas filled the room. Violet, lavender, sweet red raspberry were bursting out of the glass. The wine was tight on the palate with deep black cherry, raspberry, and fresh strawberry. After a while in the glass secondary flavors began to pop up of cedar box, Asian spices, and hints of vanilla bean. Extremely elegant even at such a young age. Hang on to this bottle for a while before opening. WOTN for me even over the Jacques Perrin at this time. 95pts.

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• 2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin

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

  This was quite a surprise at the tasting. Bear Dalton opened up a 2004 and 2005 Beaucastel HJP. I certainly don't feel like my young palate should attempt to put a numerical score to this $550 wine. I felt very lucky to be able to taste such a wine. The nose was like a fruit roll up with a blast of candy with rose petal, wild raspberry, and blackcurrant. The palate was rather disjointed. There was so much going on, but it all wasn't moving in the same direction. Orange peel, dense fruit, and leather were all there. The finish was very tight. I hope to be lucky enough to taste this wine in 10-20 yrs.

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I know everyone at the event felt fortunate for Bear to bring out the Beaucastel HJPs. A good time was had by all. Thanks, Bear!