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Northern Rhone Get Together in North Chicagoland
Gurnee, Illinois
Tasted May 23, 2008 by Claudio161 with 761 views
Introduction
This was an idea brought about by the discussion of expanding horizons and going for wine that was not drank that often. The idea was then hatched by some fellow wine afficionados to host an event in the burbs. The host was most gracious and accommodating and created an amazing set of grilled lamb chops to accompany our event. Thanks again Jordan!
Flight 1 - Northern Rhone wines with some ringers (9 notes)
Amazing selection of wines with ringers from Cali and Aussie.
Wines were drank from a Robert Mondavi Syrah glass.
Red
1991 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Pavillon
93 points
Sight: Medlium color. Clear wine
Nose: Pommegranite; burnt/smoked meat; charcoal and charred red fruits
Taste: Tannins and acid nicely balanced. Medium body; smooth flowing taste with a flavor that made me want to forget my love for cote rotie.
Overall: Great wine. Different than what I am usually used to but definitely very interesting. 93 points.
Nose: Pommegranite; burnt/smoked meat; charcoal and charred red fruits
Taste: Tannins and acid nicely balanced. Medium body; smooth flowing taste with a flavor that made me want to forget my love for cote rotie.
Overall: Great wine. Different than what I am usually used to but definitely very interesting. 93 points.
Red
1982 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage
93 points
Sight: Rust and red colors. High viscosity wine that appears to be bottled unfiltered (wine appearance was cloudy)
Nose: Bretty; wet newspapers, Barn-like notes
Taste: Better than the nose; nice fruits and maybe some Eucalyptus
Overall: Very good wine, but the age is showing and I think the wine is at or has just begun to turn the corner of its peak. 93- points.
Nose: Bretty; wet newspapers, Barn-like notes
Taste: Better than the nose; nice fruits and maybe some Eucalyptus
Overall: Very good wine, but the age is showing and I think the wine is at or has just begun to turn the corner of its peak. 93- points.
Red
2001 Michel & Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie
92 points
Sight: Medium red clarified wine with an overall medium viscosity for fluidity
Nose: Florals, charcoal, earthy with some barn-like smells. Red fruits and woodsy notes emerged as well. Nice controlled or minor oakiness. Later some mint-resin notes made an appearance.
Taste: Balanced; acid and tannin were in check. Nice body and mouthfeel. Good balance of spices as well. Dark cherry and roasted meat elements on the palate as well.
Overall: An excellent wine. amaxing nose and a wonderful finish. 91-92 points. Give it a 92-.
Nose: Florals, charcoal, earthy with some barn-like smells. Red fruits and woodsy notes emerged as well. Nice controlled or minor oakiness. Later some mint-resin notes made an appearance.
Taste: Balanced; acid and tannin were in check. Nice body and mouthfeel. Good balance of spices as well. Dark cherry and roasted meat elements on the palate as well.
Overall: An excellent wine. amaxing nose and a wonderful finish. 91-92 points. Give it a 92-.
Red
1999 Saint Cosme Côte-Rôtie
93 points
Sight: Medium red wine possessing medium viscosity properties
Nose: Mushroom, earth, cigarrette ash, some (hint of) cherry jam. Nice floral notes then began to enter the picture - especially with some hints of iris. Then notes of bacon fat made a brief stage appearance.
Taste: Little bit of heat. Excellent integration of coffee, smoke, tree bark, and toasted vanillins and toasty oak.
Overall: Smooth, sexy, elegant, young. Some grip and muted tannins (tannins are there but not that strong). This wine just kept on evolving with its complexity. Not overpowering....just a really sexy wine. 93+ points.
Nose: Mushroom, earth, cigarrette ash, some (hint of) cherry jam. Nice floral notes then began to enter the picture - especially with some hints of iris. Then notes of bacon fat made a brief stage appearance.
Taste: Little bit of heat. Excellent integration of coffee, smoke, tree bark, and toasted vanillins and toasty oak.
Overall: Smooth, sexy, elegant, young. Some grip and muted tannins (tannins are there but not that strong). This wine just kept on evolving with its complexity. Not overpowering....just a really sexy wine. 93+ points.
