Community Tasting Notes 4

• GuidoD wrote: 92 points

  March 18, 2024 - We really enjoyed L'Oratoire St Martin's white Reserve des Seigneurs, a white Cairanne, from the 2016 vintage last night. It's a 4* STGT wine according to JLL.
  
  And it was quite delicious with some chickpea, tuna and olive salad with a little acquafaba mayonnaise using the chickpea juices and a little tarragon vinegar and mustard; some pate en croute; then a main course of paupiettes de veau served with the waxiest of potatoes and savoy cabbage cooked in the same pan after browning the paupiettes, and with some white wine and a bayleaf, and just a very little garlic added. And somewhat decadently, even though that word is dissonant with the dish, a thick slice of maoche. Then some Jura cheese.
  
  The wine was at once fresh but with a nuttiness. It has a large proportion of clairette which I find tends to bring a distinctive texture and tang to things.
  
  The whole thing was a lovely meal, sitting by the stove as things cooked, the wine adapting brilliantly to each course. The challenge of the tuna and mayonnaise overcome, the pate complemented, and just perfect with the paupiettes and maoche. With the firm cheese, a lovely match and no need for sweet wine at all. Wonderful together.
  
  As I reflected over the cheese and the last soupcon of wine, it occurred to me that there is such a simple rule available for enjoying aged white Rhones from the South and the North (with the possible exception of Condrieu, though even here I think it may hold): serve the aged white with the main course.
  
  This will help prioritise matching food which is so important for these gastronomic wines, and really help them sit in their rightful place. They're not aperitifs, they're not good precursors to red wines (white Burgundy is so much better at that, though if you want a white Rhone to do it then choose a lighter young one that's not viognier). They also work badly with many generic white wine food matches, such as delicate fish. But these aged Rhone whites are wonderful in doing what they do so well. I can think of no other type of wine that would have worked so well last night. The whole thing delicious, and each element delicious as part of the whole, and the wine the common thread throughout.

  Comment

• beatles wrote: 89 points

  May 28, 2022 - Rich, broad, certainly mature, honey, minerals, spice here. Good precision for the warm vintage. PW liked it alot, as did I,
  #BoutduMonde#PodcastTour

  Comment

• drwine2001 wrote:

  October 16, 2018 - Potpourri of Wines from an Autumn Trip to France; 10/9/2018-10/24/2018 (Paris, Lyon, Beaune, Reims): Deep ruby. Red fruit, surmaturité, and licorice aromas. Hefty and lush, but just enough acidity to keep it on this side of liqueur-like, and no trace of heat (this must have upwards of 15.5% ABV). Amazing volume of raspberry and blackberry nicely played off by the anise. Ripe tannins hardly interfere with the wave of fruit. Quite a mouthful for Cairanne, best over the near term for the fruit.

  Comment

• barrkel wrote: 87 points

  September 15, 2018 - Interesting and unique blend. A bit stemmy, which lends a bitter aftertaste on what is otherwise floral and fairly rich, with honey overtones, and vaguely reminiscent of a Riesling or perhaps Gewürztraminer but without the acidity. Intellectually worthwhile, but ultimately not the easiest to enjoy, for my palate. Went reasonably well with pork. Some soft cheese with rind really brought out the fruit, probably the best pairing.

  Comment

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Wine Definition

• Vintage 2016
• Type White
• Producer Domaine de l'Oratoire St Martin
• Varietal White Rhone Blend
• Designation Blanc Réserve des Seigneurs
• Vineyard n/a
• Country France
• Region Rhône
• SubRegion Southern Rhône
• Appellation Cairanne

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 3 (16%)
• Consumed 16 (84%)

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