M. Chapoutier
Côtes-du-Rhône “Belleruche” Blanc
2009
13.5% ABV | Price: about $13*
Côtes-du-Rhône “Belleruche” Rosé
2010
13.5% ABV | Price: about $13*
A pair of wines from reputable Northern Rhône producer Michel Chapoutier, whose winery I visited in 2002 (see my article and notes).
The white is a blend primarily of grenache blanc, with clairette and bourboulenc. It has a very faint, appley nose, but considerable body and good mouthfeel, owing likely to the preponderance of grenache blanc in the blend. It’s simple and clean, with a slight chalkiness, and as it warms, a little menthol woodsyness emerges, too.
The pink is primarily grenache, with cinsault and syrah. It’s a pale salmon color, somewhat typical of Rhône rosés, and the nose is a bit earthy and stinky, but in a good way. On the palate it’s a little peppery, likely from the grenache, with good acidity and that same mineral chalkiness of the white. But it has a little more edge, plus a pleasant heft and earthiness, and is my favorite of this tasting.
Neither is a serious wine, but they’re capably made, and their stony, minerally chalkiness makes them good with fresh goat cheese. Best enjoyed young, which can be said, alas, of many things.
*I received these wines as press samples.
