Jean-Louis Chave in person for E&R's 20th Anniversary, with 22 of his wines! (E&R Wine Shop, Portland OR): Elegant and round on the nose. Beautiful round structure, and showing quite a lot of fruit and completeness, though still not as much depth on the nose as the best vintages tonight... it just feels a little slight. So, so soft texture on palate entry. Yes, the texture is crazy complete and perhaps the best of the night with its unique body. The flavors are rich, with some slightly oxidative notes and round luscious plums. It's rich and pretty in the mouth, but a bit ripe compared to the best vintages of the normale. Still beautiful flavors in the mouth, for sure. The finish has a beautiful dial up of acidity and balanced structure. Really lovely acidity with a round impression left for some time. A pretty wine, but not the world beater I had hoped for.
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Second time tasting this - and I can still remember the first time! This is a beat, masculin, dark, notes of single malt and Cohiba-cigars, the taste is smoke, dark fruit, roasted notes ... #HermitageFest
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Quite pleased with this bottle and its blend of explosive spice, sharp and fine acids on the palate, great energy, and soil and mineral notes. Full and ripe but still well defined fruit and an incredibly rich palate that continues to build up to the long and energetic finish. Very good bottle with a lot of evolution ahead of it. 97-98
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Huge 1991 Rhone Bday dinner celebration at Marea. Thanks Mike!!
So this was served in a flight with the 91 Chave Hermitage and a 91 La Chapelle. Let put the Jaboulet aside for now. The two Chave's next to one another was fascinating. The Cathelin seemed much younger, much bigger. Both in taste and appearance. The Hermitage was classic Chave - rustic and loads of nuance and secondary flavors. Several people preferred the Hermitage. In both cases I would say these bottles are in their drinking window and will be for a long time. The Cathelin could easily go for another 15-20 with no slippage. It was amazing for a wine 25 years of age. I doubt the Hermitage will be able to keep up with the longevity of the Cathelin. For now it comes down to personal tastes between the two. Having said that and given how good both of these wines are today its hard to see paying 6x for the Cathelin vs the Hermitage.
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Rare Northern Rhone Birthday - 1991: First Cuvee Cathelin and simply magnificent. The bouquet is expansive and encompasses everything from fire pit to cool mixing concrete to wild animistic characteristics. Big red berry and blueberry fruit on the palate with supremely clean and pure texture. Plenty of juice but layered and nuanced. Can spend a lot of time enjoying and thinking about this one. Magic.
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Pure sweet fruit with a great deal of complexity. Lots of sweet baking spice and hints of asian spices. While the legacy of the wood is notable, I did not find the new oak overwhelming. I found the fruit and wood notes to be of comparable intensity. Still quite young, will benefit from more time in the bottle. Consumed with beef and chanterelles
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From a taster. BOOM! Massive nose of grilled meat, bacon, smoke and super concentrated fruit. Jeepers - this needs a long time. Incredible concentration and power but handled in a very deft way. Impressive.
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Gary's MNSC (Megan's Kitchen): faboulous nose. again very burgundian. thought it was a Leroy Musigny. finish was a somewhat sharp and acidic, perhaps a little overbreathed?
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Kevin's MNSC (Jackson Room): sensational. intoxicating nose of spice, flowers, jammy cherries, smoke and dried herbs. totally burgundian - was convinced it was a DRC at one stage! bravo!
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Brought to Acker auction at Cru - the nose was intense and powerful. It was like the nose on a La Landonne, but times 2. Grilled meat, heavy pepper, green spices and mint. The palate had more acidity than I expected and was a bit weaker than the nose would have suggested. More Burgundian than over the top Rhone.
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Dès les premières secondes de contact avec ce vin, on sait qu’on a affaire à du très très très grand... On aperçoit ensuite le visage des autres dégustateurs s’illuminé, et on comprend qu’on est en train de vivre une magnifique expérience de dégustation avec un vin magique. D’une profondeur inouïe, jamais je n’ai senti un bouquet aussi complexe. Des couches d’arômes se succèdent, et on y perd son latin en tentant de décrire cette sensation. Le vin était étonnant de jeunesse, d’une longueur phénoménale. Je n’ai jamais dégusté qui alliait aussi bien finesse et puissance (« power without weight » comme disait un autre participant!). Un vin hors norme, si la perfection existe je pense que ça doit ressembler à ça.
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Face au 1995, dégustation Chave et Guigal Une couleur plus brillante que le 1995. Nez de violettesv d'une finesse enivrante, spectaculaire! Un grand vin! Aérien, d'un équilibre magique, acidité et fraicheur, puissant, tranchant, long. 97 pts
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8/16/2019 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 93 Points
Jean-Louis Chave in person for E&R's 20th Anniversary, with 22 of his wines! (E&R Wine Shop, Portland OR): Elegant and round on the nose. Beautiful round structure, and showing quite a lot of fruit and completeness, though still not as much depth on the nose as the best vintages tonight... it just feels a little slight. So, so soft texture on palate entry. Yes, the texture is crazy complete and perhaps the best of the night with its unique body. The flavors are rich, with some slightly oxidative notes and round luscious plums. It's rich and pretty in the mouth, but a bit ripe compared to the best vintages of the normale. Still beautiful flavors in the mouth, for sure. The finish has a beautiful dial up of acidity and balanced structure. Really lovely acidity with a round impression left for some time. A pretty wine, but not the world beater I had hoped for.
