Some might quibble whether this is a well made wine. It’s a bit underripe. Hints of brett. Some unfiltered grainy texture.
I think it is glorious.
It’s honest. Shows what the vintage gave it. Does not try to be something else.
I love the 2011 Northern Rhone vintage, just like I do 2014, both so aromatic. This Levet has such a range, wild brambly fruits, feral animale notes, rusty metals and olive brine. Palate is lithe, crisp, tangy. Tight berries, ranges from reds to darks. Dry earth and grainy minerals. With some air, starting to show some cool minty notes. Chewy finish, like a sweet tart candy finish. Hard to prognosticate how much more this evolves but I think a few years will do it justice. I prefer this 2011 Les Journaries to the La Chavaroche.
The only '11 I own or have tasted was the Rostaing Ampodium, which showed very well last year. My notes: “Really nice, classic CR! Violets, red fruits, no oak; elegant from the get-go.”
The Levet Chavaroche is consistently one of our favorite wines. This was our first bottle of the 2011. This vintage has a different kind of excellence, and is the best for immediate drinking. The 2009 and 2012 are more classic versions and will probably be better than the 2011 eventually, but this bottle provided a lot of pleasure with some loin lamb chops and lentils.
Lots of sediment, so stand the bottle up for at least a few hours before opening, and it may be worth decanting for sediment, though the wine doesn’t need aeration for drinking. It is initially much paler and lighter-bodied than other vintages, though it gained structure over the course of the evening, and ended more tannic than it started. It has the characteristic Levet funkiness, with a lot of leather, earthiness, and sweet cherry fruit. Beautiful balance and complexity. This is a fully mature wine, and though it doesn’t have the exciting ferocity of the 2012, it is a gorgeous wine (not unlike an old Clos des Papes we had recently).
I have also really enjoyed the 2011 versions of Gonon, Allemand and Jamet. I have easily gone through six or more bottles of the Gonon, and it really has shown well from day one.
I think 2011 Allemand is the one vintage that has been a miss for Thierry since 2003 (which barely counts, as he declassified the cuvees). The Chaillot remains weirdly green and while the Reynard seems to have aged out of the worst of the green notes, it’s not a great wine.
I agree the Gonon and the Levet are quite good.
Thanks of the fine note. I’ve not yet broken into any of my '11 Levet’s but did drink the Gonon St Joe and the Benetiere Cordeloux together within the last year and both were drinking great. The Benetiere was just beautiful, with everything in place. The Gonon still more youthful but giving a lot. I dig how this vintage is drinking right now. Thanks again for the heads up on the Levet, I may need to dig around and see if I can find a bottle.
