Tasting Notes - Rhone, North

2001 Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc Chante Alouette Update

A quick update on the lovely Chante Alouette I drank yesterday: there was around a glass and a half left in the fridge for me to quaff today before going to the airport, and it had really improved overnight. It had fleshed out to become a sumptuous, opulent example of this wine, the orchard fruit and spice had also really expressed itself beautifully too, and it truly was a delight.

2001 M Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc Chante Alouette

As I write this, I am supping politely on a glass or 3 of 2001 Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc Chante Alouette. This is a charming tipple, beautifully balanced and a delectable mouthful. Quite full-bodied - as most 100% Marsanne wines tend to be - it offers more on the palate than it does on the nose, which is quite restrained, betraying its youth. I was a little concerned that it was in a bit of a closed-down dead zone when I opened it, but it's developing nicely now after being open for a couple of hours. The nose is still quiet, but the mid-palate flavours of dried stone fruits, marzipan, toasted nuts and a touch of honey are really starting to shine through, and the oxidative style that characterises these Rhone whites is truly joyous! There is quite an intensity to this, a restrained kind of power, that sneaks up on you over a period of time, the kind of wine that takes you a sip or two to really appreciate, and makes you want more just as you get towards the end of the bottle. Actually I do have another bottle, so no worries there... Just as an afterthought, this wine has been consumed with Indian food, and was a very decent accompaniment, certainly not overpowered by the strong flavours of the food, testament to the depth and power of this particular libation. Splendid.

2000 George Vernay Coteaux de Vernon Condrieu

Deep browning orange colour - strange muted nose savoury little fruit oxidative pear cider - palette is strpped of fruit evolved to toffee caramel - little acidity, flabby and short finish - not looking good on this bottle at all

2007 Andre Peret Condrieu 'Chery'

Light gold orange lovely restrained nose classically aromatic dried apricot honey and pineapple - light on the palette beautifully structured minerality and spicy, subtle and complete - lovely and fresh and great finish - very very nice Condrieu

2006 Gaillard Cotes de Rhones 'Les Gendrines'

100% Viognier

Bright nectarine orange, pleasant but full on classic ripe viognier nose, front palette initially not bad, very rich but balanced fresh fruit but then moves on to to a strange sappy medicinal and coarse finish - unpleasant

1999 Domaine des Remizieres, Hermitage Blanc

I absolutely love this style, the very full body, the way the nose toys with you, giving you a hint of the pleasure that your taste buds are about to experience, then the way the intensity of the flavour builds and builds on the mid palate and explodes into a long and glorious finish, leaving you wishing that the bottle would never end.. Hmmm... The nose had peach and floral notes (rosewater) and a tiny hint of an oxidative sherry style, and this was followed on the palate by more stone fruit (peach and apricot) plus lemony citrus notes, and again this slight nutty, oxidative sherry taste, which I love. I'm pretty sure that this is a deliberate style, and I guess you either love it or you hate it. There was also some very beautifully-integrated oak, and some very well-balanced acidity, and all of these things combined to make a truly splendid wine. I feel that this wine would also keep for a good few years yet, there seems to be plenty of evolving flavours there, and good acidity to prop it up (01/10)