I had a chance to taste through several 2007’s from the portfolio of Alain Junguenet thanks to my friends Nat and Jereline Slaughter who are the local distributors.
Here are a few thoughts on some of the wines.
2007 Domain J.P. Lafond Roc-Epine
Lirac Rouge
Concentrated wine. Lots of blueberry and white pepper type spice. Loaded with fruit and really excellent complexity. Only lacks in length. I liked this. The price is right too.
Chateauneuf du Pape
This one just seemed a little out of whack to me. Big in the mouth but lacks a mid palate. The fruit really drops out. The finish is tannic.
2007 Chateau Fortia
Nice nose. Dark fruit and provenceal herbs. The palate is medium concentrated and shows plenty of spice. Nice finish. A very good Chateauneuf du Pape
2007 Domaine Bosquet des Pape
Tradition
Nice nose that is loaded with darker fruit and herbs. The palate is nice but lacks a little mid palate presence. The finish is very good. A good entry level wine.
Chante le Merle
This is denser and darker to me. The palate is full and shows nice peppery spice. Good finish that has some length.
Gloire de Mon Grand-Pere
A gorgeous complex nose of dark berry fruit, spice and herbs. So sexy. The palate is perfectly balanced. A black red character to the fruit. The finish goes on and on. Old vines glorious. This is special.
2007 Mas de Boislauzon
Cotes-du-Rhone
Sexy dark fruit. Some spice. The palate is simple and seductive. Nice stuff.
Quet
Darker and more complex on the nose and palate. For some reason, the palate just never takes off.
2007 Domaine de la Cote de l’Ange
Tradition
VV
Cotes-du-Rhone
None of these three really did much for me. I think stylistically I didn’t care for them.
2007 Domaine Pierre Usseglio
Tradition Blanc
Flat in the mouth. This was almost like a flat soda at first. Just never gets going.
Tradition Rouge
Terrific nose of black fruit and spice. Fabulous detail and length. This is a terrific entry Chateauneuf.
Mon Aieul
This has so much rich fruit and a hint of volatility on the nose. The palate is loaded with fruit. At this point it is an expensive fruit bomb. Going to be a great wine in the future.
Cotes-du-Rhone
A nice quaffer. Good concentration.
Panorama (Merlot/Grenache/Cabernet)
This is surprisingly good. Gorgeous primary dark fruit nose. The palate is silky and sexy. Pretty decent length. This will be a $16 to $20 wine I think.
Not bad. A great restaurant wine.
2007 Le Vieux Donjon
Magic in a bottle if you like traditional wine. Right now it is dark and mysterious. So much spice and detail underneath. Terrific length. This is one of the best for me since 1998.
2007 Cuvee du Vatican
Reserve Sixtine Blanc
Fabulous honeysuckle and sexy apricot type fruit nose. Fabulous minerality. Larger percentage Roussanne and it shows. Nice.
Reserve Sixtine Rouge
Dark. Sexy. Complex. Long finish. This is terrific.
2007 Domaine Pontifical
Nice dark fruit and some pepper. Very nice palate. Not a huge wine but satisfying.
2007 Domaine Tour Saint Michel Cuvee des Deux Soeurs
Dark fruit, pepper and some herbs on the nose. The palate here is nice and full. Good finish that lingers with pepper. i liked this.
I would love to taste these when they have been laid down for a few months. They are dominated by huge amounts of fruit extract at this point. The usual suspects should be nice. I would not throw out the 2006 vintage at this point however. Some GREAT wines were made in that vintage.
Thanks to Nat and Jereline for the tastes.
Cheers to you all.