Here are my notes from our dinner with the Eastside Wine Group last night. Since I’m the only one who brings a pen (or at least the only one who constantly uses one during dinner!) I’ll volunteer these scribblings. My favs were both Condrieu’s, and the 1998 Gerin the 1999 Ogier Cote Roties. Thanks to all for bringing some fantastic wines, and great to meet both our guests Allen and Paul!
NV Cedric Bouchard Blanc de Noirs, Inflorescence, Aube, Champagne
Fresh green apples, low yeastiness in the nose, fine bubbles, medium body with very vibrant acidity. 90
2007 Cuilleron, Condrieu, "Les Chaillets"
Lychee and ripe grapefruit in the nose; super rich and smooth mouthfeel with rocky mineral notes and a durian tropical fruit thing going on that I really liked. Very elegant, very mineral, beautiful rich body and long finish. 94
2007 Andre Perret, Condrieu, "Chery"
More lively nose with pineapple, grapefruit, and a bit more heady Viognier notes; amazing floral-tropical fruits in the mouth, very intense with a rock streak and Teflon-like silkiness. Super long finish. 95
1998 Gerin Cote Rotie, "Les Grandes Places"
Intense nose of incense, barnyard, spicy sauce, soy sauce mixture, brett; nice soft mouth, almost fully resolved tannins–in a very good place now; touch of old sweet fruit, mascerated cherry-plum flavors in a soft, smooth body. Very long finish. Confirmed how good this was tonight when I had this with pizza w/truffles at home. Magical combo. 93
1998 Guigal Cote Rotie, Blonde et Brune
corked
1999 Ogier Cote Rotie
Lovely nose of deep dark fruits, garrigue, and distinctive lavender notes that Allen directed my attention to. Amazing concentration but still nice and elegant; felt like I was chewing on flowers or lavender, along with more garrigue, chaperell and dry earth and a little spice in there for good measure. It also had a very nice mineral aspect at its core. Complex, structured, balanced and amazing wine. 95
1998 Guigal Cote Rotie, "La Mouline"
Picked up effects of oak in the form of smoke and ash with a nice plum-cherry fruit note; Beautiful body, very silky, very good structure, still young with some tart berry flavors. Well built and a long finish. 92
1998 Rostaing Cote Rotie, "La Landonne"
Sous-bois nose, more earthy element to this, with a prunes and blackberries; great structure, darker tones, medium rich, very nice medium long finish. This held up very nicely the next day, but not as exciting as the Gerin. On the other hand, it needs more time and may have been slightly closed down. 92
2001 Jamet Cote Rotie
This had nice spice notes, garrigue, cherry, blackberry, good balance, with a touch of pepper and a slightly tannic finish. Classic Cote Rotie, approachable, and very good in its own right. 92
2003 Rostaing Cote Rotie, "La Landonne"
This was drinking very well; super silky, with beautiful high toned notes and included cherry and garrigue (as you can see my descriptors of the night); nice balance and long finish. 92
(2006?) Bilancia, La Collina Syrah, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Up front pepper notes, blackberry and blueberry, newer, very present tannins, fairly big with a touch of oak, but very well integrated. Very well done, well built structured syrah. I thought it was a modern style Gigondas. 91