Dinner at the Coelhos!

WINE TALK
1

Ejehan did a great job cooking and Brad picked out some crappy wines…

2001 Trapet Latricieres Chambertin-I brought this one. Should have decanted it earlier. When it did finally come around, the wine was delicious and the nose was reminiscent of a very good Grand Cru Burgundy. Not a showstopper, but I aint kickin her out of bed either.

2005 Ch Malescot St. Exupery-Corked…ugh

1995 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape- Stinky, bretty nose that blew off in a hurry. This wine was extraordinary. Absolutely delicious pairing with the lamb. I would guess this has 3-5 years ahead of it, but why wait when it is this good.

2007 La Vieille Julienne Chateauneuf du Pape-Ripe, new world style. The btl was open when I arrived and it was half full full when I left…5 hours later. For me, it was pretty much undrinkable. I hear people are drinking 2007 CDPs such as this, and I have no idea wine. Lots of fruit, but thick and monolithic for me. Could turn into a great wine, and probably will, but when 1995 Vieux Telegraphe is on the table, why bother drinking stuff like this?

2005 Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris Heimbourg SGN- As Brad mentioned, it is so hard to compare such outstanding wines like this against “normal” wines. 10% alcohol, and so seductively sweet, the btl was empty before I could say the entire name. Wow what a wine, and a terrific winemaker.

2

Where are Brad’s notes?

Two ‘older’ wines - not exactly his style, so he must have been gearing the event toward your palate at least a bit. That’s the sign of a good host.

Me, I just let my guests pick the corked Barolo from my cellar…

3

Hmmm, Posner and Brad…hmmm.

4

sittin’ in a tree…

5

[rofl.gif]

6

DP, the '95 Vieux Telegraphe - was it the regular or Le Crau? I have Le Crau in the cellar and I was wondering?

Only five bottles for the two of you? You guys are slipping.

7

Three people Adam, Le Crau was the one, is there a regular VT CDP?

8

Perhaps he’s thinking of Telegrame?

The '95 VT is indeed a great bottle. Depth & layers are the key words. When you say 3-5 Dan are you saying peak. IMNSHO, the '95 will continue to improve for at least that and drink well into it’s 25th b-day and beyond. A bottle of the '83 a few years ago was stunning in an aged Burg kinda way. I’m curious also how brett blows off? If it’s there it ain’t going no where. Interesting comments on the VJ. My impression has been they are far from new world in style, at least in prior vintages.

9

Gregg,

For VT 1995, it sooo good, why wait till its 25th BDAY? But it most certanly will last it. Will it get better after 3-5 years from now? I do not think so.

As for Brett blowing off, I am more referring to the funky brett smell. Flavor was there, but the funky smell was not.

2007 VJ and 2005 VJ (tasted recently) have both been BOMBS in style.

10

I cannot understand the confusion about the Brunier Ch. Vieux Telegraphe CDP La Crau. Just pick any of the parts of the name and scramble them together, still the same wine!!!
[berserker.gif]

A bunch of us had a bottle of the 95 VT at La Sirene last month, I believe Scott Sovinee brought it. WOTN. That wine is just awesome right now.

11

Dan - We are in agreement that the VT '95 is awesome. My point is, I believe it will continue to develop further showing more complexity. It’s really a preference when you like to drink um. I’m a big fan of extended aging and like the tertiary flavor profile that goes with it. No doubt this bottle is showing great right now and has been for a few years. Hope that answers your why wait question. YMMV.

Regarding the VJ. I haven’t bought any since the '04 and basically buried those in the cellar. The '00 was the last vintage I have tasted recently and believe that to show an old school style, even though they de-stem. Perhaps there was a change in the elevage or the addition of the old vine grapes have shown a quantitative change. I believe they don’t sulphur until bottling and use natural yeasts without the use of small barrique, thus the old school reference.

12

With VT there was a labeling change at one point. My understanding is that the fruit source for these has always been La Crau. There was a point where that was not mentioned on the label, but in more recent years the “La Crau” appeared somewhat prominently on the label. I have the problem on CT all the time of people trying to create a ‘regular’ VT when there really is only one wine. And as noted in 2002 there was no VT, just the Telegramme (which starting with 2002 has been a regular 2nd bottling and has replaced the 2nd wine formerly known as Vieux Mas de Papes if I recall correctly).

Sort of the same problem in 2002 with Pegau (as I guess inside the village they labeled in 2002 without the usual Cuvee Reservee on there).

13

You are correct sir.

14

Thanks, Eric. I thought I was losing it. Bottles from the 80’s dont have Le Crau front and center like it is now.

For the record, Posner had a chance to sample 95 VT in my cellar, but passed on it for something else in the CDP section. I dont think he was disappointed. [winner.gif]

15

Re: VJ, I agree with Dan on his new world comment - I found the '04 undrinkable, and this is coming from someone who still has an unopened case in his cellar.

16

Finishing the 14th paragraph. He’ll have the notes up soon. neener

17

We obviously are drinking them too young.

