by Charles Weiss » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:23 pm
This was my first Marche and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Pmac, who'd been there many times before, was my guide.
I read the Everett Bandman notes linked by Jim Cowan and found myself nodding a lot, and yet the wines that came home with me (purchased at Marche unless otherwise indicated) were quite different. These included:
3 2005 Jamet Cote-Rotie (which we located in a wineshop since all Jamet had to taste or sell was the 2006 Elegance. This was one of the few disappointments of the trip.).
4 2005 Ogier Cote-Rotie. The right stuff.
Tasted at the cave, the 2005 Lancement and Belle-Helene barrel samples were both a treat, both very big. The Belle-Helene had an incredible nose. The 2005 Cote Brune, which I don't think gets sold, was very different from any of the others and very interesting. The 2006 barrel samples included the final blend Cote-Rotie, which showed lots of sweet perfumed fruit but was certainly softer than the 2005 and the Lancement and B-H which again had amazing intensity of material. A 2004 Roussane was very good and very interesting (not for sale).
1 2006 Ogier Viognier de Rosine. I'm not a big Viognier fan. This has sufficient acid and is still playful and pretty and was a very good value.
1 Stephane Robert (Domaine du Tunnel) 2006 Cornas "Vin Noir" featuring violets, sweet fruit and plenty of structure. His regular Cornas was also very good, and a bargain.
4 2005 Allemand (2 Chaillots and 2 Reynards), purchased elsewhere, which I've not tasted, nor will I for a while.
2 2005 Voge Cornas VV Fontaines. I felt this was a big step up in intensity from the Chaillots or VV and worth the extra tariff, especially given limited space.
1 1998 Pegau Cuvee Laurence (something we happened across at a good price).
2 Montez (Domaine de Monteillet) 2005 St Joseph Cuvee Papy. No wimpy St Joseph; nice syrah nose, big fruit, tannins that will need time to settle down.
1 Balthazar 2006 Cornas. Bought from him at his cellar. Lovely and traditionally made. Would have been more if I'd had more room. I just today read Josh Raynold's write up and it is deserved. The 2007 barrel sample still smelled of sulfur but seemed to have a lot of goodness beneath it.
I'm no expert at tasting young Northern Rhones, but others I liked were Gaillard's 2006 St Joseph Blanc (not flabby), Clusel-Roch 2005 Cote Rotie and 2006 CR Grand Places barrel sample, JM Stephan 2005 CR Coteau du Tupin (too pricy to buy), 2006 P et C Bonnefond CR Roziers and CR Rochaines (good, but not good value). I had a preference between the Faurie 2006 Hermitage Greffieux and Assemblage, but my notes don't disclose which it was-- I think the Assemblage.
I also loved the location of the Auberge de la Source for lunch and the food was very good.
Outside the Marche there are a few food stands including one with delicious snails harvested in the Pilat National Park nearby. 6 big snails in shells with herbed butter with bread and a glass of white wine included for 3.5 Euros. I hated to leave and come back to the land of Fried Dough.
Charles
Charles Weiss
