my next comprehensive tasting in Graz (in February) will be about Cote-Rotie - and Guigals LaLas in particular.
I have already selected most of the wines and vintages (also depending on my stock of course, and what was available in addition) - so my question is not “what should I take”, but rather “what would YOU combine …” with the LaLas (Cote-Rotie only, no ringers).
The idea is on one hand to have some 15-16 Guigals (app. 3-5 each of La Mouline, La Landonne, La Turque and Chateau d´Ampuis) over a span of some 2 decades, but also to combine/compair them with other special Cote-Rotie cuvées (they need not necessarily begin with “La” )
Also it´s plausible (and usually one of my principles)not to choose the greatest vintages like 1999 exclusively … due to financial restrictions and availability.
So let´s say you´ve got to choose another 12 cuvées - which one, and which vintages?
I´m really curious, but will (maybe) make only minimal corrections to my selection - if at all …
I will post the tasting report HERE (if interest and participation is adequat) …
Can’t say I’d have any comments besides “Thank You” to post in resposne to your tasting report, but I do hope you post it, as I would enjoy reading it. IMO, interest is measured by “views”, not “replies.”
Brian, that is not my opinion. If I post here I´m interested in a discussion about wine(s) or wine regions - not to “advertize” any events or simply publish TNs, that get read but without a comment.
It might well have been the foreign language that caused the problem … but with “interest” I usually DON´T only mean that somebody clicks on the topic, reads thru it in half a minute, thinks “aha, a Rhone tasting, but not here” - and back he goes to the main page. That´s no interest, that´s only checking what ´s it about.
I asked for suggestions (and therefore for participation) … to compare it with my own ideas … if you call that redundant to expect also replies … ok, might be.
Respectfully, I don’t know that a large part of this board can even conceive a tasting of two decades worth of La La’s. I know I can’t. I think reading about your events is fascinating, but I don’t know what comments are worthy on wines that I, and potentially many others aren’t going to get to taste likely in our lifetime.
I’m making a big assumption here, but am guessing that if someone offered the majority of this board to sample a five year vertical of Ampuis alone, it would be a singular, nearly once in a lifetime experience. I had a 1997 Rostaing La Landonne last year, it was one of the great bottles of Syrah I’ve tasted, but I truly have no clue whether or not it would work in your tasting.
I do hope you post your notes regardless of this outcome, as I for one truly value your contributions.
Gerhard,
back to topics.
It would be fascinating to compare the three Lalas - best in the same vintages - with
Ogier Belle Helene
Delas La Landonne
Rostiang La Landonne and Cote blonde
Clusel-Roch Grandes Places
and others.
Anthony,
are you sure?
I often read here about dinners and tastings where top-Cote-Roties have been tasted and enjoyed.
Just a 30 second search - and I found
Sure Cote-Rotie is not everybodys darling like CdP, but there are enough knowledgable freaks around, and Guigal is THE producer.
BTW: I don´t want to sound didactic, but you must have made a typo, there is no 1997 Roastaing La Landonne, he declassified all cuvees into his “Cuvee Terroirs”.
Spanning two decades showing the four top bottlings at 3-5 bottles per vintage? Congrats if the concept allows you to easily make recommendations, but based on the lack of responses besides yourself and one other person, do you have other theories?
Yes - Gentaz-Derveux was a genius! The only reason why I will not include one: I don´t have any more … and so hard to find! The last bottle of 1988 was simply great … and would have been a fine match for La Landonne.
(but we will at least taste juice from his vineyards … )
I had several disapointments with Levets La Chavaroche (I think this is the spelling) in the 90ies … I heard that the quality has improved, but haven´t tasted any vintage recently.
To not include Ogier and Jamet in any comprehensive CR tasting is, well, a tragedy imo. Jamet does have the Cote Blond if you require a special designation; however, either domaines “classique” is, imo, top quality CR.
I just drank a '78 Gentaz Cote Brune Cuvee Reserve on Saturday night that was lovely, and was going to suggest adding one or more to your tasting, but as you say, there’s not much available anywhere. I think only 3 btls of that are still inventoried in CT.
Probably 15 years ago or so, I participated in a 2 night vertical of La La’s with something like 22 btls. The first night was for what were then very young wines, IIRC 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991 of all three vyds. Seven of them had Parker’s 100 point scores (this was back when I cared a little about scores), but the whole evening was a waste of great wine. All 12 wines were tight, monolithic and nearly indistinguishable from each other. We should have saved the bottles for at least 10 more years.
The second night was the older wines, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985. Here at least you were able to distinguish between the wines, and not brutally assault your palate.
Anyway, if you can do vintages like 1978, 1983, 1985 and maybe one of the 1988-1991 vintages, I think you’d have a wonderful lineup.
This sounds like an awesome project! If I had the time, I"d not only post a reply to your TNs Gerhard, but I’d try to wrangle an invite to the tasting itself. Another vote for Jamet and Ogier, the Belle Helene in particular. Also Rene Rostaing’s La Landonne or Cote Blonde, and Chapoutier’s La Mordoree.