A BUNCH OF CDP ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON - Loretta Paganini School fo Cooking (11/16/2014)
Yesterday, my wife and I joined some friends at a local cooking school for one of their weekly lunches. This was our first time there as we only recently discovered they would be willing to serve us vegetarian food. The idea is their students prepare a five course meal with choices at each course. BYO is allowed. Our friends Charlie and Alice set a wine theme each week, and our group sits at one long table sharing amongst ourselves. The food was for the most part, quite good and we had a great time. As for the wines, here are my notes:
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2010 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape A la Gloire de mon Grand-Père - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Inky purple in color. The nose has raspberries, dark cherries and big spice on it. Full bodied, but not the biggest wine on the table. Succulent texture. Lots of kirsch but also very deep. Drinking very well right now, but years to go. (97 pts.) -
2007 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
I know this is a controversial bottle partly due it its WA100 rating. I thought it was spectacular and my WOTN. Perhaps just short of 100, but that may be due to the setting as much as anything. Purple/ruby in color. The nose is everything I want in CdP. Black raspberries, some blueberries, lavender, spice and anise ins a warming, comforting package. On the palate, layered and complex. Clean. Black raspberries layered with spice, and even some floral tones. Great texture. Amazing wine. (99 pts.) -
2001 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Everything I want in a mature CdP. Certainly about at peak but no hurry. This was pop and pour and got better over the two hours. The nose has a meaty component along with black raspberries. Dick said he got some brett, but I did not even after going back to it. I think that is just the Mourvedre which does have that earthy funk to it. There is also a coffee ground note. On the palate, juicy acidity which was more than the other wines IMO made it quite food friendly. Layers of complexity as it unwinds in the glass. This is medium to full bodied and perhaps a bit leaner than most of the wines, but this is not wimpy. Great wine. If you have these, I would not be in a hurry, but I would certainly start checking in on them. (95 pts.) -
2010 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Gets my vote for the biggest wine on the table. I really liked it, but it is not for everyone. The nose has blueberries, black raspberries, black pepper, smoked wood, black licorice and spice. Big and voluptuous. Just thing to start with coming in from the cold. It seems to deep but today it is just a monster and a delicious one at that. Tons of fruit but no heat although I am sure the alcohol is pushing it based on the texture. (98 pts.) -
2007 Domaine des Bosquets Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Nice wine. On another day, this would be more appreciated perhaps. Its textbook and solid for me. The nose has cherries, spice with slight floral qualities. Medium bodied. Balanced. Cherries with some spice. Nice. Pretty. (92 pts.) -
2000 Château Fortia Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
I saw this on the table and had my doubts about it. Way above my expectations. This bottle was drinking very well. The nose has dark cherries, tobacco, and spice. Drinking a bit younger on the palate, plenty of fruit. Layers of complexity. Lovely juicy texture. No hint of being past prime or funk. Medium to full bodied. I preferred this to the 07 drinking them side by side. (93 pts.) -
2007 Château Fortia Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
This is bigger than the 2000 but much more mono-dimensional. I wonder if it ever really develops the way that wine had. It is very good. The nose has cherries, spice, lavender and slight plum notes. On the palate, medium bodied with cherries, and dark cherries and a bit of a woody note. Nice balance. food friendly. Drinking well and I don’t know that it improves from here. (90 pts.) -
2010 Château Sixtine Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
I had not seen this label before but Jeff K assured me it is still part of Cuvee Vatican. This is another 2010 that is drinking very well. The nose has black raspberries, spice, floral qualities, blueberries and licorice. On the palate, this is opulent and juicy. The acidity is welcome with the food. Another large but just delicious wine. Black raspberries, plums and blueberries with some oak/vanilla showing but not obtrusive. Long finish. Great wine. (97 pts.) -
1998 Domaine Bois de Boursan Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Félix - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
This bottle was past prime IMO. Certainly drinking nicely and at another occasion, I would have no problem drinking it. The nose is earthy with come funk along with cherries and dried cherries. Medium bodied. The acidity is coming to the forefront. On the palate, there is still some cherry fruit left, but it ends drying. Drink up based on this bottle. (88 pts.) -
2001 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Drinking very well and close to peak IMO. The nose has dark cherries, raspberries and boysenberries. Also some spice. On the palate, it drinks younger than the nose. Great juicy texture. Lots of boysenberry and dark cherry fruit. Some spice. Layers of complexity come out as it unwinds in the glass. Long finish. No seeming hurry but worth checking on for sure. (94 pts.) -
2006 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
I opened this late. It was my back up bottle and so, you know, it got opened anyway. What’s a CdP tasting without a Pegau. The nose has some classic Pegau stink on it which I love (and my wife hates#. Another reason to open with friends instead of at home. Also plenty of kirsch and spice. Still, plenty of fruit. showing some layers in the glass. On the palate, this has a nice juiciness to it, but it does finish slightly dry. Other than that, a great wine. #94 pts.)
Kudos to our chef, Kevin. Great job. And thanks to everyone for the invite and for the contributions of wine.
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