A taste of Rhone

2014-07-01

Wine Owners celebrated the start of the summer with a Rhone dinner for collectors and enthusiasts at our favourite Farringdon local the Quality Chop House. With everyone bringing an interesting bottle along, this was a great chance to explore the region through the work of some great producers. Particularly exciting was the inclusion of so many white wines from the region, which are often overshadowed by the reds.

Many thanks to all who came and brought wines for the night, and a big thank you to the staff at QCS for looking after us so well!

The wines…

Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2011

Fresh and mineral in style with lively acidity and notes of ripe lemon and fresh tarragon with red apple and fig tree. Very nice, but very much a lighter style of Chateauneuf.

Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2012

Clos des Papes was much more typical of the region, with a classic marsanne nose of peach and apricot, with overlaid savoury notes of sourdough bread and a leavening hint of anise

M. Chapoutier Hermitage “Chante Allouette” 2004

A good bottle of this, now fully mature with a characteristic deep gold colour and a nose of honey and heavy floral notes with hints of smoke and toasted nuts.

Domaine de Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape 1998

Fully resolved now, and exhibiting quite animale character. Not a huge amount of fruit left here, and reminiscent primarily of earth and soft leather. Most agreed this bottle was very slightly corked.

Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf du Pape ‘Les Quartz’ 2003

Very nicely layered dark cherry fruit with hints of licorice and leather. Fresh acidity and very ripe tannins, lovely at the beginning of its drinking window, the previous wine being perhaps at the end

E. Guigal Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis 2005

Powerful and structured, seemed initially slightly closed after an hour plus of decanting, but opened up in the glass to reveal considerable depth – game, herbal notes and bacon fat were all picked out as references, beneath thick layers of dark fruit.

E. Guigal Hermitage 2003

Displaying more lifted red fruit character than the Cote Rotie, Hermitage was nevertheless by any standards rich and opulent, with an admirable freshness and floral character. Opinion divided on preference between this pair!

Pierre Gaillard “Fleurs d'Automne” Condrieu Vendange Tardive 2009

Big flavours of ripe peach and apricot, mixed with tropical fruit, but backed with refreshingly high acidity that prevents this wine from seeming overly and cloying.

>> CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR ALBUM "A TASTE OF RHONE"