a good Côte De Rhône?
You must be a gladiator of sorts....
These wines (imo), are very robust and hearty, I like them but I have to be in the mood... (Syrah is the grape of the reds).
I like Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage, and yes....the world famous Chateneuf du Pape. I have also had (long ago), a bottle or two from Gigondas. The grape for the Chateneuf is a different one, Grenache, I think it is called.
There are other such as Carianne, Chateau de Caraguilhes or wines from the region of Languedoc-Roussillon, part of the C. du R. (I think).
I am not sure about white wines from this region, but I am almost sure that the above vineyards also produce whites.... the grape... hmmm I do not remember.... no, worse, I do not even know.
They say.... that it is heresy not to wait 5 years or more.... before opening these wines (reds).
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Re: Chilean wines:
In Bordeaux they use (as main grapes), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.... and others.
I believe they blend them (primarily Cab. Sauvignon & Merlot), which, imo, is what give them a balanced flavour and gentleness.
In Chile, many of their main wines are produced in the same way, achieving the same results. Merlot seems to be the "gentler" grape, and in many instances the grape is used exclusively as well. As they do in California.
With all due respect to the great California Cabernets..... Many of them, as revered by many natives... frankly they are open tooo soon, hence, many times you have a very dry, and "green" (young) wine, that could have been enjoyed better, had it been opened later....
Dare I say it ? Sometimes I think some of the Cabernets are over-rated... one of those cases of... location, location, location...
On the other hand, there are some superb California Cabernets, that given time.... they have been great... (Heitz, Silver Oak (?), Vichon, Freemark Abbey, Rutherford Hill...)
In truth... I like them, but there are other wines too....
"What though youth gave love and roses,
age still leaves us friends and wine"
~ Thomas Moore. |
