2011 J.L. Chave Sélection Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur- France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (2/17/2022)
Last Bottle, and I am saddened mostly at my pace. I wish I was sitting on more. QPR is a given. PnP with some air time in the glass. Its dark and brooding, still has it that way. The nose starts tight with darker berries, funk, char, leather, licorice, pepper; then blooms shedding the funk and char becoming more focused after an hour. The palate is purple and blue fruity goodness, boysenberry feels prominent, pepper, some barnyard sentiments, I get EVOO, and vanilla all as the main course. It keeps focus through the middle, with good acidity and tannins well integrated front to back. The back 9 is lengthy and satin, a great blend of it all. Lingers. This is where I look at scores and could care less, well made wine, it gives, has layers, it can go longer, and drinks effortlessly.
I’ve had this in a few of the better/bigger vintages and, if anything, found it kind of glossy/candied. Personally prefer Charvin’s Poutet, Beaucastel’s Coudelet, and Grand Veneur’s Champauvin at similar price points in CdR.
This has been my house red recently, mostly the 2018 and 2019. I’ve gone through quite a few cases. It’s somewhat in the mold of Guigal’s CdR with about a 50/50 blend of Syrah and Grenache, but to me it leans more toward a N. Rhône profile and I feel it’s a good step up from Guigal’s (which I also like).
Occasionally an older bottle shows up at K&L. I tried the 2013 which wasn’t too impressive, though still enjoyable. I really like the 2011 Rhône wines I’ve had so it would be very interesting to come across a bottle of this one.
FWIW all of those are Southern Rhône blends with little Syrah. The Chave CdR is more like 50/50 and as I mentioned in my other post I feel it leans more to the North in character, probably not surprising given the source.
The recent vintages are pretty ripe though I’ve been quite happy with them.
I like Coudoulet a lot too though I don’t buy it much as it’s in more of a no-man’s land price range. I’m going to try to find a bottle of the Poutet, which I’ve never had.
Ah. I had not realized that about the Couer cepage.
You’re right about Coudoulet and its awkward pricepoint, at least if its was considered a basic CdR, but I mentally group it into Gigondas and all that ilk. Although that AOC has been inching up in price too!
Charvin’s CdR is smaller production and - at least in my region - I have to get it via mail order / online which requires more motivation.
