Our dinner group was treated to an exquisite dinning experience in The Bistro at Bacara Resort. With ocean views, the food, service and dinning room ambience was superb and our wine theme of top Northern and Southern Rhone was well represented:
NV PHILIPPE PRIE BRUT ROSE- previous notes are applicable as all is consistent here; this copper red colored delight is loaded with fruit forwardness; in essence, its a creamy strawberry shortcake with a cherry on the top; it
s crisp, bright and refreshing; made from 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay; disgorged 4/13/11; a perfect start for what`s to come.
2006 DOMAINE DU VIEUX TELEGRAPHE “LA CRAU” CDP- made of Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, this is simply wonderful; its rich and creamy texture compliments the stone fruit driven qualities that are touched with a tad of toast, caramel and butter; it has good minerality and acidity and a welcomed long finish.
Now we get to the big guns, all brown bagged for us to ID at least the region, if not more and revealed after each flight of 2 or 3.
2000 DOMAINE DU PEGAU CUVEE DE CAPO CDP- unfortunately, it starts off with a Bretty nose, but then it explodes into a major, serious wondrous delight, full of pepper, spice, blueberry, black currant, plum and chocolate which dominate enough to offset the Brett and make this a more than pleasing experience, a rare comment for me to make after a flaw; most agreed, it was a winner.
2005 DELAS SEIGNEUR MAUGIRON COTE ROTIE- another wow factor here; this had some sassafras, cola, cedar and ripe red and black fruit with great acidity; it coated the palate with a soft, creamy lushness and the finish went on forever.
1995 ROBERT MICHEL LA GEYNALE CORNAS- this wine was the first in the 2nd flight and it had us checking to see if we used the same glass as for the Pegau since it was real Bretty; even then, some good things shined through including some pepper and spice amidst the black cherry/ berry fruit, but the Brett in this one dominated well beyond the nose.
2005 M. CHAPOUTIER LA MORDOREE COTE ROTIE- this improved in the glass over time and eventually offered some generous red and black currant, raspberry, minerals and bacon with sprinkles of salt, spice, pepper and talc; nice softness and complexity; I liked this more than some of the others, especially after returning to it an hour later.
2000 CHAVE HERMITAGE- dark, deep purple color; the nose was somewhat muted, but after that some goodness showed up; lots of ripe black currant and berries with spice and pepper all crescendoing on the mid palate and beyond along with a softness that completes the experience.
2003 DOMAINE DE LA MORDOREE CUVEE DE LA REINE DES BOIS CDP- silky smooth, this rocked on with wild black and blue fruit with nice depth and a long finish; many commented on its brininess which was apparent early on and continued throughout.
2007 E. GUIGAL GIGONDAS- badly corked
207 DOMAINE DE LA SOLITUDE CUVEE BARBERINI CDP- the epitome of power and finesse, this is loaded with black cherry/ berry notes making a big statement in its youth; simply wonderful juice that goes on and on and is silky smooth to please even more.
1994 E. GUIGAL LA LANDONNE- 89% Syrah, 11% Viognier; still young in color, this is beautifully balanced and just shined with its pleasant pepper and spicy notes on top of the integrated tannins and smooth texture; I did not want it to end; ready and willing now, it promises to stay around for a while and shine even more; my WOTN before removing the bag.
2007 DOMAINE DU VIEUX TELEGRAPHE “LA CRAU” CDP- big and full bodied, this is replete with concentrated peppered black fruit which seems just a tad closed down and suggests it would have benefitted from being decanted; a star in the making maybe in 5-8 years for its earliest showing.
2003 M. CHAPOUTIER VIN DE PAILLE HERMITAGE- 15% ETOH; gold in color, crème brulee in in texture and taste, this major serious sweetie was a fitting end to another great night with the gang.
Cheers