M. Chapoutier
Les Varonniers Crozes-Hermitage Syrah
Crozes-Hermitage, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
I picked up a couple C-H wines last month and this is my second bottle to open following Jaboulet’s Thalbert.
Followed over two days. 91-92 initially, finished at 92-93. Still some room for upside, so scoring accordingly.
From start to finish this was undeniably a more enjoyable wine than the Jaboulet. Day one was a potpurri and floral overload aromatically before ripe dark fruits and green herbs shut it down hard with a wall of tannin at the finish (similar to the Jaboulet). Day two showed what this wine is evolving to be…a softer aromatic profile but so much depth on the mid-palate with lavender, charcoal and dark berries before a finish of black peppered meat. The wine feels well balanced by acid and tannin and the alcohol isn’t obtrusive. Not quite crunchy, but bright and powerful. Lovely C-H from the Chapoutier team. Could cruise another 5+yrs in this same drinking window.
I picked up a couple C-H wines last month and this is my second bottle to open following Jaboulet’s Thalbert.
Followed over two days. 91-92 initially, finished at 92-93. Still some room for upside, so scoring accordingly.
From start to finish this was undeniably a more enjoyable wine than the Jaboulet. Day one was a potpurri and floral overload aromatically before ripe dark fruits and green herbs shut it down hard with a wall of tannin at the finish (similar to the Jaboulet). Day two showed what this wine is evolving to be…a softer aromatic profile but so much depth on the mid-palate with lavender, charcoal and dark berries before a finish of black peppered meat. The wine feels well balanced by acid and tannin and the alcohol isn’t obtrusive. Not quite crunchy, but bright and powerful. Lovely C-H from the Chapoutier team. Could cruise another 5+yrs in this same drinking window.
