Tough Love

 My past caught up with me when Kobsta and Mobsta brought some bottles that apparently I had recommended in a past life.  I had enjoyed them and thought I’d share the love about them so Kobsta and Mobsta bought them for their collection.  They were full of trepidation about their drinkability, and worried if the wines would be good contributions to dinner.  In retrospect, I should have been the one with trepidation, as I was responsible for them buying the wines in the first place.  It is tough when your past can come back to haunt you.

After a few other bottles that did a very good job, we opened the older ones.  The 2005 Chapoutier ‘Belleruche’ Cotes du Rhone, I remember seemed to be a bit of a star in its early days, punching above its weight.  Being mainly Grenache and a really good value buy, it sure wasn’t designed for a long time of cellaring, and meant for immediacy, and maybe 3-4 years at the max.  This was now over 7 years old.  Still dark, meaning Syrah and Mourvedre?  Savoury dark fruits with herbs and earth.  Plenty of mouthfeel and body.  This was certainly no faded rose.  If anything, the tannins were too much, the fruit drying a little now.  A toughness and chewiness.  Heartier food, especially a big piece of steal or lamb casserole would help it be loved.  I think I got out of jail.

Then a 1998 Cloudy Bay Marlborough Pinot Noir.  A hot year, giving it extra ripeness and power.  This is what has kept it going well.  Dark fruits, and a little bramble and savoury meat and earth hinted.  A sleekness, being the varietal character.  But this too had robustness, no doubt from the vintage, and a tad of fruit sweetness disappearing.  The warm and dry year imbued the wine with a bit of toughness, which has preserved it pretty well.  The men who made it sure put their love into it.  It delivered more than expected too.