Every Wednesday, or as much as an unemployed person can afford, expect weekly tasting notes on wines that I have recently tried and what I think of them. About 70% of what you smell in wine, is what you are going to end up tasting, that is why you see people out and about swirling (aerating) and sniffing their wine. It's all part of the sensory experience and it will allow you to enjoy the wine that much more. I must say it does take time to smell what you smell in the wine as our noses are not used as intensely as they did when we were all cavemen and women (have to be PC these days, haha). So don't get discouraged, just keep trying, really think and blurt out what you are smelling in the wine! There is no right or wrong way to eat a Reese's (ha or what you smell/taste in wine). And here we go.............
As my trip to France gets closer with each passing day (as it naturally would right? ha) I have been reading a lot about the French wine regions (Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil) and beginning to think about what areas of the country I want to visit. I have drank a lot of Burgundy wine as pinot noir is certainly my favorite varietal so I decided to venture to the Rhone and specifically a 2007 Bernard Latour, Domaine de L'Espigouette, Cotes du Rhone.
2007 Bernard Latour, Domaine de L'Espigouette, Cotes du Rhone
consumed Friday Nov. 19, 2010, with love, Retail $18.89
Wine from the Cotes du Rhone (Southern Rhone) are typically blends of several varietals. The grapes from the Cotes du Rhone can be from anywhere in the Rhone but are typically from Southern Rhone as the Northern Rhone sub-region is covered by a number of well known appellations (e.g. Hermitage). The primary varietals in Southern Rhone are Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, and Cinsault. The most famous appellation in Southern Rhone is Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
On to the wine tasting, upon first opening the wine and pouring it into the glass I immediately noticed the inky deep plum color and an aroma of jam, almost like a blend of raspberry and blueberry jam. That is all that I could really sense in the wine so I left the wine in the glass to open up a little as I went back to making dinner. After letting the wine breathe for maybe 20 minutes I returned to the wine and it had really opened up. I immediately thought of the holidays after swirling it and smelling it.... but why.... and then ah-ha, nutmeg... it smells like nutmeg, reminding me of eggnog, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and family. The wine also went on to reveal notes of vanilla and hints of cinnamon. The finish was pleasant but short however for 18 bucks you can't really expect it to be perfect. Overall, a very nice wine for the price and it would go great with Thanksgiving dinner!
Happy Holidays and safe travels!
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