EuroVintage – A Rhone Valley Selection

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Delas Ventoux 2012
  Grenache from France - Rhone

  Review Date : 08-Sep-2013

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very dark, deep, purple-hued black-ruby colour, very youthful in appearance. The nose is fresh and voluminous with bright primary raspberry fruit and floral aromas, warm with whole berry fermentation lift. Medium-bodied, bright, juicy, dark raspberry fruit flavours form a weighty palate with good presence and a supple, rounded mouthfeel. The wine has modest tannin extraction, but good drive, with soft acidity in support. Dark herb and earth nuances unfold along with black fruit elements and build to a solid, juicy, lively finish with good length. This is a fresh, bright and juicy fruited Southern Rhone red with good weight and a soft fullness. Serve with pasta, pizza and barbecued food over the next 3-4 years. 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah from the Mazan and Goult communes fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine bottled without oak contact. 15,000 cases made. 16.5+/20 Sep 2013 RRP $16.99
• Chapoutier ‘La Ciboise’ Luberon 2012
  Grenache from France - Rhone

  Review Date : 08-Sep-2013

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, black-hued ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues. The nose is redolent of fresh, light, aromatic raspberry fruit and florals, with subtle spice and herb nuances and a hint of pepper. Medium-bodied, bright and vibrant primary raspberry Grenache fruit flavours are enlivened by lively acidity and brisk, underlying acidity. Some whole berry fermentation floral and jam elements are present, with fine, grainy tannins forming a linearity to the palate. This is elegant in proportion. The acidity is a feature and carries the light fruity flavours to a firm, but luscious finish. This is a bright and racy, elegant Southern Rhone red with freshness and firm line. Serve with pasta, pizza, barbecued food and Mediterranean fare over the next 3-4+ years. Grenache and Syrah fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged in vat 9-12 months. 17.0/20 Sep 2013 RRP $20.99
• Chapoutier ‘Belleruche’ Cotes du Rhone 2011
  Grenache from France - Rhone

  Review Date : 08-Sep-2013

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, even, dark ruby-red colour with some purple hues. The bouquet is softly full and grows in concentration to show ripe, dark berry fruits with earth and game notes along with some funky animal complexities. Medium-full bodied, savoury game meat flavours intermingle with dark red berry fruits. The flavours have energy and liveliness from fresh acidity, which adds to the succulence of the fruit. Grainy tannins underscore the fruit and are carried to a long, dry-textured finish. This is a fulsome Cotes du Rhone with plenty of succulent fruit, fresh acid and textures, along with some funkiness. Serve with slow-cooked game meat dishes over the next 4-6 years. Grenache and Syrah fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged in vats. 16.5/20 Sep 2013 RRP $25.99
• Chapoutier ‘Les Meysonniers’ Crozes- Hermitage 2011
  Syrah from France - Rhone

  Review Date : 08-Sep-2013

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  100% Syrah from vines 25 y.o., fermented to 13.0% alc., the wine aged mainly in vat for 12 months. Full, dark, deep ruby-red colour. This has a fresh and elegant nose with fine, tightly bound and intense aromas of dark berry fruit entwined with fresh herbs, a layer of white pepper, and notes od spice and ink that add detail and interest. Medium-bodied and elegantly proportioned, fine and tightly constrained flavours of dark red berry fruit and pepper are complexed by spice and savoury earth notes and some seasoned oak elements. The fruit is enlivened by fresh acidity and along with fine, grainy tannins in support lend a slender and taut linearity. This has some intensity which leads to a narrowed, savoury peppery finish with good length. This is a slender Crozes-Hermitage with cooler fruit flavours and bright, tight mouthfeel. Serve with most red meat dishes over the next 5-6+ years. 17.0+/20 Sep 2013 RRP $42.99
• Chapoutier Muscat de Beaumes de Venise Vin Doux Naturel 2012
  Sweet Wine from France - Rhone

  Review Date : 08-Sep-2013

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright straw-yellow colour with light lemon-green hues, pale on rim. This has an elegant and finely present bouquet with pure and cutting aromas of musk and herbs, along with a waxy, grapey note. Very sweet, a lovely richness and soft, unctuous texture is the feature on palate. Pristine, pure grapey Muscat fruit with fine musk, exotic floral and subtle herb flavours flow with precision. The mouthfeel is rounded, the acidity quite soft, but this has plenty of alcohol drive. The fruit extract grows to show concentration and depth, and the flavours carry through to a very long musk and white floral finish. This is a pure and intense Muscat de Beaumes de Venise with richness and alcohol power. Serve with fruit or baked pastry desserts over the next 3-4+ years. Muscat petits grains fermented at less than 15°C and fortified to 15.5% alc. (375 ml) 18.0+/20 Sep 2013 RRP $30.99