WCC BLIND NORTHERN RHONE TASTING
at Provence Restaurant, Albany, NY (3/26/2009)

The WCC met at Provence Restaurant for a blind tasting of Northern Rhone red wines. Tasting started close to 7:30. All wines tasted double-blind. There could have been a ringer (but there wasn't). There was one duplicate.

Attendees: Bob F, George, Joel H, Dick, Larry, Mike T, Steve M, Ken, Mike W, Keith, Bob S.


The menu started with Chef Michael Cunningham’s Charcuterie selection of pheasant pate and TruffIed Mallard Duck Foie Gras Mousse Pate together with chef’s selection of cheese including Morbier, Montagne de Bethmale Chevre, Fromager d'Afinois and Brebiou.


FLIGHT 1: CORNAS
With Mediterranean Lotte Demer wrapped in crepinette, with Provencal style Fricasse of Roma Tomatoes / Roasted Red Peppers / Olives / Capers.

1999 Jaboulet Cornas Dom. de St. Pierre
Lovely red fruit nose with damp woods and licorice. Rich and silky in the mouth. A delicious wine drinking quite well now. 93 points.

1999 Jaboulet Cornas Dom. de St. Pierre
Very similar nose. Rich, but slightly tart. Very similar to the first wine, but a touch tannic and harsh. 92 points.

1990 Jaboulet Cornas
Much younger nose of Bing cherries. A young wine. Big and rich. Could use more time or air. 92–94 points.


FLIGHT 2: COTE ROTIE
With Crispy Quail with Wild Mushroom Farce, Salpion of Vegetable and Sauce Périgordienne.

1986 Gentaz-Dervieux Cote Rotie “Cote Brune”
Earthy and spicy nose. Ripe and intense with somewhat green tannins. Lots of ripe fruit. 92 points.

1988 Guigal Cote Rotie “Cote Brune et Bonde”
[2 half bottles] Huge tight nose. Still very tannic and young. Wow! Impressive stuff. 93 points.

1988 Dom. de la Rousse Cote Rotie
Heavenly nose of red fruits and white truffles. Silky, exquisite wine. Incredible length. Can this really be this good? My WOTN. 95 points.

1988 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque
Coffee chocolate nose. Thick silky velvety. I can’t imagine why Bob would do this, but this seems more like a new age Saint-Émilion than anything from the Northern Rhone. Oaky. Good wine, but nothing typical about it. 93 points.

1990 Guigal Cote Rotie “Cote Brune et Bonde”
Gorgeous, silky smooth wine. Lovely and drinkable. Open for dinner tonight! 92 points.

1990 Pierre Gaillard Cote Rotie “Cote Brune et Bonde”
Classic earthy, sour cherry nose. Long and silky in the mouth. A delicious and riveting wine. 95 points.


FLIGHT 3: HERMITAGE
Classic Provencal Cassoulet with Pekin Duck confit, Garlic Sausage, Flageolet Beans and Red Wine Reduction and Matigon of Vegetables.

1986 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle
Spectacular nose. Thick, silky, ripe black and red fruits in the mouth. Wow! Lots of chocolate and plum. My #2 WOTN. 95 points.

1988 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle
Shorter than above. More bite, but still very good. 93 points.

1989 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle
Thick rich very long. A terrific wine! Very similar to the first wine in this flight. My #3 WOTN. 95 points.

1990 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle
Incredibly young. Seems at least 10 years younger than the 3 above. Very sweet. Could this be a California ringer? If it is, it’s a damn good one! 94–97 points.

1990 Guigal Hermitage
Big young tannic. Tannins are a bit green. Not too pleasant now. Give it 5 more years. NR

2000 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle
Big vanilla nose. Very rich and fruity. Loads of sweet fruit. Lots of potential. 93–95 points.



DESSERT
With Chocolate Pot au Crème with White Chocolate Whipped Cream.

1960 Antonio Da Silva Quinta do Noval Vintage Port
Heavenly sweet brown sugar nose. Sweet and alcoholic in the mouth, but very good length. A treat! 94 points.


WOTN Voting (3pts each for #1, 2pts for #2, 1pt for #3)

RankPtsWine
1141988 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque (Steve M)
2(tie)111986 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle (Bob S)
2(tie)111989 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle (Larry)
471990 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle (Ken)
5(tie)61988 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle (Bob F)
5(tie)61988 Guigal Cote Rotie “Cote Brune et Bonde” (Ken for Mike W)
741990 Guigal Cote Rotie “Cote Brune et Bonde” (Mike T)
831999 Jaboulet Cornas Dom. de St. Pierre (Mike T)
9(tie)21999 Jaboulet Cornas Dom. de St. Pierre (George)
9(tie)211986 Gentaz-Dervieux Cote Rotie “Cote Brune” (Bob S)

 

 

 

All original content © Ken Vastola