On the Road with the Grape Guy

Report From : Roussillon - RIVES DROITE 2023 Tasting

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

These are my honest, no-nonsense thoughts about the wines I tasted from the Roussillon – the days were broken down into Left and Right … this is the Day of the Droite (right).

First, there is my quick take on the wines, based on all the wines I tried … then the wines I liked are scored based on a Good, Better, Best approach (then all lists are alphabetized).

White Wines

Whites were at a good temp this morning - and the best showed through.

Cave L Etoile 2022 Les Toiles Fauves ... Good
- AOP Collioure 70% Grenache Blanc, 30% Grenache Gris
Chateau De Rey 2022 Reycré ... Better 
- IGP Côtes Catalanes Muscat D'Alexandrie
Chateau De Rey 2022 Les Galets Roules ... Better
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Grenache Gris
Clos Cérianne 2021 Anfora ... Better
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 80% Carignan Blanc, 20% Grenache Blanc
Domaine Deprade Jorda 2022 Tradition ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 60% Grenache blanc - 40% Macabeu
Domaine Des Deux Puits 2022 Mas Cristine ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 40% Grenache, 40% Macabeu, 10% Roussanne, 10% Vermentino
Domaine Madeloc 2022 Tremadoc ... Good
- AOP Collioure 60% Grenache Gris, 20% Vermentino, 20% Roussanne
Domaine Tambour 2022 Hautes Vignes ... Good
- AOP Collioure 60% Grenache Blanc, 40% Vermentino
Jonquères D'oriola Vignobles 2022 Château De Corneilla, Cavalcade ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 60% Grenache Blanc, 20% Macabeu, 20% Vermentino
Le Clos D'Elpis 2021 Elpis ... Better 
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 100% Grenache Gris
Maison Albera 2021 Emocio N°4 ... Good
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 100% Grenache Blanc

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Red Wines

Really good wines here (short, sweet and to the point)

Chateau Castelnou 2021 Cuvée Héritage ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 55% Syrah, 45% Carignan
Chateau Castelnou 2020 Cuvée Edmond Bernard ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 70% Syrah, 15% Carignan, 15% Grenache Noir
Château De L'ou 2019 Ipso Facto ... Good
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 100% Syrah
Château De L'ou 2020 Compartir ... Better
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages 60% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 20% Carignan
Chateau Montana 2018 L'Astre Noir ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages les Aspres 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Carignan
Clos Cérianne 2020 Secret Partagé ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 80% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, 10% Grenache
Clos Saint Sebastien 2020 Inspiration Marine ... Good
- AOP Collioure 90% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache Noir
Clos Saint Sebastien 2019 Inspiration Celeste ... Good
- AOP Collioure 90% Grenache Noir, 10% Carignan
Domaine De La Rectorie 2021 L'Oriental ... Better
- AOP Collioure 90% Grenache Noir, 10% Carignan
Domaine Des Deux Puits 2021 Mas Cristine ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 45% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 20% Carignan
Domaine Du Mascareil 2020 Géode ... Good
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 60% Carignan, 40% Grenache
Domaine Du Mascareil 2019 Les Chimères ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 55% Grenache, 30% Carignan, 15% Mourvèdre
Domaine Jaça 2022 Dalìz ... Good
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 90% Syrah, 10% Grenache Noir
Domaine Jaça 2022 Tot'oms ... Better
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 40% Grenache Noir, 30% Carignan Noir, 30% Grenache Gris
Domaine Jaça 2021 Entracte ... Better
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 85% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah
Domaine Madeloc 2021 Magenca ... Better
- AOP Collioure 60% Grenache Noir, 20% Carignan, 20% Mourvedre
Domaine Pietri-Geraud 2021 Sine Nomine ... Good
- AOP Collioure 60% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Vieux Carignan
Domaine Spiaggia 2022 La Cuvee De Ferdinand ... Good
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 100% Carignan
Domaine Tambour 2019 Adrien Herre ... Better
- AOP Collioure Grenache Noir, Syrah
Domaine Treloar 2018 Three Peaks ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Syrah 65%, Grenache 30%, Mourvedre 5%
Domaine Trilles 2021 Calignan ... Good
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 100% Carignan
Domaine Trilles 2019 Pedra Lluna ... Better
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 90% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah
Domaine Vaquer 2020 Cuvee 30 Ans  ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages 55% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 5% Carignan
Domaines Paul Mas 2021 Château Lauriga - Le Cadet ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 70% Syrah, 20% Carignan, 10% Grenache
Domaines Paul Mas 2020 Château Lauriga - Cuvée Jean Grande Réserve ... Better
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 60% Syrah, 30% Carignan, 10% Grenache
Earl Domaine De L'arca 2020 Nazarius ... Better
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 100% Carignan Noir
Jonquères D'oriola Vignobles 2019 Château De Corneilla, Les Candelles ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 70% Mourvèdre, 30% Syrah
Jonquères D'oriola Vignobles 2019 Château De Corneilla, Cavalcade ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache Noir, 25% Mourvèdre
Le Clos D Elpis 2021 Pandore ... Good
- IGP Côtes Catalanes 100% Grenache Noir
Maison Albera 2017 Emocio N°3 ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages 53% Grenache, 36% Carignan, 11% Syrah
Sas Frédérique Et Etienne Montes 2019 La Colomina ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 45% Carignan, 45% Syrah, 10% Grenache
Sas Frédérique Et Etienne Montes 2019 La Garrigue ... Better
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon 45% Carignan, 45 % Syrah, 10% Grenache
Gerard Bertrand 2019 Héritage Les Aspres ... Good
- AOP Côtes du Roussillon Les Aspres Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah

