France tightly legislates there wine industry. One of the benefits of this is consistency. CÔTES DU RHÔNE is a region in France that has been making wine a long time. Above and beyond there AOC designation they also have a Villages designation. The combination of the two constraints means there is even greater consistency. I have a picture in my mind of what a CÔTES DU RHÔNE Village ought to taste like and sure enough this one fits right in. Dark in color with a mild nose. On the mid pallet the wine displays some classic dark rich berries, even cassis. Slightly sweet with a medium length finish backed by some firm acidity and some nice tannins. This is by no means a easy drinking sipper. There’s lots going in. I would give this an 89 or so. Quite nice for the price.
From the LCBO web site:
PIERRE HENRI MOREL SIGNARGUES CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2009
VINTAGES 277038 | 750 mL bottle Price: $ 15.95
Made in: Rhône, France By: Ferratonpere&Fils/Pierrehenri Morel
Release Date: May 26, 2012
Wine, Red Wine 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content: 2 g/L Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry
Tasting Note
A pure and very silky wine, with a gorgeous mix of damson plum, raspberry, black cherry and plum fruit, laced with graphite and black tea and followed by a long, incense-tinged finish. Drink now through 2012. Score – 90. (James Molesworth, winespectator.com, Oct. 31, 2011).
