Blind tasting several weeks ago. No flights, just put your bottles in play when you think the time's right. There were actually more wines, but for some reason I took no notes on a Brezeme Charles Helfenbein, not even the vintage, and in another two cases took notes but didn't note the names of the wines. We rely on passing things about and sometimes I forget to chase down those that don't get to me.
2011 Christophe Pichon Condrieu Viognier
Green apple, white flowers, white nectarine, marzipan and gardenia. Oily viscosity, nice acidity--beautiful. Why oh why can't we make viognier like this in America?
2011 Les Vigneaux P'tit Chardonny Archeche
White, but an orange white. Interesting aromatics and pretty on the palate--I'd buy.
2001 Guy Bernard Cote-Rotie
Since I brought three bottles, decided to trot one out early that I hoped would set a nice tone for wines to come. Unfortunately, this was a bit of a dog. Others tried to be kind by mentioning 'chestnut' and 'mint', but all I got was tired, dried fruit from a wine several years past its best. We tried another bottle from the four purchased on Winebid a few months back a few days later with consistent notes, which also agrees with recent reviews on CT. Yet I know I looked these up before bidding--no idea now which keystrokes put me off course, but obviously big error on my part.
2012 Éric Texier Côtes du Rhône Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban
After the disappointing Guy Bernard, it wouldn't have been hard for a fresh young wine to favorably impress, but this wine just didn't 'bring it' somehow. Decanting might have helped--a later retaste was more positive.
2011 Domaine Durand Cornas Premices
Dork tasting. Bayberry, Xmas candle, sweet, low acid, soft. Nice, but would have hoped for more upside potential than found.
2009 Pierre Gaillard St. Joseph Syrah
Still embarrassed over the Guy Bernard I wanted to trot out something unmistakably worthy and I hoped this would be it. It was. Drinking very well right now with big and fleshy black fruit, charcoal, beef broth and a bit of male sweat. One of the best wines of the night with unmistakable No Rhone typicity.
2010 Novy Family Wines Syrah Garys' Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands
Very Rhonish with bacon, rosemary, tar, a hint of barnyard, and sturdy tannins but the sweet fruit and root beer notes suggested it could be California--cool thing was that none of us were sure and were, to a man, impressed. (Next day, I went and bought half a dozen--it was on closeout in town for $14.95.) I'm putting this down for 2020 but wouldn't be surprised to get more mileage.
2012 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel
New guy in the group brought this--a delightful Jewish psychiatrist recently transplanted from his beloved Manhattan who doesn't understand wine but is desperate for some nightlife here in our City of Subdued Excitement. A bit lighter than the usual young Coudoulet but no less rewarding--the first word I wrote down was 'classy'. We were not surprised to unveil the little Beau. Big on grenache-y flavors of strawberry and black pepper.
2005 Domaine Durand Cornas Empreintes
Green olives and violets on the nose--more Crozes than Cornas to me--raspberry, coriander, cumin, and rustic tannins on the palate. Very good.
2003 Gordon Brothers Syrah
Clearly a ringer! Sweet and ripe as would be expected for '03 but hanging in there better than I would have expected. Definitely new world with some age. Pleasant but wouldn't hold these any longer.
1995 Chapoutier Cornas
My bottle which I saved for the finale. Red fruit leather, bandaid, cherry compote, spice/ginseng and caramel. Fully mature; ethereal.