Rhone 2007

Last week we had the opportunity to taste some wines of the famed Southern Rhone vintage 2007. La Cave hosted this tasting and the wines were overall really good and as I realized afterwards we tasted a (98-100) wine rated by Mr. Parker!! Actually it wasn´t my favorite but you know ...  everybody got his own preferred taste/style!

Note: All wines were tasted open and are from vintage 2007!

1. Domaine Font Sarade - Cotes du Rhone - ok/good - €7,50

middle color depth, purple reflections, red berries, sour cherry, fresh, CO2 on the palate, fruity on the palate, bit unbalanced (from CO2).

2. Domaine de la Janasse - Cotes du Rhone - yech - €8,90

purple red, very reductive nose, acid driven and very lean, reductive aromas are very persistent, unpleasant even after several minutes aeration!

3. Domaine de Fondreche "Fayard" - Cotes du Ventoux - ok/good - €9,50

qute dark red, purple reflections, soft and supple fruit, some spices, tartrates visible (no stabilization made??), rustic on the palate, middle length, simple.

4. Dom. des Escaravailles "Antimagnes" - Cotes du Rhone - good - €9,50

middle red hue, purples reflections, fruity and spicy on the nose, ripe fruit, elegant tannins on the palate, good integrated acid structure, good length, acid gives freshness.

5. Dom. des Escaravailles - Resteau - good - €9,50

hints of strawberries, bit reductive, red fruits, good tannin structure, good acid structure.

6. Domaine Font Sarade - Vacqueyras - ok/good - €12,50

deeply colored, some purple reflections, quite broad, supple fruit on the nose, hints of overripeness, astringent!, Tannin to the max, alc. rather high, bit unbalanced.

7. Domaine Richaud "Villages" - Cairanne - good - €16,50

fruits in rum, like liqueur, cinnamon, Christmas tea, soft tannins, middle length, balanced.

8. Domaine de Fondreche "Persia" - Cotes du Ventoux - good - €16,00

fruity, bit alcoholic, hints of overripe fruit, spicy, good tannin structure, good length but bit alcoholic finish.

9. Dom. des Escaravailles "Boutine" - Cairanne - very good - €17,50

fresh, fruity, cassis aroma and spices on the nose, very spicy on the palate,very juicy tannin structure, lingering.

10. Dom. de la Mordoree "Reine des Bois" - Lirac - very good - €19,90

floral, violets pure on the nose, juicy tannin structure, very lingering.

11. Domaine de Fondreche "Nadal" - Cotes du Ventoux - ok/good - €??

fruity, cassis drops, quite lean on the palate, tannins good, bit alcoholic finish.

12. Domaine de la Janasse - Chateauneuf-du-Pape - good - €32,50

floral and fruity, very distinctive, elegant tannin structure, bit short and alcoholic finish.

13. Dom. Giraud "Les Gallimardes" - Chateauneuf-du-Pape - ok - €34

quite high volatile acid aromas on the nose, good tannin structure, high alcohol level, overripe fruit on the palate.

14. Domaine de la Janasse - "Vieilles Vignes" - Chateauneuf-du-Pape - good/very good - €75

fruits in rum, very bold fruit, super soft tannins, bold body, good length, alcohol a bit unbalanced and high.

Try to guess the "Parker" wine!!

Syrah based wines

Just around the corner of Ullis apartment is the small but charming French Vinotheque "La Cave". Every month interested wine lovers get the chance to sample some interesting wines from the "motherland" of wine. This months tasting was particularly important to us as one of our favorite varieties Syrah was on show. Best made examples can be found in the Rhone valley which are "always" showing a gorgeous bouquet with fruits and spices. But as everywhere doom and glory are very close neighbors.

1. Chateau de Gourgazaud 2006 (SY/Mourvèdre)- ok/good - €6,00 - Minervois

red with purple reflections, fruit, hints of spices, sour cherries, tannins poorly integrated, not very balanced on the palate, bitter finish.

2. Jean Michel Gerin 2006 (SY) - good - €11,50 - Vin de Pays

purple rim, plums, bit overripe flavors, slightly meaty, fruit in rum, good acid structure, easy drinking style.  

3. Domaine Fondreche "Nadal" 2005 (SY/Grenache) - good - €12,50 - Cotes de Ventoux

ripe, quite typical flavor compounds, bit overripe, hints of acetone, smooth, slightly alcoholic finish. 

4. Chateau Le Roc "Don Quichotte" 2004 (SY/Negrette) - yech - €12,50 - Cotes de Frontonnaus

moldy, rubber, microbiological unstable, maybe accidental fermentation in bottle.

5. Domaine de l´Aiguelière 2000 - yech - €12,50 - Montpeyroux

cloudy, oxidative, rubber hose, loads sediment.

6. Domaine des Entrefaux 2001 - still ok - €15,00 - Crozes Hermitage

sediment, pale brick red hue, very fragile aromas, balanced but definitely over the peak. 

7. Domaine de Courbissac "Pandora" 2003 - very good - €15,00 - Minervois la Liviniere

cloudy, fruity, meaty, hints of violets, soft tannin, good acid structure, lingering.

rank "2": Domaine Courbissac "Pandora" 

8. Chateau de la Négly "La Falaise" 2006 (Sy/Grenache) - ok - €16,50 - La Clape

very young, bit MLF touch, purple reflections, good acid structure, slightly alcoholic, bitter finish.

9. Dom. St. Antonin "Magnoux" 2005 (SY) - ok/good - €16,50 - Faugeres

still purple reflections, plums, bit overripe, simple, smooth tannins, middle length.

10. Chateau Lavabre 2000 (SY) - very good/delicious - €19,00

some tartrate crystals visible, loads of spices and herbs, pine wood, hints of toasted oak but very pleasant, very good acid structure and well integrated tannins.

rank "1": Chateau Lavabre 2000

11. Alain Graillot 2006 (SY) - good/very good- €19,00 - Crozes Hermitage

young, some MLF notes, hints of essentials oils, acid and tannin very good balanced, just ways too young.

12. Domaine Cazeneuve "Roc des Mates" 2006 (SY/Mourv/Grenache) - good/very good- €21,00 - Pic St. Loup

young, purple, sour cherries, some spices, smooth tannins, lingering.

13. Domaine de l´Aiguelière "Cotes Dorée" 2005 (SY/Grenache) - still ok - €21,00 - Montpeyroux

rubber, plasticine with some spices, hints of Brett, tannin prominent.

14. Jean-Michel Gerin 2006 (SY/Viognier) - yech - €35,00 - Cotes Rotie

Brett, thin, prominent tannins due to Brett infection, Brett flavors on the palate.