Red
1990 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne
88 points
Sight: Some orange brimming; medium to medium light color; a high viscosity wine
Nose: Stewed fruit; Prunes; Dried apricots; some perfume notes emerged as well. Later on we were treated to some tobacco leaf notes.
Taste: Funky taste. Heat and Acid. Did not know what to make of it.
Overall: I was not in love with the wine and some of my tasting companions were.... I thought that this wine failed on the palate and finish. 88+ points
Nose: Stewed fruit; Prunes; Dried apricots; some perfume notes emerged as well. Later on we were treated to some tobacco leaf notes.
Taste: Funky taste. Heat and Acid. Did not know what to make of it.
Overall: I was not in love with the wine and some of my tasting companions were.... I thought that this wine failed on the palate and finish. 88+ points
Red
2003 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde
89 points
Sight: Medium red wine of average viscosity for this type of wine and region.
Nose: Roasted plums and other red tree fruits; great red fruit basket on the nose. I picked up a soapy note as well - it threw me.
Taste: Drinkable and nice. Did not strike as a typical cote rotie. In fact, I thought this was an australian wine ( a ringer inserted for the evening).
Overall: Nover overly comlex, but a very nice wine indeed. I brought this wine and was disappointed and expected more given all the positive reviews. 89 Points.
Nose: Roasted plums and other red tree fruits; great red fruit basket on the nose. I picked up a soapy note as well - it threw me.
Taste: Drinkable and nice. Did not strike as a typical cote rotie. In fact, I thought this was an australian wine ( a ringer inserted for the evening).
Overall: Nover overly comlex, but a very nice wine indeed. I brought this wine and was disappointed and expected more given all the positive reviews. 89 Points.
Red
1999 Hardys Shiraz Eileen Hardy
93 points
Sight: Dark red wine of medium viscosity. Clarified.
Smell: Mint; charcoal; banana; spice; earth; barnyard, and black pepper.
Taste: Very nice taste. smooth with little bit of smoke. Roasted nuts emerged on the palate as well.
Overall: Great structure and fantastic taste. Could not believe this was NOT a cote rotie. doh! 93+ points. Very impressed.
Smell: Mint; charcoal; banana; spice; earth; barnyard, and black pepper.
Taste: Very nice taste. smooth with little bit of smoke. Roasted nuts emerged on the palate as well.
Overall: Great structure and fantastic taste. Could not believe this was NOT a cote rotie. doh! 93+ points. Very impressed.
Red
N.V. Château Palmer Historical XIXth Century Blend L.20.04.
89 points
Sight: A dark red clarified wine of medium viscosity. The dark color stood out for me with purple-hues.
Nose: Florals, more florals, and lots of red and black fruits. A little bit of roasted nut meats.
Taste: Needs a little more time with some acid and tannins needing to calm down a bit. Smooth, caressing, and elegant.
Overall: A fine wine that just needs a little more sideways time. 89 points.
Nose: Florals, more florals, and lots of red and black fruits. A little bit of roasted nut meats.
Taste: Needs a little more time with some acid and tannins needing to calm down a bit. Smooth, caressing, and elegant.
Overall: A fine wine that just needs a little more sideways time. 89 points.
Red
2004 Radio-Coteau Syrah Timbervine
91 points
Sight: Dark and deep red in color. Medium to medium high viscosity. Color reveals that it is still a young wine.
Nose: Dard red fruits. Plenty of them. Concentrated notes of plums - black and red along with black berries and currants.
Taste: Tons of fruit forward notes. The telltale to the Cali story was the accompanying heat which for me tends to signal cali syrah.
Overall: Eric Sussman, the winemaker has done I fine job here. I prefer his pinots though. 91 points.
Nose: Dard red fruits. Plenty of them. Concentrated notes of plums - black and red along with black berries and currants.
Taste: Tons of fruit forward notes. The telltale to the Cali story was the accompanying heat which for me tends to signal cali syrah.
Overall: Eric Sussman, the winemaker has done I fine job here. I prefer his pinots though. 91 points.
Closing
In closing, I learned that I love these wines and think that I do not drink enough of them. For me personally, it's the cache of the Bordeaux wines that cause a lot of excitement. I want to pay more homage to one of the greatest wine regions on earth - the Northern Rhone.