Rhone part 2
Tuesday, January 16, 2018 in Minocqua
Blind tasted Syrah from 3 different regions: northern Rhone, southern Rhone and Napa Valley-Carneros
First a little about the food. It was amazing!!! On the menu:
I have never cooked lamb so this was an exciting and daunting experiment. Next time I will insist that the butcher butterfly the lamb. I now have a deeper appreciation for what that involves. After wrestling with the lamb you create an amazing marinade called charmoula and let the lamb rest in it over night. While the lamb rested I indulged in a much needed glass of wine. Whew.
I decided to create kebabs and broil the lamb medium rare. The result was well worth the effort.
First up was a southern Rhone white wine
2013 M. Chapoutier Belleruche Blanc Cotes du Rhone, 13%
abv $14.99.
Grapes: Genache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Rousanne, Voigner
My Tasting Notes:
Appearance was clear and gold in color. The nose was clean with medium intensity. The first aroma that hit me was of lemons, citrus. There was also some wax and vegetal notes, green pepper. Dianne found green apple and floral scents. The palate was off-dry medium acidity, body and finish. The flavor was also of lemons with a bit of pea. Very pleasant to drink alone. It perked up nicely with a sharp hard asiago cheese. A nice combination of roundness and freshness.
Jan shared this wine with her friend Sally and it was a big hit.
Planted mainly in stony-marl soils and on clay-limestone slopes, these soils are porous with a steady and regular water supply. They warm up quickly in the spring and help the grapes to reach perfect maturity.
Total destemming followed by a light skin maceration particularly for the Viognier, gentle pressing. Cold static settling. Alcoholic fermentation at low temperature in stainless steel vats. The wine is protected from oxygen to preserve its aromatic potential.
5-months ageing on the fine lees.
Now for the blind tasting. We changed things up a bit and decided not to taste the wine from Chateauneuf-du-Pape but instead see if we could identify the 3 Syrah wines: one from northern Rhone, one from southern Rhone and one from Napa Valley Carneros region.
Dianne and I successfully identified the northern Rhone wine but mixed up the Napa and southern Rhone Syrah. Jan nailed it.
Dianne and I returned for another deep dive into tasting these 3 wines on January 18th.
2016 Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone 14.5% abv $19.99 Syrah. Southern Rhone
My Tasting Notes:
Appearance is clear medium intensity and ruby in color. The nose is clean with medium intensity and aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco and violet. On the palate; dry with medium(+) acidity, medium tannin, body and finish. The flavors were prune, mint, black pepper coffee and leather.
More Information.
This 2016 vintage shows top quality fruit of blackcurrant and wild raspberry, magnificently intense color and layered texture with notes of truffle and licorice. Although this wine is designed for early-drinking, it can be kept for long.
This article addresses some of the climate difficulties in 2016 for much but not all of France. Northern and southern Rhone fared much better as described in this article from Wine Spectator
Saint Cosme - Red 2016 Côtes du Rhône Syrah.
2011 Domaine Du Colombier Cuvee Gaby Crozes-Hermitage 12.5% abv $39.99
Grape: Syrah. My only northern Rhone selection.
My Tasting Notes: This wine is getting to the end of it's life. The appearance was moving toward hazy, intensity medium and color garnet. The nose was clean with medium intensity and aromas of black currant, vanilla and rubber. Dianne found black olive on the nose. That is a better way to describe the sharpness I smelled. The wine is dry with medium(+) acidity body and finish and medium tannin. The aromas is that of chocolate raisin and leather.
More Information.
This is a serious wine. Intense and alluring on the nose, with quite a masculine array of aromas, such as leather, spice and a hint of pine kernel. The dark, rich fruits on the palate are concentrated and complex, with layers of soft, fine tannins. The lingering finish offers sweet spice and a savoury edge which gently fades away. Not to be missed!
