Chateauneuf du Pape tasting + bonus wines

Chateauneuf du pape tasting

Present: Tom, Bob, and Cody Noland, David Cheek, and Chris Warner-Smith

Wine #1.
Deep ruby red wine with no fade. A peppery, black fruit nose with nice cherry and orange overtones with a toasty oak background. Nice midpalate mouth feel with good solid acidity, slightly rough tannins, and a long serious peppery finish that gets bitter at the end. Some alcohol heat and tastes a bit young. Rated #1 by David. #2 by Tom, Bob, Cody, and Chris

Wine #2
Ruby red with a slight fade to orange at edge. An overripe plumy nose with some leather and blueberries. Midpalate of smooth tannins and overripe raisiny fruit that is a bit over the top and tastes overextracted. A medium finish of overripe fruit. Rated #3 by all.

Wine #3
Ruby red with a slight fade to vermillion at the edge. A strong barnyardy nose with overtones oak, leather and raspberries (classic CdP nose –Bob). Nice midpalate feel with silky tannins, herbs, spiciness and nice acidity. Medium long finish of spicy fruit. Great balance. Rated #1 by Tom, Bob, Cody, and Chris. Rated #2 by David.

Wines
Wine #1. 2005 CdP Clos St. Jean. unfiltered 16.3% abv. my wine

Wine #2 2001 CdP Domaine de Ferrand 14.5% abv Cody's wine

Wine #3 2000 CdP Eric Texier, unfiltered 13.5% abv Bob's wine

Dinner: Slow roasted brisket that David marinated overnight is his special barbeque sauce.
No one chose to drink the Ferrand CdP – drain cleaner. However, I must mention the first bottle of this wine that Cody brought back from France was much better than this one. Bottle variation? Over the hill?

Both other CdPs matched well with the tannins taming the fatty beef. Some preferred the Clos St. Jean and some the Eric Texier with the brisket. Opened a CdP wanabe wine when the CdPs ranout – 2003 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone. Nice wine with great balance and a luscious finish. I thought this wine matched the beef slightly better than the other CdPs. Bob thought it matched just as well.

Bonus after dinner wine:
Deep ruby red with vanilla nose redolent with jammy fruit, especially blackberry. Smooth midpalate with jammy blackberries and silky tannins. Medium to long finish of fruit. Nice balance. Definitely new world. Not complex but a great sipper.

Wine: Valdivieso 2005 Central Valley Syrah reserve. 13.5% abv.

Tom,
You seem much more sober when you posted these notes then when you took them... Is that drain still running well after being cleaned by the 2001 CdP Domaine de Ferrand

Tom,
You seem much more sober when you posted these notes then when you took them... Is that drain still running well after being cleaned by the 2001 CdP Domaine de Ferrand

Bob, isn't that my picture you are using for an avatar? Are you back in country to stay until after Mo'Cool?

Tom,
You seem much more sober when you posted these notes then when you took them... Is that drain still running well after being cleaned by the 2001 CdP Domaine de Ferrand

Bob,

Written by the one whose notes were so indecipherable that you did not post them. I wonder why? The drain is running a bit better.

Bob,
I think my picture looks a bit younger and not so frustrated Actually I was scheduled to go to China in about a week but that may get delayed. I have already spent a month out of the country this year. However some of that time was in Italy so I ate and drank well!!! I am looking forward to MC once again and getting the gang together. Of course the biggest issue is what wines to bring?

Tom,
You seem much more sober when you posted these notes then when you took them... Is that drain still running well after being cleaned by the 2001 CdP Domaine de Ferrand

Bob,

Written by the one whose notes were so indecipherable that you did not post them. I wonder why? The drain is running a bit better.

Tom,
It was kinda lonely here under the bus, thought you might like to join me

I am wondering what food really shows CDP at its best? I have tried several things and it seems to be a very versatile wine but I have never hit on that perfect match. Any idea what CDP really loves food wise? Every wine has its classic match but I have to admit I do not know what the "classic" match for CDP truly is?

I am wondering what food really shows CDP at its best? I have tried several things and it seems to be a very versatile wine but I have never hit on that perfect match. Any idea what CDP really loves food wise? Every wine has its classic match but I have to admit I do not know what the "classic" match for CDP truly is?

Bob,

for whatever my opinion is worth, I think that CdP pairs extremely well with almost all grilled red meats, and the meat should be rare to get the best match. One exception to the rare statement is lamb shanks that have been braised for hours until the flesh melts in the mouth and no knife is needed. Game would also be a fine way to pair CdP with, and I would say anywhere from small game such as rabbit, to large examples such has venison or moose. This is however just thin gs to pair with, not necessarily the perfect match.