Open Mike: Coudoulet de Beaucastel!

[Jenise]

I bought this wine on release, and liked it so much for current drinking I went back for more. Then I had a bottle that had shut down tight: it was hard and unyielding, I thought it might need another five years to soften up.

But apparently it's ahead of schedule, here's Tom Noland's recent note on the 2001: "Decanted about 30 minutes before drinking. Medium garnet color fading to a slightly pinkish purple at the edge. A glorious nose of plums, black raspberries, and a hint of raisin pie. Finely grained, smooth tannins on the mid-palate with wonderful plum and raspberry fruit. Excellent balance with a long lingering finish. This wine is reaching its peak drinking enjoyment. I bought two bottles about two years ago and at that time it was tight and quite tannic."

And it dawns on me that I actually know very very little about the wine, as I've never had any vintage but the 2001. Does it normally age well? Might we not expect a vintage like the 2001 to go ten years? I'd be willing to sacrifice one of my 01's to confirm Tom's findings. Anyone else have that vintage or another to offer?

Jenise,
I've never had the 2001 Coudoulet but based on my tasting of the 1999 I had a few months ago Tasting Note Here I would guess these wines will age quite nicely. It was 7 years old and was doing just fine...plenty of life left.
Redwinger

Might we not expect a vintage like the 2001 to go ten years? I'd be willing to sacrifice one of my 01's to confirm Tom's findings. Anyone else have that vintage or another to offer?

Jenise, I have one bottle of this wine, purchased about 6 months ago. I'd be very interested to hear what folks have to say about it.

I have three or four bottles but haven't tried any since release. This is (part of) what Parker had to say about it his 2-27-04 issue: "...it can be drunk now and over the next 10-15 years.This beauty may be the finest Coudelet produced in the last 10-12 years."

[Robin Garr]

Anyone else have that vintage or another to offer?

Here's my note from a couple of months ago, never published. Not sure why I don't have a label photo. I don't drink enough Coudoulet to have good baseline data, but I would be surprised if it doesn't cellar well.

Coudoulet de Beaucastel 2001 Cotes-du-Rhone ($29.99)

Very dark reddish-purple. Complex and appealing, red plums and cherries and that earthy, not quite barnyardy scent that French wine experts call <i>animaux</i>. Mouth-filling and ripe, juicy fruit and tart acidity, sturdy structure. It makes more sense to view this as a close sibling of Chateauneuf-du-Pape than a very expensive Cotes-du-Rhone. U.S. importer: Vineyard Brands Inc., Birmingham, Ala. (Oct. 29, 2006)

<b>WEBSITE:</B>
Importer site, http://www.vineyardbrands.com

<B>FOOD MATCH</B>
Slow-cooked steak using Chef Michael Schlow's procedure featured in the April 13, 2006 Wine Advisor FoodLetter

Jenise,

Thomas Perrin was recently in town and we tried the 2003 with him. I recall that he said while they won't go as long as the Beaucastel CdP, the Coudoulet can be set aside for 10 years with no worries.

In a decent vintage it will last 10 years or more past the vintage date, and certainly will repay aging for 5 years or more.

-Paul W.

[Jenise]

Well now, you've all convinced me that I need to let these 01's sit a bit longer. No problem, I prefer older wine and I have plenty of other things to drink so, new notice: Open Mike cancelled!

See I am not around and Open Mike cancelled!!!!!!! LOL.

I am having a lovely time in Medicine Hat and have found a cyber cafe in town. Some great wines, especially a De Bortoli P Sirah, no real wine drinkers around here so am having contractions!!!! Lots of riding, great open grasslands here. Bye.

Well now, you've all convinced me that I need to let these 01's sit a bit longer. No problem, I prefer older wine and I have plenty of other things to drink so, new notice: Open Mike cancelled!

Cancelled smancelled, I remembered this Open Mike and cracked a '00 Coudoulet de Beaucastel and it was excellent. It was a beautiful wine and definitely ready to drink with a medium body. Fully integrated, soft and smooth with nice ripe dark fruit and earth flavors. I am sure it is not as big as the '01 and the vintage made it more drinkable but not sorry I opened it. Guess I need to check the web site more often but I was sure Jenise knew what she was doing.

If it helps any I probably would not have opened the '01, assuming I had one.

Walt

[David M. Bueker]

The 2000 has been open and ready for business since release. As a matter of personal opinion that has been true of most 2000s from the region. It's a lovely drinking vintage. The 2001s have been more structured and most have shut down.