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Rhône 2008 tasting notes – A-L

Thursday 19 November 2009
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See Rhône 2008 coverage – a guide for a brief introduction and links to related articles, including the second tranche of tasting notes M–V and the final tranche of Chave, Clos des Papes, Guigal and Rayas. The wines are listed alphabetically by producer (sur)name, white wines before reds (although in future we will probably publish reds and whites in separate articles to make things clearer).


PIERRE AMADIEU

Brownish crimson. Simple herby fruits – not trying too hard...
Deep purple crimson. Very bright. Lively and fresh and tarry –...
Blueish purple. Very polished nose. Sweet, with a foxglove nose...

DOMAINE DES AMOURIERS

Very dark purplish crimson. Looks very young. Aromatic, peppery...
Blackish crimson. Looks quite evolved. Just a hint of rhubarb...

ARNOUX ET FILS

Very dark crimson. Savoury at the same time as being juicy...

PAUL AUTARD

Brilliant crimson. Not much nose at all. A little timid on the...
Bright crimson with a pale rim. Remarkably little nose. Sweet...
Ripe and surprisingly exotic rather than raisined or pruney...
Ripe red cherry fruit and brighter and fresher on the nose than...
Very ripe prune notes and a light meaty aroma. Similarly ripe on...

LA BARROCHE

Mid crimson with a pale rim. Simple cherry-soda aromas. A bit...
Lively crimson colour. Pretty ripe with a hint of animal...

LA BASTIDE ST-DOMINIQUE

Lively and blossomy. Quite delicate in terms of weight but well...
Bright, dark crimson. Quite dramatic black cherry aromas with a...
Bright confident cherry red. Fragrant and clean and punchy...

LA BASTIDE ST-VINCENT

Reasonably ripe nose, and then lots of gas. Simple, fresh...
Unoaked, from 40-year-old vines – 70% Grenache.
Dark...

CH DE BEAUCASTEL

Deep crimson. Sweet and fragrant red fruit. Very inviting aromas...
Red cherry fruit, linctus-like but pure and aromatic. Dry...
Slightly herbal citrus. (Very cold sample so may not be showing...
A little smoky and just a hint of almonds. Quite held back at...
Mid straw/pale gold. Honey, putty and interest on the nose. Lots...
Very slightly meaty nose, then sweetly oaky, touch of vanilla on...
One of the deepest crimsons of the lot. Funky nose with...

BEAUCHÊNE

Light greenish straw. Lightly cheesy nose. Then very tight and...

Bright crimson. Quite light and vegy. Really quite a pale wine...

Really light and even a bit green. Extremely skinny. I can’t...

BEAURENARD

Deep straw. Not much nose but the promise of something rather...
Mid greyish crimson. Light, fresh nose. Lots of juicy fruit but...

BENEDETTI

Pale straw. Some honeysuckle appeal on the nose. Very tight on...
Mid brownish crimson. A slight suggestion of oxidation on this...
Lightish and looks very evolved. Already ruby with some...

DOMAINE BERTHET-RAYNE

Pale straw. Sultry, bloomy nose. Definitely white Châteauneuf...
Mid cherry red with some lustre. Neat and fresh, super-clean...

DOMAINE DU BOIS DES MÈGES

Dark crimson with lustrous highlights.  Tastes a little oaky on...

DOMAINE DU BOIS...
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