Vintage Rhone Tasting at Wine Watch

"There can be no bargain without wine." - Latin saying

This tasting tonight with Trivento Winery at Cafe Maxx is a bargain at $55!!  The Malbec we are drinking costs $100/btl. retail and we have four vintages on the table along with a few courses from Chef Oliver Saucy.

We still have a few seats left for the Louis Jadot tasting on Thursday night here at Wine Watch, which is also a bargain at $85- two of the wines we are showing are over $200 per bottle!!

It looks like Friday night is already sold out.  California Cabernet is a popular subject here at Wine Watch.

Our first event next week is a “Once in a Lifetime” vintage Rhone tasting.  Tonight we will be taking you on a guided tour of the Rhone Valley from North to South and back again with some of the best vintages of the last 30 years and some of the best producers and their top single vineyard wines.

This vintage Rhone tasting will make the highlight reel for the 2015 season and we still have a lot of highlights to get through before the year is over.  The month of October is our biggest month for our "Once in a Lifetime" series of tastings here at the store.

We will cover three of the major wine producing regions of the Rhone valley starting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The village lies about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the east of the Rhône and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of the town of Avignon.

A ruined mediaeval castle sits at the top of the village and dominates the landscape to the south. It was built in the 14th century for Pope John XXII, the second of the popes who resided in Avignon. The commune is famous for the production of red wine and almost all the cultivable land is planted with grapevines.

Then we have Côte-Rôtie, which is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in the northern Rhône wine region of France. The vineyards are located just south of Vienne in the communes of Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône, Ampuis, and Tupin-et-Semons.  The vineyards are unique because of the steep slopes facing the river and their stone walls. Côte-Rôtie can be rendered in English as "the roasted slope" and refers to the long hours of sunlight that these steep slopes receive.

The wines are red, made with Syrah grapes and up to 20% Viognier, a white grape used for its aroma. According to appellation rules, Syrah and Viognier must be fermented at the same time, a process known as cofermentation. Because of this combination, Côte-Rôtie wine typically exhibits an almost paradoxical pairing of meat aromas (including bacon) and floral aromas. However, even Côte-Rôtie from 100% Syrah can smell floral.

There are only 550 acres of vines in Cote Rotie

And finally we have Hermitage which is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in the northern Rhône wine region of France south of Lyon.   It produces mostly red wine from the Syrah grape; however, small quantities of white wine are also produced from Roussane and Marsanne grapes. The hill is seen by some as the spiritual home of the Syrah grape variety. 

This is the smallest of these appellations that we are featuring tonight at 345 acres of vines. 

Everything on the table is from top level producers from excellent old vintages that are now drinking at or near their peak.   This is a “Once in a Lifetime” Vintage Rhone drinking opportunity and there are only 12 spaces available at this event.  Wine Watch Caterings Toni Lampasone will be making a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines.  The fee for this event is $225 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Vintage Rhone Tasting at Wine Watch
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
7:00 PM

Tasting Line-up:

Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc Le Meal 2002

(94 Points) Perhaps the most surprising thing is how spectacular the 2002 whites are from Michel Chapoutier. Because of space limitations, I am only listing the numerical score for this wine, which is evolved, but exceptional for such a challenging vintage. As I have said so many times over the last 15 years, the top Chapoutier wines are meant for very long term drinking, and are not designed for immediate gratification. Everything Chapoutier is doing, from his bio-dynamically farmed vineyard to tiny yields, extended fermentations, indigenous yeasts, and no fining or filtration, is done to produce the essence of a vineyard and a vintage. His track record since 1989 and 1990 admirably proves that these are indeed remarkable wines made by a young genius who refuses to compromise. Michel Chapoutier has been misunderstood by some of his peers, and there is a lot of jealousy when someone this young is so incredibly talented, but it is an irrefutable fact that these are wines of singular greatness as well as longevity.  Wine Advocate #156, Dec 2004