(Given 92-94 points in the Wine Advocate, Robert Parker)
2014 Cuvaison Diablos Syrah Carneros, Napa Valley, CA 14.5% abv Avg price $42.
My Tasting Notes:
Appearance clear and intensity medium. Ruby in color. The nose is clean with medium intensity. Aromas were of blueberry, chocolate, licorice and cinnamon. Dianne had stewed fruit, tobacco and chocolate on the nose. The wine is dry with Medium(=) acidity and tannin and medium body and finish. The flavor is black cherry, coffee, licorice, and leather.
More Information.
"Our Diablo Syrah takes its name from the difficult, devilish soils that tame the vines. We plant on the most challenging sites in order to channel the vine's energy into the grapes. The 2014 displays the wild, gamey notes and dark fruit, licorice and black pepper that Syrah is known for. Our cooler climate adds a nice brightness to the fruit and helps lengthen the fine, supple tannins on the finish."
- Steve Rogstad, Winemaker
Dianne and I decided to push the Syrah against a Merlot and I Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina
2014 G & C Lurton Merlot from Chalk Hills in Sonoma 13.5% abv. Purchased from Last Bottle for $16.
My Tasting Notes
Mike loved this wine and was super disappointed that Dianne and I finished during this tasting.
Appearance is clear intensity medium. Color is ruby. The nose is clean and intensity medium. This is a dry wine with medium acidity, medium(+) tannin, medium body and medium finish. The nose is clean and intensity medium with aromas of black currants, juniper, and fig. Dianne had blossoms, black cherry and chocolate. The flavor was blackberry, fig, black olive, cinnamon and leather. Dianne had flavors of black cherry, black pepper, tobacco and cedar.
More Information
From the folks at Last Bottle: French winemaking families and winemakers know how to pick the great spots in California. The Lurton family is a massive presence in Bordeaux and around the winemaking world. Their spot in Chalk Hill is right next to the much-coveted, hyper-expensive and huge-scoring Verite winery, among other high-flyers. They make Merlot with a Bordeaux-minded philosophy, and what we tasted just impressed the daylights out of us. Fresh and bright, with hugely perfumed red and blue fruits, lavender, and minerals, this wine has terrific structure, vibrating with flavor and savory fruit. It's got great staying power, too, with touches of sweet fruit and dark cocoa on the finish, all nicely balanced. GREAT, great stuff at our wicked-killer price --- should not be missed if you love structured, complex Merlot!! While it lasts...! We won't see this again!
http://gc-lurton-vineyards.com/
2014 Alma Mora Cabernet Sauvignon from Bodega Finca Las Moras San Juan Region Argentina avg price $14.99
My Tasting Notes
Appearance is clear intensity medium. Color is ruby. The nose is clean and intensity medium. The aromas were blackberry, leather, farmyard and slight vanilla. This was not a typical cab aroma. The palate was dry with medium acidity, tannin, body and finish. The flavor is raspberry, charred wood chocolate and cedar.
More information about San Juan from Wine Searcher
This was served as dessert with blue cheese on January 15th
2007 Domaine De Beaumalric Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 15% abv $22.99
Grapes: Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains (Muscato Blanco in Italy)
My Tasting Notes:
Appearance was clear and intensity medium. The nose was clean with medium intensity. The aroma was nutty almond with hints of vanilla, blossom and peach. The palate was medium sweetness and acidity with full body and a long finish. The flavor is of honey and brightness of peach. Jan found raisin in the taste. Delicious.
More Information.
This natural sweet wine has made Beaumes de Venise famous. Thanks to its balance between freshness and sweetness you will appreciate it as much as an aperitif or dessert. For a more surprising alliance, serve it with a blue cheese ... success assured!
More information regarding the Muscat be Beaumes de Venise region from Wine Searcher
Blind tasted Syrah from 3 different regions: northern Rhone, southern Rhone and Napa Valley-Carneros
 |
| Moroccan lamb barbecue, couscous and salad. |
- Moroccan Lamb Barbecue,
- Couscous made by Dianne with mint, apricots and almonds, and
- Winter salad with maple walnuts and balsamic fig dressing made by Jan.
