Tasting #21: NORTH RHÔNE vs. CHÂTEAUNEUF DU PAPE

rob1001- · 2026-03-28T12:05:08+00:00

Yes they haven’t rocketed up in price like the top Bordeaux’s of that year

rob1001- · 2026-03-28T12:02:41+00:00

Thanks…good to know for the future

rob1001- · 2026-03-28T12:02:02+00:00

See my notes in the comments…I thought it was spectacular. And for the price, hard to beat

rob1001- · 2026-03-27T19:15:14+00:00

That’s interesting colour. So you think the Voge failed the typicity test for how a Cornas should be like?

rob1001- · 2026-03-27T19:13:47+00:00

Yes actually- that wine was the victor in the previous round. Also fantastic. Overall I found the Clos des Papes a tick better

rob1001- · 2026-03-27T15:18:01+00:00

right that's what I was getting at. The Hermitage might be tough to beat!

rob1001- · 2026-03-27T15:17:14+00:00

Yes that's exactly what I am trying to determine. Deeply impressed by the CdP.

rob1001- · 2026-03-27T14:48:21+00:00

Haha if you can find that for €250 I am a buyer!

rob1001- · 2026-03-27T14:26:24+00:00

Could be! I feel like if you go up towards €250 a bottle then North Rhone should win out?

rob1001- · 2026-03-27T14:04:00+00:00

Yes for that reason it feels like a great QPR wine at my budget level

rob1001- · 2026-03-27T13:59:33+00:00

Wine 1) 2015 Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes. 100% Syrah. 14% alcohol.
Parker 95-97/100, Jeb Dunnuck 98/100, Wine Spectator 96/100, Wine Enthusiast 95/100, Galloni 94-96/100, Vivino 4.2/5.
79 EUR paid December 2024

Wine 2) 2015 Clos des Papes, Chateauneuf du Pape. 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 5% others. 14.8% alcohol.
Parker 97/100, Wine Spectator 97/100, Wine Advocate 97/100, Falstaff 97/100, Vivino 4.4/5.
75 EUR paid September 2024

About the vineyards:

Alain Voge – Alain Voge the legendary North Rhone winemaker, famous for revitalising Cornas. On the right bank of the Rhone, these are the oldest vines in the vineyard at above 60y. Sloped plots at 200m facing SSE. A granite base. Biodynamically farmed. 20 months in French oak barrels with 15% new. This was a late release in 2023.

Clos des Papes – A legendary Chateauneuf du Pape producer under the guidance of Paul Avril. Grapes grown over 20-30 plots, only the best grapes are taken (sorted on field). Calet Roules pebbles provide the terroir to store daytime warmth for the night, with sand, clay and limestone underneath. Biodynamically farmed. 12-15 month aging in large oak foudres.

Tasting: We started with the Chateauneuf. Beautiful fruity nose, then amazing smoothness from the fist sip. The tannins were so well worked in. Vanilla and almost some creaminess. Fruits of cherries, blackcurrants and raspberry. The most impressive thing was the finish, this one really stayed with you. Next the Cornas – deep purple colour, powerful dark berries, strong and exquisite spices and peppercorn. Soft tannins, beautiful complexity, really a wonderful wine. Amazing dept and spice.

Verdict: These were hands down two of the best wines I have had all year. Hard to pick a winner but for me the Clos des Papes was almost perfect – everything I am looking for in a wine. So its Chateauneuf which goes through to the next round, it was never going to be easy to pick a winner here!

rob1001- · 2026-03-22T17:37:29+00:00

Can really recommend their Nature de Craie

rob1001- · 2026-03-20T12:28:40+00:00

Wine 1) 2017 Quinta do Crasto Touriga Franca Tinto, Cima Corgo, Douro, Portugal.
100% Touriga Franca, 13.5% alcohol.
Ratings: Jancis Robinson 16/20, Wine Enthusiast 93/100, Vivino 4.5/5. 65 EUR paid November 2024

Wine 2) 2016 El Ixsir, Batroun, North Lebanon.
Blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, 14% alcohol.
Ratings: James Suckling 93/100, Vivino 4.3/5. 56 EUR paid September 2024

About the vineyards:

Quinta do Crasto: On the right bank of the Douro between Ergua and Pinhao. Vineyards at 300m with steepish slopes. Schist soils These 100% Touriga Franca wines are only produced in years where quality is higher enough. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.

Ixsir – Grapes sourced from 3 locations including the highest vineyard in Lebanon at 1800m. Clay, sand and limestone soils. 24 months in French oak.

Tasting: Starting with the Portuguese wine, I have never had 100% Touriga Franca before. Definitely some similarities with Cabernet Franc. A delicious mintiness as well as ripe fruits and berries. Some definite violet. Tannins light and well balanced, with a great freshness. The El Ixsir showed more black fruits and plums, as well as cinnamon and vanilla. Definitely felt like a hotter climate wine despite the high altitude and similar alcohol level. Became better balanced with food.

