2007 Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône

Tonight, with a lamb burger cooking away in the skillet, I was flustered. What wine to drink? I suffer from too many choices, which, I am sure, doesn't get me too much sympathy. Looking through the every day wine closet in the kitchen I spied a Côtes du Rhône. A 2007 Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône to be exact, which I have been meaning to try. So, great, a region I love and a vintage that has shown much promise in both the reds and the whites. I bought this bottle at a Whole Foods Market in Cambridge for $13.99.

Chapoutier makes some very expensive wines. They also produce a few that, like this CDR are very value minded. Of course everyone's idea of value differs. Value wine is a subject that I keep running into on the web and while it is something I subscribe to, it is a very personal matter. I think the wine tonight is a good example of personal taste.

2007 Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône - Color is a deep ruby red. The aromas are pure and clean. Berries, red raspberries and a bit of heat. There is a slight chocolate aroma as well. The flavors are mostly red berries and burnt sugar. The texture on the palate is mostly balanced, the heat does come through, but this wine is an amiable enough quaff-er. Modern in style and a moderate finish. I would rate this wine Fair+. Buy again: No.

To me this wine does not represent a value. It is neutered, devoid of any interesting characteristics that would lead me to believe it actually came from the Côtes du Rhône as opposed to Paso Robles or the Santa Maria Valley in California. Place is important to me when drinking a wine and while this wine would be acceptable to perhaps most wine drinkers, for me, this just lacks character and would be better served as a box or jug wine at half the price.