Special Melbourne Offline / 4 August / Chateauneuf du Pape

[Ozzie W]

Date: Friday 4 August 2017
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Bergerac - 555 Lonsdale St, Melbourne (moved from King St)
Theme: Chateauneuf du Pape

Con will be presenting a selection of wines from Chateauneuf du Pape from his personal cellar at this special offline. This is a unique opportunity to taste a variety of wines from this renowned wine region in the southern part of the Rhône Valley. You do not need to be bring any wine. In return for Con's generosity, we'll all be splitting the cost of his meal. Please let me know if you'd like to come.


Confirmed attending:
1. ConJ
2. Chris H
3. Ozzie W
4. Diddy
5. conformistepete
6. via collins
7. Rossco
8. ConJ+1
9. conformistepete+1

Reserves:
10.
11.

[Rossco]

Im in!!

Could not miss this. Such amazing generosity. Thank you con!

[Chris H]

I'll bring a fortified to finish us off

[Ozzie W]

I'll bring a fortified to finish us off

With only 6 or 7 of us in so far, if Con puts on about a dozen bottles as planned, we'll all be well and truly "finished off" by the end of the evening.

Plenty of space still available for anyone that's interested. You don't even need to bring any wine!

[Rossco]

I'll bring a fortified to finish us off

With only 6 or 7 of us in so far, if Con puts on about a dozen bottles as planned, we'll all be well and truly "finished off" by the end of the evening.

Plenty of space still available for anyone that's interested. You don't even need to bring any wine!

I am astonished this wasnt filled up in 5 minutes!

[Diddy]

Thank you so much Con - incredibly generous and a top bloke to boot!

[conformistpete]

Plus one please.

[Ozzie W]

Plus one please.

Done.

[Ozzie W]

Con is bringing a white to get us started, followed by a selection of 13 CdP wines. Wines will be served blind. Since most of us attending have very little CdP experience, we've decided to list the wines (excluding vintage) to make it a little easier to guess.

• Domaine de Ferrand Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Plume du Peintre
• Domaine de Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée
• Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence
• Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée da Capo
• Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Deux Frères - 2 vintages
• Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul - 3 vintages
• Domaine Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve
• Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Looking at this list, I don't think it's going to help me much with the guessing. This is going to be a lot of fun!

Anyone want to hop on the reserves?

[Dragzworthy]

The Pegau capo has to win this!!

Wish I could be there, that's a great line up

[via collins]

Not sure if message got through this morning Oz, but I'm a definite.

Thanks to Con - and to you for doing the running around (digitally)

[michel]

very generous looking range of cndp
be a great starting point for the non cndp people
wow !

[Rossco]

Con is bringing a white to get us started, followed by a selection of 13 CdP wines. Wines will be served blind. Since most of us attending have very little CdP experience, we've decided to list the wines (excluding vintage) to make it a little easier to guess.

• Domaine de Ferrand Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Plume du Peintre
• Domaine de Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée
• Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence
• Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée da Capo
• Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Deux Frères - 2 vintages
• Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul - 3 vintages
• Domaine Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve
• Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Looking at this list, I don't think it's going to help me much with the guessing. This is going to be a lot of fun!

Anyone want to hop on the reserves?

Dam...... now you have spoiled my first two answers
1. France
2. CnP

[Ozzie W]

For those interested in reading about the 7 different producers being presented, there is lots of useful information and tasting notes at 'The Wine Cellar Insider'. Links below:

• Domaine de Ferrand - http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/rhone-wines-cote-rotie-hermitage-chateauneuf-du-pape/chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-producer-profiles/domaine-de-ferrand-chateauneuf-du-pape-rhone-wine/
• Domaine de la Mordorée - http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/rhone-wines-cote-rotie-hermitage-chateauneuf-du-pape/chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-producer-profiles/mordoree-chateauneuf-du-pape-rhone-wine/
• Domaine de Marcoux - http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/rhone-wines-cote-rotie-hermitage-chateauneuf-du-pape/chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-producer-profiles/marcoux-chateauneuf-du-pape-rhone-wine/
• Domaine du Pégaü - http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/rhone-wines-cote-rotie-hermitage-chateauneuf-du-pape/chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-producer-profiles/pegau-chateauneuf-du-pape-rhone-wine/
• Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils - http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/rhone-wines-cote-rotie-hermitage-chateauneuf-du-pape/chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-producer-profiles/pierre-usseglio-chateauneuf-du-pape-rhone-wine/
• Domaine Roger Sabon - http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/rhone-wines-cote-rotie-hermitage-chateauneuf-du-pape/chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-producer-profiles/roger-sabon-chateauneuf-du-pape-rhone-wine/
• Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe - http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/rhone-wines-cote-rotie-hermitage-chateauneuf-du-pape/chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-producer-profiles/vieux-telegraph-chateauneuf-du-pape-rhone-wine/

[Chris H]

Picking the wines should be easy for you now Oz, armed with all that knowledge

[Ozzie W]

Picking the wines should be easy for you now Oz, armed with all that knowledge

Knowledge
Experience
Probable outcome

[felixp21]

holy crap!!!
Con must be amongst the most generous wine lovers on the planet!!!

