Big Meat and Serious Syrah on a gorgeous summer afternoon
Westport, CT
Tasted July 29, 2017 by retired_and_roving with 435 views
Introduction
A terrific event hosted by a very generous fellow CT couple was a wonderful exploration of the power and worldwide expression of Syrah. We tasted through many examples from Northern Rhone, California, Washington and Australia. The tasting started with a selection of champagne and white wines to accompany the starters and fish courses and then moved into the syrah tasting to accompany the meat courses. We lucked out with some great weather after the early forecast of rain and were able to enjoy the entire tasting outdoors by the pool, from the early afternoon to the wee hours of the night while dining on some amazing food prepared by our hosts:
Cheese board selection from Murray's Cheese
Prosciutto
Caviar (Beluga and Osetra)
Baked Salmon encrusted in mustard and potato chips with corn salad
Grilled Octopus
Moroccan Lamb and couscous with yogurt dressing
16 hour smoked Pork Putt Sliders with homemade BBQ sauce
Brownies & Peach/Pecan Pie
In addition to the notes below - there are a number of wines that I didn't get around to trying in the line-up - unfortunately too much wine and food for me at that stage:
2006 Saxum Broken Stones
2005 Chris Ringland Shiraz
2011 Iniskillin Vidal Ice Wine Gold Oak Aged
A great day with amazing food, wine and company. Thanks to our hosts and to all the participants for bringing such memorable and enjoyable wines.
For a different perspective on the wines tasted please refer to mc2wines tasting story here: https://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=35846
Flight 1 - Champagne & Whites to start (5 notes)
Rosé - Sparkling
1988 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Rosé La Grande Dame
France, Champagne
The color on this is quite interesting - almost a light salmon/orangey pink. On the nose some oxidative notes. On the palate very different from any rose I have previously tasted, and this is by far the oldest I have ever tasted. More toasty complex oxidative notes are prevalent with the strawberry fruit more secondary. Very complex, interesting and enjoyable. Was very happy to have the opportunity to try this.
White
2014 Y de Yquem
France, Bordeaux
My first time with this wine and what a delight this was to try. I am not usually a big fan of straight Sauv Blanc as I find it too fruit forward, but when blended with Semillon - a certain weight and almost creamy richness is added that is just a lovely combination. Stone fruits (white peaches and a bit of apricot) along with the grapefruit, and some layering on the palate - no sweetness. Would love to try this again.
White - Sparkling
2004 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Coeur de Cuvée
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
I really enjoy the Vilmart wines and this was no exception, they have that clear bright line of acidity both in the fine precise bubbles and the lemon zesty flavor. Paired very nicely with some Osetra caviar. I think though that this is still too youthful to be showing the additional complexity it is sure to add with cellar time. Hold for now.
White
1999 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
In a summer of discovering some new white wines, this is another one that has caught my fancy. Poured from 3L bottle. The color is golden yellow and clear as a bell - very pretty in the afternoon sun. This has some weight in the mouth feel, almost a waxy lanolin that makes it more of a wine to sip slowly and think about rather than gulp. It tastes of golden apple, nectarine with a bit of nuttiness on the back palate. Really good - would have liked to stay with this for a while but we had not even gotten to the reds yet..........
Flight 2 - Serious Syrah (12 notes)
Red
1995 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
Was excited to try this after sourcing this bottle while on holiday in Paris - not too many recent notes so was not sure what to expect. Decanted for about 1 hour prior to serving. Quite soft and more elegant on the palate than I would have thought, with the iron, blood and saltiness coming through on the finish. The nose was more subdued. Followed in the glass over a few hours and it did not change much. Very good, but did not stand out in the line up with more powerful wines to follow.
Red
2000 M. Chapoutier Ermitage l'Ermite
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
A bit tight for me on initial tasting, but with time in the glass it opened up a bit more. Dark fruits, very savory profile, not a lot of secondary development at this point - think this will continue to benefit from more time in the cellar.
Red
2005 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Le Gréal
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Wow this was one of my favorite wines of the tasting and my first time learning about this producer - so definitely one to keep an eye out for going forward. Dark fruit, bramble, blood earth and "salty tears", almost animalistic and just plain delicious. It is probably still on the young side although highly enjoyable now - I imagine it will be tremendous in 10 plus years.
Red
2000 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
On the nose, I initially found this to be a bit bretty with some sweaty horse aromas on initial pouring - with time in the glass this blew off. Still quite young tasting to me with a blackberry and bramble profile and a bit of sharpness on the finish. Think this will benefit from more cellaring.
Red
1970 Penfolds Grange
Australia, South Australia
What a treat to get to taste this lovely mature wine. Another one of my favorites from the tasting this is just all pulled together and integrated and delicious. The nose is a little more muted than some of the younger wines, but no mustiness or anything like that. Definitely in the prime drinking window now.
Red
1993 Penfolds Grange
Australia, South Australia
Clearly much younger than the 1970 Grange but also very nice - at this points my notes are getting less descriptive and I am left with the following - "Yummy!!, Black Fruits, Well Balanced" I am starting to appreciate why this group loves Grange - really special!
Red
1996 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
This was another of the stand out wines in the line up for me. Tasted fully mature and in the perfect drinking window - my notes indicate that is was "lovely and fully resolved". Dark fruits, meat, smoke, earth and just a wonderful balance. If you have these in your cellar - you will not be disappointed if you decide to pop one open soon.
Red
2001 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Drank next to the Pavillon '96 and '00 - this was my second favorite of the wines behind the '96. Still a bit on the young side, but with an incredibly long finish. Hold for 5 plus years for additional development.
Red
2006 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Oh yeah - that funky, stinky in a good way characteristic Cayuse nose on this. This is powerful stuff, both aromatically and on the palate with spicy ripe blackberries and raspberries, earth and a barnyard funk. Just the thing to wake the palate up after a long wine tasting. Loved it!
Red
1994 Araujo Estate Syrah Eisele Vineyard
USA, California, Napa Valley
A nice mature California styled Syrah, so definitely more fruit with a hint of sweetness than the Rhone wines, less of the meat, blood and iron notes, but the age has tamed some the fruit down so it is sitting in a really nice place right now.
Red
2010 Colgin Syrah IX Estate
USA, California, Napa Valley
This one was tasted at the very end for me, so no unfortunately no formal notes, but recall enjoying it and thinking that it seemed less fruit forward and almost more old world in style after sampling the Bionic Frog and the Araujo.
Closing
All in all a really fun and enjoyable line up of great wines. The wines that stood out the most for me and caught my attention were:
-2005 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Le Gréal
-1970 Penfolds Grange
-1993 Penfolds Grange
-1996 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon
-2006 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog
Not sure I can choose a WOTN, but if pressed perhaps a tie for the '05 Sorrel and the '70 Grange.
Special mentions to the 3L bottle of the 1999 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée and the 1988 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut Rosé La Grande Dame.
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