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A Rhône Rapture

K&L Wine Merchant - San Francisco

Tasted November 25, 2023 by WineBurrowingWombat with 65 views

Flight 1 - Rhône spread (6 notes)

White
2020 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
97 points
Aromas of tropical notes, displaying sliced pineapples, whole and halved ripe mangoes, and a field of tall dried straw. There’s a bit of weighty creaminess but doesn’t go overboard, thanks to the help from clean bitter minerals that provides an awesome cut through it.

Palate showed inviting fruits, a bitter and clean minerality that washes over the fruits, dried earth and straw. Much lighter than the '19 I’ve had, not as oily and weighty. I asked if this was double decanted back into the bottle and was told no, just popped and poured. Yhis '20 is much more approachable now.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2000 Xavier Vignon Cornas France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
94 points
Vibrant nose of fresh red fruits, with dried earth, light green stems and aromatic red flowers.

Still fresh red fruits, dry in style, with woody twigs and dried earth. Hard for me to pick up any kind of smoked meats. Amazingly fresh and youthful, and even pleasant to taste now, but this could still easily use another 10 years with probably almost little effect to its youthful character. I would love to see how this is though with proper age.

Might be my inexperience with both the region and producer, but this was STUPID young. Call me Sway. Thank goodness though, a friend who worked at the shop schooled me in that the producer leaves it in the bottle and constantly tops it off, which I think is what keeps this wine so damn fresh and young. I am so curious to see how this is with like 25 years of age.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2020 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
96 points
The nose gave away something like from a smoker that is working with sweet logs (in the best way possible). A subtle note of creamy vanilla is hidden somewhere, not too much but just enough to show that its there. Wet oak, dark green undergrowth and herbs, deep wet earth, dark red cherries and strawberries and aromatic red, purple and white flowers.

On the palate was dark red cherries, good fruit with even a bit of that creamy vanilla from the nose, and dry in style, bitter undertones of earth and stone. Awesome freshness and push. Giving on the fruits which were very youthful and wild yet very polite, with the bitter minerals for contrast that trails nicely into the finish.

Awesome, would also love to see how these are with age. 95-96++
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2019 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
94 points
Nose of ripe red berries with aromatic floral notes. Awesome freshness of minerality and notes of clean, fresh air in an open field.

Palate showed fresh and ripe cranberries, gentle sweet blueberries, clean and fresh minerality that gives it a nice push. Autumn leaves, wet forest floor and even floral herbs that linger into the finish.

Awesome wine for what you're paying for. A pleasure now and should be interesting with more age as well. Punches well above its price tag.
Red
2004 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
93 points
Dat funk. Wet, rotting mulch, dried dates and red plums, forest floor after a heavy rain, and damp twigs. Surprisingly, hasn't gotten to the point of complete funk where you're taken aback.

On the palate were spiced dark red fruits, a fleeting damp tree bark, bright and shiny minerals on the finish, with a clean and comforting steeped tea as well.

I've come to enjoy Pégau after having gotten used to the funk and all. I prefer this maybe a bit younger for fresher fruits with the funk. Still good now though.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2001 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
93 points
Nose of sweet aromas of something like a port (gentle and not heavy though), coffee if it was naturally sweet (but not because of added sugar and cream), aged prunes that has a light weight to it with a nice freshness.

Matches the nose completely. This almost was like a desert wine but in a good way. Not heavy nor too sweet, just right. Damp mulch with wet stones trail into the finish.

Tasted with a friend and he thought this was funky on the nose, something like blue cheese, which I did not get at all. Maybe this wasn't showing as it was supposed to. Maybe cooked? Starting to think there's no way this was made to taste like a port. Take my score with a handful of salt, this was almost like a dessert wine which doesn't seem to make much sense.

Closing

Might be one of the best tastings held at K&L to date! All the wines showed so well, exhibiting their originality and sense of place. Awesome tasting.

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