WCC Northern Rhône
Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY, 3/20/2025


My Albany-area group (the Wine Collectors Club) got together to taste Northern Rhône reds blind at the Fort Orange Club in Albany. Dinner began around 7:30pm and ended around 10pm.

The Fort Orange Club is a great venue for these dinners since we get a private room and Executive Chef Lou Agostinello is doing a marvelous job of making wine-friendly, delicious food.

Click on any image with a border for a larger view of that image.


The menu and the place setting. The embossed mat is new:



Flight 1: 2009-2011 Alain Voge Cornas VV
Ahi Tuna Scallops with Avocado Crudo, Chive Aioli, Grilled Tomato, and Smoked Gouda.
Unfortunately, this one missed the mark and fought with the wines.
  1. 2009 Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
    [Double-decanted for 9 hours at about 7am.] Loads of blackberries in the nose. Rich and complex in the mouth with loads of black fruit and tannin. Balanced and very enjoyable. My #3 WOTN. (94 points)
  2. 2010 Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
    [Double-decanted for 9 hours at about 7am.] Very similar to the 2009, but more muted in the nose. Tarter than the 2009, but less tannic. Another delicious wine. (93 points)
  3. 2011 Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
    [Double-decanted about 5pm.] Maybe this needed more air. There's something dirty in the nose that I can't get past. Tart red fruit in the mouth. Feels disjointed. Judgement reserved. (NR)

Flight 2: Côte-Rôtie
Duck Cassoulet: Duck Confit, White Beans, Sausage, Celery, Carrot, Onion, Tomato, and Herbes de Provence.
This was stellar. Incredibly delicious on its own and great with the wines.
  1. 2010 Domaine Gallet (Henri et Philippe) Côte-Rôtie - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
    [Double-decanted about 5pm.] Lovely nose of black fruit and something herbal. Silky in the mouth. This is the most ready to drink wine so far. Long and tasty. (93 points)
  2. 2014 Jean-Michel Gerin Côte-Rôtie La Viallière - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
    [Double-decanted for 5 hours at about 1pm.] Smoky nose of black raspberries and spice. Rich fruit in the most with plenty of tannin. Long and elegant. (93 points)
  3. 2017 Jean-Michel Gerin Côte-Rôtie Champin le Seigneur - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
    [Double-decanted for one hour at about 3pm.] Muted black fruit nose opens up over time to include some flowers and spice. Expansive and complex. A real joy to drink. My #2 WOTN. Group #1. (94 points)
    4. Note that the two Gerin wines are in the wrong order in the photo.

Flight 3: Hermitage
Roasted Colorado Lamb Tenderloin with Pomegranate Persillade, Pomme Lyonnaise, Wild Mushroom Ragout, and Grilled Zucchini.
Another winner. Tender lamb cooked to perfection. Excellent with the wines.
  1. 2010 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage
    [Double-decanted for 2 hours at about 11am.] Big spicy black fruit nose. Tart red fruit in the mouth with a bit of tannin still showing. Definitely ready. Tied for group #2 WOTN. (91 points)
  2. 2000 E. Guigal Hermitage - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
    [Double-decanted for 15 minutes at about 6:15pm.] Another really tasty ready to drink wine tonight. Lots of smooth black fruit in the nose and mouth. Long and delicious. (93 points)
  3. 1990 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
    [Double-decanted at about 4pm.] Spicy red fruit in the nose. Long, complex, and delicious. This wine got to me. My WOTN. (95 points)
  4. 1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
    [Double-decanted for 2.5 hours the night before.] Nose if full of dry cocoa and very tart red fruit. Huge chocolate and dried fruit in the mouth. A bit bitter. The bottle showed clear signs of old leakage under the capsule. Tasted more like an old tawny port than a Hermitage. (NR)

Dessert
Chocolate-Thyme Crème Brûlée with Blackberries and Fresh Whipped Cream.
This was so rich and so good!


Summary

Another great evening of food and wine with good friends.

My notes posted from CellarTracker.

Here are Salil's notes on CellarTracker.


All the wines:


WOTN Voting (3pts each for #1, 2pts for #2, 1pt for #3)

RankPtsWine
1132017 Gerin Côte-Rôtie Champin le Seigneur
2(tie)82010 Jaboulet Crozes-Hermitage Thalabert
2(tie)81990 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne
442010 Voge Cornas VV
5(tie)32011 Voge Cornas VV
5(tie)32014 Gerin Côte-Rôtie La Viallière
5(tie)32000 Guigal Hermitage
5(tie)31990 Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle
922010 Gallet Côte-Rôtie
1012009 Voge Cornas VV

 

 

 

All original content © Ken Vastola