Ramon organized a group for a Northern Rhone dinner at Racines last night. Old friends, a few New Yorkers I hadnt met before, and even one Rhonehead down from Boston. Fun group, though as usual with a long table most of my interaction was with one side. Some back and forth about what was available a la carte, but I was happy with my duck crisp appetizer and cote de boeuf.

MV Krug Grande Cuvee Lot 164
I was curious to try after all the hype. Im not the biggest Krug fan but this "08 base is touted as atypical. I thought the nose gorgeous and complex, and it seemed more lithe than most Krug. Very good. But I have 2 bottles and couldnt help thinking I could have bought 2 bottles of Comtes instead and had money left over. B+

NV Benoit Lahaye €œViolaine€�
A bit stern and austere at first, but I liked a lot more on revisit. Green apple and citrus, bright, low dosage. B+

The reds

1983 Jaboulet €œThalabert€� Crozes-Hermitage
This smelled good when double-decanted about 3 (tons of fine sediment), but I was a little worried at first pour, there seemed to be a slight stewed note. But it blows off leaving a nice wine. Good acid backbone, with a lot of those Thalabert meaty/mushroom notes. B+

1991 Ogier Cote-Rotie
Exotic nose , with spice and black olives. Mid-bodied, tannins mostly resolved, spicy red fruit. Elegant A-/B+

1999 Gallet Cote-Rotie
Not really a producer Ive had experience with. A little more rustic, hint of barnyard, but nice solid core. Fun. B+/B

1996 Jamet Cote-Rotie
The two Jamets showed very similar, very classic profiles. Lots of bacon, olive, herb. The "96 was maybe a touch lighter and higher acid, but only by a hair B+.A-
1998 Jamet Cote-Rotie
A tiny bit fuller, hint of merde, cant say I liked one better than other. B+/A-

1998 Clape Cornas
Firm, full, dark berries, muscular style. B+

1999 Noel Verset Cornas
Olives and meat, lots of structure, dynamite but could use time. A-/B+

2000 Noel Verset Cornas
Seamless, just in a perfect place, elegant and classic,. A-

1998 Allemand €œReynard€� Cornas
Big,meaty, a bit tight. B+

This is as far as I got on notes last night. The final flight was 1994 Chave Hermitage, 1995 Chave Hermitage, and 1998 Chave Hermitage. All showed beautifully, with the 95 challenging the 00 Verset for my wine of the night. From memory "94 A-/B+, 95 A-, 98 B+.


Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. 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.

On 5/15/18 8:55 AM, DaleW wrote:
> Ramon organized a group for a Northern Rhone dinner at Racines last night. Old friends, a few New Yorkers I hadnt met before, and even one Rhonehead down from Boston. Fun group, though as usual with a long table most of my interaction was with one side. Some back and forth about what was available a la carte, but I was happy with my duck crisp appetizer and cote de boeuf.
>
> MV Krug Grande Cuvee Lot 164
> I was curious to try after all the hype. Im not the biggest Krug fan but this "08 base is touted as atypical. I thought the nose gorgeous and complex, and it seemed more lithe than most Krug. Very good. But I have 2 bottles and couldnt help thinking I could have bought 2 bottles of Comtes instead and had money left over. B+

I'm with you here. My wine friends love Krug. For me, only OK. The
Tattinger is always better to me and sometimes more than 1/2 the price.
>
>
> 1999 Gallet Cote-Rotie
> Not really a producer Ive had experience with. A little more rustic, hint of barnyard, but nice solid core. Fun. B+/B

My wife found these to be way to rustic and barnyardy for her.
>
> 1996 Jamet Cote-Rotie
> The two Jamets showed very similar, very classic profiles. Lots of bacon, olive, herb. The "96 was maybe a touch lighter and higher acid, but only by a hair B+.A-
> 1998 Jamet Cote-Rotie
> A tiny bit fuller, hint of merde, cant say I liked one better than other. B+/A-

Love the herbaceous profile of the Jamet wines. Do have to keep them
around for a while though. We have had the 1991's lately with great results.
>

>

On 5/15/18 8:55 AM, DaleW wrote:

> MV Krug Grande Cuvee Lot 164
> I was curious to try after all the hype. Im not the biggest Krug fan but this "08 base is touted as atypical. I thought the nose gorgeous and complex, and it seemed more lithe than most Krug. Very good. But I have 2 bottles and couldnt help thinking I could have bought 2 bottles of Comtes instead and had money left over. B+

I'm with you, too. The Krug style is just not my preferred style of
Champagne. Lately, we've been gravitating to non-dosé BdB bottlings,
though some of the more lean Pinot Meunier-based wines have also
appealed. It should be noted, however, that we don't go for the flavor
profile of aged Champagne.


> 1983 Jaboulet €œThalabert€� Crozes-Hermitage

> 1991 Ogier Cote-Rotie

> 1999 Gallet Cote-Rotie

> 1996 Jamet Cote-Rotie

> 1998 Jamet Cote-Rotie

> 1998 Clape Cornas

> 1999 Noel Verset Cornas

> 2000 Noel Verset Cornas

> 1998 Allemand €œReynard€� Cornas

> This is as far as I got on notes last night. The final flight was 1994 Chave Hermitage, 1995 Chave Hermitage, and 1998 Chave Hermitage. All showed beautifully, with the 95 challenging the 00 Verset for my wine of the night. From memory "94 A-/B+, 95 A-, 98 B+.

Wow, just wow! What a marvelous lineup of wines. Any one of those
would occupy a hallowed place on our table. Nice notes, too, Dale.

Thanks!
Mark Lipton

--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.cwdjr.net

On 5/15/18 11:44 AM, Mark Lipton wrote:
> On 5/15/18 8:55 AM, DaleW wrote:
>
>> MV Krug Grande Cuvee Lot 164
>> I was curious to try after all the hype. Im not the biggest Krug fan but this "08 base is touted as atypical. I thought the nose gorgeous and complex, and it seemed more lithe than most Krug. Very good. But I have 2 bottles and couldnt help thinking I could have bought 2 bottles of Comtes instead and had money left over. B+
>
> I'm with you, too. The Krug style is just not my preferred style of
> Champagne. Lately, we've been gravitating to non-dosé BdB bottlings,
> though some of the more lean Pinot Meunier-based wines have also
> appealed. It should be noted, however, that we don't go for the flavor
> profile of aged Champagne.
>
>
My wife absolutely hates aged Champagne and we have a friend that keeps
them (well cellared? and trots them out often. She usually refuses. I
like them, however.