Minneapolis Wine Club
Minneapolis Wine Club Dinner
Chateauneuf du Pape Blind Tasting
Edina Country Club
Sunday, December 30 2007
Blind #1: 2005 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape
This bottle was given 4.5 hours of in-bottle air-time before the event began.
Color: Medium Purple
Nose: Floral, raspberry, mineral
Taste: Raspberry, blueberry, spice, mineral, mild tannins and very elegant
Finish: Medium and multilayered. Game, earth, mineral, but ends rather abruptly.
Evaluation: A nice wine to start the night but none of us would have guessed Wine Spectator’s 3rd best wine of the year for 2007. I would not buy this wine for the money. 88 points
Blind #2: 2003 Tim Smith Barossa Valley G.M.S.
I put this into the tasting as I have enjoyed it in the past. It could not be an easier to figure out this was the Aussie Grenache Blend.
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Floral, eucalyptus, licorice, big fruits
Taste: Sweet fruit with cherry, blackberry, and raspberry. Floral and eucalyptus
Finish: Long and sweet. This is a wine that you could drink without food. Totally different style but I really enjoyed it.
Evaluation: 91 points
Blind #3: 2003 Domaine de la Charbonniere Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Spéciale Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Big barnyard with game, spice, plum
Taste: Blackberry, barnyard, game, spice, cinnamon
Finish: big multilayered with spice, oak, game, cinnamon, and barnyard on this medium finish.
Evaluation: Well made wine and I would cellar for five to ten years. 90 points
Blind #4: 2005 Domaine Paul Autard Cuvee La Cote Ronde Chateauneuf du Pape
This bottle received 2.25 hours of in-bottle air time before the event began.
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Forest floor and smoke
Taste: Spice, forest floor, smoke, spice, mild oak
Finish: Forest floor, smoke, ripe fruit emerging
Evaluation: An enjoyable wine that has great potential but is also drinking really well right now. 92 points
Blind #5: 2001 Mas de Boislauzon Chateauneuf du Pape
This bottle received 2.25 hours of in-bottle air time before the event.
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Barnyard, floral
Taste: Balanced wine with spice, floral, tar, mineral, mild tannins
Finish: Smooth/long finish. Very balanced and my second favorite wine of the event. A great value at $30.
Evaluation: 92 points
Blind #6: 2004 Domaine du Pegau Cuvee Reservee Chateauneuf du Pape
My wine of the night and overall the groups. For the price the 2001 Mas de Boislauzon was the wine of the night!
Color: Dark purple (darkest wine)
Taste: Mineral, game, boysenberry, cherry
Taste: Medium tannic structure with plum, mineral, cherry, crushed rock, violets, and raspberry. I had to analysis this one very carefully as there was a lot going on here.
Finish: LONG with raspberry, mineral, crushed rock, violets, and cherry. No funk on this wine.
Evaluation: Buy and cellar. Drinking great tonight after 4 hours decanting but ten plus years will do this justice. 94 points
Blind #7: 2003 Domaine de la Janasse Chaupin Chateauneuf du Pape
This bottle received a 6 hour decant before the event.
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Raspberry, cranberry, mineral
Taste: Raspberry, violets, spice
Finish: Raspberry, crushed rock on a medium finish
Evaluation: Well made but not as good as the 2 previous wines. 90 points
Blind #8: 2003 Roger Sabon & Fils Prestige Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Mineral, cranberry
Taste: Barnyard, mineral, sour cherry
Finish: A little thin on this medium finish
Evaluation: Disappointing wine compared to most of the others. 88 points
Blind #9: 2001 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape
This bottle received 4.5 hours of in-bottle air time before the event began.
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Barnyard
Taste: Raspberry, acidic wine, barnyard
Finish: Medium with some fruit and a barnyard funk
Evaluation: Not impressive for the producer. 84 points
Blind #10: 2005 Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape
This bottle was popped and poured at the event. This bottle also piqued most attendees' interest.
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Floral, strawberry, violets
Taste: Plum, violets, spice, smooth tannins
Finish: Extremely smooth wine that is drinking really well right now.
Evaluation: A great bargain at the $30 price point. 90 points
Blind #11: 2000 Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Light purple
Nose: Barnyard
Taste: Spice, watered down wine
Finish: Short and nothing to write about
Evaluation: Drinkable. 83 points
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The best wines I have ever had have been from the Minneapolis Wine Club Events.
Also the highest rated Robert Parker or Wine Spectator Wine usually never finishes high expect for the 2004 Domaine du Pegau CDP I brought to the event in December. The curse was broken.