Last night was my local wine group, I thought about cancelling due to cold but was feeling a bit better, so decided to go. I almost forgot to carry my wine, but made it to Alex's with wrapped bottle in hand.
Theme was Rhone. Fred had brought along a white starter (all wines were blind). He said it was on theme and single variety. . Medium to full bodied, floral aromatics but not musky/exotic like Viognier, decent acidity, my first guess was Marsanne, secound Roussanne. 2008 Cuilleron Roussanne VdP. B
We sat at table, Alex had a nice spread with venison pate, sausages, bundnerfleisch, cheeses, etc. Fred's red went first:
Wine #1
Dark berries, meat, a little olive. Really nice. Fresh, good acidity, pretty clearly Northern Rhone. I guess St Joseph, am told correct, guess Gonon, I nailed it. Sounds pretty impressive, doesn't it? Actually more social engineering than impressive tasting. Once I determined Northern rather than Southern, I guessed that with price range we usually go in less likely to be Cote Rotie or Hermitage, St Jo seems a good midlevel way to go. Once that's established, I know Fred enjoyed the "les Iles Feray" I suspected he might have gone with Gonon. If it hadn't been Fred's wine I think I would have been less "accurate. " 2006 Gonon St. Joseph A-
Wine #2
Sweet, a tad jammy, sweet, I am immediately in South, and say either CdP or Gigondas, probably former. Black cherries, red fruits, a little smoke. Low acid but with ok fresh finish. It's the 2007 Roger Perrin Chateauneuf du Pape. B
Wine #3
At first I thought Syrah, but then it seemed to get more red fruit Grenache tones. Nice earth and herb notes. Slightly austere/tannic finish. Nice midweight wine. 2006 Mordoree Lirac B/B+
(about here, I hit the floor. Literally. As I leaned to hand a bottle to Roger, my chair collapsed. Marc said "you know, I think that's the 5th time I've seen that here." Alex says "yes, we really shouldn't have people sit in that old chair." When I tell Betsy this AM, she relates it happened to her at a dinner last year- I had forgotten. Alex is a great host, but in a house with many chairs the delicate ones shouldn't be at table!).
Wine #4
I liked this, but (incorrectly) went Southern Rhone (specifically Gigondas). Low acid, red fruit, sweet edge, lots of damp earth, nice finish. Bzzzz, wrong end of the valley. 2006 Bernard Ange Crozes Hermitage, B/B+
Wine #5
Ripe, slightly jammy,leather. OK, I still think we're in South, but seems a bit less exuberant than CdP. Alex says it's a small appellation, I guess Vacqueyras, but it's the 2006 La Bouissiere Gigondas. B
Wine #6
No guessing as it's mine. Still a little cool. Nice midweight Syrah, black fruit, bacon, leather. Fresh acidity, some ripe tannins. I think everyone is in North. 2001 Duclaux Cote Rotie. B+
Wine #7
Somewhat grapey, good acidity and a little hint of spritz, fresh fruit flavors, maybe a tad short. 2007 La Grand Poiloe Cotes du Rhone . B
Wine #8
2006 Mordoree Lirac
Herbs, cherries and pomegranite, some tannins. Turns out we have a second bottle of the Mordoree Lirac. B
Nice night with the guys, despite my cold.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.