Flight 1
Some notes from a Northern Rhone tasting. This group meets monthly to do blind, themed tastings, this month it was my turn to organize. I had a couple of California Syrahs that I thought would be interesting to throw in as mystery wines. The Lagier Meredith was fairly obvious in its flight, though very enjoyable and “competed” very nicely. I personally could not pick out the Peay (mystery wine) in its flight, and guesses as to the mystery wine were all over the map. No clunkers, this was a very fun and enjoyable tasting.
2011 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave St. Joseph - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph (3/10/2019)
Nicely rich, deep fruit, some nice savory notes, hint of roasted mushroom, young and tasty. (92 pts.) My #2, group #3
2005 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave St. Joseph - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph (3/10/2019)
Dark, rich, deep red fruit, hint anise, excellent acidity, medium crunchy tannins, very young, fabulously rich and deep, perhaps not great complexity but tons of power and flavor. Needs another decade to even enter its prime drinking window. (94 pts.) My #1, group #2
2006 Saint-Cosme Côte-Rôtie - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (3/10/2019)
Shows a bit of bricking, nice dark deep red fruit, just a hint of pickle note, good balance, nice but unexciting. (90 pts.) My #5, Group #5
2006 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave St. Joseph - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph (3/10/2019)
Good dark red fruit, hints of leather, touch more faded, seemingly showing more age than the 04 and 05 tasted alongside. (90 pts.) My #4, Group #4
2004 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave St. Joseph - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph (3/10/2019)
Nice medium deep, dark red fruit, more mellow and elegant than 2005 tasted alongside, bit softer, not as deep or rich, still youthful but more approachable, touch of complexity, some light chalky tannins. Still, very tasty. (91 pts.) My #3, group #1
Flight 2
2005 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (3/10/2019)
Very nice medium dark fruit, slight raspberry note, some fine chalky tannins, tasty, elegant, though plenty of stuffing. (92 pts.) My #3, group #2
2005 Robert Michel Cornas La Geynale - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (3/10/2019)
Quite nice deeper red/purple fruit, fairly tannic, not overly complex, bit undeveloped though not grapy. (91 pts.) My #5, group #3
2005 Peay Vineyards Syrah La Bruma - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (3/10/2019)
Wow, delicious, deep red fruit, some savory notes, excellent mouthwatering acidity, fine structure.
Revisit later same day: lightly savory nose, deep plum/raspberry fruit, excellent acidity, medium fine silky tannins, higher toned brighter red fruit, some nice development but many years left. (93 pts.) My #1, group #1
2005 Marc Sorrel Hermitage - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage (3/10/2019)
More elegant dark red fruit, slight savory notes, good acidity, moderate fine tannins, quite lovely. (92 pts.) My #2, group #5
2005 Michel & Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (3/10/2019)
Nice deep red fruit, good acidity, somewhat simple and less complex but tasty. (91 pts.) My #4, group #4
Flight 3
2000 Clusel-Roch Côte-Rôtie Les Grandes Places - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (3/18/2019)
Gorgeous medium rich darker cherry and deep raspberry, hints of savory complexity, excellent acidity, really beautiful. (95 pts.) My #1, group #1
2001 Robert Michel Cornas La Geynale - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (3/18/2019)
Nicely rich, has a specific herb/spice streak I can’t identify exactly, good acidity, still moderately tannic. Quite nice. (93 pts.) My #3, group #4
1999 Lagier Meredith Syrah - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder (3/18/2019)
Beautifully rich, deeply flavored, excellent acidity, fine tannins, long finish, becomes a bit more tannic with air. Tasted in a blind flight of 4 older Northern Rhones, this stood slightly apart, more because of its purity of fruit and overall richness, and most probably that the Rhones use whole cluster fermenetation while this is destemmed. (93 pts.) My #4, group #3
2001 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (3/18/2019)
Lovely moderately dark fruit, slight raspberry note, excellent acidity, light tannins, more elegant though plenty of depth and flavor. (93 pts.) My #2, group #6
2001 Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (3/18/2019)
Decent medium dark fruit, bit of a brighter strawberry note, strong, slightly tart mouthwatering acidity. (91 pts.) My #6, group #5
2000 Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (3/18/2019)
Beautiful dark cherry/raspberry/strawberry fruit, slightly higher toned with subtle savory notes, excellent acidity, more feminine and elegant, lovely. (92 pts.) My #5, group #2