Rounding out our week of earthy wines is CDR Côtes Du Rhône 2012.  As mentioned previously, the southern Côtes Du Rhône is home to many regions that are notable for producing great quality wine such as Vacqueyras and Gigondas, but also home to many, cheap wines of varying quality.  CDR Côtes Du Rhône happens to fall into the later area, but where does it sake out?

Sight:  A deep purple core with a slightly orange tint, and a watery edge.

Smell:  Blackberries and black currants come to the forefront with a wet stone note.  Spices, black olives, plum, and dried herbs all join in, but there’s a good amount of heat in the nose.

Sip:  The body is moderate, and has quite a bit of brightness to it.  There’s a certain rustic chunky nature to the body, that lends well to the earthy elements present.  Blackberries are leaning into the fermented side of the spectrum with black currants, plums, cherries, and other dark fruits playing in.  The heat on the nose comes into play again here, giving it a warmth.

Savor:  Tannins are restrained and coarse.  There’s a rusticness to the finish with dark fruit and earth.

CDR Côtes Du Rhône is earthy and hot, with a good amount of dark fruit, herbs, and olives.  Overall, the rusticness is nice when you consider this a food friendly wine, but it doesn’t quite work on it’s own.  The dark fruit just doesn’t have enough weight to push it forward.  Overall, CDR Côtes Du Rhône has a lot of earthiness and a nice smack of fruit, and isn’t a bad choice for an old world wine for a reasonable price.

Verdict:  Dark Fruit, Olives, Herbs, Hot
Rating: 71
Price: $12
Rhône, France

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