Wednesday, June 24, 2009

"Hold on - Do I Like Châteauneuf du Pape?"

That was the question I asked during a great night with friends, dinner, and lots of wine. I served three courses, each paired with a wine poured blind. I knew the wines - I selected them to pair well with the food I was serving. But my friends didn't. This is lots of fun, especially if it's not competitive, if it's about throwing out preconceived notions based on labels and prices and reputations. If it's about stimulating thoughtful discussion about wine. And it does, every time I do it.

My friend Asher drinks a lot of Rhône wine. I'm discovering a taste for the Syrahs of the northern Rhône, but I haven't had a Châteauneuf du Pape that I really like, never mind a Gigondas, or Vacqueyras. I'm just not a big Grenache fan I think. But I've had maybe 10 of these wines though, so there's not a lot to go on. Anyway, my generous friend Tista gave me the gift of a bottle of 2003 Château Rayas last time I saw him, and I figured that it would be nice with our cheese course. And how much fun would it be to serve this iconic wine blind to a Rhône nut? Lot's I guessed.

The wine was incredible, it lived up to the hype. The nose really bounced out of the glass with spicy raspberries, incredibly fresh and pure. There is some mint, some soil, and a great herbal undertone. A tremendously pungent nose that got more and more arresting over the half hour I savored it. The palate showed a teeny-weeny bit of alcohol heat, but was otherwise completely delicious, with silky smooth tannins, great purity, vibrant acidity, and an intense finish that really lingered. And this is a 2003, mind you - an outlier vintage of ridiculous heat that challenged many a vigneron's ability to create balanced wines.

People mostly thought this was a Burgundy, that's how delicate and translucent it was, and how fresh and spicy. When I unveiled the wine there were gasps of "No way, Rayas!" Asher declared it to be the Châteauneuf du Pape of the vintage, something I cannot comment on because I've had only one other from 2003. But everyone agreed - impressive wine, to say the least. And you know what - at about $135, it darn well should be.

Then it was Asher's turn. He opened a bottle that he brought, a bottle that was great fun, but that virtually ensured a hangover for all the next day. He served it to us, blind like the other wines. I could tell without even tasting that it was a Burgundy, a big and ripe example, with a heady fruity perfume. Perhaps it was also 2003? Tasting it made me reject 03 - too well balanced and controlled. Spicy orange notes on the palate to go with ripe dark fruit and finely grained dusty tannins that offered ample structure, very well balanced, and a lovely dark fruit and soil perfume on the finish. Some resiny pine notes with air. The wine felt mature, but the fruit was so fresh and youthful. I guessed it to be either a 2002, or perhaps a 2000 from a top producer and a top site. Since the wine had a masculine feel to it, and because it had that orange-spice note, I guessed that it was from Gevrey-Chambertin. I actually felt pretty confident about my guess, and I was thinking of how to politely accept the congratulations from my friends as Asher unveiled the wine.
It was another Châteauneuf du Pape, the 1999 Vieux Télégraphe la Crau. Hmmm. No congratulations for this Brooklynguy, as it turned out. Beautiful wine, though, really compelling. And hold on - Do I Like Châteauneuf du Pape?

11 comments:

Jeff said...

I like your blog...Chateauneuf du Pape is the poor man's Burgundy my friend...and you were drinking some great shit. There's a lot more to go around than Burgundy. The right wines rock and have an amazing spicy balance. Of all the Rhone wines, they are probably my favorite. Most of the second wines are relatively inexpensive too. You ought to try the Telegramme from Vieux Telegraphe. In California it's around 30$ a bottle, so wway cheaper than La Crau. Plus, with 05, 06, and 07 all be awesome vintages, anything you find out to be pretty good.

Sleepyhaus said...

Good post BG, as I too can find the Rhone troubling at times. But while I am sometimes less than wowed I must say that I have had many great, nuanced, classy bottles from various appelations in the region. Even lowly Liracs, Vacqueyras, and Gigondas have sometimes proven excellent. But I must admit that my last few forays to the So-Rhone have been a bit disappointing, so I'm glad to see the luck you had. Hopefully my streak will turn soon, and hopefully without spending that kind of cash to do it!

Cliff said...

If you liked Rayas, you will probably also like Chateau des Tours Vacqueyras, made in the same style by the same guy. I haven't seen it in NYC, but I am almost positive it's imported; though, like Rayas, inexpensive it's not on these shores. In Gigondas, I love Raspail-Ay. In Vacqueyras, Sang des Cailloux has a sort of Northern Rhone feel to it, with a dominant minority of Syrah in the blend. For a slightly more refined version, I also like Domaine de la Monardière.

Asher said...

The wine which would later be revealed as the 03 Rayas, had an amazing, energic nose, wonderful purity and lightness on the palate, and fruit that I likened to the center of a raspberry Starburst (without being candy-sweet). My guess was Grand Cru Burgundy, and I thought it may have been Ponsot. Wine of the '03 Vintage indeed, but to my palate, few good wines were produced in that vintage (critics' points and marketing notwithstanding). In general, if I wanted hot and over-ripe wines, I would drink California Zin rather than '03 Chateauneuf. But that Rayas was beautiful.

As for Vieux Telegraphe, you can't get more traditional and Old World than that. The '99 VT is drinking very well now.

Wicker Parker said...

Speaking of terrific 2003 Rhône wines, the '03 Beaumes-de-Venise from Redourtier marries structure, sap, and energy with a rather light touch, while the '03 Domaine du Cayron from Gigondas is an astonishing and intense wine of blood, iron, and minerals, and it's very well balanced. Got both these wines for under $30.

Cliff said...

Yes, Redortier parked it in 2003. They have an unfair advantage, high up in the Dentelles.

Jeff said...

Cliff--I had the 04 Raspail-Ay Gigondas a couple of months ago and it was drinking really well. A great wine, even from a less exciting Rhone vintage. http://jeffswineblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/2004-gigondas-raspail-ay-reserve.html

Cliff said...

Jeff, I love that wine too. I know everyone, including the locals, went crazy for 2005. But I'm not sure I don't prefer 2004 at Raspail-Ay for its extra freshness and minerality. I love the house for its consistency, while still expressing the vintage; he turns out great stuff every year, a wine I'd happily buy blind.

Jeff said...

Cliff--I just picked up a couple of bottles of the 05 at K&L Wines a few weeks ago, but I'm not going to drink them for a while...

Cliff said...

Haven't tried it since I was at the estate last spring. As usual, it's terrific. I'm letting mine rest too.

jjoak said...

Yes, you do like Grenache.. just not the Blowsy kind.
There are some great Cotes du Rhone Village even.. try the Alary Brothers ones.