Unbelievably delicious and great pairing with Syrah, especially the northern Rhone, Domaine Du Colombier Cuvee Gaby.
I have never cooked lamb so this was an exciting and daunting experiment. Next time I will insist that the butcher butterfly the lamb. I now have a deeper appreciation for what that involves. After wrestling with the lamb you create an amazing marinade called charmoula and let the lamb rest in it over night. While the lamb rested I indulged in a much needed glass of wine. Whew.I decided to create kebabs and broil the lamb medium rare. The result was well worth the effort.
First up was a southern Rhone white wine
2013 M. Chapoutier Belleruche Blanc Cotes du Rhone, 13%
abv $14.99.
Grapes: Genache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Rousanne, VoignerMy Tasting Notes:
Appearance was clear and gold in color. The nose was clean with medium intensity. The first aroma that hit me was of lemons, citrus. There was also some wax and vegetal notes, green pepper. Dianne found green apple and floral scents. The palate was off-dry medium acidity, body and finish. The flavor was also of lemons with a bit of pea. Very pleasant to drink alone. It perked up nicely with a sharp hard asiago cheese. A nice combination of roundness and freshness.
Jan shared this wine with her friend Sally and it was a big hit.
More Information
from M. ChapoutierPlanted mainly in stony-marl soils and on clay-limestone slopes, these soils are porous with a steady and regular water supply. They warm up quickly in the spring and help the grapes to reach perfect maturity.
Total destemming followed by a light skin maceration particularly for the Viognier, gentle pressing. Cold static settling. Alcoholic fermentation at low temperature in stainless steel vats. The wine is protected from oxygen to preserve its aromatic potential.
5-months ageing on the fine lees.
Now for the blind tasting. We changed things up a bit and decided not to taste the wine from Chateauneuf-du-Pape but instead see if we could identify the 3 Syrah wines: one from northern Rhone, one from southern Rhone and one from Napa Valley Carneros region.
Dianne and I successfully identified the northern Rhone wine but mixed up the Napa and southern Rhone Syrah. Jan nailed it.Dianne and I returned for another deep dive into tasting these 3 wines on January 18th.
2016 Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone 14.5% abv $19.99 Syrah. Southern Rhone
My Tasting Notes:
Appearance is clear medium intensity and ruby in color. The nose is clean with medium intensity and aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco and violet. On the palate; dry with medium(+) acidity, medium tannin, body and finish. The flavors were prune, mint, black pepper coffee and leather.
More Information.
This 2016 vintage shows top quality fruit of blackcurrant and wild raspberry, magnificently intense color and layered texture with notes of truffle and licorice. Although this wine is designed for early-drinking, it can be kept for long.
This article addresses some of the climate difficulties in 2016 for much but not all of France. Northern and southern Rhone fared much better as described in this article from Wine Spectator
Saint Cosme - Red 2016 Côtes du Rhône Syrah.
2011 Domaine Du Colombier Cuvee Gaby Crozes-Hermitage 12.5% abv $39.99
Grape: Syrah. My only northern Rhone selection.
My Tasting Notes: This wine is getting to the end of it's life. The appearance was moving toward hazy, intensity medium and color garnet. The nose was clean with medium intensity and aromas of black currant, vanilla and rubber. Dianne found black olive on the nose. That is a better way to describe the sharpness I smelled. The wine is dry with medium(+) acidity body and finish and medium tannin. The aromas is that of chocolate raisin and leather.
More Information.
This is a serious wine. Intense and alluring on the nose, with quite a masculine array of aromas, such as leather, spice and a hint of pine kernel. The dark, rich fruits on the palate are concentrated and complex, with layers of soft, fine tannins. The lingering finish offers sweet spice and a savoury edge which gently fades away. Not to be missed!
