TN: CdP for Grenache haters

M

MLipton

Mark Lipton
For the past 14 years, we’ve been in the habit of opening a 2004 wine on my son’s birthday as that’s his birth year (duh!). This year’s was the 2004 Chateau de Beaucastel, which for my palate was totally rocking and a perfect match for the pan-roasted venison tenderloin and Spätzle that my son had requested for his quarantine birthday dinner. Two things really struck me about this wine: the first was just how clean the fruit was with absolutely no Brett influence that I could discern; the second thing was how the fruit was in a different register than any other S Rhône wine I’ve had. Between the smooth tannins, firm acidic structure and blackberry/black currant fruit profile, it had more in common with wines of the French SW such as Irouleguy that I’ve had. I know full well of the greater Mourvèdre component of the blend at Beaucastel but no previous vintage I’ve had differed so markedly from the S Rhône profile.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Nice. At what age did you start letting your son partake in the birthday wine?
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Probably 7 or 8 we started offering small tastes. Most of the time he didn’t really want any, but in the last few years he’s been more interested. He had about a 1 oz pour for last night’s festivities. He has more interest in beer right now.

Mark Lipton
 
Not bad. My son just turned 10 and he claims to want tastes of things, but most likely because he knows he can't have them. He's had tiny bits of wine a few times and it wasn't exactly pleasurable (although he claims the smell is good).

Hopefully you have some nice 04s for when your son is ready to appreciate!
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Not bad. My son just turned 10 and he claims to want tastes of things, but most likely because he knows he can't have them. He's had tiny bits of wine a few times and it wasn't exactly pleasurable (although he claims the smell is good).

Hopefully you have some nice 04s for when your son is ready to appreciate!
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My almost 4 year old wants to taste everything and will steal your wine glass if you aren't looking. She's loved wine since she was an infant. She was born in the year of the monkey and, hence, may be a vulgar little monkey.
 
Mark, Beaucastel is, and always has been, my producer of choice. Yours is a good report on the 2004 which is...

blend of 30% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault, with the balance a mix of the other permitted varieties
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I'm definitely NOT a Grenache hater.

. . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:
I'm definitely NOT a Grenache hater.
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We'll try not to hold that against you.

originally posted by VLM:
She was born in the year of the monkey and, hence, may be a vulgar little monkey.
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Wouldn't that be a vulgar little vulgar little monkey?
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Not bad. My son just turned 10 and he claims to want tastes of things, but most likely because he knows he can't have them. He's had tiny bits of wine a few times and it wasn't exactly pleasurable (although he claims the smell is good).

Hopefully you have some nice 04s for when your son is ready to appreciate!
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I’ve got a mixed case of ‘04 Piedmontese reds and Riojas awaiting the days.

Mark Lipton
 
Mark, sounds like your son and my oldest were born only a few weeks apart. He used to love wine with a little RS when he was little but has become puritanical: no interest in wine. The younger one either. I’m sitting on a lot of ‘04s and ‘07s that I hope I can convince the boys to enjoy with me one day.
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
Mark, sounds like your son and my oldest were born only a few weeks apart. He used to love wine with a little RS when he was little but has become puritanical: no interest in wine. The younger one either. I’m sitting on a lot of ‘04s and ‘07s that I hope I can convince the boys to enjoy with me one day.
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Pure teen spirit, surely they'll come around.
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
originally posted by Peter Creasey:
I'm definitely NOT a Grenache hater.
Click to expand...
We'll try not to hold that against you.

originally posted by VLM:
She was born in the year of the monkey and, hence, may be a vulgar little monkey.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't that be a vulgar little vulgar little monkey?
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Why not just Vulgar Little Monkey's Vulgar Little Monkey? Or VLM jr.? If the Vulgar Little Monkey's Vulgar Little Monkey has her own Vulgar Little Monkey, that one could be called Trés Vulgar Little Monkey.
 
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