More fun to say than to drink (as of right now)
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE FROM TOTAL WINE
My Guy at Total Wine (this was the first time we had met, but I'm calling him My Guy because that's more fun and I think we bonded) recommended this bottle from Pierre Henri Morel. We had chatted for a bit about my love for Burgundy and my general interest in learning more about wine, so he pointed me towards the Rhone section and suggested I give them a chance.
"Don't rush it though," he told me. "You can't just open up one of these on a normal night. Take your time. Let it breathe. Let yourself breathe. Think about it." Best advice I've been given in a long time. But did I listen? No, of course not. Sorry guy.
My mom and I totally rushed to open up this pretty looking bottle after a long day. We did decant it for about 30 minutes (should have been longer), but I think it really needed more time in the bottle before I even opened it. If you are interested in this vintage, I suggest aging this for a few more years. There are some interesting spice notes hiding in this wine that really would give it some much needed depth, but it just felt like they were being suffocated by obnoxious young tangy fruits and overly pungent floral notes. The latter JUST started to calm down about two hours after opening the bottle, but it still didn't do the trick to make me love this one. (I feel like I sound like a crabby old cat lady talking about kids that she was forced to babysit... a glimpse into my future, perhaps.)
Maybe this just isn't my type of Rhone blend and My Guy doesn't know my palate well enough (fair, we are strangers). Or maybe it really was just too young or too rushed (super fair). It was intriguing enough that I would be willing to buy another bottle and let it lay for a while, and in the meantime, keep trying other producers of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. I'll try to not be so eager next time.
I don't know which one I like more, the fancy bottle with the classic papal seal, or the fun name: "Chateauneuf-du-Pape"
REVIEW AND NOTES FROM TOTALWINE.COM
Jeb Dunnuck: Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France- "The 2017 Chateauneuf-du-Pape is elegant and finesse-driven, with plenty of sweet kirsch and cassis fruits, spice and floral notes, medium body, and sweet tannins." (Barrel Score 91-93)