Chave St. Joseph 2003

(93 Points) One of the finest St.-Josephs I have ever tasted is Chave’s 2003. Revealing gorgeously thick, rich notes of raspberries, creme de cassis, licorice, black truffles, and spice box, it boasts superlative fruit, a voluptuous texture, medium to full body, and silky tannin. This beauty should drink well for 10-15 years.   Wine Advocate #163, Feb 2006

Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape 1990

(96 Points) Two great back to back vintages are the 1990 and 1989. The more developed 1990 boasts an incredible perfume of hickory wood, coffee, smoked meat, Asian spices, black cherries, and blackberries. Lush, opulent, and full-bodied, it is a fully mature, profound Beaucastel that will last another 15-20 years.   eRobertParker.com, Jan 2003

Rayas Chateauneuf Du Pape 1986

(86 Points) This wine has been fully mature since its release and continues to drink well, although owners are advised to consume it before the turn of the century. Not one of the most successful 1986s (a difficult as well as irregular vintage in Chateauneuf du Pape), it displays a medium ruby color with no signs of amber or orange. A peppery, herbaceous, celery-scented note competes with ripe cherry/kirsch aromas. Although medium- to full-bodied, with good glycerin and a velvety texture, the wine lacks the sweet mid-palate and inner core of extraction and depth found in the greatest Rayas vintages. Drink it up. Last tasted 12/95. Robert Parker Jr. Rhone Book, Jan 1997

Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf Du Pape Reserve des Celestins 1988

(96 Points) Beginning to throw off its cloak of tannin and start its evolution is the 1988. A dark plum/ruby color is accompanied by a sweet perfume of mushrooms, tree bark, black cherries macerated in brandy, and the tell-tale beef blood, lavender, cedar, and tobacco aromas. This full-bodied, powerful yet structured Reserve des Celestins does not reveal the pure breadth and depth of flavor found in the 1989 and 1990, but comes across as a mature example of the 1995. Anticipated maturity: now-2025. eRobertParker.com, Jan 2003

Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque 1987

(96 Points) A blast of roasted herb, licorice, and black fruit scents jump from the glass of this full-bodied, superconcentrated 1987. Very pure, with some pain grille notes from new oak still present, this thick, juicy wine is soft, but its color and bouquet are more typical of a 3- or 4-year-old wine than one that is approaching 10 years of age. The finish is long and rich, with more tannin than in La Mouline. Anticipated maturity: now-2009. Last tasted 8/96.   Robert Parker Jr. Rhone Book, Jan 1997

Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline 1987

(95 Points) Guigal's 1987 La Mouline is sensational. Considering the vintage, this must be the greatest wine produced in France in 1987. The color is a youthful purple, and the nose offers up sweet, pure aromas of jammy black raspberries, smoke, and honeysuckle, and vague whiffs of apricots. Thick, rich flavors coat the palate in a seamless, velvety-textured manner. This medium- to full-bodied, marvelously concentrated wine has no hard edges, and is the epitome of voluptuousness and sumptuousness. This has been a glorious La Mouline to drink since its birth, and it shows no signs of age. Anticipated maturity: now-2007. Last tasted 8/96. Robert Parker Jr. Rhone Book, Jan 1997

Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne 1987

(96 Points) Opaque purple, bordering on black in color, La Landonne's aromatics are the most subdued of the 1987s. Although still closed, this wine is very powerful, rich, thick, and represents the essence of the Syrah grape. That earthy, mineral, truffle, licorice component is just beginning to poke its head through this massively framed wine. It is remarkable that this vintage produced a wine of such extraordinary concentration and richness. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2020. Last tasted 8/96.   Robert Parker Jr. Rhone Book, Jan 1997

Menu

Selection of Cheese: Beemster Gouda

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Sage Butter Toasted Pine Nuts and Parmesan Reggiano  Cheese

Wild Boar and Mushroom Lasagna with Cheesy Toast

There are only 14 seats available for this event and the fee $225 + tax.   For reservations call 954-523-9463.