Lucien Le Vieux Donjon 1990 Chteauneuf-du-Pape (Rhne) Smells like a Burgundy, tastes like a Rhne...but something more northerly, perhaps Cte-Rtie, in its elegance and restraint. And its still very primary tannic and tight, albeit from a glacial cellar; more typical cellaring environments might lead to different results. Its full of suggestions, gestures, and hints, with a peacock tail of aromas just waiting to burst forth. Classy and portending beauty. (3/10)
Michel Perraud 1999 Cornas Sarah (Rhne) Grippy but light-styled, showing rough (and surprisingly red) fruit, earth, nuts, olives, and ground peppercorns. But really, that grocery list makes the wine sound more interesting than it actually is. Mostly, its simple and shorta wine with training wheels and a flimsy frame. (5/10)
Michel Domaine de la Charbonnire 2000 Chteauneuf-du-Pape Cuve Vieilles Vignes (Rhne) Corked. (5/10)
Brunel 1995 Chteauneuf-du-Pape Les Cailloux Cuve Centenaire (Rhne) Meat liqueur heavy on the salt. Youngish in a way, still showing blackberry amidst its more mature, meat-jerky stew components, but its fairly solid and unexpressive. And is that a remnant of vanilla? I wish I liked this more. (5/10)
Texier 2001 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Laudun (Rhne) Pretty much ready, perhaps even a touch past ideal, as the well-soiled meat and rough underbrush are showing signs of male-pattern baldness in the midpalate. The fruit, structure, etc. arent fully matured, but I dont think theres going to be sufficient body in the future to support continued effort along these lines. Im glad I aged it, though, as its more interesting than it was in its more monolithic youth. (3/10)
Texier 2001 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Laudun (Rhne) Concentrating down towards the classic Rhne destination of meat juice, but theres still blackberry and even a little bit of strawberry lingering about. Straightforward and simple, but good. Id drink this soonish if I had any moreand hey, what a surprise, I do. And will. (3/10)
Texier 2001 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Laudun (Rhne) Chewy, meaty, substantial. Light around the edges, but dark to the point of opacity within (thats an organoleptic, not visual, assessment). Probably mature. (3/10)
Terres dAvignon Kermit Lynch 2006 Ctes-du-Rhne (Rhne) Drinking very well right now, with powdered pepper and herb softness settling into a plusher blend of dried fruit and light soil than was apparent even a few months ago. When this wine is on, its one of the best values in the Ctes-du-Rhne, not least because it fulfills expectations so perfectly. And 2006 was definitely an on vintage. 2007perhaps not so much. (4/10)
Domaine de Mourchon 2005 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Sguret (Rhne) Open for 24 hours by the time I taste it. Big, dusty, and dark, showing strawberry bubblegum and hard tannin. Very purple in nearly every aspect. A little angry. But good. (3/10)
Jaboulet 2006 Crozes-Hermitage (Rhne) Watery and insipid, as if liquid smoke had been added to the most timid of artificial blackberry drinks-in-a-box. Embarrassing. (4/10)
Michel Perraud 1999 Cornas Sarah (Rhne) Grippy but light-styled, showing rough (and surprisingly red) fruit, earth, nuts, olives, and ground peppercorns. But really, that grocery list makes the wine sound more interesting than it actually is. Mostly, its simple and shorta wine with training wheels and a flimsy frame. (5/10)
Michel Domaine de la Charbonnire 2000 Chteauneuf-du-Pape Cuve Vieilles Vignes (Rhne) Corked. (5/10)
Brunel 1995 Chteauneuf-du-Pape Les Cailloux Cuve Centenaire (Rhne) Meat liqueur heavy on the salt. Youngish in a way, still showing blackberry amidst its more mature, meat-jerky stew components, but its fairly solid and unexpressive. And is that a remnant of vanilla? I wish I liked this more. (5/10)
Texier 2001 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Laudun (Rhne) Pretty much ready, perhaps even a touch past ideal, as the well-soiled meat and rough underbrush are showing signs of male-pattern baldness in the midpalate. The fruit, structure, etc. arent fully matured, but I dont think theres going to be sufficient body in the future to support continued effort along these lines. Im glad I aged it, though, as its more interesting than it was in its more monolithic youth. (3/10)
Texier 2001 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Laudun (Rhne) Concentrating down towards the classic Rhne destination of meat juice, but theres still blackberry and even a little bit of strawberry lingering about. Straightforward and simple, but good. Id drink this soonish if I had any moreand hey, what a surprise, I do. And will. (3/10)
Texier 2001 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Laudun (Rhne) Chewy, meaty, substantial. Light around the edges, but dark to the point of opacity within (thats an organoleptic, not visual, assessment). Probably mature. (3/10)
Terres dAvignon Kermit Lynch 2006 Ctes-du-Rhne (Rhne) Drinking very well right now, with powdered pepper and herb softness settling into a plusher blend of dried fruit and light soil than was apparent even a few months ago. When this wine is on, its one of the best values in the Ctes-du-Rhne, not least because it fulfills expectations so perfectly. And 2006 was definitely an on vintage. 2007perhaps not so much. (4/10)
Domaine de Mourchon 2005 Ctes-du-Rhne-Villages Sguret (Rhne) Open for 24 hours by the time I taste it. Big, dusty, and dark, showing strawberry bubblegum and hard tannin. Very purple in nearly every aspect. A little angry. But good. (3/10)
Jaboulet 2006 Crozes-Hermitage (Rhne) Watery and insipid, as if liquid smoke had been added to the most timid of artificial blackberry drinks-in-a-box. Embarrassing. (4/10)