On Feb 7, 8:38*am, "Bi!!" > wrote:
> On Feb 6, 2:41 pm, DaleW > wrote:
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> > Last night was my local wine group, I thought about cancelling due to
> > cold but was feeling a bit better, so decided to go. I almost forgot
> > to carry my wine, but made it to Alex's with wrapped bottle in hand.
>
> > Theme was Rhone. Fred had brought along a white starter (all wines
> > were blind). He said it was on theme and single variety. . Medium to
> > full bodied, floral aromatics but not musky/exotic like Viognier,
> > decent acidity, my first guess was Marsanne, secound Roussanne.
> > 2008 Cuilleron Roussanne VdP. B
>
> > We sat at table, Alex had a nice spread with venison pate, sausages,
> > bundnerfleisch, cheeses, etc. Fred's red went first:
>
> > Wine #1
> > Dark berries, meat, a little olive. Really nice. Fresh, good acidity,
> > pretty clearly Northern Rhone. I guess St Joseph, am told correct,
> > guess Gonon, I nailed it. Sounds pretty impressive, doesn't it?
> > Actually more social engineering than impressive tasting. Once I
> > determined Northern rather than Southern, I guessed that with price
> > range we usually go in less likely to be Cote Rotie or Hermitage, St
> > Jo seems a good midlevel way to go. Once that's established, I know
> > Fred enjoyed the "les Iles Feray" I suspected he might have gone with
> > Gonon. If it hadn't been Fred's wine I think I would have been less
> > "accurate. " 2006 Gonon St. Joseph A-
>
> > Wine #2
> > Sweet, a tad jammy, sweet, I am immediately in South, and say either
> > CdP or Gigondas, probably former. Black cherries, red fruits, a little
> > smoke. Low acid but with ok fresh finish. It's the 2007 Roger Perrin
> > Chateauneuf du Pape. B
>
> > Wine #3
> > At first I thought Syrah, but then it seemed to get more red fruit
> > Grenache tones. Nice earth and herb notes. Slightly austere/tannic
> > finish. Nice midweight wine. 2006 Mordoree Lirac B/B+
>
> > (about here, I hit the floor. Literally. As I leaned to hand a bottle
> > to Roger, my chair collapsed. Marc said "you know, I think that's the
> > 5th time I've seen that here." Alex says "yes, we really shouldn't
> > have people sit in that old chair." When I tell Betsy this AM, she
> > relates it happened to her at a dinner last year- I had forgotten.
> > Alex is a great host, but in a house with many chairs the delicate
> > ones shouldn't be at table!).
>
> > Wine #4
> > I liked this, but (incorrectly) went Southern Rhone (specifically
> > Gigondas). Low acid, red fruit, sweet edge, lots of damp earth, nice
> > finish. Somehow I forgot to write down producer of this 2006 Crozes
> > Hermitage, will ask Alex to check recycling. B/B+
>
> > Wine #5
> > Ripe, slightly jammy,leather. OK, I still think we're in South, but
> > seems a bit less exuberant than CdP. Alex says it's a small
> > appellation, I guess Vacqueyras, but it's the 2006 La Bouissiere
> > Gigondas. B
>
> > Wine #6
> > No guessing as it's mine. Still a little cool. Nice midweight Syrah,
> > black fruit, bacon, leather. Fresh acidity, some ripe tannins. I think
> > everyone is in North. 2001 Duclaux Cote Rotie. B+
>
> > Wine #7
> > Somewhat grapey, good acidity and a little hint of spritz, fresh fruit
> > flavors, maybe a tad short. 2007 La Grand Poiloe Cotes du Rhone . B
>
> > Wine #8
> > 2006 Mordoree Lirac
> > Herbs, cherries and pomegranite, some tannins. Turns out we have a
> > second bottle of the Mordoree Lirac. B
>
> > Nice night with the guys, despite my cold.
>
> > Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an
> > excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I
> > wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I
> > offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of
> > consistency.
>
> Did you save the wine when the chair collapsed?

Of course, I have some pride!