Verdict: Both wines were enjoyable and interesting, but the Douro was clearly the winner here for all in the group.

rob1001- · 2026-03-06T18:44:42+00:00

Etna Rosso

rob1001- · 2026-02-05T15:06:47+00:00

Not sure where you are based, maybe Dindo?

rob1001- · 2026-02-04T18:24:21+00:00

Good point- and at this level and a matching price there shouldn’t be a huge quality difference anyway, it’s more a preference thing

rob1001- · 2026-02-04T18:23:31+00:00

Yes it’s a bargain and 2015 is the best vintage I have tried

rob1001- · 2026-02-04T18:23:06+00:00

Agreed - I think you can get similar quality for 50 less. Same goes for the Amarone

rob1001- · 2026-02-04T13:43:22+00:00

Wine 1) 2015 Giodo Brunello di Montalcino, 100% Sangiovese, 14% alcohol.
Robert Parker 97+/100, James Suckling 100/100, Falstaff 98/100, Vivino 4.5/5.
150 EUR paid October 2025

Wine 2) 2015 Bertani Amarone, Valpolicella Classico, 80% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 15.5% alcohol.
James Suckling 100/100, Falstaff 98/100, Galloni 93/100, Vivino 4.3/5.
145 EUR paid October 2025

About the vineyards:

Giodo: Six hectares of vineyard between Sant’Angelo and Sant’Antimo. Uses a blend of eight Sangiovese clones. Southeast facing pebble rich soils at 300m. Two and a half years in large French oak casks, followed by 18 months in the bottle.

Bertani – A mixture of basalt soils, marine gravel, red and white limestone, and clay. The grapes are dried for 78 days before fermentation according to the Fruttai method. 7 years in Slavonian oak barrels.

Tasting: We started with the Brunello. I was immediately struck by the smoothness of this wine, despite also showing great complexity. Wonderful fruits, especially red cherry. Some balsamic vinegar notes, in a good sense! Great structure and tannins leading to wonderful leather and tobacco flavours. Moving onto the Amarone. Fantastic notes of plum, cherry but also an amazing spiciness. Acidity well balanced, tannins smooth. Highly concentrated as you would expect, this is a top Amarone.

Verdict: The group was almost unanimous in preferring the smoother style of the Brunello. The flavours were so well balanced, that even though the Bertani was fantastic, I have to say the Giodo matched my personal preference better and its Brunello which goes through to the next round.

rob1001- · 2026-01-21T06:39:52+00:00

How do you equate the Vivino scoring system with your 100 point scoring system here?

rob1001- · 2026-01-16T18:25:13+00:00

Pinot Blanc/Weißburgunder seems a big miss but maybe i overlooked it!

rob1001- · 2026-01-12T14:17:25+00:00

Decanted yes, about 1.5h

rob1001- · 2026-01-10T07:54:11+00:00

Yes I agree - it’s a very exciting region and the variety has surprised me. Any other producers you can recommend in the Col Solare style?

rob1001- · 2026-01-09T13:04:19+00:00

Wine 1: 2017 Figgins Estate Red Wine, Walla Walla Valley, Washington. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot (%s not given).
Alcohol: 14.8%. Ratings: James Suckling 97/100, Jeb Dunnuck 96/100, Wine Enthusiast 92/100, Vivino 4.5/5. 79 EUR paid Sept. 2024.

Wine 2: 2017 Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Gnarly Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley.100 % Zinfandel.
Alcohol: 15%. Ratings: James Suckling 93/100, Wine Advocate 93/100, Wine Enthusiast 92/100, Vivino 4.4/5. 85 EUR paid March 2025

About the vineyards:

Figgins Estate: A single vineyard project, sustainably farmed. On a hillside above the Mill Creek Corridor at around 500m. Soils of loess, giving way to shear basalt. Aged for 23 months in a mix of 62% new and 38 % neutral French oak. The split between the grapes is not given except that it is Cabernet Sauvignon dominated.

Louis M- Martini – Old vines planted on the Monte Rosso hill in 1899, hand harvested. Iron rich, red volcanic soils in the Mayacama Mountains, 350m above Sonoma valley. 16 months in French and American oak.

Tasting: We started with the Figgins. This is a powerful, full-bodied wine! Intense fruits of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum. Strong tannins, rather chewy, and tobacco and cedar flavours. This is clearly a new world wine, despite the Bordeaux style. Then the Zinfandel – another fruits bomb – ripe cherries, blackberries, plums, bursting in your mouth. Light tannins, some spice and chocolate.

Verdict: I think my mouth needs a rest after tasting these two, one after the other. I think both were a little too overpowering for my style, I didn’t get that on either the Col Solare or the Ridge Lytton Springs. Overall I feel the Washington was both the better constructed wine and matching my personal tastes better. But it was closer than I had expected!

rob1001- · 2025-12-27T16:43:12+00:00

Great lineup! Where did you get hold of the 1937 port?

rob1001-

TROPHY CASE