BevMo 5 Cent Sale: 2007 Chapoutier Belleruche CdR

WINE TALK
1

As much as I usually bag on BevMo and their 5 cent sale, I have to admit that this is very tempting: 2007 Chapoutier Belleruche CdR (Blanc and Rouge are available) for $13.99 and 5 cents for a second bottle - or $7 a bottle.

Looking at the CT scores, this looks to be a pretty good deal on a daily drinker - especially for 2007. Any opinons on the Blanc vs. Rouge? Are both worth while at this price?

2

The rouge is a good buy year in and year out. $13.99 is too high, but $7 is a steal.

3

$7 for a cooked wine still seems expensive [shock.gif]

J

4

No worries about that - this wine wasn’t at my local store before this sale, and temps have been very moderate for the last 3 weeks, which is when the wine would have arrived. Long term storage at BevMo is questionable, but condition is a moot point with this unless the distributor/importer was at fault.

5

Just popped a bottle of both…

Blanc - somewhat mute nose, acid driven but no real character. Obviously viognier, but not a lot of fruit to back-up the acid. Maybe worth $7, but not much more - daily drinker white that isn’t much of a step-up from the box wine I buy for cooking.

Rouge - I like this! Grenache is the obvious dominate player here, cherry on the nose with more dusty cherries in the mouth, plus some more dirt (which is a good thing). Good acidity with a touch of tannin on the finish - with some heat (not much). Exactly what I expect from a CdR, not outstanding, but far from bad. 89-85ish - great QPR at $7!

6

I have enjoyed the Blanc in the past, but have ot had the 2007.

7

A friend of mine just asked me about a recommendation for the current sale. I didn’t see the Belleruche in their offering (she’s in CA) but will report since I’ve had this wine quite a few times and liked it (I think I went through a case of the 2000). In any case, other recos, especially “domestic” wine?

8

I didn’t see much - most of what BevMo sells during the 5 cent sale is their own labels, or other obscure stuff. They did have a Castle Rock RRV Chard that looked interesting…

9

I just picked up a couple of the Rouge…have one open…will let you know what I get.

[cheers.gif]

2007 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône Belleruche - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (7/3/2009)
Really dark, grapy, polished with a soft feel. Nice simple dark berry fruit, raisiny currant, licorice, slight green peppercorn, cedar, old leather. Really primal right now…would like more pepper, or “Rhone-ness”. But hell…for $7(Bevmo 5c sale)…this is the PERFECT wine to cook and sip with! Might get a little more interesting in a couple years though? Seems to have a good structure. (88 pts.)

10

I don’t think there is any Viognier in the wine, but Grenache Blanc and Bourbolenc and maybe Clairette, same kinda blend as Rayas uses.

11

Glad to see you grabed a few of these. Finally BevMo comes through with something worth while on the 5c sale!

12

Good name, good price, great year…sounds like a no-brainier for $7

13

I picked up 2 bottles of each, but have opened only 1xblanc so far. I was extremely happy, esp at the price. I thought it was a classic expression of a white cotes-du-rhone. I do not know the varietal composition, but I would go with the grenache blanc/bourbolenc/etc. more than viognier. Perhaps some marsanne, too. At any rate, I look forward to the next bottle and to trying the rouge.