ALLEMAND V CHAVE LOS ANGELES EDITION - (10/1/2023)
We got together for a feast of food and wine centered around allemand and chave.
Our original plan was 4 vintages matched up against each other but due to a corked wine and a drop out we only ended up with two.
Despite that we still had a wonderful tasting. Almost every wine showed well and the best part was meeting new faces and hanging out with old friends. The service and food at republique were top notch as always and is one of the best places for a wine dinner in LA.
Allemand 07/08 Reynard absolutely crushed the Chave 07/08 respectively. But my WOTN was 2012 Jamet Cote Brune which was truly incredible
Champagne starter
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2013 Roses de Jeanne / CĂŠdric Bouchard Champagne MillĂŠsimĂŠ Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules - France, Champagne
Served from magnum. Absolutely shocked how youthful it is out of magnum compared to 750ml. Super bright acidity and high-toned yellow fruit with citrus zest, none of the apple notes I'm typically accustomed to. Much more energy and bubbles than out of 750 as well, just streams new and primary. It was a delicious wine don't get me wrong, but it's totally different out of mag than 750.
White wines
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2003 E. Guigal Ermitage Blanc Ex-Voto - France, RhĂ´ne, Northern RhĂ´ne, Hermitage
completely shot -
2017 Domaine PrieurĂŠ Roch Ladoix Le Cloud Blanc - France, Burgundy, CĂ´te de Beaune, Ladoix
Nice spot, fresh and fleshy that reminds me of a natty white burg producer, but there was a nice delicate acid note that helped keep the wine lively with its yellow fruit
Red burg ramp up
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2005 Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Vosne-RomanÊe Clos du Château - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-RomanÊe
Very much liger belair with its gorgeous supple red fruit and vosne spice yet still very much 05 as the oak still hasn't felt like it's integrated and the wine still feels so primary. I'm just glad to have a sound and good showing on a Liger village with age!
Older chave
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1992 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage - France, RhĂ´ne, Northern RhĂ´ne, Hermitage
looking at the notes on this wine prior to dinner had me fearful but boy this was good. That wild brambly red fruit with an edge of sous bois you get from most 80s Chave with a nice pulse of acid and cool moderate mouthfeel texture. Reminds me a lot of 89 but a little less so of a wine but still very enjoyable -
1996 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage - France, RhĂ´ne, Northern RhĂ´ne, Hermitage
Wildly different wine from the 1992 that was served by it. Really burly meaty and thick. Lots of olive and smoke on the nose and the palate had a coarse tannin and more tobacco driven notes with dark burly fruit. One to sit on for a bit longer
04 flight
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2004 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage - France, RhĂ´ne, Northern RhĂ´ne, Hermitage
TCA BOMB -
2004 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard - France, RhĂ´ne, Northern RhĂ´ne, Cornas
Been a couple years since I opened a blt of the 04 and it's really developed nicely. It's put on a lot of weight while keeping that fine minerality and black olive and fruit driven core. Starting to add more of that savory back end element of the wine which really adds to the complexity. Wine was beautiful and would have been my WOTN if not for the 2012 Jamet Cote Brune
07 flight
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2007 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage - France, RhĂ´ne, Northern RhĂ´ne, Hermitage
Soft supple fruit, felt a bit short on the finish, meaty pepper on the back end but wish there was a bit more acidity to prop the wine up -
2007 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard - France, RhĂ´ne, Northern RhĂ´ne, Cornas
This vintage was such a great one for allemand. I love how the wine sparkles from the minerality and it feels so herbacious and black fruited. It's just incredibly well balanced right now with a deep flavor profile that shows it still has some time to go before it hits its peak.
08 flight
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2008 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage - France, RhĂ´ne, Northern RhĂ´ne, Hermitage
Kinda similar to the 07 we had with it where there's a lightness to the wine - I wouldn't necessarily say elegance just feels like it has another gear that's not quite there. It's easy drinking and has decent dark red fruit, but there just seems to be missing a little bit more especially next to the same vintage Allemand Reynard. -
2008 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard - France, RhĂ´ne, Northern RhĂ´ne, Cornas
Very high toned va driven nose with bright purple fruit and pepper. THe palate is cool yet laden with ample fruit and that classic allemand fruit and minerality combo runs well in the wine. Not quick as deep as the 07 tasted the same night, but the VA seems to give it a bit more of a brightness.
2012 flight
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2012 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard - France, RhĂ´ne, Northern RhĂ´ne, Cornas
Not a great example of the wine, you could tell there was a little heat damage and it was enough to really bring out the lacto notes on the finish that really marred the wine. -
2012 Marie et Pierre BÊnetière Côte-Rôtie Le Dolium - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
I think this wine is starting to shut down a bit. It's losing a bit of that sweet sweet red berry on the nose and starting to get burlier and thicker on the nose and palate. Still fantastic density on the wine with a ton of sweet red fruit but it does feel like the structure of the wine is in the forefront. A very good wine still if you've never had it near release where it was an amazing wine. -
2012 Domaine Jamet CĂ´te-RĂ´tie CĂ´te Brune - France, RhĂ´ne, Northern RhĂ´ne, CĂ´te-RĂ´tie
Wow. Maybe the best syrah i've had in 2023. It's so etheral in its fruit presence with wonderful acidity and a fine line of the sweetest delicate red fruit. The mouthfeel of the wine is so svelte and beautiful. THe nose is filled with that same fresh picked cherry note that just effortlessly rises out of the glass. My goodness that was good.
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