Blind tasting notes Feb. 28, 2016
Northern Rhone theme, with Southern Rhone allowed only for whites and good ringers invited.
Laurent-Perrier Champagne Grand Siècle Iteration 24 Grande Cuvée – this one was based on the 2006, 2004, and 2002 vintages. Excellent nose, smooth crisp entry, very good.
2010 Domaine de la Solitude Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc – showing a bit of colour now, and a fairly ripe nose of peach/apricot. Excellent mouth feel. Good showing.
2015 Domaine Auguste Clape St. Péray – citrus nose, oily mouth feel then switching more to pear in a clean finish. Very nice.
2016 Cave St. Pierre Syrah Réserve des Administrateurs – my wine and what turned out to be a very good ringer. As long as no one asked if it was French, I was good – and someone asked if it was a Northern Rhone and of course I correctly said yes, as the Valais in Switzerland is indeed further up the Rhone River. Fairly dark and showing a good syrah nose with notable black pepper, it smooth on palate, almost elegant and had ample soft tannins.
2014 Domaine Marsanne St. Joseph – dark wine with lightening edges. A nose of black pepper, blood/iron and dark cherry which added a meaty component as it opened up. Smooth in mouth and with soft tannin at the end.
2012 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Cuvée Classique Ampodium – more pepper and blood in this nose with nice roasted meat notes. A bit of thyme and black olive crept in toward the end. Warm and inviting but should hold for years.
1990 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne – I was interested in this one (after it had been identified) as Ii still have some in the cellar. A rather exotic nose with anise and leather, juicy on palate and a long finish with good balance. At peak and will hold for years.
2011 Alain Voge Cornas Les Chailles – surprisingly ripe sweet nose, with faint metallic hints, red fruit in the mouth and clean acidity, medium length.
2014 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 – lead pencil and white pepper nose a tad volatile, middle weight and persistent. Pretty good.
2003 M. Chapoutier Cornas – still fairly dark, with a nicely perfumed nose of plum, and a fairly solid middle. Bit shirt but not too bad for that vintage.
2009 Château Rieussec – zowie! What a way to finish up. Tropical fruit nose with some botrytis, and on palate sweet but balanced, delicious, long and very well balanced. I intend to hold mine for a few more years!
