Vintage Pairs Round 9, 18 Oct 2016

In this round of Vintage Pairs Blind Tasting, we served:

Chateau Grillet

This is one of the smallest appellations in France (3.5ha), and was a monopoly of the Neyret-Gachet family from 1827 to 2011, when it was bought by Francois Pinault in June of that year. The great 20th century gastronomic critic Curnonsky ranked it one of the five great wines of France, alongside Montachet, Coulee de Serrant, Yquem, and Chateau Chalon. It has always been a rare and coveted wine, while its mono-varietal – Viognier – is perhaps more widely known by neighbouring appellation Condrieu.

2011 – 13.5% abv – 100% Viognier
1979 – 100% Viognier

Beringer Napa Valley wineCabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

One of Napa Valley’s classic, 19th century estates with a beautiful ‘chateau’ to match, today Beringer is a large-scaled California-wide wine producer, and part of the ginormous global wine enterprise Treasury Wine Estates. The ‘Private Reserve’ label has been since the late ‘70s, the top label of the Beringer estate. It’s a bold-styled, ripe, glossy modern-day classic, multi-vineyard 100% Cabernet Sauvignon blend.

1995 – 13.9% abv – 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
1992 – 14.1% abv – 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Domaine Rene Rostaing Cote-Rotie ‘La Landonne’

A traditionalist in the sense that he doesn’t pick late, and uses only a small proportion of new wood (around 15%), this is classic Cote-Rotie, and classic La Landonne – a single vineyard 100% syrah from an old vine, iron-rich sandy soil slope. So, this is something of a Syrah template wine.

2011 – 13% abv – 100% Syrah
2001 – 13% abv – 100% Syrah

Cayuse Vineyards ‘En Chamberlin’ Syrah

A modern cult wine from Walla Walla Valley, Washington State, biodynamic farming on stony soil. Interesting to see that Cote-Rotie’s cousin immediately after tasting this classic, don’t you think? Yeah, I thought so too. You’re welcome.

2008 – 14.6% abv – 100% Syrah
2006 – 14.6% abv – 100% Syrah

d’Oliveira Madeira Malvasia

Malvasia, or as it has been called for centuries in the UK ‘Malmsey’, is the richest, sweetest of the family of mono varietal Madeira wines. Drinkable, and ageworthy with all that tangy acidity. D’Oliveira is one of the best producers on the island of Madeira. These two wines – separated by 82 years – both spent most of their life in wood – the former bottled in 2015, the latter in 2013.

1989 – 20% abv, 100% Malvasia
1907 – 20% abv, 100% Malvasia