2010 DOMAINE CHARVIN CÔTES DU RHÔNE - MY BABY BROTHER

A combination of the excellent 2010 vintage and one of the region’s best Chateauneuf-du-Pape producers, Domaine Charvin, has resulted in a basic Côtes du Rhône that stands out from the norm for this huge appellation. Dark fruited, savoury and with noticeable structure, it is a wine that is capable of developing with a further couple of years in bottle.

While it will never develop the complexity or possess the class of its bigger and more glamorous brother, the Chateauneuf-du-Pape, there’s plenty of pleasure to be had for a relatively modest price (particularly given that this is from a leading small estate, not one of the region’s large negoce).

2010 CÔTES DU RHÔNE
Producer: Domaine Charvin
Variety: Grenache et al
Vintage: 2010
Region: Southern Rhône, France
ABV: 14.0%
Closure: Natural cork
Retail Price: $30.00
Date tasted: 3 May 2013

Tasting Note:
Bright garnet. Attractive bouquet of macerated plum, raspberry, cherry and dark spices. Dry, noticeable sandy tannins (even after a decant), quite dark fruited suggesting a generous amount of Syrah in the blend, fruit characters much the same as the nose, savoury
Score: 15.5+/20