Vintage Rhone Tasting at Wine Watch

"She never drinks the water and makes you order French ChampagneOnce you've had a taste of her you'll never be the same"

Livin' La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin

And once you have tasted the greatest Syrah on earth it will be hard to drink to swallow anything else!

This is one of our "Once in a Lifetime" tastings here at the store and after a study in vintage Syrah in the month of August, this is like the advanced course in vintage wines from the Northern Rhone Valley with some of the top wines from some great older vintages.  These wines are now at their peak of maturity and they are some of the top wines from each of their prospective regions.

We have 8 wines from the Northern Rhone on the table this evening and Wine Watch Caterings Toni Lampasone will be making a special menu to accompany the tasting wines.  This is a sit down pre-poured event and is limited to 15 tasters, the fee for this tasting is $175+ tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Vintage Northern Rhone Tasting at Wine WatchFriday, September 12th7pm

1998 Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Oree

(99 points) "The 1998 Ermitage Cuvee de l'Oree's explosive bouquet offers a liquid minerality, honeyed tropical fruits, peaches, and acacia flowers. Amazingly, the 100% new oak treatment has been totally absorbed. The wine is extremely full-bodied, fresh, and pure, with an immense palate presence as well as finish. Drink it over the next 4-5 years, or forget about it for a decade."  (2/ 2001)  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

1995 Guigal Chateau D'Ampuis Cote Rotie

(92 Points) The 1995 Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis, which is just being released to the marketplace, is a sensational offering. The bottled wine is even better than its individual component parts. It boasts a dense, saturated deep ruby color, as well as a flamboyant, intense bouquet of crushed pepper, Provencal herbs, black raspberry jam, and smoky sweet oak. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with good underlying acidity, but much more voluptuous and unctuous than it appeared to be from cask. Long, concentrated, and explosively rich, this wine may merit an even higher score after it has had some time to mesh together in bottle. It is a terrific Cote Rotie to drink over the next 10-15+ years. Wine Advocate #121, Feb 1999

1989 Nöel Verset Cornas

According to Robert Parker: "The 1989 Cornas is a mere mortal wine by Verset's standards. Dark purple/black in color, it exhibits a sweet, ripe, herbaceous, cassis-scented nose, and some opulence. For the vintage, it is surprisingly tasty, round, and concentrated. Maturing quickly, it should be drunk over the next 7-8 years." (01/97)

1989 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle

(96 points) This fabulous, blockbuster has been totally unevolved since bottling, but at the Jaboulet tasting, it was beginning to reveal some of its formidable potential. A saturated opaque purple color is followed by aromas of cassis, minerals, and hot bricks/wood fire. Super-ripe and full-bodied, with a massive mid-section, teeth-staining extract, and mouth-searing tannin, it is a monster-sized La Chapelle. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2050.  Wine Advocate #129, Jun 2000

1989 Chave Hermitage

(96 Points) This tannic, formidably endowed wine has already begun to close down, but the black/ruby/purple color, the intensely fragrant nose of jammy cassis, minerals, and spices, and the full-bodied, rich, concentrated style are unmistakable. An enormously rich, backward Hermitage, it does not share the roasted character or sheer massiveness and tannic clout of the 1990, but it is a spectacularly concentrated Hermitage that will age effortlessly for 20-30 years. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030. Last tasted 6/96. Robert Parker Jr. Rhone Book, Jan 1997

1986 Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline

(94 Points)  Very firm and still young. The toasty, spicy oak flavors are beautifully balanced by lush berry and plum notes. Delicious now, it should improve through 2000.--Guigal Côte-Rôtie vertical. –TM  Wine Spectator, Issue: Nov 15, 1995

1986 Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne

(91 Points) A big wine in a big vintage. This is meaty, featuring dark chocolate and plum flavors and muscular tannins. Try in 1997.--Guigal Côte-Rôtie vertical. –TM  Wine Spectator, Issue: Nov 15, 1995

1986 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque

(92 Points) The most delicate of the crus in this vintage, showing lovely tobacco and floral notes and plenty of toasty oak on the palate. Drink now through 2000.--Guigal Côte-Rôtie vertical. 250 cases made. –TM  Wine Spectator, Issue: Nov 15, 1995

Menu

Mushroom Carpaccio garnished with a mélange of wild herbs and flowers drizzled with lemon garlic aioli

Lamb Shank and red wine stew with cheesy toast

This is a sit down pre poured tasting and there is only room for 15 tasters.  The fee for this tasting is $175 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.