Opened another from my Rhone/Syrah box last night to share w/ Steve:
1. GeorgesVernay AC: Cote-Rotie (MeBalP; 12.5%; WineImports/SF Condriey 1985: Med.color w/ some bricking; strong roasted/NRhone/espresso/coffee light floral/violets/Syrah quite smokey/pungent some earthy very complex classic NRhone mature nose; lightly tart bit metallic/dried out light floral/violets/Syrah rather roasted/smokey/espresso delicate/elegant classic C-R/roasted fully mature flavor w/ light gentle tannins; very long/lingering quite roasted/smoked meats/NRhone/C-R/espresso slight dried out/metallic light violets/Syrah quite complex finish w/ light silky tannins; a lovely classic fully mature C-R that's starting to dry out a bit but still offers up a lot of pleasure. $19.00 (D&E)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This was from the same box that contained the LaChapelle '89 I had last Thurs; a box that was, I am informed, not stored under "optimal" conditions. I presume "optimal" means stored in the Vernay Cave until consumption. Even though it was showing a slight amount of that tangy/metallic character of a wine in its decline; it offered up quite a bit of pleasure of a mature C-R. Had it been an "optimal" btl, it would have been orgasimic.
Vernay is known, of course, for his Condrieus and is widely recognized for saving that AC from extinction (Patrick gives more credit to JohnAlban and the ViognierGuild), I've found his C-R's have been just as magnificant as any.
Tom