A Plume de Peintre?? really??

Geez, it would be worth me flying down there for the night !!!

Bravo Con, amazing line-up

[Ozzie W]

holy crap!!!
Con must be amongst the most generous wine lovers on the planet!!!

A Plume de Peintre?? really??

Geez, it would be worth me flying down there for the night !!!

Bravo Con, amazing line-up

Con is a top bloke who's generosity never ceases to amaze me. I'm looking very forward to Friday night.

[felixp21]

good to hear, Ozzie
I was down in Melb when you guys had yr last off-line, but to be honest, wasn't terribly interested in the "N" grapes. I will need to start becoming more interested, for sure, as we now have an Italian restaurant in the pipeline.
Think I will certainly make the effort if a future off-line is held the same time I am in Melb, would like to meet this band of interesting blokes.

[Ozzie W]

good to hear, Ozzie
I was down in Melb when you guys had yr last off-line, but to be honest, wasn't terribly interested in the "N" grapes. I will need to start becoming more interested, for sure, as we now have an Italian restaurant in the pipeline.
Think I will certainly make the effort if a future off-line is held the same time I am in Melb, would like to meet this band of interesting blokes.

We'd love you to join us at a future Melbourne offline, felixp21.


Going by the numbers, it's clear a lot of people weren't interested in our last Italian themed offline. I get the impression that a theme in unfamiliar territory makes people a bit uneasy. I can understand that line of thought, however, it's really unfounded.

From a personal perspective, I barely had any Old World wine exposure just a couple years ago. My interest in Italian wines and other Old World styles was sparked primarily by attending offlines where everyone was so eager to share their knowledge. I was never made to feel lesser than someone else due to my lack of knowledge or experience or because my wine wasn't as good as someone else's wine. Our offlines aren't a competition. They're all about learning about wine in a fun environment. It doesn't matter if you're just a beginner or a Master of Wine.

[mjs]

I'll just second what Ozzie has said. There is a lot of learning, no pretension, (usually) great wines, good food and fun conversation.

[mjs]

So guys, how was it? Ozzie, any pics?

[Chris H]

Great dinner thanks Con. My favourites were the least alcoholic and glossy wines - the three vintages of Usselglio Mon Aieul, and the 2010 Vieux Telegraphe was comparatively complex and elegant. Some, including the Usseglio Deux Freres tasted like ripe Barossa Shiraz which is why some of us have moved away from CNP I think. If I want Barossa I'll buy Barossa.

[Rossco]

Chris has reflected my thoughts on the wines as well. Some absolutely beautiful expressions of CdP wines. My favs were the
Usselglio Mon Aieul as well.

Hoddles 1er 2012 Chardonnay was simply wonderful, as was the 1998 S & K VP..... poor rutherglen.... such a neglected & undervalued region!

Food was sublime. Could not fault it or the service and the next offline there will be a raging success.

My sincere appreciation for Con and his amazing generosity. Had an absolute stunning 'Wine' moment where we got
to see the TRUE definition of bottle variation. 2 x 2007 Domaine du Pégaü (Capo?) side by side..... and they couldnt have
been more different. Amazing.

This night will be in my memory for a long time!

[Con J]

Thanks everyone for making it a fantastic night and Chris for the white and VP.

There were a couple of wines that were not quiet right, I was thinking a bit oxidized, overall thou the wines showed well.

Have to agree that the slightly more elegant wines were my preferences.

I’m still feeling a bit dusty.

Cheers Con.

[Ozzie W]

What a magnificent night! Thanks to everyone and a special thanks to Con for making it all possible. I really enjoyed tasting the wines in pairs as it made for some interesting comparisons.

According to my photos, we had the following wines.

2012 Hoddles Creek 1er Chardonnay
2010 Domaine de Marcoux
2010 Domaine de Ferrand
2010 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Réserve des Deux Frères
2009 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Cuvée de mon Aïeul
2003 Domaine du Pégaü Cuvée Réservée
2005 Domaine du Pégaü Cuvée Laurence
2010 Domaine Roger Sabon Reserve
2010 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
2007 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Réserve des Deux Frères
2010 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Cuvée de mon Aïeul
2007 Domaine du Pégaü Cuvée da Capo
2007 Domaine du Pégaü Cuvée da Capo
2007 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Cuvée de mon Aïeul
1998 Stanton & Killeen Vintage Port

A few more bottles of wine than usual and I was a little worse for wear this morning.

[via collins]

The Domaine Pegau incident!

Brilliant.

Thanks again to Con, it was a master class in CDP, and as it turned out now and then, the subtleties of cork variation. Remarkable through (happily) how little was rendered undrinkable. And much was gorgeous.

I agree with all the above selections for WON, adding the 10 Domaine Marcoux which was superb, and a big shout out to the 2010 vintage as a whole. And 2007 at the top end.

Well done all, and great to see a couple of fresh faces who were great company.

[cuttlefish]

Whooooooo ! A seriously mouth-drying Pegau experience ?? Looks epic !

[Diddy]

First and foremost, another massive thank you to Con for an incredible night.

A really interesting introduction to some top-end CDP for me, with my pick of the bunch being the 2005 Domaine du Pégaü Cuvée Laurence.