You Get What You Pay For, M. Chapoutier Belleruche Rose 2013, Cotes du Rhone Disappoints Big Time!

Normally, I'm a huge Cotes-du-Rhone enthusiast, and I generally encourage people to drink them because they are amazing values and made with forgiving grapes like Syrah and Grenache.  Sometimes even a cheap CdR tastes cheap - that's what happened here in this out of balance M. Chapoutier Belleruche Rose.

I know that this wine was only $10.99 (and discounted 15% because it was a part of a mixed case) but it was pretty disappointing.   The nose was lackluster, and the finish was weak - but that's not what made me not enjoy this wine; it was the burning alcohol on the finish that made it taste unpleasant and oddly like some kind of a rose vodka.

The Chapoutier website claims that this is primarily Grenache with a little Syrah and Cinsault.  It was just not tasty.  Plus side - I saved calories by not drinking wine.  Down side - I didn't drink wine tonight. If you only have $10 to spend - grab one of the rosados from Spain that I've reviewed.  Otherwise, just grab a couple of vodka nips.

The Verdict --   FAIL!
color: pretty rosy pink w/ touch of purple
nose: faint watermelon and strawberry, wet stone
palate: strawberry - burning tart strawberry, sour watermelon belts - overwhelming alcohol
price: $10.99
pairing: I had this with some turkey meatballs, and after the first couple of sips I switched over to seltzer water.

Lone Star Stunner - Kiepersol Syrah 2001

I recently brought a Keipersol Vineyards 2001 Syrah to a blind tasting group that I TRY to attend once a week. We were instructed to bring any major red grape varietal, and being the procrastinator I am... put off and put off going to the wine store to buy a bottle for the tasting. I ended up pulling something from my own cellar (read - living room) and discovered I had a bottle of Texan wine from 3-4 years ago when I was visiting my parents in Houston. I had dismissed the bottle as anything even slightly good and I brought it as a lark to the tasting... even offering 10 bucks if someone could correctly identify its origin.

The joke was on me. The Kiepersol Syrah turned out to be the favorite of the tasting group. With it's smoky aromas and notes of leather, raspberry, spice and barnyard - everyone declared it old world. The palate had more spice, and hints of cherry and long finish. Definitely France, they said - most likely Rhone Valley.

When the Texan label was revealed we were all floored. No one received the 10 dollars... but for such a sophisticated wine - 10 dollars wasn't much more than what I paid for it. I even bought it at the supermarket! It wasn't more than $15! This could stand up to the weightiest steak and after doing a little research - Keipersol also sells cattle - that seems to be what they're aiming for.

This was also their second vintage. Their Syrah is obviously age-worthy. The next time I'm in Texas -- I'll take a trip up to Tyler (near Dallas) and visit them!