Football & Chateauneuf du Papes @ Howard's 2010

• 2006 Alban Vineyards Viognier Alban Estate Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  Racy wine, with exotic ginger, floral and citrus notes. Lively, and not too "perfumey". Lovely.

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

• 2006 Alban Vineyards Roussanne Estate 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  A bit of honey and floral elements. Creamy but not fat. There was good citric acidity here to buffer the flesh. Medium length.

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

• 1990 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Tradition 96 Points

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

  This showed very well, although perhaps more evolved than it should be. Lots of tobbaco, earth, minerals and smoke. Lots of secondary flavors here. Complex and delicious.

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

• 1989 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

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

  A bit thin at first, but this developed nicely with air, taking on weight and a cherry liquor quality.Still primary.

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

• 1989 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape 84 Points

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

  A bit thin for what this should be. Light and a bit watery. Some lactic qualities here. Off bottle?

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

• 1995 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 93 Points

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

  This was gorgeous. Wafting aromas of leather, earth, tobbaco and still loads of fruit. A bit of spice. Complex and lengthy. Got better with air. [Group favorite in the flight]

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

• 1998 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 92 Points

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

  This is holding up quite nicely. Ripe cherries, raspberries and tar. A fun gravely texture. Loved it.

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

• 1998 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

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

  This was a strong showing for thsi wine. Fruits of steel. Rich and beefy, but too young. [Group favorite in the flight]

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

• 2001 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 87 Points

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

  Cranberries and warm stones. The structure was a bit spikey here for me. Either not enough decanting or this needs time. Nice wine, though... shows promise.

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

• 2001 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Origines 86 Points

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

  Unusual tropical fruits here. Papaya and mangos? Interesting but a bit tutti frutti for me.

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

• 2000 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points

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

  Lovely complexity; tobbaco, earth, red fruits. Nice balance here. Dusty, earthy finish. Loved it.

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

• 2000 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Les Quartz 94 Points

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

  This showed spectacularly well. Loaded with everything: fruit, earth, structure. Big palate impact on entry and fine length on exit. [Group favorite in the flight]

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

• 1999 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 92 Points

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

  Rich and mouthfilling. A bit of funk (in a good way) to add complexity. Enjoyed this a lot. [Group favorite in the flight]

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

• 1999 Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de la Reine des Bois 90 Points

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

  Compared to the other wines at this tasting, this was much more of a fruit bomb. Ripe, almost crystalized fruit. Interesting.

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

• 2000 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

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

  Liquid silk. Glyceral mouthfeel. Nice, but perhaps a bit alcoholic?

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

• 2003 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 93 Points

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

  This had it all... ripe (but not too ripe) fruit, herbs, warm stones and lovely balance. Delicious. [Group favorite in the flight]

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

• 2006 Alban Vineyards Grenache Alban Estate Vineyard 86 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  This was out of place with the Chateauneufs in this tasting. Very sweet, ripe, and tropical fruit-like.

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

• 2003 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

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

  Quite a bit of cranberry flavors, with prickly acids. Loads of Christmas spices. Medium bodied.

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

There was also a homemade wine from Mike J in here made from Central Coast fruit.

• 2007 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

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

  Very large scaled for a Beaucastel; packed with muscular, ripe, sweet, rich fruits. Seemed more at place as a cocktail wine today.

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

• 2002 Sine Qua Non Syrah Just For the Love of It 95 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  This seemed very new world, but in the best possible way. Loaded with extract, but there were layers of flavors here that kept interest. Subtle cedar and herbal notes. Deep, deep wine. [Group favorite in the flight]

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

Other "post-tasting" wines (I have limited memory of these): 2001 Ramey Jericho Canyon Cab, 2002 Pierre Peters Millésimé, 2001 Martinelli Guissepe and Louisa Zin, 2005 Pride Vintner's Select Cab.