FRENCH BAKERY Northern Rhone BYO Dinner

The French Bakery Cafe, 1023 Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands, FL
Tasted Wednesday, January 6, 2010 - Thursday, January 7, 2010 by markellen.foodies@gmail.com with 1,089 views

Introduction

Attendees: Carlos Deupi; Roberta & David Ehrenreich; Ellen & Mark Friedman(Us); Charlie Frumkin(The French Bakery); Jason Gilbert; Edith & Bob Hudson; Jerry McGinley, Bob Muraro; and Craig Von Teuber.

Maria Frumkin's Tasting Menu:
Antipast - Family Style - Forest mushrooms and roasted vegetables
Butternut squash organic soup, sage crostini
Cote de porc rotie, organic carrots
Three cheeses
Flouless Venezuelan chocolate tat, dates

SCORING: 89 0r less - Would NOT Buy for oneself. 90-94 Excellent. Would purchase at Retail. 95+ EXTRAORDINARY. One of the most memorable of its type.

Flight 1 - UNMASKED WHITES - Marsanne vs Viognier (2 Notes)

  • 2001 Domaine des Rémizières Hermitage Blanc Cuvée Émilie 88 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (1/6/2010)

    Jason's wine. Marsanne(100%?). Jason's comment was he liked the unctuous petrol glycerin notes. Craig agreed with Jason. David and I didn't care for it. I usually prefer Marsanne blended.

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  • 2005 E. Guigal Condrieu 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

    (1/6/2010)

    Carlos' wine. David and I thought it an excellent Viognier. Craig and Jason thought it lacked the Classic White Peach notes representative of Condrieu. Not a Condrieu expert. I was not disappointed, as it was a very good Viognier, with good acidity, and slight anise notes.

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Flight 2 - The EXPENSIVE HEAVYWEIGHTS(not by heft, but cost) (3 Notes)

While there was a clear preference for the Chave, 6-1/2 1sts, there was NOT a wide disparity in the ratings- 0.9 points differential.
Surprisingly this flight seemed to be outclassed by the following flight.

  • 1998 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie La Landonne 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

    (1/7/2010)

    Mark's wine(Me) 1/2 1st place vote, avg 90.1. Bob H, 88 - split with Chave Hermitage. Thought Cornas.
    Charlie, 93 - A powerhouse; robust, graphite and pencil lead(redundant); smoked fruits too. Carlos, 92 - Color, blood red, saturated; Nose -smoky; Taste - smoke, spice tannic. Jason, 90(second). David, 90 - Most alcohol, sweet nose, mellowed in glass. Bob M, 90(third).Jerry, 90(third). Mark(me), 88 - Heavy, high alcohol. Improved with air. Craig, 3rd - more effervescent. Roberta, second.
    Ellen- "Pas Pour Moi!"

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  • 1995 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (1/7/2010)

    Bob M's wine(reprise from June 2008). 6-1/2 1sts fo 10, avg 91.0. Carlos, 93 - Clear red color; smoky, lush nose; taste-bitter, creamy, funky, peppery. Jerry, 93 - white pepper, silky tannins. David,91 - peppery, big, balanced. Bob M, 92. Roberta, 1st. Craig, 1st - great overall complexity.
    Charlie, 93(2nd choice) - Brett, lots of character, long finish, peppery notes, some rose petal too. Mark(me), 90 - Balanced, light, lacks complexity.Seemed to improve with air. Jason, 89(3rd choice). Bob H, 88(tied with La Ladonne) - thought both were Cornas.
    Ellen's comment "pas pour moi!"

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  • 1988 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (1/7/2010)

    Bob H's wine. 3 of 10 1sts, ave 90.6. Charlie, 94 - some brett, great balance, forest mushrooms. Mark(me), 92 - Light sweet brett, good balance, pepper anise notes. Jason, 91 - 1st.
    Carlos, 91 - Blood red clear color; nose- smoky, alcohol; Taste- big, nutty, meaty.Jerry, 92(2nd). David, 90 - Barnyard, blew off. Nice balance. Bob M, 91(2nd). Bob H, 86(3rd) - Cote Rotie? Craig, 2nd - Full bodied, with good overall depth. Roberta, 3rd.
    Ellen - "Pas Pour Moi!"

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Flight 3 - FLIGHT OF THE NIGHT- SURPRISE!!! (3 Notes)

For Charlie and I this flight showed better than the others. The unheralded 98 Guigal Hermitage which can still be purchased for $50-60, seemed to clearly show the best this evening. (The Le Rouet's score was depressed by 2 85's.)

  • 1998 Michel Perraud Cornas Le Vignon 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    (1/7/2010)

    David's wine. 2 1sts, avg. 91.0. Carlos, 95 - Deep red, dark center. Isopropyl, complex, smoky nose. Taste -beefy, huge. Mouth puckering tannic. Blue fruit after a while.Jason, 92 (first.
    Charlie, 94 - Graphite, game, outstanding minerality, Just a bit shy on the nose. Craig, 90(second) - great also. Bob H, 90. Mark(me), 91 - Good, but lacks complexity of the others. David, 90 - all equal.
    Roberta(third) - fruity wines. Ellen- last, 85.