Mark Anthony: Port And Place 2024

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

(September 2023) … Mass tastings/ agent tastings have fallen out of favor in the last few years, which is why I was thrilled to see Mark Anthony throw the doors open and have one. There are some great producers in attendance and some great wines on display. Anything under four stars? Just received a mark; above four, got a note.

Here are the wines that impressed ...

(Three-and-a-Half PLUS)

Alois Lageder 2022 Chardonnay – Alto Adige … (Italy)
Alois Lageder 2020 Krafuss Pinot Noir … (Italy)
Arboleda 2022 Pinot Noir ... (Chile)
Attems Ramato DOC Friuli ... (Italy)
Bertani Amarone della Valpolicella Valpantena ... (Italy)
Brotte 2020 CDR Villages Cairanne Creation Grosset ... (France)
Brotte 2021 Le Fiole Cote du Rhone ... (France)
Chateau St Jean 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon … (U.S.A)
Garzon 2018 Balasto ... (Uruguay)
Hope Family 2020 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon … (USA)
Maison Louis Latour 2020 Saint Aubin 1er Cru ... (France)
Rodney Strong Merlot, Sonoma ... (USA)
Velvet Devil 2020 Merlot ... (Washington)
Kung Fu Girl 2022 Riesling ... (Washington)
Gobbiano Riserva Chianti Classico ... (Italy)
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz – Cabernet ... (Australia)

(Three-and-a-Half)

Attems Cicinis DOC Collio … (Italy)
Attems Pinot Grigio DOC Friuli … (Italy)
Bertani Soave Original Vintage Edition … (Italy)
Bertani Valpolicella Valpantena … (Italy)
Brotte 2022 Cote de Rhone Villages, Laudun Bord Elegance … (France)
Chateau St Jean 2021 Chardonnay … (USA)
Garzon 2023 Estate Pinot Noir Rosé … (Uruguay)
Garzon 2023 Reserva Albarino … (Uruguay)

(FOUR Stars)

Alois Lageder 2018 Cor romigberg - Cabernet Sauvignon … (Italy)
- Good balance in a cool climate Cab: earthy, juicy cranberry, rhubarb … quite Pinot-esque

Brotte 2018 Domaine Barville CDP Red … (France)
- This is a dense and delicious bottle of Grenache with a little Syrah and Mourvedre added in.

Brotte 2019 Hauts de Barville CDP … (France)
- Red and black fruit with subtle spice and good structure.

Hope Family Wines 2021 Austin Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon … (USA)
- Succulent: easy mocha, cherry with a sweet fruit finish

Lanson Black Label … (France)
- Base wines are from 2017 – the 4.5 years on lees; creamy mid with good acidity on the finish.

Lanson Green Label - 2018 Base Wine … (France)
- Base wine is from 2018; acidity sings. This wine’s claim to fame is it is all single harvested from a single vineyard.

Maison Louis Latour 2020 Corton - Charlemagne Grand Cru … (France)
- Rich, supple and pleasant with notes of butter and toffee.

Ornellaia 2021 Le Volte … (Italy)
- Great fruit core with smoky nuances – all backed by dark fruit and a long finish.

Ornellaia 2020 DOC Bolgheri Superiore … (Italy)
- Earthy, smoky and blackberry, plus a little cassis on the finish.

Imagery 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon … (USA)
- A really pretty palate with good tannins, good fruit and a lovely spicy finish.

(FOUR PLUS)

Alois Lageder 2022 Vernatsch-Schiava … (Italy)
- Lovely and fresh, a fruit driven wine that’s juicy with a hint of pepper.

Chateau St. Jean 2018 Cing Cepages … (USA)
- Smooth and silky; undertones of herbal and floral with a dark fruit core.

Henkell 2016 Cremant de Loire Brut AOC … (Germany / France)
- Big surprise here, the German giant making a Loire bubble: nice acidity with a purity of fruit and mineral mix.

Lanson NV Rosé … (France)
- Pretty floral, raspberry and lime – very pretty.

Maison Louis Latour 2020 Corton Grancey … (France)
- Smooth black fruit, subtle earthy character and spiced plum.

Rodney Strong 2020 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon … (USA)
- 5% Merlot and 4% Malbec – good mouthfeel; smooth and smoky, with a pleasant coffee and cherry note running all the way to the finish.

Tenuta Luce 2020 Luce ICT Toscana … (Italy)
- Smoky black cherry; with a cran-cassis finish.

Spirits (out of 3)

Bearface Wilderness Series 02
- Smoky and salty: smooth and unique - this one is yummy … (2.5)

Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey
- A fruity mid-palate and a silky, smooth finish; this is a Super Bowl whisky … (2)