Got together with a great group of new and familiar faces last night for a wonderful dinner and a wide-ranging CdP tasting! To any on the board that were present, we really enjoyed hanging out with you and drinking these awesome wines! I didn’t take many detailed notes but wanted to at least convey overall impressions for those holding these bottles. I also missed some of the initial sparklers cuz I was lost in a Beaucastel.
1998 BEAUCASTEL VIELLES VIGNES ROUSSANNE
My contribution to the tasting and the one I spent the most time analyzing. What a color on this wine! bright clear copper in the glass. Initially, had a honeyed peach cobbler kind of nose that made me want to stop and just keep smelling, but it continued to evolve over time into something that more resembled butterscotch at its best. Initially, the mouthfeel was fairly oily/waxy with apricots and almonds, picking up a little bit more weight with some air. In my opinion, this particular bottle I think we missed its very best by a year or two, but it was still incredibly unique.
2016 JANESSE BLANC
Compared to the Beaucastel this was crisp, light, lively, and fresh on the nose. Loads of pears and hints of stone fruit on the palate, still a little creamy and waxy but not overly so. A good counterbalance to lighten things back up before heading into a whole bunch of reds. I see this wine getting even better in a couple years.
PAIR #1
2016 BEAUCASTEL CdP
Already a fantastic wine. The fresh fruit is in-your-face forward but bright and red with some floral notes and spice. You won’t be sorry to open it now but its got some good stuffing in it.
2014 LES CLOS DU CAILLOU CDP LES SAFRES
Again towards the fruitier side with raspberries and red fruits here but with an almost mint-like herbaceous undertone that I think really helped it. very tasty pair, these two
PAIR #2
2010 LE VIEUX DONJON CDP
Possibly my CdP of the night. just firing on all cylinders here. Great fruit and structure but both wines in this pair have started to pick up an earthy note that I really love. Some spice notes here as well. Just awesome.
2012VIEUX TELEGRAPHE LE CRAU
This one is holding onto some darker fruit notes and some of those garrigue-y type herbs. Its definitely good, but it was hurt by being right next to the Donjon IMO.
PAIR #3
2004 DOMAINE DU CAILLOUX CDP
Trying to find some information about this tasty wine… it looks like maybe after 08 this wine became Clos du Caillou cuvee le tradition? Anyone have any more information on this producer? It was very good that’s the main thing I remember.
2005 DOMAINE DE FERRAND CDP
The consensus seemed to be this wine was corked. Last night I confirmed I am not a TCA responder. seemed OK to me but not up to par with the other wines in the lineup.
PAIR #4: the surprise
2002 CLOS DES PAPES CDP
2002. Terrible vintage in CdP right? Well apparently someone did something right at Clos des Papes, because this was such a pretty wine. It maybe didn’t scream CdP and was a little lighter bodied and redder fruited, but it was very very nice.
2003 CLOS DES PAPES CDP
Funny enough, this bottle was off. The first person to taste it called it “spritzy”… I feel like thats not how you want to describe a CdP. Something off with the bottle.
PAIR #5
2001 GUIGAL CDP
2001 LA NERF CDP
By this time we were all starting to have some trouble keeping track of what was in each of our glasses and decanters. We all know for sure that both of these wines were fantastic and surprisingly youthful, but had started to pick up some dusty earthiness that helped lend complexity. Both felt like they still had long lives ahead of them.
PAIR #5
1998 DOMAINE DE LA JANESSE CUVVEE CHAUPIN
Similar to the impressions about the 01s, but possibly even more true with this wine. It felt like this wine was still hanging around the same developmental spot at the 04-10s and just on cruise control there. youthful red fruit and smooth tannin structure
2014 SQN SHAKTI GRENACHE
My first SQN. The (almost) 16% ABV and new oak of this wine stood out like a sore thumb in this lineup of mostly traditional CdP producers. big dark fruits and oak spice. I don’t have a ton of notes on this one, but I think its a wine that benefits from being a standalone.
BONUS WINES
1995 COS D’ESTOURNEL
Overall WOTN for me. Like the SQN this wine just jumped off the table among all the CdPs. The main thing that sticks with me is that there was loads of green pepper, almost to the point of jalapeño, but though that sounds like a detractor it seemed knit into the overall feel of the wine just right to make something complete and fresh and balanced. Just delicious, delicious wine.
2016 HUET 1ER TRIE CLOS DU BOURG
A great way to finish the night. a little sweetness but loads of balancing acidity and no cloying style fruits. This was my first 1er Trie and I was surprised by how fresh and agile it was.
Hopefully others that were there might chime in some of their thoughts as well, or correct me if I labelled a vintage wrong or similar. Overall a very fun, very late night with some great wines and company!