A Rhone Evening: 1989 vs 1990 Cote Rotie La Turque and 2006 Henri Bonneau Cuvee Marie Beurrier!

15 April 2016: Once in a while, we need a wine theme that's not Bordeaux or Bourgogne (wish it were a joke!). This time the Rhone theme made it to the short list! (A friend did sneak in a couple of non-Rhone bottles.)

2010 Condrieu, Tardieu-Laurent. Golden in colour. Oily texture with a lightness. Honey, candied apricot, honeysuckle, frangipani. Soft acidity. This went rather well with the Thai pizza starter.

2008 Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc, Tardieu-Laurent. Also golden in colour. More lively acidity. Grapefruit, nutty, lanolin, fruit peel.

1989 Côte Rôtie La Turque, GuigalSpice, pepper, liquorice, black berry jam, with nuances of leather, smoke. Very long finish. Quite brûlee in character. Layers of complexity with richness and depth. This wine kept evolving throughout the evening. Extremely long finish. More flamboyant in style.

1990 Côte Rôtie La Turque, GuigalLuscious, bright fruit character, youthful, with lively acidity. Smooth velvety texture. More classic in style. Shorter finish than the 1989.  

(La Turque is approximately 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier.  42 months in new oak.)

2006 Châteauneuf du Pape, Cuvée Marie Beurrier, Henri Bonneau

Plum, white pepper, spicy, fruit cake notes. Velvety texture. Soft acidity. Finished long and a very fine wine! Went very well with five spiced braised beef. 

This cuvee started in 1988. It took the name of Bonneau's aunt. The blend is made from 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre, with small portions of Syrah, Counoise, Vaccarèse occasionally. No destemming normally. Vinification in traditional, concrete tanks. Ageing in a combination of old foudres and barriques.

2007 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Reservée, Domaine du PegauPlum, red fruit, slightly jammy note. It was delicious and correctly made but did  not have the same depth or level of complexity as the previous wine.

2008 Mitis, Amigne de Vétroz, Reserve, Jean-René Germanier (18 months in new oak.) Mango, dried apricot, ripe pear and marmalade with notes of macadamia. Long finish. The wine could do with a bit more acidity. But it's voluptuous and a beautifully balanced drop.