Chateauneuf du pape Blind tasting
My Home
Tasted December 15, 2009 by french16 with 718 views
Introduction
Sheila, Kyle, David, Gabor, Dario, my wife and myself gathered home around some rosemary lamb and home made ratatouille for a blind CdP tasting.
We knew which wines were brought but no clue of what was poured. We then had to guess which wine was in each flights.
Flight 1 - White (1 note)
Started with the only white of the lineup.
Great wine. It kept changing and evolving every time I was smelling my glass. Fat but enough acidity to balance it, some wood but nothing intrusive and adds complexity and texture to the wine. Honey, spices, cigar box (yes, yes...after 2hours..), citrus and orchard fruit. Not so much on the tropical fruits as many white CdP and with a long finish.
Well done!
Flight 2 - First 2 reds randomly picked (2 notes)
Contrast was amazing between those 2 wines. Color wise and flavor wise.
2 traditional wines here.
Right off the bat, color is unusual for a CdP: med cherry core with light reddish rim.
What a beautiful nose. Hard to tell CdP here: mineral, floral, cherry and pepper. A touch herbal.
Beautifully balanced, focused and 'droit', red fruits profile with a touch of licorice (even though he doesn't wood at all).
After 2h, alcohol was more present and the wine shut down.
Put this wine in the cellar and let it sleep a few years.
Fruit forward but you can sense there's enough here to age and develop nicely. A touch of plum and cherry, rather low acidity, it is well done ven if this is monolithic right now.
Flight 3 - Next 2 reds randomly picked (2 notes)
One super traditional Cdp against one modern.
Finish is slightly metallic.
Bottle might be a little off as hint of TCA was also present.
Palate is much more enjoyable with some interesting meaty notes along the same profile as the nose.
Definitely on the modern side of the appelation, it managed to stay balanced and didn't show any heat.
Not bad but just not my style.
Flight 4 - Last 2 reds (2 notes)
Too bad the Bois de Boursan was corked.
I'd place Janasse between the traditional and modernist with an emphasis on the bright pure fruit but with a beautiful balance and complexity developping with age.
Tight, pure dark fruits along leather, garrigue, charcoal/tar and a touch of licorice. Big but extremely balance, med acidity with a very nice soft texture.
Some red fruits appeared on the palate and the finish is very pleasant. No heat or over ripeness sensation.
This needs serious time.
Closing
Great night, great friends and great food.
Cdp rocks !