Dinner at FMIII’s place last night with Jim and Gloria Mack - ‘Rhone Dinner’. Great food prepared by the chef, and some interesting and enlightening wine pairings. Thanks to Jim, Gloria, and Frank for their hospitality! The cool climate of the vineyards used by Jemrose (including Cardiac Hill) are evident, and make for a more Rhone-style wine than many other CA vineyards. I believe this is why Jim matched up some Rhones with his Rhone varietals in the flights, and I appreciated the comparisons.
First Flight–Jemrose Viognier and Condrieu
Pan Seared Monkfish with Citrus Vegetable Salsa, Scallop Sashimi with Hot Soy Yuzu Drizzle, Fried Shrimp Roll
2007 Jemrose Egret Pond Viognier - typical floral and white peach on the nose, but somewhat muted at first, nice attack of light sweetness fades into some bitterness, almost as if there was some stem inclusion, nice acidity making it great with food, which I have not found to be the case with many CA Viogniers
2008 Jemrose Egret Pond Viognier - Even more muted than the '07 on the nose, but stronger sense of florals. Acidity almost of a Sauvignon Blanc, nice finish, seems a bit ‘hot’ (I found out it is 14.5% abv, same as '07), developed nicely in the glass, gaining some weight and mouthfeel.
2006 Andre Perret Condrieu Chery - Interesting nose, reminded me of the smell of a grocery store deli next to the produce section, some meatiness on the nose, great mouthfeel, ripe plum, long finish
2007 Rostaing Condrieu Bonnette - Smells of malo, and not much more. Creaminess on the palate, almost Roussane like in the weight, flabby - dumped out.
Flight Two–Jemrose Grenache and Chateau Rayas CNDP
Roasted Chicken and Orzo Saffron Risotto and Wilted Baby Arugula
2007 Jemrose Foggy Knoll Grenache - interesting spice on the nose of pepper and cured meats. Good mouthfeel, with white pepper, black fruits, nice dusty tannins. A bit of bitterness on the finish, and somewhat disjointed
2008 Jemrose Foggy Knoll Grenache (Barrel sample 1) - (5% Syrah) Deli meats, black pepper, very rustic nose. Old world in character and flavor profile - some were saying ‘feminine’ as well as ‘meaty’, and oddly enough, that makes sense with this wine
2008 Jemrose Foggy Knoll Grenache (Barrel sample 2) - (10% Syrah) A bit flabby for my preferences, and the syrah here seemed to take over, even with just 10% - universal preference was for Sample 1
2004 Chateau Rayas CNDP - Classic French ‘funk’ on the nose (reminiscent of some older Bdx) with anise, violets, red fruits. Good balance of sweetness on the midpalate, light mouthfeel, excellent long finish
2005 Chateau Rayas CNDP - As above, but more minerality and meatiness on the nose. Stronger tannic structure and acidity makes me think this one is made to last, and the fruit seems a bit held back, perhaps in a sleeping stage now. Paired with the rich food, though, this wine emerged to some degree
Flight Three–2006 Cardiac Hill Syrah Horizontal
Rib Eye with Stilton Chive Butter and Wild Mushrooms
This Flight was done blind, so my notes were put together with the wines after they were unwrapped. An interesting exercise to take 4 wines using fruit from the same vineyard, in the same vintage, and compare blind.
2006 Jemrose Cardiac Hill Syrah - hot nose, some smoked meats but harsh overall on the nose. Good weight and mouthfeel, but bitter and harsh on the finish - seems just really high on the alcohol, and nothing else showing. (Bad bottle)
2006 Carlisle Cardiac Hill Syrah - Wow, tremendous wine. Very unique nose, with some sweet apples among the mix of aromas. Not as bold as the others, but balanced and complex. Beautiful florals and red fruits on the palate, sort of a ‘bloody’ aspect on the palate, with meatiness and salinity, great tannic grip, smooth and sweet finish
2006 Shane Cardiac Hill Syrah (called Jemrose vineyard on the label) - Nice nose, seems to have more minerality than the others, along with sweet red and black fruits and pepper on the nose. Heavy, silky mouthfeel, tannic, white pepper, nice finish
2006 Baldissari Cardiac Hill Syrah - Strong aromas of cured meat, pepper, but a lot of heat coming through on the nose as well. Palate shows nicely integrated black fruit, pepper, dried meat - not complex, but very good. I’d swear this wine was made with American oak, as I detected maple and vanilla on the oak treatment.
Flight Four–Cardiac Hill TBR and Clape
Shiso Panko Crusted Lamb Chop with Sweet Potato Pancake
2007 Jemrose Cardiac Hill Syrah - A blast of alcohol on the nose, some black fruit and meatiness coming through, blast of sweetness, pepper, some bitterness on the finish - this wine seemed tight when poured, as it opened up after a while, gaining complexity and expressing the fruit
2007 Shane Jemrose Syrah - A bit tight as well, but some blueberries (flame suit on) along with the peppered meats and a good tannic structure. Another wine that seemed to open up after some time in the glass
2008 Jemrose Cardiac Hill Syrah (barrel sample) - Nice florals on the nose, pepper, red and black fruits, nice mouthfeel, a bit ‘big’ on the pepper, though. Long finish, nice wine
2003 Clape Cornas - Stewed apples, raisins, some soil on the nose. Palate starts out moderately acceptable, but falls immediately. This wine is garbage, seriously. It’s not a bad bottle (ruined/corked or otherwise), it’s just bad wine. I would be monumentally upset to have paid the money for this wine when it is so bad. Found out later that it was RMP95. Barf.
2005 Clape Cornas - NOW we’re talking. Beautiful bright and vibrant nose, lively mouthfeel with good balance and acidity, red fruits, long and elegant finish. A fantastic wine.
Flight Five–Jemrose Late Viognier and Late Harvest Condrieu
Organic Lemon Bars - a Jill Murray Creation
2008 Jemrose Egret Pond LHV
2004 Yves Cuilleron "Ayguets"
I did not take notes on these wines, but enjoyed both immensely, both with and without the lemon bars. The color on the Cuilleron was amazingly bronze and dark - very interesting.
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Seeing The Todd walk out of her with his right mind, as well as Brian, I think they better captured the wines above but I offer the TNs below.
