Thursday evening saw our Church Street branch all set and ready for our Northern Rhone tasting night. We tasted through 9 of these bold, expressive wines.
This is one of the world's really under-rated regions with many high-quality wines. Although prices have risen in recent times (as elsewhere), last night proved that the quality/price relationship is exceptional -particularly in comparison to Bordeaux and Burgundy.
These are some of the stars of the night.
We started with three whites - all 100% varietals:
2012 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, Maison Nicolas Perrin; This is a collaboration between two of the royalty in the Rhone. The Perrin family of Chateau Beaucastel in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Jaboulet of Hermitage fame. This was an epic Marsanne - fresh, with a hint of honey on the finish, and weight to the middle palate. This is an exceptional wine and for me the best value wine of the night
£24.99 btl - £240 for 12
2011 Saint-Peray, Domaine Du Tunnel; The winery is based in an old steam engine tunnel. The wine maker started in 1994 renting vines from producers to create a red Cornas. He now has 10 hectares stretching across three appellations - St Joseph, Cornas and Saint-Peray (the most southerly of all the Northern Rhone appellations). Made from 100% Roussane, this was richer than the Crozes with great intensity and complex spice. Not a 'quaffer' by any stretch.
£37.99 btl - £180 for 6
2012 Condrieu 'La Cote', Domaine des Amphores; What more is there to say than Viognier at its absolute spicy peach best. It was phenomenal. For a Condrieu, the home of this varietal, this is actually incredibly good value. A real eye opening nose, followed by that mulled peach melba palate - sensational!
£43.99 btl - £210 for 6
On to the Reds:
2012 Crozes Hermitage 'Beaumont', David Reynaud; We stepped into the world of Syrah with this - its bold, bright red label was reflected by an elegantly bold nose but not by its finger-staining, almost black colour (my hands were a very Alex Ferguson-esque shade by the end of the night). Syrah from Northern Rhone always has a slightly more austere freshness than in the New World and this had a sublime jammy character. Crozes Hermitage at its best.
£24.99 btl - £240 for 12
2009 Cote-Rotie, Domaine Ogier; After making our way through St Joseph and Cornas we hit Cote-Rotie and stopped and smiled! This has a seductively light nose yet deep and inviting. Cote-Rotie has the potential to age and we were pleasantly surprised how soft this wine was already. Elegant but with silky tannins. Honestly one of the best wines I have drunk in my time with the Vineking.
£68.99 btl - £330 for 6
2007 Hermitage, Yann Chave; One of the region's great winemakers, making the most interesting wine of the evening. Syrah hits you in a very different way. An opulent Cassis nose, approachable although still relatively youthful, multi-layered, racy and sophisticated. A wine for a wine lover.
£59.99 btl - £285 for 6
We weren't done! For contrast, at the end of the evening (or it may have been because I fancied another glass of something but ssshhh!) we opened:
2012 Bishop, Ben Glaetzer, Barossa Valley Australia: Honestly I opened it in the mind that all the previous wines would probably put it in its place as a brash arrogant youngster trying to show off in front of the adults. I can say I was wholeheartedly wrong. Yes, the nose was huge with the new oak shining through. The wine itself, although very ripe and powerful, was more subtle than I expected. I thoroughly enjoyed my glass and, bearing in mind what it followed, the Bishop showed why we have continued to champion Glaetzer's wines.
£36.99btl - £165 for 6
It was a great tasting with a host of stellar wines. I thank the 12 people that joined us. For those that missed it these case prices are all at 20% off or more, so take advantage and grab some truly epic wines. These prices will be available until 20/10/14.
Please check the website for future tastings and events.
Frank
No comments:
Post a Comment