2003 Guigal la LandonneDense purple to the rim with a nose of graphite, creosote, earth, olives, and black, black, black fruits, the primordial, full-bodied, monumental 2003 Cote Rotie La Landonne is amazing stuff. I suspect this is more akin to a dry vintage port than most Cote Roties ever tend to be, but the purity, the richness, the texture, the length are all out of this world. This wine does need some patience on the part of its purchasers, probably five years, more likely 8-10, but then one of the world’s most compelling elixirs will be at its peak for another 20-30+ years.
$759.99/bottle
The 2003 Cote Rotie La Mouline is by far the most delicate and elegant wine (11% Viognier is co-fermented with 89% Syrah). but the enormous aromatics of spring flowers intermixed with creme de cassis, black raspberry, mocha, caramel, and cola, and enormous full-bodied opulence and striking velvety, seamless texture make for one of the most memorable wines anyone could every drink. This wine should age effortlessly for 25-30 or more years.
2003 Guigal la TurqueA pure aromatic smorgasbord is offered by the 2003 Cote Rotie La Turque, which has an amazing aromatic profile of espresso coffee interwoven with scorched earth, tar, truffle, incense, blackberry, bacon fat, and flowers. Powerful, thick flavors ooze across the palate with a viscous texture, amazing purity, and just enough acidity and tannin to give uplift and precision to this remarkable tour de force in winemaking. Of the 2003s, this is also approachable, but ideally 2-5 years of cellaring would be suggested, and the wine will evolve for at least 30 more years.
$759.99/bottle
2003 Guigal Ex Voto RougeThe good news continues as the 2003 Hermitage Ex-Voto may even be the richest of all these wines. Only 4,000 bottles were produced from Guigal’s favorite parcels of Hermitage, Les Bessards, l’Hermite, Les Greffieux, and Les Murets. It is the most alcoholic of all the wines at 15%, but its off-the-chart richness, full-bodied, powerful, and amazing creme de cassis flavors along with truffle, crushed rocks, and acacia flowers, are utterly profound. This is one of the great Hermitages and it should last for 50-100 years. Just amazing.
3 comments:
Thanks to Tony for thinking the unthinkable. A $400 tasting in his basement was out of the ballpark. Great job by Joe and Tony cooking all day for an over the top menu that fit with the over the top nature of the wine. Who knew that a Croze Hermitage could taste that bad after this line-up. More later when I find my tasting sheet!
OK. I have found some notes! We started with a Domain Pradeue Croze 2002 that was peppery at the start. Jon Peters was kind enough to bring a Feraud-Bruenel Ch-du-Pape 2003 that had a bit of the California raisin dancing in the background with smoky tobacco overtones. As for the food. Everyone please help. Started with over the fois gras, moved on to venison tenderloin, smoked duck breast, pork bellies, mushroom bread pudding, and a dessert of bread pudding. I had such a hard time getting up the next morning it was so over the top.
Landonne - dark pork rinds and sweet tannins. We much be out of our minds but it was amazing stuff as we smell what was poured into the glass.
Mouline - as Joe said "HOLY CRAP!" Cinnamon spice and everything nice and certainly didn't want it to end like most good things.
La Turque - the brut of the bunch in my opinion. so intense it more than oozed with blackberry.
Ex Voto Rouge - Dense, powerful and the most unapproachable of the bunch. BABY KILLERS each and every one of you - me included. When they say it will live a good long life. I bet it will out live me. This is really something to save to the bitter end...
As who is buying what on the Chat du Pape. Joe-6, Tony-6, Buzz-6, Dave-6, Evan-3, Lori-3. Thanks to all for a more than memorable evening.
La Turge
Thanks to Joe and Dave for egging me on to buy these amazing wines for this tasting. Thanks to all for fronting me the money so Alice wouldn't get pissed. Thanks to Joe for the cooking, and for Dave for the sous cheffing.
Thanks to the wine! All Evan said and more.
The best tasting of my life! Worth every penny and then some!
Made me weep.
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