Second Sunday Group: 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Our house
Tasted November 18, 2018 by AllRed with 453 views
Introduction
The 2nd Sunday group gathered for our regular double blind tasting. For this group, we are presented a couple of double blind warm ups before the main flight. The warm ups are discussed & unveiled before moving on to the themed main flight. We spent forty five minutes or so tasting and evaluation the eight wines for the main flight before ranking the wines and then making guesses as to what we were tasting. Wines are ranked 1-8, one point for each place, and then unveiled from last place to first place. After the tasting, dinner is served with the additional wines brought by the group, nonblind. As Domino and I hosted this event, we tasted single blind, i.e., we knew the wines but we did not know the order (I bag them and she arranges them). For this tasting we had twelve tasters and the cost was $45.
Flight 1 - Warm ups (3 notes)
The Champagne was served nonblind to the group, the whites double. Most correctly identified the viognier right away, whereas the Guillemot, being a blend of 70% pinot blanc and 30% chardonnay, was a bit more difficult.
White
2016 Stefania Viognier
USA, California, Central Coast, San Benito County
Single blind. The floral notes make this easy to pick out as the viognier. Apple and hand soap notes underneath the florals. Tropical fruit on the palate with a nice bit of acid too. 88-89 pts.
Flight 2 - Main flight (8 notes)
These were double decanted about three hours before the tasting. I decanted into different bottles since the glass crest on many of these would be felt through the bags and thus be a giveaway to the identity of the wines. As a group these were of identical dark garnet color and most were very similar in profile. A few tasters joked that perhaps I poured from a double magnum because so many seemed like the same wine. There were a couple of guesses of southern Rhone, but most were stumped. These showed much cleaner fruit than one might expect from Châteauneuf, along with firm tannin and nice acidity. The fruit is ripe but not overly so- I did not find any raisin or prune as I've found in other recent vintages. So on the whole I was very pleased with the wines and I will certainly look to add more '16s to the cellar as they become available. They will need some time in the cellar to integrate the tannins, but there is plenty of fruit and acid too, so it would seem reasonable to think that these will certainly age well. So, on to my notes and the wines tasted in today's line up...
Red
2016 Clos des Brusquières Châteauneuf-du-Pape
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Single blind. Lovely bouquet with loads of garrigue, followed by raspberry and herbs. Flavors of currants, pepper, raspberry and spice. Really open and expressive, showing plenty of southern Rhone character. 95-96 pts.
My #1, Domino's #8
Group #8, 77 pts
Red
2016 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Cuvée du Papet
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Single blind. Dark fruit, pepper and plum notes. Flavors of spice, red and black fruit and pepper. Develops a slightly candied quality. Has a bit of a medicinal/Nyquil note on the palate as well. Others picked up the medicinal note as well, so I was a bit surprised that this finished as high as it did.
My #7, Domino's #3
Group #3, 47 pts
Red
2016 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Single blind. Tight and reticent, this never really opened up. Cherry and raspberry fruit with peppery spice. Earthy red fruit and herb tones on the palate. Remains tight.
My #8, Domino's #5
Group #7, 66 pts
Red
2016 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Origines
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Single blind. Raspberry, red fruit and floral notes. Cherry, black raspberry and pepper on the palate. Picks up herbal qualities as it opens in the glass. One of the more tannic wines in the line up. Nice balance of structure amd fruit.
My #6, Domino's #6
Group #5, 58 pts
Red
2016 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Single blind. Aromas of plum, herbs and red fruit. More dark fruit than red on the palate, along with herb, pepper and spice. Doesn't change much as it opens, just turns up the volume so to speak. Firm, fine tannins with good supporting acidity and a long finish. 93-94 pts.
My #3, Domino's #7
Group #6, 59 pts
Red
2016 Domaine Font de Michelle Châteauneuf-du-Pape
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Single blind. Dark fruit dominates with a nice meaty undertone. Mixed fruit on the palate, along with spice and pepper qualities. Tannic. Adds an herbal/garrigue element as it sits. Nice balance. 92-94 pts.
My #5, Domino's #2
Group #1, 36 pts
Red
2016 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Single blind. Aromas of herbs, clay, dark fruit and perfumed florals. Dark fruit and garrigue on the palate. Red and dark fruit dominates the bouquet as it opens in the glass, adding more herb and spice as well. Long finish. Nice structure, acid and fruit- bodes well for the long haul.
My #2, Domino's #1
Group #2, 39 pts
Flight 3 - Dinner/dessert wines (12 notes)
Courtesy of the group, enjoyed with boeuf bourguignon, blueberry cheesecake and chocolate brownies.
Red
2000 Château Prieuré-Lichine
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Courtesy of R&D. Perfumed floral aromas over dark fruit and currants. Medium tannins. Cherry, violet and black currant flavors. Good length in the finish. Not quite ready yet.
Red
2002 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs Vineyard
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Courtesy of tlv. Nice cherry and earth notes follow through on the palate. Cherry and currants with hints of earth and spice. Medium-bodied. May improve with a few years in the cellar.
Red
2015 Château Lalande-Borie
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Courtesy of Augie. Plummy dark fruit with peppery spice in the background. A mix of red and black fruit on the palate with an herbal edge. Medium finish turns slightly austere at the end.
Red
2016 Domaine Roger Perrin Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Berthaude Tradition
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Courtesy of tlv. Red fruit with a dominant herbal/green streak. Currant and cherry on the palate with herbal/garrigue undertones. On the rustic side but with nice tannin and balancing acidity, this is a nice complement to a meal. 88-89 pts with room for improvement.
Red
1997 Tenuta Col d'Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio al Vento
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Courtesy of Marty. Hints of bouillon and worcestshire, this bottle is a bit over the hill. Better on the palate, with nice cherry fruit and sandalwood notes. Would love to get a taste of a representative bottle as this should have been outstanding.
Red
2010 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Courtesy of Leon, popped and poured. Lovely dark fruit, cedar and sandalwood aromas. Dusty tannins with cheryr and red fruit flavors that linger on the finish. Clearly young, but with plenty of upside from here.
Red
2013 Bedrock Wine Co. The Bedrock Heritage
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
Courtesy of Mike. Nice perfumed floral notes under ripe dark fruit. More dark fruit on the palate- ripe but not overly so- and nicely balanced through the finish.
Red
2009 Château Lanessan
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
Popped and poured. Dark fruit. Rustic and earthy. Needs a healthy decant if drinking now; leave until 2022+.
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