18

I’m a huge fan of Vieux Telegraph. I’ve never had the '95 (will have to work to correct that) but the '94 is consistently great (and also reasonably priced). I’ve got a stash of '98 and younger bottles hidden away in hopes that they develop like the wines from the '80s, because Vieux Telegraph absolutely rocked the '80s…

  • 1986 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (7/12/2008)
    Family Reunion/Birthday Dinner: We jumped from '66 Bordeaux to this and it seemed considerably younger. The nose offered vitamins, subdued red fruit, dried herbs, sweet tart, cinnamon and lilac. On the palate this showed concentrated red fruit with a great, smooth texture and a satisfying long finish. A great bottle of wine.
  • 1984 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (4/4/2008)
    Another contribution from George. The color is a light ruby red. The nose is very expressive offering red fruit, mushroom, iron and mineral. The texture is awesome with great balance and an elegant mouth feel. Red fruit and coffee dominate the expansive flavors. Still going strong and I would say showing no signs of decline. (93 pts.)
  • 1982 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (3/11/2008)
    Vieux Telegraph at Chez Moi: No notes taken. The nose gives a delicate expression of mushroom, cherry, mineral and garrigue. In the mouth this elegant (barely mid-weight) but has good flavor intensity, nice balance and a very nice finish. Suprisingly good wine. (92 pts.)
  • 1986 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (3/11/2008)
    Vieux Telegraph at Chez Moi: No notes taken. The nose gives dark cherry, mineral and a touch of garrigue. The taste is similar to the '82, but a touch heavier and less open. Very enjoyable. (91 pts.)
  • 1988 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (7/6/2007)
    No notes taken, but this was awesome with grilled beef tenderloin and fried potatoes. This bottle was a recent Winebid purchase, and looked like hell (it literally looked like it had been through a hurricane!). Upon opening the color was a light rust red, the nose was expressive, and the palate was stern and compact. However, an hour in the decanter did wonders. The wine actually darkened to a nice ruby red, the nose became even more expressive (with mushroom, sour cherry, mineral, and dried herbs/floral notes), and the taste became much more expansive on the palate. The smell was complex and penetrating. The taste was silky smooth, perfectly balanced, and had a long, satisfying finish. I’ve got to keep buying these aged Vieux Telegraphs as they are such interesting wines. (93 pts.)
  • 1985 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2/21/2007)
    Dinner with Craig, Chris, and Steve (Chez Moi): The color is a healthy brownish-red that is consistent with other recently opened CdP of this age. The nose is intense and expressive from the moment the bottle was opened – giving a complex blend of dark cherry, garrigue/dried herbs, floral notes, and a mild mushroom. This intriguing complexity carries through to the palate. The flavors are augmented towards kirsch/sour cherries. The wine is balanced and smooth. Nice finish. Excellent. (94 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

19

I wouldn’t give up on these just yet. I think they’re just going through an awkward phase right now. I tasted these at the domain in June 2006 and then three more times, the last being June of '08 when this was completely closed down. It has the juice from the Vieilles Vignes in '04 and seems to me to have the structure and the fruit to develop into an excellent wine with time. We were picking this up for under $40 which seems pretty reasonable. My notes are pasted in below.


  • 2004 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (6/21/2008)
    Popped and poured at the end of a dinner party. This didn’t show particularly well. Seemed to be closed down with no nose and a concentrated one-dimensional taste. I plan to let the rest of mine sleep for awhile.
  • 2004 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (1/21/2008)
    Shopping For Wine: Popped and poured by Brad for sipping at the wine store. The color is a dark ruby red. On the nose this gives a copmlex blend of aromas including red fruit, dried herbs, mineral and floral notes. On the palate this is a solid mid-weight wine with great balance and texture. Flavors are dominated by red fruits with some dried herbs. The flavor intensity is good from the attack through the satisfying finish. This is a wine to own by the case at current prices. (92 pts.)
  • 2004 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2/8/2007)
    Winestreet Tasting of Mostly Rhones (Delas Freres, La Vieille Julienne, Bosquet des Papes and others): Deep red/purple color. On the nose this gives red fruit, a floral note, blood, and iodine. A very complex and enticing blend of aromas. The taste is like a barrel sample with extremely concentrated red and black fruits. Maybe a slight greenness but not enough to detract. Great balance and great lenght. A big step up in quality from the other CdP wines tasted. It was very fun to taste this as this as this was the first winery we visited during our Rhone trip last summer and we tasted this wine from bottle at the domaine. I liked it at the time, but I would say it is even better now. Should develop nicely with additional bottle age. (93 pts.)
  • 2004 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (6/16/2006)
    Tasted at the domaine. I preferred this to the 2003. The nose gave dark fruit, garrigue, and chocolate. In the mouth this was very well balanced and elegant. Very tannic. Long finish. Much more traditional CdP than the 2003.

Posted from CellarTracker

20

Could very well be, Dave - I don’t have enough experience with this wine to forecast where it’s headed, but I very much agree with the one-dimensional nature of it as you mentioned in your last TN. At this time, I have a clear preference for the '04 VT Le Crau.