Last night was my local wine group, I thought about cancelling due to cold but was feeling a bit better, so decided to go. I almost forgot to carry my wine, but made it to Alex's with wrapped bottle in hand.
Theme was Rhone. Fred had brought along a white starter (all wines were blind). He said it was on theme and single variety. . Medium to full bodied, floral aromatics but not musky/exotic like Viognier, decent acidity, my first guess was Marsanne, secound Roussanne.
2008 Cuilleron Roussanne VdP. B
We sat at table, Alex had a nice spread with venison pate, sausages, bundnerfleisch, cheeses, etc. Fred's red went first:
Wine #1 Dark berries, meat, a little olive. Really nice. Fresh, good acidity, pretty clearly Northern Rhone. I guess St Joseph, am told correct, guess Gonon, I nailed it. Sounds pretty impressive, doesn't it? Actually more social engineering than impressive tasting. Once I determined Northern rather than Southern, I guessed that with price range we usually go in less likely to be Cote Rotie or Hermitage, St Jo seems a good midlevel way to go. Once that's established, I know Fred enjoyed the "les Iles Feray" I suspected he might have gone with Gonon. If it hadn't been Fred's wine I think I would have been less "accurate. " 2006 Gonon St. Joseph A-
Wine #2 Sweet, a tad jammy, sweet, I am immediately in South, and say either CdP or Gigondas, probably former. Black cherries, red fruits, a little smoke. Low acid but with ok fresh finish. It's the 2007 Roger Perrin Chateauneuf du Pape. B
Wine #3 At first I thought Syrah, but then it seemed to get more red fruit Grenache tones. Nice earth and herb notes. Slightly austere/tannic finish. Nice midweight wine. 2006 Mordoree Lirac B/B+
(about here, I hit the floor. Literally. As I leaned to hand a bottle to Roger, my chair collapsed. Marc said "you know, I think that's the
5th time I've seen that here." Alex says "yes, we really shouldn't have people sit in that old chair." When I tell Betsy this AM, she relates it happened to her at a dinner last year- I had forgotten. Alex is a great host, but in a house with many chairs the delicate ones shouldn't be at table!).
Wine #4 I liked this, but (incorrectly) went Southern Rhone (specifically Gigondas). Low acid, red fruit, sweet edge, lots of damp earth, nice finish. Somehow I forgot to write down producer of this 2006 Crozes Hermitage, will ask Alex to check recycling. B/B+
Wine #5 Ripe, slightly jammy,leather. OK, I still think we're in South, but seems a bit less exuberant than CdP. Alex says it's a small appellation, I guess Vacqueyras, but it's the 2006 La Bouissiere Gigondas. B
Wine #6 No guessing as it's mine. Still a little cool. Nice midweight Syrah, black fruit, bacon, leather. Fresh acidity, some ripe tannins. I think everyone is in North. 2001 Duclaux Cote Rotie. B+
Wine #7 Somewhat grapey, good acidity and a little hint of spritz, fresh fruit flavors, maybe a tad short. 2007 La Grand Poiloe Cotes du Rhone . B
Wine #8
2006 Mordoree Lirac Herbs, cherries and pomegranite, some tannins. Turns out we have a second bottle of the Mordoree Lirac. B
Nice night with the guys, despite my cold.
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.