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  • 1999 Jean-Luc Colombo Hermitage Le Rouet 89 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (1/7/2010)

    Ellen's wine(reprise from June 2008, then CF's wine.) 1 1st(me), avg 89.4. Mark(me), 94 - Most complex, and elegant.
    Bob H, 91(second). David, 90 - all equal. Charlie, 90 - Rustic, cloudy, tannic. Great structure, wild berry aftertaste. Ellen, 90(second). Craig, 88 - poor texture. Lacked identity. Jason, 88(third.) Carlos, 85- Deep saturated, murky cloudy color. Nose - slightly off. Taste - somewhat oxidized, vinegary, chunky. Roberta, second. Fruity wines.

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  • 1998 E. Guigal Hermitage 92 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (1/7/2010)

    David's wine. 7 1sts, avg 92.1(WOTN). Charlie, 95 - Seductive nose, ripe, remains elegant. elderberry notes. Super, long lasting finish. Craig, 92 - Great!. Bob H, 92. Ellen, 91. Roberta, first. Me, 93(second to Columbo Le Rouet) - Super. Carlos, 92(second) - Viscous, clear color; nose- smoky earthy; taste- well balanced, cherry, delicate, elegant. Jason, 91. Bob M, first. Jerry, first. David,90 - all equal.

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Flight 4 - FLIGHT 4 (3 Notes)

  • 2000 Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Fontaines 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    (1/7/2010)

    Jerry's xtra wine. 4 1sts, avg. 90.1 Carlos,92 (split w Tardieu Laurent) - Reddish w purple center; Nose - alcohol; spicy cranberry taste to me. Bob M, 92. Charlie, 90(3 way tie) - Pleasant, balanced. Young tannic, fresh berries and cherries with a touch of pepper. Ellen, 89(others 80 or worse). Craig, first - Pepper.
    Jason, 90(third). Bob H, 90(third). Jerry, 90(third). Roberta, third. David, third. Mark(me), 88(third) - Coarse, ordinary.

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  • 2006 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Petite Chapelle 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (1/6/2010)

    Charlie's wine. 2 1sts, avg, 90. Mark(me), 91 - Only really good one in flight. David, first.
    Bob H, 92(second). Jason, 92(second). Jerry, 92(second). Carlos, 91 - Saturated, slightly cloudy appearnance. Nose - wood chips, smokiness. Taste red fruit, good acid. Bob M, 90(tgird). Roberta, second. Charlie, 90 - Appealing for the minerlaity. Clear, fresh, and nice long finish. Craig, second. Raspberry fruit.

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  • 1995 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (1/7/2010)

    Jerry's wine.Reprise from June 2008. 5 firsts, avg 91.0(91.8 w/o Ellen). Bob H, 95. Jason, 93. Jerry, 93. Roberta, first. Charlie, 90 - split vote. Carlos, 92(split vote) - good legs, purple red edges. Smoky leather nose. Taste- well balanced, jammy, some barnyard, smoke, leather. Bob M, 92(first).
    Mark(me), 90 - good. Craig, third - cola? David, second. Ellen disliked.

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Flight 5 - FLIGHT 5 (2 Notes)

  • 2004 Delas Frères Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    (1/7/2010)

    Jason's wine. 4 1sts of 6 respondents, avg. 90.8. Jason, 94. Carlos, 93 - Viscous red, cloudy; Sweet candy, fruity taste. Charlie, 92 - Lovely sweet aftertaste. Complex and profound. Bob M, first.
    Jerry, 88. Mark(me), 87 - coarse.
    Roberta, David, Bob H, Craig, and Ellen did not comment.

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  • 2003 Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas La Louvée 91 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

    (1/7/2010)

    Craig's wine. 2 1sts, avg 91.5. Mark(me), 91. Jerry, 95.
    Carlos, 92 - Slightly cloudy, well balanced pepper. Charlie,91 - Blood orange, balanced fragrance, nutty. Bob M, second. Jason, 90.
    Roberta, David, Craig, Bob H., and Ellen did not comment.

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Flight 6 - DESSERT (1 Note)

  • 1995 Clos Cancailloü Jurançon Gourmandise 93 Points

    France, Southwest France, Jurançon

    (1/7/2010)

    Jerry's dessert wine. No comments, however Ellen thought it the WOTN. Paired perfectly with the flourlesss Venezuelan Chocolate Cake. Excellent balancing acidity.

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Closing

An excellent tasting. Three of the wines reprised our June 2008 Dinner, and it was interesting to observe their development. Surprisingly the WOTN was David's 1998 GUIGAL HERMITAGE, which seemingly swept the honors from some of the esteemed competition.

Maria's Dinner OUTSHONE the WINES.

NEXT MONTH 1997 NAPA vs TUSCANY. A GREAT VINTAGE FOR BOTH!

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