- 2010 Bernard Levet Côte-Rôtie La Chavaroche / La Péroline - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (11/8/2025)
This was in the wrong section of the racks, and so had to be opened. I wish I had waited much, much longer. Even 15 years post vintage it’s still primary, and while some of the roasted, gamey notes are starting to show, it’s still mostly dark fruit, and a fair bit of tannin. Rule of 15 needs to be the rule of 25 for a wine like this.
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Thanks for the note. Agree that it needs time, but one of my favorite vintages of Levet along with '07 and '14.
Really helpful reference point as I have a few of these + the Journaries in the cellar. I’m not surprised it still shows quite young. I haven’t had one of either in several years, but I remember both showing so much stuffing and richness in their youth that I figured I’d leave them alone for a while. Based on your note, guess a while longer.
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The 06 Chavaroche is open for business and offering up all the Levet goods.
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My 06 magnum is still on winebid if anyone is looking for one!
Bummed I missed the '14s. I think those came out around the same time that the '15 German Rieslings were being released and taking up my entire wine budget, so I went really light on '14 Levet/most other N. Rhones (other than Gonon). Regretting it a bit now, as @Zachary_Ross had organized a flight of '14 Cornas at a dinner recently and the wines showed superbly, particularly a Clape. And I love Levet in slightly leaner vintages - the '04 Chavaroche is one of my favorite vintages. (07 is also right up there, and showed really well earlier this year.)
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I saw someone’s note that the 99 was past peak. lol.
Happy it was still enjoyable for you.
@salilb FYI, I consigned a large stash of '14 Levet Chavaroche (both 750ml and mags) to Winebid recently and most of them are still available at a very reasonable reserve price. And '14 definitely is one of my very favorite vintages of Levet. Decided to let some of them go due to moving and having way too many of them lol.
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Question: Chavaroche and Peroline is the same wine?
I have never seen/tasted any Peroline.
Yes, they are the same thing. Peroline is what they call it in France, and the Les Journaries is called Maestra.
@David_Bu3ker, you are a brave, brave man, even Alfert isn’t silly enough to pop a 2010 Levet!!! 
Thanks for the reference point, though!
Kidding aside, I put most of my favorite 2010s in that 25 year camp. Such a monolithic vintage that we know will reward patience.
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I’m curious if you decanted this, David.
A bottle of the 2010 I opened seven years ago (2018) was fabulous, but very young. I posted here:
Another bottle in 2021 seemed sort of shut down and not as pleasurable, so I’ve been sitting on the rest of mine.
As I said in my 2018 post, I was convinced from tasting this in 2016 that this had a brilliant future. I still have faith … and patience.
I would add Levet’s 2011s to the 2007s and 2014s. With a plus that these three vintages are largely drinking well now, at least for my palate.
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I did not. I opened it about two hours ahead, and immediately poured a couple of ounces, but otherwise did no “preparation.”
The Laphroig of the Rhone!
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Lagavulin you mean. Laphroig doesn’t taste bacony enough.
Nope. Laphroaig is more classic, raw and aggressive. Lagavulin has some polish. I think Laphroig is also unique in using floor malts, think Serine. And the iodine note is classic Levet!
Now bear in mind; that’s the Yak Palate talking. And he’s tipsy.
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If you think Lagavulin is more “polished” than Laphroig, which is just less complex, you are indeed tipsy. Now, Oban, I would grant is more polished.
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FWIW, it’s still very tightly wound tonight. Next bottle (maybe the Journaries instead) in 2030.
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