Lavandou February 10, 2003 Tasting
A visit from Gus Scuseria is all 7 hearty souls needed to gather together in our snow challanged nations capital. No groundhog or Dick Cheney siting.

I leave others with better memories for descriptive notes to fill in but here are my brief comments & scores

Whites:
1992 Chave Hermitage Blanc-real viscous and dark yellow, on a downhill but still interesting 86/100

2001 Guigal Condrieu-Rich & fruitier than I expected, needs time to come together--87

2000 Villard Condrieu Grand Vallon-Good heft & complexity-88

1999 Nigl Riesling Kremser Kremsleiten- great riesling diesel character, lingering finish-87

2001 Pepiere (Ollivier) Muscadet S&M "Clos des Briords"-Never had a muscadet this good!!! Has all the complexity of a White Burgoo--88

Reds:
Southern Rhones not CDP
2000 Pegau Pian Pegau-despite corkiness still had good body and acidity--87

1997 Chateau de St. Cosme Gigondas Cuvee Classique- my oh my, this is not a CDP, just lovely, still needs some time-- 90

Chateauneuf du Papes
1999 Les Cailloux-big brawny & a bit clumsy but what an upside-91

1999 Dom Pegau-My virgin Pegau, rich complex & "right there" -93

2000 Dom Pegau-The usual gobs & gobs of unctious fruit, great aging potential--95

2000 Beaucastel-not as Funkadelic as I expected more like welsh's concord on speed--91

Northern Rhone
1983 Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle-At a magnificent peak--classic 95

1999 Burgaud Cote-Rotie--Can you spell tannin-Like Big Mac on andro it delivered a jolt!!-95

Bordeaux
1982 Talbot-Close to its peak, another of a long line of user-friendly enjoyable wine--93

1986 Gruard LaRose-chunky lil' sucker-ready to drink though it will hold awhile-91

1988 Cos d'Estournel-Who slipped in a burg-very feminine soft elegant but powerful wine-93

Nectars
1997 Renou Bonnezeaux Zenith--Another lesson in the complexity of sweet chenin--92

1997 Dr Parce Banyuls Rimage---An acquired taste for me but I don't mind the learning, dark sweet & seductive--94

Food & company great, come back soon, Gus!!!!

Joe "Beppe" Rosenberg

Thanks for the notes, Joe.

Question about the '00 Pegau: was that the Cuvee de Reserve which you had, or was there a different cuvee designation?

We have that one available here, and I'm debating whether to pick a few bottles up (US$40).

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Cheers.

It was Cuvee Reserve=Calvert Woodley in DC selling it for$25 US, In Maryland it retails for $48 although I paid $35.

Joe "Beppe" Rosenberg

Joe-

You're not the first to be slightly disappointed in the '00 Beaucastel (v/v'98), and conversely juiced about the '00 Pegau.

DrT

quote:

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Originally posted by dr.tannin aka x-man:
Joe-

You're not the first to be slightly disappointed in the '00 Beaucastel (v/v'98), and conversely juiced about the '00 Pegau.

DrT

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I've been seeing this (in various reviews) somewhat as well. I am a great fan of Pegau (my favorite CdP overall)- its great/enjoyable in almost any year - however I think it might just be a tad premature to judge the Beaucastel...give it a decade give or so - give or take a few. And while I can see drinking the (seemingly most impressive) 2000 Pegau now - I plan to hold my bottles (4 plus a magnum) for the long haul and drink my remaining 99s in the meanwhile. There are plenty of inexpensive yet super S Rhones that to me drink well young (I was recently very impressed with the 2000 Guigal). I think that the potential of both the Pegau and the Beau suggest sitting on them a bit. Both will likely prove scrumptious in time. I've bought the 2000 Beaucastel in 375, 750 and magnum bottles with the intention of opening them small to large. Don't know if I will open a 375 right away (probably not - maybe will give it 2 years)...and I don't envision opening the mag for at least 10-15. Its a wine that I envision will go through some very distinctive and enjoyable phases.

And Joe - thanks for the nice tasting notes!