Minneapolis Wine Club does Chateauneuf-Du-Pape

Minneapolis Wine Club
Chateauneuf-Du-Pape
September
Shari's House

Another great tasting of some of the better CDP producers from the Southern Rhone that one can actually afford. Wine of the night was the 2006 Cuvee de Mon Auiel from Usseglio.

The newer vintages are more new world in style compared to the classic funk you get from CDP wines.

2004 Domaine de Cassan Gigondas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas (9/19/2010)
Solid effort with raspberry, spice, coffee, leather and earth. The finish is a little bit too acidic but overall a nice value wine. (89 pts.)

2003 Château Fortia Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/18/2010)
A bit cloudy in color. Nose spice, funk, raspberries and stone. Garrique, spice, raspberries, liqueur, hazelnuts and clay. Medium finish and dry. A solid wine that when I removed the capsule I was worried the wine was going to be dead as it had minor seepage but it is just fine. (90 pts.)

2001 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/19/2010)
A nice showing with spice, garrique, funk, leather, stones and floral notes. Medium finish and great acidity on this wine. Very well made in the traditional style. (93 pts.)

2004 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/19/2010)
A great wine without the funk of the 01 which would even make it better. Floral, raspberries, spices, coffee cherry and earth. The palate is clean but very flavorful. Medium and concentrated finish and a super balanced wine. (94 pts.)

2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/19/2010)
This should evolve into a super wine but is good right now. Decanted 4 hours. Floral, raspberries, plums, cranberry and minerals on the nose. The spices add greatly to the palate and finish. The decanted really allowed this wine to open up and the finish was showing a balance of fruit and earth components. (93 pts.)

2006 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/19/2010)
My last purchase of a Vieux Telegraphe the most overated wine from the Rhone. I have yet to have a great one and I have add several with 15 plus years of age. The nose is shut down and offers only some spice, cherry and cinammon. The palate is off with too much cinammon and spices. I am sure there is some fruit in there somewhere. Medium finish and boring. This is an 89 point wine to me and I would drink it but not pay $50 for it again. (89 pts.)

2006 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/19/2010)
My favorite producer from the Rhone. Another amazing showing of this wine with a nose of flowers, raspberries, spices, cherry and leather. The palate is flavorful and the fruit shines. Medium and concentrated finish and very clean. Not the classic funk of a CDP but that is fine with me on this amazing effort. (95 pts.)

Many of the wines are available at Winestreets and in order to know about the best prices in town on these wines you need to become a member of the Minneapolis Wine Club.