2023 Laurent Dublanc Côtes du Rhône
Southern Rhone varietal bottled in Vignoles, France
$6.99 / 89
14.5% ABV, decanted for forty minutes.
This wine is covered under the Appellation d'origine protégée (AOP) classification. Intended to guarantee the reputation of regional products, the top of the French wine pyramid includes restrictive regulations meant to give consumers confidence in the product’s quality.
There were at last count eighteen grape varieties which can go into a Rhône blend, and this bottle doesn’t list which ones were used. GSM (Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre) are likely included.
Deep ruby in the glass with prominent legs/tears. Nose of cherry, blackberry and a little dried herb. On the palate, dry with blackberry, leather, gravel, baking spice and black pepper. Yum. Bold and medium bodied with medium acidity and chalky medium tannins. Baking spice on the long finish.
Overall, a well-balanced wine. While dryness may come to mind, there’s some subtle blackberry sweetness which plays against it. So again, balanced.
Had with bell peppers stuffed with rice and Impossible-brand fake sausage, Impossible-brand fake meatballs, creamy chickpea pasta with spinach and rosemary, pasta lenticchie (lentils) in a tomato-based sauce, roasted veggies and baguette. The wine’s a little sharp with the peppers and the veggies, still somewhat acidic but serviceable with the meatballs and better with both pastas.
No info on where in the Rhône the grapes were sourced. They were taken up the A7 / A6 to Vignoles for bottling.
Consider that this is a $6.99 bottle at Trader Joe’s. I mean… really. For that price, this is a great pickup. Glad that I have another bottle in the cellar.
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