Rhones - a mix of '99s and 2000s

Notes and impressions from a tasting of mostly Southern Rhones - Saturday, January 12, 2002, at the Wine Exchange in Orange, CA. Nineteen wines were poured for a tasting fee of $20.

Overall impressions: very nice flight. I thought the lone Cote and Gigondas were both excellent, with the Cornas a close third. Surprisingly good CdR selection included as well. The CdPs in the flight were also quite nice, though nothing earth-shaking. No real disappointments here, with even the wines at the end of the pack rated as good values.

2000 Mas de Daumas Blanc - Languedoc. $26.99.
Wheaty gold color. Nice floral-charged chardonnay nose, with a slight peachy backdrop. Very tasty fruit, toasty/wheaty quality, with lots of chewy textures and long finish. Blend of Viognier, Chardonnay, Roussanne, and Marsanne.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Chateau Grande Cassagne "S" Les Rameaux - Costieres de Nimes. $8.49.
Very dark ruby color. Nose of blueberry, blackberry, oak and a bit of barrel stink. Although a bit young and slightly raw on the palate, there is ample toasty fruit and a long finish.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B Overall score: B

2000 Domaine de la Mordoree - Cotes du Rhone. $7.99.
Dark ruby color. Buttery-smelling nose of blackberry, raspberry, violets and toast. Very nice toasty fruit, clinging mouthfeel, and long finish. Another dependable Mordoree offering.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B Overall score: B+

2000 Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion - Cotes du Rhone. $11.99.
Very dark ruby color. Nicely integrated nose of blackberry, licorice, and toast. Huge mouthfeel, very chewy and fleshy fruit, excellent balance with some tartness to the long finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Gramenon Vinsobres Les Hauts de Gramenon - Cote du Rhone Villages. $12.99.
Medium dark ruby color. Deep effusive raspberry-strawberry nose. Creamy mouthfeel, moderately full body, fine grain tannins, long finish. Very nice and smooth, yet could use a little more punch.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B Overall score: B

2000 Domaine Les Aphillanthes Cuvee des Galets - Cotes du Rhone Villages. $14.99.
Dark ruby color. Somewhat restrained nose of blueberry-blackberry and toast. Very good mouthfeel and balance, tasty and toasty fruit, long finish.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1999 Coudoulet de Beaucastel - Cotes du Rhone. $17.99.
Dark ruby color. Mostly pungent nose of burnt rubber, cat pee, and skunky fruit. The palate has many of the same traits as the nose, but with a nice blackberry and grape skin taste, a clinging mouthfeel. The long finish is balanced slightly more to the acid side.
Aroma score: B Taste score: B+ Overall score: B

1999 Les Vins de Vienne Les Cranilles - Cotes du Rhone. $15.99.
Dark ruby color. Nose of blackberry, obvious new oak, shoe polish and a slight beet scent. Crisp and toasty fruit, smooth and moderately chewy mouthfeel, long nicely balanced finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1999 Domaine Rabasse Charavin - Cotes du Rhone Villages Rasteau. $12.99.
Medium dark ruby garnet color. Full nose of blueberry, blackberry, toast, shoe polish and anise. Very tasty fruit, slightly coarse and chewy mouthfeel, excellent balance, very long finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1999 Domaine Rabasse Charavin Cuvee d' Estevenas - Cotes du Rhone Villages Carianne. $15.99.
Medium dark garnet color. Seductive nose of blackberry and toast. Moderate mouthfeel, buttery fruit with a smooth and creamy texture - like blackberry compote. Very nice long finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1999 Chateau de Saint Cosme - Gigondas. $23.99.
Medium dark ruby color. Nose of blackberry, licorice, shoe polish, with hints of floral and mint aromas. Big and chewy mouthfeel, with excellent balance and a very long tasty lip-smacking finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

1999 Chateau Fortia - Chateauneuf du Pape. $28.99.
Medium garnet-ruby color. Interesting and mostly complex nose of raspberry-blackberry, alfalfa, lots of nicely toasted oak, and a touch of wheat. Lots of toasted fruit on the palate, moderate and smooth mouthfeel, long finish that seems more acidic than fruity.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1999 Bousquet des Papes Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes - Chateauneuf du Pape. $34.99.
Medium dark garnet color. Toasty nose of blueberry-raspberry-strawberry fruit, with a touch of asparagus that seems to blend in surprisingly well. Big mouthfeel, with just a bit of coarseness to the blueberry-raspberry fruit, and a grape-skin quality to the long finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1999 Chateau de Beaucastel - Chateauneuf du Pape. $47.99.
Dark ruby color. Nose of mixed fruits, toast and cardboard, cat pee and skunky rubber. Very tasty mouthfeel, substantial fruit, excellent balance, and very long finish.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1999 Domaine de Vallouit Cuvee Speciale Comte de Larnage - Crozes Hermitage. $14.99.
Dark ruby color. Nose of newsprint, tomato vine, oak and toast. Big chewy mouthfeel with lots of grip. Young and a bit coarse, but tastes quite good now, and will smooth out nicely after a few years.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

1999 Les Vins de Vienne Les Barcillants - Cornas. $31.99.
Dark ruby color. Beautiful toasty blackberry and olive tapenade nose, with background notes of capers and rosemary. Very nice on the palate, with lots of chewy fruit, and a long flavorful finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: A-

1999 Jean-Michel Gerin Champin Le Seigneur - Cote Rotie. $39.99.
Dark ruby color. Nose of very smokey fruit, roasted meat, charred mesquite, and a hint of burnt rubber. Fabulous flavors of roasted meats and spice, with hints of toasted bread and a very long finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

1999 Domaine du Colombier - Hermitage. $49.99.
Medium-dark ruby color. Nose of steely blueberry, with toast and floral aromas. Lots of blackberry fruit and toast on the palate, with a long toasty finish.
Aroma score:B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+