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What's new in northern Rhône

Neubiberg

Tasted October 21, 2023 by Klugi Wine with 79 views

Introduction

Little tasting about some newcomers in the north of the Rhône valley.

Flight 1 - Condrieu (3 notes)

An formerly to me unknown producer picked up at the St. Peray Wine fair and a rather disappointing Condrieu from a famous winery.

White
2022 Bernard & Nicolas Garayt Condrieu Pigeonnier France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu
92 points
Typical young Condrieu.
Quiet floral bouquet with a slight acidic vein lending it more structure next to the Janrôde from the same producer.
Both are stylistically different but quite similar in quality, so it’s up to personal preference.
White
2019 Domaine Jamet Condrieu Vernillon France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu
flawed
This Condrieu from Jamet had lactic overtones, so I refrain from ranking it. Seems to be some issues during fermentation. Certainly very good material under the weird bouquet.
White
2022 Bernard & Nicolas Garayt Condrieu Janrôde France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu
92 points
Compared to the Pigeonnier from Garayt, it’s more powerful with a touch honey, therefore not as structured.
I would enjoy both Condrieus in there first 2-3 years after bottling to catch them in there flamboyant youth.

Flight 2 - Seysseul (3 notes)

Home of the northernmost Syrah wine growing region in France.

Red
2020 Les Vignobles de Seysseul Saxeoleum France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes
93 points
Quite interesting bouquet which led us more towards Australia than northern Rhône.
The bouquet had a slight minty touch, dark chocolate and a little coffee (dark roast).
Medium to full bodied the palate is coated by nice, smooth tannins.
Red
2020 Les Vins de Vienne Sotanum France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes
94 points
The Sotanum is still the benchmark for the wines of Seyssuel.
Combining finesse and precision the bouquet convinces with dark cherries and Szechuan peppercorn as well as a touch of vanilla.
The palate convinces with fine tannins. Should easily age for 1-2 decades.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2020 Graeme & Julie Bott Kāmaka France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes
91 points
Somewhat funky nose and it seems, as if there is a slight secondary fermentation going on.
Besides this, there is sour cherry and some herbs. Not sure how this will develop.

Flight 3 - Les Grand Place (3 notes)

Côte Brune at its best.

Red
2020 Nicolas Champagneux Côte-Rôtie La Dédicace France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
95 points
Great Côte Rôtie.
The Dédicace comes from the younger grapes of Nicolas from les grand place.
The bouquet has dark cherries and raspberries as well as some rose pedals and white pepper.
The wine is quite young but the sweet and delicate tannins make it already enjoyable.
Overall a great PQR. I would wait 3-5 years and than enjoy the wine over the next 2 decades.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2007 Jean-Michel Gerin Côte-Rôtie Les Grandes Places France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
97 points
Absolutely brilliant showing tonight.
Fully mature the bouquet has some cigar box, darker fruit, orange zest, slight white pepper and a little truffle.
Quite ethereal with perfectly melted tannins but still a wonderful structure. Should easily stay at this level for another 5-10 years, no need to hurry.
Red
2020 Nicolas Champagneux Côte-Rôtie Les Grandes Places France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
98 points
Absolutly gigantic wine, obviously right now more or less an infanticide right now. I would not touch another bottle for at least 5 years.
Speaking so, we still did and had a very dark wine with a bouquet of dark fruit, meaty smoky notes, dark chocolate and a whiff of finely grinded white pepper.
The palate is just amazing, utterly intense, mouth coating smooth tannins.
I guess this wine will really sing from 2028+ onwards and develop for 2 decades from thereon. Even now it's quite intriguing.
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 4 - Cornas (1 note)

We wanted to see, how Vincent Paris can compete with the best.

Red
2020 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
96 points
This is more about potential, since this wine is in its embryonic phase.
The bouquet offers typical Cornas notes which you get offen with Syrah on granite. Besides the darker cherries, there is olive tapenade, herbs, pepper and cassis.
The palate is quite coiled up and needs at least 5 years to probably get into the first drinking window.
Kudos to Vincent, this is a legendary Geynale in the making.
1 person found this helpful Comment

Closing

The region has a bright future ahead and ages quite well.

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