ALLEMAND AND GRAMENON TASTING - Arlequin wine bar (7/10/2014)
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2012 Domaine Gramenon Côtes du Rhône Poignee de Raisins - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Deep ruby-purple color; acidic red fruits; palate is medium bodied, fresh red fruits, short on the palate, fades by the midpalate; short finish. More density than a normal Grenache cotes du rhone, nice, but a pass. 87 (87 pts.) -
2012 Domaine Gramenon Côtes du Rhône La Sagesse - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Markedly more expressive nose than the poignee de raisins, some spice, white pepper, blacker fruit, quite complex on the nose; palate is medium bodied, nice tannic structure but still approachable, denser black fruit, great depth, nice acidic balance; medium length finish. This is one of the best cotes du rhone that I’ve had. Great complexity, density, and not overripe or out of balance. 50% more expressive than the poignee made from the younger vines of the same vineyard, but this is the one to buy. 92-93 (92 pts.) -
2012 Domaine Gramenon Côtes du Rhône Villages Les Laurentides - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages
Medium ruby color; different character than the sagesse, more subtle but just as complex, slight slate and minerality, chalky black fruit, intoxicating with time; palate is more velvety, medium bodied, slight heat, red fruits, cherry; medium finish. Interesting, but not quite as good at balance as the sagesse. 90-91 (90 pts.) -
2012 Domaine Gramenon Côtes du Rhône Sierra du Sud - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Mostly Syrah. Medium-deep ruby-purple; funky, VA, odd; palate is full bodied, approachable structure, ripe fruit, a bit unbalanced, lacks depth. Not terribly, but not great. A pass for me today. 88 (88 pts.)
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2009 Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
Medium ruby-purple color; fabulous nose with density, complexity, gamey black fruits, young, subtle white pepper, with lots of swirling a bit of herbal green comes out, very slightly stemmy; palate is full bodied, dense, velvety tannins, youthful fruit, so much potential; finish is medium-long. This is just a stellar wine with so much youthful potential but already so brilliant. This is almost a bargain at $100. 94-95++ (95 pts.) -
2009 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
Deep ruby-purple; so complex that it seems to need time to unfurl, red fruit, spice, changes in the glass second to second, nice balance with just a hint of green; palate is full bodied, dense concentrated fruit at just the right level of ripeness, some structured tannins that need some time, great depth; finish is medium-long. The chaillot is beautiful to drink now (though it will age well), while this is a bit awkward young but with clear potential and great depth even now. 93-95++ (93 pts.)
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