TNs: 05 Vietti Castiglione, 12 Jadot Couchereaux,

WINE TALK
1

Quiet Sunday night at home called for a few bots with spring milk fed Suffolk Lamb. After an outstanding 2013 Rieslingfreak No4 from the Clare Valley it was time to liberate a couple of reds.

2005 Vietti Castiglione
I only really started collecting Barolo from the 2001 vintage, so whenever i peruse the cellar I am somewhat torn, realising the degree of vinfanticide to be inflicted, but also intrigued to continue the journey. I figured this one might be quite drinkable. How wrong I was…it was VERY drinkable. Lovely lifted florals and dark fruits with silky tannins and good length. Lots of energy, yet quite laid back at the same time. Beautifully proportioned wine.

2012 Louios Jadot Beaune 'Clos des Couchereaux’
Showing more grated ginger oak than I recall on earlier vintages. It is however dripping with succulent red fruits, trimmed with violets and with a juicy and generous mouthfeel. Quite delicious. having knowcked a bottle of Couchereaux soom after arrival from each vintage since 2001, I would put this one in the top two or three.

2

I tasted the '13 Jadot Couchereaux from the aging cask a few days ago while visiting the winery. I’ve not had any version of it before, but the one I tasted was very much along the same lines as you note. Pretty good juice.

3

2012 Louios Jadot Beaune ‘Clos des Couchereaux’
Showing more grated ginger oak than I recall on earlier vintages. It is however dripping with succulent red fruits, trimmed with violets and with a juicy and generous mouthfeel. Quite delicious. having knowcked a bottle of Couchereaux soom after arrival from each vintage since 2001, I would put this one in the top two or three

Kent :

I am a fun of Jadot’s red. Would appriciate which are the top two or three of his Clos des Couchereaux since vintage 2001…

Thanks in advance for your reply [cheers.gif]

4

That’s great to hear about the Vietti, I’m still sitting on my 2005’s and waiting for them to relax a little. I think I may officially wait for next year’s 10th anni, but it’s exciting to hear this is coming around.

5

Peter, 02 is downright delicious and 05 just needs time, and lots of it.

Eric, I recall tasting the 05 Castiglione on release and it was quite angular, nothing like the plusher 04. Now I’m tempted to bust a Rocche or Brunate.

6

I have just a single Langhe region nebbiolo wine from 2005 - a Produttori del Barbaresco Paje, and that was a present from a friend. By chance I have much more from Northern Piemonte (Ghemme and Gattinara). It’s funny to reflect that although not a highly feted vintage, I’ve never had anything against it, but stepping back through holidays, I think that must have coincided with holidays outside of Piemonte in 2009/2010, hence the only explanation for no 05s.

Great to hear it was so approachable and perhaps it shows all the signs of a ‘restaurant vintage’, a term usually denoting damning with faint praise, but here delivering a wine that gave great enjoyment.

Many thanks for the note

regards
Ian

7

Ian,
That is one of the advantages of wines that are tightly allocated. You tend to end up with wines fom vintages that you would not ordinarily purchase, and receive some pleasant surprises…and of course some underwhelming experiences.