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6/18/2019 - beatles wrote: 97 Points
Second time tasting this - and I can still remember the first time! This is a beat, masculin, dark, notes of single malt and Cohiba-cigars, the taste is smoke, dark fruit, roasted notes ...
#HermitageFest
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7/13/2018 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 97 Points
Quite pleased with this bottle and its blend of explosive spice, sharp and fine acids on the palate, great energy, and soil and mineral notes. Full and ripe but still well defined fruit and an incredibly rich palate that continues to build up to the long and energetic finish. Very good bottle with a lot of evolution ahead of it. 97-98
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9/14/2016 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 97 Points
Huge 1991 Rhone Bday dinner celebration at Marea. Thanks Mike!!
So this was served in a flight with the 91 Chave Hermitage and a 91 La Chapelle. Let put the Jaboulet aside for now. The two Chave's next to one another was fascinating. The Cathelin seemed much younger, much bigger. Both in taste and appearance. The Hermitage was classic Chave - rustic and loads of nuance and secondary flavors. Several people preferred the Hermitage. In both cases I would say these bottles are in their drinking window and will be for a long time. The Cathelin could easily go for another 15-20 with no slippage. It was amazing for a wine 25 years of age. I doubt the Hermitage will be able to keep up with the longevity of the Cathelin. For now it comes down to personal tastes between the two. Having said that and given how good both of these wines are today its hard to see paying 6x for the Cathelin vs the Hermitage.
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9/14/2016 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 98 Points
Rare Northern Rhone Birthday - 1991: First Cuvee Cathelin and simply magnificent. The bouquet is expansive and encompasses everything from fire pit to cool mixing concrete to wild animistic characteristics. Big red berry and blueberry fruit on the palate with supremely clean and pure texture. Plenty of juice but layered and nuanced. Can spend a lot of time enjoying and thinking about this one. Magic.
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1/12/2016 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 97 Points
Pure sweet fruit with a great deal of complexity. Lots of sweet baking spice and hints of asian spices. While the legacy of the wood is notable, I did not find the new oak overwhelming. I found the fruit and wood notes to be of comparable intensity. Still quite young, will benefit from more time in the bottle. Consumed with beef and chanterelles
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12/9/2012 - pjaines wrote:
From a taster.
BOOM! Massive nose of grilled meat, bacon, smoke and super concentrated fruit. Jeepers - this needs a long time. Incredible concentration and power but handled in a very deft way. Impressive.
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9/8/2012 - Lord Rayas wrote: 94 Points
Gary's MNSC (Megan's Kitchen): faboulous nose. again very burgundian. thought it was a Leroy Musigny. finish was a somewhat sharp and acidic, perhaps a little overbreathed?
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7/13/2012 - Lord Rayas wrote: 99 Points
Kevin's MNSC (Jackson Room): sensational. intoxicating nose of spice, flowers, jammy cherries, smoke and dried herbs. totally burgundian - was convinced it was a DRC at one stage! bravo!
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10/28/2009 - JJL wrote: 96 Points
Brought to Acker auction at Cru - the nose was intense and powerful. It was like the nose on a La Landonne, but times 2. Grilled meat, heavy pepper, green spices and mint. The palate had more acidity than I expected and was a bit weaker than the nose would have suggested. More Burgundian than over the top Rhone.
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10/9/2009 - ludwigbpm wrote: 100 Points
Dès les premières secondes de contact avec ce vin, on sait qu’on a affaire à du très très très grand... On aperçoit ensuite le visage des autres dégustateurs s’illuminé, et on comprend qu’on est en train de vivre une magnifique expérience de dégustation avec un vin magique. D’une profondeur inouïe, jamais je n’ai senti un bouquet aussi complexe. Des couches d’arômes se succèdent, et on y perd son latin en tentant de décrire cette sensation. Le vin était étonnant de jeunesse, d’une longueur phénoménale. Je n’ai jamais dégusté qui alliait aussi bien finesse et puissance (« power without weight » comme disait un autre participant!). Un vin hors norme, si la perfection existe je pense que ça doit ressembler à ça.
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4/12/2007 - d'Artagnan wrote: 97 Points
Face au 1995, dégustation Chave et Guigal
Une couleur plus brillante que le 1995.
Nez de violettesv d'une finesse enivrante, spectaculaire!
Un grand vin! Aérien, d'un équilibre magique, acidité et fraicheur, puissant, tranchant, long. 97 pts
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