Domaine Pere Caboche '06
The Nitty Gritty:
- Vintage: 2006
- Varietal: Cotes du Rhone
- Winery: Domaine du Pere Caboche
- Region: Cotes du Rhone
- Country: France
- Price: About $12
- Rating: 85/100
- Tags: good
I’ve referred to many a French red as, “a mouthful of dirt.” For someone as into wine as me, it’s surprising and almost blasphemous that I don’t enjoy them. Anything you read about anyone who knows anything about wine will just swoon over the French reds—the Burgundies, the Rhones, and the enigmatic Bordeaux.
Furthermore, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t like French reds. Some of my favorite varietals are indigenous to France: Pinot Noir, Cabarnet (not the Franc one), Grenache, Syrah, etc. My problem isn’t with the grapes. My problem is with what they did to the grapes. The wines were always just too thin, too tannic, too…you get the picture. I just didn’t like them.
I’m not sure what possessed me to start drinking Cotes du Rhone, but I’ve been at it all fall. Turns out that it’s a fantastic fall/winter wine—”Earthy” is the word that comes to mind.
This particular one is fruity, for a red, but with a great backbone. Slight hint of spice. Great nose. Cotes du Rhone often holds up nicely to a steak or something equally as heavy, so it’s a great wine for this time of year. This was much better than the allegedly exceptional 2004 vintage—which I found watery—and surprisingly well-balanced for so young a wine.
Go. Hunt. It will be well worth your search.
Comments
By Lauren McNally
Lauren B. McNally is a New York City-based writer who spends her days on Madison Avenue and her evenings in Spain, France, Italy, South America, and beyond. She originally hails from Maine and graduated from Bowdoin College, spending time abroad at the University of Cambridge in the UK. Lauren passed The Court of Master Sommeliers’ Level I exam in August and will sit for her Certified Sommelier Exam in early 2010.
About The Humble Gourmand
The Humble Gourmand is published the first Friday of each month, edited by Alison L. McConnell, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and writer. It is designed to offer straightforward lessons and advice to aspiring cooks, oenophiles, and all other eaters and drinkers.
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J Schenck
October 15 12:03 p.m. 1I found this wine somewhat by accident (they were unpacking a case as I was going by) and the appelation caught my eye. For the price (just under $12) I figured it was worth trying. I really liked it. I'm not a wine expert, but I've tasted plenty of good (and bad) wines, so although I may not be able to explain how or why, I know a good one when I taste it. I went back to the store and bought three more bottles, one of which I'm taking to a wine-tasting party. I'm confident they'll also agree.
Lauren
October 26 3:30 p.m. 2Yep--this is a stunner for the price! I'm curious to see how the 2007 turns out. Keep up the good search!
wine dilettante
January 27 9:24 p.m. 3The 2008 is thin and watery.