On Saturday, 22 November in Paris, John Biers and I organized the first MPA wine tasting, hosted by Daphné and Natalie, and frankly it was a big success. The format was a blind tasting of five bottles representing four top regions in France — Bordeaux, Bourgogne, North Côtes du Rhone, and Val de Loire. We purchased the bottles from Le Grande Epicerie du Bon Marché and stuck to a budget of roughly 10 euros per bottle. Additionally we asked the Sommelier to pick his favorite bottle for around 20 euros from any of the four regions. After all 17 participants, including myself, made it through my boring 20-minute shpeel on the mystery, science and beauty of French wine, we commenced a very interactive and fun blind tasting. Cynthia took the gold with 3 correct guesses, out of 5. John and I both correctly guessed 3 as well, but we both knew that the mystery wine was from the Loire and I personally knew which bottle was the Bordeaux, due to its shape.
Naturally after the tasting the people began to roll in and a kickin’ house party ensued.
Below is a summary of the bottles and tasting notes.
1ST PLACE: SOMMELIER’S PICK– VAL DE LOIRE
Bottle: 2004 Terres Chaudes, Domaine des Roches Neuves, Saumur-Champigny, 17,50 €
Winemaker: Thierry Germain
Good Vintages to Pop Open: 2002, 2003
Wine Spectator Notes (91 rating): Ripe and focused, with dark plum and boysenberry flavors backed by lots of mineral, tobacco, black olive and spice notes. Long, briary finish brings you back for more. Drink now
MPA Notes (14 rating): cassis, leather, ripe berries, black pepper, earth, cherries, tannic, full-bodied, balanced, rich and complex
John, “mushrooms’
Cynthia, “damp earth”
Haruka, “roasted sencha, Japanese hojicha green tea”
2ND PLACE: COTES DU RHONE
Bottle: 2006 La Matinère, Ferraton Père & Fils, Crozes-Hermitage, 11,85 €
Wine Spectator Notes (91 rating): A juicy, structured style, with iron, lavender and sanguine notes framing the black cherry and currant fruit. An enticing herb note marks the finish. Slightly taut for now, but should flesh out nicely with some cellar time. Drink now through 2012.
Good Vintages to Pop Open: 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006
MPA Notes (13.5 rating): cassis, black pepper, smoke, floral, acidic, earth, oak, vanilla, barnyard, plum, tannic, full-bodied
Haruka, “British garden and peas”
Eva’s friend, Bine, “Floral bouquet, graveyard rather than garden”
Kenny, “prunes”
3RD PLACE: BORDEAUX
Bottle: 2001 Cuvée Compostelle, Château Côte Montpezat, Côtes de Castillon, 9,60 €
Blend: 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Good Vintages to Pop Open: 1999, 2002
MPA Tasting Notes (13.3 rating): plums, acidic, earthy, strong, tannic and full-bodied, leather, vegetable, herbaceous, cassis, blackberry
Eva’s friend, Bine, “wet wood and mushrooms, a park on a rainy day”
John, “rubbery”
Cynthia, “smelly rocks”
Natalie, “kicks in the back of the throat”
Will, “dirty river à la Seine”
Kenny, “licorice”
Haruka, “tar and sandalwood”
4TH PLACE: VAL DE LOIRE
Bottle: 2005 Élégance, Domaine de Noiré, Chinon, 14%, 9,65 €
Blend: 100% Cabernet Franc
Good Vintages to Pop Open: 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003
MPA Tasting Notes (11.8 rating): acidic, citrus, plum, cherries, herbal, sage, coffee, vegetables
Tim, “Hints of veal chops, suggestion of barnyard and Platypus, would go well with rhubarb”
Kenny, “Grandma’s farm”
Haruka, “Cheese frais”
5TH PLACE: BOURGOGNE
Bottle: 2006 Cuvée Saint-Jean de Naross, Domaine Prieur-Brunet, Bourgogne (Santenay Village), 9,50 €
Good Vintages to Pop Open: 1999, 2000, 2002
MPA Tasting Notes (11 rating): young, acidic, cassis, red fruit, citrus, floral, tobacco, medium-bodied
Haruka, “Spring like”
Cynthia, “rose”
MPA 20-Point Scale Ratings:
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