Rockin’ Rhone: Gentaz/Verset/Jamet/Clape edition
Thanks to social media, you can always tell how badly you’re drinking compared to everyone else. And on this Monday night, when I didn’t think I was doing too badly with some delicious Indian takeout and a pint of Sweet Action. But, whoa, was I wrong.
Tonight there’s a big northern Rhone dinner going down at Bar Boulud. Sommelier Mike Madrigale tweeted from the scene that it was the “Greatest wine dinner ever put on here.” Now that is saying something. He also tweeted the menu that included four vintages of Joseph Jamet, Auguste Clape, Verset & Gentaz-Devrieux. These are pretty rare, especially since Marius Gentaz retired in 1993 and died last year (read more on his rare wines); Noel Verset stopped making wines in the early 2000s. The event was billed as “The Golden Age of Cote Rotie and Cornas,” featuring 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.
Okay, stop drooling now!
On December 11th, 2012 at 3:07 pm ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Mike Steinberger was in attendance and tweeted these observations:
Epic @RareWineCo tasting last night at @BarBoulud. Kudos Mannie Berk, @mikemadrigale, @danieljohnnes. Orgy of old school Northern Rhones.
A 4 x 4 tasting: Gentaz, Jamet, Clape, Verset 1988-1991. Wine of the night for me was 91 Jamet, followed by 90 Clape, 90 Jamet, 89 Verset.
Such distinctive, soulful wines, relics of a bygone era in the Northern Rhone–and beacons, perhaps, to a new generation? One can hope.
88 Gentaz was excellent, too. Overall, though, Gentaz wasn’t at the level of the others…
…Can’t help but wonder if rarity of Gentaz has had the effect of giving the wines a slightly inflated reputation.
@RockandRhone Based on all the hype, I think everyone expected Gentaz to be the star. Lovely wines, for sure, but the others were better.
@jamiegoode It was a fun night. Really exceptional wines, and great conversation about the stylistic issues.
https://twitter.com/WineDiarist/
On January 7th, 2013 at 1:55 pm ,Joseph wrote:
I was in attendance, and can confirm that Jamet stole the show, with specific vintages of Verset and Clape supporting. The Gentaz wines were good, but the others were better.
I am a big fan of Gentaz, but I must say the wines of Joseph Jamet from the 80s and early 90s are spectacular.