(Given 92-94 points in the Wine Advocate, Robert Parker)
2014 Cuvaison Diablos Syrah Carneros, Napa Valley, CA 14.5% abv Avg price $42.
My Tasting Notes:
Appearance clear and intensity medium. Ruby in color. The nose is clean with medium intensity. Aromas were of blueberry, chocolate, licorice and cinnamon. Dianne had stewed fruit, tobacco and chocolate on the nose. The wine is dry with Medium(=) acidity and tannin and medium body and finish. The flavor is black cherry, coffee, licorice, and leather.
More Information.
"Our Diablo Syrah takes its name from the difficult, devilish soils that tame the vines. We plant on the most challenging sites in order to channel the vine's energy into the grapes. The 2014 displays the wild, gamey notes and dark fruit, licorice and black pepper that Syrah is known for. Our cooler climate adds a nice brightness to the fruit and helps lengthen the fine, supple tannins on the finish."
- Steve Rogstad, Winemaker
Dianne and I decided to push the Syrah against a Merlot and I Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina
2014 G & C Lurton Merlot from Chalk Hills in Sonoma 13.5% abv. Purchased from Last Bottle for $16.
My Tasting Notes
Mike loved this wine and was super disappointed that Dianne and I finished during this tasting.
Appearance is clear intensity medium. Color is ruby. The nose is clean and intensity medium. This is a dry wine with medium acidity, medium(+) tannin, medium body and medium finish. The nose is clean and intensity medium with aromas of black currants, juniper, and fig. Dianne had blossoms, black cherry and chocolate. The flavor was blackberry, fig, black olive, cinnamon and leather. Dianne had flavors of black cherry, black pepper, tobacco and cedar.
More Information
From the folks at Last Bottle: French winemaking families and winemakers know how to pick the great spots in California. The Lurton family is a massive presence in Bordeaux and around the winemaking world. Their spot in Chalk Hill is right next to the much-coveted, hyper-expensive and huge-scoring Verite winery, among other high-flyers. They make Merlot with a Bordeaux-minded philosophy, and what we tasted just impressed the daylights out of us. Fresh and bright, with hugely perfumed red and blue fruits, lavender, and minerals, this wine has terrific structure, vibrating with flavor and savory fruit. It's got great staying power, too, with touches of sweet fruit and dark cocoa on the finish, all nicely balanced. GREAT, great stuff at our wicked-killer price --- should not be missed if you love structured, complex Merlot!! While it lasts...! We won't see this again!
http://gc-lurton-vineyards.com/2014 Alma Mora Cabernet Sauvignon from Bodega Finca Las Moras San Juan Region Argentina avg price $14.99
My Tasting Notes
Appearance is clear intensity medium. Color is ruby. The nose is clean and intensity medium. The aromas were blackberry, leather, farmyard and slight vanilla. This was not a typical cab aroma. The palate was dry with medium acidity, tannin, body and finish. The flavor is raspberry, charred wood chocolate and cedar.
More information about San Juan from Wine Searcher
This was served as dessert with blue cheese on January 15th
2007 Domaine De Beaumalric Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 15% abv $22.99
Grapes: Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains (Muscato Blanco in Italy)
My Tasting Notes:
Appearance was clear and intensity medium. The nose was clean with medium intensity. The aroma was nutty almond with hints of vanilla, blossom and peach. The palate was medium sweetness and acidity with full body and a long finish. The flavor is of honey and brightness of peach. Jan found raisin in the taste. Delicious.
More Information.
This natural sweet wine has made Beaumes de Venise famous. Thanks to its balance between freshness and sweetness you will appreciate it as much as an aperitif or dessert. For a more surprising alliance, serve it with a blue cheese ... success assured!
More information regarding the Muscat be Beaumes de Venise region from Wine Searcher
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| The horse puzzle is proving harder than it looks. Of course we did not have the master puzzler with us on Friday. We missed you Jan! |
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