Rhone Tasting @ Estima in Singapore

Click to view: Rhone Wine Map.

The vineyards of the Rhône form one of France’s great wine regions. The Rhône region breaks up into two distinct north and south portions. The northern part contains many great individual appellations like Cote Rotie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph and Hermitage. Many of these vineyards are planted on small steep terraces with breathtaking views of the Rhône River. The dominant grapes here are Syrah for red wines and Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier for whites. As one heads south, the most famous appellation in the south is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In the southern Rhône the principal red grape is Grenache, but others include Carignan, Counoise, Mourvedre, Terret Noir and Syrah. The white grapes used include Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, and other indigenous local grape varieties. The southern tends to blend different grapes than in the north.

2004 Rhone: Deep, dark wines of exceptional character meant for long term aging. The red wines are full-bodied and tannic, with a good level of mature fruit. The Northern Rhône reds will be similar to the excellent 2001s. The overall quality of the ripening period bodes well for these multi-cepage cuvées with the early ripening Syrah and Cinsault affording fruit, freshness and definition and the later ripeners, Grenache and Mourvedre providing power and backbone. The wines are going to be both concentrated and complex, some of the best in France in 2004.

2005 Rhone: Reds show terrific color, aromas and purity, with structure for cellaring; whites also excellent. 2005 was a truly excellent year, a vin de garde, and a return to the quality that informed the famous quartet of vintages from 1998. As with 2004, the summer in 2005 was generally warm but never hot, with cool nights and brief patches of rainfall in September. However, unlike 2004 there was a happy coincidence of phenolic and alcoholic ripening playing out against a pleasing backdrop of late summer warmth. Perfect harvest conditions then and a far cry from the damp and rather lacklustre Spring conditions of March and early April. 2005 is a trumpeted vintage to watch for.

Here are our tasting notes from our recent tasting @ Estima on Thursday 31.01.2008. We would like to thank both Franck and Eric for being such fine host and it was a great opportunity to network with fellow like-minded wine lovers, especially the wiser ones.

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2005 Domaine Francois Villard Condrieu Condrieu DePoncins
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

Condrieu is a tiny wine making commune in the northern Rhone Valley of France. The best can be exceptional; and today, Viognier is making a home for itself in the New World where the wines are much less pricey.

F31012008. 13.5%. 100% Viognier. A rare Condrieu with beauty and breadth. Full-bodied with cream, white flowers, cleanness and a silky mouth feel. The hallmark of this wine is its candied or caramelized fruit, with gentle and balanced acidity ending with a vibrant if not spicy medium finish. Drink between 2008 to 2013. Price: S$115.00.

2004 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage Blanc
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

F31012008. 13.0%. Fresh and floral. Light to medium bodied, a richly textured and synchronized palate stuff packed with dense stone fruit, cream, with good acidity gasp and grip, and well polished with finesse and a warm medium finish. Enjoyable now. Drink between 2008 to 2012. Price: S$125.00.

2004 Domaine Francois Villard Côte-Rôtie Le Gallet Blanc
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

Tasted on Friday 31.01.2008. 100% Syrah. Restrained and modern. Earth and red spicy fruit. A feminine medium-bodied, mouth puckering, with softened red, dark berries and a touch of oak. Finishes dry with a good finish balanced by soft tannins. Enjoyable now. Drink between 2008 to 2012. Price: S$110.00.

2004 Domaine de Villeneuve Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Vieilles Vignes
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

F31012008. 14.0%. 75% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre , 8% Syrah, 5% Cinsault and 2% Clairette. Some vegetal with nuances of dried red fruit and meat. Medium-bodied, a strawberry driven concoction, sappy and dry tannins. Not a typical CDP but rustic and rewarding. Good medium finish. Drink between 2009 to 2014. Price: S$85.00.

2004 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

F31012008. 13.5%. 100% Syrah. Present with a lovely, pure attack of dark berry fruit with grilled meat. Medium-bodied, showing a lovely balance of richness, balanced with tannins, spicy fruit and minerals. Short finish. Drink between 2009 to 2014. Price: S$195.00.

2004 JM Stephen Côte-Rôtie
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

F31012008. 100% Syrah. A masculine nose of mineral, smoked meat, cherries, plums, dense red lushly fruit. Medium-bodied with slightly elevated acidity, very classic in structure, and a lengthy plummy finish. Enjoyable now. Drink between 2009 to 2014.

2006 Domaine de L’Elephant
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon

A very good effort from Estima winemakers with 15 acres (or about 5 to 6 hectares) of vineyard in Roussillon in Southern France with a small cellar in the village of Vingrau. Consulting winemaker is Michel Tardieu and 2006 was Estima’s first vintage release. F31012008. 14.5%. Made from Grenache, Carignan and Syrah with 233 cases made. This wine was opened 8 hours earlier. Fresh, oak. bright and spicy red fruit. Medium to full-bodied, a young and unresolved structured wine with deep and dry tannins. Good medium finish. Needs time. Drink between 2010 to 2016. Price: S$95.00.

2004 Domaine Francois Villard Condrieu Quintessence
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu

F31012008. 100% Viognier (Late-Harvest). Villard’s strength certainly lies in his whites. Rich and ripe dried apricots with honey-combed violets. Light bodied with astonishing acidity yet smooth and suave, good long dried fruits aftertaste. Enjoyable now. Drink between 2008 to 2012. Price: S$130.00.

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Photographs and text by Daniel. Hit us with your best shots; we’ll try our best to listen. Send your inquiries or comments here or via email to jiuwine@gmail.com.