Some Stuff from Saturday Evening

My wine bud from Columbus, OH, Mitch Tallan, was in the Circle City playing "soccer dad", so we gathered some of the usual suspects and were fortunate to have the Platt's help us celebrate. We consumed waaay to many wines. FWIW, here are my recollections from last evening along with a few re-tastes over lunch today.

2005 Emmanuel Darnard, Crozes Hermitage
A wonderful expression of Crozes with a bent toward the rustic side. Plenty of fruit and tannins to carry this for another 5-10 years. Every bit the equal of the 2001 vintage of this which I adore.

2005 Au Bon Climat, Talley Vineyard, Pinot Noir
The tannins clamped down on this early and often. Still a bit rough to drink on day 2. I think this has the right stuff, but we probably opened this at least 3 years too early.

1996 Jamet, Cote Rotie
Jamet is one of my favorite Rhone producers , but this bottle did not show particularly well, and I think it is time to drink these up. Acidic and not enough fruit to mask or compliment the olive component. Lacked complexity, but others seemed to like it a bit more than I did.

1991 Ridge Geyserville
Paul Draper’s bottle note that “this wine will age beautifully. Boy, was he right. Absolutely marvelous and balanced. Probably at peak now, but little danger of it heading South any time soon. Gosh, I wish I owned some of this.

2005 Pierre Gonon, St. Joseph
I think many of the tasters proclaimed this their “Syrah of the night”. While it was a pleasant tipple, it didn’t speak to me. In fact it didn’t even whisper in my ear. Clean and a bit too slick for my palate. I guess its charms were lost on me. Drinkable, but not unforgettable.

1980 Paul Jaboulet, Dom. Thalabert, Crozes Hermitage
Light rust color. A bit long in the tooth. The nose still belches out game, saddle leather, and gym locker, but that is about it. Not an unexpected result for a 28 year old Crozes afterall.

2002 Kracher, Scheurebe TBA #10
Great way to end the evening. Everything in balance. This 375 ml didn’t last long with this crowd. Wonderful.

Time to catch a plane.

2005 Piere Ganon, St. Joseph
I think many of the tasters proclaimed this their “Syrah of the night”. While it was a pleasant tipple, it didn’t speak to me. In fact it didn’t even whisper in my ear. Clean and a bit too slick for my palate. I guess its charms were lost on me. Drinkable, but not unforgettable.

High praises to be "Syrah of the night" next to the Jamet. Although I guess the Jamet was not showing well.

I had this Gonon last summer and it was still very young and big. Not sure what happens to them with age.

2005 Piere Ganon, St. Joseph
I think many of the tasters proclaimed this their “Syrah of the night”. While it was a pleasant tipple, it didn’t speak to me. In fact it didn’t even whisper in my ear. Clean and a bit too slick for my palate. I guess its charms were lost on me. Drinkable, but not unforgettable.

High praises to be "Syrah of the night" next to the Jamet. Although I guess the Jamet was not showing well.

I had this Gonon last summer and it was still very young and big. Not sure what happens to them with age.

Rahsaan-
My humble take was that the Gonon wasn't going to make old bones, but I really don't know enough about that aging stuff to make an informed decision. The Jamet was lackluster <sigh>.
'Winger

[David M. Bueker]

I'm also surprised by the Jamet, as the '96 Jasmin is drinking very well.

From tasting the 04 versions of the Darnaud CH and the Gonon St Joseph, I can appreciate what you are saying. The Gonon was a very polished, almost Burgundian Syrah while the Darnaud had more edge and dirt. I liked them both, though. I have the 05 Gonon, but haven't got to it yet.

Too bad on the Jamet, but the '91 Geyserville sounds like it made up for it.

...the Darnaud had more edge and dirt.

Edge and dirt...that's it!!
BP